Over the years of helping parents many of my clients have not know what a mothercraft nurse is.  Infact when the business was called Mothercraft Home Service many were unaware that mothercraft was a profession. 

What is a Mothercraft Nurse?

These days to become a mothercraft nurse you must have completed your basic or general nursing training before you can sit for the mothercraft certificate.  In the past it was a eighteen month intensive live in course.  During this time we were trained to care for children from birth to five years old.  The topics covered included developmental milestones, breast and bottle feeding, sleep and settling, toddler management and childhood diseases.

A part of our training was to work in the maternity ward and experience labour and observe a caesarean birth.  We also worked in child care which included planning and organising activities for children up to an including kindergarden and pre school. 

Where do Mothercraft Nurses work today?

Today you are most likely to find mothercraft nurses employed by private hospitals to help mothers in the nursery, teach bathing and take settling classes, they may also help the midwives and assists with mothers with breastfeeding.

Mothercraft nurses also work at the mothercraft centres such as Karitane, Tresillian in Sydney, Tweedle in Melbourne, Ngala in Perth.

Cradle 2 Kindy also has mothercraft nurses working as parenting coaches to assist you at home.

How do they differ to Midwives?

Some of my clients have asked this question and my simplest answer is that a midwife assists you in hospital with all your concerns there and a mothercraft takes over where they leave off and teaches you how to avoid or over come problems that may effect you and your family once you are at home. 

Midwives are trained to look after you pre and postnataly up to the age of 6 weeks old.  Mothercraft help you with concerns from birth to five years old.  We have seen and experienced all the problems that may occur due to inexperience or misinformation and can teach you how to prevent them from happening. 

If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips.  Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop. 

How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help

Cradle 2 Kindy parenting coaches can equip you for the future challenges that you will more than likely experience.  Prevention is better than cure.  Get in early and prevent the heartache that some problems can cause. 

Call Cradle 2 Kindy now and make a booking on 1300 786 101

Also see: What happens at a Coaching session?

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Booking your flight:

When booking, inform the airline that you are taking a baby/child and tell them your child’s age.   Some domestic flight allows babies to travel free if nursed.  International flights usually charge around 10% of an adult fare.

Hunt around and see which airline provides what you need.

Ask for a bassinet, even if your baby doesn’t use it there is more room on the floor for your child to play or rest.

Check that the airline you are travelling on has nappy changing facilities in the toilets.

Check that your airline provide disposable nappies, bibs, milk and baby foods and if not remember to pack plenty of your own.  Take disposable items which can be thrown away after use.

Preparations at home:

The key to travelling with children is planning, it is suggested to pre plan your baby’s schedule before flying to try and help your infant to adjust to time changes and jet-lag.  Keeping an eye on both your home time and the time of your destination will help you and your baby to adjust when you arrive.  As much as possible try not to disrupt your usual routine.

Flight attendants will heat bottles and food some will also offer to help you look after your baby.  But if you don't like to leave baby with other people, and you are traveling without your partner, then I suggest you take a sling/pouch to carry baby when you need to go to the toilet. 

When taking bottles it is suggested not to pre-make formula as airlines are not allowed to store pre-made formulas or food in their fridge.  Take bottles with cooled boiled water and ask the stewards to warm the water when needed. You can then add the formula which can be carried in portion size containers ready for use.

Check with the airline before the flight date, that your bassinet and anything else you may have booked will be available for you.  Nowadays you may need to inquire about what you can and can't take on board with you including pre made formula, lotions etc.  Some light weight collapsible pram can fit into the over head lockers and may be more convenient for immediate access when landing.

Normally babies travel quite well but it is the parents that end up exhausted.  It is not suggested to drug your child to get him/her to sleep while on the flight.  Some drugs may back fire and cause hyperactivity.

Travel bag check list:

• Take a change of cloths for yourself as well as a few for baby especially if it is a long flight.
• Stock your nappy bag with essentials including – nappies, wipes, bibs.
• Take a familiar object or favourite toy, a bag of toys to entertain during the flight.
• Prepare bottles of water for feeds and snacks, formula, baby food and finger food depending on the age of your child.
• Provide something to suck on for take off and landings.
• Take a pouch/sling if you are traveling on your own to assist when traveling through the airport system or when you need to go to the toilet.
• Light weight pram that can fit into the overhead locker.

Before leaving home:

Make sure you infant is wearing layers of clothes to allow for temperature changes.  The cabins can get quite cold especially if you are inactive.

Check you carry bag has all the essentials.

At check in:

• When checking in, ask if the flight is full and if they will give you a spare seats next to you.
• If you are not taking your pram on as hand luggage ask if it can be tagged differently so it will meet you at the cabin door rather than at the baggage collection.  If you need help to carry all your hand luggage the stewards usually offer to help if you wait until everyone has disembarked.

On the flight:

Sucking on take off and landing will help your infant’s ears to clear.  If you don’t use a dummy try offering a clean finger to suck on or a bottle of cooled boiled water if it is not feed time.  Your infant may be nursed depending on his/her age.  Seat belts are also provided.   It is amazing how many children travel by air these days and how little thought is put into making it easier on the parents.

Be aware that babies are more likely to vomit on descent so try no to feed too close to landing.  Don’t hesitate to ask the stewardess for support and a break if you need it.

Make sure baby has plenty of fluids as due to the air-conditioning we all tend to become quite dehydrated.   Stick to the usual breast or bottle feeds but offer cooled boiled water between feeds.

Above all try to relax and enjoy your flight.  Have a good trip. 

If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips.  Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.

How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help

Cradle 2 Kindy coaches can help you and your family design a routine spacifically for your trip to assist your baby through the different time zones.  We also cover a variety of other topics for children from birth to five years old. 

Give us a call now to book a visit so that we can assist you with questions relating to your children.  Cradle 2 Kindy 1300 786 101

Also see: What happens at a Coaching session?

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Spring and Autumn is a time of changing temperatures both inside and outside.  We as parents need to be aware of the clothing our children are waring. It is easy to over dress or under dress children at this time of year. 

Children are less able than adults to regulate their body temperature and need you to regulate how much or little they should wear.  It is generally thought that babies should wear one layer more that you when going out, as they are mostly inactive. Older children and more active children can get overheated quickly.  When sleeping their room should be the same temperature as yours and to having the same amount of bed linen as you is a safe bet. If you are concerned about the temperature of their room, check it with a thermometer*.  Night-waking may occur when your child gets cold.  To ensure their bed linen is not kicked off, dress them in all-in-ones or a sleeping-bag if available.  Whether you use a sleeping bag or not it is advisable to keep using bed linen.  Bed linen can be tucked in with the length across the bed which gives you more tuck and helps keep it in place.  Alternatively, with older children, you may like to keep one blanket free to be put on later once they are asleep.

During the day a good indication of your child’s temperature is to check with you hand behind their neck.  Check their body temperature under normal conditions first before trying to check if they are too hot or to cold.  Never over heat a child as this is a SIDS risk. 

Tips: A good rule to follow when dressing a child is to put layers on. This way if they are getting hot or cold you can either take off a layer or two or put more on to keep them warm.
View our Clothing Guide 

* Note:  In Australia a comfortable room temperature should be around 22-25˚c. Be aware that some nursery thermometers are made for cooler climates are may state 18 -20 as just right.  This may be just right if you are from the UK but not if you live in Australia.

If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips.  Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.

How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help

Cradle 2 Kindy coaches can help you with a variety of topics that cover children from birth to five years old. 

Call Cradle 2 Kindy on 1300 786 101 now to book a visit so that we can assist you with questions relating to your children.

Also see: What happens at a Coaching session?

More Articles on Miscellaneous topics