Making the Transition from Bassinet to Crib
Just when you think you’ve got this baby sleep thing downpat, they outgrow their bassinet, Moses basket or co-sleeper. We feel you. Now you’re ready to transition to a bigger sleep space or mini crib or crib, but will it disrupt their sleep routine? How do you know if they’re ready? If you’re facing these questions, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Read on for our top tips to help make the transition process much easier for both you and baby.
Here are some things to consider when deciding if you’re ready to transition baby from bassinet into a crib:
First things, first…
Before actually making the switch, make sure you have gone through the checklist for a safe-sleep environment for baby in a new crib, including:
Transition gradually, switch it in stages…
Your baby needs to feel safe and secure in their sleep environment which can take time. Let baby nap in the new crib during the day for a couple of weeks before you transition into the crib for a full night’s sleep. Then after a few weeks you can transition more heavily so baby is in their crib all the time. If you have room, you can place the crib in your room initially and then when baby is comfortable in the crib, move them into their new nursery or room.
You can also try lingering a little longer in the room during the initial stage of transitioning until your baby falls asleep and slowly shorten this time once you feel baby doesn’t need you there to fall asleep in their new space.
Add some comfort…
It’s best to keep baby’s environment as similar as possible to their previous sleep environment, which means keeping bedding and comforters or toys consistent. A familiar smell and feel can help baby self-soothe and relax more easily allowing them to feel secure and drift off to gentle sleep. If you’ve made the switch to silk, you can use our Silk Crib Sleeve or Silk Crib Sheet in baby’s new cot/crib to keep the same consistent feel on baby’s skin, while helping them to self soothe.
“My daughter loves the feel of the fitted sheet on her skin. She sleeps very well and we think it’s a fantastic product! What a treat.” – Janet C.
“Since using this mattress cover my daughter’s bald patches have started to grow back, and she absolutely LOVES the feel of it. I can’t wait to order more!” – Aryana W.
Read more about how Silk helps to prevent baby bald spots here.
You can also introduce a Comforter to baby before they transition to the cot and carry this over to their new sleep environment, helping to create a positive sleep anchor/association which can help them feel more relaxed and at ease in the cot.
Stay consistent with a routine…
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - babies LOVE routine. Routines are comforting for baby especially around sleep time as they come to know what to expect day by day. Find out what works for you and your baby and stick with it. Continue baby’s bedtime routine as normal with the only difference being the change of bassinet/co-sleeper into cot. This will help baby feel calmer and more relaxed when it comes to sleep time.
If you’re wondering how long the transitioning process can take, the answer is, there is no fixed time. It could take a few days to a few weeks or a few months. The important thing to note is that it should be a gradual process and should get better day by day. Brace yourself for some inevitable fussing and tears while baby gets familiar with their new sleep environment. Be patient and go easy on yourself – it’s a learning adjustment for you too!
Baby monitors and sound machines can be helpful for anxious parents as well as helping with baby’s initial adjustment – this way you can track how your baby’s transition is going while encouraging them to learn to fall asleep alone!
]]>Even if you already have a great morning routine going with your littles, all it takes is a lost shoe, a missed alarm, or a full blown tantrum over a lost favourite toy to throw your whole morning out. Within minutes, everyone is late, stressed, you're throwing toothbrushes and socks at kids and you've lost your coffee somewhere in the house. Morning shouldn't be this hard! Take some of the stress out of your mornings with a few simple hacks:
Tired is tired. Physically, there really is no difference between 6.15 and 6.30 or 5.15 and 5.30 for that matter - you’re still going to be tired so why not reduce the morning stress a little by having more time on your hands? 15 mins can mean more “me time” or just more time to prepare everything and everyone for the day ahead.
We know this sounds like a massive drag and who can be bothered getting off the snuggly couch to make kids lunches? But it makes a huge difference in the morning if everything is basically ready to go (especially if you’re not a morning person)! This includes kids bags packed and sitting at the door, clothes picked out and ready to wear, lunches packed - everything!
Life is so much easier when meals are planned and already half or fully cooked! Remember, you don’t have to create a new meal for every day. Find 3 meals for the week and cook them up on Sunday when you have time to actually do it (Note: this doesn’t have to be hard - you might make a soup, pasta sauce like bolognese or just portion out your meats and veg!)
Got babies? You can pre-make baby food and freeze in ice-cube trays to pop out and defrost as needed! Genius.
For older kids, create snack packs that your kids can choose for themselves each morning to add to their lunches or backpacks. Simply create zip-lock bags filled with lunch-approved snacks (think nuts, rice crackers, dried fruit, even grapes) and let them grab one before they go!
In this wonderful internet age you’ll be amazed at what apps are now available for almost anything you can think of. Think organizational apps, interactive to-do lists and even apps to help you wake up at the right time of your sleep cycle! If you’re already a phone person, why not make it work for you instead of just aimlessly scrolling Instagram?
Some of our favourite morning helper apps include:
Sleep Cycle, MealBoard, Clear, Happy Kids Timer
How many mornings have been held up or ruined by spills, forgotten lunches or boo boos? Keep a special bag in the car with baby wipes, $25, a torch, spare batteries, an umbrella and a mini first aid kit. (If you’ve got little ones still in diapers/nappies add in a spare diaper/nappy and spare set of underwear!)
Sleep is all well and good, but what about the fact that you have to tame those morning bird’s nests & knots you dare to call hair, before leaving the house (or risk looking like Frankenstein's family)?
Sleeping on a Silky Tots Silk Pillow Slip, keeps both hair and skin protected from the tossing and turning that occurs during the night. Silk reduces the friction that causes breakage, knotting and bed-head which can save your babe's mane in the morning. Less time brushing (and hair tantrums) = more time for important stuff!
Bedtimes are not just for kids! Setting yourself a bedtime and a “wind-down” window of 1 hour before bed will not only force you to get everything done before this time but it will improve your sleep 10 fold. A bedtime also allows you to plan how many hours of sleep you are getting each night. For example, if you’re up at 5.30am then you know you need to be in bed by 10:00pm in order to feel rested enough the next day. Use the “wind-down” window to allow your nervous system to calm down before getting into bed - you can use this technique for the kids too. Lower lights, use lamps, limit screen time and move to books for 1 hour before bed. You’ll be amazed at the impact it has on sleep time and quality!
]]>Bron Arnold-Briggs of Kindred Birth is an experienced birth and postpartum doula and birth photographer on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. She firmly believes birth is a sacred rite of passage. With a rise in birth trauma and postnatal depression, women are starting off life as a new mother (a whole new identity) feeling disconnected and unsure of themselves. Bron works with families to help change this narrative, providing physical and emotional support before, during and after birth. Bron explains more about her role as a doula and how they can help, below.
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Hiring a doula seems to be in the ’Top 5 Must Do’s’ for newly pregnant mamas! It’s not just first time mum’s looking to engage a doula for their births even experienced ‘birthers’ still want the extra support a doula offers.
Dr. John H. Kennell wrote ‘If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.’ So what’s the deal with doulas? Why are more and more women employing private birth support during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Firstly, what is a doula?
Definition of doula: a person trained to provide advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth.
Research shows that childbirth does go more smoothly with a doula: labor is 25 percent shorter, the need for epidural pain relief is 60 percent less and the Caesarean section rate is reduced by half!
Hollywood would have us believe birth is full of panic, pain, screaming and hurling abuse at our partner for ‘knocking us up’ – this is the first visual experience of birth for many young women. Fear of pain, losing control, loss of dignity and interventions (+ c-section) are the most common worries of pregnant women. In particular, the hospital birth environment often involves procedures and treatment that don’t always reflect evidence based practice. It can be challenging for families to navigate this system alone. Midwives are often busy with their own duties and have little time for personal support. A doula is dedicated solely to the family she’s working with and supporting their decisions - whatever they may be. A doula is not just for ‘natural births’ but for all families and their birth choices.
In our current culture many new mothers haven’t had much experience with a newborn, often the first baby they hold is their own. With the loss of the ‘village’ society, wisdom isn’t being passed down through sharing stories, sharing newborn care or having elders to carry a woman through this rite of passage.
Doulas can support families in a range of locations, home, hospital and birth centres and often join the family early in labour and then remain with them throughout their labour and birth and then into their postpartum transition. Because doula support is not medical, they provide physical comfort, emotional support and help communicate with health providers. Doulas don’t just support the birthing woman, they offer a great deal of comfort and support to the partner.
Birth is such a powerful transition, it’s not just the birth of a baby, it’s also the birth of the mother. Doulas help women during this space of transition – not necessarily to guide them, but rather to hold a safe space around them so they can find their own way, and develop trust in their intuition.
Helping women to come into their power as they enter this new life phase helps them to be confident in their new role as mother – strong, confident mothers.
To find out more about Bron and how she can help you and your family, visit www.kindredbirth.com.au or find her on Facebook or Instagram.
]]>Marcia Leone is the brains, face and super mum behind NOT SO MUMSY, an inspiring online fashion and lifestyle destination for the modern mother. Marcia created NOT SO MUMSY on the back of a journalism/marketing career and has since grown a community of like-minded modern mamas into a globally-renowned, award-winning fashion and lifestyle brand. Marcia has just recently released her much anticipated book “Not So Mumsy” helping mothers navigate pregnancy, their first year and beyond with style, humour and confidence.
As part of our International Women’s Day series, we spoke to Marcia about how she navigates her juggle between motherhood, her business and everything in between...
Tell us a bit about yourself, your family, your brand and how you found yourself in the midst of your current juggle.
I am a mum of two living in Sydney. I spent a decade working in media before having my first child and after a year on maternity leave, my hubby took us to NY to set up distribution for his new business so I decided to create a little side passion project called NOT SO MUMSY – a platform and eventually a community of women who, like me, loved and embraced motherhood but also wanted to retain a sense of self and style. A year or so later after building a loyal community I found myself working alongside some iconic Australian and Global brands. 7 years later NSM has become a brand - I create content for brands, have a PJs and accessories label, the website and now a book. Very much in the juggle- working for myself around my kids I often say I work 85 x 23 minute shifts.
Mum motto you like to live by?
Done is better than perfect.
Are you working full time? How many hours per week are you working?
I work more than full time. Probably 80+ hours a week. I’m in a unique position where work is my life and life is my work, so it’s very hard to switch off. But the plus side is that I can schedule it around my kids - so I’m often up working all through the night (like now – lol.)
What are your secrets for keeping your head above water?
Not pretending that I do. I often feel like I’m drowning and I will recognize it and say it. Ask for help. Prioritise. And learn to say no. (I’m not great at this)
Do you think it is possible to achieve balance in work/mum life?
It depends what your version of balance is. I prefer the word “blend” as I feel balance has us aiming for this perfect scenario and realistically we aren’t going to get there. I think sometimes you will be nailing home life, and work goes on the back burner and other times when you’re nailing work, home suffers - but it’s learning to be OK with that.
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back in time – pre-baby?
That you don’t have to tick off a “things to do” list before having babies. Having kids won’t stop you from reaching your goals and dreams – it will actually ignite them.
What’s next for you? Do you have goals and dreams for your brand? If so, what are they?
I think my cup is pretty full! I just released my book so there will be a lot of press and talks and events coming up around that. We will continue to grow the label with some exciting things happening globally. I have a really exciting partnership starting June and somewhere in there I will be taking myself to a health retreat for some time out!
Tell us something that no one else knows about you?
A few people do know this - I used to be a punk rock chick with piercings and blue hair lol!
Shop the Not So Mumsy x Silky Tots collaboration here.
]]>Establishing and maintaining a baby bedtime routine can help your little one fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up rested and refreshed, not to mention also giving you a more relaxing night! Believe it or not, your baby's bedtime routine begins well before you put them into their crib.
Your routine doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it’s best for it to be as simple as possible so you can repeat it no matter where you are.
Babies learn by repeated actions before they communicate with speech. Having a constant, reliable bedtime routine helps baby learn when it’s time to sleep. The most important ingredient of a soothing bedtime routine is consistency. Repeating the same steps in the same order is comforting to your baby and will help establish longer, better sleeps faster.
“Sleep associations are incredibly strong. The repetitive nature of a parent’s exact actions before bed is very powerful. It doesn’t matter that there’s no massage or books, what matters is that we created a reliable set of steps before bed that cue their brain and body that it’s time to sleep....you could stand on your head as the first step in your bedtime routine, as long as you do it every night.” - National Sleep Foundation
What age can I start implementing a routine?
Usually by the 6-8 week mark babies have found some sort routine (relatively predictable patterns of sleeping and eating). You may find your babe is a little earlier or later than this and that is perfectly fine. As with everything, you need to follow the timeline and tools that work for YOU.
So what does a baby bed-time routine look like?
Baby’s bed-time routine will vary for everyone, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Basically, you want to create a smooth and calming transition from being awake to being asleep. Here is a good bed-time routine guide that you may want to try:
45 minutes to 1 hour before sleep:
Give baby a bath, clean diaper and clothes.
Baby probably does need a bath to stay clean but more importantly the warm water is naturally soothing and calming before bedtime.
30 to 45 minutes before sleep:
Baby massage (this is a good way to apply lotions), put pyjamas on and swaddle. Turn on ambient/white noise, make the room dim/dark.
> Pro tip: Ensure the room is a comfortable temperature for baby - if baby is too hot or cold they will become uncomfortable and restless. A good temperature for baby is between 20 and 22 degrees celsius (parents often make the mistake of making baby's room too warm!) Our 100% Mulberry Silk sleep products for baby are another fantastic way to ensure baby's temperature is regulated throughout the night as silk is naturally insulating and breathable (meaning it keeps baby cool in the heat and warm in the cold!)
15 to 30 minutes before sleep:
Nursing/feeding, other calming activities of your choice
Hold off on noisy, stimulating toys and avoid tickle-fests (no matter how cute the squeals of delight might sound). Provide plenty of one-on-one attention and stick to quieter activities like cuddling or exploring fingers and toes.
10 to 15 minutes before sleep:
Move to baby’s bedroom if you haven’t already. Burp (if needed), and gently rock and/or snuggle to calm baby even more.
5 minutes before sleep:
Your baby should be very drowsy. Put them down in their cot/crib before they fall asleep (this allows baby to get used to falling asleep by themselves, not in your arms)
> Pro tip 1: Have your Silky Tots Silk Crib Sleeve or Crib Sheet already secured in the crib - babies find the silk texture soothing for sleep.
> Pro tip 2: As you are putting baby down, make sure you don’t let their head down before the rest of their body. If baby thinks they are falling (the feeling created by this motion) they will wake up on instinct usually with a jolt which ruins your whole calming approach to bed-time. Keep baby’s body as flat as possible when you lower them down.
Sleep time:
As your baby falls asleep, try leaving the room.
Follow this exact routine and your baby will sleep right through the night, right? Wrong. Every baby is different and young babies often wake multiple times per night, which is perfectly normal. Don’t worry if baby wakes again 3 hours later or even 30 minutes later. The idea is to lay the foundation so that over time, your baby associates all these cues with sleeping. A habit or routine is not created overnight which is why consistency is so important. The more you do it, the more concrete it will become!
Sweet dreams x
]]>It doesn’t take much for kids to create the perfect bed-head recipe… whether they have straight, long, curly, short or wavy hair, you may find yourself unnecessarily battling with brushing each morning, creating serious stress and anxiety when it comes to de-tangle time. Luckily, we’ve been there and have some simple tips to help alleviate some of the stress and tangles - you might be surprised at how simple some of these are!
Brush before bed
This sounds super obvious but how often do you brush your own hair before bed? We usually only really brush hair at the start of a day, while we’re getting ready and preparing for the day. However, you’d be surprised at how effective a night-time brush can be! If your littles jump into bed with pre-tangled hair, it’ll only worsen the tangles overnight. By de-tangling and brushing before bed, you are staying ahead of the game!
Use a Silk Pillow Slip
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - silk is the answer to bed-head, tangles and frizz! Silk greatly reduces friction and is much gentler on hair than regular cotton or bamboo pillow slips. Silk allows hair to glide across the pillow surface, without twisting or snagging it the way ordinary pillow slips do. Silk is also naturally hydrating as it doesn’t absorb moisture the way cotton does, leaving natural oils in the hair and skin where it’s needed most (moisturised, healthy hair is less likely to snag and tangle than dry hair). You can shop our Silk Pillow Slips here.
Use gentle shampoo and conditioners
Most generic shampoos and conditioners contain harsh chemical ingredients such as drying alcohols and sulphates (not only bad for hair but terrible for your kids’ health too). Using a naturally derived, gentle shampoo and conditioner will help keep hair hydrated, leaving natural oils to protect the hair and skin (this also helps to avoid dry scalp, eczema and irritation).
Some of our favourite natural hair products are:
Pro Tip: Use a detangler brush after bath or shower time to help softly untangle knots before drying hair! We love Happy Hair Brush
Dry before bed
Make sure you dry your littles’ hair thoroughly before they jump into bed. When wet hair hits the pillow it gets trapped between their head and the pillow surface, creating knots, matting and frizz as the hair dries in every which way! Dry, brushed hair, however, lies flat against the pillow and helps to avoid beastly bed-head.
Pro Tip: For kids with longer hair, it may be easier to keep hair all together in a soft ponytail or bun than have it crazily draped all over the pillow during the night. For best results try our Silk Scrunchies which help to avoid knots, snags and tangles that ordinary elastic bands often promote, while also avoiding telltale up-do kinks in the morning.
Trim regularly
The healthier your kids’ hair, the less likely it will be to frizz or knot up. Fine, split ends can cause tangles much more easily than healthy blunt ends! Your need to trim will depend on the type of hair your little has but if their hair is getting knottier than usual, you may find a trip to the hairdresser a life-saver.
]]>First things, first. Don’t panic!
Hormones can play a big part in baby hair-loss after birth (the same way new mums can lose large amounts of hair). However, a more common cause for baby bald spots is the time babies spend rubbing the backs of their heads on their mattresses, bassinets, capsules, etc. causing their fine hair to be knotted and broken off or pulled out by the constant friction.
We have put together some tried and tested techniques to help your baby retain their hair, prevent bald spots and patches and keep baby's hair looking healthy, silky & smooth while they're at it!
1. Switch to silk
Silky Tots 100% Mulberry Silk Bassinet/Crib Sleeves and Sheets help to reduce and prevent baby bald spots by reducing the friction on baby’s head (when compared to ordinary cotton or bamboo sheets). This friction is the main culprit for matting, knotting, frizz and eventually the dreaded baby bald spot.
Silk creates a luxurious, frictionless environment for baby's hair to grow as well as being hypoallergenic and uninhabitable by dust-mites, making it perfect for eczema, asthma and allergies.
Designed exclusively for babies, our Silk Crib and Bassinet Sheets and Sleeves have been created specifically for preventing bald patches and promoting hair growth. All our products are made from 22 momme 100% Mulberry silk and have been tested and certified under OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 to be non-toxic and free from harmful dyes and chemicals.
Silky Tots, really is, the gentle way to sleep.
2. Brush before bed
Gently brushing baby’s hair before bed minimises the knots that turn into matts and eventually rub off (creating bald patches) while baby is sleeping. If you can make sure there are no knots present before baby nods off, then you are one step ahead of the game!
3. Swap the sleeping side
If you’ve established a sleep routine, chances are you are placing baby at the same end of the crib each time you put them down to sleep. This means they will turn and rest their head in one direction more the other (especially if one side of the crib is against a wall) meaning pressure on the hair and skin is not distributed evenly, leaving your babe with bald patches and flat spots.
Try alternating the end of the crib you place baby’s feet to even things up!
4. Avoid harsh chemicals
Try to avoid washing baby’s hair too often. Even if you’re bathing daily, you don’t need to wash baby’s hair daily. You might want to re-think the baby shampoo and conditioner too... Baby’s hair doesn’t need shampoo or conditioner as it is perfectly capable of self-cleaning. Rinsing with water is a much better option as it won’t strip natural oils from the hair, keeping hair follicles moisturised and therefore less susceptible to knotting and breakage.
Baby’s skin is also 30% thinner than adult skin, meaning it is much more permeable and susceptible to harsh chemicals.
5. Encourage tummy time
As well as encouraging a healthy neck strength and muscular development, more time spent on baby’s tummy will help to reduce the amount of time she spends on her back and pressing her head into the surface below.
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Join Kristy LIVE on the Silky Tots Instagram tomorrow (Monday) 10.00am AEST talking all things sleep! This is your opportunity to ask Kristy all of your sleep related questions and get tailored, one on one support (toddlers and older kids included).All you have to do is make sure you're following us, jump online at 10am and tune in to Kristy's live feed via our story!
If you’ve got a new baby on the way, you’ve probably researched every little thing you need for them from cot beds and cribs to bibs, beanies and bouncers! But did you know your newborn spends up to 18 hours asleep every day? This means sleep becomes a big (and we mean, BIG) priority so it’s important that you get baby’s sleep environment and safety just right (and hopefully get some shut-eye yourself).
If you haven’t yet purchased a crib, here are some safety tips to keep in mind:
Check-list for new cribs:
Keeping baby safe in their crib:
Now that you’ve got the perfect crib and nursery set-up, you need to know how best to put baby to sleep to ensure the safest sleep environment.
Here are the non-negotiables:
Silky Tots Silk Cot/Crib Sleeves can be moved to the exact spot that baby is sleeping on the crib mattress and comply with all sleep safety regulations. Ensure your crib sleeve fits snugly on the mattress, if it it is too loose do not use (we offer exchanges or full refunds for sizing).
Silky Tots Silk Cot/Crib Sleeves and Silk Fitted Cot/Crib Sheets are temperature regulating and moisture wicking which can help baby stay at the right temperature while sleeping.
Sweet dreams x
]]>Jess Dempsey is the founder of successful Australian blog, What Would Karl Do. Over the past 8 years, her blog has grown to become a recognisable brand. Jess prides herself on uplifting and inspiring her loyal audience, who eagerly await each personal blog post she writes, like a journal. Her readers trust in her and rely on her to keep them up to date with the latest trends, honest motherhood experiences and products she recommends. Now a mother of three boys, we spoke to Jess about her life as a fashionable, busy mother and flourishing business owner!
I am the luckiest mama on earth to be blessed with three gorgeous little boys (Aston 7, Will 5, Freddie 17 months). Never did I ever think I would be a boy mum and now, I know it was my absolute purpose in life to be. I have been married for 11 years to my husband Josh, we met in 2004 at a dodgy night club in the western suburbs of Melbourne, where I grew up. I have always loved fashion, from a very young age and after I finished high school, I went straight into studying Visual Merchandising. My first full time fashion job was at Hugo Boss as VM and from VM I went into styling. I was a celebrity stylist from 2009-2012 and then my blog (that I started in 2010) became my full time job (as well as motherhood, of course).
Absolutely not. As I was one of the first fashion bloggers in Australia and it was at a time when you really had to work hard to get your name out there, this was before Instagram. I was purely blogging fashion for so many years and even when I had my first son, one year into the blog, my readers weren’t ready for me to talk about motherhood, so I continued only focusing on me and my fashion. I slowly started to see that my readers were interested in my personal life and because I didn’t want to be a ‘mummy blogger’ I would talk about motherhood in the copy (words) of the blog but the images would be of something completely irrelevant to the words (me in fashionable outfits!).
As time went on, I would see my stats on my blog spike up when I spoke about my motherhood journey and so I made the decision to do a balance of both, my life as a mum, and fashion. Today, and almost ten years on from being one of the first Aussie fashion bloggers, I let my readers in and offer them not only my motherhood journey but also week by week updates - from when I had my youngest son and his milestones and routines, recipe’s, where to buy the latest fashion finds and soon, my renovation.
These are the hard years, the days are long but the years fly by.
To be honest, it is to be happy. Success isn’t about money or having a social status or having a certain amount of Insta followers. It is about ensuring that where you are in life is where you want to be. It is being content in what you have and being proud of it too.
Yes! I used to want so much, so much of this and that from every aspect of life. Now, I want less, I want happiness, health and to have healthier mind set in my industry. I used to want more followers, however, now I want to engage, nurture and deliver to the followers that I have.
Yes, I work full time on the blog. I am very lucky.
I am not sure I am above water, I get stressed and anxious easily. I wear a lot of hats in my life and try and nail those roles the best I can. I had to get help in when I had Freddie. I now have a nanny three days a week, I have a cleaner and a girl who occasionally comes to do my washing. I always make sure that I do the school drop offs and pick ups etc, so on these three days I use to work, my work hours are between school hours. If you have family or friends or a nanny or child care or whatever it is, take it!
Yes and no. It is very hard to achieve this and I still haveent worked it out. Because I don’t have a 9-5 Mon-Fri job, I am working all different hours and squeezing an email in here and there throughout my day. One thing I do try and do is give each child one on one at any time of the day.
Sleeeeeep in, travel, shower daily and get into a hydrating routine. Slow down and enjoy life the best you can.
I have too many favourites! My bugaboo, my yoyo zen, my baby bjorn bouncer,Baby Brezza, Love to Dream swaddles, Ollie the Owl by Gro! So much!
Cars, I am such a boy mum
I don’t really, but whenever we go away to Noosa, I feel a zillion bucks!
Yes! You need three things - a bottom, a top and shoes! Seriously, whilst you are in the shower, think of those three things and where they are located in your wardrobe so you can simply grab them, put them on and go. I also love to play around with my hair and if you haven’t seen the ‘jess bun’ its my half out half bun look I have put on my IG STORIES and blog. I first did it to tie me over between hair washes, but now I do it to jazz up my look.
I am focusing on more tutorials and video content at the moment but for me, I would love to evolve into owning a product, something I can invest my time in so I stop thinking about having a fourth child! haha
The only music I listen to is Christian gospel (Hillsong) and… heavy metal circa yr 2000. I was a big band groupie back in the day and fainted when I saw Korn at BIG DAY OUT when I was 17!
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5. Iron your silk on the opposite side (face down). It's perfectly fine to iron your silk products - they will sit better on the bed/cot/pillow if they're ironed and will look much nicer! Just make sure you iron on the opposite side (face down - the less silky side!) on a low temperature setting.
Sweet dreams! x
I’m Steph , wife and mother to two gorgeous girls Harper (3) and Willow (1), so life is
definitely a juggle haha! I started up “Just Another Mummy Blog” a couple of years
ago to connect with other mums and now it has grown into an amazing platform
where I share all things motherhood, organisation, fitness and just opening up about my everyday life! I found myself in a juggle after having both girls and trying to run my own blog business!
Trust your gut!
I am actually a makeup artist and ran my own makeup artistry business! So each
weekend I was busy doing weddings which I really loved!
For me personally success is being truly happy with what you’re doing in life.
It doesn’t matter about how much money you're making but if you feel like you're fuelling your true passion. So for me I am definitely doing something I’m passionate about whilst being able to be home for the kids!
Absolutely! Now I feel like being able to run my own business, and be home with my children makes me feel more successful than any other job I’ve had. Being a mother will always be my first priority and then being able to work from home AND provide for my family is just the icing on the cake!
Yep I work full time on my blog which can be super tricky with kids so I make sure I keep as organised as I can but it means a lot of late nights at the desk!
Taking a small amount of time for myself each week. If that means turning my phone off and watching some Netflix or simply going for a walk then I make sure I do it. You need to make sure you fill your cup up too!
I think it is but to be honest I am still yet to find it and balance looks different for everyone. I just try to make sure while the girls are napping I smash out as much work as I can and then spend quality time with the girls.
Don’t sweat the small stuff and RELAX while you can!
Oh, that’s a hard one! Probably our trampoline the girls just love it and every afternoon I go outside and play with them on there!
Mine is Aladdin! Best movie!
Hot shower, wash my hair and Netflix!
I sure do! But unfortunately you will have to wait and see what I have in store for you all hehe!
Well my friends and family know this- I LOVE organisation I am actually a really laid back person! Even on my wedding day I was calm and relaxed! I also used to be sooo messy before kids! haha
Instead of saying ‘I have to’ swap it with ‘I get to’. It changes your whole perspective and makes those trying times a little easier.
I was actually an account manager for a global mobility company; we managed corporate relocations for companies like ANZ, Woodside, KPMG etc. I did study event management and marketing but fell into that through a friend.
Success to me is being able to support, but more importantly, be there for my family. As much as I love Silky Tots and working, my girls are my priority. It’s easy to get caught up in work and new opportunities but like a lot of mums, I started ST so I could be there for my kids while they are young, so it’s nice to stop and breathe and remember that everything doesn’t need to be achieved yesterday.
I always knew I wanted kids and always hoped I would be able to be there for them and work from home in some capacity. I have never been very motivated by money.
Ollie is in kinder 4 days and Mia is in family day care 2 days, so these are my main work days. I have recently taken a permanent desk at a co-working space 2 days per week, I am loving getting out of the house and being in a really cool, dynamic environment! As great as it is working from home, it can be isolating. I try not to work on Wednesdays, when I have both girls at home as it’s the last year before Ollie starts school and I really want to savour this time together!
Apart from my two main workdays and Wednesdays, I’m always on my emails so it kind of never stops!
Blocking out time. As women we are programmed to multitask and we are good at it BUT in the end something has to give. I have found I am more productive when I schedule time for work, down time with the kids (no phone) and also, importantly, time for self care!
Tip; if you find it hard to put your phone down get yourself an apple watch. Worth more than it’s weight in gold, I now find myself far more present when I’m with the girls as I am not tempted to check my phone every second.
I am still trying to figure this out, I constantly have that feeling of not being good enough in both aspects but I think we all need to be kinder and stop putting so much pressure on ourselves.
I have to say the cot sleeve, this was the original and the one I’m most proud of… but watch this space, I have an exciting new range dropping soon and perhaps my answer will change!
I’m a big fan of the Love To Dream swaddles, I used them on both girls from birth right through.
MOANA for the win!
I’m a really active person and need to get moving to clear my mind! I used to ride horses 6 days a week and complete in eventing but that’s been put on hold due to the girls being so young. I am currently doing F45 and love it, it’s so much fun and being quite competitive I find it motivation doing the group sessions, I hate going to the gym on my own.
We have recently launched Silky Tots UK and being from Glasgow, this is really exciting for me. I am heading over to the UK for a few months mid year to focus on the UK branch of the business and I can’t wait! We do have a USA store and who knows, we may set up an office there one day too but for now I’m focusing on Australia and the UK!
This is quite a personal thing and something I thought hard about sharing but in doing so, I hope I motivate others to trust their gut and back themselves.
Although I had made a silk cot sleeve for my first daughter, I didn’t actually really think about turning it into a business until after my second daughter was born. Mia was just 12 weeks old when my husband and I separated and having no family in Australia I was faced with a choice, go back to work full time and put the girls in full time care or back myself and give Silky Tots a go.
It was a long, long road but I believed in the product (and myself) and worked my ass off to finally launch around 18 months later. There were so many times that I questioned myself and felt like I should give up but I reminded myself to ‘Trust The Process’ and keep going. Long story short; if I can do it, anyone can you just need to start.
(Oh, and husband update; we got back together after 18 months and things are better than ever!)
x Nikki
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