Expert Tips for Parents
Sleep
Expert Tips for Parents
August 22, 2024
Our UK sleep specialist Gemma Coe is a mum of two and a certified baby and child sleep consultant. She helps families all over the world develop healthy sleep habits and has shared a lot of her knowledge over on our blog. Everything from tips for helping baby sleep in winter to knowing when to switch from a sleeping bag to a duvet to managing baby’s sleep after travelling Today she’s sharing with us her thoughts on the best baby sleeping position and why it’s the best.
When it comes to ensuring the safety and comfort of your newborn during sleep, understanding different sleeping positions, and which are safest for your baby, is crucial. Parents often ask me about the best sleeping positions for their babies, especially when their newborn starts to show signs of rolling to one side.
Let’s take a look at baby sleeping positions, focusing on safe sleep practices, and addressing some common concerns that crop up such as reflux and wind (gas).
What are the best positions for baby sleep?
Sleeping
Family & Parenting
Travel
Expert Tips for Parents
August 12, 2024
Summer is officially holiday season! And while many are drawn to faraway places, more and more people are spending that quality time together within the UK or simply at home, within their own four walls. This trend has a name: staycation. It is made up of the word "stay" and the suffix "-cation" from vacation.
There are many reasons to choose a staycation. The cost of international travel, because you’ve just welcomed a new baby, because life with children feels easier with home comforts on hand, or just because home is where you want to be. Whether you’re visiting somewhere new or staying home here are a few ideas for a fun-filled family staycation
📷 Yuri Shirota, Unsplash
The redesign: a child-friendly oasis at home
Kids only! A separate play area for the little ones in the house
If you haven't already reserved a corner in your living room or the room you spend the most time in for your little one and their toys, then do it now if you can. If this play area is well and clearly organised,
Pregnancy & Birth
Expert Tips for Parents
August 06, 2024
There’s few things more exciting than feeling your baby growing bigger and bigger in your belly. However, as they grow there is more and more weight to carry around with you - and that can be exhausting. One way to relax is to take a bath during pregnancy, with candlelight and soft music. Or perhaps you’d prefer a day at the spa to use the sauna, hot tub or even swim a few lengths. But sometimes rumours can be confusing and you might have heard some about bathing and pregnancy.
So, is it safe? Should you be worried about overheating, strain on your body, the risk of bacteria etc.? Yes and no, says our expert and midwife Katrin Ritter. In principle, there is nothing wrong with taking a bath or swimming during pregnancy and exercise is generally good for you. However, there are a few things to bear in mind before you throw yourself into the water while pregnant.
Bathing and pregnancy
Let's first take a look at the question “can you have a bath when pregnant”? The short answer is… Yes! For
Baby Gear
Babywearing
Expert Tips for Parents
July 29, 2024
We love babywearing! It’s really in our DNA. Our founder Karin Frost designed her first baby carrier more than two decades ago as she simply couldn't find anything satisfactory on the market at the time so ended up founding her own company. One of the things she made sure of is that Ergobaby carriers adapt with baby as they grow. And as your little love gets bigger there will come a time that they feel less comfortable on your front, at which point (and before if you like - as long as they reach all the steps listed below) we absolutely recommend trying a back carry in your Ergobaby carrier. It has lots of advantages and is expressly encouraged by our midwife and babywearing consultant Katrin Ritter.
When can I start carrying my baby on my back?
It is important that your little one has reached a minimum size and a certain stage of development before you can carry your baby on your back. They should have good head control, be able to sit upright unaided, and weigh at least 7.8kg. This is
Expert Tips for Parents
July 23, 2024
It's that time of year again, summer adventures await and entice both young and old out into the great outdoors. A trip to the beach, or a summer party, or a picnic in a shady city park - with the right equipment, these outings are guaranteed to be fun and virtually stress-free, even for those with small babies. And that's why today we're revealing ten absolute must-haves for baby's first summer (and beyond!).
Our top tips for your summer baby's first equipment
1. A high-quality stroller
In summer, you want to get out into nature. The best way to explore your summer destinations is with a stroller that is particularly easy to steer. It should also provide your little one with sufficient protection from the sun and ensure baby gets plenty of airflow on warm days.
What you should look out for: Choose a stroller that is equipped with a generous sun canopy with UV protection, a lightweight frame and breathable material. It is also particularly practical when travelling if you can fold it quickly
Pregnancy & Birth
Expert Tips for Parents
July 08, 2024
Yay, you're pregnant! Congratulations! Are you already excited and looking forward to watching your belly slowly grow and feeling your unborn miracle more and more? Many parents-to-be plan a “babymoon” of some kind during this time. Preferably somewhere warm, on the beach, in the sun. A holiday destination that can only be reached by plane. But do you feel uncomfortable at the thought of getting on a plane pregnant? Should you? Many parents-to-be feel that way. That's why we asked our midwife and baby expert Katrin to answer the question “is flying safe when pregnant?” including when she thinks is the best time for a parent-to-be to fly.
Is flying allowed during pregnancy?
Generally speaking, you can fly during pregnancy as it will not harm you or your unborn child - provided your pregnancy has proceeded without complications and your baby is developing as expected and is healthy. Shorter flights in particular should not be a problem if your pregnancy is ‘normal’. However, if there are
Baby Gear
Babywearing
Expert Tips for Parents
July 03, 2024
We’re keeping everything crossed for a wonderfully hot summer with lots of sunshine ahead. We’re looking forward to finally not having to put on and take off so many layers when switching between indoor and outdoor activities. However, we know it can be tricky figuring out how to dress baby in summer with the heat. The challenge is always to protect baby from overheating. But what does that mean in terms of actual pieces of clothing? And what about at night, in the stroller, or in their baby carrier / wrap?
Whether it's a stroller or baby carrier, during the day or at night - we've put together a few tips to help you know exactly what your baby should wear in each situation. To prevent you worrying and, of course, to prevent your little one from overheating.
What do babies wear during the day in summer?
As nice as it is when the sun shines, when it comes to babies or newborns, many new parents might feel apprehensive. But we’ve got this! So… what do babies wear in summer and what do
Baby Gear
Babywearing
Expert Tips for Parents
June 27, 2024
We have a new baby! Hooray! Ergobaby has a new baby carrier. And it’s something a little bit different. A hip seat baby carrier. Or rather, two. The Ergobaby Alta and Ergobaby Lift. Alta is a hip carrier with a removable back panel that looks similar to its siblings the Omni and Adapt, but is quite different. Lift is a pure hip seat baby carrier - without a back panel or shoulder straps.
Why a hip seat? These are two essential everyday helpers that fit perfectly into our existing collection and are a great addition to a "normal" baby carrier. Especially as a secondary carrier when your child starts crawling, walking and wants to come up then down then up then down. In those situations, a hip seat is easy to put on, also for other caregivers, and it evenly carries the weight of your baby which relieves your arms, hips, and back.
And now... do you know what a hip seat is? How to use it, when and why? No? Then this blog has come at exactly the right time. Because today we're going to
Baby Gear
Babywearing
Expert Tips for Parents
June 26, 2024
Up and down and up and down... If you have an older baby or a toddler, then this pattern will be familiar to you. Your little love wants to be held close but is still very active. One moment they want to be in your arms and then just seconds later the impulse to move or curiosity comes back and they want to be free to move on the floor. In moments like these, it's usually not worth putting on your carrier because you will just be taking it back off again two seconds later. So instead, you push your pelvis to the side and carry baby on your hip.
The result: Suddenly your arms become heavy, you can feel your hips and lower back as they start to pull or even hurt. This repeated movement can cause a lot of things to go wrong in your body and it's not good for your little one either. Today, with the help of our midwife and babywearing expert Katrin Ritter, we'll tell you how you can carry your baby on your hips in an uncomplicated and ergonomic way by using a hip seat such as the Ergobaby
Family & Parenting
Lifestyle
Expert Tips for Parents
June 13, 2024
Congratulations! Your little darling is half a year old! It's amazing how time flies... In today's instalment of our blog series ‘Baby’s developmental milestones with Ergobaby: baby’s first year’, we want to take a look at what your little one has probably achieved by the end of their sixth month of life together with our midwife and baby expert Katrin Ritter. We say ‘probably’ because each of our babies naturally develops at their own pace. You shouldn't worry if it takes a little longer for your little one to reach their 6-month-old baby milestones. However, if you notice that your baby's development is lagging far behind at 6 months, please speak to your health visitor or GP.
6-month-old baby milestones - The development
The big milestone at the end of the sixth month of life is the mature symmetrical hand support. From now on, your baby will be able to balance themself stably on the floor. In addition, their brain is gaining mass as the cerebral hemispheres become more and more