~ Free film premiere for Canberra community
~ Contributions invited
~ Controlled crying controversy
~ Infant massage reduces postnatal depression
~ Adapting massage for crawling babies
~ Feature website…Simple Savings
~ Feature book…Sleeping with your baby: A parent’s guide to co-sleeping
~ Feature DVD…What babies want
~ Feature community group…Canberra Organic Growers Society
~ Iron food muffins
Special Event: Premiere Screening of “What Babies Want”
If you are a new parent or grandparent, about to become one, or know someone who is, then you won’t want to miss this FREE screening of the groundbreaking documentary “What Babies Want”.
This documentary is told with heart and hope, offering parents, families and loving communities practical insights that help us to provide what babies want, and need, in order to thrive and flourish.
WHEN: Tuesday 9th December
TIME: 6pm
WHERE: Lecture Room S4, Signadou Campus,
Australian Catholic University, Antill St, Watson
COST: Free
Babies are welcome to attend with you.
Because seating is limited, bookings are essential. Please contact Alice at ten@netspace.net.au
or 6287 3727 to reserve your seats.
Your contributions are invited!
We would love to include your contributions in this newsletter. These could include:
~ Stories about your experiences with infant massage, or parenting generally
~ Creative ways you have adapted infant massage as your child grows and develops
~ Topics of interest to Canberra families
~ Healthy and delicious recipes
~ Ideas for family and children’s activities
~ Useful parenting resources
~ Notice of events If you have something to say, then why not drop us a line!
Controlled Crying Controversy
Flinders University recently sparked a national debate when they gave the go-ahead for a study to examine the effectiveness of controlled crying.
Controlled crying (sometimes called “controlled comforting” or “sleep training”) is a technique that involves leaving a baby alone to cry for increasing periods of time, until they put themselves to sleep.
Kate Jackson, from Flinders University is reported as saying that there are not very many studies that examine whether controlled crying works [at making babies fall asleep], and therefore the study is justified.
However, families from around the world have joined leading child development experts in protesting against the study. Organisations such as the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health say that leaving babies to cry on their own can be extremely distressing and traumatizing for babies and, often, their parents too, and that it can interrupt attachment and bonding. Because of the risks involved, many people say the study is unethical.
Gentle resources for baby sleep
Happiest Baby on the Block gentle sleep program
Infant Massage Reduces Post-Natal Depression
Researchers in London have discovered what many parents attending our infant massage workshops have been telling us for a long time – massaging your baby helps reduce the feelings of post-natal depression (PND).
The London study involved 34 new mothers with clinically diagnosed PND. The mothers, and their babies, were randomly divided into two groups. One group attended a traditional mother support group and the others attended an International Association of Infant Massage workshop.
Only those mothers in the infant massage group showed a significant reduction in symptoms of PND, with many no longer experiencing any symptoms at all. In addition, the babies in the massage group cried less and slept better than those in the mother support group. These results are consistent with other research that has found a strong link between infant massage and recovery from PND.
PND can have serious and long-term consequences for both babies and mothers. More and more fathers are also reporting experiences of PND. If you think you may be experiencing PND, anxiety or “the blues” since the birth of your baby – or you know someone who is – it is important for both babies and parents to get help.
Infant massage group for postnatal depression
Postnatal depression checklist
Where to get help in Canberra
Massage and the Active Crawler
The infant massage routines continue to benefit you and your baby as she or he grows and develops. Just because your baby starts crawling doesn’t mean that you should stop massage. Here are some tips for massaging your active crawler!
~ Remember to always ask permission. Follow your baby’s lead in the same way you did when they were younger.
~ It is very normal for babies of this age to want to move about. Let them go for it! Movement is great for developing bodies and brains.
~ Massage the part of the body your baby enjoys most. Don’t worry if other parts “miss out”. Their preferences will change as they grow and develop. Your baby’s preferences and attention will change with time.
~ Try experimenting with different positions. Your baby may prefer sitting up, or lying on their tummy for massage time.
~ Give your baby a favourite toy or object to play with during massage time.
~ Use songs, nursery rhymes or just simple conversation. They still love the sound of your voice (at least until they are teenagers!).
Featured website – Simple Savings
With Christmas only a few weeks away, and increasing financial pressure on families, it is a good time to remember that our babies don’t need a lot of “stuff” in order to grow into confident and caring children and adults.
The Simple Savings website contains literally thousands of practical ideas for cutting costs and keeping quality. They have suggestions on how to save on the small stuff (which adds up) through to the big-ticket items like cars, white goods and the ever-growing grocery bills. There is even a section on how to save money at Christmas. There is a small membership fee to access all the tips, but many can be accessed for free. They also have a free newsletter.
Best of all, the site is owned and run by a stay-at-home-mum!
Simple Savings Website
Featured book – Sleeping with your baby: A parent’s guide to co-sleeping (Dr. James McKenna)
Despite the fact that at least 70% of families share a bed with their baby at some point, co-sleeping is fraught with guilt and uncertainty for many parents.
Dr. McKenna is one of the world’s leading researchers on infant sleep. In this book he resolves the guilt once and for all, explaining the science behind why many parents have a natural instinct to be close to their babies – even during sleep. In this easy-to-understand book Dr. McKenna dispels many of the myths surrounding co-sleeping, and he shows why recommendations to “never” co-sleep with your baby are scientifically wrong and risky for many parents and babies. Dr. McKenna describes information about the benefits of co-sleeping (improved sleep and reduced rates of SIDS to name just two), and how to do it safely.
More about this book
Featured DVD – What Babies Want
This timely film brings together ground-breaking information about what babies truly are, what they know, and how we can support them to be their best as they develop and grow. The experiences we have at birth and in early infancy sets up the way our brain perceives all the events of our lives. These early interactions shape our human ability to learn, to trust, and to develop relationships as we get older.
The film is alive with captivating stories and remarkable personal experiences of infants, children and adults. What Babies Want looks into cutting edge science, ancient cultures, and traditional customs in search of ways to keep our children’s spirits in tact.
Read more about What Babies Want
Come to a free screening of What Babies Want
Featured Community Group – Canberra Organic Growers Society
Staying connected to others and enjoying our own interests is an important part of being a healthy and happy parent. If you are interested in gardening or the environment, then the Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS) might be a great place to meet people and learn new skills.
When you become a member of COGS you can hire a gardening plot at one of their many community gardens around Canberra. What better way to help your growing child develop a deep appreciation of food, nature and healthy eating than to spend quality time with them planting, growing and picking fresh foods from your own plot of land? Members of COGS can also attend workshops and information sessions on topics ranging from composting to natural pest control, and can borrow books from the extensive COGS library.
Read more about COGS
Iron Food Muffins
These are my favourite “sweets” at the moment. Blackstrap molasses is one of the richest sources of nutritional iron, and many people swear that their energy levels increase if they eat 2-3 of these each day for about 5 days. I have given this recipe to many people and even the fussiest of eaters seem to love them, and they are wonderful for people who don’t ordinarily get enough iron in their diet. Many people like them warmed up, but I like them cold just as much.
Ingredients:
~ 125g plain flour (can use wheat or gluten free)
~ 1.5 teaspoons baking powder + 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
~ Pinch of salt
~ 295 ml skim milk
~ 120ml blackstrap molasses (available from the health food store)
~ 1 free range egg (beaten)
~ 30ml vegetable oil
~ 60 g bran flake cereal (I use 4 weet-bix roughly crushed. However, you can use any bran flakes, oats or even rice flakes if you want to go gluten-free)
~ 80g of fruit (use whatever fruit is seasonal or available – blueberries, sultanas, bananas, dates, apple, etc)
~ 2 tablespoons wheat germ or psyllium (this is optional, and adds an extra boost of fibre)
Directions:
~ Pre-heat oven to 190 degrees C, and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan.
~ In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
~ In a separate bowl mix the milk, molasses, egg and oil. Then add in the bran flakes.
~ Mix the flour and the molasses mixture together. Add in the fruit and wheatgerm/ psyllium.
~ Using a spoon, transfer the mixture to the muffin pan.
~ Bake in the pre-heated oven for 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted into one of the muffins comes out clean.
General Infant Massage Workshops for All Families
These workshops are for parents/ carers whose babies are not yet crawling. They are run once a week for five weeks. Sessions usually last about 1 hour. Babies attend sessions with their parents and our workshops are structured so that all babies are welcome to sleep, cry, eat and do whatever they need to do to be comfortable and happy! All classes are taught by an International Association of Infant Massage Certified Instructor. Babies with special needs are welcome.
Summer classes scheduled:
Sundays 10am ~ starting 23rd November 2008 (Southside)
Wednesdays 10 am ~ starting 14th January 2009 (Northside)
Saturdays 10am ~ starting 17th January 2009 (Southside)
Infant Massage & Post-Natal Depression Workshops
These workshops are for parents/ carers who have a baby who is not yet crawling, and who have experienced symptoms of PND or anxiety. These are almost the same as our normal classes (see above), but are held in smaller groups and with a specific focus on the challenges of PND. All classes are taught by an International Association of Infant Massage Certified Instructor. Babies with special needs are welcome.
Summer classes scheduled:
Sundays 12:30pm ~ starting 23rd November 2008 (Southside)
The contents of this newsletter are intended for general interest purposes only and should not be construed as advice for your specific circumstances. Please consult a qualified professional if you have any questions about your personal circumstances.
