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.

 

Digging up the carrots

This week the children have been pretending to dig up the carrots. They have really enjoyed uncovering them and looking at all the different shapes and sizes.

Goodbye Natalie

We are sad to say that Natalie will be leaving us, her last day will be Friday 21st January. She has been a great asset to Baby Ducks and will be missed by the children and the staff alike. Natalie has worked for us for a long time and is a very valued member of the team, she is loved by the children and been a key part of what we have achieved. She has recently moved out of the area and has decided to pursue a new career away from childcare. We would like to wish her every success in her future and would like to express our thanks for to her for all the hard work and commitment that she has given to Baby Ducks.

Natalie has asked if we could pass the following message to you all...

"To all the families at Baby Ducks, I am saying goodbye to everyone after four and a half years at Baby Ducks. I want to send a big Thank You to all past and present. I have loved getting to know all the children and will miss them all as I go forward in to a new adventure. Wishing you all the best for the future, Natalie x"

ADVENT CALENDAR 2020

Every day we are opening a new book on our Christmas Story Advent Calendar. Visit our web site to have a look...

ADVENT CALENDAR 2020

Pasta

This week the children have really enjoyed playing with the pasta.  

Our Hall

In these difficult times it is not easy to show parents around our setting. We have managed to section off an area at the back of the hall which allows people to see what we have but I thought it might also help to take a short video. (It does not show the outside area) 

Flu Vacinations

This week, parents and carers of children in years 7 and below will receive a letter from the NHS reminding them that it is time for their child to receive their annual flu vaccination. The letter also provides details of where the vaccinations will take place and the need for parents and carers to provide consent before the vaccination can be administered.

QR Code

 From today we will be displaying a QR Code at the front door for visitors, parents and staff can scan on the new NHS Covid 19 App.

Hello Baby Ducks

We are all really missing the children that can not be with us at the moment so the staff have made a little video to say hello from their homes to yours...

Learning at Home

Recently the Department of Eductaion gave some very simple guidelines on helping you children learn at home. We thought you might like to see the advise they have given...

How to help young children learn at home
You can help your child to learn through the little things you do with them, for example:

• everyday conversations
• make-believe play
• games with numbers or letters
• reading together
• involving them in the things you are doing, such as household chores, and talking with them about it

Find ideas for new things you can try at Hungry Little Minds.

You do not need to set separate time or plan complicated activities dedicated to learning. These activities can be incorporated into everyday life and play.

You know your child best. Avoid forcing them into lengthy planned activities if they naturally respond better to a mix of shorter activities. This can stop them getting bored or frustrated and keep them active, interested and learning through things they enjoy.

Keeping a routine
Do not worry about trying to keep to the full routine that your child had in nursery or with their childcare provider. But children will feel more comfortable with a predictable routine, so try to make sure they:

• get up and go to bed at the same time each day
• have regular meal times
• turn off any electronic devices, including the TV, at least an hour before bedtime

Keeping active
Young children should be active for at least 3 hours a day in total.

It is also good to get some fresh air every day. If you do not have a garden and are taking children outside to exercise, make sure you follow the rules on social distancing.

While inside, there are plenty of things you can do to keep children active, such as:

• playing hide-and-seek
• seeing who can do the most star jumps
• making an obstacle course
• playing music and having a dance-off

Television and using digital devices
There are lots of ways to help your child to learn such as reading together and make-believe play. You can also use what children have watched on television or the internet to help their learning. Talk with them about what they are watching or use their favourite TV characters in other games and activities.

Digital devices such as a laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone can help some children learn. If your child does use them, try downloading some apps that will help them learn.

Set age-appropriate parental controls on any devices young children are using and supervise their use of websites and apps. See advice on keeping them safe online.

Try sharing things your child makes with your friends and family online and encourage others to do the same. Your child might enjoy seeing things they have made on the screen or seeing what other children have done.

You can also visit Hungry Little Minds for ideas of activities to do together without using a device.
Socialising while social distancing

Spending time with other children is important for your child’s development, but at the moment it is important they stay at home.

It will help them if everyone in the home talks with them through the day, responding to them and being led by the things they are interested in.

Visit Hungry Little Minds for more information about talking with your child.

If you can, try a video call with other children. Younger children may not have a conversation as you would, but they can share activities or show each other things they have made or like.

Try a call with other people that your child knows, such as grandparents.

Sit and do the call with them to help. Not all children will like it, so try again another time or have a call with family members while you are sitting down and eating a meal.

Try sitting with your child and looking at pictures of their friends or family. Talk about them and the things you have done together.

What a lovely surprise

This morning when we opened up Baby Ducks we had received a very special delivery.

We were so please to find this in our letter box ...

We really miss all of our children and it was lovely to receive this special card. It really made a wonderful start to our day.

I hope that we will all be back to normal soon and that we can see everyone of our little Baby Ducks.

Some more stories

Today we have two more stories for you, one is again read by Zoe which is "Dear Zoo" and the other is the story CD that the children love so much and one of Baby Ducks all time favourite stories "We all go travelling by". We hope you enjoy them.

We have had a couple of requests from some of the Baby Ducks that are at home and we will try to get these recorded as soon as possible.

Story Time

Baby Ducks is currently still open but unfortunately not for all of our children. For those of you that have your children at home, we thought that it might be nice if you could share a familiar story with them.

We chose two of the Baby Ducks favourite stories and recorded them whilst reading to the children that are still coming in. We hope that all our Baby Ducks will enjoy listening and look forward to seeing them all when things return to normal.

If these prove to be of use, then we will try and add some more in the coming days. Let us know what you think. If you have any requests for stories let us know and we will see what we can do. We might have a go at some singing next time.