Taking a baby on a trip
Dreaming of adventure, travel, hopping into a van for a road trip all around Europe... But your family has just grown and you're not quite sure how to reconcile the two. What if carrying gear was a key element to making your project happen? The quest for minimal clutter Young parents know this: the volume of equipment to bring when you have a baby is ! Whether for a short weekend or a longer trip, renting the necessary semi-trailer to carry the "just in case" gear is generally not part of the plan. So begins the painful sorting process. Some choices are simple, but others are more tricky: the maxi stroller is very comfortable for the baby but takes the space of 3 suitcases. Meaning: you'll have to do without, but you'll need to figure out how, without sacrificing everyone’s comfort. This is where the baby carrier finds its first advantage: Flexible, compact, and lightweight, it easily slips between two bags and takes up almost no space. Remember a weekend in the mountains with 3 children and a dog in a tiny car packed to the brim, where the baby carrier was folded as a blanket over the baby and the sling was worn as a snood around my neck (the stroller, on the other hand, wouldn't fit!). Note that space saving is only effective if you opt for physiological baby carriers: large hiking backpacks with frames, besides being very uncomfortable, don't fold well and also take up a huge volume! A little breeze of freedom Who hasn't found themselves stuck in front of a huge staircase, a cobbled street, or a monument visit where stroller access is prohibited? The baby carrier allows you to face all unforeseen obstacles of your trip without headaches. Baby follows you everywhere, regardless of the terrain! Fancy a spontaneous hike on nearby paths? Just clip it on and go! An inaccessible place for the stroller? No need for a last-minute backup plan, nor the risk of theft if you leave the stroller in designated space. Whether for a day at the beach or a sightseeing tour, thanks to carrying you remain free to move around and can travel anywhere without the risk of getting stuck. Travel with confidence in transportation A suitcase in one hand, the stroller to fold in the other, the crying baby to manage in the middle, and the crowd getting impatient behind (without help, of course, that would be too simple)... Does this situation sound familiar to you? It’s the one that often occurs when trying to take the train with your baby. Sometimes, there are also difficulties when taking the plane, between the oversized stroller that must go in the hold or takes the place of another carry-on bag, and the security checks and waiting time before boarding to manage. Seated in a carrier, your child is secured during various handling procedures, you have free hands to manage a possibly fussy baby, and you can also sneak through the aisles more easily if they need to be rocked. The globetrotting baby For the baby, there are also many advantages to traveling in a carrier! Environmental changes can sometimes be more difficult for some little ones to handle: away from home, they can become nervous, anxious, have more difficulty falling asleep, and their routines and references are disrupted. This is all the more true as the transit places can be noisy and overwhelming (crowds, noise, lights...). Snuggled against you, they are reassured and secured and cope better with the various upheavals. Since tourist sites are often very popular, it’s not uncommon to find yourself right in the middle of a crowd. In a stroller, the child is at knee height of the people, even if you are careful they can be jostled, burned by cigarettes held downward, and the sight of legs pressing around them is clearly not the most pleasant. Snuggled against you, they will feel less overwhelmed by the crowd, and they can also enjoy the visits and panoramic views. For older children, they will also appreciate being able to rest a bit when they are tired. The ideal baby carrier for the little budding adventurer Now that the basics are covered: which carrying system should we put in our travel bag? If you have to choose only one, a preformed carrier is probably the most versatile because it combines both comfort with good weight distribution and the practical necessities of emergency or outdoor setups. It is easy to use for passing airport security or re-installing the baby in the middle of the train aisle upon arrival. Compact and lightweight, it also features a very low volume of bulk. Wrap, sling, and mei-tai They remain choice allies as well but will often need to combine with each other to handle all situations. Being very flexible, they easily slip to the bottom of a bag or between two suitcases and will be appreciated for a more cozy side with a very small one. All that remains is to wish you a good trip!
Essential care for baby
Everything is ready, the nursery, the cuddly toys, and the bag for the maternity hospital… All that's left is to go! And the day of the big meeting arrives! We are amazed by this little bundle… by so much perfection. These tiny fingers with tiny nails at the tips, so delicate… And happiness fills us, we already know each other while discovering ourselves… Breastfeeding begins and sometimes comes with minor tummy troubles: small cries, a tense belly, knees drawn up… Ah ah ah… little colics? That's when I remember that grandma Lison offered me a magical box, she said! Everything for baby’s little bumps, natural and organic herbal potions. I discover Calm Bidou, full of promises just in the name! A tummy massage and sometimes just applying it on the lower back, just above the buttocks, and I see that it soothes quickly. So it becomes a ritual during the first weeks, giving the little intestines time to properly establish their function too! Now, two months have passed with life gently flowing with baby, the routines are taking shape, the rhythm is gradually emerging… It’s time for his big brother to go to school, and here, after two weeks, his nose is running and of course, he transmits some germs to his little sister… And now his nose starts running too… grrrr! Let’s check the magical box from Grandma Lison… Achoo! In addition to nasal irrigation, here’s a new ritual: chest massage or foot sole massage (which is easier depending on how many layers of clothing are on to reach the area 😉). In four days, it’s resolved! Phew! Second challenge, boo-boo overcome! They don’t always tell us everything… But since it’s winter, I continue with one application per day under his little feet, a comforting massage that also helps strengthen his natural immunity to block future runny noses! Six months later, it’s no longer the adorable little baby who doesn’t move… she’s making herself heard! But now, we hear her much better: grumpy, red cheeks, drooling everywhere… I sense the third challenge looming, and not the least: teeth! This is serious business! Disrupted sleep, inconsolable baby… I give a chilled rattle, it helps but it starts again, I need to rotate wisely, always have some ready, a real race against time! Hey, First Teeth … I had forgotten the magic box offered by Grandma Lison… and here it is really magical! Immediate relief. A drop on the finger (so practical to put on) and my finger massaging the gum (and sometimes getting crushed by the pitbull marchers of Miss), several times a day, and you can really feel that it does good! We don’t quite get through it… The first tooth cuts through after a few days, with the smile and sleep restored! This product is so great, it relieves pain, softens the gum, and allows the little teeth to push through in relative calm… 9 months… "Look darling, she’s really gotten the hang of crawling, she’ll be walking soon!" But don’t expect everything… and bam… the table leg right in the forehead and the first bump! This time all the magic sticks are ready to draw—Bam! I just put it on the emerging bump and the magic again… Baby relieved resumes exploring, and miracle—after a few hours, the bump diminishes after two applications, and not even a bruise! It remains to test the Little Bobo (the second emergency stick from the magic box offered by Grandma Lison)… And it was his big brother who gave it to him a few days later by falling flat on his stomach at the square: screaming "maman…", scraped knees, tears streaming down his cheeks… With my square nurse diploma in hand, I take out a small tissue to wipe the gravel and my Little Bobo roll because it doesn’t sting, it relieves, cleans, and PLUS, he can put it on all by himself like a big kid! This also greatly limits the tears!!! Little Bobo and Bam-Bam will become essentials in my bag and on our outings because bruises, bumps, small burns, blisters, and scratches won’t last long! So thank you Grandma Lison for introducing me to magical herbal potions to soothe my two mischievous treasures because we are quite unprepared for these everyday little injuries… unfortunately, we don’t have parenting classes to manage all the hazards of our new role 😊! And it’s still much better to work with natural resources when possible… especially when you see how well she made the tiny fingers of our little one… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQE5Wr4XvVc
Everything to know about skin-to-skin contact
It has long been a tradition to wrap the baby in a cloth before handing it to the mother after birth. But this trend is giving way to skin-to-skin contact. The practice involves placing the baby, nude or in a diaper, directly against the mother’s chest. It is not uncommon for skin-to-skin contact to be offered to the father when the mother is unable to do it herself. It is also called the Kangaroo method. So, is it a passing trend or a recommended practice? And why practice skin-to-skin contact? How is "nurturing" skin-to-skin contact? It was in Colombia, 40 years ago, that Dr. Edgar Rey Sanabria imagined warming premature babies by placing them, undressed, against the bare chest of their parents. The practice has existed for a long time. However, it has only recently been adopted by French maternity wards. How to practice skin-to-skin contact? Baby must, of course, be undressed initially. Usually, their diaper is left on. Their chest is placed on the parent’s chest, who has previously undressed their torso. Their head must be free to breathe comfortably. They are generally covered with a sheet and a blanket so they don’t get cold. Skin-to-skin contact can be practiced sitting or standing. To do this, you will choose a carrying sling made of Oeko-Tex cotton (a fabric free from pollutants, heavy metals, and toxins). Similar to a physiological baby carrier, it adapts to all body types and allows you to keep the baby comfortably against you, safely. Neobulle offers several models of slings, including the without knot sling My Sling Jersey. Why practice skin-to-skin contact? Calming the baby Practiced immediately after birth, skin-to-skin contact, as we mentioned, has the advantage of warming the baby. Indeed, against the parent’s chest, the baby regulates its temperature and, at the same time, stabilizes its heart rate. Through this practice, it also regulates its breathing. Skin-to-skin contact even helps increase its blood sugar levels! Later, the kangaroo method is reputed to calm the baby’s cries. Studies have shown that babies practicing this method cry much less than those placed in their cribs. Reassuring the baby Childbirth is a test for the mother… but it is also for the baby. The transition from the mother's womb to open air is the first great adventure of their life! No more the comfort of a warm, cozy belly! When born, baby loses their bearings and needs to be reassured. This is why the first skin-to-skin contact is important for baby. It reconnects them with the heartbeat of the person who carried them for months, it hears the familiar voice of mom or even, dad. And then the warmth of the parent's body helps to reassure them! All these "little details" allow them to enter their new life more gently. Reassuring parents It's not only baby who is soothed by skin-to-skin contact! Parents who practice it also feel a sense of calm. In the practice of the kangaroo method, an increase in oxytocin, the "love" hormone, is observed. This hormone has the ability to soothe and release anxieties. And it is scientifically proven! Skin-to-skin reduces parental stress! This close contact with baby may even promote the production of endorphins, hormones secreted by the brain that are known to create a sensation of euphoria. Facilitating breastfeeding The hormones produced during skin-to-skin offer a feeling of well-being that helps to strengthen the parent-child bond. Oxytocin, in particular, already produced by the mother throughout pregnancy, contributes to the production of breast milk. The milk let-down reflex is thus promoted after birth. Skin-to-skin also helps to maintain lactation afterward. Practicing the kangaroo method from birth finally promotes the baby's instinct to find their mother's breast! Developing the child's immune system Skin-to-skin truly has more than one trick up its sleeve! It also has the recognized ability to develop the baby's immune system. And this is important because it will help limit the infection rate they may face. * Beyond the practice carried out immediately after birth, skin-to-skin retains all its benefits for months! That is why it is important to continue practicing it upon returning from the maternity ward and until the baby is 12 months old. A way to continue fostering calming exchanges between parent and baby! The first months with baby will be all the sweeter!
