The festive season, alcohol and breastfeeding

Christmas, New Years, Summer - December can be a hot, hectic time for everyone, especially babies and toddlers. It can be tricky when you are breastfeeding (especially breastfeeding newborns) and still wanting to join in festivities around this time of year.

 

Here are our top tips to breastfeed safely while indulging in a little Christmas cheer.

 

The recommendation is for no alcohol while you are breastfeeding. This is because
whatever is in your bloodstream also goes across to the breast milk. Think of your bloodstream and milk as being separated by a sort of mesh barrier. Some things get across the mesh easily some do not.

 

If you have a newborn or if you are feeding round the clock it is harder to fit in alcohol unless you “pump and dump” and give your baby a bottle of either expressed milk or formula. Once your baby is feeding through the day and having a long break through the night, a standard drink of alcohol can be accommodated more easily.

 

Generally we would allow 2 hours per standard drink to get out of your system (and out of your milk). So if your baby feeds at 6pm and then not again till 2 am, a drink with dinner now and then can be accommodated. You can plan ahead. If you know you are going to have a few drinks, say at a party, then you can express beforehand, maybe over a week or so, so that there is breastmilk available for your baby while you are out and possibly for after you get home, depending on the amount of alcohol you have consumed.

 

ALWAYS EAT GOOD FOOD

WHEN HAVING A DRINK.

 

Remember you may not have had a drink for quite sometime. Most mothers really feel the effects of alcohol when they haven’t had it for a while. Cautious drinking isn’t just good for your baby, it will help you to have an enjoyable time and avoid feeling unwell the next day.

 

There is more in depth information about this topic on the Australian breastfeeding association website www.breastfeeding.asn.au

 

Our breastfeeding ebook covers this and more get it here http://insyncwithinfants.com/breastfeeding/

Three hot tips to beat the heat at baby’s bedtime

Summer has arrived! I love the heat, long days, fresh foods and outdoor living that summer brings.There are downsides though, especially for little ones. Lots of parents come to Insync with Infants for help in summer with babies who won’t nap, who struggle to sleep through the night and wake up much too early. You don’t need to worry. Heat, humidity and longer days don’t have to spell disaster for your baby’s sleep! Follow these three hot tips to beat the heat at baby’s bedtime:

1 - Set up a cool sleep environment

By cool I don’t mean setting up a lava lamp and disco ball in the Nursery (they’re still cool, aren’t they?)! There are a number of simple things you can do to help your baby settle and sleep comfortably in the heat.

Bed clothes may not be needed at all- just a bottom sheet is probably all you need.

 

If your baby’s room is hot  for a lot of the day, consider moving your baby’s sleep place to a cooler room in the house.  Consider opening windows for air flow.  Perhaps an awning on the outside to shade a bedroom window

2 -  Air conditioning and fans

Fans and air conditioning can be a godsend on those really hot, still days when your energy feels zapped and you just don’t know what to do with yourself.   Be aware though that just because you enjoy the feeling of a fan blowing on your skin doesn’t mean your baby will.  And just because you enjoy sitting in 20 degree coolness doesn’t mean your baby will.

 

Sometimes your baby may react differently to what you like. I have known  babies to not enjoy a fan on or not enjoy air conditioning as much as their parents.  Less clothing may be all your baby needs to feel comfortable.

 

3 - Watch for early tired signs

Early tired signs seem to be the answer to everything… Because they are! In summer, especially in the ‘silly season’ there is so much going on that it can be easy to miss those crucial early tired signs. If your baby has been a pretty good or even an amazing sleeper and then is not  all of a sudden, it may be that in the excitement of the season your baby has become overtired again and getting to sleep is hard.  Catching early tired signs means that everyone can enjoy good times and that everyone can get good sleep again.

 

Get your insights into baby sleeping here at http://insyncwithinfants.com/baby-sleep/