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Baby

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Starting with solid foods and getting a baby used to new tastes and textures is a big deal for every parent. We all want what’s best for our children and providing them with the right nutrients carries a tremendous responsibility. We’ve been on solids for some good six – seven months now, and it’s not been the easiest ride, let me tell you. Our baby and veggies are not the best of friends. I’ll put it that way. When I hear my seven-month-old nephew eats anything and everything, keeping his mouth wide open every time a spoon is in his sight, I can’t help it but feel a bit jealous. Our baby was never like that. Ever since we introduced solid foods, things were always a bit complicated, to say the very least. It’s been an up and down experience, one day she would eat something, the next day she wouldn’t touch…

My baby will have a different childhood than I had. Being a mum makes me think about how much has changed since I was a child. I think it’s fair to say that before the Internet and all the latest technologies came along, things were a lot simpler and carefree. I have some great memories growing up, playing hide and seek with friends, spending weekends outdoors, only coming home for lunch. It’s hard not to think about some aspects of my early years that my one-year-old will never get to experience. Childhood is different now in so many ways. Add to it the fact that I raise my family abroad and things get even more exciting for Little E. Yes, it will be different than my early years, but there is also a positive side to it. How exactly then will things change for my baby? Read on to find out. Terrorism…

So, the first year of our baby’s life is well and truly over. Mixed feelings of sadness, happiness, accomplishment and nostalgia flow through my head. It’s a bittersweet moment of realisation that the precious, yet hard and exhausting newborn stage is gone forever.

Deciding what to buy for your one-year-old to mark her first ever birthday can be tricky. Yes, choosing gifts for baby’s 1st birthday is tough. I’ve been thinking about the gift ideas for quite some time. Do you let yourself run wild and get every toy under the sun that’s right for her age? You can see the reasoning here; it’s her first birthday, you are allowed to spoil her a bit, right?

Or, do you select few special items to mark this occasion?

After much consideration, I’ve come to a conclusion that there is some truth to the good old saying ‘less is more’.

Living in a city or a countryside when you have a baby? Few decisions in life are as important as deciding on a place to live. Everyone will have to face this dilemma at least once in their lifetime. Whether you choose a city or a countryside, each option has its benefits as well drawbacks. While growing up, I used to live in a beautiful little mountain resort town, with a population of 1,000 people and a lot of greenery, forest and open spaces. Oh, and not to mention a variety of wildlife right outside our front door. I love my home town; I have only the best memories of my childhood there. However, since I came to the UK, I’ve always lived in cities, small or big, I’ve experienced life in both. And I have to say, I enjoy life in a city too. I love the convenience of having easy…

After a full year of calling myself a mama, there are some things I would like to share with new mums or mums to be. I don’t consider myself to be an expert in this motherhood journey, but I think I am in a position where I can offer a tip or two to those of you who are just starting this amazing adventure. Life is about to change in a way you won’t really understand until you are actually there, doing that all important mama job. So, let’s dive in and find out what this mama has got to say after a year full of joy, love but also struggles, tears and countless sleepless nights. You ARE a good mum The most important thing to remember is that you are doing a great job, no matter what comes your way. You are a good enough parent to your baby. You…

For the past week, we’ve gone through a fever, a runny nose, sore throat and cough with my baby. It’s the first time; she’s been this sick. She only had a mild cold previously, and it was a walk in the park compared to this time. I’m just relieved that she is almost back to her normal self now, apart from a little cough she still has. But let me tell you, caring for a sick baby is no fun.

When you are trying to figure out why they are crying for two hours straight at night, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Is it something serious? Is she in pain? Should we call an emergency? All these alarming thoughts go through your mind that you completely overlook the simple symptoms of a blocked nose. So, when the light bulb finally went off, I sent my partner to a late night pharmacy to get a nasal spray. No, I didn’t have one at home, as my doctor advised against using them on small babies. But this time, as my baby is almost one and was crying inconsolably, we decided to try one of those saline nasal sprays for babies.

Babies are creatures of habit; they feel comfortable in the familiar environment. So, when the environment changes, it can cause some distress and anxiety. Each baby will react to change differently, some are more easy going than others. Some will need more reassurance and comfort than others.

Babies in the new environment can behave unpredictably, so how can you help them to adapt to their new surroundings? Since I had my baby, we have visited my family in Slovakia a few times. Here are some tips and ideas on how to deal with these situations.

Finally, we’ve had our first swim session. It took me ten months to get around to do it, but hey, better late than never, right? I planned on taking her swimming earlier but as many new mums know, life happens, and before I knew it the winter came, so I thought we’ll wait a bit longer until it’s warmer outside. I finally took her while on my recent visit to Slovakia, accompanied by my sister with her five-month-old son at first, then by my sister-in-law. We’ve been few times since then, and I’m pleased to say that my little one seems to enjoy it so far.

We didn’t have any swimming lessons just yet, maybe in the future. I wanted to introduce my baby to water myself before I consider any lessons.

How did it go? What worked and what didn’t?

I have recently read an interesting article about a mum who was disappointed when she discovered she was having a baby boy, not a girl. She was genuinely devastated.

This got me thinking. I had no idea so many women, and even some dads, experience these feelings when they find out the sex of their baby. Many women probably keep their emotions to themselves. It’s not something to be proud of, I guess. Especially, when there are so many struggling couples who would do anything to conceive and have a healthy baby, regardless of the gender.