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Tiny Talk
West Auckland Parents Centre
Jun — Jul 2014|186
Visit us online
This issue
Babywearing in Winter
Rainy Day Ideas for
Preschoolers
Outdoor Explorers
Keeping Warm & Healthy
this Winter
.
9 Parenting Words To Live
By
WAPC Interviews...
Birth Story
Anna and Amelia
Positive birth experiences and informed parenting in a community
Special Features
From the Editor
Committee Bio—Carolyn Nielson
Getting to know the people behind WAPC.
Well, that’s summer well and truly over isn’t it?
Thanks to plenty of insulation we haven’t had to
dig the heater out yet, but it’s been pretty close a
couple of times.
5
6
Keeping your precious ones warm and close
Rainy Day Ideas for Preschoolers
Stop your little ones going nuts!
7
Outdoor Explorers
Our new intrepid playgroup ventures forth
10
Birth Story
Anna & Amelia.
12
Keeping Warm & Healthy this Winter
Keeping your house toasty.
14
9 Parenting Words To Live By
Blogger & Educator Janet Lansbury.
16
Baby Colds, Coughs & Flu
What to look for, what to do.
19
Mother’s Day Basket Giveaway
Our annual visit to Waitakere Hospital.
22
WAPC Interviews...
SCBU Nurse Vicki Savage.
26
I really enjoyed the frosts we had recently. It
reminded me that it used to be almost a daily
occurrence when I lived in Christchurch, and now,
living in Waiuku we were treated to the wonderful
scenery of beautiful white paddocks.
I’d never thought about it, but it was the first time
Ryan had ever experienced a frost and he didn’t
really know what to make of it. Was it some kind
of snow? Or had the fog done something weird?
He was full of questions and very interested in the
answers. Its very cool to experience something
familiar anew through a child’s eye. It filled me
with a new appreciation of a child’s life.
Regular Features
I have to express a massive thank you to the
WAPC committee and Jess Maher Williamson in
particular for helping me gather the content for
this issue. It’s all about winter and helping your
children experience the wonder that the season
can bring. Also included is a thought provoking
article by Janet Lansbury and an interview I
conducted with Vicki Savage, a SCBU nurse at
Waitakere Hospital.
From the President
4
I hope you enjoy this issue.
WAPC Volunteers of the Month
23
Birthdays
24
Welcome to our World
25
Volunteer Opportunities
28
WAPC: Parent Education
29
Shopping for Baby
30
WAPC Member Discounts
32
Round the Coffee Cups
34
Contact Us
36
Parent Support—Directory
37
Tiny Talk Contributions & Advertising
38
Takuss!
Daniel
COPYRIGHT - As the articles, recipes, stories etc. in this newsletter have been contributed, we are unable to guarantee
originality and therefore cannot be held liable. Copyright held by contributors remains with the contributing party.
Opinions and articles in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the policies of Parents Centres New Zealand Inc or West
Auckland Parents Centre. Advertising in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Parents Centres New Zealand Inc.
3
From the President
As I write this, it definitely feels like winter has
arrived and with that comes, what seems like a
momentous task at times, figuring out ways to
entertain your kids despite the weather. This year
will definitely mean I need to figure it out. This time
last year, my youngest was only 2 months old and we
spent most of winter snuggled inside. This year I think
both kids will be rearing to be outdoors! The ideas in
this issue of Tiny Talk will definitely come in handy in
any kind of weather.
15th - 21st June is National Parents Centre week and
to celebrate, West Auckland Parents Centre are
pleased to announce that we will be running a Sleep
and Settling class with Dorothy Waide - one of New
Zealand's most knowledgeable authorities on infant
and toddler care. The class will be on Saturday 21st
June 10am - 12pm at Kelston Community Centre and
will cost $10 for members and $20 for non-members.
If you would like to attend, please email
[email protected]. It's a great
opportunity for partners to attend as well.
West Auckland Parents Centre can not run without
volunteers and whilst we have a fantastic team, we
are still in need of some more help especially with
hosting our classes. If you would like to host a class,
are interested in any of the roles we currently have
vacant or simply would like more information, please
email [email protected].
This will be my last "From the President" column as I
will be stepping down as President and retiring from
the West Auckland Parents Centre committee at our
AGM at the end of June. I have thoroughly enjoyed
my time as part of the committee and as President,
although it has had its challenging moments and we,
as a committee, have had to make some tough
decisions but it is time for me to move on. I would
like to take this opportunity to say to all the current
and ex committee members that I have worked with you are all amazing and I am glad to have gotten to
know each and every one of you. Thank you for all
your support - both for myself and the centre. I know
how much of a struggle it can be at times to be a
mum, a partner, an employee and then to find time
to volunteer as well as try and find some time for
yourself. Your efforts are much appreciated and the
Centre could not exist without you.
WAPC NOTIFICATIONS
Annual General Meeting
(AGM)
Our AGM will take place on Thursday 26 June at 7:30pm
at the Kelston Community Centre.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
4
Committee Bio — Carolyn Nielson
Hi, my name is Carolyn Nielson and
I'm married to Paul and we have a 20
month old son, Matthew and our
second child is due at the end of July.
I'm a stay at home mum and also
assist my husband with his
mechanical business.
My role is the Childbirth Education
Coordinator and this involves putting
together all the information that is
given out at the antenatal classes and
organising the hosts for the classes.
I enjoy meeting new people and
being able to give something back to
a community organisation that relies
on volunteers to keep it running. We went through
West Auckland Parents Centre for our antenatal
classes and so I felt it was a good opportunity to help
an organisation that had helped us.
West Auckland Parents Centre relies upon the generous support of philanthropic organisations in the community. We take this opportunity to thank the organisations below for their
5
Snuggly and warm, cosy in a cuddle. Wintertime baby wearing can be a wonderful way to
keep you and baby warm, while staying nice and close. Here are a few ideas about how
to snuggle up close, and also stay dry during the wetter months.
One thing to think about is layering. Of course, you
will be dressing both yourself and baby in warmer
clothes anyway during the upcoming months. Having
a few thinner layers, rather than one thicker layer on
top gives you a bit more flexibility in how warm you
both are. This can be beneficial when babywearing
during winter, especially if you are out walking. Your
carrier also provides another layer of warmth. Wraps
in particular offer more warmth than other carriers,
as they are layered themselves. This can be great in
the winter when other carriers may require you to
wear warmer clothing.
With any carrier, you can add something over the top
of both you and baby. Of course, this is not
necessary, you can just add extra layers for you and
baby as needed under your carrier, if you prefer.
Wearing something over both of you means that you
just have to take an item off yourself, rather than one
off both of you, and has the added benefit of not
having to take baby off to remove the outer layer
when you reach your destination. This is particularly
useful if baby is asleep! Here are some options for
this:
Some brands on the market are MamaPoncho,
Babyette and Classic Mama Babywearing Poncho.
There are also patterns online, so you can make one
yourself. On the subject of making it yourself, a quick
and easy option is to get a sweater that is too big,
and modify it. You can alter it to have an extra
opening for baby, either on the front or on the back.
For front carrying, you can just get a jacket big
enough to fit over you and baby, and do it up as far as
needed for baby to have a safe and comfortable ride.
There are also baby covers, which typically are for
front carries only. These often attach to the straps of
the carrier, so they are only good for soft structured
carriers and frontpacks. Some companies that make
carriers also make these; such as Ergo and Bjorn.
Often, little one’s legs get exposed while
babywearing. This is due to their seated position.
There are several ways to compensate for this. You
can put extra long socks on your child, either under
their trousers, or over the top of close fitting trousers
or leggings, to hold in more warmth. Longer trousers
or leggings is another option, a couple of sizes bigger
than what your child currently wears. Thick winter
A babywearing coat. These are specifically designed
tights are also good for keeping little legs and ankles
to be big enough, and the right shape, to fit both
protected from the cold. Another option here is
mum and baby in. There are options within this for
legwarmers. Legwarmers are easy to take on and off
wearing baby on the front or on the back, but all have as needed, and can either go underneath trousers, or
baby facing in toward the wearer. Babywearing
you can tuck close fitting trousers in to them. These
raincoats are also available. Some of the brands on
and tights also often have really cute patterns on
the market are Suse’s Kinder Coats, Lenny Lamb, and them!
Liliputi Mama Coat. If you go with an option that is
Above all, make sure baby is in a safe position
not waterproof, you can use a big umbrella that
whenever you carry them, no matter the season.
covers both you and baby if you get caught in the
Now that you have some ideas for staying warm and
weather.
dry, get babywearing this winter!
Another option is a babywearing poncho. This is a
- Keri Gubb, Slingbabies
similar concept, but is a circular piece of fabric with a
hole in the middle for the wearer’s head, and one for
baby’s. Again, these can be worn front and back.
6
Rainy Day Ideas for Preschoolers
As the days get colder & wetter, it can be easy to go a little stir crazy with bored kids
stuck indoors. I reached out to some fellow Playcentre parents to draw together some
ideas & their favourite activities that might help inspire some rainy day fun for your
family!
Messy Play Inside - laying down a towel or sheet
before starting an inside messy play activity helps
hugely when it comes to cleaning up! Shredded paper
or coloured rice are interesting sensory activities that
are both dry & relatively easy to clean up after.
Though there is no need for specific items or tools for
this, general kitchen items & water make a fun &
entertaining combination for toddlers alone!
Make a Hut - whether it's indoors with pillows and
blankets or outside to shelter from the rain, hut
making is great fun for kids and parents alike and
always a huge hit!
Cardboard construction - what you can construct is
really limited only to the imagination! If you have
large boxes, a parent could cut out windows & a door
to make a house or castle, create a spaceship or car
Sharnie Hill - “My 21 month old likes to play with
just for some ideas! Smaller boxes, cardboard tubes,
coloured water, flour, pots and pans and whisks egg cartons and some glue or tape makes for great
messy play inside. Just put down an old towel... and kid friendly construction materials. Grabbing out
away the imagination goes.”
some crayons, pencils or paints to decorate their
constructions is a great extension of this activity.
No Mess Painting - if
Even just a finding a box large enough to sit in and
you want to avoid the
providing some vivids or crayons is a cool activity as it
mess of actually getting
allows them to draw all around themselves.
the paints out for messy
play, another idea is to
put a mixture of
different coloured
paints inside a seal tight
plastic bag & let little
fingers (or trains!)
explore mixing the
colours and making
patterns. Make sure to seal the ziplock with some
heavy duty tape though as this should stop leaks.
Taping the bag down on a piece of white cardboard
or up on a window can also help.
Playcentres run mixed aged sessions from birth to six years and are a great way for parents and children to
meet new friends and get out and enjoy all sorts play no matter the weather. To find your local Playcentre and
learn more check out www.teakoranga.org.nz
7
Sharnie Hill - “I have a 6 year old too and we all like
to draw, cut out, glue and construct all manner of
things. Huts are big too! Other times we do cooperative baking as well. We have lots of wooden
blocks and they get mixed with trucks and other
transportation vehicles...... other days, it's outside
running around with umbrellas!”
Measuring Rainfall - Stock up on a variety of containers
and buckets, absorbent (sponges) and non-absorbent
(plastic) materials to collect, channel, transport and
measure rainfall. Drawing chalk outlines around
puddles to watch how they grow or evaporate could
provide another great outdoor experiment for young
ones.
Olga Sankley shared a quote
she was told about winter
activities with kids, “there is no
bad weather.. Only bad
clothing.”
Outdoor play - winter provides
a different set of opportunities
for learning and playing
outside. It pays to be prepared
and plan ahead to make things
easier but as adults we all to
commonly forget the wonder
found in simply experiencing
nature. Why not grab some
gumboots and a rain jacket &
explore the season outside!
From splashing in puddles and
dancing in the rain drops, just
experiencing the extreme
elements that the season has
to offer is stimulation &
excitement in itself!
Sian Brennan - “In the back
yard we would splash in
puddles, search for worms
because they come up from
under the ground, draw with
chalk because wet chalk looks
great, sprinkle tempura powder
for fun art, make a rain gauge,
dig a mud pit in the corner of
8
the garden. Rainy days are also great for going bush
walking. And make huts! My kids love to make shelters
to hide in the rain.”
- Compiled by Jess Williamson
Jess is mum to Joshua, who is 18 months. They joined
the SPACE program at Massey Playcentre when Josh
was just three weeks old. They have since joined West
Harbour Playcentre where they have started at a new
session on a Friday morning from 9.15-12.15 with a
group a kids a similar age. If you are interested in
coming along to see what playcentre is all about please
contact [email protected]
9
Outdoor Explorers WAPC Playgroup
Exploration 1 - Xena Park Playground, Lake Panaroma Rd, Henderson
This preschooler playgroup meets on the first Monday
of the month at a different West Auckland park &
playground. Enquires or feedback welcomed, please
contact [email protected]
We met together for our first Outdoor Explorer’s
preschooler playgroup this morning in rather wet
weather! We meet at the playground at Xena Park on
Lake Panorama Drive, Henderson. We went for a
short walk around the Lake and tried feeding the
ducks at the platform half way around the pond.
After continuing back to the playground, where we
tried out the different things and sheltered a little
from the rain for a wee picnic under the playground!
The walk around the Lake is reasonably preschooler
friendly, though some of the wooden parts of the
path were a bit slippery in the wet. It would be
perfect for prams, not that any of us happened to
have one with us today. There are no steps and the
path is relatively even. There is a road to cross in
between the duck pond walk and the playground
however there is a chain fence at the edge of the
playground. The seesaw, climbing frame and swings
were all a hit, the seesaw particularly was a rather
good one for little ones! The platform of the
playground is rather high and the slides were
10
particularly
fast in the
wet, which
some of the
boys did
really like!
We
developed a
wee report
card to form a collective opinion of the park, walk
and playground. Our participants this time rated the
park an average of 9.2 / 10 for quality of park and
walk, 8.8 / 10 for quality of playground, 9.2 / 10 for
cleanliness and maintenance, and 9.3 / 10 for
convenience and accessibility. The only down sides
noted were that there is no covered area to shelter
from the rain, and no toilets nearby, but aside from
this everyone enjoyed the walk and the kids had fun
playing on the playground in the rain!
Our first preschooler playgroup, Outdoor Explorers, is
set to take place on Monday morning at 10am. We
asked for feedback on the Facebook event we listed
and the poll results are in!
Our first visit will be to Xena Park Playground, Lake
Panorama Rd, Henderson. The park is about halfway
down the road on the right hand side if you are
coming from the Sturges Rd end. We will meet at the
playground then take a short walk around the duck
pond and feed the ducks before returning to the
playground for a play! Look out for our pram flags if
you can’t find us or feel free to text Jess on
0226714060. Look forward to seeing & exploring with
you!
11
Birth Story
Anna and Amelia
Anyone that knows me will know that I am a very
organised, well prepared, on time person.
When I left work to go on maternity leave one of my
colleagues commented that my baby would definitely
be born on its due date and wouldn’t dare be late! So
when my due date came along I thought positively
that I would go into labour. The hours ticked by on
Saturday and by lunch time there was still no
action.
journey which was great.
After an examination at the hospital we discovered I
was only 3cm dilated. So we went back home and
arranged to meet our back up midwife back at the
hospital later that afternoon.
So back at home I decided to have a nice long soak in
a hot bath which did the trick! My waters broke while
Then the ball started slowly rolling and at about
4pm I had a little show and by 7pm I was starting
to have weak irregular contractions. So I did
what my midwife told me to do, took some
panadol and tried to go to sleep! Haha!
The contractions started to get more regular
throughout the night but were still not close
enough together to warrant ringing our midwife.
The pen from writing all of the timings down
nearly ran out.
At about 3am we decided we would ring our
midwife (first-timers panic) At that point we found
out she had been up for almost 24 hours already and
was just going into theatre for her second birth of the
day! She told us to stay at home as I will still
managing ok. About 5am she rang us back and
handed us over to her back up midwife as she was
going home to get some much needed sleep!
At this point my waters still hadn’t broken and the
contractions still weren’t that intense.
We had several phone calls to the back up midwife
and decided to meet her at Waitakere Hospital. So
about 9:30 we packed the bags into the car and
began the journey from our house in New Lynn to
Waitakere Hospital. We managed to get just about
every green light and made record time on the
12
I was sitting in the bath (no mess to clean up!) and it
was at that point the intensity in the contractions
increased immediately.
We rung the midwife and agreed to go straight to the
hospital. Of course on the second and drive to the
hospital that day we encountered every red light
possible and made record slow time!
On arrival at the hospital we already knew which
birthing room we would be in (the advantage of going
in early) so we went straight to the side door and was
let in by one of the hospital midwives.
At that point I asked for some gas only to be told by
the hospital midwife that she suggested we try a
wheat pack and the birthing pool first! Thankfully our
midwife turned up shortly after and quickly arranged
a tank of gas for me.
The next couple of hours where a blur as I was nice
and high on the gas. I do remember vomiting at one
stage and at some point our actual midwife turned up
after having a sleep at home.
Around 3pm I started pushing. After an hour of
pushing in every position possible with little progress,
the obstetrician was called. It was decided that he
would try and use the ventouse to help deliver our
baby. He returned, much to my husband’s
amusement, dressed in scrubs and butchers white
gumboots!
Jack Frost
by Gabriel Setoun
The door was shut, as doors should be,
Before you went to bed last night;
Yet Jack Frost has got in, you see,
And left your window silver white.
He must have waited till you slept;
And not a single word he spoke,
With two goes of the ventouse our beautiful baby
girl, Amelia Jane Leonora, was born at 4:52pm on the
Sunday.
But pencilled o'er the panes and crept
My husband was able to cut the cord and our new
wonderful packet of joy was placed on my chest.
After at first suggesting photos I ordered my husband
to take photo’s not caring what I looked like. Good to
get those all important photos taken and then you
can edit/delete them later if necessary!
Nor fields that stretch beyond the lane;
After going through the normal routine of cleaning,
weighing, measuring… we walked down to the ward.
It was then we started the huge task of texting all
family and friends with a photo of Amelia at 10 mins
old.
Amelia has just turned two and life has never been
the same since! But I wouldn’t change it for the
world!
Away again before you woke.
And now you cannot see the hills
But there are fairer things than these
His fingers traced on every pane.
Rocks and castles towering high;
Hills and dales, and streams and fields;
And knights in armor riding by,
With nodding plumes and shining shields.
And here are little boats, and there
Big ships with sails spread to the breeze;
And yonder, palm trees waving fair
On islands set in silver seas,
And butterflies with gauzy wings;
And herds of cows and flocks of sheep;
Got a birth story you’d like to share?
And fruit and flowers and all the things
You see when you are sound asleep.
Whatever, whenever and wherever it
happened, we’d love to hear about it.
Email your story (with a photo of you and
your baby) to:
[email protected].
For, creeping softly underneath
The door when all the lights are out,
Jack Frost takes every breath you breathe,
And knows the things you think about.
He paints them on the window-pane
In fairy lines with frozen steam;
And when you wake you see again
13
Keeping warm & healthy this winter
Winter is here again so its time to get active...
these tips are cheaper and can be just as effective.
...eat lots of fruit and vegetables to ward off Winter
colds and 'flu. Have hot meals and hot drinks to keep
your family warm and healthy and wrap up in layers
of warm clothes to stay snug when you leave the
house.
If you use an unflued gas heater (that is, one without
a chimney), make sure that you use it safely.
Research has shown that they can release gases
which can be particularly dangerous for anyone with
heart disease or asthma, pregnant women, young
children and older people. If you have to use one,
open a window and keep all internal doors open too.
Use it only for short periods and never in bedrooms.
Why is it important to keep my home warm and
dry?
It's important for your family's health that your house
is warm and dry. Cold and damp homes are linked to
poor health, especially for babies and small children,
people who are ill, and older people. Here are some
ways to keep your home healthy that won't break the
bank:
How to heat your house
Only heat the room that
you are in. Try and keep
the temperature
between 18 and 21
degrees especially if you
have babies, people
with illnesses, or older
people living in your
home.
Try not to dry clothes indoors as this creates moisture
in the air. Drying on the outside is free and the
sunlight kills bacteria, making your clothes healthier
for you and your family. Use a shed or garage if it is
raining.
To reduce moisture
caused by steam, always
open a window when you
are showering and when
you are cooking on the
stove top. Use pot lids to
reduce the amount of
steam escaping. Keep
doors to bedrooms closed
at these times as steam
can make beds damp.
Dress warmly for bed and make sure your bedroom is If you must use a clothes dryer, make sure your
warm enough - it is very important to stay warm
clothes are properly spun first and leave windows
during the night.
open while you are using it - or even better, vent it
Block up unused chimneys and stop draughts around outside.
doors and windows. You can make your own draught
'snakes' by stuffing rugby socks or pantyhose with
newspaper or cushion filling.
Up to 20% of heating can be lost through draughts.
Open windows and curtains on sunny days, and close
them when the sun goes down to trap heat in your
home. Trim any trees that prevent sun entering your
house (but if you are renting, remember to ask your
landlord first!).
How to keep your home dry
A dehumidifier costs around $156 a year to run 14
TEN easy ways to save money and cut your
electricity costs
Talk to your electricity company about which plan is
best for you. Most companies provide options
including direct debits at a flat rate all year round, pre
-payment meters and low use rates for people who
are very frugal.
Most of your electricity bill will go on hot water so
use less if you can. Set your washing machine on a
cold wash and rinse your dishes in cold water. Take
short showers instead of baths. Showers use 60 per
cent less water than baths.
Fix dripping taps. A dripping hot tap can cost $80 a
year but a washer to fix it costs less than $1!
If your hot water cylinder is old, keep the heat in by
using a hot water cylinder wrap. These are available
from hardware stores. Make sure the thermostat is
set to produce a temperature of 55C at the tap (this
will also prevent scalds).
Always turn the lights off in rooms when you leave
them. But if you are using energy efficient light bulbs
it is better to leave them on if you are returning
within ten minutes.
The Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority offers
EnergyWise Home Grants which are targeted at
people with low incomes and cover all houses built
before 1978. Ask your landlord whether they know
about this scheme.
To find out whether this scheme operates in your
area, phone 0800 358 676 or visit www.eeca.govt.nz
and check out the EnergyWise Home Grants page.
Cheap ways to be green and save money
Install eco-friendly bulbs. These bulbs can last for
many years and they use 80 per cent less power than
standard light bulbs.
Appliances that have a standby function (such as TVs,
stereos, mobile chargers, computers or microwaves)
should be turned off at the wall. This can save you up
to $75 a year.
An energy efficient showerhead can use up to 50 per
cent less hot water than a standard one. Consider
installing one yourself, or ask your landlord if one can
be fitted.
Clothes dryers can be very expensive to run so try not
to use them unless you really have to. Heated towel
rails are also expensive and cost around $120 a year
to run.
Check the seals on your fridge to make sure they are
still working. If they stop working or become less
effective, warm air will enter your fridge, making it
work harder and use more power. To test your seals,
put a piece of paper in the door and close it. If the
paper can be easily pulled out, you may need to have
the seals replaced. Do the same with your oven, as it
could be losing precious heat energy whenever you
cook. Companies that will replace the seals are listed
in the yellow Pages under fridges and freezers Servicing, or Ovens and stoves.
Make sure there is generous air space behind the
back of your fridge and try to locate it out of direct
sunlight, or in a cooler room like the laundry. Don't
open the fridge door too often or leave it open.
Make sure you cool food before putting it in the
fridge. Turn off your second or 'drinks' fridge - this
could be costing you $190 per year.
When cooking keep the oven door closed. Always
keep lids on pots and use as little water as possible to
cook foods. Simmer rather than boil food and if
possible use a microwave, as this uses 30-40 per cent
less power than a conventional oven. Defrost food
naturally if possible, (in the fridge is best) rather than
in the microwave.
Insulate your home - subsidies for landlords and
homeowners
Insulation is the best way to keep your house warm
and save on heating costs. The government has
subsidies available in many parts of the country to
help landlords and homeowners save hundreds of
dollars on ceiling and floor insulation, draught
stopping and hot water cylinder wraps.
Double glazing on windows is an effective way of
controlling heat loss and condensation, but can be
very costly. A cheaper alternative is to buy a window
insulator kit, which involves fitting plastic film to the
inside of wooden windows. This can be done easily,
and will make your windows 90 per cent more energy
efficient. These can be purchased from Negawatt
Resources, email: [email protected].
If you are replacing an appliance, try to ensure the
replacement appliance is as energy efficient as
possible. The higher initial cost will benefit you in the
long run through savings made to your power bills.
- https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/
publications-resources/brochures/keeping-warmhealthy.html
15
9 Parenting Words To Live By
When you think of parenting, what words and images delightful sense of humour. C has only recently taken
come to mind?
his first steps at home, but still chooses crawling as
his preferred mode of transportation.
For me it’s ‘love’, then ‘hugs’, ‘pride’, ‘joy’ and one
more word that unfortunately comes with the
The realization I had observing C was that there was
territory: ‘worry’. (I admit I’m one of the deluded
clearly something that crawling still had to offer him,
who believes that if I worry about something hard
whether that entailed muscle development,
enough it won’t happen, but heck, it works!)
flexibility, cross lateral integration or who knows
what, and he wasn’t going to stop crawling until he
While I never need reminders to love, snuggle or
had gained all he needed to gain from it.
worry about my kids, I make a point of remembering
these less intuitive, but equally invaluable parenting
words:
Respect
Our children are born thinkers, whole people at birth,
and the good news is that once we’ve recognized
this, we won’t need to remind ourselves that they
deserve our respect — they’ll do that for us. Once
we’ve opened our eyes, we can’t help but notice how
aware our babies are of everything we do and say,
along with every other detail of their world. They
don’t miss a trick.
We’ll be astonished by our children’s natural abilities
to communicate, explore and learn, and by how
quickly they understand. What’s not to respect?
I see this as true for all young children in just about
everything they do. Babies don’t roll to their tummies
and stay there until they’ve completed the
developmental work they need by moving freely on
their backs. They don’t push up to their knees and
crawl until they’ve learned all they need to learn from
scooting on their tummies. Motor milestones aren’t
only about new things babies are able to do – they
are reflective of children finishing with what they
Trust
were doing previously. And since the child is the only
Trust is probably the word I use most on my blog and one who knows the perfect time for him or her to
with the parents I advise, because I consider
move on, all that’s left for us to do is respect that and
it the most vital parenting tool for raising healthy, self trust.
-confident, successful children from birth to
Another recent reminder about trust came during my
adulthood. Two experiences I had this past week
11 year old son’s soccer tournament. I noticed that
were vivid reminders of the value of trust:
the standout players in my son’s highly competitive
While observing the toddlers in one of my weekly RIE club were the ones whose parents generally keep
Parent-Toddler Guidance Classes, I took particular
their mouths shut during games, unless they have
notice of C, a bright, active 19 month old boy with a
And now, thanks to researchers like Alison Gopnik,
Elizabeth Spelke and Paul Bloom, there is
overwhelming scientific proof that infants are
competent, sentient people. I like to think that
society will embrace this evidence (sooner than later)
and that respect for babies may someday be a given,
rather than a conscious choice to remember.
16
something encouraging to say. All these boys are
exceptionally skilled, train hard each week and know
what they’re doing. So their performance at game
time is largely determined by their mental state,
especially their level of self-confidence and focus,
which are both hindered when parents direct or
criticize them from the sidelines. These parents don’t
seem to realize how much they are weakening their
children’s performances by not trusting them to play
their game.
Acknowledge
‘Acknowledge’ is right up there with trust as one of
the most invaluable parenting practices, vital to
building healthy relationships with people of all ages.
It’s relationship-affirming because it meets the other
person exactly where they are, but it’s a difficult one
to remember in the heat of the moment when the
urge to calm or correct children can be overpowering.
a great many of our thoughts and feelings about our
children Want to learn everything you’ll ever need to
know about your children? It’s simple: observe,
observe, observe, and you will see what your kids are
working on, which skills they are developing, their
imaginations at work, their needs, passions, when
and how to intervene rather than interrupt, and
much, much more. When we observe we notice that
a great many of our thoughts and feelings about our
children have little to do with them and are actually
all about us. Observing children play is enlightening,
fascinating, surprising and immensely enjoyable.
And how gratifying it must be for our kids to be
appreciated and enjoyed.
Wait
‘Wait’ was infant specialist Magda Gerber’s magic
word, because waiting is the secret to giving children
precious opportunities to make their needs clear,
demonstrate competence, and develop in their own
While acknowledging is somewhat similar to
way and time. It never ceases to amaze me when I
empathizing, they are not the same. Empathy is often
discover that children really do understand my
far too big a leap for us when, for example, our child
direction for them because I’ve waited an extra
is having a meltdown because another child bumped
moment for the coin to drop. (I share many more
him slightly from behind. Acknowledging, “you didn’t
details about the magic of waiting in The Parenting
like that”, can be our bridge to empathy, and it’s
Magic Word.)
more rational and less emotional, so we are less
inclined to overdo it (“oh, poor baby!”), projecting
Slowly
weakness and adding to the distress.
Like ‘wait’ and ‘less’, ‘slowly’ is crucial for connecting
Less
with our young children, because their pace is
distinctly slower than ours. Slowing down our pace,
Less stimulation (kids are sensitive to it), less needless
our speech and our lives are the way we will let our
intervention (because we respect our children’s
children in, include and empower them.
innate abilities), and less scheduled activities and
busyness will usually add up to more learning, more
Regard
self-confidence, more peace for parents and
Magda Gerber emphasized a similar term, “pay
kids. Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne is an
attention”. The primal need we all have, especially
inspiring resource.
our children, to be “regarded” is eloquently
Observe
illustrated in this post by Lisa A. McCrohan: Regard.
(http://barefootbarn.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/
Want to learn everything you’ll ever need to know
regard/)
about your children? It’s simple: observe, observe,
observe, and you will see what your kids are working Boundaries
on, which skills they are developing, their
Have I saved the most unpleasant for last? No,
imaginations at work, their needs, passions, when
because I don’t perceive boundaries negatively, and
and how to intervene rather than interrupt, and
one of my primary goals is to convince parents not to
much, much more. When we observe we notice that
do this either. Boundaries are commonly thought of
17
as this icky thing we have to do with children when
they aren’t behaving properly, which is exactly the
reason parents struggle with them.
Children are extraordinarily perceptive. They know
that it’s easier for us to say, “okay, whatever, hang
out with your friend even longer while I stand here
pleading and the car’s running,” than it is to insist
“come on, it’s time to go now” and take her hand.
But at what cost?
As Magda Gerber explains in Your Self-Confident
Baby, “Sometimes you may give in to your child’s
requests. At others your needs may take precedence.
When you are clear about what you want, do
communicate your wishes to your child in a clear
way. You may avoid feeling anger stemming from self
-sacrifice.”
When parents perceive boundaries positively and
then learn to provide them with confidence and ease,
they notice that their children seldom react
negatively, and when they do it’s not for more than a
moment or two. Often, to our surprise, we can even
sense our child’s appreciation beneath the grumbling.
When our children’s reactions are strong and last
longer, it’s usually because they have unconsciously
(and brilliantly, in my view) created the opportunity
to release some intense feelings they’ve been storing,
or they’re overtired, or overly hungry, or didn’t really
want to do whatever it was anyway and are seeking
an “out”.
Our boundaries are the gifts that help children feel
protected, cared for, empowered. They create
peace and nurture our parent-child bond, because
they help to prevent us from yelling at or resenting
our kids. Boundaries keep the air clear, so everyone
in the family can breathe more deeply. They are
essential for our children to feel free, genuinely
happy. Kids with boundaries are trusted and always
welcome guests and companions. If that’s not
positive, I don’t know what is.
“A positive goal to strive for when disciplining would
be to raise children we not only love, but in whose
company we love being.” – Magda Gerber, Dear
Parent: Caring for Infants With Respect
- Janet Lansbury. http://www.janetlansbury.com/
Antenatal Breastfeeding Classes
Do you want to learn basic breastfeeding skills and tips?
Available now are FREE Antenatal Breastfeeding classes taken by a Lactation Consultant at Waitakere Hospital. They are held fortnightly: on the first Tuesday of the
month from 10am-12pm; and on the third Tuesday of the month from 7pm-9pm.
This class is designed for women in the late stages of pregnancy, especially 28 weeks
and over. Partners/support people are also welcome. The class is a great opportunity
for women to learn more about breastfeeding (or a refresher for second-time mums)
just before the baby arrives.
Classes are held in the Childbirth Education Area—Nikau Room at Waitakere Hospital. Bookings are
recommended, but not essential. Call Adith on 838-9362, or Barbara on 838-1566.
18
Baby Colds, Coughs and Flu
The worst thing about colds and the flu is how quickly As much as we hate seeing our babies miserable with
they spread through the family. Most people don’t
a cold or flu, the truth is that it does actually have
realise that our hands
some positives. Babies develop
are one of the main
strong immune systems
ways that cold & flu
through catching and fighting
viruses can spread
off colds. At times, it might
especially in the first
seem that bub has a
2-4 days when they
continuous runny nose – but
are coughing,
it’s all part of developing
sneezing and have a
immunity. In fact, you can
runny nose.
expect around 6 to 10 colds
per year with bubs and young
The key to stopping
children – maybe more if your
the cold and flu merry
child is going to childcare from
-go-round is to kill the
a young age.
viruses that cause
these illnesses before
Cold, flu, whooping cough?
they transfer to
When bub starts to become
family members.
unsettled and has signs of
How?
illness it is important to identify the symptoms and
give the right treatments. Take a look at the next
Here’s some simple tips from Dr Penny Adams to
page for your handy liftout reference to the
manage your baby’s cold and flu symptoms:
symptoms and treatments of some of the most
common childhood illness that bub is likely to catch.
 Teach children to always cough, sneeze or blow






their nose into a tissue
When to see the doctor?
Throw the tissue in the bin after using it only once
Having a sick baby can be a real worry – it can be
hard to know what is a simple cold and when to get
help. Babies are unable to tell you so you need to pay
close attention to the signs of a more serious illness
developing. If in doubt – it’s always best to see your
doctor to make sure.
If there is no box of tissues handy, teach children
to cough or sneeze into cupped hands
Ensure hands are washed with soap and water
after sneezing or coughing
Don’t share cups, glasses, drink bottles, straws or
cutlery
Ensure hands are washed before eating and are
kept away from the eyes, nose and mouth at all
other times
Make sure everyone in the family gets regular
exercise and eats plenty of fresh fruit and
vegetables to help them stay healthy.
Preventing the spread of colds
Colds and flu can spread quickly around your family.
Fortunately a few simple steps can minimise the
chances of everyone coming down with a cold. Taking
greater care with sneezing and hand washing can
make a real difference from one family member
getting a cold to everyone going down. Use a hand
sanitiser, eat well and try to get as much sleep as
possible.
- www.huggies.co.nz
19
Bronchiolitis
* Usually affects babies in their first 12 months.
* Viral respiratory infection
* Passes via coughing, sneezing and direct contact
(eg tissues.)
Croup
* A viral illness causing acute inflammation of the
upper respiratory tract.
* Commonly affects young children and babies.
* Involves airways becoming swollen and narrow
* Passed via coughing and sneezing
* Symptoms peak on 2nd or 3rd day.
Cough
* Usually part of, or follows on from, an URTI.
* Contagious until symptoms clear.
Common Cold
* Upper respiratory Tract Infection
* Sneezing coughing
* Direct contact
* Contagious until symptoms clear
Illness
20
* General cold symptoms at first
* Barking cough (sounds like a seal)
* Hoarse voice
* Breathing is noisy.
* Symptoms are usually worse at night.
Severe symptoms include:
* Difficulty breathing
* High fever and drooling
* The cough may be dry or produce mucous
* Similar to a cold
* Look for signs of whooping cough, croup,
bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
Any or all of:
* Blocked or runny nose
* Sneezing
* Sore throat
* Cough
* Headache
* Fever
* Runny nose, sneezing and fever
* Cough develops over a couple of days.
* Wheeze on outward breath.
* Difficulty breathing – laboured breath with chest
rising more than normal.
Symptoms
* Initial treatment is to place the child into a steamy
room. Run the hot taps in the bathroom or laundry.
Beware of scalds.
* See your doctor if you suspect croup.
* If it is a severe attack call an ambulance.
* Sleeping close by to your child is often a good idea.
* Increase fluids
* If a bacterial infection is present; antibiotics may be
used.
* See your doctor if symptoms persist or you’re
concerned
Treat the symptoms:
* Plenty of fluids
* Give Paracetamol/Ibuprofen
* Nasal spray or drops.
Visit your doctor if:
* Ongoing high fever
* Breathing difficulties
* Intense headache
* Stiff neck
* Lethargic
* Visit your Doctor for advice
* If your baby is having trouble breathing seek
urgent medical assistance.
Treatment
21
Flu (Influenza)
* Sneezing coughing
* Direct contact
* Contagious until symptoms clear
* A viral infection spread by coughing and sneezing
from infected persons.
* Symptoms develop 1-3 days following exposure.
Fever
* May be caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
* Young babies can have a fever from being over
heated.
* Occasionally follows routine immunizations.
Symptoms may include:
* High Fever
* Chills and sweating
* Headache
* Weak and tired
* Joint pain
* Loss of appetite
* Chesty cough
* Cough (dry or with mucous)
* Symptoms may last for 7-10 days.
* Dehydration can occur quickly
* Your baby is considered to have a fever when your
baby’s temperature rises above 37.5oC
* High temperature is considered to be over 39oC
* Baby may feel hot to touch.
* Baby may shiver or feel very hot.
* Rapid rise in temperature or prolonged high fever
may cause a febrile convulsion.
- www.huggies.co.nz
Treat the symptoms:
* Plenty of fluids
* Give Paracetamol/Ibuprofen
* Nasal spray or drops. Ask your pharmacist for
advice
Visit your doctor if:
* Ongoing high fever
* Breathing difficulties
* Intense headache
* Stiff neck
* Lethargic
* You are concerned in any way
* Treat the symptoms with paracetamol or
ibuprofen to make your child comfortable.
* Remove excess layers of clothing.
* Bath with a tepid sponge/cloth (water should be
around 37C)
* Increase fluids
Seek medical advice if
* Your newborn presents with a fever.
* A high fever is present or,
* Has difficulty breathing or,
* Is lethargic and non-responsive or,
* Has a rash
* You are concerned.
Mother’s Day gift basket giveaway
Mother’s day, 2014, a day for us to cherish our
precious mothers, grandmothers and great
grandmothers.
We the volunteers of West Auckland Parent Centre
celebrated our mother’s day morning with some very
special new mum’s. We began the day by unloading
the 30+ beautifully presented gift baskets into the
Waitakere Hospital Maternity ward reception.
Loading our trolley with the special girls and boys
baskets we began our journey through Piha ward.
First we got to meet the first born baby on mother’s
day a beautiful girl, she received an extra special gift
basket. Next we met the next born baby, being
another girl! She too received a special gift basket.
Moving through the ward meeting all the doting
mothers and their beautiful new babies was a very
moving experience.
Not only did we get to meet and greet the wonderful
new mums of Piha and Te Henga wards, but we also
had the privilege of being invited to the Special Care
Baby Unit (SCBU) to meet these strong beautiful tiny
babies.
The new mothers, families, and staff of Waitakere
22
Maternity wards were very happy and overwhelmed
with our presence in the wards. Every mother
received a gift basket and we were able to leave
extras for mothers whom may come throughout the
day.
It was lovely to have the opportunity to put such a big
smile on these mother’s faces and I am looking
forward to participating again next year.
We would not have been able to provide these
wonderful baskets without the very generous and
thoughtful donations of the following companies:
Bed, Bath and Beyond, Sanitarium NZ, Tasti, Dimples,
Women’s Weekly, K Mart Henderson, Bobux,
Westfield WestCity, Nutrimetics (Janis Brown), Eco
Store, The Sleep Store, Nature’s Sway, Pop Roc
Parties, Totally Devoted, Strawberry Jam and Amanda
4 Flowerz.
Thank you!
- Josephine Edmonds
WAPC - Volunteer of the Month
April - Rebecca Crewe Lui
Rebecca joined our committee in March last year and took on the important role of Secretary - recording
all the details of our meetings. Despite living across the other side of Auckland, she also hosts our
weekend classes. Thank you Rebecca, for your time and effort helping WAPC.
May - Christine Militoni
Christine joined the WAPC
committee in October 2012
originally to help with our Moving,
Munching and Motoring course.
When a change in circumstance
meant that was no longer possible,
she stayed and took on other roles,
most recently Products
Coordinator and Mail Secretary, as
well as helping out with other
events where she could. We would
like to take the opportunity to
thank Christine for all her hard
work.
Each Volunteer of the month receives a $25 bouquet from Amanda 4 Flowerz
23
Birthdays
Birthdays!
Celebrating 13 Years
Celebrating 2 Years
Zac Jacobson
George Woodley
Celebrating 7 Years
Celebrating 1 Year
Ryan Mapletoft
Isobel Lamb
Mackenzie Paton
Zara Lazarus
Jarvis Van Paauwe
Keilani Tai
Lachie Manley
Emily Dreaver
Celebrating 5 Years
Ella Woodley
Amelia Edlington
Celebrating 4 Years
Sophia Glover
24
Welcome to Our World
Class: Mon 13 Jan to 17 Feb
Kathryn & Ben
Leah
18/02/2014
Melanie & Chris
Aidan
23/02/2014
Lisa & Carl
Eve
09/03/2014
Nikita & Andrew
Charlotte
10/03/2014
Sarah & Marcela
Nicolas
11/03/2014
Emily & Michael
Mila
27/03/2014
Catherine & Ailsa
Carlos
07/04/2014
Tracy & Dylan
Maddison
20/04/2014
Daniel & Emma
Maya
01/05/2014
Naomi & Matt
Mikayla
05/05/2014
Our thoughts go out to Emily & Mike and their
family and friends as unfortunately beautiful
little Mila passed away in her parents arms
just a few days following her birth.
“There is no foot too small that it cannot
leave an imprint on the world”
Hire it from us!
TENS Machine
Helps to lessen contraction pain by
stimulating certain nerves and muscles.
Hire cost: $55, plus $55 bond
Collect 2 weeks before EDD and return as
soon as possible once baby has arrived.
25
WAPC Interviews...
Vicki Savage, Registered Nurse, Special Care Baby Unit
(SCBU), Waitakere Hospital
Nicola and I had a bit of a rocky start with Poppy. She
spent a week in NICU at Auckland Hospital and then
she was in the Waitakere SCBU unit for a couple of
weeks. While this is a relatively short period
compared to some babies, it was still a very stressful
time. I couldn’t help but notice how amazing the
nurses in the units were and I thought people might
be interested in these quiet superstars. I interviewed
Vicki back in January on what it’s like to work in such
an environment and give you all an insight into how it
all works
Tell me about your background and how you got
into this field? How long have you been a SCBU
nurse?
I have worked in SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) at
Waitakere hospital for two years now, but for my
whole nursing life I have been involved with caring
for newborn babies and their parents. I started
working at National Women’s Hospital Newborn
Services in SCBU and NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit) and spent ten years in this job, learning so much
about sick newborn babies.
When I had my first child in 2008 I needed to find a
job closer to home as I found it hard to be away for
long hours, often for two days at a time. I was
fortunate enough to be employed by Rodney Coast
Midwives at the Warkworth Birthing Centre when it
first opened in 2000. I cared for women after their
delivery for the first few days as a new parent - this
involved a lot of education about breastfeeding and
parent craft. I had three more children while working
at the Birthing Centre and was able to return to work
(mostly night shifts) after each birth as my employers
allowed me to bring my baby so that I could continue
to breastfeed. When my youngest son turned five, I
decided that my passion for nursing sick or
premature infants needed to be filled and so after 11
and a half years I returned to SCBU nursing.
26
Do you need any extra training be a nurse in the
SCBU?
Training is completed on the unit – through peer
support, study days and a comprehensive orientation
programme when you first start. Initially you are
paired up with an experienced SCBU nurse and you
work with him/her for about a month doing the same
shifts so that you can learn what you need to know to
work independently. As the nurses’ skills develop
they are taught how to look after more complex
patients. There is a nurse educator for SCBU and she
arranges a comprehensive educational programme to
suit each nurse’s requirements. There are also a
number of study days run for nurses, some of which
are compulsory.
Are there any particular skills or talents you'd
consider essential in being a SCBU nurse?
I think you need to like babies and have a desire to
help parents deal with what can be an emotional and
stressful time. Good communication skills are vital. A
sense of humour also helps.
Can you give me a breakdown of your daily
responsibilities? What’s a typical day?
The nurses in SCBU work 12 hour shifts that start at
either 7am or 7pm. My typical day starts with a
handover or sharing of information about the babies I
will be caring for from the nurse on the previous shift.
I then do a safety check for each baby to ensure the
monitor alarm limits are set correctly, the emergency
equipment is available and in working order. The
baby is then given a general assessment to see that
he/she is how I would expect them to look. I plan my
day from here around the feeds that are due, the
medications needed, when the family will be in to
assist with caring for their baby, and what the doctors
require. There is a doctor’s round in the morning
where each baby is discussed and examined if
needed, and a plan for the next 24 hours is made. The
nurses have a lot of input into what we think should
happen over the next 24 hours. Parents also have a
voice at this time and it is important their concerns
are heard and their questions are answered by the
doctors. The rest of the day is spent actually caring
for the babies - taking care of their hygiene needs,
educating and assisting parents to care for the baby
as much as they can, recording their vital signs,
feeding them and liaising with other health care team
members in supporting the families at this time. All of
this requires documentation in nursing and medical
notes. We also have to be prepared for the
unexpected arrival of a sick newborn, which could
happen at any time of the day or night.
“My advice be there, get involved”
How many babies do you look after at once? Do you
work as a team with the other nurses or is it more
individual?
The number of babies each nurse cares for varies
depending on the needs of each baby. A typical
workload is three to four babies. There are four
nurses on a shift and we help each other out when
needed so we get the work done between us.
The incubators, the wires, tubes and the constant
alarms can be quite scary for parents. How do you
encourage them to be involved in their baby's care?
For parents SCBU can be a scary place. I think the
best way for parents to be involved and feel
comfortable is to spend time in the unit and to ask
questions about their baby. We encourage parents
to spend time skin to skin with baby even when they
are on respiratory support and full monitoring as this
has been proven to stabilise a baby’s vital signs and
temperature, and this is often the very first step in
initiating breastfeeding. Parents are encouraged to
wash baby, change nappies, check temperatures,
prepare and feed baby and give those much needed
cuddles.
How did you manage your work schedule and your
home/social life? Being shift work, is it hard to find a
balance?
Shiftwork has always been part of my life. We are
given some flexibility in managing this by self
rostering, bearing in mind that we all need to do our
share of weekend and night shifts. It is not always
easy as often things crop up at my children’s school
that I just didn’t know about when the roster was
written. I think my family has come to understand
that they need to give me three months warning
about social events or I may not be able to be there.
If things clash we can often swap shifts to get the
time off that we need. I feel I am lucky to be able to
work part time (just two 12 hour shifts a week) as this
allows me the balance between work and home life.
What is the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is the satisfaction of
seeing these little people go home to their families.
Often they have waited many weeks to get the baby
home. It’s rewarding to see parents learn the skills
and develop the confidence to care for their baby.
They leave us smiling and happy.
Finally, any advice for parents with a baby in SCBU?
My advice to parents of a baby in SCBU is be there spend as much time as you can with your baby, get to
know them and be involved with their care. Ask
questions and voice your concerns - we want to do
what we can to make this situation as easy as it can
be for you. Think of this as a journey, one where we
know where we are headed but we don’t know what
we may encounter on the way. We don’t know how
long it will be, or when we will get to our final
destination. The staff may have some ideas based on
other babies’ similar journeys but each one is unique.
There will be really good days and some harder ones.
Remember we are all sharing this journey with you
and your baby as we head towards getting you home.
Vicki is a Registered Nurse working in the Special Care
Baby Unit at Waitakere Hospital. She is married to
Simon and they have four children, Finley 15, Trace
11, Brooke 8, and Lewis 6.
- Daniel Mapletoft
27
Volunteer Opportunities
At West Auckland Parents Centre
Grants Coordinator
Are you deadline driven with an eye for detail? Can you help?
Are you good with writing proposals and keen to help West Auckland Parents Centre get money
for our deserving cause? We need someone who can work to deadlines, cross all the 't's, dot the
'i's and make sure that we get what we ask for! This is a great role for someone who likes to
tackle projects as you really need to hit one application at a time. Each application takes about 45 hours of your time and we apply for about 4-6 a year.
Course Host - Moving,
Munching and Motoring
Are you a people person? Be honest because
we have the perfect role for you! Become a
hostess for our Moving, Munching and
Motoring Classes. Liase with the Educator and
participants. Set up the room and provide the
classes with info on products we
stock. Communicate with the class regarding
WAPC services and enjoy the social
interaction. Come join the team today.
Marketing Coordinator
We need a person to help market & publicise
West Auckland Parents Centre including liaise
with local press, assist with the advertising of
courses and services, designing brochures &
posters, compiling marketing lists and
generally promote what we do. You will work
closely with the Parent Education team to
come up with ideas on how we can market
courses and be actively involved in helping
build/promote other areas of West Auckland
Parents Centre business. This role would take
around 2-3 hours per week but there is the
opportunity build it to more if you were really
keen. There is also a monthly committee
meeting.
To apply for any of our volunteer positions or to find out more contact us on
837 8481, or [email protected]
28
Parent Education
Parenting Courses
This is a 4-part daytime course covering essentials for parents in the ‘4th trimester’ (newborn to 4 months). Sessions include sleeping & settling, life changes, baby massage, and child development. It’s designed to help you understand
and cope with your role as a new parent, or to refresh your skills if you’re doing
it for another time around.
Baby
& You
Each week we have a different expert speaker to pass on knowledge and ideas,
and take your questions.
The course runs for four weeks and each session is 2 hours from 10am– 12pm,
at Kelston Community Centre, Committee Room.
Our next course commences: 23 July. Please contact us.
Members:
$50, support person free
Non members: $60, support person $15
Know what to do in an emergency! This Saturday morning course is designed to
give you hands on experience in CPR and choking skills. An essential class for all
parents and caregivers of children under five, led by a qualified, experienced
paramedic.
CPR &
Choking
The course runs from 10am—12pm on a Saturday morning at Kelston
Community Centre, Main Hall.
Our next courses commence: 28 June. Please contact us.
Members:
$20, support person $10
Non members: $30, support person $15
Purposeful
Discipline
In this course we cover the differences between punishment and discipline and
what effective discipline looks like in a home where unconditional love is the
cornerstone for all parenting decisions. This course will equip you with a
parenting philosophy and techniques which will work from the toddler years to
the teenage years. We will cover questions around challenging behaviour,
whether 'Time Out' is actually what we think it is, and how to change our
concepts of what children need in the way of discipline.
What will be covered:
Developmental milestones, what is normal, with an evolutionary perspective
Basic brain science
Loving and positive discipline
Spaces are limited to 20 so will be first in first served.
The course runs from 7pm — 9pm at Kelston Community Centre
Our next course commences: 24 July
Members:
$20
Non-members: $25
29
Shopping for Baby and You
with West Auckland Parents Centre
Chosen by parents like you, we have some fantastic products with some great savings, and ultimately you gain
again as all profits go back into our centre to serve your community. Here is just a short selection from our
online shop, sure to suit any budget. Order online www.westaucklandparents.org.nz/store
Eardrops Journey CD,
Sounds of City/Country/
Home
$15
Strawberry Jam
Merino Wrap
$45
30
Little Snuggles Muslim
Wrap Set
$20
Amber Teething Beads
$36
People Puppies
Taggie Blanket
$16
NZ Pregnancy Book
$40 (Save $15!)
Kimberly Collection
Woollen Blanket
$66
Bellaroo Cotton Sling
$60
Womama Birthing
Wrap
$99
For more baby products discounted for WAPC members, see
www.westaucklandparents.org.nz
31
Discounts & Benefits
WAPC Member Discounts
activities available in New Zealand.
Henderson Megastore and Westgate
store offer WAPC members 10% off
all full priced products (some
conditions apply).
SCAMPS BOUTIQUE - Scamps Boutique, eco
products for mum, baby and child. Members
who visit us online at www.scamps.co.nz will
receive 10% off orders by using the code WAPC.
5% of all orders using the WAPC code will go
to the West Auckland Parents Centre.
SPORTS4TOTS - Our fun, structured
programmes provide preschoolers with a
grounding for an active future in sport. Give us
a call on 974-3644, let us know that you are a
WAPC member and you will receive a 10%
discount.
www.sports4tots.co.nz
GRASSHOPPER KNEES Learning Leaps is a
programme with books, toys and fun and easy
tips, games and activities to grow kids’
intelligence over all areas so they get the
balance they need to fully reach their potential
and do well in school. WAPC members who
shop online at www.grasshopperknees.co.nz
and enter the code parent1 will receive a 10%
discount.
HARVEY NORMAN HENDERSON
Electrical Department - Come visit us
at Harvey Norman Henderson and
upon showing your WAPC member
card to one of our friendly sales team
you will receive a 10% discount in our
electrical department on not already
discounted
products
(some
conditions and exclusions may apply).
FIT FIT FIT provide group exercise programmes
for new mums and mums-to-be using the most
up to date research available. WAPC Members
will receive a 10% discount on Fit Bumps and
Fit Mums classes. Call us on 360-0620 or check
us out online at www.fitfitfit.co.nz
KID ACTIVE HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES - With
over 100 courses to choose from, Kidactive
offers a huge range of fun hands on
experiences for children aged 4 and older. Give
us a call on 974 5135, let us know that you are
a WAPC member and you will receive a 10%
discount. www.kidactive.co.nz
BABY ON THE MOVE - The Baby On The Move
team are specialists in the rental and sales of all
baby products and services. Come in store for
some great savings, including 10% off all hires
with a WAPC card.
BREASTMATES - Breastmates is all about
motherhood. With maternity wear,
breastfeeding clothes & accessories, body care
TOYWORLD HENDERSON AND WESTGATE
& baby gear, members get free postage using
Toyworld is New Zealand’s largest retail chain the discount code: WESTPC at checkout. See
of specialist toy stores with the biggest range of www.breastmates.co.nz
toys, games, puzzles, and indoor & outdoor
32
West Auckland
La Leche League
West Auckland La Leche League
welcomes mothers and pregnant
women to their monthly meetings for
encouragement, support and discussion on a
wide range of breastfeeding, mothering and
parenting issues.
No booking required
Kelston Community Centre,
Activity Room 2
Cnr Awaroa & Great North Rd, Kelston
2nd Tuesday of every month, 9.45am
Coffee morning 4th Tuesday
of every month, please call
for details
For further information or
breastfeeding help, please contact
an accredited Leader:
Committee Meeting
Interested in volunteering? You can attend a
committee meeting to see if it’s for you.
Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every
month.
Please email [email protected] if you
would like to attend.
Slingbabies
Find out how to wear your baby.
First Friday of every month, 10am to 12pm
Sturges West Community House,
58 Summerland Dr, Henderson
ww.slingbabies.co.nz
Your Fast Shop
EASY SHOPPING—EASY FUNDRAISING
Step 1: Go to
www.yourfastshop.co.nz
Select: West Auckland Parents Centre
Start: Browsing your favourite stores.
That’s it!
Did you give birth at Waitakere
Hospital ?
Waitakere Maternity Unit values
feedback about the service they
offer to the women and families
in our community.
Sue Fitzgerald, Community Manager, and Helen
Ngatai, Facility Manager, would be very open to any
invitations to visit groups of women who have
birthed at Waitakere Hospital and who would like
to give feedback on their experiences.
Email Sue [email protected]
 No parking, no petrol costs, no aching
feet!
 Great deals at great stores, including
Apple, Ezibuy fashion, Mighty Ape
Toys, and FREE DVD rental at Fatso.
 Save $70 on printer ink and other items
at Snatch A Deal
Do you have a hidden talent you
would like to share?
Become a volunteer with
West Auckland Parents Centre!
Check out our current opportunities in
Sponsored by
Round The Coffee Cups
Chat from inside one of our coffee groups
By Stephanie, Maria, Ghaz, Juliet & Sarah
When and how often does your coffee group meet?
What stage are your babies at? What is the boy girl
ratio?
Love to dream love to swaddle UP.
Colic Calm and water wipes.
Colic Calm (it's a homeopathic remedy). It's not just
for babies who have obvious colic, our daughter had
trouble bringing up wind and would spill in bed when
we put her down and colic calm has made such a
difference.
White noise!!! Stretch cotton swaddles, sleep store is
great.
Our babies are currently between 9-16 weeks.
What have been the greatest challenges so far?
What Is the boy/girl ratio?
Sleepless nights, you hear about them, but until you
have one, it is just words, nothing can prepare you.
Breastfeeding. Some people find it extremely
challenging. Be tenacious - you CAN do it!
Breastfeeding and the decision to stop and begin
formula feeding.
Having your baby in pain is heart wrenching.
Mastering day sleeps.
Initially breast feeding and later settling to sleep.
The first 2 weeks of having a baby, dealing with the
emotions and sudden overwhelming responsibility of
being a new mum.
At first while the babies were very young and some
people hadn't yet given birth we met once a
fortnight.
Now we meet Every Thursday at 1pm for 2 or 3 hours
so we can all get home before rush hour starts.
There are 7 babies, 4 boys 3 girls.
What other activities has your coffee group tried?
So far we haven't yet branched out of visiting each
others houses, although we had a Tupperware lady
visit in May and we are looking forward to going for
actual coffees in the near future.
Walks have been discussed and also the idea of
meeting with all the husbands for a BBQ one
weekend afternoon before winter truly sets in.
Being a parent has taught you....
Both to slow down life (everything takes more time
with a baby) and at the same time speed up (babies
demand immediate attention!).
That I knew nothing about being a parent.
That love just grows and grows, it is quite intense at
times.
Early days yet, but so far that each baby is different
and there are many 'correct' ways of parenting.
So much more about myself,and to have the patience
of a saint.
Patience and love like you've never known it before!
Patience.
Best baby product you’ve tried?
Love to swaddle up zip up swaddle, Sleep wedge for
settling, pre-fold nappy inserts.
Musical radio for distracting/entertaining baby or
travel change mat as useful to get out and about and
change baby anywhere easily.
Bamboo reusable wipes for home use; 'totsbots'
cloth nappies
34
What’s the best thing about being in this coffee
group?
An amazing bunch of women who encourage you and
empathise with you every step of the way.
I guess it depends on the individual group, but ours is
very special. Provides non-judgemental sounding
board for all aspects of parenting, as well as support
when the going gets tough.
You find that you are not alone. You have a
wonderful support group around you. You can share
experiences and ideas to help each other get
through.
Support, advice and non judgmental friends
sharing stories on the ups and downs of parenthood
and getting/giving advice with people who are having
similar experiences and learning together.
Having a standing date for just one day per week.
Routine and something to look forward to..
The support of people who are going through the
same or similar issues at the same time.
Any tips for new parents?
Take every day as it comes, no day will be the same.
When it gets tough count to 10 and remember the
good moments you've had!
Ask for help, accept offers of help. Forget about
housework, haircuts, weight loss, entertaining and
focus on laying a foundation of good routine and
sleeping habits. The rest can all happen later.
Take each day as it comes and try not to second
guess yourself too much.
Forget about all the other chores (cooking, laundry
etc - especially if you have a c-section) and focus on
your baby. Get as much help as you can to allow you
to enjoy every minute - they are tiny for such a short
time, don't miss it!!
Listen to all advice, try out things and find out what
works for your baby and go with it. Have confidence
in your self and don’t get too concerned about what
you or your baby should or not be doing according to
others. Oh and smile and laugh with your baby.
Sleep as much as you can, have patience with your
partner.
Tell us about your coffee group and
receive a $50 voucher for your
coffee group to use at Mozaik
Email us for more info
35
Ph. 837 8481 (answerphone) PO Box 83-192, Edmonton, Auckland 0652
www.westaucklandparents.org.nz
Committee Contacts
President
Teresa Cooper
[email protected]
Vice President
Daniel Mapletoft
[email protected]
Secretary
Rebecca Crewe-Lui
[email protected]
Co-Treasurers
Catherine Matson
Megan Barnwell
[email protected]
Membership Coordinator
Steph Jury
[email protected]
Parent Education Coordinator
Can you help?
[email protected]
Parent Education Bookings
Can you help?
[email protected]
Products Coordinator
Can you help?
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Daniel Mapletoft
[email protected]
E-News Editor
Muirie Cook
[email protected]
Newsletter Advertising
Muirie Cook
[email protected]
Grants & Fundraising Coordinator
Can you help?
[email protected]
Librarian
Can you help?
[email protected]
Membership Discount Coordinator
Can you help?
[email protected]
Website Coordinator
Jessica Vroegop
[email protected]
Marketing Coordinator
Can you help?
[email protected]
Events Coordinator
Lydia Dunn
[email protected]
Venue Coordinator
Jose Edmunds
[email protected]
Volunteer Admin Coordinator
Jess Maher
[email protected]
Childbirth Education Convenor
Carolyn Neilson
[email protected]
Childbirth Education Bookings
Can you help?
[email protected]
Baby & You Course Host
Nicola Mapletoft
[email protected]
CPR/Choking Course Host
Can you help?
[email protected]
Moving & Munching Course Host
Can you help?
[email protected]
12 Months & Over Course Host
Can you help?
[email protected]
Baby Factory Liaison
Can you help?
[email protected]
Advocacy & Lobbying
Can you help?
[email protected]
Social Media Co-ordinator
Can you help?
[email protected]
36
Parent Support
Support Services
Healthline (24 hours)
0800 611 166
www.healthline.co.nz
La Leche League (Breastfeeding)
Adith 834 1234 or
Kristi 824 7019
Rebecca 412 8369
Kiri
32 9082
www.lalecheleague.org.nz
Dial-a-Mum
West Auckland Parents Centre have a
wonderful team of people who are a good
source of information for many common
and not so common pregnancy and
parenting. This is a free and confidential
service. Our support people have
information on organisations that can help
if we are unable to.
Breastfeeding— Nicole Snook 837 2501
National Poisons Centre
0800 POISON (0800 764 744)
www.poison.co.nz
Bottle Feeding—Nicola Mapletoft 832 5353
Miscarriage Support Auckland
378 4060
www.miscarriagesupport.org.nz
Miscarriage—Nicola Mapletoft 823 5353
Parent to Parent Special Needs Children Support
0508 236 236
www.parent2parent.org.nz
Plunket
838 0981
Plunket Car Seat (Waitemata)
837 1871
6E Enterprise Drive, Henderson
Plunket Family Centre
836 5730
Woodford Avenue, Henderson
Womens Refuge 8361987
www.womensrefuge.org.nz
Trauma & Birth Stress Support Group
575 7404 www.tabs.org.nz
Post Natal Distress
846 6967
www.postnataldistress.org.nz
Work & Income (WINZ)
0800 559 009
www.workandincome.govt.nz
Working for Families
0800 257 477
www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz
Waitakere Hospital Breastfeeding Classes
Adith 838 9362 or
Barbara 838 1566
Parent Aid
836 4122
Post Natal Distress—Eileen Joy 818 8845
Caesarean—Nicole Snook 837 2501
Homebirth—Eileen Joy 818 8845
Premature Birth—Amanda Galt 820 8085
Same Sex Parenting—Kristal O’Neill 832 8456
If you have any other queries or need advice or help
with any other issue please leave your details on our
answerphone 837 8481, for one of our committee
members to contact you.
Playcentres
8278649
Citizens Advice Bureau
Glen Eden
Henderson
Massey
New Lynn
818 8634
836 4118
833 5775
827 4731
Asthma New Zealand
630 2293
www.asthma-nz.org.nz
Immunisation Advisory Centre
377 7966
www.immune.org.nz
Allergy New Zealand
0800 34 0800 www.allergy.org.nz
Childcare Advisory
www.childcareadvisor.co.nz
37
Cloth Nappy Workshops
Orewa
Wednesday 11th June, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Orewa Community Centre - Main Hall
40-46 Orewa Square, Moana Court
Western Springs
Friday 13th June, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Western Springs Garden Community Hall
956 Great North Roads
For more info, costs and bookings visit:
http://www.thenappylady.co.nz/workshops-auckland.html
Postnatal Distress
Support Group Meeting
Every Monday 10am-12noon.
Please call PND Support Network for more
information and support or to see if this
group is right for you. For more info
call 836 6967 or go to
www.postnataldistress.org.nz
Advertising & Newsletter Contributions
West Auckland Parents Centre is an entirely voluntary organisation run by parents, for parents. Our
advertisers help us to produce this newsletter to over 150 families with children up to five years old in West
Auckland, as well as midwives, and other organisations that support young families.
Ad type
Single issue
Pre-pay 3 issues
Prepay 6 issues
Full page
$75
$70 ($210)
$65 ($390)
Half page
$45
$40 ($120)
$35 ($210)
Quarter page
$35
$30 ($90)
$25 ($150)
Inside cover
$80
$75 ($225)
$70 ($420)
Back of magazine
$85
$80 ($240)
$75 ($450)
Prices quoted are per issue and include GST.
Newsletter Contributions: We would love to hear
from you with any contributions or requests for
Brochure Insert: We can include your flyer or articles. Send your material or requests by email to:
brochure in our newsletter and Kiwi Parent Magazine [email protected]. Should you
mail-out for a cost of $100. Material must be wish to contribute to our Aug/Sept 2014 issue, the
forwarded to the Distribution Centre by the deadline. deadline for copy is 1st July 2014.
E-News: Our e-News goes out to over 300 members For more information please contact our Newsletter
each month. We can include your advertisement in or Newsletter Advertising volunteers, see page 36
our e-News for $35 per issue.
for details.
38

pdf - West Auckland Parents Centre

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