5 Tips for Quality Time with your Kiddos as a Working Mom

As a working mom, you can be away for long hours during the day and sometimes that can feel like you miss spending quality time with your kiddos. But working outside of the home doesn’t mean second best for your children. You may just need to be a little more intentional when it comes down to spending time together as a family. Here are some tips to help you along.

1. Add special time with your kiddos into your daily routine. This could be morning cuddles before you get ready for work or reading your little one a story before bed every night. Just be sure to be consistent with what you choose to do, so your kiddo knows what to expect.
   

2. Wherever you are be all there. If you are spending time with your kiddo, be sure that you are present and participating in the activity. It is easy to be with your child physically but be distracted by your phone. So set aside your device.
   

3. Schedule a mommy and me time once a month. This could be on a weekend or it could mean taking a day off to spend some one-on-one time with your kid. Fetch them from school early one day and take them to do their favourite thing. Kids thrive on undivided attention.
   

4. Include them in what you are doing. If you are busy with washing dishes, let them help with the drying up or if you are doing your makeup, let them sit and chat with you. Just being with you doing everyday things still counts as spending time with your little one.
   

5. Ask them about their days. Ask specific questions and let your kid tell you about what they did, who they saw or any little thing that happened during their day. Ask them how it made them feel. Truly listen to them.

These are just a few things that will help you on your path to more intentional quality time with your kids. What are some of your suggestions?

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Baby Beach Tips

It's just about Summer in Cape Town and that means beach season! If you're a new mama and this is your first Summer with your baba, we thought we would share the most important tips you need to know about taking your little one on a beach outing. 

1. Make sure to lather your baby in Baby Sunscreen that is at least SPF50. Do this every 2 hours or after they've been in the water. 

2. Bring a beach tent and an umbrella. It is super important that your baba doesn't get exposed to harsh sunlight. 

3. Stay hydrated. You, as a mama, need to keep yourself hydrated (especially if you're still breastfeeding) and your baba needs to stay hydrated too. Keep any water and milk in a cooler bag away from the sun.

4. Pack a first aid kit for any minor emergencies. 

5. Bring multiple swimsuits for your baba to change into after being wet as well as a sun hat and warmer clothes in case your baba gets cold. 

6. Use swimming nappies and bring extra!

7. Take lots of towels and a big picnic blanket. If the beach tent gets too warm, line it with towels to lower the temperature. 

8. When swimming with baba, stay in the shallow section of the beach, keep a firm hold on them and make sure their head remains well above the water. 

9. Bring snacks that won't spoil in warm weather. 

10. Have fun!

10 Things to tell your babysitter

There are certain things you'll always need to tell your babysitter. Whether you've had 20 babysitters look after your kiddos or it's your first time using a babysitting service for new little one, here are 10 things you need to let your babysitter know. 

1. Medical Info
If your kiddo has a health issue, allergy, injury or just a bit of the sniffles, you need to let your babysitter know. The more health information they know, the better. Please note that babysitters are not allowed to give any medicine to your kiddos either. 

2. Contact Details
Your babysitter needs to know the best way to get hold of you while you're out as well as any numbers to call in case of an emergency. We suggest you leave your cellphone number, the number of the restaurant you'll be at, your neighbour's number and the number of your family physician. Leave the numbers near your telephone or send them to the babysitter's cellphone. 

3. Kid's Routine
Let your babysitter know as much about your kiddo's routine as possible. This will make it easier for your child to settle into the care of someone else. We suggest you leave a little note including the mealtime, bath and bedtime routines.

4. The Location of Important Things
You need to point out where you keep important things that the babysitter may need. This includes the location of the first aid kit, where extra nappies can be found etc. 

5. House Rules
Be clear about what is and isn't allowed. Set ground rules. For example, if you're uncomfortable with your babysitter being in the master bedroom, make sure to say they can only sit in the family room. Let the babysitter know what they can use in your kitchen, etc. 

6. Pet Info
If you have a pet, let your babysitter know more about them so that no issues arise while you're away. Let them know where the pet is allowed as well as how the pet behaves around your kiddo. 

7. Unusual Habits/Phases
If your kiddo has some unusual habits, please inform your babysitter. The sorts of habits we're talking about are things like not wearing shoes, hiding in certain places, a tendency to put things up his nose etc. If your kiddo is going through any sort of phase that the babysitter should know about, then explain it to them. 

8. Technology and Entertainment
Let your babysitter know what your child is and isn't allowed to use and do technology and entertainment wise. If your kiddo is only allowed 20 minutes on the iPad, let them know. If your kiddo is only allowed to watch TV after finishing her homework, let the babysitter know. Kids like to push the limits with new people. 

9. Food Rules
Is there anything you don't want your kiddo to eat? If you're limiting your kiddos sugar intake, for example, let the babysitter know. If you want your kid not to eat gluten, let your babysitter know. If your child doesn't like certain foods, etc., please let your babysitter know. 

10. When You'll be Home
This just allows the babysitter to plan ahead if they need to organise a lift or an Uber. It also gives them an ETA to tell the kiddo who wants to know when mama will be home.  

Top image found here.