Tots to teens: Learn the simple signs parents can use to communicate with their babies
Babies communicate with their hands long before they can talk. They wave. They clap. They point.
This is because they master using their hands to make signs before they master manipulating the muscles in their mouth to form words.
An event at Cork City Library, on Grand Parade, at noon on Thursday, April 24, offers parents the opportunity to learn some simple signs they can use to communicate with their babies.
Hosted by Claire Glynn, of Clever Little Handies, the event will introduce parents to Irish Sign Language, and there will also be rhyming storytelling sessions for everyone to enjoy.
The event is free and all are welcome, but it's recommended that you reserve your spot at exa.mn/baby-signing
A baby journal
When Co Kildare mother of two Bronagh Davidson was pregnant, she kept a journal to record the experience. She wanted to track all the special moments, from the first flutters to the strangest cravings.
She also hoped the journals would help her to connect with her babies, while creating a keepsake she could pass down to them in years to come.
She tried several different journals, but never felt any of them was quite right. Eventually, she decided to design one of her own.
My Pregnancy Journal is the delightful result. It contains weekly progress updates, with space for personal notes and photos, sections where mums-to-be can write letters to their babies, trimester calendars to mark milestones, special pages for events like baby showers and nursery planning, and so much more.
The journal is available from mypregnancyjournals.com and costs €44.97.
Learning to cycle
Learning how to ride a bike is one of the rites of passage of childhood. But it can be a difficult skill to master.
This is where the YVolution Y Velo junior balance bike can help. YVolution is a Dublin-based company that produces a range of bikes and scooters, and this balance bike is one of their best-sellers.
A balance bike has no pedals, allowing children to learn the skill of balance, and making it much easier for them to transition to a regular bike.
The Y Velo junior balance bike is designed for children aged 18 months to four years, and the height of its seat and handlebars can be adjusted as they grow. It's also got large wheels and higher ground clearance, which make it safer and easier to ride on uneven surfaces.
The bike is available in most toy shops for €54.99.
Second-hand baby gear
The Baby Market returns to Cork next weekend, with all sorts of pre-loved baby, children, and maternity products available for parents to buy and sell.
Taking place in the Ballyphehane Community Centre from noon to 2pm on Sunday, April 27, it's the ideal place for parents-to-be to pick up bits and pieces at affordable prices.
Local baby-related businesses, service providers, and craftspeople will also have stalls at the market.
Entry to the market costs €8 per person or €9 for a family of four.
Solid foods
It can be difficult for parents to determine when and how to introduce solid food to their baby safely. A new book by the American Academy of Paediatrics aims to make the process a little easier.
Baby Leads the Way is written by a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals, including dietitians, paediatricians, lactation consultants, and allergy specialists, all of whom are mothers.
They have put together a straightforward, step-by-step framework that is packed with practical advice. It covers everything from teaching babies to feed themselves to creating balanced meals and modifying dishes to make meals that the whole family can enjoy.
The book is released today and it retails for €20.
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