How can I read with my baby?

• Try to create a time for reading with your child every day when your baby is alert and showing interest in what is happening around him. It may be a good idea to read at the same time every day or in the same special chair.
• Babies see most clearly at about 20 to 25 cms, and when they are very young they like to look at clear, simple shapes which are brightly coloured.
• When reading, try to look both at the book and your baby. Point to the pictures and talk about the things your baby is looking at.
• When reading aloud, try to use your voice in many ways to make the story-time as interesting for your baby as possible - loud and soft, happy and sad.
• If you find books your baby loves, read them over and over and try to use the same reading voice each time so they get used to the pattern.
• You will need to be persistent when reading to your baby, as the length of time your baby will be able to attend to a story will grow over time.

Some parents do not like reading, but holding your baby, looking at a book, and talking about the pictures may give your baby a better start with reading than you had.

• You do not have to say the words that are written on the page - you can make up stories to go along with the pictures

What should I have discipline for my child?

Children need discipline, limits and guidance.  They need to feel safe and secure while learning to get along with others and learning to live in society. The best discipline leads to children learning self-discipline.

People often confuse ‘discipline’ with ‘physical punishment’, but really they are quite different. Discipline is about teaching.  It is not necessary to physically punish children in order to teach them what they need to know.  Unfortunately many adults don’t always know what to do and tend to treat children the way they were treated.  The purpose of discipline is to guide children to choose what is right through teaching and learning rather than forcing.  For most parents the question is how best to achieve this. 

How do I establish a bedtime routine?

• Make bedtime an enjoyable experience, a special time for cuddles and attention.
• From as early as 6 to 8 weeks, begin to establish a simple and consistent bedtime routine that suits both you and your baby. Try to start the routine at a similar time each day and follow the same pattern.
• Try not to let your little one fall asleep too early in the evening. A good baby bedtime is between 7 and 8.30 pm; any later than this and they may become overtired! If your older baby/toddler is an early riser, make their bedtime slightly later, so that they sleep in a bit later.
• This routine needs to be calm and relaxed.  Start the wind-down period after dinner, slowing the pace so that your little one isn’t over-stimulated before going to bed. Reading, singing and quiet play are all good activities!
• You can include any/all of the following activities in your routine:
  • Bath time
  • Getting baby ready for bed
  • Last feed*
  • A story
  • Lullaby
  • Cuddle/Good Night kiss
• Make bedtime an enjoyable experience, a special time for cuddles and attention.

* Remember it is important to clean your baby’s teeth after the last feed at night, to prevent prolonged contact of teeth with milk feeds which may increase the risk of tooth decay