That's a LARGE Skinny Flat White

Week two of returning to work and Eva has an ear infection and The Husband a throat/head cold. I'm missing my afternoon nap!

I'm a caffeine addict, for just over 18 months I have been either pregnant or breast feeding. And have been very good at sticking to 1-2 cups a day. Returning to work and having to engage your brain and all my hard work has gone out the window. There is no such thing as a lie in when you become a parent, and no such thing as just make it through the week and crash on the weekend. I have to be asleep early during the week to function, so limiting my caffeine intake is in theory going to keep me awake and my brain functioning during the day. I thought I would share the tips for reducing the number of coffees I have each day. I'm going got give this a go this week and will let you know how I get along.

1. Save your first cup of coffee until late morning if you can.

2. Give your self a wake up shower by turning up the old then hot water. This will stimulate blood flow around the body and help wake you up.

3. Take a brisk walk in the morning and lunch times, even if it around the block at work.

4. Make sure you're having your 2L of fluids a day - ideally from water or herbal teas. 

5. Balance your carbs and fruit through the day to maintain energy levels. I prefer porridge for breakfast, a lighter lunch with a banana for energy, and fruit or nuts for your afternoon snack. Apples are a personal energy boosting favorite.

6. If you need more energy try a muesli bar (watch out for the fat and sugar contents). 

7. Most importantly when you have your one cup a day, make sure its a good cup, so you don't feel cheated.

 

Treating Nappy Rash

This morning my daughter woke with a raw bum and back. It looked like she had burnt her bum and back. I hadn't heard of nappy rash going this far up the back. She’s had a horrid cold for a couple of weeks and has been swallowing so much snot it’s making her vomit and filling her nappy.

Everyone has their own miracle cure for nappy rash. In my experience the treatment depends of how server the nappy rash is and how sensitive your little ones skin is. Below are a few of my tried and tested tips for managing nappy rash

Bare Bum – this is by far the best cure. The more you can have the better. For newborn and non mobile babies, it’s relatively easy – just lay them in a warm spot, on a pile of towels under a mobile. If they’re mobile, try and distract them with their favorite toy or snack to keep them in one spot and contain any accidents. I tend to sit my daughter on towels in her high chair during meals. I place a cloth nappy on her lap to catch food.

Barrier Cream - There are quite a few barrier creams on the market, but sudocrem is the best. You don’t need much a thin layer works better then smothering it on.

Paw Paw & Barrier Cream – this is my favorite for persistent. The paw paw helps heal the skin and barrier cream to protects it.

Vaseline – acts as a water proof barrier which doesn’t absorb into the skin. It works really well for tummy bugs or viruses when you are changing nappies every few hours.

Corn Flour – a light dusting is ideal for drying out blisters. You can also use your normal baby powder, but this is much quicker, it heals within a few nappy changes. Once dry, use paw paw and a barrier cream to heal the skin.

Use your own judgement, if it really looks sore and isn’t clearing see your GP.