Parenting for the future
It’s hard to know how I feel tonight. After two years, two months and two days of breast-feeding my daughter to sleep every night, tonight her bedtime routine was missing that previously essential “Mama milk” moment. I expected tears on both our parts, even though I’ve been preparing her for weeks (it’s my decision, not hers). Instead, it was almost too easy. Read more…
I delivered on my first major deadlines at work in the last few weeks. And spent my evenings making a website for my Dad. And somewhere in there, I nursed and played with my little girl — although, truth be told, her Dad did most of that. And as a result, I got run down and eventually ill, but I kept on turning up to work and I kept on dragging myself out of bed in the middle of the night. Read more…
Apparently, up to a third of Australians think women shouldn’t breastfeed in public. I think what’s more worrying about that study is how many people think babies should be weaned at six months and that it’s the 18–24 year olds who are the most ignorant. I have a sneaking suspicion that my daughter is growing up in a more conservative, gendered world than I did, and it scares me. Read more…
Your baby doesn’t seem to be nursing as happily any more. You have your suspicions that it could be an infant food intolerance. Your doctor’s appointment is booked for next week. What now? Baby’s gotta eat! It’s time to do a quick home-spun low-allergen diet, and see what happens. Read more…
Today was my first day of paid work in about seven months. My last day was December 19, conveniently just before the holiday break, so I cheated and had five weeks off before the birth rather than come back for two days in January only to leave again. My baby was six months old about two weeks ago. The timing is pretty perfect actually: the final government payment (“baby bonus”, as it’s called) went into our bank account last week. We need something to replace it as my partner is going to be the stay-at-home Dad, and I’m to be the income earner. Read more…
Food for infants — especially the ongoing debates around breastfeeding and delaying solids — is a fraught topic. Everybody wants to do what’s best for their baby and it isn’t easy. It’s even harder when health professionals weigh in (no pun intended) with opinions about baby’s growth or lack thereof or when Mama is struggling with mastitis or other complications. On the other hand, hardliners seem to insist on adherence to ideals that are almost impossible to achieve or sometimes feel not-quite-right for baby’s particular experience. It’s important to find out the latest when dealing with allergies — the advice from the professionals has changed. Read more…
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