January 2014

 Baby Bjorn Miracle Carrier
Happiest Baby on the Block (Book, DVD, White Noise CD)
Baby Log iPhone & iPad App
Halo swaddle blanket
Stokke Bath with newborn seat
Colic? Bore your baby to sleep, by Howard Chilton – a must read…

As the early evening approached in our house, Little Big H – as a newborn, would slowly become more and more fussy.  In the beginning we were guessing stomach problems, gas, colic, reflux, etc.  Sometimes nursing, rocking/patting, breastfeeding, rubbing his tiny tummy, doing bicycle legs would help but often he just couldn’t  settle.  I stopped drinking and eating all food that I thought could be attributing to it and sometimes I thought it was making a difference but most days not.  Then one day, a girl from my mothers group sent an article around call ‘Colic? Bore your baby to sleep’ and it was a bit of a lifesaver.  I wish I had of read it in the very beginning, but better late than never –  I have sent it to all my expecting friends since, who have found it super helpful. 

Big H has never been a great sleeper, so by the time 6 o’clock rolled around he was over stimulated to say the least.  Once we identified it as over stimulation, we could all relax a little knowing that he wasn’t in pain.  And we could help him in other ways.  

Getting him off to sleep in the early evening was the biggest help of all.  He wouldn’t sleep in the bassinet so I would walk him around the house with the lights down low until he fell asleep.  When I finally bought the Baby Bjorn carrier it made it so much easier.  It was my number one best purchase for settling Big H.

Other items I found helpful were the Halo sleep-sack swaddle rather than the using traditional blankets.  I was always worried that my swaddling would come loose and the blanket could cover Big H’s face.  With the Halo swaddle I didn’t have to be concerned.  I read the ‘The Happiest Baby on the Block’ book and Cam and I watched the DVD before Big H was born.  It made us both feel a little more prepared.  I am still using the white noise CD to this day.  My other great purchases were the Stokke Flexi Bath with the newborn seat.  Big H has always loved the water so if he was upset, often I would give him a bath and it would calm him down.  The Baby Log iPhone and iPad app I used to keep track of sleep, nappy changes and feeds.  It made it easy to keep track and work towards establishing a schedule.

What was your best newborn baby purchase – I’d love to hear what helped you in those early days?

Little Big H is wearing pyjamas by BONDS

I give Big H bread occasionally with his breakfast of a morning.  I serve it with a soft-boiled egg or spread something on it like Laughing Cow cheese, avocado, Vegemite, Anchovette (which is a fish spread that he now likes) or just a little olive oil.

Organic Spelt Bread

2014-01-14 12:05:43

1. 500g organic wholemeal spelt flour (or substitute white spelt flour)
2. 7g packet yeast
3. 1 tbls (20ml) agave nectar (or substitute honey or caster sugar)
4. 1 tbls (20ml) chia seeds + a few extra for later
5. 1 tbls (20ml) olive oil
6. 1 tps (5ml) celtic sea salt
7. 1 1/2 cups (375ml) warm water
8. (egg white or milk or water to brush loaf)

1. Combine the yeast, nectar, and warm water in a bowl and lightly whisk to dissolve the yeast. Let stand for 10 minutes. The mixture will appear frothy.
2. In a separate bowl add the flour, salt, olive oil, chia seeds and the yeast mixture
3. If you have a Kitchen aid or other device with a dough hook. Knead for 5 minutes or until smooth.
4. Otherwise turn out onto a floured bench and knead for approximately 5 minutes. Add a little extra flour if necessary
5. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with cling film and set aside to rise for about an hour or until it has doubled in size
6. Preheat oven to 200 degrees C (390 degrees F). Punch down the dough and knead until smooth. Shape the dough and place on a baking tray or in a greased bread tin. Cover with a tea towel and set aside for 35 minutes or until the dough has almost doubled in size
7. Brush loaf with egg white and sprinkle with chia seeds.
8. Bake for 35 minute or until dark golden. Let cool on a wire rack

1. Spelt bread can be quite dense so if you like a lighter bread, halve the spelt flour and add half all purpose flour

Little Big H http://littlebigh.com/

My room was very warm so the dough sort of spread out.  Place the dough in a bread tin for the second rise if you prefer