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Baby Weaning

We have started the process weaning Nadya. She enjoyed her first semi-solid meal of organic brown rice cereal during Easter. Since then, we have introduced other delicacies into her diet bit by bit every 3 days such as pumpkin, oatmeal, bananas, pear etc...

Here is a video showing her enjoying her first mouthful of semi solids after 6 months of breastmilk.

I was chatting with Ann, a former midwife and loyal Pupsik Studio customer, about the subject of weaning a couple of months back. Ann was weaning her own son back then and offered to share her knowledge on "Child-led Weaning" through this blog.

Here is a lovely picture of Ann's son Leo in a Pupsik pouch. (Err...Ann, why did you cut your own head off?)

Another pic showing Ann and Leo with the teething pendant she got from us most recently.

Interview with Ann

1. Hi Ann, can you share a little bit about your background?

I started my nursing in NYP, then went on to the UK to get my nursing degree & worked there for about 1 yr. I was with Mount Alvernia Hospital for about 6+yrs & they sent me to do further studies in Midwifery. I'm now a SAHM to Leo Riki who is 9 months old.

2. Can you tell me briefly about baby-led weaning? What does it mean?

Baby-led weaning (often referred to as BLW) is a method of weaning where baby is in control of his solid food intake by self feeding from the start of the feeding process. As opposed to the parent controlling how much & what the baby consumes.

3. How is this different from just "weaning"?

There are no purees in BLW. Only chunks of food that a baby can hold onto in shapes such as french fries size. The baby is offered the SAME food as what the parent is eating, so long as there isn't any salt added. Baby chooses what he needs & feeds himself. ok leo's screaming for attention. will continue later

(Several weeks later....the interview continues over email...)

4. How do you do it?

Make sure baby is above 6 months of age, & has some what lost the tongue thrust reflex. just sit baby upright, either in a high chair or on your lap & allow baby to choose from what you're eating. best that there isn't any salt added to the food.

5. What advantages does this method have?

Improves dexterity, hand eye co-ordination & strengthens mouth muscles so speech may be earlier. baby chooses & eats according to what he needs. baby will less likely be a fussy eater. it easy, stress free, no purees.

6. Any difficulties moms might encounter and should expect?

There may be some gagging but it's normal & will be experienced by babies who're fed purees. family members may oppose to this method of weaning & believe that purees are best for baby & easier to digest.

7. Anything additional tips?

Relax & enjoy your baby feeding himself & enjoying it too! eating together is ideal so baby can follow you & feel included.

8. Any further web resources and feeding tools to recommend?

http://www.rapleyweaning.com/

http://www.baby-led.com/

http://www.tribalbaby.org/babyLedEating.html

http://babyledweaning.blogware.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby-led_weaning

Baby-led weaning by Gill Rapley & Tracy Murkett is a great book to read up on as well. A feeding mat is ideal for baby esp when eating out, a bib with a pocket to catch food that baby drops & a plastic sheet beneath the high chair at home to catch food that baby drops for easy clean up & you can give the food back to baby since it's off a clean mat & not the floor.

Oh talking about bibs...I have a great one to recommend moms. Da-Bibs is a wonderfully designed patent pending bib that offers wonderful coverage. I am looking to order a few for Nadya. I did a review on the bibs here before when I was weaning Vera and loved it! Interested to order? Email me at hello@pupsikstudio.com with the subject title Da-Bib to let me know which styles and quantity you want before May 30th. The special pre-order price of the bib will be SGD24.

Little Inspirations, Big Ideas

Thank you Young Parents for choosing to feature us in your May issue feature on "little inspirations, big ideas"! It was so much fun and a great honour to be featured amongst 2 other amazing moms who have also turned their passion in business.
In the course of doing this interview, I was asked how Pupsik Studio came about. Since a few other moms whom I have met through this business have asked me this same question on a few occasions, thought I would take this opportunity to share more about the story behind this little business we run from home on this blog...

Pupsik Studio started out as a blog about 2 years ago. (Pupsik means baby doll in Russian). The blog was mainly started to update family and friends round the world on my first baby girl, Vera, who is half russian. I also used the blog to share interesting products that I found online with other parents. I am not sure how word spread but soon after, people were emailing me to share their own journey as new parents and sending me baby/children's products they had designed to review on my blog. I also began receiving sponsorship requests from organisations such as Martha Stewart's which supported my blog with ad revenue.

Trained as an architect and designer, I have always enjoyed designing and making things with my hands. During my free time over the course of my maternity leave , I experimented with designing and making things using my home sewing machine. My blog became a useful tool for me to share the products I had made and to get feedback on it. One of the items I made early on which became very popular with family and friends was the baby pouch carrier. I spent quite a lot of time in front of the sewing machine during the early days perfecting little details of the carrier which made it more comfortable and easy to use. I also sourced for suitable fabrics and sent the carriers to be tested with a professional body to make sure that it was safe to carry heavier babies. With the popularity of these carriers, I realised that I could actually turn this into a viable business and fulfill my dream of taking care of my babies at home while pursuing my own interests.

As most of you know, I welcomed my second baby girl, Nadya, 7 months ago and decided to turn quit my job as an architect to concentrate on the babies and run Pupsik Studio as a a full time business. While I am now busier than ever running this business, I am really thankful to God and happy to have the opportunity to work on something I am passionate about from home close to my kids each day.
(above) Vera's Oobi Baby reversible dress available where else but Pupsik Studio! =)

Mother's Day Feature in Motherhood Chinese

I was honoured to be featured in April/May's recent issue of Motherhood Chinese to share a little about my own mom.

Here's the transcript in English.

Happy Mother's Day, Mommie! Love you! xoxo

1. 你庆祝母亲节吗？怎样庆祝？/ do you celebrate mother's day?

When we were younger, my siblings and I would wake up early in the morning to make breakfast and serve her breakfast-in-bed with presents to show our appreciation for her. The meal would consist of food we loved to eat like steak, baked potato and salad even though it was for breakfast. I will also make it a point to prepare a special gift with my hands, like a card or craftwork. Now that we are older and busier, we usually celebrate by taking her out for a meal.

2. 在你的印象里，妈妈所做的最令你难忘的事？/ What is the thing your mother did that makes you unforgettable in your memory?

There are so many unforgettable things that my mother has done for me that makes it difficult to answer this question. If I had to pick one, it would be her deciding overnight to fly to London to take care of me when I was studying there and sick.

3. 如何评价你和你妈妈之间的关系? / How is the relationship between your mother and you?

The age gap between me and my mother is quite small at 20 years. So now especially, I sometimes treat her more like a friend. She has to remind me often that she is my mother when I cross the line with her.

4. 妈妈对你意味着什么？/ What does your mother mean to you?

I don't think I tell or show my mother often enough how much she means to me and how much I love her. In many ways, she means the world to me.

5. 你的妈妈对你的影响？/ How your mothers influence you?

I guess one of the biggest influence my mom has on me is her love and care towards older people. This is something that you cannot learn from text books but pick up by watching how she treats older people in our family.

6. 你最想对妈妈说的话？/ What are words you want to tell your mother?

Thank you mummy for always putting my interest at heart and for always loving me even though I can be quite difficult at times.

7. 你怎样表达对妈妈的爱意？/ How do you express your love to your mother?

I feel that love cannot be expressed by things like giving money or gifts. That is too easy. I try to express my love for my mom by observing small things that she might like. For example, if I come across a restaurant, massage, facials treatment that I like, I will always naturally think of her and remind myself to bring or give her a treat.

8. 对妈妈的祝福是什么？/ What are your blessings and wishes to your mother?

That she will be fun loving and funny always

9. 自己做妈妈之后的感受？ / what's your feeling after you became a mother?

That a mother will always love her children unconditionally and that we are only as happy as our happiest child is.

10. 身为一名母亲，想对孩子说的话？/ being a mother, what do you want to tell your kid?

That I may not always know or do the right thing (probably tell them this only when they are older and can understand) but I will always make decisions that will have their best interest at heart, given the circumstances.

Mother's Day Sale

In celebration of Mother's Day this week, we are giving away a pair of Oobi's sweet satin eye-mask (worth $14.90) to all purchases above $120. In addition, you get to enjoy free shipping + free gift wrap on your item (if requested).

Don't miss out on pampering yourself and taking advantage of our Mother's Day Sale this week. You deserve it!

From one mom to another, Happy Mother's Day!

xoxo

Smart Mom Teething Blings

My jaws dropped when I first saw these yummy teething blings. I just couldn't imagine how brilliant the person who came up with such a clever invention like this must be. Naturally, the mommies that came up with these aptly call themselves "smartmom(s)" Indeed!Teething Bling® was inspired by babies who like to tug on our jewelry. It is the original patent-pending teething jewelry.

Made from the same material as many teething toys, Teething Bling® looks great on Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Caregivers but is safe for curious babies to handle and chew.Teething Bling® products are non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, PVC and lead free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp. CE marking approved.

Hollywood celebrities such as Denise Richards, Ming Na Wen and Tory Spelling love and I bet you, so will you! My 6 month old Nadya and I luurve it, especially the colours and the fact that it doesn't look like a teether at all! I have had my fair shair of frustrations with kid-ish looking teethers that get dropped on the floor, mis-placed etc so this gorgeous wearable invention is heaven-sent. People cannot believe it whenever they see me giving these teething blings to Nadya to chew. My 2 year old also loves putting it on herself. The breakaway clasps on the pendant also make these safe for her to wear and play with.
We are excited to share that Pupsik Studio has been appointed the exclusive retailer of these blings in Singapore. You can now get your hands on the gorgeous donut pendant and bangle blings here and here.

In celebration of mother's day, we are doing a sale on the blings this week. The sale is while stocks last so get one today before they run out!