Amazing Babies

Here are some information videos about just how amazing babies are ...

 

 

 

Ditch the dummy

Dummies can be used for calming and comforting little ones.

They certainly have their uses in the first year of life, however we advise to try and ditch the dummy by the age of one. After this age, dummies can begin to create problems for your growing baby.

It certainly becomes more difficult to convince your child to part with their dummy as they move into and through toddlerhood, and the dummy can negatively impact speech and language as well as your child’s teeth.

The longer your baby uses a dummy, the more chance there is that the structure of their mouth will be affected. This means it will affect how their teeth meet when they close their mouth or when they bite. This can not only affect their baby teeth, but their adult teeth later on too.

It is completely normal to feel a little worried about how your baby will react and cope when you first take their dummy away. Although they may show their unhappiness in no uncertain terms at first, it’s good to remember that babies and children are very adaptable and it should only take a few days until they adjust to life without a dummy!

How to ditch the dummy

There are different ways to approach stopping dummy use and it is your decision which way you go about it, however once you have decided, it is important to remain firm and consistent with your decision in order for your baby to adjust to the change without getting confused.

Some parents prefer to gradually wean their baby off of the dummy; this can be done by beginning to offer the dummy at nap and bed time only, before eventually removing it completely. Other parents feel that the gradual approach may confuse their baby and so decide to remove it completely.

• Here are some general tips you can follow:Offer something else as a comforter in place of the dummy; this can be a specific teddy or a small blanket.
• If your baby wakes in the night try to comfort them without giving them back the dummy
• Remove dummies from the home or keep them out of sight.
• Never let your baby babble or talk with the dummy in their mouth, this will stop them from learning to speak clearly
• Depending on their age and level of understanding you can prepare your child for what’s going to happen. For example, you might say: “Tomorrow we’re going to say bye-bye to dummy because you’re a big boy/girl now”
• You can ask your child to collect all their dummies into a bag and then leave them out for the fairies/Easter bunny/Santa to collect. You can leave a small gift to replace the dummies
• Give your child praise and encouragement, and if they haven’t mentioned the dummy, try not to remind them
• You may want to use an incentive such as a sticker chart to show your child how well they’re doing.
• If your child asks for the dummy you can either explain to them that they can only have it at sleep times or that we don’t have the dummy anymore. You can also use distraction by quickly diverting their attention to playing and having fun.
• Consistency really is key. Once you have decided to ditch the dummy, you and all those who care for your little one must stay consistent.

Be Sun Safe

Here are a few basic tips for how to keep safe during the hot weather...

• Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. If it's safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler.
• Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don't go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you're vulnerable to the effects of heat.
• Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn't possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).
• Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.
• Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and fruit juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.
• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need.
• Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool.
• Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat if you go outdoors.
• A bucket hat/wide rimmed hat is recommended as it shields your eyes, face and even your neck from the sun's harmful UV rays.
• apply sun protection lotion and re-apply frequently, especially after activities that remove it, such as swimming or using a towel. The NHS recommends that this should be with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, and 4 or 5 star ultraviolet A (UVA) protection.
• Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

Bluey Keepy Uppy Challenge - Monday

Today we started our Bluey Keepy Uppy Challenge for Comic Relief. Today we managed 108 in total with a best of 8 continuous ones. Can we get to 1000 for the week. Remember that you can contribute to the challenge at home as well (just remember to let us know how you got on and send a picture or two)

Increase in scarlet fever and invasive group A streptococcus above seasonally expected levels

There has been a national increase in notifications of scarlet fever and invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the signs and symptoms and the actions to be taken if we become aware of an outbreak of scarlet fever at Baby Ducks

Signs and symptoms of scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a common childhood infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococcus (GAS). The early symptoms of scarlet fever include sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. After 12 to 48 hours the characteristic red, pinhead rash develops, typically first appearing on the chest and stomach, then rapidly spreading to other parts of the body, and giving the skin a sandpaper-like texture. The scarlet rash may be harder to spot on darker skin, although the 'sandpaper' feel should be present. Patients typically have flushed cheeks and pallor around the mouth. This may be accompanied by a ‘strawberry tongue’. As the child improves peeling of the skin can occur.

Infection control advice

In schools and nurseries it is recognised that infections can be spread through direct physical contact between children and staff and through shared contact with surfaces such as table tops, taps, toys and handles. 

As per national Health Protection in Schools and Other Child Care Facilities guidance, children and adults with suspected scarlet fever should be excluded from nursery / school / work for 24 hours after the commencement of appropriate antibiotic treatment. 

Good hygiene practice such as hand washing remains the most important step in preventing and controlling.