Home & Lifestyle winter 2018

FOCUS ON CHILDREN

“Operation Nail Trimming” By Julia Christie & Peta McNaughton Brace yourself; it’s time to give Bub’s nails a trim! Stress no more! The age-old problem of cutting those tiny nails safely and simply will soon be a thing of the past. I knew there had to be an easier solution than trying to cut them without all the issues presented by traditional nail cutting methods. What if there was a way to ensure ease of use and great visibility when trimming your kids’ nails? To have a smooth, soundless cutting mechanism specifically designed to prevent damage to precious fingers and toes? How about an inbuilt nail file and under nail cleaner? And, have something that makes cutting nails fun? All of these late night pondering and musings led me to invent the Nail Snail! The Nail Snail is a compact, fun, snail- shaped tool for trimming baby and child fingernails and toenails. It has great visibility over the cutting surface, which is medical grade stainless steel and cuts the nail in one smooth motion with no noise or fuss. My kids love it! It has turned trimming nails into a bit of a game with a gentle, non-threatening snail shape they can relate to. The Nail Snail is designed in such a way that it is perfectly safe for children to hold without fear of injury. This means your little ones can have a play with it and see for themselves Tips to help your toddler sleep G etting your toddler off to bed and sleeping peacefully can often be a challenge. To ensure they get the sleep needed to be healthy and happy, create a bedtime routine that eases them into bed while strengthening the bond you share. With over a decade of scientific partnerships with behaviour and sleep experts such as Dr. Jodi Mindell , a clinical psychologist specialising in pediatric sleep medicine, we know just how important a good night’s sleep is to the overall health, cognitive ability and the mood of your little one—as well as the happiness of the whole family. As your toddler starts becoming more and more independent and doing so many things for themselves, it’s tempting to think of them as “beyond babyhood.” But keep in mind that they still have many of the same needs they had as a baby. They still need a lot of attention, a lot of cuddling and a lot of sleep. In fact, toddlers need between 12 and 14 hours of sleep in total, usually 11 to 12 hours at night and another 1 to 3 hours during the day. Sleep Time and Your Toddler While most toddlers have learned to sleep through the night, changes and stressful events such as switching from the cot to bed at too early an age, a trip or illness may cause temporary setbacks. To ensure your toddler gets the rest and sleep they need follow these sleepy time tips:

• Your child should be drowsy but awake when going to bed • Save their favourite night time activity for last A before-bed routine will help your toddler become sleepy and signals it is time to relax and prepare for sleep. Make sure that you stay consistent and follow the same pattern every evening. Your child will feel more relaxed if they know what is coming next. Also, make sure their bedtime routine is always heading in the same direction — bed.

3-Step Routine incorporates Step 1. Warm bath Step 2 . Massage

Step 3 .Quiet time, these key rituals that help engage your baby’s sense of smell and touch while strengthening your bond and preparing him for a good night’s sleep. • Set a regular sleep schedule for napping and sleeping (avoid naptime in the late afternoon) • Establish a 20- to 45-minute night time routine to help them wind down and relax • Provide a soothing surrounding that is dark, cool and quiet

that it’s not scary. Make sure your child isn’t overly tired or wriggly when it’s time to cut their nails. Keep the process as low-key as possible. Because the Nail Snail can turn trimming nails into a game, my eighteen- month-old now regularly brings me the Nail Snail, plonks herself in my lap and offers up her hand or foot so we can ‘feed the hungry little Snail’. With the Nail Snail, the once terrifying task of nail cutting has become a breeze. I call that a parenting win. Shop online: www.snail-nail.com RRP $19.95 Like to win a pair? Email your name and address to alison@centralcoasthomeandlifestyle.com.au

& Lifestyle Magazine | Winter 2018

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