The Birth
Nobody moves the expectant mother in the last weeks of pregnancy quite like this event. Because as beautiful as pregnancy and the joy of the baby may be, pregnancy has an end, and usually an end with pain. And every woman becomes more and more aware of this. There is probably no woman who doesn't feel a bit uneasy when she thinks about giving birth. What will the contractions be like? Hopefully, I will realize in time that it has begun! What if my water breaks while I’m in line at the supermarket checkout? Phrases like: Many women have gone through this, you will manage too! are not very helpful. More detailed information is better. We would like to provide you with some information that might interest you: birthplace, course, methods, medical interventions, cesarean section, preterm birth, expectant fathers, and hospital bag.
The Birthplace
Where you give birth to your child depends on your personal wishes and medical necessities. Discuss your desires for childbirth with your gynecologist. He can then also inform you whether your birth wishes can be fulfilled or if complications would exclude a particular delivery method.
The Clinic
Today, most children are born in a clinic. The birth takes place in the delivery room or labor ward. Medically speaking, the clinic is the safest place for childbirth, as it has equipment and sufficient staff and specialists (e.g., pediatricians) available in emergencies. In addition to a medically supervised birth (including with CTG), many clinics also offer "natural" and/or "gentle" delivery methods. In a natural birth, the woman can choose her birthing position, and no medical interventions take place – as long as there are no complications. A gentle delivery could be, for example, a water birth. Therefore, it is advisable to check with the clinics beforehand about which methods and aids are available. However, birth in a clinic can also have disadvantages: things can be hectic, and the staff may change frequently. Take advantage of the informational evenings hosted by many clinics!
In addition to inpatient stays, many clinics also offer outpatient births. After a normal birth without complications, you can leave the clinic on the day of birth if you and the child are doing well. However, the woman should really have rest and full support at home during the postpartum period. Additionally, care by a midwife should be secured for ten days.
Home Birth
A home birth in your own four walls is a very private event. The prerequisites for a home birth are diligent attendance of all prenatal check-ups, a normal course of pregnancy, and both mother and child must be completely healthy. In a home birth, the expecting parents bear full responsibility. They should seek an experienced midwife who accompanies and monitors the birthing process, as an admission to a hospital may be necessary if complications arise.
The Birth House
Since the early 1990s, there have been birth houses in many larger cities in Germany, run by freelance midwives. The (usually) holistic concept of birth houses includes continuous support of the pregnant women by a midwife during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period. Usually, birth houses offer an outpatient birth – sometimes a longer inpatient stay is also available. In a birth house, there are often many alternative birthing options. Generally, births are conducted naturally without medical interventions. Some birth houses also have doctors available for complications.
The Course
Birth can be divided into three phases:
1st Phase – Opening Phase: This lasts between 6 to 12 hours for the first child. During this time, the cervix opens to approximately 10 cm.
2nd Phase – Expulsion Phase: This lasts 1 - 1.5 hours, during which the baby is pushed into the pelvic outlet (birth canal) with the support of strong contractions.
3rd Phase – Afterbirth Phase: After the baby is born, the placenta is "delivered" – this can take up to half an hour.
During each phase, different positions can be adopted that can alleviate contraction pain. The midwife will advise you on what might be helpful in each situation and phase.
The Methods
On a delivery or birthing bed, you can lie down or sit. The delivery bed in modern clinics is electrically adjustable and can be set according to needs: you determine which position you find comfortable. The doctor or midwife always has a direct view of the birth canal and can intervene as needed. The delivery bed has the advantage of having a classic bed shape, and can also be converted into a birthing stool or chair. If complications arise that require anesthesia, this can also be performed on the delivery bed.
More and more clinics are offering water births.
In a water birth, you sit or float in a special bathtub. The advantages of this method are that the use of painkillers during labor may decrease due to relaxation (breathing) in the warm water and there is less frequent tearing of the perineum. Additionally, those who give birth often express very positive feelings about the "experience of birth" in water. Because the baby has a "dive reflex," it does not try to gasp for air underwater – there is no danger to the child. After a previous cesarean section, this method is also recommended as it puts less strain on the scars. A disadvantage of water birth is that the infection rate for mothers, children, and staff is reportedly higher. Furthermore, blood loss during labor cannot be estimated. In some clinics, the child is monitored through continuous CTG output. The birth proceeds as it would on land, and the umbilical cord is cut as usual in the clinic. The care for the newborn during water birth is just like that in other forms of delivery.
Women who have known risks in pregnancy or who are expected to have a complicated delivery should refrain from a water birth, e.g., in cases of multiple pregnancies, maternal infections (e.g., HIV, current herpes), or if there is a very large baby, with a suspected discrepancy between the width of the birth canal and the size of the baby.
The birthing stool is a small chair without a backrest and has a cut-out for the child being born. The woman in labor sits upright, and her partner can support her from behind. Some women find this very comfortable – others, however, struggle with "too much" closeness in the stressful situation of "birth." Additionally, the immediate proximity to the ground during labor, as well as the hardness and discomfort of the stool, can be disadvantageous.
The birthing chair also supports the almost upright position of the mother during labor, as the downward muscle power during pushing contractions and the weight of the unborn child work in the same direction. The woman no longer delivers at such a low level as on the stool, but this position restricts the doctor's and midwife's view of the birth canal – although it greatly facilitates pushing.
The birth frame is a birthing apparatus in which the pregnant woman can be positioned nearly lying down or sitting. It resembles a bit of a "monkey swing" or a "hanging chair." The great advantage is not only the possibility of an upright position, thus benefiting from gravity for dilating the cervix (like on the birthing chair), but it also helps prevent a hollow back during labor; it provides numerous different body positions that can alleviate contraction pain.
The exercise ball is a large ball on which the birthing woman can sit, while her partner supports her from behind. The advantage is that the sitting position "opens" the birth canal and gravity can also take effect. The ball has become a tried and tested aid during the opening phase to support the dilation of the cervix.
The wall bars are the same as you know from your school gym. The woman can hold on to the floor while kneeling or squatting. This also supports the all-fours position.
The position of being on all fours is still recognized by indigenous peoples: it is supposed to allow gravity to work and avoid a hollow back if possible. This delivery position can also be taken in the delivery bed (advantage: the height provides the midwife and doctor with a good view of the birth canal).
It is best to try out several positions to find out which one makes the birth easiest for you – many women also find changing positions during labor pleasant and relieving.
The Medical Interventions and Birth Aids
In situations of danger for the child, a delivery often has to be quickly sped up using forceps or a vacuum extractor to prevent oxygen deprivation. An instrument-assisted birth may also be necessary if the pregnant woman cannot push, e.g., due to existing heart defects. However, the head of the infant must already be in the birth canal for both methods. In forceps delivery, the head of the infant is grasped with a special forceps, and the attendant assists in pulling to help with the delivery. The advantage of forceps delivery is that it is quickly applicable, as it requires no special equipment. However, there is a slightly higher number of injuries and complications for the child, such as facial nerve injuries (which usually do not lead to long-term effects), which is a disadvantage. The vacuum delivery operates on a similar principle: here, a suction cup is placed on the head of the infant using the creation of negative pressure. In the rhythm of the contractions, the midwife pulls the infant out using the suction cup. The advantage of vacuum delivery is that it requires no additional space beside the infant's head. However, the need for equipment and power supply is a disadvantage.
If it becomes clear that the perineum (the tissue between the vagina and anal sphincter) cannot withstand the stresses of labor and is at risk of tearing, a medical procedure can be performed with an episiotomy: during this, the birth opening is artificially enlarged with scissors, and the cut is subsequently sutured. The cut is often barely felt because it is usually made during a contraction. An episiotomy prevents the deep pelvic floor muscles from being overstretched or tearing.
If a woman chooses against an episiotomy, there may be a tear. Small perineal tears can occur in any delivery; larger tears are often the result of forceps or vacuum deliveries. Also, with very large, heavy babies, injuries to the perineum can occur more quickly.
In addition to the natural pain relief methods and aids, the birthing woman also has medical pain medications available to her. In very painful or prolonged births, a peridural anesthesia (PDA) is often used. In this procedure, an injection is made in the lumbar spine area, rendering the lower abdomen pain-insensitive due to paralysis. This allows the contractions to remain slightly perceptible and the possibility for pushing remains.
The Cesarean Section
As cesarean sections are becoming increasingly common, this medical intervention should be examined in a separate section. In some cases, a cesarean section cannot be avoided – if there is a disturbance or danger for the mother or child. This includes planned and emergency cesarean sections, for example, in the case of a transverse lie of the baby, a very narrow pelvis of the mother, a cord prolapse, or other complications. Although a cesarean section is now a routine procedure, it is still associated with greater risks than a vaginal delivery.
A cesarean section can be performed under general anesthesia or with local anesthesia (PDA). The latter allows the mother to stay awake and follow the birth of the child. Because this takes more time, it is primarily used for planned sections – in the case of emergency sections, general anesthesia is usually performed. During a cesarean section, an incision is made in the abdominal wall (the incision is made between the navel and pubic bone or parallel to the pubic bone – the bikini cut). From the time of anesthesia to the birth of the baby, only a few minutes pass. A cesarean section is associated with a 4 to 12 fold increased risk of mortality for the mother.
When is a cesarean section necessary? We will limit ourselves to indications that may arise during birth because your doctor will surely explain "planned" cesarean sections well, and the shock during labor of not being able to have a normal delivery may be somewhat reduced. A cesarean section becomes absolutely necessary if there is a relative cephalopelvic disproportion (i.e., the baby's head is too large for the mother's pelvis), a cord prolapse, positional and posture anomalies, a threatening or existing uterine rupture, or intrauterine asphyxia (suffocation) with an incompletely dilated cervix or a fetal head that has not descended sufficiently.
Many young mothers feel like failures after an emergency cesarean section and feel they have missed something important – especially the often-described important initial minutes/seconds with the baby. However, these are not so important (though they would certainly be very beautiful after this effort) – the baby will not love you any less and will not build a relationship with you any less quickly if you cannot hold it in your arms in the first hours of our world's existence!
Preterm Birth
If a pregnancy lasts less than 37 completed weeks, it is referred to as a preterm birth. Nowadays, even children born at 24 weeks gestation have a chance of survival. There are various causes of preterm birth, including low body weight of the mother, uterine anomalies, or multiple pregnancies.
With the latest technology, it is getting better at helping the little preterm babies. Nevertheless, the trend is to manipulate the tiny beings as little as possible, because physical contact, such as in kangaroo care, where the little ones are placed on the mother's chest to experience the heartbeat and warmth of the mother's body, often helps them more than the latest technology!
The Expectant Fathers
For a few decades now, more and more fathers are making their way to the delivery room. However, not every man can (whether professionally or health-wise) or wants to be present at the birth of his child/children. The expecting mother should accept this and perhaps take a good friend or mother with her to the delivery room. On the other hand, there is a new trend to see that the expectant mother does not want the expectant father to be present at the birth – which men should also accept. Perhaps they can wait outside the delivery room or the hospital, as some pregnant women change their minds at the last minute...
If the expectant father does witness the birth of their child/children, he should be aware that it will also be strenuous for him. Therefore, he should keep some things in mind: it is warm in the delivery room, so comfortable clothing that is not too warm is appropriate. He might consider bringing drinks or money to buy drinks. A birth costs energy: don’t forget to bring something to eat! If they wish, think about bringing a camera and film. And finally: leave your phone at home! Because on the one hand, phones are prohibited in delivery rooms, and on the other hand, your partner will likely not be pleased about a call from the boss while she’s in the midst of contractions!
The Hospital Bag
You should pack your hospital bag relatively early, as it can get hectic just before the due date, or your little darling might decide to arrive earlier than expected. Therefore, we have put together a small checklist for you to print out, containing everything you need for the day or days in the clinic:
The following papers are needed:
Health insurance card; maternity record; admission certificate; identity card; family register (if you are married) / birth certificate (if you are single); allergy pass (if available)
Personal items:
most important toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, ...); nursing pads; pads (for lochia); at least 2 washcloths and towels (1 specifically for the upper body and 1 for the genital area to avoid contact between lochia and breast); nursing bras; panties; nightgowns/pajamas (buttoned in front); warm socks; comfortable clothing; slippers; bathrobe; clothing for discharge – not the jeans from before pregnancy (perhaps pants that fit around the 5th month of pregnancy); personal playlists; books and magazines; a wish list where you can note your wishes for the course of birth can be very helpful. For example: Would you like dimmed light? Would you like your child to be placed immediately on your belly? Would you like pain-relieving medications administered? How many people should be present at the birth?
For the baby:
Undergarments; baby clothing (e.g., onesies and sweaters); hat and jacket/overall as well as socks/tights - depending on the weather and season; baby seat or stroller with blanket; possibly diapers
Welcome Baby!
Full of pride and amazement, they behold the first blink of their newborn. A tingling sensation spreads through their stomach. Can one really be the right mother or father for this little worm? Will they be able to face this responsibility at any time? Can one truly provide their child with the perfect upbringing they've always wished for?
Many open questions dominate the minds of young parents in the time before and shortly after the birth.
When the infant comes into the world, the parents' greatest concern is the health of the child. In the maternity hospital, examinations and tests are immediately conducted by the medical staff after birth and in the first days of life to reassure them in this regard. However, despite the great efforts of doctors and nurses, many questions remain unanswered, which we aim to address in this article:
Primary caregiver - Stress - Physical contact - Perception - Communication
Reflexes - Crying - Can you spoil babies?
Different sleep patterns - Awake babies - Individual sleep needs
Sounds of your baby - Your baby's snoring - Sniffling - Sneezing - Hiccuping
Vernix - Spotty skin - Skull swellings after birth - Fontanelles - Hair
Parent-Child Relationship
The significance of the parent-child relationship was only recognized in the last 20th century. Research has shown that growing up without love and affection from consistent caregivers in childhood can lead to emotional disturbances and difficulties in behavior. This is also known to all of us. However, to what extent one can create a perfect environment filled with love and emotional affection for the little one remains an open question for many.
Surely you are enchanted by the little being that has just stumbled into your life. But do you love it? This question occupies many new parents. It is likely that in the first days, one cannot talk about loving their child yet. Perhaps it is better to describe the feeling as being “in love”: your child is just so sweet. Over time, this emotion matures into real love. For some parents, this process happens faster; for others, for example, after an unplanned cesarean section, it may take a bit longer. But this has nothing to do with the depth of your love, and certainly not with your quality as parents.
Especially important for the very young ones is a calm, loving care with sufficient time investment from a consistently present caregiver. For just as running and speaking, your child must also learn to love. Only when it feels loved does it learn to return that love.
In stressful situations, it is easy to forget how much affection a baby needs for its emotional development. There must always be time for a smile, a kiss, or to stroke the little cheeks for the mother or father. Ensure that the little one does not register a stressful home environment, particularly in the first four months.
Many parents, who are having their first child, believe that their newborn cannot perceive its surroundings at all. This misconception leads to not engaging properly with the child but merely holding it in their arms. Physical contact, however, plays the most significant influencing factor for the well-being of the newborn. Especially during wakeful periods, it is crucial to be there for your child, providing constant closeness and tenderness, carrying and nurturing it.
But babies quickly develop a spectrum of sensory experiences from birth. When awake, they are alert and responsive. They react when spoken to and recognize their parents by scent. With their attentive gaze, they turn towards the source of sounds. Babies are born with a desire for communication. At a distance of 20-25 cm in front of their face, they can clearly see their parents and experience their “first conversation” when engaged with lively talk at this distance. Babies conduct this conversation by smiling, moving their mouths, nodding, or sticking out their tongues. The feeling of attention and affection from the beginning leads to a strong bond with the parents and simultaneously encourages the joy of communication.
Behavior of Newborns
After birth, it will take some time to get used to your baby's behavior. It is worth observing their reactions to various stimuli and getting acquainted with some traits of their personality. Little babies possess much more individuality than is commonly thought. This fact should be kept in mind when getting to know your child.
One should know that all healthy babies have a number of reflexes that are triggered from birth. These reflexes are unconscious movements that gradually, around the fourth month, are replaced by voluntary movements.
You may notice that your newborn positively reacts to your presence by suddenly moving its face and body. As it learns to control its movements, its reactions become more directed and less random. Thus, around six weeks, instead of making a grimace, it may already offer you a distinct smile.
Babies cry – everyone knows this. The most likely reasons for crying are fatigue, hunger, loneliness, and discomfort – it is too hot or cold, lying uncomfortably, or needs a fresh diaper. Sometimes the baby cries without any apparent reason.
A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: It is not a good idea to simply let the baby continue crying alone – even though this advice is often given. Insufficient attention and care in the first weeks and months can lead to an introverted, shy, and withdrawn development of the child. People often equate “loving” with “spoiling.” In our opinion, a baby cannot be “spoiled” enough in the early days. People repeatedly think that children who are taken in arms, lovingly caressed, breastfed, and doted upon are just learning how to attract attention. This is not true! It teaches them how to love and build human relationships. And this is one of the most important lessons a child can learn for its future emotional and psychological development. What we call “spoiling” is actually a normal reaction of the mother to an unhappy child; she satisfies a natural need of the baby.
Baby’s sleep patterns – a phenomenon that can stress your nerves. If you are not very lucky, you will experience a few sleepless nights after returning home from the hospital. There are various sleep patterns in newborns. Some are only awake when they are hungry, while others are active before and after feeding.
Your newborn may never nap longer than one or two hours at a stretch until about four months of age. Take comfort in the fact that it learns something new every waking minute – as long as it does not get bored. In the long run, you will be rewarded with a curious child.
Also, keep in mind that trying to impose a strict sleep pattern matching the “average baby” makes no sense. There is no “average baby.” The sleep needs depend on individual physiology. Most newborns fall asleep shortly after a meal. Initially, wakeful periods depend on how many meals the baby requires, which in turn depends on its weight:
- 2 kg baby: wakes up 7 to 8 times to be fed
- 3 kg baby: wakes up 5 to 6 times to be fed
- 4.5 kg baby: wakes up 4 to 5 times to be fed
If your baby makes strange noises, do not worry. Most sounds arise from the immaturity of the airways and will subside over time.
If you feel that your baby snores in its crib, we must disappoint you. This certain sound produced by your baby is caused by a vibration of the soft palate while breathing.
Parents often think their baby is cold because it “sniffles.” However, this sniffling does not indicate a stuffy nose but is caused by a flat nasal bridge in babies. When breathing, the air must pass through very short, narrow nasal passages, which produces this noise. With age, the nasal bridge becomes higher and the sniffling decreases.
You should also not be confused if your baby has to sneeze frequently. This is not an impending cold, but rather a useful reflex. It occurs when the little one opens its eyes and is exposed to bright light. It helps to clear the nasal passages.
Newborns often have hiccups, especially after a meal. Despite many mothers' concerns, this is rarely a symptom of digestive problems. The cause is more so a lack of control over the diaphragm – a broad muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. Hiccups become less frequent as the nerves controlling the diaphragm develop.
Appearance of Your Baby
Even though your baby is undoubtedly a bundle of joy, you may be startled by the first glimpse of the little one. Be it a white greasy substance covering your little one's skin, a spotted skin tone, or an irregularly shaped head. Everything quite natural!
The vernix that may cover the skin forms a natural protective layer to prevent the skin from softening in the amniotic fluid. Also, do not allow it to be washed away by the hospital staff, as it prevents skin irritations.
The spotted skin color results from broken blood vessels. Once melanin, a natural pigment, is produced, the baby will achieve its final skin color. This typically happens after about six months.
The baby's skull consists of four large plates that are not fused together and can move against each other. This mobility is especially important during birth when the head is compressed by the birth canal. The shifting skull bones allow for safe passage through the birth canal. The resulting deformation of the head is entirely normal and does not affect the brain. Some bruising or swelling may occur, but they heal within the first days or weeks.
These soft spots on the top of the skull, where the bones are not connected, are called “fontanelles.” The skull bones will only fuse firmly around the age of two. Pay special attention not to press on the fontanelles with a young baby!
Some babies are born with a full head of hair, while others are completely bald. The hair color can change after birth. The fine downy hair that some babies have on their bodies is called “lanugo.” It will soon fall off after birth.
Every Day a Miracle - Baby's Development
Nothing is more exciting than a baby's development in the first months of life: a small helpless being grows into a nimble toddler that keeps its parents quite busy - in the truest sense of the word!
The following article aims to guide you through your child's development month by month. Each section addresses different areas. The tables indicate what your child should be able to do at each age. In some aspects, your baby may be ahead, and in others, a little behind. Concern is warranted only if your child is significantly slower in every area: then you should consult your pediatrician.
Body - Perception - Social Behavior
1st Month of Life
lies asymmetrically (crooked) with head turned to the side; arms and legs bent; lifts head only briefly; reacts to loud noises with Moro reflex; hands usually clenched into fists - sees clear outlines from 22-25 cm away, briefly fixates on objects and faces; cannot yet recognize recurring sounds - skin contact is the most important means of communication, expresses itself by crying
2nd Month of Life
holds head up for a few seconds; bending of arms and legs decreases; hands open more often, making unsuccessful grasping attempts, the whole body moving along - follows with eyes objects that move sideways, fixates longer; listens with interest to various sounds - skin contact remains important, occasionally shows reflexive smiling, first
Which products for which age?
At roba, we offer a high-quality collection of furniture, toys, and more. To help you promote your child's development appropriately, we provide a little guidance on which of our products are suitable for which age.
Nursery
Babies feel most comfortable in small cozy areas. Therefore, it makes sense to reduce the size of the crib with a nest. A canopy over the bed takes away the height of the room and makes it cozy. The mobiles loved by children are already integrated into some of our collections. Our textiles give every nursery a childlike charm that reflects a secure childhood. To prevent the nursery from becoming a hodgepodge of garish colors, we offer matching changing pads, play mats, etc. for each crib set. However, keep in mind that your child will not always stay that small, so opt for functional furniture with timeless design. All roba collections are designed with this principle in mind.
Baby Accessories
You will start giving your child puree at around 4 to 6 months of age. For the first feeding attempts, a rocking chair or our roba Chill Up high chair is suitable, as this allows you to keep both hands free for feeding – which you will need for the first tries. Once the child can sit (around 9 months), it can have its own place at the table – in an appropriate high chair. Initially, your child may be a little too small, so we recommend seat reducers that we have designed to match our textile program. If your child is older than 18 months, they will enjoy having their own table with bench and chair – whether in their own or another room.
Practical for traveling or dining out with babies (from about 9 months) are booster seats that fold easily and fit into any travel bag. For being on the go, you will naturally need changing and play items that can easily be stowed in our changing bags with integrated changing mats – as not always will a changing table be available. And even then, it's better to lay your own mat down. Babies need body warmth. Our GO UP front and back carrier meets this need, allowing you to easily take it with you on any city stroll or use it at home, for instance, when you are alone preparing a bottle and the child won’t settle down.
Once a child has discovered its mobility, the entire home needs to be baby-proofed accordingly. This includes items such as socket protectors or stair and door safety gates. Your child can play safely in a playpen while you attend to other activities. Your child will not feel confined because they have their own area in the playpen, which they can assert against other children. The playpen becomes cozy and soft with a suitable insert.
Toys
For exploration (with the mouth from 4 months, with hands from 6 months, and with eyes from 8 months), toys of various sizes, shapes, colors, and surface textures, e.g., wood, plastic, paper, fabric, sponges, wool, are suitable for getting to know the physical properties of objects.
Babies begin to exercise and check their memory at around 8 months. Games that involve the disappearance of objects or people are suitable for this, such as marble runs or peek-a-boo games.
At the same age, around 8 months, objects increasingly become means to an end. Children particularly enjoy pulling or pushing objects, such as a wheeled wagon on a string.
Spatial characteristics, meaning learning about the spatial relationships between objects, are practiced by babies starting at 9 months through content-container games. They particularly enjoy using pans, cups, baskets, plastic containers, conkers, water, and of course sand. By 15 months, children start stacking – using building blocks, cups, or rings on rods. Horizontal building with building blocks or a toy train begins around 21 months. Vertical and horizontal building are combined at about 30 months, for which building blocks are ideal.
Learning the functional use of objects and internalizing actions and behaviors begins with functional play (using an item as it is intended) with spoons, hairbrushes, toy dishes, toy tools, or household items around 12 months. This transitions around the 15th month into representational play (functional use of objects) with dolls, teddy bears, and similar items. In sequential play (from 21 months), dollhouses gain importance as actions with a common theme, such as 'meal time' (cooking, setting dolls at the table and letting them eat), are reenacted. At 30 months, role play begins, where the child takes on different roles or imagines objects. The play store or dolls with doll clothes and doll strollers become irreplaceable.
Insert puzzles and other puzzles make sense from 21 months, as certain properties need to be assigned in terms of categorization.
Feng Shui in the Baby Room
What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui is the Chinese philosophy of harmonious living, which can already be positively applied in the room for the little ones. Here you will find some tips and suggestions for designing your baby's room.
In anticipation of the baby, parents usually start setting up the nursery well before the birth, enjoying the process to the fullest. A child's room should be carefully planned so that your baby feels comfortable in their first space.
Through their own baby room, the toddler experiences an initial gentle process of separation, which is also important for their further development. Having a separate space already creates an unconscious experience in infancy that the baby is recognized as an independent person with their own needs. The "own territory," even when mother and father are often still in the room, strengthens the child's self-confidence and identity.
The goals of Feng Shui are to eliminate disturbances and allow for the free flow of life force Chi both in the rooms and in the body. Feng Shui aims to create balance and a harmonious environment, thus designing living spaces where people can grow and thrive. With Feng Shui, you can help your child unfold according to their inner being. To follow a holistic concept, there is a distinction between inner Feng Shui (the person themselves) and outer Feng Shui (the environment, space design). Outer Feng Shui can be promoted through the design of the nursery (the room where the child or children spend most of their time).
Even small changes made in the right places can foster harmony in the rooms and consequently in the lives of the occupants.
Children are generally lively, active, or, to speak in Feng Shui terms, "Yang." For example, they do not need strong, stimulating colors; in fact, too much of it can overwhelm them, especially when additional stimuli are present.
Children are also sensitive to the influences of their surroundings. Since time immemorial, it has been ingrained in humans that sharp objects directed at their bodies pose a danger. Try it out. Stand in front of the edge of a cabinet or the sharp corner of a table and feel it. Now take a step to the side and feel the difference. Aside from the risk of injury, sharp corners and edges also pose the danger of constant energetic weakening due to unconscious tension. For instance, if such a shelf is located close to the bed and its edge points at the sleeping person, this weakening influence can last all night. Additional restlessness emanates from the objects on the shelf that invite active engagement—although the child is meant to sleep peacefully.
Thus, the design of the nursery can significantly contribute to the harmonious development of the child.
Tips:
Here are some tips to optimize the outer Feng Shui in the baby room:
The layout of the room should ideally be rectangular or square, and also large enough for the child to have enough space to develop freely.
The baby room should offer as much freedom of movement for playing as possible, allowing the growing baby to unfold freely. The nursery is a multifunctional space that serves for playing, dreaming, hiding, learning, listening to music, sleeping, and joyful upbringing together.
It should be a separate, preferably bright room with plenty of natural light. Through rooms are not ideal.
The lighting can also be enhanced through good lighting and color design as well as harmonious design elements. A room facing north or a room where the sun cannot enter is less suitable, as the Yang energy, which promotes growth and development, cannot unfold as well there.
Ensure there are many warm and cozy elements in the nursery. For example, a canopy bed and plenty of fabric as well as soft and cuddly materials. They provide the baby with a lot of warmth and security. The crib can, for instance, be designed like a bright cave.
A heavy wardrobe or another bulky piece of furniture should not be directly next to the baby crib, as this could be unconsciously perceived as oppressive. Therefore, move heavy furniture more than a meter away from the baby crib.
Fixed built-in wardrobes should ideally not be present in the baby room at all. Nevertheless, the furniture should be stable enough so that the baby cannot tip them over.
The furniture should be in light or warm tones (e.g. warm wood tones).
The room should not generally look too restless: Therefore, cheerful and soft colors should be chosen outside the play area. Try to avoid strong red in the sleeping area, as it can be disruptive to sleep.
Light, cheerful colors are most suitable for the baby room. Yellow, blue, grass green, beige, and generally colors of nature have a calming effect on the baby.
The play area should be located in a bright part of the room.
If your baby appears restless, avoid stimulating shades of red.
Motifs, textiles, and toys should bring joy and must not appear aggressive in any way.
The crib should not be placed under a window or with the feet facing the door.
Finally, it is very important to involve the growing children in the design of their little realm later on, as children instinctively know very well what is good for them and what is not. Accordingly, they also know very well in which room design they will feel comfortable.
Baby Massage
Massage is the art of healing through touch.
Baby massage is an easily accessible therapy for babies up to toddler age – especially for premature infants. During pregnancy, the baby was warm and snug for months. With birth, the little human is suddenly confronted with a flood of stimuli such as light and noise. Through massage, parents help the newcomer transition from the womb into our world.
From the moment of birth, the child begins to get to know the parents – their scent, their voice, their face. Baby massage plays a crucial role in helping parents and child understand each other better, thus building a closer and more active relationship. Baby massage can become a means of communication available to you throughout your entire parenting journey. A quiet dialogue of love between you and your baby.
Gentle touches are not only an important foundation for an intimate parent-child relationship; they can also positively influence the overall mental and physical development of the baby. The focus is on the baby’s perception of its own body. However, baby massage not only sustainably promotes physical and emotional well-being, it also stabilizes breathing and circulation. A massage has a calming effect on excited children. Through skin contact, various stimuli that are conveyed through nerve pathways reach the brain. According to medical opinion, infants develop a more regulated sleep rhythm through massage, resulting in longer and healthier sleep. Baby massage also stimulates digestion. Additionally, the immune system is boosted. Thus, baby massage supports the overall development of the baby.
Tips for Performing Baby Massage
Baby massage is a ritual for the whole family. It can be performed by the mother, father, or even older siblings.
One should take about 10 to 20 minutes for this. For babies under one month, a brief massage of a few minutes is often sufficient. The timing of the massage should be chosen so that the baby is neither hungry nor extremely tired. Since the baby is naked, the room temperature should be around 25° C to avoid rapid cooling of the small body. Pure plant oils (from a health food store) are best for the massage. The best effect is achieved when the oil is rubbed between the hands until they are warm. Then the touches are particularly pleasant for the baby.
The massage is easiest to perform when the baby lies on its back on the thighs of the mother or father. The sitting position should be chosen comfortably to create a relaxed atmosphere for both the parent and the baby.
The Massage
You can start with gentle stroking movements from the very first day, later progressing to firmer, practiced grips (stroking with fingertips would likely tickle the baby and provoke crying). As fragile as they may seem at first glance, these little beings are not at all – on the contrary: babies love to be touched firmly and securely, as it gives them a sense of safety.
Important: The massage should always go away from the heart!
The massage begins with stroking the face. Slowly and evenly, both hands are stroked from the nose over the cheeks. Then, with both hands, stroke from the forehead over the temples. After that, the whole body is stroked. Both hands are placed on the forehead. Slowly, they glide over the cheek, shoulder, arms, hips, and legs. During this, the arms and legs are gently pressed against the body. Next, position the baby face up on your thighs to massage the tummy. Alternately, with one hand, stroke from the shoulder over the chest and tummy to the opposite leg (left shoulder, right leg, and vice versa). This way, one strokes alternately with both hands crosswise over the whole body.
When massaging the back, you can lay the baby over your shoulders or across your legs. First, stroke slowly with both hands across the entire back. Then, beginning at the neck, stroke down over the entire back and legs to the feet.
Massage of the Limbs
To massage hands and feet, hold one foot or hand of the baby with one hand. With the thumb of the other hand, stroke with a light pressure from the ball of the foot to the toes or fingers. This especially helps the fine motor skills of the hands and feet in premature infants.
To massage the legs, lay the baby on its back. One thigh is held with one hand. Then, slowly draw the hand down to the foot. Before the leg is released, the other hand already grasps the thigh again. Alternately, both hands draw over the baby’s leg. Afterwards, it’s time for the other leg.
To massage the arms, lay the baby on its side. Then, one arm is grasped with one hand. Slowly, the hand is drawn from the upper arm to the baby’s wrist. Before the own hand releases the baby, the other hand already encircles the upper arm of the baby again. Alternately, the hands stroke over the baby’s arms.
Parents can also benefit greatly from regular physical contact with their baby, especially if they are still unsure at the beginning about doing something “wrong.” To truly achieve a sense of well-being for the baby, it is important not to overlook its signals. Therefore, stop when the baby indicates that it has had enough. If the baby is contentedly gurgling and cooing, it’s the best sign that you are doing it right. You will quickly learn what your baby enjoys and whether it dislikes certain massage techniques. However, more important than any technique is the physical and emotional bond with the child.
The right nutrition for babies & children
Do you enjoy cooking? Yes?! But what is best for your child? What should a balanced diet look like? To ensure that cooking is fun and healthy, we will first provide you with some guidelines on child nutrition in this article. Our guide also includes useful tips, checklists, and recipes for cooking with children.
Optimal nutrition for infants up to 6 months of age
Even if you can’t hear it anymore: breast milk is and remains the best for your baby in the first months after birth. It contains all the essential nutrients, as well as antibodies against infectious diseases, particularly in the respiratory area. Infants at increased risk of allergies (if parents or a sibling already have allergies) should be breastfed until the end of the 6th month, as infants' intestinal mucosa is not fully developed until the 6th month, making it easier for allergens from complementary foods to enter and sensitize the baby.
Mom's nutrition
Do not diet while breastfeeding. You pass on nutrients to your child through breast milk. Therefore, your body needs more vitamins, minerals, and energy. Eat additional portions of milk/dairy products (200-250g), lean meat (40g), whole-grain bread (1 slice), rice or pasta (cooked 1 tablespoon) or 1 small potato, oats (1 tablespoon), vegetables or salad (150g), and fruit (100g). Drink at least 2 liters of fluid daily: mineral water, fruit/vegetable juice spritzers, unsweetened herbal or fruit teas.
If you cannot or do not want to breastfeed for six months, rely on infant formula (modified cow's milk for infants). It is divided into infant formula and follow-on formula. Formulas marked with “Pre” are most similar to breast milk. They are thin and do not fill as long as starch-containing milk. According to the Research Institute for Child Nutrition Dortmund (=fke), infants cannot be overfed with it. Formulas marked with “1” are thicker and more filling than those with “Pre,” as they contain a small amount of starch in addition to lactose. Be sure to follow the package instructions closely to avoid overfeeding. From the 5th month on, you can use follow-on milk but are not required to, as vitamins and trace elements are present in all infant formulas. This also means that the milk is not enriched with juice, fruit, or oats. Babies at high risk for allergies (see above) should only receive special hypoallergenic formulas (H.A. formula). Healthy infants do not need additional fluids in the first 4 to 6 months. If necessary due to high temperatures or fever, give your little one boiled tap water.
Time for the first puree
Nutrition for babies from 4/6 to 12 months: Milk alone is no longer sufficient to provide your little one with the necessary nutrients. The time has come to feed your child complementary food. It’s wise to start with a carrot puree, as it tastes a bit sweet, which babies tend to like. You should replace one milk meal with a puree, for example, at lunchtime. You can prepare a vegetable-potato-meat puree yourself from 90g carrots/fennel/kohlrabi/cauliflower/broccoli/spinach, 40g freshly cooked potatoes, 20g lean meat, 30ml vitamin C-rich fruit juice/water. Avoid seasoning the puree, as babies prefer it bland, as their taste buds are still very sensitive. It is more convenient to rely on jarred food, which is produced under strict control, is pollutant-free, iodized, and of very high quality. According to the fke, meat is considered very important, as babies’ iron reserves run low between the 5th and 7th month while the need increases. However, if you want to avoid meat, you can prepare a vegetable-potato-whole grain puree starting at 6 months: 90g green vegetables, 40g potatoes, 10g oat or millet flakes, 30ml vitamin C-rich fruit juice (for better iron absorption), 20ml water, and 10g butter.
From the 6th month, a second puree meal can be introduced in the evening to ensure optimal calcium intake, such as a whole milk-grain puree: 200ml whole milk (3.5% fat), 20g whole grain flakes, 20ml pure orange juice (no nectar or fruit juice drinks). It is strongly advised to avoid “fresh grain milk” or the grain drink “Kokkoh” due to health risks (as they may contain disease-causing germs). Industrially produced milk porridge is better the fewer ingredients it contains.
An afternoon meal can be replaced with a dairy-free fruit-grain puree in the 7th month. And around 10 months, the child is developmentally ready to eat family meals, drink from a cup, and eat bread. Initially, the food needs to be pureed, and around 12 months, it is sufficient to mash the food with a fork.
Important information about baby food
In industrially produced purees, the ingredients are listed in descending order, meaning the ingredient at the top is present in the largest amount in the jar or packaging.
Babies do not particularly like variety - it doesn’t have to be a different puree every day. One reason for this may be that babies’ digestion needs to adjust to new flavors and ingredients. Therefore, it is better to introduce new ingredients slowly, one at a time.
Yogurt and quark should only be fed after the first birthday due to their high protein content (which strains the kidneys).
Babies may eat a maximum of one boiled hard egg per week.
As honey can contain harmful bacteria, it should also only be given to children after the 12th month.
Cow's milk is taboo as a substitute for breast milk in the first year of life because it contains too much protein and minerals as well as too few polyunsaturated fatty acids and trace elements. To ensure calcium intake, a puree meal can be prepared with whole milk (see above).
Optimal nutrition for children over one year old
What diet is ideal for children? After their first birthday, toddlers can and should join in family meals. Special products are not necessary. The Research Institute for Child Nutrition in Dortmund regularly publishes recommendations on what the diet for children should ideally look like. This does not mean avoiding sweets, etc. Instead, they should be consumed in moderation, just like jam, honey, or sugar. The optimal food composition for children up to six years can be found in the table below. The “Optimized Mixed Diet” compiled by the research institute corresponds to today’s knowledge about the right nutrition for children and adolescents. It is called optimized because it covers the need for all nutrients while also preventing so-called civilization diseases (high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, gout).
Optimized mixed diet for one to six-year-olds
Recommended foods - Amount - Per day/week
Plentiful – plant foods
Drinks 600-800 ml/day
Bread, cereals (flakes) 80-170 g/day
Potatoes, pasta, rice, grains 80-120 g/day
Vegetables 100-180 g/day
Fruit 100-180 g/day
Moderate – animal foods
Milk, dairy products* 300-350 ml or g/day
Eggs 1-2 pieces/week
Fish 50-100 g/week
Meat, sausage 30-45 g/day
Sparingly – high-fat foods
Margarine, butter, oil 15-25 g/day
Tolerated foods
(at most 20% of energy intake)
Cakes, sweets, ... at most 50 g/day
Jam, sugar, ... at most 10 g/day
*100 ml milk corresponds in calcium content
to about 15g hard cheese or 30g soft cheese
Vitamins
Vitamins are essential for healthy development in children. Here’s an overview of vitamins and their sources
Vitamin - Vitamin source
Vitamin A (precursor: beta-carotene) Vitamin A in liver, cod liver oil
Beta-carotene in: carrots, yellow-orange vegetables
Vitamin D Margarine, mushrooms, fish (eel, herring, halibut, salmon)
Vitamin E green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils (sunflower oil, corn oil, walnut oil)
Vitamin K green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, chicken, butter
Vitamin B1 wheat germ, legumes, pork
Vitamin B2 milk, eggs, fish (halibut, herring), mushrooms
Vitamin B6 bananas, beans, lentils, soybeans, liver, oats
Vitamin B12 liver, kidneys, eggs, cheese, fish (especially herring, redfish)
Vitamin C almost all types of fruits and vegetables; especially: citrus fruits, kiwi, peppers, sea buckthorn
Niacin meat, fish, nuts, legumes
Pantothenic acid yeast, legumes, peanuts, egg yolk, liver, watermelon
Folic acid yeast, beef liver, Brussels sprouts, kale, wheat germ, egg yolk, soybeans
Biotin liver, egg yolk, peanuts, soybeans, brown rice, wheat bran
Is optimal nutrition also possible vegetarian?
With a balanced vegetarian diet, the nutrient needs of all age groups can be easily covered and civilization diseases can be prevented. The only critical nutrient is iron, as the body absorbs plant-based iron relatively poorly, and meat improves this bioavailability. A high iron content is found in whole grains, e.g., oats or millet, and in products made from them, such as whole grain bread. However, milk actually reduces bioavailability. It is improved by consuming vitamin C simultaneously, e.g., in orange juice. It is sensible to combine iron-rich plant foods with vitamin C-rich foods; e.g., muesli made from whole grain products with orange juice or fresh fruit; orange juice (about 100ml) or fresh fruit and raw vegetables with whole grain bread.
The following list shows you foods high in iron or vitamin C:
Food - Iron (mg/100g) - Food - Vitamin C (mg/100g)
low bioavailability - well suited for improvement
Millet 6.9 - Bell pepper, raw 121
Wheat germ 8.5 - Broccoli, cooked 90
Oat flakes 5.4 - Brussels sprouts, cooked 85
Whole grain rice 3.2 - Cauliflower, cooked 49
Whole grain bread 2.0 - Kohlrabi, raw 63
Spinach, cooked 2.9 - Spinach, cooked 29
Lamb's lettuce, raw 2.0 - Lamb's lettuce, raw 35
Lentils, cooked 2.1 - Tomato, raw 19
Pistachios 7.3 - Kiwi 46
Sunflower seeds 6.3 - Strawberries 63
Almonds 4.1 - Oranges 49
very good bioavailability - less suitable for improvement
Beef 2.1 - Apple, banana 12
Pork 1.0
Chicken 0.7
Sea fish 0.6
A strictly vegetarian diet, without any animal products (including milk and eggs), is to be STRICTLY REJECTED for infants, children, adolescents, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women and requires consultation with a pediatrician in any case!
How much do children eat and how often?
Preschool children can easily eat adult food. However, small children cannot yet tolerate indigestible foods like legumes, very fatty, heavily roasted, or spicy foods in larger amounts. Since the energy reserves are quickly depleted in smaller children, preschoolers should eat regularly (5 times a day) and drink plenty as well. How these meals could look is shown by the three pyramids from fke Dortmund.
Children's food
It makes sense to distinguish between toddler foods (1-3 years) and children’s foods (from 3 years). While there are dietary requirements for toddler foods – toddler foods are subject to dietary regulations in Germany, which set minimum values for residues and contaminants – this regulation does not apply to children over 3 years old. The product range includes the following product groups:
Dairy products: Fruit yogurt, milk-based drinks, fresh cheese and quark preparations
Bread spreads: Nut nougat creams, chocolate creams, sausage
Sweets: Chocolate snacks, cereal, nut, chocolate bars, chocolate, vitamin candies
Breakfast cereals: Various types of crispy flakes
Drinks: Calcium-fortified juices, multivitamin juices, soft drinks
Prepared meals: Noodle soups, noodle dishes, pizza
Children's foods do not differ in terms of ingredients and nutrient content from regular foods. They do not contain particularly much whole milk (as advertised), but low-fat milk, sweet whey powder, pure butterfat, or sweetened condensed milk. They are, however, smaller, have elaborate packaging, and are often fortified with vitamins and minerals – which is not nutritionally necessary. They often contain too much sugar and fat, which can lead to overweight if there is insufficient exercise. Additionally, they are more expensive than comparable regular products. Therefore, children's foods can be safely dispensed with.
When food makes you sick
Overweight vs. underweight
Overweight/obesity occurs when children consume more energy than they need. This leads to an increase in fat tissue. Besides genetics, environmental factors play an important role. Obesity increases the risk of developing various diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, or gout. Using the BMI (Body Mass Index), obesity is classified as follows:
BMI - kg/m²
Obesity Grade I 30.0 - 34.9
Obesity Grade II 35.0 – 39.9
Extreme obesity Grade II =< 40
Underweight is a result of malnutrition. This occurs when too little energy is consumed over a prolonged period. It can lead to deficiency diseases such as vitamin deficiency, weight loss, or eating disorders like anorexia (anorexia nervosa) or bulimia (bulimia). There is no clear boundary for when to classify as underweight. However, the WHO has set a BMI limit of below 20.
PEKiP - Movement Games for the Youngest
What is PEKiP?
PEKiP stands for Prague Parent-Child Program. It was developed for babies in their first year of life and is suitable for infants from the 4th to 6th week. PEKiP is primarily a group course for interested parents with babies of that age, but it can also be easily conducted at home.
The babies are playfully stimulated to move with different - even self-made - materials, such as a water ball that the baby can kick, causing it to move. These various play materials promote various senses: e.g., the sense of hearing through rattling, the sense of touch through different materials, or the sense of balance through rolling back and forth on the water ball. To allow the infant to move more freely and have more intense tactile experiences (including skin contact with parents), this play is done without clothing.
PEKiP allows parents to consciously spend time with their offspring and to perceive them more closely during this time. Parents can accompany their babies in their development, try out new games together - being play partners for each other.
PEKiP was developed in the 1970s by the couple Christa and Hans Ruppelt. It is based on movement and sensory stimulation for babies and their parents, which psychologist Dr. Jaroslav Koch developed at the Prague Institute for Mother and Child as part of his deprivation research.
Book Recommendation
Support your baby playfully with the Prague Parent-Child Program by Anne Pulkkinen is a beautiful, illustrative book that explains PEKiP for home use. It is ideal for parents who cannot attend a PEKiP course nearby.
Internet Tips
Here you will find all the information about PEKiP, as the "inventors" of PEKiP also speak here. Additionally, you can find the address and telephone number of a PEKiP group near you there.
