http://www.minti.com/members/rachelcook/advice/ Most Recent Advice on Minti by rachelcook Copyright 2009 Minti en-uk rachelcook Playgroup versus Play@Home 6 months to 12 monthsWith my first son, it was a major event during the week to attend playgroup. Being social at that time (2004) was really important. 5 years on, personally for me, I have changed my mind on only just having playgroup to go to or to various activities. Don't get me wrong playgroup was ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/11507/Playgroup-versus-PlayHome-6-months-to-12-months/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/11507/Playgroup-versus-PlayHome-6-months-to-12-months/ Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:55:12 -0700 rachelcook Being a mum is magical. Being a mum challenges you. Being a parent transforms you...I have just read this great post…”Parenting not just a job but an adventure“…and it has made me think about how views are changing for the better in regards to parenting and how blogging has given parents a platform to educate (without trying to) others about ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/8820/A-note-for-professional-women-thinking-or-not-thinking-of-having-children/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/8820/A-note-for-professional-women-thinking-or-not-thinking-of-having-children/ Thu, 08 May 2008 04:46:25 -0700 rachelcook When my husband and I brought home our first born (now nearly 4), we experienced (on that drive home from the hospital) a lot of emotions in bringing our newborn home for the first time. What I have learned from this experience has made me evolve, grow up and become a real adult. I used to be on the board ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/8762/Breastfeeding-and-Bringing-your-newborn-home-The-first-1-5-weeks-survival-guide/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/8762/Breastfeeding-and-Bringing-your-newborn-home-The-first-1-5-weeks-survival-guide/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:31:23 -0700 rachelcook Topics Covered.Folic Acid, an important key to the building blocks of life.Vitamin B, the answer to more energyDad's nutrition for better babies, can we get the sperm to be healthier and dad healthier?Since my experience with my deficiency in Folic Acid and absorption of it in the synthetic form as well as the natural form, I have researched and learned ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/8004/Nutritional-Information-to-better-babies-and-health/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/8004/Nutritional-Information-to-better-babies-and-health/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:23:29 -0800 rachelcook The Vitamin A warning for women taking pregnancy multi-vitaminsVitamin A has been attributed to birth defects, a study in the US has found."Warning: Pregnant women should not take vitamin A supplements. Instead they should take beta-carotene. We get vitamin A from many foods, in the form of either vitamin A or beta-carotene. Liver ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7212/Pregnancy-multi-vitamins-A-warning-on-Vitamin-A/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7212/Pregnancy-multi-vitamins-A-warning-on-Vitamin-A/ Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:22:11 -0700 rachelcook Minti is aimed at being a friendly and safe place for ALL members and ALL members have the right to be treated with respect. To enable this we "encourage" members to speak from experiences using words like, 'for me', 'i believe', 'from my experiences',  and sentences like...'it may not be the same for others, but this is what I went ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6205/Mintis-Code-of-Honor-protecting-the-rights-of-members/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6205/Mintis-Code-of-Honor-protecting-the-rights-of-members/ Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:13:57 -0800 rachelcook It has been 6 months and I feel healed. However, I couldn't shake the fact that I need to get this message out.After having my little one, I had lost all the weight I had gained during my first pregnancy and was back down to my pre-baby shape. Some time had past and I was really enjoying motherhood. I began ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5718/Folic-Acid-inability-to-absorb-A-MUST-medical-test-for-women-wanting-to-have-a-baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5718/Folic-Acid-inability-to-absorb-A-MUST-medical-test-for-women-wanting-to-have-a-baby/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:15:14 -0700 rachelcook I have been thinking about this lately...what advice do I have to give mothers...My question for mothers: Have you ever been stumped to say something great, when a person asked you, "what do you do?" (especially when you are a mother - we do anything, nothing and everything) Well, I can say I am proud to be a mother, however, ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4212/The-Stereotyped-MOMMUM/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4212/The-Stereotyped-MOMMUM/ Tue, 06 Feb 2007 03:06:53 -0800 rachelcook I just read a very interesting article from "Psychology Today" today, that funny enough had an impact on me so suddenly. It caused me to think about exactly 'what' I 'say' to my two and half year old son. Usually, I say to my son, "Well done clever boy", although I know of course I am not damaging his spirit, ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/3424/Hard-work-vs-youre-smart-praising-your-child/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/3424/Hard-work-vs-youre-smart-praising-your-child/ Fri, 22 Dec 2006 05:40:52 -0800 rachelcook After writing my Minti article on "Which newborn milk formula should I use?", I realized that for those toddlers that are on to cow's milk, there were no other choices available to parents that provided the additional nutrients toddlers need. Then to my surprise here in Australia, Brownes have launched a new toddler milk especially for this gap in the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1133/New-cows-milk-especially-formulated-for-toddlers/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1133/New-cows-milk-especially-formulated-for-toddlers/ Sun, 20 Aug 2006 08:19:26 -0700 rachelcook When I was in my third trimester I signed myself up for Aquanatal Classes. I have learnt from my experience,  that next time round I will be going to classes as soon as I am allowed to. For me these classes were something very new to me and I found that I ended up sold on the idea and benefits ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1132/Pre-labor-benefits-of-Aquanatal-Classes/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1132/Pre-labor-benefits-of-Aquanatal-Classes/ Sun, 20 Aug 2006 07:06:52 -0700 rachelcook There seems to be a rising amount of coverage on this issue lately. A friend of mine offered a book for me have a look at, that I eventually bought.  There are many guides to understanding what food additives to avoid and general understand the topic of what the food industry places into our food. What made it more a ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/732/Food-additives-what-we-need-to-know-for-our-children/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/732/Food-additives-what-we-need-to-know-for-our-children/ Sun, 20 Aug 2006 05:31:44 -0700 rachelcook Oh the joys of parenthood are bestowed upon you when you have your first child. You are part of this 'cool, I know, you know' club that you had no idea existed before. You feel part of this 'parents' club all over the world. Okay, so what happens when you are confronted with issues that "YOU" have to make, critical ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/728/Just-had-a-boy-do-I-circumsize/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/728/Just-had-a-boy-do-I-circumsize/ Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:31:59 -0700 rachelcook I think being able to narrow in on what is healthy for you and your children, for me has helped me understand how to regulate what my son eats and also teach myself how to provide a balanced diet. I have read a lot about preservatives, artificial coloring and processed foods. I generally try and provide food for my toddler ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/400/Healthy-Food-for-little-fingers/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/400/Healthy-Food-for-little-fingers/ Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:52:40 -0700 rachelcook As a parent with a young toddler, I knew at some point my son would start to find educational learning to be fun. At around 18 months onwards and towards two, he would be wanting to learn letters and words. I didn't realise how much until he started wanting to learn for about an hour to two hours a day.Things ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/253/Classes-making-it-fun-for-toddlers/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/253/Classes-making-it-fun-for-toddlers/ Wed, 17 May 2006 01:26:35 -0700 rachelcook What is Minti about?The Minti site is dedicated to allowing parents to publish an article providing that it is Parenting or Family Advice that aims to help parents with the raising of children.This is what makes Minti unique. Parents, grandparents, carers are all welcome. The Question and Answer area also allows for parents to ask and respond to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/233/Mintis-Editorial-Guidelines/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/233/Mintis-Editorial-Guidelines/ Sat, 11 Aug 2007 14:07:00 -0700 rachelcook Thinking about transportOn the impending birth of my son Codi, I became a fanatic with baby prams and capsules. Every outing was an 'eye spy' did you see that pram, stroller or capsule? I would record brands, the color, the happiness of the baby in the transport system mentally in my mind. To me I had got in my head ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/223/Types-of-baby-capsules-prams--stollers/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/223/Types-of-baby-capsules-prams--stollers/ Sun, 23 Apr 2006 17:54:28 -0700 rachelcook The IssueMy 5 month old son changed his schedule on us over a week ago. All of a sudden, he changed from going to sleep at 6:30/7:00 to 9:00. If we try to put him down, he will just cry the whole time. He's not hungry, we know he is starting to teethe, but his teeth don't seem to bother ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/169/5-month-old-sudden-change-in-routine-not-sleeping-/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/169/5-month-old-sudden-change-in-routine-not-sleeping-/ Sun, 09 Apr 2006 08:14:56 -0700 rachelcook Upon becoming a “first time mom“, I became so passionate about the need to create a powerful voice for parents. Why, I thought in business, do we eagerly read about great business icons? Why don’t we also read about great icons who silently “build the next generation in society”, of which we expect to be better and more advanced than ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/164/Passionate-Parenting/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/164/Passionate-Parenting/ Fri, 05 May 2006 08:36:53 -0700 rachelcook Having pets is a personal decision. In my experience, we already had a pet before our son came along. However, when buying Lemonade (our first pet) four years ago, I did briefly think about what life would be like with kids as well as a dog. Four years ago, both my husband and I worked many hours and it became ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/134/A-pet-in-the-family-what-about-two/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/134/A-pet-in-the-family-what-about-two/ Wed, 22 Mar 2006 04:31:54 -0800 rachelcook A very good questionWhich formula brand and type did you feed your baby during the newborn phase? Which is best to supplement breastmilk?Milk issuesDepending upon your baby, preemie, lactose intolerant, serious reflux or a term baby, there are many types of formula to chose from. However, in my experience I looked for two things. One, the formula was iron fortified ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/133/Which-Newborn-Milk-Formula-should-I-use/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/133/Which-Newborn-Milk-Formula-should-I-use/ Sun, 20 Aug 2006 07:21:24 -0700 rachelcook The issue..."I started breastfeeding my daughter with no problems and thoroughly enjoyed this very special time with her for the first 2 months of her life. Then, gradually, she became more and more fussy during each feed to the point that I dreaded each feed. Reading a lot about breastfeeding problems on the web, I eventually came across a few ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/128/Mini-Pill-affecting-breast-milk-taste/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/128/Mini-Pill-affecting-breast-milk-taste/ Sun, 09 Apr 2006 06:56:33 -0700 rachelcook From my experience, having to be faced with surgery is daunting for yourself, but what about for your own child? So many emotions you go through, as a parent it is such an unusual, sureal experience, because you can't do anything for them, but leave them in the hands of an almost stranger.When my son Codi was born, it was ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/73/Lazy-Eye-Strabismus-or-Squint/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/73/Lazy-Eye-Strabismus-or-Squint/ Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:16:14 -0800 rachelcook Sometimes, for me it is good to sometimes just have a reminder of the positive things you do each day with your family, especially the impact you have on your growing kids.A fun, heart felt creed for Parents...I read this every now and then. This creed sits on Codi's wall as you enter his room. It just reminds me that I ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/54/A-Z-Children-Need-in-their-lives/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/54/A-Z-Children-Need-in-their-lives/ Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:55:25 -0700 rachelcook You are on the home stretch. For me the third trimester was interesting. As I progressed from the second trimester, in that two week window, I experienced the most severe headaches I had ever had, which made sleeping even harder. On top of this, my iron levels took a sharp dive down and for those two weeks felt extremely tired ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/52/What-you-need-to-know-Third-Trimester/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/52/What-you-need-to-know-Third-Trimester/ Tue, 14 Mar 2006 22:01:13 -0800 rachelcook Congratulations, you have made it to the Second Trimester. I loved being pregnant at this stage. I had a round belly that I could show off and the level of well being I felt was lovely. I had more energy and many people spoke nice words at how radiant I looked. It was true, second trimester is great.You may begin ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/51/What-you-need-to-know-Second-Trimester/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/51/What-you-need-to-know-Second-Trimester/ Sun, 09 Apr 2006 08:27:35 -0700 rachelcook The day of my son's first birthday (30th August), we were in San Francisco, about to leave that day to return to Australia with Codi's grandparents we had brought with us, thanks to lots of frequent flyer miles. The whole event was so exciting, for me. I bought some giant sandwich ice-cream cookies and put one in each party plate. ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/49/Its-party-time-a-toddlers-1st-Birthday/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/49/Its-party-time-a-toddlers-1st-Birthday/ Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:20:25 -0800 rachelcook There is light at the end of the tunnel. As your baby gets older from birth to 18 months (a year and a half), they begin to sleep less and stay awake longer. From my experience, I was amazed at how my son followed the common sleep patterns that all 'sleep' books spoke about.It was more a question of when ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/46/Feed-Play-Sleep-Frequency-Newborns-to-18months/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/46/Feed-Play-Sleep-Frequency-Newborns-to-18months/ Sun, 09 Apr 2006 08:11:10 -0700 rachelcook Great news your pregnant! Now you have the difficulty of keeping your exciting secret, a secret for three months. However, it's a wonderful time to experience with your husband or partner, knowing you are both experiencing an amazing step in your lives.What do you have to do in your first trimester?Your pre-natal carer, in my case was my obstetrician, will ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/43/What-you-need-to-know-First-Trimester/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/43/What-you-need-to-know-First-Trimester/ Fri, 02 Jun 2006 05:52:13 -0700 rachelcook Planning to get pregnant.See your GP and get the necessary tests done. Your GP will check to see if you are immune to Rubella (blood test). Your GP will also check that you are not anaemic. Also your GP will take a pap smear (this is to make sure you don't have to have any abnormal cells that may need ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/41/What-you-need-to-know-Pre-pregnancy/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/41/What-you-need-to-know-Pre-pregnancy/ Tue, 14 Mar 2006 22:04:03 -0800 rachelcook You have been waiting 9 months for this great event. It is very exciting and scarey, but from my experience one were you can only grow from in your journey to becoming a mother. Labour, I pretty much knew all about, reading and attending as many classes as I could. However, nothing could prepare me for 'after' labour. I realized ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/39/What-you-need-to-know-Post-Natal-Care/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/39/What-you-need-to-know-Post-Natal-Care/ Thu, 16 Feb 2006 20:13:54 -0800 rachelcook By the time Codi was 6 months I began to think about Day Care. Having stopped working as a Director in my business and having our first child, I was feeling burnt out. I was now a happy stay at home mom, however, I really thought that at least half a day to myself would be great to charge my ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/36/Thinking-about-Day-care/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/36/Thinking-about-Day-care/ Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:10:17 -0800 rachelcook From our experience, once toddlers establish a one nap a day routine, it is really useful to not let them sleep past 3pm. Codi, has lunch first at around 11:30pm and goes to sleep at 12:15 or 12:30pm and wakes around 2 to 2:30pm. When he wakes I give him water mixed with cold freshly squeezed juice in a sippy ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/32/Sleep-routines-15-18-months/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/32/Sleep-routines-15-18-months/ Tue, 14 Mar 2006 22:07:32 -0800 rachelcook When my son was a newborn for the first two weeks he was in our room and we often liked to co-sleep with him. Then came the time for us to try out his own bed, which the transition worked really well for us. My son is now 19 months old and only likes his cott, co-sleeping trials turns into ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/30/Controlled-Crying-and-Settling-Techniques/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/30/Controlled-Crying-and-Settling-Techniques/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 21:11:34 -0700 rachelcook In the hospital you may have been encouraged to swaddle your newborn. If you think about it, it makes sense as they feel snug and secure, as they had been in the womb. In my experience, swaddling kept our newborn feeling safe and secure up until he began to understand that his hands belonged to him and we had evidence ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/27/Sleep-From-Swaddling-to-Gro-bag-to-toddler-bed/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/27/Sleep-From-Swaddling-to-Gro-bag-to-toddler-bed/ Tue, 06 Jun 2006 22:26:15 -0700 rachelcook Music and movement utilizes all sensory parts of the body and mind, and is especially good for developing minds. Music classes are a great way to bond with your baby through dance, song and music rhythms. Bringing music and movement into your home creates a fun, calming effect on your little ones and reinforces what  you did that day in ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/23/Music-Movement-with-your-baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/23/Music-Movement-with-your-baby/ Fri, 02 Jun 2006 05:34:16 -0700 rachelcook Pre-walker shoes are useful for when your baby reaches the stage of crawling confidently on all fours or on his belly (or variations thereof), and is beginning to cruise around the house using items like furniture to aid moving from one point to another. My son Codi, reached this stage at around 9 months, and protecting his feet then became ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/18/Pre-walker-shoes/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/18/Pre-walker-shoes/ Tue, 14 Mar 2006 22:14:24 -0800 rachelcook Introducing solids for your baby can be a worrying task. You also may feel like, not only a production cow, but a food processing plant, once you start to puree foods into many ice cube containers for freezing. Don't dispair, the beginning and the journey is not as daunting as it may seem. A few signs to look for if ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6/Introducing-Solids/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6/Introducing-Solids/ Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:18:20 -0800