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Support for mental health

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But at CrossReach we believe that with the right support, at the right time, every person can flourish and every life can be fulfilling.

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https://www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Bathtime tips for new parents.pdf

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Counselling for pregnant women and partners.

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The PCC Scot 'Annual Sponsored Walk' took place on Saturday 7th of April this year and was a huge success. We had over 25 walkers across the event with a large number walking the whole Read more...

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The PCC Scot 'Annual Sponsored Walk' took place on Saturday 7th of April this year and was a huge success. We had over 25 walkers across the event with a large number walking the whole Read more...

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Friendly breastfeeding support from pregnancy onward.

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Dads Rock - Organisation to support dads

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Dads Rock - Organisation to support dads

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https://www.dadsrock.org.uk

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Edinburgh Real Nappy Community - information and support on using cloth nappies.

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Edinburgh Real Nappy Community - information and support on using cloth nappies.

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This organisation can be contacted via facebook or email hello@edinburghrealnappy.co.uk

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000gn5z?fbclid=IwAR1doJBhI01kIqcqwIEp0OwUf8QPQpOdmMtXrB6TS_i66YUz-9VCpfDtKIA

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We were so delighted when we heard the announcement that the Scottish Government were going to introduce baby boxes for all babies born in Scotland, based on a Finnish Project that's been running since 1938. I remember researching the Finnish boxes when I was pregnant with my children, thinking they were such a great idea and wishing we had similar here - and now we do!

The boxes contain over 40 different items that the government considers essential for new babies and for parents, and the box itself can be used with the mattress and sheets inside it to become a safe clean sleeping area for the baby.

This post will let you know what you will receive in your new baby box, and will help you to get started with your new stretchy sling.

Scottish Baby Box Announcement, courtesy of the Scottish Government

What is included in the Scottish Baby Box:

A poem for your wee one

Newborn: 1 short-sleeved vest, 1 long-sleeved vest, 1 long-sleeved side buttoning vest, 1 long-sleeved sleepsuit, 2 jersey trousers, 1 pair of socks & 1 cotton hat

3-6 months: 1 all-in-one day suit, 1 long-sleeved sleepsuit, 1 jersey trousers, 1 pair of socks & 1 fleece jacket with hood.

Reusable nappies voucher (newborn) & travel changing mat

Mattress with protector, fitted sheet & cellular blanket

Digital ear thermometer

1 pair scratch mittens & emery boards

Hooded bath towel, Bath sponge & Bath and room thermometer

Teething ring soother

2 baby books, comforter toy & play mat

Bib & 3 muslin cloth squares

Pack of disposable nursing pads

Pack of 12 maternity towels

Box of 3 condoms

Whilst it's a wonderful gesture to receive new items for your baby - the reason for the box and gifts goes much deeper than a simple gesture, as the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "It's a simple idea with a proven record in tackling deprivation, improving health and supporting parents" All babies will now have a guaranteed safe sleeping area, clean clothes and basic essentials.

Imagine then the joy at Oscha HQ when we discovered that a baby carrie r was going to be included too. Read on for our 'how to' video, as well as a look at all the benefits your new sling can bring for you and your baby.
Finding your little one's grown too big for your stretchy wrap?
Read our post about moving on from your stretchy baby box sling.
Whilst you don't need a carrier to carry a baby, it sure does help! It makes it easier on your tired arms, and the optimum position of the baby, chest to chest with you, helps them hear your heartbeat and be soothed. A carrier also allows for more freedom when exploring the world; hills and narrow pathways are no object to carriers.

What is a Stretchy Baby Wrap?

The carrier included in the Scottish Baby Box is called a 'stretchy baby wrap'. It's a long piece of stretchy fabric that you tie on to support your baby in a hands-free carry. Whilst it may seem intimidating it's like learning to tie shoes - what may seem tricky at first soon becomes second nature.
Note: The wrap included in the Scottish Baby Box is a 'One-Way Stretchy' be sure to search for this type when looking for instructions, or use our video below.
How are Oscha's wraps different? Our woven wraps do not have the same stretch as the Baby Box wrap. While they are put on in a similar way the woven material means they are are more sturdy and will last you from newborn to toddlerhood. A stretchy sling will usually only be comfortable until about 6 months. Our slings are made in our solar-powered Scottish workshop using organic and responsibly sourced materials. Learn more.

Learn How to Use Your Stretchy Baby Wrap

Stretchy Baby Wraps can be used from birth, weight depending, until around 6-9 months. The minimum weight limit varies between brands from between 7 - 8lbs and so it's best to check what the instructions say on your particular one for that. If however, you have a baby weighing less than that, or a premature baby, you it is still possible to carry from birth using a stretchy wrap woven wrap or a ring sling, after seeking the advice of a healthcare professional.

Carrying your baby close whether just holding them or in a carrier has so many benefits "Human contact with other humans is vital to emotional and physical health and is a normal and essential part of development. Skin to skin contact helps them regulate their temperature, heart rate and breathing rates. It produces oxytocin in both the caregiver and the baby, calming the baby and can even reduce the effects and incidence of Post Natal Depression. Studies have shown that carried babies cry less and that carrying significantly helps with both reflux and colic.

People often ask about how to use a carrier safely which is a great question. We know little babies need help in many areas of their lives. Ensuring that no fabric is obscuring their face and that their chin is not resting on their chest, is one of the ways we ensure their safety.
You can read more about safety and other carrying questions, like 'What should my baby wear in a carrier?' here.

Moving on from a Stretchy Wrap

Demonstration of the natural 'M' position being supported by both a stretchy and a woven wrap

Once your baby has outgrown the stretchy baby wrap, carrying doesn't have to end there - there are many options you can move on to, to enable the closeness to continue. If you've enjoyed the simplicity and comfort of tying the stretchy wrap - you might like to move onto a woven wrap, they can be tied in a way very similar to how you used the stretchy wrap so they make for a smooth and easy transition.
Browse our range of newborn friendly baby wraps.
Our woven slings come in a fabulous array of colours and designs and support your child's weight so well they last right the way through until you no longer use a carrier - and are so versatile that they can, in fact, be used from birth too if you prefer.
Read about Hannah's journey from the Baby Box stretchy to a woven wrap.
You can read more about woven alternatives to your stretchy baby wrap here, and for tips for moving on from your stretchy head over to our blog post on transitioning to a woven wrap.

What Other Types of Baby Carrier are Available?
Read more about Ring Slings here.

Ring Slings:
These are one shoulder slings which are fastened with a set of rings. Simple and quick to use, these allow for quick ups and downs - perfect for school runs & for toddlers. They are also a firm favourite for weddings and other special occasions.

Baby Carriers:
If you decide you'd like something with a little more structure, there are also fabulous carriers that you can move on to as well - such as the half buckle Cairis or full buckle Bairn. These have less of a learning curve than the wrap but maintain all of the amazing benefits of using a sling.

Read more about our Cairis carrier here or about our Bairn carrier here.

Want a Little Extra Support?

There are also lots of people who are trained in how to use baby carriers - called Baby Carrying Consultants or Peer Supporters, and those who run drop-in sessions called Sling Libraries, who can help you out in person if that's what you'd prefer.

Dr. Rosie Knowles demonstrating how to carry newborn in a woven wrap

Find the nearest Sling Consultant to you.
Written by Jess Hippey Jess is a mum to two boys and a Baby Carrying Consultant based in Aberdeen, Scotland. For more info about the work that she does see: www.closeandcalm.co.uk
Want to register for a Scottish Baby Box? Simply talk to your midwife and they will request it for you!

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Scottish Baby Boxes: How to use my new baby wrap? - Oscha Slings

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We were so delighted when we heard the announcement that the Scottish Government were going to introduce baby boxes for all babies born in Scotland, based on a Finnish Project that's been running since 1938. I remember researching the Finnish boxes[1] when I was pregnant with my children, thinking they...

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British Red Cross Childrens First Aid app

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British Red Cross Childrens First Aid app

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‎Keep your little ones safe with the British Red Cross baby and child first aid app. Packed with useful videos, easy to follow advice and a test section – it’s free and simple to download. There is also a handy toolkit where you can record your child’s medication needs and any allergies. The informa…

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In car child safety - Safety Seats, Boosters, Law and advice

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Expert advice on seat and stage selection for your child

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You need to make an appointment at a registrar's office to register a birth. You have 21 days to do this from the day of a child's birth.

Married or civil partner parents

If you're the child's mother, father or second female parent - you can register the birth and be named as a parent.

Unmarried parents

If the parents are not married or in a civil partnership, the father or second female parent can only sign and be named in the register as a parent if:

the parents sign the register together

they sign declarations

Registering a joint birth

A child's parents are both given parental responsibilities and rights (PRRs) if they register the child's birth together and both of their names appear on the birth certificate. Find out about joint birth registration.

Registering a birth if you're not a parent

The following people can also register a birth:

the birth mother's relatives

the relatives of someone who is married to or in a civil partnership with the birth mother

anyone present at the birth

a person who lives in a house where the child was born

anyone who is fully taking care of the child

anyone with knowledge of the birth

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You need to make an appointment at a registrar's office to register a birth. You have 21 days to do this from the day of a child's birth. If you're the child's mother, father or second female parent - you can register the birth and be named as a parent.

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An organisation which provides unbiased information on formula milks. Also gives recommendations for sterilising feeding equipment

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity. We endeavour to fill practical and policy-relevant information gaps and provide resources for health workers supporting eating well from pre-conception to five years.

Our Mission

To influence policies which enable the safe, appropriate and optimal feeding of infants and young children in the UK, and to protect them from commercial interest.

To ensure that the importance of good nutrition from pre-conception to age five remains on everyone's agenda.

To provide conflict of interest-free information on infant milks marketed in the UK, and to promote better regulation and marketing of breastmilk substitutes.

To provide resources for health workers to support them in their work with pregnant women and young families.

Our Resources:

Are put together by nutrition experts and are regularly updated.

Can be used in Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative accredited settings.

Are available as free pdf downloads for use by anyone promoting better public health on a not-for profit basis.

Everyone who works at First Steps Nutrition Trust feels passionately about the need for better information and support for good nutrition - and good food - from pre-conception to five years.

First Steps Nutrition Trust is supported by generous individual donations and conflict of interest free grants. First Steps Nutrition Trust does not work with organisations or individuals that work with, or take funding from, the breastmilk substitute industry and we reserve the right not to sell them our subsidised resources.

First Steps works with and supports a number of organisations including Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative, the Baby Feeding Law Group, the Obesity Health Alliance, the Children's Food Campaign and the APPG on Infant Feeding and Inequalities.

First Steps Nutrition Trust host and regularly update their partner site infantmilkinfo.org which contains comprehensive information about infant milks (for 0-12 month olds) available on the UK market.

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is a charity which provides clear, evidence-based and independent information and support for good nutrition from pre-conception to five years of age.

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Group that is functioning online supporting mental health.

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Group that is functioning online supporting mental health.

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Juno Perinatal Mental Health Support was founded in February 2015 by a group of mums in Edinburgh who all have personal experience of perinatal mental health difficulties. We support mums through

Our main aim as Juno is to help mums with perinatal mental health difficulties realise that they are not alone in how they feel and what they feel is indeed a very real illness. It is very common to think 'why me?' 'why can everyone else cope?' 'will I ever feel normal again?' 'it's not supposed to feel like this...is it?'

We all have personal experience of these feelings of isolation/despair and the devastating impact it can have on the whole family. Juno is here to reassure mums and mums-to-be, that there is light at the end of what appears to be a very long, dark tunnel and with the right support you can, and will, get better. For most mums with perinatal mental health difficulties, their first stop is usually a health visitor or GP. We are here to offer additional support in a number of ways with the aim of ensuring that families suffering have as much choice as possible to aid their recovery. Here at Juno we have built up an extensive knowledge of local resources in the hope that we can always aid families, whether it be directly, or through referral to another body. We offer a safe, relaxed environment in our groups alongside friendly chat, a welcoming smile and absolutely no judgement. Our day time groups also provide play equipment for babies and toddlers.
Why Juno?
Juno is the Roman goddess of love, marriage, pregnancy and childbirth who was regarded as a female guardian angel. She is queen of all the gods and is connected with all aspects of the life of women. We can't think of a better embodiment of our aims through our services.
What is meant by perinatal mental health?
The term perinatal cover the time period from the moment of conception until the child is 2. Some women aren't diagnosed until their child is 2 or beyond but might have had symptoms of depression or anxiety for some time.

We use the phrase 'mental health' because it covers a broader spectrum - many people may not suffer depression, but battle with anxiety, stress, PTSD/birth and perinatal trauma and OCD for example.

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Juno Perinatal Mental Health Support was founded in February 2015 by a group of mums in Edinburgh who all have personal experience of perinatal mental health difficulties. We support mums through Our main aim as Juno is to help mums with perinatal mental health difficulties realise that they are not alone in how they feel and what they feel is indeed a very real illness.

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This is a wonderful book based on Gonzalez premise that you should raise your children with love, respect and freedom. He makes some powerful points about the kinds of things that are deemed acceptable when saying... More

Kiss me! is a book with a good heart. It is an enjoyable, easy read whose central message is one which encourages parents to trust their instincts and not to allow anyone's view/theories to get in the way of... More

"A must read for all mums to be!"

What a fantastic book! It is written in 2 sections, the 1st section looks at babies and toddlers built in behaviours: why the cry when they are put down, why they demand attention, why they don't sleep through the... More

Your review has been submitted successfully.

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Kiss Me by Carlos Gonzalez | Waterstones

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This is a wonderful book based on Gonzalez premise that you should raise your children with love, respect and freedom. He makes some powerful points about the kinds of things that are deemed acceptable when saying... More Kiss me! is a book with a good heart.

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Suzanne Zeedyk The Science of Human Connection.

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Suzanne Zeedyk The Science of Human Connection.

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A good website to read more about baby attachment

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Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk is a research scientist fascinated by babies' innate capacity to connect. Suzanne's core aspiration continues to be strengthening awareness of the decisions we take about caring for our children - because those choices are integrally connected to our vision for the kind of society we wish to build.

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A book that explores how affection shapes a baby's brain

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A book that explores how affection shapes a baby's brain

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Why Love Matters explains why loving relationships are essential to brain development in the early years, and how these early interactions can have lasting consequences for future emotional and physical health. This second edition follows on from the success of the first, updating the scientific research, covering recent findings in genetics and the mind/body connection, and including a new chapter highlighting our growing understanding of the part also played by pregnancy in shaping a baby's future emotional and physical well-being.

The author focuses in particular on the wide-ranging effects of early stress on a baby or toddler's developing nervous system. When things go wrong with relationships in early life, the dependent child has to adapt; what we now know is that his or her brain adapts too. The brain's emotion and immune systems are particularly affected by early stress and can become less effective. This makes the child more vulnerable to a range of later difficulties such as depression, anti-social behaviour, addictions or anorexia, as well as physical illness.

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Why Love Matters explains why loving relationships are essential to brain development in the early years, and how these early interactions can have lasting consequences for future emotional and physical health.

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Pregnancy and Parent Centre Edinburgh. Lots of groups, including a free drop in postnatal group on a Monday afternoon - called Motherspace - running on zoom at the moment.

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Pregnancy and Parent Centre Edinburgh. Lots of groups, including a free drop in postnatal group on a Monday afternoon - called Motherspace - running on zoom at the moment.

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The Pregnancy and Parents Centre is a friendly and welcoming not-for-profit organisation that works with parents-to-be and families in Edinburgh. We offer practical and emotional support to enable all expectant parents, parents and their families to experience pregnancy, birth and parenthood with confidence. Everyone is welcome, whatever your circumstances, background, sexual orientation, family makeup or beliefs. Many of our services are free and our sessions are run on a donation basis or a sliding scale of fees so we never turn anyone away due to financial constraint. We also strive to make sure our classes are accessible to parents and parents-to-be with particular needs. We provide a variety of sessions, workshops and drop-in groups plus a range of other services and resources.
Please select the links below to find out about our sessions or find out more About Us.

The Centre is managed and run by a Co-ordinator and 2 admin assistants, a group of trustees, facilitators, practitioner and volunteers.

View our film clip to find out about how our sessions help families

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Welcome to the Pregnancy and Parents Centre

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The Pregnancy and Parents Centre is a friendly and welcoming not-for-profit organisation that works with parents-to-be and families in Edinburgh. We offer practical and emotional support to enable all expectant parents, parents and their families to experience pregnancy, birth and parenthood with confidence. Everyone is welcome, whatever your circumstances, background, sexual orientation, family makeup or beliefs.

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A zoom postnatal group who has been set up by Caroline Flint a retired NCT practitioner

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A zoom postnatal group who has been set up by Caroline Flint a retired NCT practitioner

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I was an NCT Teacher for 47 years and a midwife for nearly 50 years. I used to teach in Edinburgh back in the day. I normally live in London where I now run a new Mums Group in a local pub. Due to lockdown we now meet on Zoom every Tuesday. It is very popular so now I am living in Edinburgh I have set up a new Mums (and Dads and pregnant people ) Group on Zoom for Edinburgh Mums. It is on Thursdays at 2.30 pm and if interested people text their details to 07973657642 I will put them on a WhatsApp Group and send them Zoom details

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Life with a Newborn: Why It’s so Hard to Take a Shower Video

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Website that discusses the various oils that you may wish to use on you baby's skin.

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Website that discusses the various oils that you may wish to use on you baby's skin.

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What is the best oil for baby massage and what is safe to use on baby's skin
Infant massage has many benefits for parents and babies on a physical and emotional level. It has been used in many forms around the world for hundreds of years. Based on an instinctive desire for a mother to touch her baby, infant massage has developed to include a sequence of beneficial strokes and movements to gentle awaken and stimulate all baby's body systems.

Touch is widely considered to be the first sense that develops in the womb and it is the most developed sense at birth. Through touch we can communicate love, security and comfort and help baby adjust from the environment of the womb to the world. It provides connection and a sense of belonging and acceptance. Touch also produces a powerful cocktail of hormones, the most important being oxytocin which is know as the "love hormone". It encourages feelings of altruism, love and nurturing between a parent and baby which is important in the process of adjustment and bonding.
Safe practice of infant massage-You and your baby's health comes first.
The safe practice of baby massage is always the first consideration of any infant massage teacher. Babies must always be happy and healthy before they begin massage with no signs of fever or sickness. Massage should be avoided if baby has received vaccinations within 72 hours to enable the baby's body to process the vaccine and have no ill effects. Any chronic conditions must always be investigated and the consent of the GP or medical profession sought before practice.

Babies should be massaged on the floor whenever possible to avoid the possibly of falls or accidents, particularly when the baby is older and able to move around more easily.

Parents should always have clean hands and short nails and remove their jewellery before they begin massage.

We encourage a parent to ask their baby's permission before massage begins to ensure that the baby is happy to receive a massage.
Baby Massage Oils-What's the best option?
There has been lots of discussion on what is the safest oil for baby massage recently. It is important to be aware that baby massage is practiced in many different cultures around the world and each has its own preference on the oil used based on history and tradition. Baby's skin is very delicate so we must ensure that we are using the safest and most gentle option for massage.

There has been some confusion on what is the best oil to use based on conflicting views and some inconsistencies in advice from health professionals, NICE guidelines and other experts in the field (Walker et al. 2005; Meza 2013) Tradition has also played a part in determining the choice of oil used. In India, mustard seed oil was largely used for massage, but later was shown to be potentially damaging to the skin.(Darmstadt GL, 2008).
Essential oils-Helpful or harmful?
Essential oils should be avoided on newborn skin for massage as they are very strong. The use of any essential oils on babies and children's skin should be supervised by a qualified aromatherapist with specify knowledge in this area and is generally acceptable from when a baby is three months.The use of any heavily scented oil may detract from the exchange of parent and baby smell imprinting which is very important for the early bonding process. Using a product with no scent is best to avoid confusion for the baby and to not overload the olfactory system. Some studies have suggested that the addition of some essential oils to products can disrupt the hormonal balance of children and therefore may be best avoided (Fergie, 2010).
Mineral oil
Mineral oil is a petroleum based product which is not absorbed by the skin, rather creates a barrier on the surface. Studies suggest that it can have some benefits in maintaining hydration and reducing infection (Stamatas, 2008) through its properties but it does not allow the skin to "breathe" and it has no nutritional value to the skin as it contains no vitamins. Again it has a strong artificial smell which can mask the natural smell of the parent/baby. It is not advisable to use mineral oil for baby massage.
Olive Oil and Sunflower Oil Debate
Olive oil was often cited as the best option for baby skin especially for conditions such as cradle cap. However, recent studies have now questioned its use. Research has concluded that that oleic acid, which is contained in olive oil, delays skin barrier recovery on damaged skin (Danby et al 2013). It is now widely avoided for use on new borns.

Organic sunflower oil has been the preferred choice of baby massage instructors for the last 5-8 years as it has many properties which make it ideal. It has almost no smell, is full of vitamins, absorbed into the skin easily and if it is ingested by the baby, causes no harmful effects. It is also low in oleic acid and is high linoleum acid which has antibacterial, regenerating, restructuring and moisturising properties (Stoia et al, 2015; Danby et al 2013). Some studies even suggested that sunflower seed oil was very important in preterm baby health and enhanced the skin barrier function.

However a recent control trial on infant skin at the University of Manchester involving a group of 115 new born infants indicates sunflower oil delays the development of the crucial skin barrier function, damaging the integrity of the superficial layer of skin, the stratum corneous (Cooke et al. 2015). As a result of the study, Alison Cooke, lecturer in midwifery concluded that;
"If the skin barrier function is a wall with bricks made of cells, then the lipid lamellae is the mortar that holds it together. If it isn't developed enough then cracks appear which let water out and foreign bodies through...oil prevents this mortar from developing as quickly and this could be linked to the development of conditions such as eczema."
Interestingly, the skin of the babies who received the oils tended to be better hydrated but the researchers felt that since the implications of the effect on the lipid layer weren't fully understood, this was not enough of a benefit to outweigh possible harm. Consequently the study has concluded that they cannot recommend the use of either sunflower or olive oil on babies' skin and more research is required. (Manchester.ac.uk. 2015)

What is interesting is that the study took place on new born babies. It would be interesting to see the effects on older babies. Babies attending infant massage classes are usually two-three months old and have traditionally used organic sunflower seed oil. As a result of this study, it would appear that it is prudent to avoid sunflower oil on the skin new born babies (under 4 weeks) even though some studies suggest that it can be particularly beneficial for pre term babies and newborn skin. There is no evidence that sunflower oil it is harmful for the skin of babies over 4 weeks old, although care should be taken when introducing products to baby's skin under the age of six weeks particularly if there is a history of atopic eczema.
Coconut Oil
In replacement of sunflower oil, coconut oil is a good choice. Coconut oil contains oleic acid, the same fatty acid found in olive oil which means it can make skin more permeable but it's in a relatively low amount (around 5-6% in coconut oil compared to 55% plus in olive oil). Coconut oil is mainly made up of lauric acid (around 48%), as well as caprylic acid (9%) and linoleic acid(1-2%). However there has not been a full scale study on the use of coconut oil on baby's skin so it is difficult to fully recommend without a full trial. What is clear however is that it would seem safer to use an organic, natural based product on babies skin opposed to a highly perfumed or processed product.
Use of water or no medium for massage
Recent evidence has suggested that water may not be the optimal skin cleanser for newborns (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009). This provides further confusion for parents. Water alone is a poor cleanser and does not remove fat-soluble substances. It can also effect the pH of the skin and may weaken the skin barrier (Lavender T, Bedwell C, O'Brien E et al 2011). New born babies' skin may be best to be left to settle after birth protected by its layer of vernix. Current advice is to not bathe babies immediate after birth but allow this layer of vernix on the skin to protect the baby. Skin to skin can still take place in many forms to enable the process of bonding to occur. Massage without oil can also be beneficial although the benefits were shown to be reduced. (Sankaranarayanan, 2005).
Skin protection
Cooke's Manchester University research was initiated to look at whether there was a link between a rise in eczema and what products are being used on the skin. Evidence indicates eczema is on the increase globally (Nutten, 2015). The study by the dermatologist Richard Cork in 2010, claims that atopic ezcema is common in as many as 25% of babies and that there appears to be a six-week 'window' after a baby is born where babies with a genetic predisposition to eczema can have their immune system made more sensitive by products, and this makes them more likely to develop eczema. Further research is needed to advise on what is the best substances to use on the skin in this 6 week period. Official guidelines published by health watchdog NICE suggest that parents should not use skin products on their babies, although they could use unperfumed soap. This has now been challenged however as being out of date and that soap may be harmful. There is no reference on use of products for massage.
The use of massage in general
There are many studies that show that infant massage can have a beneficial effect on a baby's health and wellbeing. Premature babies have been shown to gain weight and sleep better as a result of massage with oil and have been able to leave hospital sooner than those who are not (Field, 2010). We advise practising massage from 8 weeks although generous skin contact is encouraged from birth. The studies looking at the use of sunflower oil and olive oil did not look at the suitability of their use for massage, rather the effect on the skin in general. The length of time skin is exposed to sunflower oil may vary when used for massage.
Conclusion
In conclusion there is a lot of conflicting and interesting research on what is appropriate to use on a baby's skin. Further investigation, clearer advice and more studies are required. In terms of massage I feel we can make these recommendations in light of the current studies;
It is best to avoid the use of oils on the skin until baby is at least one month old. REFERENCES
On current advice, olive oil and sunflower oil should be avoided on new born skin (under four weeks old).
Coconut oil appears to be suitable for massage based on its chemical make up but within the parameters set above, (although no study has been conducted on its use)
Although sunflower oil is not suitable for new born baby's skin, no study has been done on its suitability for babies older than 4-6 weeks. After 6 weeks the skin has matured and sunflower oil could be used.
Avoid essential oils for massage with babies under three months and then only with supervision from an aromatherapist.
Always do a patch test on oils on a baby's skin.
Baby massage is best practised from 8 weeks although skin to skin is encouraged from birth.
Traditionally natural vegetable based oils have been used for baby massage for hundreds of years. Further research needs to be done to determine when and what oil is suitable for baby's skin at each stage.
Blume-Peytavi U, Cork MJ, Faergemann J et al. Bathing and cleansing in newborns from day 1 to first year of life: recommendations from a European round table meeting. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009;23:751-9.
doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03140.x

Lavender T, Bedwell C, O'Brien E et al. Infant skin-cleansing product versus water: A pilot randomized, assessor-blinded controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics. 2011;11:35. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-11-35
Walker L, Downe S. Gomez L, (2005). A survey of soap and skin care product provision for well term neonates. Br J Midwifery 13: 768-73

Meza T de, (2013). Clinical Practice, Should we use olive oil or sunflower oil on a preterm infant's skin? Volume 9 Issue 5, pages 170-172
O'Connor M survey, Community Space Mother and Baby Groups, Prescot, April 2016

Danby SG, AlEnezi T, Sultan A, Lavender T, Chittock J, Brown K, Cork MJ, (January 2013) Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care.

Stoia M, Oancea S, (April 2015) Selected Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Topically Applied Sunflower Oil

Darmstadt GL, Saha SK, Ahmed AS, et al. (2008) Effect of skin barrier therapy on neonatal mortality rates in preterm infants in Bangladesh: a randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Pediatrics 2008, 121(3): 522-9

Cooke A, Cork MJ, Victor S, Campbell M, Danby S, Chittock J, Lavender T. (2015) Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil or no Oil for Baby Dry Skin or Massage: A Pilot, Assessor-blinded, Randomised Controlled Trial (the Oil in Baby Skincare Study). Acta Derm Venereol, eScholoarID: 281521
Online article: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/olive-and-sunflower-oil-on-baby-skin-weakens-natural-defences

Stamatas GN. de Sterke J, Hauser M, et al. Lipid uptake and skin occlusion following topical application of oils on adult and infant skin. J Dermatol Sci 2008; 50: 135-42

Professor Richard Cork, head of academic dermatology at the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Sheffield University: Sep 2010:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1315728/How-gentle-skin-creams-baby-eczema.html

Spergel JM, Paller AS, From atopic dermatitis to asthma: the atopic march. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunal 2010; 105: 99-106

Field T, Diego M, Hernandez Reif M. Preterm Infant Massage Therapy Research: A Review. Infant Behaviour and Development. April 2010; 33(2): 115-124

Sankaranarayanan K, Mondkar JA, Chauhan MM, Mascarenhas BM, Mainkar AR, Salvi RY. Oil massage in neonates; an open randomised controlled study of coconut versus mineral oil. Indian Pediatrics. 2005; 42:877-84

Fallah R, Akhavan K, Golestan M, Fromandi M. Sunflower oil versus no oil moderate pressure massage leads to greater increases in weight in preterm neonates who are low birth weight. Early Human Development, 2013 Sep; 89(9):769-72

Conner JM, Soll RF, Edwards WH. Topical ointment for preventing infection in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004; (1)

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Best Oils for Baby Massage - Blossom & Berry

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What is the best oil for baby massage and what is safe to use on baby's skin Infant massage has many benefits for parents and babies on a physical and emotional level. It has been used in many forms around the world for hundreds of years.

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Baby Massage. Baby First Aid Workshops. Introducing Solids Workshops.

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Baby Massage | Baby First Aid | Babydays Edinburgh

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I have been providing antenatal and postnatal support for families in Edinburgh for over 8 years. I am a busy mum to 3 boys and started working with new parents after my third child was born. I love working with new parents and helping them on their parenting journey.

I am mum to two grown up children. My background is in nursing and midwifery. I started to work with parents after the birth of my first child and have been working with new parents in Edinburgh for many years. I find working with new parents very rewarding and am looking forward to meeting you on a Baby days course.

I facilitate the Baby days Baby Massage course, the Mums2be workshop and am currently developing the Introduction to solids class.

I am an NCT trained facilitator in Antenatal Education and Baby Massage.

I facilitate the Mums2be and Baby and Child First Aid workshops and am currently developing the introduction to solids class. I am an NCT trained facilitator in Antenatal Education and a qualified first aid trainer with Nuco training.

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Baby Massage | Baby First Aid | Babydays Edinburgh

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I have been providing antenatal and postnatal support for families in Edinburgh for over 8 years. I am a busy mum to 3 boys and started working with new parents after my third child was born. I love working with new parents and helping them on their parenting journey.

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An app to help you decide if your baby needs to be assessed by a health professional.

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We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we will assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website. Accept

Baby Check App

Baby Check features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness. Each check tests for a different symptom and when completed, a score is calculated that tells parents or carers how ill their baby is. The app then lets parents know whether their baby needs to see a doctor or health professional.

Download for FREE from Google Play or the App Store.

Buy posters, business cards and other materials to help promote Baby Check to your clients and patients

Shop

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The Baby Check App helps parents decide if their baby needs to see a doctor or health professional

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Researched baby sleep information from Durham University.

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Basis is a project of the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre (DISC), in the Department of Anthropology at Durham University, UK.

The aim of Basis (the Baby Sleep Information Source) is to provide access to research based evidence about biologically normal infant sleep, in forms that are accessible to parents and health practitioners, supported by references to research relevant to families in the UK. We conceptualise 'biologically normal infant sleep' as being the sleep of babies who are exclusively or predominantly breastfed to at least 6 months of age and cared for in a responsive manner. We do not consider sleep training methods that require leaving babies alone for sleep in the first year of life to be biologically normal.

Basis began as the Infant Sleep Info Source (ISIS) website project, drawing on the combined experience of Professor Helen Ball and her team at the Durham University Parent-Infant Sleep Lab (now the Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre), and senior representatives from La Leche League, NCT, and UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative, all being organisations working directly in the fields of parent-support and health professional training in the UK. All three organisations are experienced in the provision of online information to parents and/or health care providers (midwives, clinicians, health visitors etc.).

The original ISIS website project was funded by a grant from the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) 'Follow-on Fund' to facilitate and support the translation of research conducted by UK and overseas researchers on issues regarding infant sleep (e.g. development, environments, safety) into an online informational resource.

Following completion of the ESRC project the Breastfeeding Network (BfN), Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) and Lactation Consultants of Great Britain (LCGB) also volunteered to endorse Basis and provide additional expertise in reviewing and disseminating this work.

The ISIS project was awarded an ESRC 'Celebrating Impact' Prize for Outstanding Impact in Society in 2013, and Durham University was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2018 for the work of DISC and Basis. After six years as ISIS, Durham University funded the rebranding of ISIS to Basis (the Baby Sleep Info Source), in November 2018.

ISIS/Basis have co-branded guidance for parents with multiple partners over the past 8 years including Lullaby Trust, Twins Trust, Unicef UK Baby Friendly, Public Health England and numerous overseas organisations. Details of these resources can be found on our ' Resources ' pages.

You may contact the Basis team by emailing [email protected]

You can find us on Twitter @BasisOnline1; Facebook @BabySleepInfoSource; Instagram @basis_babysleepinfosource

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The Baby Sleep Information Source (Basis) is run by the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre (DISC), in the Department of Anthropology at Durham University, UK. We aim to provide access to research based evidence about biologically normal infant sleep, in forms that are accessible to parents and health practitioners.

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Information to help you make decisions about your baby's sleep. lots of other information eg how long can my baby stay in their car seat.

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How we are trying to reduce the number of SIDS deaths and support bereaved families

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Welcome to Safe Sleep Scotland, a new online learning hub and the education arm of the Scottish Cot Death Trust. The main aim of the site is to provide accessible and engaging information about Infant Safe Sleep and how we can help reduce the risks of SUDI.

Our vision is for the site become a useful, go-to guide for parents-to-be and families We also hope professionals, such as those in the healthcare and childcare sectors find the site a handy resource when working with expectant families and infants.

Our messages relate to the current evidence base. We frequently refer to the odds ratio (OR) of a particular factor either being associated with an increased risk of SUDI or protective and reducing the risk of a SUDI occurring.

Safe Sleep Scotland has no agenda to drive any particular message or messages. Our aim is to reduce the number of SUDIs occurring and our mission to prevent all SUDI. We aim to report statistical findings and inform people visiting the site so that they can make their own informed choices.

In basic terms if a certain factor has an odds ratio of 1 it means that the incidence of SUDI is the same with or without that factor being involved. If the odds ratio is above 1 it means that a SUDI is more likely to occur when that factor is involved. If the odds ratio is less than 1 it means that a factor protects a SUDI from happening when it is present. Of course, this is an over simplification as in the majority of SUDI many different factors have their own individual and combined effects on the likelihood or not of a SUDI happening.

We have designed Safe Sleep Scotland to be effective as either a quick glance reference point or a more thorough e-learning tool. No matter how you use the site, we hope find it useful. Please let us know what you think and feel free to visit the Scottish Cot Death Trust website for more information on support, research, and ways to get involved with the charity.

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Welcome to Safe Sleep Scotland, a new online learning hub and the education arm of the Scottish Cot Death Trust. The main aim of the site is to provide accessible and engaging information about Infant Safe Sleep and how we can help reduce the risks of SUDI.

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Tummy time is a great way to help your baby to strengthen the muscles they need for sitting, rolling and crawling (Pin et al, 2007). Encouraging them to lie on their tummy also gives them a different view of the world.

Here's what else tummy time is about and how to do it...

What is tummy time?

Tummy time is, quite simply, all about getting your baby to spend a little bit of time on their tummy.

Why is tummy time important?

Tummy time has plenty of benefits for your baby:

It's important for their physical development, helping your baby to strengthen their back, arms and neck muscles.

Tummy time helps your baby to develop their motor skills and encourages them to roll over.

Tummy time varies the position your baby lies in, which can also help prevent head flattening (positional plagiocephaly).

(Pin et al, 2007; AAP, 2017; NHS, 2017; Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017)

When do you start tummy time?

You can get your baby to try out tummy time from when they born (AAP, 2017; NHS, 2017; Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017). You will need to be careful though to only give your baby tummy time when you're both totally awake and they're under your close watch (AAP, 2017; NHS, 2017).

"You could start off by giving your baby very short stretches of tummy time, maybe up to three to five minutes of tummy time two or three times a day (AAP, 2017)."

But see how they get on with this and trust your instincts, especially if your baby doesn't like it (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017). If they're happy with tummy time, you could try to build it up by a minute every few days (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017).

If your baby isn't keen on tummy time, you could just hold them upright, for example by giving them a cuddle. Babies who don't do tummy time might take a little longer to walk but they'll still take a normal amount of time to do it (Pin et al, 2007).

How do you do tummy time?

From birth, you could try a few different positions to help them play and wriggle around on their tummy. For a comfy and reassuring position with loads of eye and skin contact, you could lay your baby on your chest while you're lying on your back (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017). You could also place your baby across your lap, holding them securely so they don't squirm away (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017).

When they're ready and can lean on their arms, you could see how they are with tummy time on the floor. Try this using a rolled up towel under their chest and armpits so they can lift their head more easily (NHS, 2017; Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017).

Once they're four months old and can prop themselves up fully through their arms, they might not need the towel support for tummy time on the floor. This position is great for play and reaching for toys can help your baby to get stronger (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017).

After they're six months old, you could have even more fun with them by playing 'Superman'. That's where you hold them under their arms and gently lift them up so they stretch into the flying superhero's pose (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017).

Top tips for tummy time:

Stay with your baby

You need to supervise your baby during tummy time. Only get them to try out tummy time when you're both on the ball and you're watching them closely (NHS, 2017).

Little and often

It's a good idea to start your baby's tummy time with a little and often approach (NHS, 2017).

Try very short periods of time, possibly even a minute or two at a time, to start with. Nappy changes or when they wake up could give you a good opportunity to try tummy time (AAP, 2017).

Increase stamina slowly

It will take time for your little one to develop confidence and strengthen their muscles during tummy time (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017).

Trust your instincts as some babies won't like being on their tummy at first - try holding them upright instead if so. For babies that are ok on their tummies, you could help them to play and encourage them when they're on their belly so they start enjoying it more. You can then increase their tummy time when they show they're enjoying it - see what works (AAP, 2017). They will soon get the hang of it.

Tummy to tummy

Try lying on your back, tummy to tummy with your baby, smiling, talking or singing softly to them (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017). Dads or partners can get involved with this too. Skin-to-skin tummy time can be a good bonding experience.

The eye and body contact will be comforting and reassuring for your little one. You might find they stay engaged with tummy time for a bit longer this way (Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017).

Tummy time fun

Try to turn tummy time into playtime (NHS, 2017; Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, 2017). You can buy baby tummy time play mats to help make tummy time more fun for your baby.

Otherwise, lie your little one on a soft blanket and put some playthings out for them. You could put brightly coloured books, toys or a baby mirror nearby for them to look at and reach out to.
This page was last reviewed in October 2017.
Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700.

You might find attending one of our Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby.

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Top tips for tummy time | Baby & toddler, Your child's development articles & support | NCT

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We look at what tummy time is, when to start and why it's important. We also give you some top tips for tummy time success.

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Your Baby Is Not Faulty - Bridget Supple

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Public Lecture by Prof Helen Ball . BASIS

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Public Lecture by Prof Helen Ball . BASIS

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Interestingly article on bbc.com looking at western way to raise babies

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Interestingly article on bbc.com looking at western way to raise babies

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As we end another extraordinary year and start a new one, BBC Future is taking a look back at some of our favourite stories for our "Best of 2021" collection. Discover more of our picks here.
"Is he in his own room yet?" is a question new parents often field once they emerge from the haze of life with a newborn. But sleeping apart from our babies is a relatively recent development - and not one that extends around the globe. In other cultures sharing a room, and sometimes a bed, with your baby is the norm.

This isn't the only aspect of new parenthood that Westerners do differently. From nap ping on a schedule and sleep training to pushing our children around in strollers, what we might think of as standard parenting practices are often anything but.

Parents in the US and UK are advised to have their babies sleep in the same room as them for at least the first six months, but many view this as a brief stopover on their way to a dedicated nursery.

In most other societies around the world, babies stick with their parents longer. A 2016 review that looked at research on children sharing not just a room but a bed with one or more of their parents found a high prevalence in many Asian countries: over 70% in India and Indonesia, for example, and over 80% in Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Research on bedsharing rates in countries across Africa is patchy, but where it does exist suggests the practice is near-universal.

Debmita Dutta, a doctor and parenting consultant in Bangalore, India, says that despite Western influences, bedsharing remains a strong tradition in India - even in households where children have their own rooms. "A family of four has three bedrooms, one each for each child and for the parents, and then you would find both the children in the parent's bed," she says. "It's that common."

Bedsharing is one way to reduce the burden of babies waking up at night, says Dutta. Her own daughter had a rollout bed next to her parents' that she could sleep on until she was seven years old. "Even after she stopped breastfeeding, she still liked to sleep with us in the same room," she says.

Many parents in Western societies instead turn to sleep training methods, the most extreme version of which involves leaving a baby on their own to "cry it out", in an effort to encourage their babies to sleep for longer stretches so their parents can get some much-needed rest. In Australia there are even state-funded residential sleep schools parents can check-into, to sleep train their children.

Encouraging early independence aligns with a typical Western cultural focus on individualism. For that reason, bedsharing can seem to some like giving in to your child, and encouraging them to stay dependent on their parents. But parents with a more collectivist mindset, like Dutta, usually don't see it that way. "You give them some self-confidence and some independence, they will separate from you on their own," she says. "They will not stick to you forever."
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Cultural factors affect not just where babies sleep, but when and how much they sleep, too.

Research by Jun Kohyama, CEO at the Tokyo Bay Urayasu Ichikawa Medical Center, and colleagues has found that babies in Japan tend to nap less than those in other Asian countries once they reach three months of age, possibly, he says, because "sleep is considered a lazy attitude in Japan".

Kohyama also found that children in Asian countries tend to have later bedtimes than their counterparts in predominantly-Caucasian countries. He thinks parents wanting to spend time with their children in the evenings is partly to blame. Bedsharing - the cultural norm in Japan - could also be a factor. "Parents feel their baby is a part of his or her own body," he says.

Though, as in the UK, the US American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to share a room with their baby to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), it warns against sharing a bed because bedsharing has been associated with an increased risk of SIDS.

But Rashmi Das, a professor in paediatrics at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, and author of a review on bedsharing safety, says that a lack of high-quality research on the topic makes it difficult to say whether bedsharing itself increases the risk of SIDS in the absence of other risk factors like smoking and drinking. "We could not tell whether bedsharing is actually increasing the risk of SIDS," says Das.

Studies on the topic mostly come from high-income countries, where bedsharing is less common. But low-income countries, where bedsharing is traditional, also have some of the lowest SIDS rates in the world.

It doesn't seem to be a simple issue of geography: when someone living in the West has imported their cultural practices from elsewhere, they bring the lower SIDS risk with them too. Families of Pakistani origin living in the UK, for example, have a lower SIDS risk than white British families - despite mothers commonly sharing a bed with their baby.

"It's the cultural practices that are associated with the lower SIDS," says Helen Ball, a professor of anthropology at the University of Durham and director of the university's Parent-Infant Sleep Lab. Mothers of Pakistani-origin in Bradford have higher rates of breastfeeding and are less likely to smoke, drink, and put their baby to sleep in a separate room - all factors that are known to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Das says he'd like to see bedsharing encouraged but "with a caution note that those persons who are bedsharing should not smoke, should not take alcohol, should not be very obese". UK SIDS-prevention charity The Lullaby Trust has advice for parents who want to make their bed a safe sleep surface for their baby.

Just as bedsharing keeps babies close during the night, babywearing provides a way to keep them close in the day while parents run errands or work around the house. Rather than a new trend, carrying children in a sling is something humans have done for as long as we've been around. It was only when prams became popular during the Victorian era that traditional baby carriers became less common among some sections of Western society. In the rest of the world, there are seemingly almost as many different ways to carry a baby as there are cultures in which babies are carried.

Even parents who don't use a sling will probably have noticed the instant calming effect of picking up their baby and moving with them. "They intuitively know that this kind of rhythmic motion, between 1-2 hertz, has some power to calm down a baby," says Kumi Kuroda at the Riken Centre for Brain Science in Japan.

Kuroda began looking into the physiological effects of carrying infants when she saw that previous research, which used parental diaries rather than real-time physiological measurements, didn't find any correlation between the amount of time babies were carried and the amount they cried. "I couldn't agree with that," she says.

Her research found that carrying a baby reduced their heart rate and movement as well as how much they cried. She says subsequent research found that movement without holding, such as transporting a baby in a pram or car seat, as well as holding without moving, also calms a baby over time, but that they work faster in combination.

Close contact, day and night, is what babies expect, biologically-speaking. In their first months they need to be fed frequently around the clock. Even when a baby's circadian rhythm develops and their sleep begins to consolidate during nighttime hours, waking during the night for at least their first year is normal.

"Babies' biology has not changed dramatically over hundreds or thousands of years," says Ball. "But our culture has changed dramatically, and our expectations of babies and of parenting has changed dramatically over the course of a few decades."

But the idea that night-waking is normal is not the message that new parents in the West are getting from family, friends and the wider culture. "We've sort of developed this cultural myth that babies shouldn't wake at night," says Ball.

That myth has consequences. Disturbed sleep in early parenthood has been associated with postpartum depression. But Ball says that trying to "fix" a baby's sleep isn't getting to the heart of the problem - instead, supporting the parents directly is more likely to improve their mental health.

"Parents who are depressed experience their baby's sleep disruption worse than parents who aren't," she says. "Our argument is that actually, we need to fix what's going on in the parents' heads, we need to support them to think about all of this in a different way." She put together the Baby Sleep Info Source to arm new parents with accurate information on baby sleep.

The idea that older babies "should" be able to sleep through the night comes from research from the 1950s that found, out of a group of 160 babies living in London, 70% began "sleeping through the night" by three months of age.

But the researchers defined "sleeping through" as not waking their parents by crying or fussing between the hours of midnight and 5am - far from the unbroken eight-hour stretch that many new parents long for - and not whether the babies themselves were actually asleep during that period. In any case, 30% of the babies hadn't begun sleeping longer stretches by that age, and half of the babies that were "sleeping through" reverted back to waking more at night later in their first year.

Even today, much research on infant sleep only looks at a specific subset of the global population. "So much of the research over the last several decades has been done on Western babies," says Ball.

While there are undoubtedly differences between cultures when it comes to how we care for babies, there are many differences within them, too. Not everyone in the West thinks a baby sleeping in their own room is ideal. In one study, for example, Italian parents called it "unkind".

Personal circumstances play a big part in how people care for their babies, and every parent finds their own particular way to do things. "All families are different, so a wide diversity is OK," says Kuroda.

For her part, Kuroda co-slept with her four children as a way to adapt to being away from them during the day. "I'm working full time and if I separate the whole night, it's really minimal time for the baby. We can intensely communicate, even in the nighttime. It's real communication and time together."

But she says, as with all parenting choices, people should find what works for them and their baby, rather than worrying too much about what anyone else is doing. "I think the parent and the infant can adapt to each other," she says. "It's like a tango."

The key to thinking outside the Western box might be to remember that babies are not out to manipulate us, no matter how tempting it might be to see it that way at 3am. "What we really need with babies is to stop thinking about them as hard-to-please bosses," says Dutta. "They're helpless little beings that have come into this world, and we must look at them with empathy and compassion."

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This article was corrected on 23/2/21. A previous version referred to the American Academy of Paediatricians instead of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Is the Western way of raising kids weird?

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As we end another extraordinary year and start a new one, BBC Future is taking a look back at some of our favourite stories for our "Best of 2021" collection. Discover more of our picks here. "Is he in his own room yet?"