Barbie’s Top 10 Tips to Keep Baby Happy

1. I’ve found two things invaluable in our household lately. One is a portable DVD player in the car and the other is the highchair. We used to have trouble traveling anywhere that took longer than 20 minutes, but now can go for hours. When there was no other option than taking baby with us for a two hour drive to visit friends, we put the portable DVD player on the centre console in the car and plugged into the cigarette lighter point. Baby watched her favourite DVDs for one and a half hours, then quietly went off to sleep and was rested and happy when we arrived. For the return journey, she went to sleep in 10 minutes and woke briefly just once on the way home. Travelling is now the pleasure it was before baby was here.
   
   
2. The high chair is not just for eating. I put baby in the high chair when I need to vacuum, mop or wash dishes so she doesn’t get in the way or endanger herself. I give her a toy and when she throws or drops that toy I give her a different one. We also use the high chair as an easy to clean finger painting venue. For a change of scenery on warm days, I take the highchair downstairs to the garden and serve lunch in a shady spot. We have a gazebo, but a tree would be just as good. I haven’t spoon fed baby since she was about 7 months old. She prefers to feed herself and I think it fosters independence, so I let her. Within reason, she eats what we’re eating (except hot spicy curries). She makes a bit of mess, but I just scoop it up and wipe down her chair before wiping her hands and taking her out. Mashed potato?…yep! Noodles and fettuccine carbonara?… yep Baked beans?… everything!. Relax! It all washes out and it’s worth it for baby’s independence.
   
   
3. Entertainment essentials – DVDs and an active mum or grandma. Our baby loves to watch fun children’s DVDs and in her short almost a year on the planet has already changed her mind about which characters are her favourite – several times! I encourage her repeatedly to interact with the DVDs by singing, dancing and acting like a crazy woman every chance I get. I may not have a great singing voice or know all the dance moves, but baby thinks I’m awesome! Now, at 11 months, she already copies and anticipates the choreography and lyrics on her favourite shows. (She’s been walking since 8 months)
   
   
4. Books. I read books to baby after the evening bath to settle her down and get ready for bed. I read the same story for a week so baby gets familiar with the story and can learn to anticipate. Then I change the book and read that story until baby knows it. As baby gets older, you can offer them a choice.
   
   
5. Variety. A) We change the upstairs DVDs around with the car and downstairs DVDs every now and then. B) Don’t read the same book every day during day play time. C) Feed a variety of interesting foods. D) Don’t keep baby caged up indoors all the time. Take baby outside for play during the warm time of the day, but keep baby safe from burning UV rays during the midday heat.
   
   
6. Dried blueberries- Very high in antioxidants and phyto-nutrients, easy to serve, easy to eat, no mess. Delicious and popular with baby. Easy to pack into zip-lock bags and keep handy in your handbag. An excellent addition to a highly nutritious and varied diet to maintain baby’s immunity.
   
   
7. Stroller rides just for fun. We walk to the nearby beach and park to check out the birdlife and dogs being taken for their late afternoon walks. Baby gets excited as soon as I mention dogs. (We don’t have one of our own)
   
   
8. Zip-lock bags. They come in different sizes and make life so organized! In my bag I have a clean dry face washer in one. If I need to use it when I’m out I can wet it with my water drink bottle and store it wet in the packet until I get home. I always have a couple of biscuits in one and berries in another.
   
   
9. Molded plastic/silicon bibs. They really do catch all the food as it drops. You can scoop out bits and give it back to baby. Then to clean up, just scoop out the contents into the bin before rinsing. Much easier than washing dozens of traditional bibs!
   
   
10. Remember the rules. These are really important for baby’s happiness, your own happiness and for the peace of everyone around you.

Rule number 3 – Don’t take others too seriously. (even though they may mean well)
Rule number 2 - Don’t take yourself too seriously. (lighten up and laugh lots)
Rule number 1 - Don’t take anything too seriously. (in 20, 50 or 200 years, who will know or care what happened today?)