west auckland parents centre issue 185
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Tiny Talk is West Auckland Parents Centre bi-monthly newsletterTRANSCRIPT
Tiny Talk
Positive birth experiences and informed par-enting in a community
Apr — May 2014|185 West Auckland Parents Centre
Visit us online
Birth Story Vanessa & Joshua
This issue
The basics of attachment
Learning is child’s play
Why is my baby crying
Grandparenting: giving &
taking advice
Bathing a baby
Infant feeding
Avoiding Listeria
West Auckland Parents Centre 3
From the Editor Why do signs like this exist? This one is at Pak n Save in Pukehoke. Apparently it’s ok for my wife to shop there, but they do not want my money if I have Poppy with me. Maybe, I dunno, it’s a dumb sign though isn’t it. One would have thought we could’ve dispensed with all this gender nonsense by now. We’re all on this parenting journey together, let the poor man park with his baby if he wants to!
Unfortunately, a major part of my content did not get delivered in time for this issue. However I have quickly gathered a number of informative articles from our own members and Parent Centres affiliates that I’m sure you’ll find interesting.
Farvel,
Daniel
Congratulations to Rebecca Bunting and son Jack. You are the winner of
this issue’s cover photo competition! Your prize will be sent to you shortly.
Don’t forget to send your entries in for the cover of the next issue. All unselected entries remain in subsequent draws.
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 Committee Bio—Dorothy Waide 5
Getting to know the people behind WAPC.
The basics of attachment 6
Do attached babies more joyfully negotiate the world?
Learning is child’s play 10
But more is not necessarily better.
Why is my baby crying? 11
The $64,000 question.
Grandparenting: giving & taking advice 16
The rules, communication, dealing with the differences.
Birth Story 18
Vanessa & Josh.
Bathing a baby 22
Some tips.
Infant feeding 24
Parents Centre New Zealand’s position statement on infant feeding
Avoiding Listeria 26
Some timely information given the recent incidences.
Regular Features From the President 4
WAPC Volunteers of the Month 13
Birthdays 14
Welcome to our World 15
Volunteer Opportunities 28
WAPC: Parent Education 29
Shopping for Baby 30
WAPC Member Discounts 32
Round the Coffee Cups 34
Contact Us 36
Parent Support—Directory 37
Tiny Talk Contributions & Advertising 38
4 West Auckland Parents Centre
From the President Another two months has passed and time
seems to be flying. My little boy has just turned
one and as well as being a big celebration, it
was also a reminder that I have now been
President of West Auckland Parents Centre for
9 months, as he was only 3 months old when I
took on the role. It's hard to believe I have
nearly been in the role for a year.
Following on from my report last issue, in which
I said that we were cancelling our Baby and You
and Moving, Munching and Motoring classes,
we have been hard at work trying to find ways
to get those courses running again as we
understand how valuable they can be to new
parents. We hope to be able to announce very
shortly when they will start again.
We have had a large amount of interest in
volunteering for WAPC lately, which is fantastic
but we still need class hosts. If you are
interested in hosting an antenatal class, or
Moving, Munching and Motoring, or any of our
other classes, please let us know.
As this issue covers April/May, I would like to
wish all the mothers Happy Mothers Day for
May, especially those for whom it will be their
first one. I hope you enjoy it and get a chance
for a rest, even if it is only a for a little while.
WAPC NOTIFICATIONS
Annual General Meeting
(AGM)
Our AGM will take place on Thursday 26 June at 7:30pm
at the Kelston Community Centre.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
West Auckland Parents Centre 5
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
Committee Bio — Dorothy Waide Hi, my name is Dorothy Waide and I became involved with WAPC on return to NZ as I wanted to work with a centre as I was training to be a CBE.
Unfortunately due to my new business Dorothy Waide's Consultancy Baby Within Ltd I was unable to continue to study and have since stayed on as a volunteer.
I do not hold a named role, I am a general committee, member helping out where I can, but I do volunteer my services as guest speaker for the Baby & You sleeping and settling classes which I enjoy immensely and love being able to contribute something to the community.
6 West Auckland Parents Centre
Attachment is the way we relate to the important
people in our lives. It is a key element of
psychological and emotional well-being and forms
our views about love and connection. The way we
attach to others determines the quality of our
relationships, how we see the world and the tone and
depth of our lives. Our attachment style and patterns
are grounded in our first experiences, namely those
primary relationships of our first years of life.
Children form attachments to their main caregivers.
These primary attachments are fundamentals of life,
as essential to growth and development as breathing
and eating. When a child is consistently cared for by
someone she knows and trusts, who can be relied
upon to respond to her needs with sensitivity and
warmth, a secure attachment relationship develops.
Caregivers of securely attached children have the
ability to make themselves available to their child for
comfort and support when she needs them, and to
allow her the freedom to follow her curiosity and
explore her world in safe ways when she is ready to.
This secure relationship gives the child confidence
that someone will be available to help her when she
needs it. She develops a model of other people as
dependable and of herself as deserving of loving care.
These models of the self and of others form the
foundation of health that the securely attached baby
will carry with her for life.
However, if a child experiences care that is
inconsistent, unpredictable, cold, hostile or scary, he
is likely to develop an attachment that is insecure.
Caregivers of insecurely attached children are
typically uncomfortable with either too much
closeness and neediness or too much distance and
independence. Being insecurely attached to a
caregiver as a baby means that a child has developed
an expectation that the important people in his life
will not be reliably and dependably available to him
in times of need. The insecurely attached baby grows
into a child (and then an adult) with fewer resources
for managing his own emotions and his relationships
with other people. Unlike a secure child, the insecure
child cannot easily identify, understand, tolerate or
communicate his feelings, leaving him vulnerable to a
host of psychological difficulties. Being an insecurely
attached baby is a risk factor for social and emotional
problems throughout a person’s life including
depression, anxiety, aggression and addiction, as well
as a host of medical ailments as well.
Research on brain development has deepened our
understanding of the sorts of caregiving that promote
well-being in children. This work has confirmed the
conclusions first made in attachment research. Babies
who have an attuned, sensitive and responsive
caregiver more skilfully and joyfully negotiate the
world. They are happier, less stressed, more engaged;
they recover more quickly from fearful or upsetting
experiences and they fare better in social situations.
While babies are born with genetic tendencies and
potentials, it is their experiences that enhance or
diminish these possibilities in life. Via these critical
caregiving relationships, babies’ brains are literally
being wired. When the neural connections follow a
path and pattern of secure attachment, babies face
the world with a map that allows them to function
well in all settings.
What can parents do?
The fear that responding to a baby’s every need will
The Basics of Attachment Babies who have an attuned, sensitive and responsive caregiver more skilfully and joyfully
negotiate the world.
West Auckland Parents Centre 7
reinforce needy behaviour and produce dependency
is a myth; in fact the opposite is true. Research shows
that children who are consistently soothed and
comforted and whose emotional needs are
dependably met are the ones who emerge with the
stability and independence we seek to promote.
To raise securely attached children, parents need to
be reasonably emotionally healthy themselves.
Having good information about child development
and parenting practices also allows parents to make
decisions that support secure attachments. Holding
realistic expectations about babies and having access
to quality support are essential to feeling confident
and satisfied as a parent. Parenting is hard work. It is
also the most important work one can undertake.
With each child we shape the future and how we do
so is in our hands.
Parent Emotional Health Becoming a parent reawakens in us our own
experiences of being parented and can evoke both
joyful and painful feelings and memories…
By coming to understand our own life course we open
ourselves up to fully connecting with our children and
promoting their secure attachment.
Having a child changes your life forever. It opens your
world to new hopes and dreams, new fears and
struggles. At the same time, it can unlock the
unfinished business and difficult experiences of our
early lives. Becoming a parent reawakens in us our
own experiences of being parented and can evoke
both joyful and painful feelings and memories.
We all want to be good parents and raise securely
attached children. However, how we parent and
respond to our children is heavily influenced by our
early life experiences. We may not have had a perfect
childhood, but through those first relationships we
learned about love. Those models and lessons follow
us into parenthood, just as they did for our parents
before us. As a result of learning these lessons, we
each possess great strengths, and weaknesses as
well. In spite of this, we are not predestined to
recreate the same sort of childhood for our own
children that we experienced ourselves.
There are many things that parents can do to
improve our parenting, free ourselves from acting
upon harmful messages we have received, and help
our children be healthy and happy. For example, we
can learn about child development so that we are
working from a realistic set of beliefs and
expectations. We can also learn strategies and skills
for interacting with children in positive ways and for
handling the challenging issues of childrearing well.
One of the most intriguing findings of over 3 decades
of attachment research is that secure attachment in a
baby is strongly related to his primary caregivers’
own emotional health. One hallmark of emotional
health in parents is the ability to deeply understand
themselves and their early life experiences. This
ability may not come naturally to some parents, but it
is an ability that can be learned and strengthened.
Another hallmark of emotional health in parents is
the ability to think about the experiences of their
baby. A baby who has a caregiver who is thinking
about him as a person with his own thoughts,
feelings, and motivations, and who can think about
things from his perspective, is more likely to develop
a healthy sense of himself.
“To raise
securely attached
children, parents
need to be
reasonably
emotionally
healthy
themselves”
8 West Auckland Parents Centre
Learning about the components of optimal parenting
and healthy attachment can often evoke sadness. We
are faced with the disappointing awareness that our
growing up may have included experiences that were
not in our best interest. At the same time, we may feel
guilty about how we have interacted with our own
children as we learn more about what children need.
It is important to understand that most of the issues we
faced in our own early years are part of a pattern of
many generations. We are not responsible for the
messages we received. However, those messages
shape the way we form attachments, and most often
we are unaware of their power. It is by gaining new
awareness that things can begin to change. We can’t
change the past. But we can start to make changes in
what we do now. When we do this, we build upon the
foundation of positive events from our past and join
that with new ways of being that enhance our ability to
form healthy attachments.
As we know, our brain is built upon experience. The
human connections we make create the neural
connections in our brain. If we had a childhood with
high levels of stress, little expression of affection,
strained communication, neglect or trauma, our brains
developed accordingly, creating a mental map that
allowed us to navigate those obstacles. That our brains
are able to do this – to design a strategy for what we
faced – is remarkable and a testament to our personal
strength and our instinct for survival.
Unfortunately, that map is often misguided. While we
all share the desired destination of healthy
relationships, some of us follow a path that leads us
into painful, harmful or distancing ways of relating,
thus making the outcome much less than we’d hoped
for. These situations require new maps. Thankfully the
brain is always open to change. With each new
interaction we can restructure our mind and invent
better ways of being. The first step is realizing that our
old map isn’t working. Having a child often brings us to
this awareness.
If you find yourself repeatedly experiencing
overwhelming or intense reactions toward your
children, it is a sign that your map needs revision.
Feeling extremely angry, yelling, high levels of stress or
anxiety, noticing discomfort at our babies’ needs,
wanting to withdraw: these are all indicators that the
feelings and experiences of our childhoods are
colouring our current interactions. When we find
ourselves unable to examine what our babies really
need, when we worry excessively about what others
think of our parenting, when we blame our children for
our own strong reactions, then we can be sure that we
are in the presence of unresolved issues from our past.
Thankfully we don’t have to stay stuck here. We can
move forward.
To deepen your ability to understand your child and
yourself, start drawing up a new map for yourself and
your relationships, and build your emotional health, it
helps to have someone to talk to who will be able to
listen to your thoughts and feelings and to help you to
organize them and make sense of them. (Talking about
your reactions to your child can often be especially
valuable.) This can be done, for example, with a trusted
friend. Often, when parents share their experiences
and feelings about parenting, they find that they have
much in common and can use their shared experiences
as a starting place for exploring their feelings at a
deeper level than they normally may. Many people find
it helpful to explore the unfamiliar territory of their
emotions and history with a counsellor or therapist –
an objective listener who is on your side, is skilled at
helping people reach a deeper understanding of
themselves, and does not bring her own agenda or
needs into the conversation. In all cases, the freedom
to explore our emotional states knowing that we won’t
be judged is a very powerful form of support to help us
become more healthy adults and more capable
parents.
The reward for undertaking the journey of self-
understanding is a better relationship with ourselves
and with our children. Put simply, when we are able to
relate to and nurture ourselves we will be able to do
this with our children, too. By coming to understand
our own life course we open ourselves up to fully
connecting with our children and promoting their
secure attachment.
Article courtesy of www.centreforattachment.com
10 West Auckland Parents Centre
The message that the first few years of life are
extremely important for brain development is
becoming more widely known. What may be less
clear is how to put this knowledge into practise.
Parents wanting to give their child the best start are
faced with a huge variety of choice and much
commercially-driven pressure to ensure that their
child makes the most of this developmental
opportunity. The bewildering number of toys and
activities currently available for our babies and young
children is enough to send parents’ cortisol levels into
orbit. And that’s before the credit card bill arrives.
Children need stimulation, but as with many things,
moderation is key. More is not necessarily better.
Many children today are at risk of being over-
stimulated or over-scheduled and this can actually
impede rather than encourage their optimal brain
development.
During the first years of a child’s life it is play, not
scheduled instruction, which contributes the most to
brain development (Frost, 1998). We don’t need to
formally “teach” our young children in order for them
to learn. Children have their own interests and by
being supported to follow these they are likely to be
getting the stimulation that they need.
Play provides a wonderful opportunity for parent and
child to have fun together, deepening their
relationship. Children also need opportunities for
some play on their own. This provides many
opportunities to develop their imagination, problem-
solve and develop other skills that are less likely to
develop in adult-directed play. At times, boredom
may provide the impetus for the child to make their
own discoveries and create their own fun, fantastic
life skills and great stimulation for a growing brain.
Simple toys that allow children to use their
imagination and creativity have many benefits over
the endless plastic creations currently available
(Ginsburg, 2007). Blocks, play dough, a sandpit,
versatile dress-ups (as opposed to Disney inspired
ones), crayons and paper provide endless options.
Household objects such as boxes, blankets, pots and
pans can also provide many hours of fun and
learning. The toys and activities that offer the most
stimulation for a growing brain often don’t have the
“educational” label on them!
Learning and brain development is not limited to toys
and activities specifically created for children, but
also by following their interests in participating in the
real world. Household activities that most adults
consider work are also rich with opportunities for
learning. Hanging out the washing, baking, grocery
shopping and weeding the garden provide many
opportunities for exploration and learning - and while
the task inevitably takes longer, it can be much more
fun for the adult too.
Everyday life is full of naturally occurring learning
opportunities. Watching the rubbish truck, road
works, rain going down the drain, or a rainbow, can
capture the interest of a child when shared with a
parent. Take time to stop, observe, and talk with your
child about the things happening around them, and
when possible move on only when your child’s
interest is waning. Be confident in the knowledge
that you have just provided them with the
stimulation they need, and it didn’t cost a cent!
Rich sensory experiences that are so vital for optimal
brain development are readily available in nature.
Playing with the sand at the beach, feeling the bark
on trees, smelling flowers, or listening to birds
singing, enjoyed with a loving parent all provide
stimulation prompting brain connections to form.
Sensory experiences can be a messy business and
children benefit from being able to enjoy such
experiences fully, without anyone worrying about the
washing!
Playful, creative children who have had plenty of
unscheduled, non-screen (TV, computer etc) time for
play throughout their early years are more likely to
arrive at school with their natural curiosity intact and
a strong desire to learn that will benefit them more
than those whose infancy and pre-school years have
been filled with scheduled activities and little time for
play.
Learning is Child’s Play By Keryn O’Neill, MA Psych
West Auckland Parents Centre 11
We used to be told (and you may still hear this) that if
a baby was clean and fed that would settle him, or
you could leave him cry so he wouldn't be 'spoilt'.
This tugged at a lot of parents' heart strings because,
despite having a full tummy and a clean nappy,
babies do cry—crying is your baby's language. At first,
it is pretty much the only way an infant can
communicate her needs and express feelings like
discomfort, hunger, exhaustion, and loneliness. As
your baby grows he will learn other ways to
communicate—through facial expressions, body
language and, eventually, by telling you how he feels
and what he needs.
To help you calm the crying, here is a checklist of
reasons why your baby may be crying and how you
can soothe the sobs.
Sensitivity to the environment: Some babies
seem more sensitive to the world around them
and become easily overstimulated—then they
cry. In the early weeks, especially protect your
little one's senses by avoiding sudden
movements, changes in temperature, loud
noises, bright lights, and lots of handling by
'strangers'. Respond quickly when your baby is
unsettled—you can't spoil a little baby, but if
you leave her to cry, she will become more
upset as her crying picks up momentum. Soon
she won't even know why she was crying in the
first place. She will just be crying because she
can't stop and will be much harder to settle. On
the other hand, if you keep your baby close, you
will get better at reading her cues and soon you
may be able to avert full blown crying episodes.
Hunger: Your newborn's stomach is only the
size of his tiny fist so it won't hold enough food
to go long between feeds—day or night. If you
are breastfeeding, it is particularly important to
respond quickly to hunger cues. A baby who is
left to work up to a full-blown cry will have a
more disorganised suck and
may have difficulty latching
on correctly (when babies
cry, their tongues are pointed
towards the roof of their
mouths), or she may only
suck for a short time before
she falls asleep with
exhaustion. Also, if you are
breastfeeding, remember,
the more your baby sucks,
the more milk you will
produce. He needs to suck
long enough to get the more
satisfying hind-milk, which is
higher in calories. The best way to do this is to
watch your baby, not the clock, and allow your
baby to decide when he is finished the first
breast, before you switch sides.
Physical discomfort: Yes, your baby may be
crying because he has a wet or dirty nappy. Or is
he hot? Cold? Itchy? Is he sensitive to your
laundry detergent? Check there are no loose
threads from clothing or socks wrapped around
tiny toes. If your baby is teething, ease painful
gums by giving him something cool to chew on.
If he has started solid foods he may enjoy chilled
soft foods such as frozen slices of banana or 'icy
poles' made from apple or pear puree (with
supervision). Never give hard foods that may be
a choking hazard as tiny teeth emerge and bite
bits off.
Why is my baby crying?
12 West Auckland Parents Centre
Tummy pains: Although we now see 'colic' as a
way babies behave rather than a 'diagnosis', this
behaviour is often attributed to an immature
digestive system and an immature nervous
system. If your baby is unsettled and seems to
have 'wind' pains, you could try some different
carry holds to help her feel more comfortable.
For instance, lie baby face-down across your
arm, her cheek at your elbow, or carry her with
her backbone against you, pressing her knees
against her stomach. Alternatively, lie baby
tummy-down across your knees, perhaps with a
warm wheat pack on your lap.
If your baby has a regular crying time or suffers from
evening 'colic', try to pre-empt the wails with a
combination of massage, followed by a relaxation
bath about an hour before his usual crying time.
Reflux: If your baby is spitting up and vomiting; has
constant hiccups; is a fussy feeder; chronically
irritable; uncomfortable when lying on his back; has a
chronic cough and/or congestion and is very wakeful,
consider could he have 'gastro oesophageal reflux'?
Firstly, have your baby checked by a doctor or ask for
a referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist. Also
consider whether his symptoms could be alleviated
by changes in your own diet (see food intolerances
below). Elevating your baby after feeds and when he
sleeps is helpful to prevent regurgitation of stomach
acids and your doctor may prescribe medication. A
good book to read is Colic Solved by Dr Bryan
Vartabedian, a paediatric gastroenterologist and
father of two 'reflux' babies.
Food intolerance and allergies: If you are
breastfeeding and crying spells seem to be
related to your diet, write down baby's crying
times and what you have eaten (or if your baby
has started other foods, what has he eaten?). If
there appears to be a link, eliminate the
suspected food for at least a week. Common
culprits are caffeine, dairy produce (milk,
cheese, and yoghurt), citrus, chocolate, and
peanuts. Some babies may also react to food
additives (in soft drinks or processed foods,
passing through your milk), or chemicals such as
salicylates, which are present in a range of
otherwise healthy foods such as grapes, citrus,
berries and tomatoes. For more information on
food intolerance see the book or DVD Fed up by
Sue Dengate: http://www.fedup.com.au
Separation anxiety: Most babies go through
clingy phases. Newborns depend on close
contact to transition to the world outside the
womb. Gently ease your baby's transition from
womb to room by snuggling your newborn
against your bare skin and heartbeat. Carrying
your baby in a sling next to your body is a
perfect way to help him feel secure and snug. It
will also regulate his immature heartbeat,
rhythmic movements and respiration, balancing
irregular waking, sleeping and feeding rhythms.
It's also common for babies to become clingy at
significant developmental stages. Just as babies have
physical growth spurts, neurobiology studies show
that dramatic changes take place in babies' brains
during the first year and these are followed by
marked leaps forward in cognitive development. This
means that despite a calm, loving environment, some
babies feel confused, frustrated or anxious as the way
they perceive their world changes, so they cling to
the only safety and security they know—You.
Is he unwell? Pain, fever and rashes may be
symptoms of illness so observe your baby
carefully and seek medical advice if you have
any concerns (you are never an overanxious
parent wasting a health professional's time—
consider you are contributing to your doctor's
kids school fees!).
Article written by Pinky McKay. Pinky is an
International Board certified Lactation Consultant
(IBCLC) and author of Parenting by Heart, Penguin
Publications. Courtesy of ASG.co.nz
Image from http://brightbabyhood.com
“Your newborn's stomach is
only the size of his tiny fist”
13 West Auckland Parents Centre
February—Catherine Matson & March— Megan Barwell
Our Volunteers of the Month for February and March are our Co-Treasurers, Catherine and Megan. Both of them have been committee members for some time, and their role is often overlooked as it happens largely in the background. However they play a crucial part in our
organisation, ensuring all our payments are made correctly and on time and our financial records are accurate. Recently they have also both helped out with hosting our antenatal
classes. We would like to take the opportunity to thank them both for their hard work.
.
WAPC - Volunteer of the Month
Each Volunteer of the month receives a $25 bouquet from Amanda 4 Flowerz
14 West Auckland Parents Centre
Birthdays! Celebrating 2 Years
Ruby Weir
Celebrating 1 year
Ryan Duncan
Toby Dalton-Brown
Winslow Pook
Mona Laban
Ayla MacDonald
Casper Grimme
Birthdays
West Auckland Parents Centre 15
Welcome to Our World
Class: Sat 11 & 25 January
Samantha & Aaron Hugo 18/02/2014
Anna & Terry Maxine 20/02/2014
Maureen & Aderino Cooper 24/02/2014
Robyn & Dan Kate 28/02/2013
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 5 Aug — 9 Sept
Joanna & Brent Charlotte 17/10/2013
Class: Mon 16 Sept — 21 Oct
Kelly & Dan India-Rose 29/10/2013
Tracey & Wayne Boston 30/10/2013
Bobbie & Paul Monty 25/11/2013
Jolene & Ramon Kasey 02/12/2013
Ann & Paul Isabelle 04/12/2013
16 West Auckland Parents Centre
Grandparenting: Giving and taking advice Part of the enjoyment of being a grandparent can be
not being responsible for the everyday, ongoing
parenting of the grandchildren.
Most parents look forward to the time when their
children have children of their own and they can sit
back and enjoy this ‘all care and no responsibility'
time in their lives. If the only contact with
grandchildren is the occasional visit or family get
together, issues of discipline and differing
expectations can most often be overlooked.
However, in today's society, where grandparents are
increasingly required to care for their grandchildren
on a part-time or full-time basis, their views on
preferred ways of parenting, compared with those of
their children, are more likely to be an issue.
For many young parents, views on parenting can
include not raising their children the way their
parents raised them. For this reason, many children
decline to seek advice from their parents. In turn, the
parents (grandparents) may be left feeling that their
experience counts for very little and feel less inclined
to communicate their concerns.
House Rules
Set appropriate guidelines. Even if you are not caring
for your grandchildren on a regular basis, it's
important that you set appropriate guidelines for
when the grandchildren visit or are temporarily being
cared for in your home.
Discuss with your children any concerns,
expectations, ground rules or code of conduct you
think appropriate within your home.
Ask your children how they would prefer you to
manage inappropriate behaviour.
Discuss nutrition and whether or not the children
should be offered sweets, ice creams or fast food.
Be clear on bedtimes if the grandchildren are staying
overnight.
Clarify any issues of safety. Be clear about who is
expected to meet the expenses of the installation of
safety harnesses in your car or safety proofing your
house.
Communication
Support your children as parents, by keeping the lines
of communication open.
Resist giving unsolicited advice to your children.
Support your children by continuing to be their
parents, as opposed to taking over the role of parents
to their children (your grandchildren).
Give your children time and space to seek your advice
and ensure they know that they can talk to you at any
time.
Suggest regular family get togethers to talk about
issues and compare notes. Preferably meet for coffee
or lunch, away from familiar territory.
Ask your children how you can support their
preferred ways of parenting.
Cultivate respect and trust
Cultivate a relationship with your children that is
based on respect and trust. Your children are raising
their children in an era vastly different to the era in
which you raised them.
Acknowledge your children's parenting style and
respect their judgement and choices.
Listen to your children's concerns if they believe their
child has a learning problem. Acknowledge their
concerns and take any advice and recommendations
on board.
Be reliable with the administration of any medication.
Praise your children often on the great job they're
doing as parents.
Acknowledge your children's maturity and accept
that they are old enough now to be independent and
choose what they want for their children.
Share the fact that, despite all your years of
experience as a parent, you still don't know
everything there is to know about parenting.
West Auckland Parents Centre 17
Refrain from undermining your children's confidence
by being overly judgmental or critical.
Don't compete for a grandchild's affection. The
relationship you have with your grandchild is unique
in what you can offer, encourage and share.
Be united with your children in the all important
areas of discipline and behaviour. Grandchildren get
confused by mixed messages.
Report back to your children with any concerns you
may have regarding your grandchild's health, but
leave the decision with them as to whether or not
they seek further advice.
Dealing with differences
Despite open communication and a solid relationship
with your children, there may
come a time when differences in
parenting style are difficult to
overlook.
Show respect for your children's
decision, even if you find it difficult
to agree.
Question their decision without
being critical or applying your
rationale.
Voice your concerns in a
supportive way, but at the same
time, let your children know that
their decision is worrying you and
why.
If you consider a decision to be
detrimental to a child's physical or
emotional wellbeing, ask to see
supporting documentation (a
medical prescription or
psychologist's report) so that you
are better placed to understand
what is going on.
Don't be blind to a grandchild's
personality or attempts to
manipulate your loyalty and
affection to play you off against
parents. If your children think
there's a problem, listen to their point of view and
agree to observe and work together to rectify the
behaviour.
If at any time you feel your grandchildren are at risk,
seek professional help.
Get into the groove
Be a trusted friend to your grandchildren. Make the
most of your time with them by talking, sharing,
listening and understanding.
Be an ally and support to your children in their
parenting decisions and enjoy offering wisdom,
discernment, guidance, strength and
experience....especially when it's asked for.
Article courtesy of ASG.co.nz
18 West Auckland Parents Centre
Birth Story
Vanessa and Joshua In anti-natal class, we acted through what a surgery room would look like when having an assisted birth via caesarean. I remember looking at all the people who would be in the room and the teacher asking how this would make people feel – terrified was the common answer. She explained that each person was there for us and our baby, to keep us safe – this is what I thought as I lay on the table, with my arms pinned down and my body shaking uncontrollably, ‘these people are here to keep us safe’.
At 41 weeks I had no signs of labour. Baby was in the right position, so my obstetrician did a stretch and sweep. Two days later and not so much as a tingle when I sneezed and I was admitted to hospital to be induced. It was a relief, frightening and exciting to be finally getting things started. The drugs were administered at 11am and within an hour contrac-tions had begun. We were allowed to leave the hos-pital and went for walks, had lunch and returned at 2pm to be monitored. At this stage contractions were infrequently 5 mins apart and lasting for 1 min. As all baby signs were ok, we went home to try and get some rest and to return at 5pm. After my obste-trician examined me, she advised on an epidural – this was a shock as I didn’t expect this suggestion so early in the process. I did however have an obstetri-cian for a reason, respected her advice and one was put in place. The idea of someone jabbing a needle in your spine, while trying to hold still in an awkward position and having contractions was daunting but achievable.
The next stage was dare I say ‘cruisy’. The midwife completed paperwork while monitoring baby’s pro-gress, the obstetrician went home for a nap and due to the epidural I lay in relative comfort waiting for the finale. A few hours later, labour had not progressed any further so they broke my waters and adminis-tered drugs to increase my contractions. Although baby had started to move down the birth canal, he now started to ‘retreat’. Upon examination, his skull bones were being pressed together which was a sign that a natural birth may not be the best option. We
were advised that we could continue as the baby wasn’t distressed, but to consider a caesarean as this was likely to be the outcome. We decided not to wait until baby became distressed and were prepped for surgery.
The epidural wasn’t fully effective to one small area
where I could feel contractions. This remained the
case until after they had delivered baby. I’m sure it
was only minutes but it seemed like the longest part
of the process for me. Baby was born healthy at 12
pound 8 ounces at 11:57pm. His dad held him, keep-
ing him safe until they stitched me together and then
off to recovery where we could re-unite.
Got a birth story you’d like to share?
Whatever, whenever and wherever it
happened, we’d love to hear about it.
Email your story (with a photo of you and
your baby) to:
West Auckland Parents Centre 21
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 newsletter co-editor (planning and collating content for Tiny Talk), 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
Parent Education Coordinator
Parent Education Bookings
Newsletter Co-editor
Librarian
Membership Discount Coordinator
Marketing Coordinator
Venue Coordinator
CPR/Choking Course Host
Moving & Munching Course Host
12 Months & Over Course Host
Baby Factory Liaison
Advocacy & Lobbying
Social Media Co-ordinator
Are you are starting to believe that all food comes served in plastic bowls and the latest chart hit starts with “The wheels on the bus”…?
We have the perfect solution to get you out and about and spend some time with adults, who understand what this parenting gig is all about.
West Auckland Parents Centre needs you to host a course. Hosting involves attending the course at Kelston Community Centre, setting up and making cups of tea, helping participants feel welcome and completing a small amount of paperwork for the course. In return, you are able to attend the course for free and also receive a small koha in return for your time and support of the parent education offered by WAPC.
Full training is provided.
Just email [email protected] for more details of up-coming courses you could host.
Get Involved—Be a class host!
CBE6/14 Mon 19 May to 23 Jun
CBE7/14 Tues 10 Jun to 15 Jul
CBE8/14 Sat 19 Jul & 2 Aug
CBE9/14 Mon 21 Jul to 25 Aug
CBE10/14 Tue 12 Aug to 16 Sep
CBE11/14 Mon 15th Sep to 20 Oct
CBE12/14 Tues 21 Oct to 25 Nov
CBE13/14 Sat 29 Nov & 13 Dec
22 West Auckland Parents Centre
Pre-bath
First, arrange the baby’s clothes in the order in which they will be put on. For example, bottom on pile should be the outer clothes, next the nappy, and on top the vest.
Lay out a towel and any other bathing products you need.
Place your baby on floor to kick while running the bath – I tend to take the nappy off so they can have some ‘nappy free’ time.
The room needs to be warm. Not draughty or too hot, ideally around 20 degrees Celsius.
Running the bath
How hot should the bath water be? The temperature of the water can vary from baby to baby, however it should not be extreme so neither lukewarm nor scalding hot.
Again the depth of the water varies from family to family but I always suggest around 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 centimeters). Check the bath by testing with your elbow; otherwise you can use a bath thermometer.
Remember as the bath is shallow, the water will cool off very quickly.
I tend to add olive oil to the bath – this helps with baby’s dry skin or skin issues. Just drizzle it in to the water like you would over a salad.
Eyes and Face
For newborns I tend to wash their face before putting them in the bath and using cotton wool squares for the eyes (a separate square for each eye) and a face cloth for the face. I tend to wet these under running warm water and then wash the eyes first, wiping from their inner eye (nose side) to the outer eye. Then I wash their face again from the inner to the outer. I dry their eyes and face before putting them in the bathtub.
Putting baby into the bath
With one arm holding the baby under the back of their neck (i.e. their neck rests on your inner wrist) and grasping their shoulder, your other hand under their bottom, lower the baby into the bath.
Your hand touches the water first so it's a double check to ensure the water is at the right temperature.
Remove hand from bottom and wash the baby in the following manner.
If bathing in the normal bathtub, once you have placed the baby in the water, you can let them free float as long as the water is not too deep. This gives you both hands free to wash the baby.
Hair/Scalp
Using a sponge or cloth, wet hair thoroughly. Use a very small amount of shampoo (do not squirt this directly onto their hair/scalp) and using your fingers, lightly clean the scalp area.
Rinse well, again using a sponge or cloth ensuring that you are rinsing their scalp as well as their hair.
Body
I only tend to wash under the neck, armpits and bottom. Babies do not get dirty; bathing is just to freshen them up. If using body soap, use sparingly and once again, only under the neck, armpits and bottom.
Turn the baby over onto their tummy and in doing
Bathing a baby By Dorothy Waide
West Auckland Parents Centre 23
this support their head by cupping their chin in your hand. This position enables you to wash the back crease of their bottom.
Remove the baby from the bath and place on the towel. Wrap the baby on the towel and carry them to wherever you are going to dry and dress them.
Drying the baby
Hair – you can firmly rub dry a baby’s hair ensuring that you are drying their scalp as well as their hair.
Dry behind their ears making sure that you get right into the crease and that you are pat drying the fold between the scalp and ear.
Also pat dry the baby’s skin – no rubbing. Dry under their neck, armpits making sure that you get right into their creases and dry the center and not just the outside parts of these creases.
Turn the baby over onto their tummies to dry the back of their neck, back crease of bottom and back of their knee creases.
Dry the palms of their hands and check between fingers and toes for fluff.
If you find the towel is too thick or difficult to get into
all the creases especially the neck ones then use a dry muslin cloth.
Dressing the baby
I like to dress the chest first, sometimes a little tricky with boys but as long as you are not too slow you can get the vest and nappy on before they have chance to wee. This is where laying out the clothes comes in handy as you start with the vest, followed by the nappy and finish with their remaining clothes.
How often should you bathe a baby?
This is optional, however, I like to incorporate it into a baby’s daily routine so I do it every evening at around the 5 to 6pm feed. It is not bathing a baby daily that can lead to problems with their skin; it is the length of time that you keep them in the bath water. Whilst babies may like lying in the water, it should take longer to undress and dry and dress a baby than the time spent washing them in the bath.
West Auckland Parents Centre
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 $60
One year committee membership $20
Dorothy Waide is a qualified Karitane nurse and is often labelled as a “baby whisperer”. You can read about her services at
www.facebook.com/BabyWithin
24 West Auckland Parents Centre
Parents Centre’s position statement on infant
feeding reads:
“Parents Centre believes that breastfeeding is the
best form of infant feeding and will promote this
position as breastfeeding has nutritional,
immunological and psychological benefits to the
infant. Parents Centre holds the position that it will
educate parents to enable them to make an informed
decision about infant feeding and support them in
their choice.”
Why breastfeeding?
Breast milk is indisputably nature’s way of making
little humans thrive. It contains all of the nutrients
and benefits of mum’s immunity. It is specially made
for baby’s different ages and stages (nature is very
clever!) and is all a baby needs until they are around
6 months old. Breast milk helps to protect babies
against infection and is free, safe, environmentally
friendly and ready to use!
Breastfeeding can be easy to establish, but
sometimes challenges do arise. It is important to find
out as much as you can about breastfeeding before
you have your baby, through antenatal classes,
researching online, and through quality resources
and books such as Best Feeding and The Womanly Art
of Breastfeeding (check out your Parents Centre
library for these and other titles). Through reading
and researching, new mums will better understand
the science of breastfeeding and, coupled with solid
support and encouragement, are much more likely to
successfully breastfeed.
Breastfeeding takes time to establish, and in the early
days it’s important to make time to do so. In the
early days, breastfeeding can be very time-consuming
and it may feel as if you are achieving little in your
day – but you are achieving a lot! You are caring for,
loving, and feeding your baby; you are giving them
everything they need. The more time you take to
relax and spend quality time in this new role in the
early weeks, the easier life will be.
Don’t underestimate the role of dad/the partner! The
support role of baby’s other main caregiver,
encouraging and helping wherever they can, and in
making mum comfortable and allowing her time to
establish breastfeeding, is critical to successful
breastfeeding.
It can take about 6–8 weeks to establish
breastfeeding and build up a good milk supply, and
where possible, mothers should delay returning to
the work environment as long as they possibly can. If
you are returning to work, your employer is required,
as far as it reasonable and practicable, to provide
appropriate breaks and facilities for employees who
wish to breastfeed their infants or express milk
during work hours.* More information on these
provisions can be found at https://
www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/breastfeeding-and-
working
*These provisions have been in place since 1 April
2009, under section 69Y of the Employment Relations
Act 2000. Further, The Employment Relations (Flexible
Working Arrangements) Amendment Act 2007
provides certain employees with the right to request a
variation to their hours of work, days of work, or
place of work. Check out details of the Act at http://
www.dol.govt.nz/er/bestpractice/worklife/
flexibleworkguide
If you are expressing breast milk and your baby is
under 3 months of age, all equipment will need to be
washed and sterilised to prevent baby from getting
sick. For babies over 3 months, all equipment and
containers need to be thoroughly washed and rinsed
but not necessarily sterilised.
You can store expressed breast milk in an airtight
container with a sealed lid for:
4 hours at room temperature (keep it cool in a
damp towel)
48 hours (2 days) in the fridge
2 weeks in the freezer box in the fridge
3–6 months in the separate freezer part of a
fridge-freezer
6 months in a separate chest freezer.
Infant Feeding
West Auckland Parents Centre 25
Always store breast milk in the bottom half of the
fridge or freezer, towards the back and away from
anything that may contaminate it – e.g. meat
products. Remember to put the date on the
container, and use the oldest milk first.
Be aware that artificial nipples – teats and dummies –
can interfere with the establishment of breastfeeding
so it is best to avoid these, especially in the early
weeks.
For more information on breastfeeding, visit:
www.breastfeeding.org.nz and
www.lalecheleague.org.nz
What happens when breastfeeding doesn’t go to
plan?
Breastfeeding may come with its challenges. In these
instances, it’s important to get help early. With the
right expert advice and assistance, and with a positive
mind-set, most breastfeeding obstacles can be
overcome.
So get help early
These places give help and information about
breastfeeding and can support you through what can
be a very difficult time getting breastfeeding
established.
A lactation consultant – these can be hospital-based
or private. Phone your local maternity hospital or
0800 452 282 (during the day) for contact details of a
lactation consultant near you.
Your midwife or other lead maternity carer (LMC).
Your local Parents Centre Childbirth Educator.
Well Care Provider, Plunket (your local Plunket nurse
and/or Family Centres)
La Leche League – for breastfeeding information and
breastfeeding support groups. Find a group near you
at www.lalecheleague.org.nz
What other options are there for infant feeding?
Milk sharing
Breast milk sharing is experiencing a revival, with new
mothers using online communities to help feed their
newborns with human breast milk. Yes, there are
networks in New Zealand which put mums wanting
donated breast milk and those with excess supply in
touch with each other:
See ‘Human Milk for Human Babies – New Zealand
Aotearoa’ on Facebook, or
‘Eats on Feets New Zealand’ on Facebook.
The milk-sharing network Human Milk 4 Human
Babies (HM4HB) is a steadily-growing community
with more than 15,000 members worldwide. Check
out their international website at www.hm4hb.net
The most common argument against milk sharing is
that there is the risk of disease from using
unscreened donors. Research suggests that the risk of
transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis
and HIV, from sharing breast milk is minimal, as
donors are already breastfeeding their own babies
and generally are aware of the lifestyle required to
produce healthy human milk.
Formula feeding
If you have received professional help and
breastfeeding is not working out for you and your
family, or if you choose to, infant formula is an
option. Formula provides adequate nutrition for a
baby until they can start solids around the 6 month
age mark, however it does not provide the
immunological and health benefits that breast milk
gives your baby.
For further information on formula feeding, you can
refer to the Ministry of Health website link as follows:
https://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/feeding-your
-baby-infant-formula It tells you everything you need
to know in one easy link.
Your midwife, and your Well Care Provider, such as
Plunket and Parents Centre Childbirth Educator, can
provide assistance and support – do not hesitate to
contact them.
Advice from Parents Centre
Parents Centre is clear on our position: We promote
breastfeeding as the best and normal form of infant
feeding. We offer our support and encouragement to
all parents, whatever journey they take and whatever
path they choose, or end up taking. We recommend
you contact your Well Care Provider, Childbirth
Educator or Lactation Consultant for further
information on feeding your baby. Some Centres
offer phone contacts or support networks for baby
feeding.
26 West Auckland Parents Centre
What is listeria?
Listeria is a common bacterium, which can cause an
uncommon but potentially serious illness called
listeriosis. Listeria is found widely in soil, water, and
plants and in the droppings and faeces of animals and
humans.
How do people get listeriosis?
Listeriosis is a food-borne infection that results from
eating contaminated food. In particular, ready-to-eat
products and foods with a long refrigerated shelf life
are often linked to outbreaks of listeria.
Who is at serious risk of listeriosis?
Pregnant women and their unborn babies
Newborn babies
What are the symptoms?
It takes between a few days and a few weeks for
symptoms to show up. After being infected with
listeria, you may have no symptoms at all or you may
become ill with:
mild fever
headache
aches and pains.
You may also feel sick or vomit.
In a small number of cases these symptoms can
progress to more severe forms of the illness, such as
meningitis and blood poisoning.
In pregnant women, symptoms may be mild, but the
consequences can be severe as listeriosis can result in
miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth and can also
cause severe infection in the newborn baby.
If you think you might have listeriosis, see your
doctor.
How can listeriosis be prevented?
The risk of serious illness from listeria infection can
be reduced by safe food handling practices. Listeria is
one of the few food bacteria that will grow on food
even if it’s in the fridge and can withstand freezing. It
is wise to store any perishable food in the fridge, but
it is also important to use it within two days.
Safety with food
You can keep food safe by:
avoiding cross-contamination by keeping
cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods separate
from raw and unprocessed foods
washing your hands, utensils and chopping
boards before preparing different foods, to
avoid cross-contamination
cooking food thoroughly
eating freshly cooked food as soon as possible
after cooking
storing leftover foods in cleaned sealed
containeres in a fridge and using within two
days
reheating leftover food thoroughly so that it is
steaming hot, that is, above 72°C. (Take special
care to heat thoroughly and evenly when using
a microwave oven by stirring frequently.)
washing and drying whole raw fruit and
vegetables thoroughly
ensuring that food is eaten before the use-by
date
cleaning the fridge regularly and checking that
the temperature is between 2–4°C.
Unsafe foods for people at risk:
uncooked, smoked or ready-to-eat fish or
seafood, including oysters, smoked ready-to-eat
fish, sashimi or sushi*
paté, hummus-based dips and spreads
ham and all other chilled pre-cooked meat
products including chicken, and fermented or
dried sausages such as salami*
Avoiding Listeria
West Auckland Parents Centre 27
Homemade Finger Paint Fun! You will need: 1/2 cup of cornstarch or 1 cup of flour 4 tablespoons of sugar 2 cups of cold water A pinch of salt Food colouring Directions: Stir all ingredients together in a medium saucepan Cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes Stir the mixture until it is smooth and thick Turn off the heat and let cool Once cool, separate into containers and add colouring Store with lids tight so the paint won’t dry out
Playtime
pre-prepared or stored salads (including fruit
salads) and coleslaws
raw (unpasteurised) milk and any food that
contains unpasteurised milk*
soft-serve ice creams
soft, semi-soft or surface-ripened soft cheese
(eg, brie, camembert, feta, ricotta, roquefort)*.
* Note that these foods are safe to eat if heated
thoroughly to steaming hot, that is, above 72°C,
where appropriate.
Safer foods for people at risk:
freshly cooked foods
pasteurised dairy foods, eg,
milk, UHT milk, yoghurt
hard cheese (eg, cheddar, colby, edam)
processed cheese, cheese spread, cottage
cheese and cream cheese. Eat these cheeses
within two days of opening the pack.
Purchase all cheese in sealed packs, in small
quantities and use by the use-by date.
freshly washed vegetables and fruit
freshly prepared salads
bread and baked foods without cream or
custard
dried food
cereals
beverages.
More information
Your local public health service can give you more
information on food preparation, storage and safety;
talk to your doctor or nurse or contact the Ministry
for Primary Industries - food safety group, http://
www.foodsafety.govt.nz/ or Freephone 0800 693
721.
Information courtesy of The Ministry of Health and
adapted for use
https://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/food-safety-
avoiding-listeria
.
28 West Auckland Parents Centre
Venue Coordinator
Do you love to organise and have an eye for detail? Can you help?
Then this is the role for you. We are looking for someone to organise all of our venue bookings. We do not have our own premise and therefore hire our rooms from the Council and other organisations. You will be liaising with our course bookings officers, other committee members as necessary and the Council to ensure that everything is booked, keys are with the right people and that everything is in order to make a smooth running class.
Volunteer Opportunities At West Auckland Parents Centre
To apply for any of our volunteer positions or to find out more contact us on
837 8481, or [email protected]
Marketing Coordinator We need a person to help market & publicise
West Auckland Parents Centre including liaise
with local press, assist with the advertising of
courses and services, designing brochures &
posters, compiling marketing lists and
generally promote what we do. You will work
closely with the Parent Education team to
come up with ideas on how we can market
courses and be actively involved in helping
build/promote other areas of West Auckland
Parents Centre business. This role would take
around 2-3 hours per week but there is the
opportunity build it to more if you were really
keen. There is also a monthly committee
meeting.
Course Host - Moving, Munching and Motoring Are you a people person? Be honest because
we have the perfect role for you! Become a
hostess for our Moving, Munching and
Motoring Classes. Liase with the Educator and
participants. Set up the room and provide the
classes with info on products we
stock. Communicate with the class regarding
WAPC services and enjoy the social
interaction. Come join the team today.
West Auckland Parents Centre 29
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: 11 April. 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 tri-mester’ (newborn to 4 months). Sessions include sleeping & settling, life chang-es, 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: 7th April. Please contact us.
Members: $50, support person free
Non members: $60, support person $15
CPR &
Choking
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 courses commence: 12 April & 17 May Please contact us.
Members: $20, support person $10
Non members: $30, support person $15
Parenting Courses
30 West Auckland Parents Centre
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
West Auckland Parents Centre 31
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
32 West Auckland Parents Centre
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
WAPC Member Discounts
Discounts & Benefits
Your Fast Shop
EASY SHOPPING—EASY FUND-
RAISING
Step 1: Go to
www.yourfastshop.co.nz
Select: W est Auckland Parents
Centre
Start: Brow sing 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
this issue.
West Auckland Parents Centre
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]
34 West Auckland Parents Centre
When and how often does your coffee group meet?
Usually for morning tea – fortnightly.
What stage are your babies at? What is the boy girl ratio?
4—5 months old.
What Is the boy/girl ratio?
6 Boys, 5 girls.
What other activities has your coffee group tried?
Wriggle & Rhyme, Pram walks, Café Outings.
Being a parent has taught you....
Stephanie - Patience, Love, and the smiles & cuddles
make it all worth it.
Maria - It’s the hardest job in the world! But the
most rewarding one. It has taught me to be patient
& that things cannot always be perfect. Sometimes
you can’t dictate your day as you wish & that the
here & now is what matters. It has taught me that
this craziness is ok and that every day is a new
adventure & new learning experience.
Ghaz – I can’t always fix or control the situation but
to keep looking for solutions. Being patient. The
unconditional love you feel. I don’t need 8 hours
sleep every night to function.
Juliet – Time management, love and patience.
Sarah – A new respect for all women, especially mothers. Acceptance, love & perseverance. Best baby product you’ve tried?
Stephanie – Miracle Blanket, Barrier Cream, Infacol,
Disposable Nappies.
Maria – All of them! Anything that makes things
easier! Dummies, swaddle wraps and sleep wedge.
Ghaz – Angel Care Baby Monitor (for peace of mind),
front-pack, baby bouncer & Ranitidine (for reflux).
Juliet – Ergobaby Carrier (would be lost without it)
Sarah – Zip or Velcro swaddles & “The Wonder Weeks” book. What have been the greatest challenges so far?
Stephanie – Lack of sleep, dealing with crying,
conflicting advice & the total change of our lives.
Maria – Breastfeeding.
Ghaz – Breastfeeding & day sleeping.
Juliet – A baby whose sleep got worse rather than
better like you’re told!
Sarah – Breastfeeding, The upheaval a baby brings to your relationship, constantly wondering if I am doing the right thing, and adapting to an ever-changing baby! What’s the best thing about being in this coffee group?
Stephanie - It is a small group where everyone is
dealing with the same challenges. Sharing
experiences. Everyone is honest & helpful.
Maria – We are all in the same boat and we are all
honest with each other which is what you need. And
we have fun!
Ghaz – Support, advice and understanding.
Juliet – Our honesty. We aren’t afraid to admit our
difficulties and ask each other for ideas.
Sarah – The honesty, support, humour and understanding. Any tips for new parents?
Stephanie – Be flexible and willing to take advice and
adjust expectations because nothing goes to plan.
Ask for and accept help. The first 10-12 weeks are
the hardest. Lack of sleep will be difficult to deal with
so sleep when you can. Breastfeeding isn’t as easy as
everyone says and it does hurt.
Maria - Be patient! Nothing can prepare you for this,
but you learn as you go. Ask for help when you need
it, and whatever decision you make will be good and
Round The Coffee Cups Chat from inside one of our coffee groups By Stephanie, Maria, Ghaz, Juliet & Sarah
Sponsored by
West Auckland Parents Centre 35
don’t feel guilty about it. And enjoy – time goes fast.
Ghaz – Don’t feel that you’re a failure if things don’t
go according to the books. Breastfeeding is an art
and takes a lot of practice – in some cases it is not
possible to breastfeed and that’s ok.
Juliet – Caffeine. And try not to wish away those
early weeks – they go so quickly anyway!
Sarah – Establish a bedtime/naptime routine as soon as possible so baby associates this with sleep. You’re not going to enjoy every minute and that’s ok/normal. Sometimes babies are what they are, and sometimes you need to take action if you want things to change – so don’t be afraid to experiment a little!
Tell us about your coffee group and
receive a $50 voucher for your
coffee group to use at Mozaik
Email us for more info
36 West Auckland Parents Centre
West Auckland Parents Centre
Ph. 837 8481 (answerphone) PO Box 83-192, Edmonton, Auckland 0652
www.westaucklandparents.org.nz
Committee Contacts President Teresa Cooper [email protected]
Vice President Daniel Mapletoft [email protected]
Secretary Rebecca Crewe-Lui [email protected]
Co-Treasurers Catherine Matson
Megan Barnwell [email protected]
Membership Coordinator Teresa Cooper [email protected]
Parent Education Coordinator Can you help? [email protected]
Parent Education Bookings Can you help? [email protected]
Products Coordinator Christine Militoni [email protected]
Newsletter Editor Daniel Mapletoft [email protected]
E-News Editor Muirie Cook [email protected]
Newsletter Advertising Muirie Cook [email protected]
Grants & Fundraising Coordinator Jess ie May [email protected]
Librarian Can you help? [email protected]
Membership Discount Coordinator Can you help? [email protected]
Website Coordinator Jessica Vroegop [email protected]
Marketing Coordinator Can you help? [email protected]
Events Coordinator Lydia Dunn [email protected]
Venue Coordinator Can you help? [email protected]
Volunteer Admin Coordinator Jess Maher [email protected]
Childbirth Education Convenor Carolyn Nielsin [email protected]
Childbirth Education Bookings Amanda Galt [email protected]
Baby & You Course Host Nicola Mapletoft [email protected]
CPR/Choking Course Host Can you help? [email protected]
Moving & Munching Course Host Can you help? [email protected]
12 Months & Over Course Host Can you help? [email protected]
Baby Factory Liaison Can you help? [email protected]
Advocacy & Lobbying Can you help? [email protected]
Social Media Co-ordinator Can you help? [email protected]
West Auckland Parents Centre 37
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
38 West Auckland Parents Centre
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 200 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 June/July 2014 issue, the deadline for copy is 1st May 2014.
For more information please contact our Newsletter
or Newsletter Advertising volunteers, see opposite
page 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
Pukekohe
Wednesday 9th April, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Franklin The Centre - Stevensen Room 10 Massey Avenue, Pukekohe Kelston
Thursday 10th April, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Kelston Community Centre - Activity Room 2 Corner Awaroa & Great North Roads For more info, costs and bookings visit:
http://www.thenappylady.co.nz/workshops-auckland.html