The Whole-Brain Child, workshop in Bristol, May 2014

We all know the challenges of raising/ caring for a child or children and that parents can feel ill prepared. Fortunately now there are many  good resources available to support both parents and professionals. The new book and DVD called “The Whole-Brain Child”  that neuroscientist Dan Siegel and psychotherapist Tina Payne Bryson have put together is excellent material; very practical and readable, with up to date information on the brain and attachment. If you are interested in learning more about their work in a supportive environment, you may be interested in joining one of the six week courses that I am starting to run in Redland, Bristol. These courses start in May and if you would like more information, do contact me.

The course follows the structure of the book “The Whole-Brain Child” and we will be looking at brain basics, attachment theory (including an introduction to the fascinating world of prenatal and birth psychology) and the development of the sense of self in the early years. Topics such as how to support the integration of different parts of a child’s brain through emotionally responsive caregiving, how to integrate memories for healing and growth and how to support a healthy sense of connection to self, other and the world will be covered over the six weeks. You will learn specific tools so that you can stay more connected to your child or the child in your care more easily – particularly in the very difficult and stressful moments!

The most powerful message of the book is that all the interactions that you have with a child can be used as opportunities to help him or her thrive. The focus is on helping a child to be more him or herself, more emotionally connected and resourced in life. Of course this process starts during pregnancy and around birth and continues in infancy in the context of a secure attachment. I personally feel that this kind of course could be taken as part of preparation for pregnancy or birth! The material is very helpful for parents or caregivers in becoming more aware of themselves and how past experiences may be impacting on their children. In understanding the process by which unresolved issues are being triggered and by releasing old feelings,  there can be more choice about how to interact in the present with a child.

In the support and safety of a group, with time for reflection and discussion, participants can gain insights and develop new ways of relating. The really good news is that because of the brain’s plasticity, it is never too late to start the process of shaping it in positive ways.  “The Whole-Brain Child” is a very inspiring and empowering approach. Even if you cannot come along to a workshop, I really encourage you to take a look at the book.



“The Whole-Brain Child” workshop will be held at Redland Friends Meeting House, 126, Hampton Rd, Bristol, BS6 6JE on Mondays 10-12 noon from May 12th or Thursdays 7.30-9pm from May 15th.

This is a guest blog for Born by Hannya Melrose, psychotherapist and parent/child therapist with a practice in Stroud and Bristol. Ffi: Tel: 07776291889 or hannyamelrose@gmail.com

Newborn photograhy offer for our Bristol customers

We frequently get approached by photographers who take family and baby photographs who want to promote their work to our customers.  As we like to support other local companies we do often post about them on our Facebook page.  However I was particularly taken with the pictures taken by local Bristol photographers Eyeconic Photography.  They are offering our customers a great deal on baby photos (see the bottom of the article). If ypu take them up on their offer here's what to expect and why you might want to condider getting potos done professionally.

Photographing babies in the early stages is becoming ever popular of late, and at Eyeconic photography it’s a passion. There is nothing better than meeting new additions to wonderful families.

http://www.eyeconicphotography.co.uk/

The best time to photograph a newborn baby is up to 10 days old.  Up to this age your baby is still very sleepy and he or she is much easier to pose. "The aim is to capture all those wonderful details, delicate fingers and toes, crinkly skin and that wonderful downy hair that in just a few days will be gone forever." Sessions can take between 2 and 4 hours depending on how your baby settles so bring a magazine or a book and the best thing is, you get to relax!

Booking your shoot:

If possible, give us a call a few weeks before your due date and we will pencil you in.  Then just give us a call or a text to let us know when baby has arrived and we'll schedule in the session.  As babies rarely arrive when you expect we are always very flexible and will almost always manage to fit you in. 

Preparing for you shoot is very important, here are our top tips for the best possible images…..

What to Expect:

Be prepared to chill out and relax, we aim for the shoot to last between 2-3 hours, sometimes though if baby is unsettled it can go over 3 hours.

Don’t worry though; we will keep you fully replenished with tea, coffee and biscuits.

In order for your baby to be comfortable we keep the studio temperature at 80 degrees or above, this does however mean that you may get rather warm so wear layers.

Tips:

Try to keep baby awake a few hours before the shoot, lots of interaction and playtime, sometimes very difficult we know, but worth it, to get those lovely curly poses we need a sleeping baby.

Feed your baby no more than 30 minutes before the shoot and dress your baby in a simple sleeper suit, nothing that needs taking off over the head.

Parents and siblings, if you would like to be in the photos wear simple, solid colours and avoid logos.

What to bring:

Extra bottles, nappies and a dummy. Also, wee’s and poo’s happen, so extra clothing for yourself and baby... just in case!

Safety:

The safety and comfort of your baby are our top priority, we have lots of experience in handling newborns, and will never put your baby in a position that will put them at risk.

Getting booked in before your due date is always a good idea, give the studio a call on 01275 837575

'Exclusively to Born customers,

Newborn/Baby photo shoot and Four 10x8 prints of the same image worth £120

Quote Born2014 when booking'

This is a guest blog from Eyeconic photography, Bristol

Win in our ergobaby competition

We love ergobaby, not just the products but everything the brand stands for.  We share a similar ethos and delight in telling customers about how their slings and baby gear can enhance their relationship with their baby.  So we are delighted to be giving away one of their gorgeous new Wrap slings that were launched just a few weeks ago along with a Swaddle set.  Between them these products will keep a newborn feeling safe and secure and in the best ergonomic position possible whether they are being carried upright in your arms or are laid down for a sleep. The prize is worth £114.85 and you can find out more about the benefits of the Ergobaby Swaddle and Wrap here.

Last chance to enter our Petunia Pickle Bottom Changing Bag Competition

Today is the last day you can enter our competition to win a Petunia Pickle Bottom changing bag on our Facebook page and Twitter. You can enter up to midnight on Tuesday 11th of March.

Click on the link below for details of how to win.

Watch out for another competition next week!

Swimming with baby, great exercise for all

Water Babies have been offering baby swimming classes in the UK since 2002.  The Bristol classes are always very popular with our customers who come in for the special Splashabout swim nappies Waterbabies wear.

As well as being lot of fun, Water Babies classes, get babies moving and exercising those muscles from an early age. Rowan from Water Babies writes about the benefits of being in water for both parent and child int his article.

Healthy habits for your whole family

It’s never too early to begin regular exercise. For babies who have spent 9 months cocooned in it, water is the most natural place to start. Swimming is a wonderful form of exercise for lots of reasons, and a weekly Water Babies class will help build good exercise habits into your family life.

Supporting babies’ bodies to move freely, water gives resistance for strengthening muscles, improving coordination, and gently easing any stiffness or discomfort. And the bonding experience of splashing around together, skin-on-skin is truly wonderful.

Swimming is a great leveller – an activity you can enjoy regardless of age or physical ability. It gives people young and old a wonderful cardio-vascular workout that they couldn’t otherwise get on land. It’s also fun, widely available and not dependent on good weather, which is a bonus in the country!
Sadly, obesity in adults and children is on the increase. This partly due to richer diets, but also because more sedentary lifestyles mean less exercise.

Our milky babies need high calories from their food, so we don’t need to worry about their weight just yet. But fostering a love of such a complete form of exercise will make it easier to keep them active in the future.

Your baby can start swimming pretty much from birth – you don’t have to wait for immunisations. It’s wonderful to see tiny babies totally relaxed in our lovely, warm hydrotherapy pools. We have even had babies who have slept through entire classes, and those others who kick and splash for the entire lesson certainly sleep well afterwards!

Supported by years of research, Water Babies courses are carefully structured to give you and your baby a gentle and positive introduction to the water. Our beginner baby classes are for babies from birth to under 1 year.

We can take you right up to pre-school age, tailoring our classes to your child’s stage of development, so you’ll both leave us with confidence, safety skills and swimming skills for a lifetime of healthy, happy splashing!

Water Babies classes take place in warm, private pools across Bristol Bath and Weston-Super-Mare.
Call us to find out more – 0117 946 6919. We run 4 terms per year starting in September, November, February and May.

Or visit www.waterbabies.co.uk for a class near where you live.

This is a guest blog from Water Babies Bristol

Introducing the Phil & Teds Lux Stroller

The new Phil&Teds Smart Lux stroller arrived in Bristol yesterday and as I was there I got to put it up and have a play.

All gear comes with instructions but I like to see if I can work it out myself - just to see how simple things are to construct.  I did refer to the instructions but didn't need to follow them to the letter as it was quite a simple stroller to construct out of the box. Wheels clicked into place very easily, and bassinet/seat just a simple to click into place. The only thing that I couldn't work out for myself was the opening and closing mechanism which required a push as well as a slide, but once you realise that, the whole folding and unfolding became a doddle.

What I really liked about this stroller is that the seat turns into a bassinet so that you can have a baby in it from birth but they are as enclosed as if they were in a carrycot. Unlike the Bugaboo Bee which really requires a cocoon to keep your newborn from feeling enclosed.  Changing from a bassinet to seat is really simple too. Just a few clips to fasten behind the seat unit and your done.

We chose the Smart Lux over the Smart stroller as we like all our strollers to have the option of keeping your child rear/parent facing all the time. Some strollers like the Smart and the Bugaboo Bee are designed for rear facing for just the first 6 months or so and then forward facing from then on as the footplate is part of the chassis so if they rear face they don't have anywhere to put their feet.  

 

In terms of value for money this is a really reaonably priced stroller. At just £367 including the raincover.  All Phil and Teds strollers are sold without raincovers but we think that if you live in England it's a must.

The shopping basket is large and really easy to access in both pram and stroller mode.

The Smart Lux can be folded with the seat unit on it, but it is really easy to take off and put back on again so for compactness when folded it's better to take it off.

The canopy has a integral window so you can sneak a peak at your little one when they are in the forward facing position and it also has a zipped in piece of UV mesh for ventilation.  You can buy a separate UV/Sun mesh for just £25 which keeps out harmfull UV rays and biting insects but your child can see through.

The lare wheels are air filled so give a nice smooth ride. The front wheels have suspension 


The Smart Lux take a car seat too, car seat adaptors cost £35 and allow you to take the Maxi Cosi Pebble Car seat.  

The package with all the accessories and car seat (at our special offer price of £120 when bought with a stroller) comes to just £547 or about 50p per day if you child uses it until they are 3! But it can actually carry the weight of an average 4 year old (20kg).

It comes in black with a choice of 3 seat pad colours

For more weright and dimensions see the product on our website.


The Phil& Teds Smart Lux is not available nationwide yet and isn't officially launched until the end of March so you won't see them on the streets yet, but if you want a very reasonably priced birth to toddler travel system, with all the features we think are required in a stroller then this could be for you!

Eva