PRE-BABY

It took me four years to feel ready for another baby.

When Clara was born, I was running two businesses on top of the juggle of full-time care for her with no help, and the mental load that comes with managing a household and family. In modern society, we’re asked to never stop and keep the candle burning at both ends. I wanted it all but the cost of it was my health and mental wellbeing. By the end of the first year, I was diagnosed with exhaustion. I thought that always being tired was part of the norm of having a baby but I later discovered that I had a lot of mineral deficiencies and I was on the verge of chronic fatigue. As an accidental overachiever, I wanted to be a supermum but I was completely blindsided by postnatal depletion.

At my lowest point, I was battling two episodes of Uveitis. After trying too hard to avoid it, I finally heard my physical body screaming for my attention. 

The years that followed, I learned to slow down, tune in and surrender to motherhood. I sought the expertise of a naturopath and a clinical psychologist who provided me with a new lens on life and self-care. I started to challenge my demanding inner critic. I followed the lead of my velcro baby who to my surprise, became my greatest teacher. She taught me patience, wonder, and the true meaning of living in the present.

With true acceptance for this season of my life, I decided that I wanted to do this second chapter of motherhood differently. I didn’t want to be pulled in all directions at the same time; I didn’t want to always feel like I had to choose between business or baby. After being in business for 11 years — juggling it with a baby for the last 4 years — I decided that I had learned everything I could and that it was time to pass on the baton. It was 12 months in the making but I eventually found the perfect buyers for both businesses and just like that, it felt like the heaviest weight was lifted off my shoulders.

During that time, at three years old, Clara finally weaned off breastfeeding and my body became my own possession again.

The last piece of the puzzle to be slotted into place was my clearance from the ophthalmologist as I had been prescribed medication to stabilise my eye pressure (a side effect of long-term use of steroids which I needed to treat the Uveitis) which wasn’t pregnancy safe. I was given the all clear in late December and in serendipitous alignment with my ovulation cycle and the Chinese gender prediction chart, we fell pregnant immediately. 

PREGNANCY

As soon as we found out we were pregnant, my GP and OB confirmed that I needed to start taking a low-dose of aspirin daily as blood thinners to prevent another case of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). It seamlessly became part of my morning routine.

In reflection, I’m so glad I took the time to give myself and this baby a strong foundation to thrive physically, mentally and spiritually because the first trimester was more testing than I could have ever imagined.

My nausea and first trimester fatigue was so much tougher on the body than what I remember of the first pregnancy. Feeling queasy and so revolted by food all day long made me miserable. The permanent metallic taste in my mouth turned me off even drinking water.

I’m naturally a high achiever and not being able to function without a nap was seen as unproductive by my demanding inner critic. I had to remind myself that I was making a baby—the most productive and miraculous thing my body could do.

I had no doubt Clara was nurturing and empathetic, although clingy by nature. It was impossible to predict how she’d cope with my new tired and nauseous state. But she quickly learned to give me space. She fetched me coconut water whenever I was thirsty, and my Kindle whenever I needed it. To my delight, her relationship with her Daddy has blossomed in my absence, and her independence has flourished!

Having emerged from the other side of all this, the second trimester was thankfully kinder and gentler. 

With the support of the same OB as my first pregnancy, I made an informed decision to have an elective caesarean. 

THIRD TRIMESTER

As the COVID case numbers rose, restrictions were tightened at the OB and ultrasound clinic. I attended all the appointments alone. It wasn’t ideal but I easily accepted the rule. I just couldn’t imagine what it was like for all the first-time mothers out there and I was grateful to have experienced my first pregnancy before the world turned upside down.

At one stage, I had a sliding doors encounter with a positive COVID case who attended the ultrasound clinic several hours prior to my appointment. As a possible casual contact, I was advised to get tested immediately. The ultrasound clinic closed for two weeks and I transferred to one of their other locations. Soon after, it became a requirement at both the OB and ultrasound clinic to show a negative COVID test no less than 72 hours old. As annoying as this process was, it was put into place to protect us and I welcomed the peace of mind. 

By week 30, I was in positive spirits that the baby had comfortably maintained his position on the 50th percentile curve on the growth chart. However, by week 32, his weight plummeted down to the 8th percentile. Suddenly, that sinking feeling from my first pregnancy came flooding back to me. I received a familiar call from the OB immediately after the ultrasound where she delivered the news I didn’t want, but knew to expect. It was all happening again. My hopes to have my baby with me from birth (and skip the special care nursery) instantly faded away. 

My conversation with the OB was déjà vu all over again. Same plan, different baby. I slowly repeated the plan after the OB, trying to take it all in. “OK, I’ll call the hospital after this call to book in an ECG for tomorrow, then I’ll schedule in another growth scan for next Wednesday. And I’ll see you on Monday.” I said. “We’ll monitor this baby closely with scans every second day” said the OB reassuringly. 

Once the new plan had sunk in, my protective mama bear instincts kicked in. I approached this methodically, like I would with a work project. 

To throw another spanner in the works, the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility criteria was finally changed to include pregnant women, however, it was near impossible to get an appointment at a vaccination hub or GP due to a shortage Australia-wide. I stalked Facebook groups; I used all the medical booking apps; I called all the GPs. My OB continued to keep me informed about the latest research on the vaccine and I remained motivated to be fully vaxxed before my scheduled C-section date to ensure I was giving the baby the greatest chance at receiving the antibodies. It shouldn’t have been this hard but it was frustratingly so. After several days of detective work, I finally tracked down my two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

By week 34, the baby surpassed Clara’s IUGR birth weight of 1760grams which was a huge milestone for us. But his weight continued to yo-yo and my consistently high uterine artery PI indicated increased risk of developing preeclampsia.

I packed my hospital bag at week 35, knowing that we could be meeting our baby any day now. With every triweekly scan came the possibility of bringing forward the delivery date. And as part of looking after my future-self, I kept myself busy batch cooking nutritious wholesome meals for the freezer.

Unfortunately, with just under two weeks to go until the planned c-section date, Clara’s pre-school had a positive COVID case which meant that she was considered a close contact and would have to self-isolate. Since a four-year old can’t self-isolate by themselves, it essentially meant our family had to self-isolate. Days later, we’re advised that because Zen did the drop-off on the date of the exposure, he would also be classified as a close contact. I spent many frustrating hours on the phone with NSW Health authorities discussing the implications of this on my birth plans. Conflicting information from different authorities and the hospital made it all the more complicated and infuriating. On the flip side, I was eternally grateful for all this uninterrupted time with my firstborn.

Five days prior to the planned c-section date, I had my last growth scan and with everything looking stable, the day was set. 

I spent the next few days preparing for the transition to becoming a family of four. I wrote a letter to Clara. I wrote a letter to my baby. I also wrote five love letters/cards to Clara for each of the five nights that I’d be in hospital, and I paired each card with a little scavenger hunt around the house. Clara has never spent a night without me so it was important to me that she didn’t feel abandoned or emotionally neglected during this time. 

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With under 48 hours to go until the planned c-section, I finally let out my breath when I received an email from the hospital confirming that we have been given an exemption for Zen to be present at the birth. He would have to return home to serve out the remainder of the isolation period (48 hours) and thus wouldn’t be able to support me in the hospital room. 

DAY OF PLANNED CAESAREAN

There was a calmness in the air from knowing that we’ve been through this before. The morning played out exactly as planned. I was up at 4:30am to allow myself the time and space to be present. I listened to my positive caesarean hypnobirthing affirmations and at 5am, I gently woke Clara and Zen. We’d packed Clara’s bags together the night before so it was already waiting for her at the door. I placed my five love letters on the table and reminded her that she’ll see me on the sixth day, after she opens one letter per day. I gave her a tight hug and we said our goodbyes. She was excited to be spending the day with her favourite auntie. 

After dropping Clara off at my sister’s place, Zen returned to pick me up and we made the short drive to the hospital. Due to being close contacts with the COVID outbreak at Clara’s daycare, there were strict procedures put into place at the hospital. I called the delivery suite on arrival and had to be escorted upstairs. Due to some internal miscommunication, I was left to wait outside for over 20 minutes. It felt like the longest 20 minutes of my life. However, soon enough, we’re in. Staff and cleaners, all dressed in PPE waited at every touchpoint as a safety precaution. We were led away from the main maternity rooms and through double sets of doors. The door to my room would remain closed at all times and I had a dedicated midwife to reduce her risk of transmission amongst other patients and staff. Of course I’d already tested negative everyday but they took no chances and both Zen and I had to take another COVID test on arrival. 

I showered and changed into my hospital gown. Patient identification bands were tied around my wrist and ankle, and I settled into the bed to wait for further instruction.

As I anticipated the next course of action, a man entered the room to take my blood. I’d completely forgotten about this step and it took me by surprise. I tried my best to hide my needle phobia as my blood was drawn. I was reminded that this was a standard procedure to ensure they have a complete blood count and to check my blood type in case I needed a blood transfusion during or after the c-section.

By 7:30am, we were still sitting around, waiting. 

I originally had a birth photographer booked but due to the lockdown restrictions, they were no longer permitted so I armed Zen with my DSLR. While we waited, I took the opportunity to give him another crash course on the basic functions of my camera.

However, much to our devastation, as a team arrived to wheel me down to the operating theatre, we were advised that no phones or cameras will be allowed as specified by the hospital’s COVID response team. I felt robbed and I wanted to protest but there was no time to dwell or respond to this news. Deep down, I was gutted that we wouldn’t be able to capture our baby’s entrance to the world, but my hospital bed was already on the move. My mind quickly caught up to my body and I focused on gratitude. I was grateful that despite the circumstances, Zen was able to be here with me. I was grateful that we made it to 38 weeks + 5 days which was the original date we had pencilled in on my first OB appointment. I was grateful that I was in the best of care. I took a deep breath and visualised that I was breathing love down to my baby. 

As I was being wheeled into lifts and through tight corridors, my baby’s kicks continued to be strong and fierce, as they had been all through the pregnancy. “I’m so sorry for forcing you out before you’re ready” I whispered beneath my N95 mask to him. “But I can’t wait to meet you”. 

The funny thing is, when Clara was born at 37 weeks, I felt so much guilt for delivering her early. Although it was well justified for her safety, I had always hoped that I’d be able to extend the due date for my next baby. And yet, the last week wasn’t at all what I’d expected. Whilst there was a sense of relief that we’d reached full term, I’d spent the last week in angst, hoping that I wouldn’t go into labour naturally before the scheduled c-section date. My baby was so active; he felt happy and healthy. But by contrast, the tri-weekly scans were wearing me down. I couldn’t wait for heartburn to be a thing of the past. I couldn’t wait to hold my baby. Today was the day. 

It turned out that the COVID response team had organised for me to be taken to a designated operating theatre, tucked away like a hidden dungeon. Nobody was allowed to freely enter or exit the room and everything was wrapped in plastic. All the staff were shielded in PPE. The air was cold but calm. As though I had been rehearsing for this my entire life, it felt like my time to shine and my body kicked into auto-pilot. 

I met the anaesthetist and I instantly recognised his reassuring voice. He had carefully talked me through the process over the phone just yesterday and now, with only his eyes to go by, I trusted him with my body. 

He asked me to sit up, lean forward and curve my back so my spine would stick out. Knowing about my needle phobia, I liked that he over-communicated at every move. “What you’re about to feel is just a marker” he said in a relaxed but focused tone. 

When it was time for the local anaesthetic to go in, I clenched my jaws and I trusted the process. I repeated my affirmations:

“Every moment here is a moment closer to meeting my baby”

“I’ve done this before; my body was made for this”

“My baby and I are safe”

There was a slight sting, similar to that of a mosquito bite or bee sting but it only lasted a few seconds. Before I knew it, the spinal block was done. A warm tingling sensation ran through my body and numbness took over. They used ice cubes to assess the level of the spinal block and at that point, I knew I was minutes away from meeting my baby.

I remember a great big tug followed immediately by the high pitched cry of my baby. A wave of tears flooded over me as I looked back at Zen. Despite not having our cameras, this moment will forever be etched in my memory.

Zen cut his cord and he was placed on me for skin-to-skin, and for a moment, time stood still. His cries softened as he opened his beautiful dark brown eyes and gazed back at me. I said to him — “Hello Atticus. I’m your mama.”

He weighed 2570g, just 165g off the estimate weight from my last scan which would have placed him on the 9th percentile.

FIRST DAYS

Visitors had long been banned from hospitals, however, one support person was permitted. It varied across hospitals as to whether or not the support person was allowed to come and go. Regardless, due to our unique COVID situation, I spent the first three nights alone. The double set of doors to my room remained closed at all times. Every midwife had to be carefully shielded in PPE which included a surgical gown, goggles and a face mask. And so for the first 72 hours, the only human contact Atticus had (aside from myself and his first few hours with Zen) were with these masked faces. That was all he knew. What a strange state of the world to be born in.

My earlier anxieties about being without support on the first night while I was still recovering from the anaesthesia quickly subsided once Zen left the hospital. My tenacious drive naturally kicked in.

Some of the friendlier midwives stayed around to chat after they’d performed the routine checks on the baby and I. I greatly welcomed the conversations in what otherwise was going to be a lonely few days.

By 6:30am on the morning after the c-section, I had my first shower and was back on my feet. According to my FitBit, I only slept two hours on the first night.

The second and third nights were the hardest and they’d easily go down as one of the toughest moments of my life. While mothers are often reminded to go slow and to take it easy after a caesarean birth, without my partner by my side to help, it was a gruelling solo marathon of feeding, burping, nappy changing and settling. My body had become comfortable with the luxury of sleep ever since my four-year old begun sleeping through the night, several years ago. I’d forgotten about the true torture and relentlessness of sleep deprivation.

Atticus’s cluster feeding worked in synchronisation with my body and my milk came in at 48 hours (which is something to celebrate as I was told that this normally doesn’t happen until 72 hours for caesarean births). I had to re-learn how to breastfeed a newborn and my confidence shattered a little with each painful latch. I thought that after breastfeeding Clara for three years, my nipples would be as tough as leather but these four days of cluster feeding left them raw and sore. We spent a total of 21 hours breastfeeding in the first four days and by day six, on the day of discharge, Atticus was only 100 grams off his birth weight! (For context, a maximum weight loss of 7-10% in the first week is considered normal.)

Each time I looked down at my baby, all the mental hurdles and physical pain dissipated. I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be. I was relieved, joyous and in disbelief that he was finally here. Atticus Kai Huang, the fourth corner to our square — our family is now complete.

P.S. Here’s a little video of us during the newborn bubble.

The post Birth Story of Atticus Kai appeared first on Mama's Got This.

I was forwarded a version of this Chinese Gender Prediction Calendar many years ago when I was pregnant with Clara. Thinking it was a silly old wives’ tale, I unassumingly plotted my lunar year of birth and the lunar month of conception and didn’t think much of the prediction despite validating that it was true via the NIPT (Nest) test several weeks later.

It wasn’t until many years later, that this has been come back up in conversation now that many of my friends have multiple children of the same gender and were curious of any proven ways to conceive a boy or girl. Or in my case, we knew our family would be complete with two children and although we didn’t mind having two girls (it would have actually been easier to be able to reuse everything!), we thought it would have been nice to have one of each. For us, there was no harm in trying for a boy as we truly would have been over the moon with either!

Without further ado, here’s the chart which I’ve neatly reformatted:

How does the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart work?

Also commonly referred to as the Chinese Gender Predictor, the Chinese Gender Calendar or the Chinese Gender Chart, the chart aims to predict the gender of a baby based on the lunar month of conception (on the X-axis) and the lunar age of the mother (on the Y-axis).

Note that both inputs need to be the lunar calendar date equivalent. It’s a complicated process to convert the Gregorian date to the lunar date so I use this Gregorian to Lunar calendar converter. For accuracy, you’ll need to convert both the mother’s date of birth from the Gregorian calendar to the corresponding date in the lunar calendar, as well as the month of conception.

To use the chart, simply consult the respective column (lunar month of conception) and row (lunar age of mother at conception) to see where it overlaps. Obviously, if it overlaps on a blue box, then it’s a baby boy, and if it’s a pink box, it’s a baby girl. For example, if a woman is 36 years old, her lunar age is 37; if she conceived in lunar November., then according to the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart, she will give birth to a baby boy.

Similarly, you can use this chart to try to conceive a baby girl or boy, which is what we did! And if my case study is anything to go by, we did get the baby boy we were trying for!

Where did the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart come from?

The history of this particular gender prediction method is part mystery, part legend.

According to one account, the chart was supposedly found in an ancient Chinese imperial tomb some 700 years ago during either the Ming or Yuan Dynasty. The earliest Chinese dynasty dates back to 2070 BCE, so this method might have been used for thousands of years.

Another tale circulating the internet suggests that it was created during the Chinese Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 A.D.), and it was deduced from the theory of yin and yang, five elements (metal, water, wood, fire, and earth), and the Pa Kua (Eight Trigrams). It’s said that the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart was relied upon by the Qing Dynasty imperial family for the gender selection of sons. It was kept in the palace and was not available to the public. When the Qing dynasty lost the battle with Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900, the documents were sent to the British. They were apparently given to the King, and it was translated from Manchu into English. The chart later appeared in Austria, and when one Chinese scholar saw it, he copied the content, brought it to Taiwan, and published it in the newspaper in 1972.

Either way, there are stories that claim the accuracy of this chart is as high as 92%.

Common Mistakes in Using the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart

From my experience, there are three common errors made when using this chart and they both stem from choosing the wrong age. It seems simple though, but here’s why:

Mistake #1 – Using your western age and not your lunar age

The age of the mother should be her lunar age. In general, the traditional method to calculate this, is to add one to the western age. The idea behind this is that the Chinese calculate their age from the time the baby is in the womb, which means that a baby is already one when they are born.

However, there are exceptions to this. If a baby is born before that year’s lunar new year, then their lunar age of the same year would be two!

The headache-proof method is to just use a Gregorian to Lunar calendar converter to get your lunar age.

Mistake #2 – Using your current age and not your age at the time of conception

This is an easy oversight. The age you should be using needs to align to your age on the month of conception, not your age at this present moment. Again, remember that this needs to be the lunar age, not your actual age in the Gregorian calendar.

Mistake #3 – Not knowing the exact conception date

Obviously without knowing one of the inputs, you cannot expect a correct gender prediction. However, you can take an average by adding 14 days to your last menstrual period to get an estimate ovulation time where conception could have occurred.

Can you select a baby’s gender using the chart?

To get technical, the gender of your baby depends only on the chromosomes in the sperm released by the male. A combination of the Y chromosome from the father with the X chromosome of the mother makes it a boy while the X chromosome from the father combines with the X chromosome of the mother to make it a girl.

I acknowledge that this chart completely discounts the male and there’s absolutely no scientific support for the chart, but based on over 20 calculations, I currently have a 100% accuracy rate amongst my family and friends as well as with my own two pregnancies.

So now tell me… Is the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart accurate for you?

The post Myth or Truth: Chinese Gender Prediction Calendar appeared first on Mama's Got This.

Truth #1. You’ll start showing earlier

I announced my first pregnancy when I was 20 weeks. That’s how long it took for my belly to show. Or so I thought! In hindsight, I could’ve passed it off as a bloated tummy or a food baby! See evidence below.

This was my bump at 26 weeks… still barely a bump by comparison to this second pregnancy!

And here I was, in the third trimester…

And guess how many weeks pregnant I am in the shots below? 16, going onto 17 weeks!!! Definitely comparable to my third trimester bump in the first pregnancy!

My body definitely remembered how to be pregnant and it took next to no time for my bump to show this second time!

Truth #2. Each pregnancy will feel completely different, stop comparing them

There was a lot of joy during my first pregnancy; I remember lovingly rubbing Bio-Oil on my belly from the moment I found out that I was expecting. I’d walk past a mirror and admire my pregnant body. I loved the feeling of being pregnant. Having a growing baby inside of me felt like I had a secret language and connection that only my baby and I were privy to. My hair was glossy, my skin had that tell-tale pregnancy glow, and I just adored being pregnant.

While I suffered from morning sickness during the daytime in the first pregnancy, it disappeared by night and allowed me to feel human again on a daily basis. This time round, my nausea and first trimester fatigue was so much tougher on the body than the first pregnancy. Feeling queasy and so revolted by food all day and night made me tremendously miserable. The permanent metallic taste in my mouth turned me off even drinking water. My belly popped from week 5 and due to other digestive issues, I was bloated and uncomfortable all the time.

Placenta position can also play a huge part in how you experience the pregnancy. Most commonly, the placenta is located at the top of the uterus (fundus) which was the case for my first pregnancy. This time, I have an anterior (front wall) placenta so it hasn’t been possible to feel kicks or punches as strongly because the placenta acts as a cushion between the front of my stomach and the baby.

It is difficult to not compare pregnancies because they inadvertently set your expectations but Teddy Roosevelt’s famous assertion that “comparison is the thief of joy” is a great reminder here that comparing pregnancies will only leave you feeling deflated and inadequate.

Truth #3. If you ever feel guilty for taking a nap or resting, remind yourself that you’re creating a human

When you’re pregnant for the first time, you don’t have the responsibilities of taking care of any other humans, you get to leisurely nap at any time of day. You don’t have to abide by anybody else’s schedule but your own.

When you’re pregnant for the second time, there’s a never-ending list of things to do for the first child. They need love, support, and mostly, attention.

Combatting first trimester fatigue and nausea with a toddler definitely left me feeling so disheartened and even guilty that I needed to lie down. My inability to be completely present for my toddler weighed on me like a tonne of bricks. So it was helpful to remind myself that at any given moment, my body was in fact working miraculously hard. My body could have been making an eye ball, creating an arm, or a million other things, all from scratch. Give yourself the compassion and space to rest. You deserve it.

Truth #4. Self-care needs to be a priority that gets scheduled in

This leads me onto self-care. With the first pregnancy, I tried to do all the thing—juggle the intensity of running of a marketing agency and a food media & events company, whilst squeezing in all the usual demands and mental load of being a mindful boss, wife, friend, sister, auntie, daughter, and granddaughter, all while growing a child. Then there was the pressure I put on myself to exclusively breastfeed and freshly prepare organic food for baby-led weaning. Needless to say, even three years post-partum, I was left so run down and depleted.

This time round, my self-care was top of the list. I signed up to pre-natal yoga, which thanks to COVID, had to be online. I sought the support of a naturopath and a clinical psychologist to ensure my body and mind was prepared for the upcoming changes, and I’ve been treating myself to monthly pre-natal massages.

I’ve learnt that the hormone Relaxin starts to circulate throughout the blood stream just after ovulation, peaks after the first trimester and continues until 6 months after giving birth. Relaxin functions to relax and loosen joints and ligaments and the cervix to prepare for birth. As hips widen, the gluteus muscles are stretched and become weak and sore. Pelvic and lower back pain often also occurs as a result of increase in weight and stretching of ligaments. So when your muscles feel tight or sore, book yourself into a massage; even better yet, schedule it in as a monthly commitment and you’ll definitely be thanking your past-self!

Self-care is one of the easiest things to drop off the list when things get too busy so I’ve been scheduling all my self-care appointments into the calendar to ensure it happens.

Truth #5. You may not be on top of taking your supplements every single day

As someone who diligently takes all her supplements without fail every single day, the first trimester nausea really threw me off. I was somewhat caught off-guard but my naturopath reminded me that it was OK if I wasn’t on top of taking my supplements every single day.

The best strategy I have surrounding this mindset shift is to“never miss twice.” This is a concept I got from James Clear on building good habits.

I think the pressure we put on ourselves can steal a lot of the joy from pregnancy so this truth is a reminder to be kind to yourself.

Truth #6. You won’t have to buy much

With the first pregnancy, there was a sentimental novelty about getting to buy everything for the first time—the first size 00000 onesie, the first pair of shoes, the first high chair, the first car seat… I often sought the best of the best, which actually worked out quite well as it means now, four years later, most things are still in a great condition to be passed down!

Tip: We accidentally discovered that a four year age gap is actually very ideal because the firstborn will have transitioned from the baby car seat to a booster seat, and they’ll have moved on from using things like the high chair and pram!

I’ve also embraced pay-it-forward groups on Facebook, having gifted appliances, pre-loved toys and clothes that we don’t need, and on the flip side, received some gorgeous pre-loved clothes. Owning pre-loved clothing helps the environment and ultimately, reduce the amount of fashion/toys waste that goes to landfill! My sister and I have also been swapping kids clothes which means we’ll have a complete wardrobe ready for the baby, without needing to buy anything—her three-year old son’s boy clothes are being saved for our baby boy, and Clara’s girly clothes are being passed down to her two-year old daughter! (For the first two years of Clara’s life, I only bought her gender-neutral clothing but since becoming a toddler, she’s decided that she loves pink, tutus and all the girly things so I’m glad it’s all going to a good home!)

Truth #7. You’ll embrace maternity wear as early as you need

This is somewhat related to the first truth about showing earlier. As a result, I invested in my first two pairs of maternity tights when I was only 4 weeks pregnant. By week 5, I knew I’d made the right decision as it was pure comfort.

Tip: Check out the Active Truth maternity tights with pockets. Having pockets make all the difference!

In the first pregnancy, I was too self-conscious about how pregnant or not pregnant I looked, but during the second pregnancy, I’ve learned to silence out the world. You really don’t care as much, and it’s great!

Truth #8. Trust that the firstborn will be more resilient and adaptable than we give them credit for

It’s natural to be worried about the upcoming changes and how that will affect your firstborn, your one-and-only. I’m particularly sensitive to this as it triggers my inner-child and fears of emotional abandonment and rejection. It’s something I’ve been working through with my psychologist.

It’s been a great relief, just how much my almost four-year old understands. When I was experiencing the first trimester nausea and fatigue, she knew to give me space and would turn to Daddy to play. She quickly adapted to seeing me hover over the toilet and would gently rub my back while asking if I was feeling OK. Whenever she saw me laying down in defeat, she’d fetch me a glass of coconut water or my Kindle. Often, I’d wake up from a nap with a small bouquet of wild flowers she’d hand-picked during an outing to the park with Daddy, or a new artwork piece she’d created for me with Daddy’s help. My favourite part has been hearing her loudly and proudly declare: “I’m going to be a big sister!” while she lovingly puts aside a collection of hand-me-down baby toys and clothes that she’s outgrown, for her baby brother.

We had to stop showering together when I was around 20 weeks pregnant because it became too difficult to constantly bend over. I dreaded the day I’d have to tell her I couldn’t do it anymore, so I persisted just a few weeks more until my back couldn’t take it anymore. Then I explained the situation to her, emphasising just how much I love her, and that we could resume showering together once her baby brother was born. And that was that. There was no tantrum, no outburst, no whinging; never once has she asked to join me again. I was surprised by the uneventfulness, but mostly, it was a reminder of just how resilient and adaptable toddlers/pre-schoolers can be.

Truth #9. You won’t keep track of the pregnancy week-by-week and that’s OK… Sometimes you’ll even forget that you’re pregnant!

I was able to track my first pregnancy by the day and at any given point, I could’ve even told you what fruit the baby was the size of. But this time round, the days have blurred into weeks, and the only time I check the pregnancy apps is when my firstborn asks how big the baby is!

You wouldn’t have thought it possible but many times, I’ve even been surprised to see my protruding belly in the bathroom! So yes, it is possible that sometimes, you’ll forget that you’re pregnant because your sole attention, is probably on your firstborn!

Furthermore, if you took daily photos of your pregnant belly during the first pregnancy, don’t be alarmed if you only manage to take weekly photos during the second pregnancy. In fact, I started my daily photos from around week 4 during the first pregnancy to create this time-lapse video in the CineMama app:

And I didn’t even start taking a weekly photo until week 15 this time, because most mornings, my only goal is to get my pre-schooler to daycare before morning tea is served!

Truth #10. There’s only so much you can do to prepare the firstborn for a sibling; accept that the rest is out of your control

So here are some things we’ve done with our firstborn to prepare for the arrival of a second baby:

Hint to the firstborn that they might have a baby sister/brother one day and sift through old baby clothes together
While we didn’t reveal that we were expecting a second child to Clara until I was past the first trimester, what we did do, was hint that one day, she’ll become a big sister. We did this at every opportunity whenever it seemed appropriate. If she was changing and I noticed that a piece of clothing was too small for her (it’s a struggle keeping up with all her recent growth spurts!), I’d say, “This looks too small/short/tight on you now, you must be growing bigger and bigger! If you have a baby brother or a baby sister one day, they can wear it!”. It’s even worked well when discussing the purpose of the redundant baby gate we still have up in the kitchen. For some time now, Clara has been able to manoeuvre the baby gate lock and lets herself in and out of the kitchen freely. But now, she knows to repeat back to me that “we need the baby gate here for when baby brother is born; he might touch sharp things”.

And while we’re on the topic of baby announcements, below is a moment I’ll cherish forever!

Shop for a gift for the baby together and get a big sibling gift
Gift-giving and receiving is always fun for kids and choosing a gift for the baby together is no different! This is a great way to engage the older sibling in their newfound role. We ended up choosing Noah the dog, as a gift from Clara to the baby. Noah will be brother to Clara’s much loved Mia!

Having a big sibling gift from the baby is equally, if not more important as the joy of a new toy can help to soothe the firstborn’s mood and unease about the baby. It’s also extra special for the firstborn because nobody else will be getting a gift from the baby! The baby will be gifting Claire the ‘big sister’ koala and Quinn the ‘little brother’ koala!

These gorgeous ethically produced hand-knit dolls are from Cuddle+Kind, a social enterprise that helps feed children. For every doll sold, they give 10 meals to children in need. If you’re a first-time customer, you can get 20% off Cuddle+Kind dolls.

Read to the firstborn about becoming a big sister or brother
There are so many books about siblings and welcoming a new baby. My biggest tip here is to make sure you find an age-appropriate one. After trawling through what feels like hundreds of book, the one we’ve settled on reading every night is: What’s In There? All About Before You Were Born. I love how inclusive this book is (it covers caesarean birth, multiple births, adoption, etc) and gives basic explanation of human anatomy. It’s been a great conversation starter for Clara (aged 3 years and 8 months). Tap the ‘Books’ section on my Instagram Stories Highlights for a preview!

A growing family can be an overwhelming time for not only the firstborn, but also for yourself. As cliché as it is, I like to remind myself that the days are long but the years are short. I hope we can all look back at this period and think, we got through it with unconditional love and patience; we always tried our best to know what’s on their minds and in their hearts; we were always there to comfort, encourage, and love, and we raised them well.

And this concludes my pearls of wisdom from the half-way point of my second pregnancy. Can you relate to any of the above, or how has your second pregnancy been different? If you’re a parent to more than one, what truths have you learned?

Photography by LoveSariena

Disclosure: I occasionally use affiliate links to monetise my content. I may receive a commission on products or services that you purchase through clicking on links within this page. This doesn’t affect your price in any way, but helps me with the cost of maintaining my website so that I may continue to share resources to help you embrace play-based learning and mindful parenting.

The post 10 Truths I’ve Learned In My Second Pregnancy appeared first on Mama's Got This.

When setting up the nursery, I followed the Montessori method and I’ve seen first-hand how a toddler’s independence can really thrive when everything is within their reach and at their level. See example below!

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A post shared by Jen Mama’s Got This (@mamahasgotthis)

We managed to stick with the Stokke Sleepi Cot (set-up to be sort of a raised floor bed as pictured) until Clara was just over three. After the most recent growth spurt, it became obvious that it was time for an upgrade!

Our original plan was to buy the Junior bed extension kit ($229) to convert the cot into a big bed, but with a second child in mind in the near future, and Clara’s persistent demands for a ‘big bed without baby bars’, we threw those plans out the window!

Here’s a time lapse sneak peek of the transformation:

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A post shared by Jen Mama’s Got This (@mamahasgotthis)

Now for all the details!

Bed

If you follow my Instagram Stories, you’ll see that we took Clara bed shopping, initially with a bunk bed in mind… However, she instantly fell in love with the Venus Bed at Fantastic Furniture ($299) and to be honest, so did I! The soft velvet just feels so luxurious and the matching armchair with foot stool ($199) and storage chest ($149) is the cutest! The entire bedroom package is so lush and the quality really surprised me. Velvet furniture can look so tacky but I think they’ve really nailed the design here. The shell-inspired look also ensures that there are no sharp corners or edges, unlike many of the other beds I considered, so that was another plus!

Clara is currently going through a pink phase after having blue as her favourite colour for the longest period of time so not surprisingly, her big girl room has morphed from a gender-neutral colour palette to a very girly pink room!

Mattress

I’m a big believer in supporting Aussie businesses and Eco Kids makes this an easy choice when it comes to choosing a kid-friendly mattress. They ticked all the boxes for what I was looking for, and some more!

I love that it is hand-crafted in Melbourne and they offer peace-of-mind in that they don’t use harmful glues, bonding agents or chemicals in the manufacture of the mattress.

My favourite feature is probably its Maxi-Boost edge support which prevents kids from rolling off the side, and has been stable enough for me to lie right on the edge when I’ve needed to!

Eco Kids have kindly offered me two exclusive discount codes to share with you all!
Use code: mamahasgotthis_ecokids for $90 off!
Use code: mamahasgotthis_pillow for a FREE Bamboo Classic Low Profile Pillow (valued at $126.65)
(This isn’t a sponsored promo, I paid for the mattress in full and having done my research, I think it’s definitely the best kids mattress on the market!)

Wall decals

The wall decals are by Ginger Monkey who are based in Melbourne, Australia. They occasionally have 15% off sales so wait for the discount! I love that they’re removable and reusable. They’re made from a peel and stick, polyester fabric material so it can be reused on any flat surface and leaves no adhesive residue. They were SO easy to apply and adjust!

I used the Australian Gum Tree decal set (full set, 69 decals, $285) and split it across two feature designs with the decals arranged to flow out from the corners of the room. The decals have a gorgeous watercolour-look so it makes it look hand painted on the walls! You simply peel them off and overlap the decal pieces to suit your room. The best thing about this is that there is no ugly white border around the decal, and if you stick it in the wrong position, you simply peel it off and re-apply!

Bedside table

The side table is the Home Republic Bahama Rattan Honey Bedside Table ($179.99) from Adairs.

I offer small baskets for Clara to store her treasures and trinkets. The one of the left is a set of three woven baskets, handmade in Siem Reap Cambodia using traditional water hyacinth weaving techniques and natural vegetable dyes. This was from The Fair Trade Cove in Lane Cove. The one of the right is an oldie from Target.

The books read in high frequency before bedtime are also stored in the bottom shelf of the bedside table. Our current favourite reads are:

• Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
• Back To Sleep
• No One Likes a Fart
• Bluey – The Beach
• This is How We Do It
• Peppa Pig – Big Story Treasury
• The Very Sleepy Bear

Rugs

The Ecowool sheepskin rug was kindly gifted to us at our baby shower and I adore the fact that it is still part of Clara’s bedroom.

The main rug is the Itarsi Blush and Ivory Transitional Rug (225cm x 155cm, $247) from Miss Amara. It is the softest, most divine rug I’ve ever felt under my feet. There’s a soft peachy tone to the blush and I think it adds the perfect amount of softness and warmth to the room. One of the greatest benefits of rug shopping with Miss Amara is their free delivery and free returns! It definitely took the fear away from choosing a rug that I may not like in-person!

Storage

The Aruba 6 Drawer Storage Unit is an oldie from Fantastic Furniture that’s no longer available. A similar style that they have in-stock (at the time of publishing) is the Java Dresser ($399) or the Wyndham Storage Unit ($129).

The kids clothing rack with shoe rack swing is also an oldie, from a store that used to be called Love Ellie. This was another one of the precious baby shower gifts we received. When Clara outgrows this, I think it’ll make the perfect storage rack for all her costumes and dress-up accessories! If you’re looking for something similar, check out the Mocka A-Frame ($59.95).

I’m also a big fan of Kmart’s collapsible hamper which we have in gold polkadots ($10). We pretty much shove anything and everything in here to keep the room tidy! Clara is now strong enough to lift and tip over the entire hamper and she fondly refers to it as her toy basket.

Small keepsake items go into a personalised memory box I had made when Clara was born.

To organise Clara’s hair bows, we have a personalised hair bow holder ($26) by Little Birdy Finds.

I got a little ahead of myself and already have a Tooth Fairy Box ($22) made as well!

Behind the tooth fairy box is our Aroma Snooze ($115) which is an essential oil vaporiser and sleep aid / white noise machine with built-in air purifier and ioniser. The Aroma-Snooze uses safe ultrasonic technology to turn the room temperature water into a fine vapor and released as a mist through out the night. This will help relieve your child of dry irritated skin, and provide optimal breathing conditions, allowing your child to sleep comfortably. It also creates healthy negative ions known as ‘anions’ during the ultrasonic vibration of the oscillator disc. Scientific research shows that healthy negative ions are found abundantly in nature, and improve the air you breathe. These ‘healthy’ negative ions counteract positive ‘pollutant’ ions in the air, removing dust, germs and bacteria and will improve respiratory problems such as asthma, sinus and allergies. I love this machine!

Wall art/hangings

One of the earliest items I ever bought for Clara was this ABCs of Life art print (USD $34) by Little Truths Studio. We also have the Family Manifesto Art Print in our entrance hallway table and they’re both such beautiful reminders of some of life’s most important lessons.

The small accordion hook ($9) at Kmart is a simple solution for scrunchies, headbands and other things, like Clara’s Olli Ella luggy or for hanging art (pictured is With Great Love All is Possible printed by Yogi Town). Simiarly, the hanging wall shelf ($5), also from Kmart, makes a cute little wall display unit.

The mirrored rose gold name plaque ($70) is from CMC Gold and was thoughtfully gifted to Clara by one of her aunties and uncle a little while back!

Doll beds

The rocking wooden bassinet ($29) is from Target and the wooden bunk bed ($25) is from Kmart. Putting the dolls to bed is part of our bedtime routine — pretend play bedtime sequences enable toddlers to subconsciously learn the expectations for a healthy sleep time routine for themselves.

Pillow

And lastly, you may have noticed that the pillow looks quite small relative to the single bed. That’s because it is! It measures only 42cm x 26cm and is 7cm high. It’s basically half a standard pillow case. I’ve searched high and low for this one — many of the other toddler pillow options available were either too soft or too high! This is the Giselle low profile contour memory foam pillow ($39.95 twin pack).

Disclosure: I occasionally use affiliate links to monetise my content. I may receive a commission on products or services that you purchase through clicking on links within this page. This doesn’t affect your price in any way, but helps me with the cost of maintaining my website so that I may continue to share resources to help you embrace play-based learning and mindful parenting.

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Did you know that once a child has learned to balance on a balance bike, they can transition to a traditional pedal bike without the need for training wheels?

What is a balance bike?

Balance bikes are pedal-free and they simplify the process of learning to ride a bike.

With a balance bike, toddlers only have to focus on balancing. Once they have mastered balancing on two wheels, pedalling and braking will come easily when they transition to a traditional bike.

How do balance bikes work?

One of the most noticeable things about a balance bike is its low saddle. This helps kids to comfortably reach the ground with their feet, which in turn makes them feel more stable and secure as they are closer to the ground.

The design enables them to use their legs and feet to move forward, stop and steer. To move forward, kids push off the ground, putting them in complete control of how slow or fast they glide.

Do balance bikes really work?

We’ve now had a balance bike for five months (we gifted the bike for Clara’s third birthday — although in hindsight, she could have started riding it from 18 months old) and it has been wonderful seeing her coordination and confidence build-up. The motor skills required to ride a balance bike seems to have come more intuitively than riding a scooter and the balance bike has quickly become Clara’s preferred mode of transport!

I can definitely vouch for the balance bike giving Clara independence and the freedom to explore!

I love that the balance bike has enabled Clara to experiment with coordination and speed at her own pace. She’s been able to easily manoeuvre the footpaths and obstacles like fallen tree branches, gumnuts and tight corners!

How to choose the right balance bike?

There are a number of factors to take into consideration when choosing a balance bike.

I’ve summarised my decision-making into a chart below.

Balance Bike Comparison Chart

	Cruzee Two Balance Bike	Boot’r V2 Balance Bike	Little Nation Balance Bike	Kmart 30cm Racer Balance Bike	Mocka Urban Balance Bike
Bike weight	1.9kg	2.3kg	2.9kg	4.6kg	4.5kg
Assembly	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
Tyres	Puncture proof EVA foam tyres	Puncture proof EVA foam tyres	Puncture proof EVA foam tyres	Pneumatic	Puncture proof EVA foam tyres
Maximum rider weight	34kg	N/A	27kg	30kg	35kg
Rider height	60cm – 120cm	76cm – 115cm	75cm – 110cm	N/A	N/A
Frame Material	Anodised Aluminium	Anodised Aluminium	Steel	Steel	Birch Wood
Colours	Black, blue, gold, green, orange, pink, purple, red, silver	Black, blue, green, red, pink, purple, silver	Black, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow	Teal	Natural
Price	$199.99	$69.95 (53% off sale price)	$69.95 (50% off sale price)	$45	$79.95
Accessories included	N/A	Bell	N//A	N/A	N/A
Foot rest					✘
Saddle height	24cm – 48cm	30cm – 43cm	29cm – 39cm	Adjustable	34 – 39cm
Handlebar height	120mm adjustment	70mm adjustment	N/A	N/A	N/A
Brakes	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘

The features that I looked for when choosing our balance bike included:

• Bike weight
  I wanted a bike that Clara could easily carry by herself. The heavier the bike, the harder it is going to be for the child to manoeuvre. Knowing the threenager’s mood swings, I also knew it was very likely that I’d have to occasionally carry Clara and the bike at the same time, so the lighter the bike, the better.
• Tyres
  Foam tyres are lightweight and durable and I like that they don’t puncture!
• Frame Material
  Aluminium frames are lighter than steel and wooden balance bikes. It is also worth noting that in my research, wooden frames seemed to have limited seat height adjustments.
• Saddle height and handle bar height adjustments
  I needed the balance bike to grow with Clara’s growth spurts. We’ve already had to make two height adjustments since getting the bike! Make sure the child can easily walk the bike while standing over it.
• Price
  In the end, I opted for the Boot’r V2 Balance Bike which seemed to be the closest alternative to a Cruzee Balance Bike, but at less than half the cost! (Note the 2016 Boot’r balance bike model is heavier at 3.3kg whereas the later Boot’r model weighs only 2.3kg)

The factors that were less important were:

• Maximum rider weight
  The maximum rider weight ranges from 27kg up to 35kg in the balance bikes I was considering. The equivalent age for that weight range would be approximately 5 – 6 years of age. My research indicated that children can be ready to transition to a pedal bike by around 4 years of age so the maximum rider weight seemed irrelevant.
• Brakes
  Kids can stop by using their feet so brakes aren’t really necessary; I also saw brakes as a bit of a distraction from learning to balance. Sure, using their feet to brake can ruin their shoes but I’m hoping that by the time Clara can ride fast enough, it will be time to transition to a traditional pedal bike with brakes.
• Footrests
  Footrests are useful for riding long downhill stretches but they can also just lift their legs up!

Now for some inspirational videos

To get Clara excited about what she could do with her balance bike, I initially found it helpful to watch a few videos with her. You can check them out here:

Happy riding!

Disclosure: I occasionally use affiliate links to monetise my content. I may receive a commission on products or services that you purchase through clicking on links within this page. This doesn’t affect your price in any way, but helps me with the cost of maintaining my website so that I may continue to share resources to help you embrace play-based learning and mindful parenting.

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When I was a child, I never intentionally went for walks in the rain;

I was too “well behaved” to dare make a mess in the mud;

I carried a fear that I had been taught — too afraid of catching a cold to let the rain touch my skin;

But I choose to be the kind of mother who stops to jump in puddles with her daughter when it’s raining;

to listen to the rain falling on the ground;

to smell the fresh scent that rain brings.

I choose to be the kind of mother who gives her daughter time and space to explore her world, even when it’s raining and there are errands to run.

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What are schemas and how can they be used to enhance learning?

Schemas are patterns of repeatable behaviour which can often be noticed in young children’s play.

The concept of schemas was founded by psychologist Jean Piaget who suggested that children sort the knowledge they acquire through their experiences and interactions into groupings known as schemas.

A child can demonstrate one, or several, or no schemas at a particular time. Learning to observe the schemas can help us to better support their learning and exploration.

The way I interpreted this was to think back to when I’m ‘in the zone’ or in ‘flow state’. It’s always when I’m doing something that I am deeply passionate about; I’m doing activities that I have a natural urge to do. There’s a skill or craft that I’m trying to master.

Schemas can help us to better respond to our children’s behaviour for child-led play. It also enables us to better interact with our children by feeding them appropriate activities, language and questions that support their thinking so can they become deeply engaged.

Cheat sheet to supporting common schemas in how toddlers play

Now what?

Get ready to feel more confident about supporting your toddler’s play!

Observe behaviour patterns and identify which schema your child is interested in. You can then offer toys and activities that help them to make the most of their investigations.

Organise play dates with other children in similar schemas to promote friendship and bonding over a shared interest.

Further reading

Here are a few books if you’re looking for extended schema learning:

Disclosure: I occasionally use affiliate links to monetise my content. I may receive a commission on products or services that you purchase through clicking on links within this page. This doesn’t affect your price in any way, but helps me with the cost of maintaining my website so that I may continue to share resources to help you embrace play-based learning and mindful parenting.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Schemas: The Patterns Of Play appeared first on Mama's Got This.

Here’s what I know now about toddler and pre-school cutting skills —

Why are cutting skills an important part of development?

Cutting allows a child to build up the tiny muscles in the palm of his/her hand, since he/she has to continuously open and close the hand. These muscles are also used when the child is writing/painting or holding onto anything with a grip. For example, a child needs to hold onto a toothbrush, spoon or fork, and pull up their pants on a daily basis.

Cutting enhances the use of eye-hand coordination. This means that the child must be able to use his/her vision, process what they see, and then be able to move their hand while they are looking at something. This can be a difficult task because it requires the brain to be working with two systems. However, eye-hand coordination is used throughout your child’s day. It is used when your child catches or throws a ball, uses a spoon to scoop up the food that they want, and zips up his/her coat.

Cutting also encourages your child to use bilateral coordination. This means that your child can use both sides of their body at the same time. For example, when cutting a circle, a child must hold the paper with one hand (and continuously turn it) while the other hand is opening and closing the scissors and moving forward to cut. You may need to try this to understand the true meaning. Bilateral coordination (using both hands, while each one is doing something different) is used throughout everyday life. For example, it can be used when you are zipping up a coat or pants, washing dishes, opening up an envelope, and driving.

(Source: Kimberly M. Wiggins, OTR/L, is a licensed occupational therapist in New York)

The most important things to do are to observe your child for readiness for scissor cutting activities and then find an activity that captures your child’s attention.

Here are two fun cutting practice activities that were a hit for us:

Playdough Hair Cutting

Playdough (see my homemade no-cook playdough recipe) is the perfect choice for early cutting practice because it is soft and easy to cut. Plus the resistance of the playdough provides essential feedback to the child. Another advantage of using playdough for scissor cutting practice is that it is reusable and nothing goes to waste!

While rolling the playdough into a ‘snake’ is a good start, some children may not find this very interesting for long. This is where the magic of role play comes in! Using playdough ‘snakes’ as hair on dolls, you can create your own hair salon dramatic play area!

The 21cm Miniland Doll suited this activity perfectly as it doesn’t actually have hair which won’t get knotted in the playdough.

We had an absolute blast laughing about the different haircuts that hairdresser Clara gave her dolls.

It’s worth mentioning that you need to keep a very close eye on your budding hairdresser to ensure the only hair they cut is on their prop

Pizza Cutting

On the quest to find a printable that could provide fun cutting practice, I wasn’t satisfied with what I found so I made my own!

I know having pineapple on pizza is controversial but it is Clara’s most favourite pizza topping. I originally started with just a Hawaiian pizza but then I couldn’t help myself and I ended up with four different flavour variations!

You can grab the FREE pizza cutting printable in black & white or buy the full colour version for just $0.99.

The idea is that beginner cutters can be given the challenge of cutting straight lines to form pizza slices. More advanced cutters can cut around the pizza to master curved edges.

You can even incorporate the pizzas into a bit of dramatic play fun and set-up their very own pizza shop!

Have your kids mastered scissors cutting?

I’d love to hear about your tips, tricks and favourite activities for scissor skills and cutting practice. Leave a me a comment and let me know how you are going with teaching scissor skills!

Disclosure: I occasionally use affiliate links to monetise my content. I may receive a commission on products or services that you purchase through clicking on links within this page. This doesn’t affect your price in any way, but helps me with the cost of maintaining my website so that I may continue to share resources to help you embrace play-based learning and mindful parenting.

The post Fun Cutting Activities To Help Strengthen Toddler & Pre-School Scissor Skills appeared first on Mama's Got This.

Like many parents, I have a Peppa Pig obsessed toddler. We don’t even own a TV but that hasn’t stopped the invasion of Peppa Pig toys in our home. On the bright side, I’m astonished at all the hilarious phrases she has picked up and some of the episodes have certainly set the foundation for some quirky dramatic play scenes! (My favourite at the moment is when we re-enact The Secret Club episode and make up funny secret words)

We’ve seen so many re-runs of each episode that I’m pretty sure Clara and I can repeat the script word for word!

The beauty of re-watching an episode over and over again, is that repetition promotes curiosity. One of Clara’s favourite questions to ask a barrage of whys. A toddler’s curiosity is such an amazing and wonderful thing and I love how hungry she is for more information. Sometimes we’ll pause an episode for a giggle or so I can provide some commentary. More often that not, this blossoms into a whole delightful conversation!

Although we usually don’t make screen time as part of our day, Peppa Pig has become so ingrained into our lives that we’ve even begun turning it into sensory play activities!

What is sensory play?

Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates your young child’s senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight and hearing. Sensory activities and sensory tables facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore. Spending time stimulating their senses helps children develop cognitively, linguistically, socially and emotionally, physically and creatively.

Why is sensory play important?

Research shows that sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, which lead to the child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction.

Sensory play is always a hit at our house! The best part is that it’s a fun way to engage in meaningful and independent play! So here are three sensory play activities that enhance Peppa Pig stories!

Inspired by Season 3 Episode 30: Sun, Sea and Snow

Mummy Pig and Madame Gazelle go for a swim in the icy sea! Watch this episode here:

I brought this to life with sea theme props, ice cubes and blue food colouring.

Playing with ice opens the opportunity to discuss temperatures and textures — how the ice feels freezing cold on our hands, how it’s smooth and slippery, and what happens when it melts and disappears. We also joked about how it would feel if we bathed in the icy water with Madame Gazelle and Mummy Pig!

You can also offer different empty containers for scooping, catching and filling. The wonderful thing about open-ended play is that it’s child-led play and they can take the activity to any direction they feel like.

Inspired by Season 1 Episode 1: Muddy Puddles

You don’t have to wait for a rainy day to jump in muddy puddles!

Ooblek is basically cornflour (or cornstarch depending on where you are in the world) mixed with water! To make brown ooblek mud, simply add cocoa powder and adjust to the right gloopy consistency and colour.

The measurements are approximately:
1 cup cornflour
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
½ cup water

If it’s too runny, add more cornflour, and if it’s too thick, add a few more drops of water.

Watch the episode of Muddy Puddles here:

Clara cracks up when Daddy Pig says “it’s only mud!” and then wipes Peppa and George clean.

To set-up this scene, you’ll need two tubs. One for the ooblek mud, and another filled with soapy water (simply add a few drops of dishwashing detergent to water). I also offer some cleaning brushes, sponges and a tea towel.

This activity can get messy so it’s best to set this up outside where kids can get wet and wild!

A bonus with ooblek mud is that it washes off with water and it doesn’t stain clothes!

Inspired by Season 2 Episode 15: Sports Day

Kids love digging their hands into cool feeling textures like kinetic sand! I love kinetic sand because it’s moldable and squishable but sticks to itself so it’s really easy to clean up!

In the ‘Sports Day’ episode, George and Richard Rabbit compete in the long jump competition.

Watch the Sports Day episode here:

Set-up the long jump scene by pouring a layer of kinetic sand in a tray. Clara likes to arrange the grown-ups around the tray to watch the children. This is a great opportunity to practice counting and grouping similar objects together (grown-ups vs children).

You can also use different objects to build molds or for digging and jumping into. The possibilities are endless!

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It’s worth noting that although commercial playdough is non-toxic, it often still contains a cocktail of harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients or fragrances. According to Wiki, “Play-Doh’s current manufacturer, Hasbro, reveals the compound is primarily a mixture of water, salt, and flour, while its 2004 United States patent indicates it is composed of water, a starch-based binder, a retrogradation inhibitor, salt, lubricant, surfactant, preservative, hardener, humectant, fragrance, and color.”

No-Cook Nautral Coconut-Scented Playdough

Print

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.7/5

( 3 voted )

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain flour
• 4 tbs cream of tartar
• ½ cup salt
• 1½ cups boiling water
• 2 tbs coconut oil
• natural food colouring

Instructions

Combine all the wet ingredients in a large bowl, then add all the dry ingredients.

Mix until well combined then allow to cool slightly. Knead for a few minutes, adding a touch more flour if it is too sticky. 

Store the playdough in an airtight container or zip-lock bag at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. 

Notes

You can add fresh herbs, flowers, fruits, seeds and spices for a gorgeous array of scents and textures

Here are also some brilliant playdough tools I’ve found:

Disclosure: I occasionally use affiliate links to monetise my content. I may receive a commission on products or services that you purchase through clicking on links within this page. This doesn’t affect your price in any way, but helps me with the cost of maintaining my website so that I may continue to share resources to help you embrace play-based learning and mindful parenting.

The post Easy homemade no-cook playdough appeared first on Mama's Got This.