Quote to inspire

Live life, work to sustain and always have time for play - have fun always!

Bedwetting - what you can do

Bedwetting is common in children from the time they become toilet trained (around 3 years of age) until about 5 years of age.

Interestingly, bedwetting can run in families so if you were a bedwetter your children may be also. The important thing to remember with bedwetting is not to blame the child as it's not their fault. Some theories suggest that children who wet the bed sleep more deeply so do not wake when their bladder is full. There can be a medical reason for bedwetting in 5-10% of cases so it might be worth taking your child for a check with their doctor.

What to do?

• Wait - most children will outgrow bedwetting by six or seven years at which age treatment may be necessary
• Bedwetting alarms are available that wake the child at the first sign of bedwetting.
• Do not blame your child but reassure them that bedwetting is a normal stage of a child's life.
• You can choose to dress your child in pull-up style nappies (diapers) that protect the bed from the urine.
• Place a water-proof sheet on the bed to protect the sheets and replace daily.
• Take your child to the toilet before bed and remind them to go to the toilet during the night.
• Perhaps leave a night light on so your child can see their way to the toilet.
• In the morning, give your child a shower so they do not smell of urine during the day.
• Later, if bedwetting persists, medical treatments are available such as medications - see your doctor.

My fave recipe for muffins

butter for greasing muffin tins
2 cups SR flour
1/2 cup castor sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or more if desired)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Grease muffin tins thoroughly. Mix flour and castor sugar. Now is the time to add any extra dry ingredients like spices, bacon, cheese. Combine milk, egg and oil in a separate bowl and whisk a little. Now is the time to stir in any additional wet ingredients such as berries, mashed banana. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid - mix lightly. Spoon the muffin mixture into the muffin tins until two-thirds full, then bake for 20-25 minutes or until brown on top. Cool muffins on a wire rack.

How do you entertain your children?

Do you have bored little vegemites? After entertainment other than television? Here are some ideas:

* go to the park
* go swimming
* read a book
* make playdough
* bake some muffins
* do some colouring in
* play hide and seek
* call grandma or grandpa
* build a cubby house out of chairs and a bedsheet
* play Baby Karaoke from Raising Children website

Recipe for playdough

• 3 cups of plain flour
• 6 tablespoons of ‘cream of tartar’
• 3 tablespoons of cooking oil
• 11/2 cup of salt
• 3 cups of boiling water

 Mix all ingredients together until you have a playdough texture!

Use your imagination to make it fun - add food colouring, glitter, paper bits etc!!