26 Ways To Feel More Sexy After Having A Baby
As I sit down to write this, with baby food over my shoulders, in my hair, dressed in a baggy T-shirt and stained jeans… I ask myself… just HOW can you feel sexy once you enter the world of motherhood…
You have to respect celebrities such as Katie Price, Angelina Jolie and Posh look so fabulous after giving birth. What is their secret to being a yummy mummy?…(I suspect it is having a nanny, whods of cash, a personal stylist and fitness trainer… but besides that… hat’s off to them, they do look great, and never have any baby sick over their clothes).
Now, you may feel that with boobs dripping with milk, looking frazzled from the lack of sleep, feeling a bit tender from any stitches, that you just can’t be bothered to get dressed yet alone dress up. Well, here are some tips on how you can start getting back to that young foxy minx you were in the days before nappies…and if you can think of any other tips for our members, be sure to let us all know:
1. Get hair cut – treat yourself to a new hairstyle. After pregnancy, you may loose some hair or it may get slightly thinner… you may even start noticing the odd grey strand! Find a stylist you trust, or a saloon that looks sophisticated for a bit of added luxury. Spend some time discussing which styles will suit you and your lifestyle, which will look great but are low maintenance. If it has only been a few weeks since you had your baby, you may have to leave getting some colour until your hair has completely recovered from your pregnancy.
2. Buy yourself a new outfit – don’t wait to loose those post baby pounds, do it now! After months of wearing maternity outfits, find yourself something which makes you look great. Celebrate your curves! What are you proud to show off? Take the attention away from your tummy and onto those magnificent boobs you now most probably have! You want to feel special – get out of that tracksuit and throw on a skirt…Put the T-Shirts back in the drawer and find a top with the wow factor, maybe something with an open neckline or more fitted… even if you do get it covered in baby sick, at least you’ll look more classy.
3. Pamper yourself - treat yourself to a massage or spa treatment, try and get someone to look after your baby for a couple of hours so you can unwind. You deserve it!… you’ve been carrying around your baby for 9 months, and it has finally arrived… so take some much deserved you time. If you feel less stressed, you will look much more sexy.
4. Paint those nails – maybe you can book a manicure and pedicure. Or if you want to save some cash and time, go buy yourself a bottle of nail varnish that will look great. You may find your nails which were thriving while pregnant, now are starting to break…and while your about it, splash on some colour to your toenails to make your feet look more glam.
5. De-hair…many mothers feel so overwhelmed and constricted for time that they just can’t be bothered to worry about having hairy legs. Maybe it’s the last thing you are worried about, but book yourself in for a wax, or pick up that razor. Remember back to your days of being single – when you made the effort to do your bikini line, never walked out of the door with a moustache, used a tweezer, and always got rid of the fluff under your arms….well, maybe you didn’t, but try and grab 20 minutes when your baby is sleeping to tackle the job and I guarantee you’ll feel like a new woman.
6. Make a date with your husband or partner… and if you don’t have one, arrange a night out with the girls. If you can’t find a babysitter, then go out during the afternoon and bring baba along too… if you time it right, they may even fall asleep in the pram. Okay, so it won’t be quite the same having to breastfeed half way through the meal or getting covered in a bit of puree… worse case scenario is your baby will be screaming it’s head off… but give it a try. When is it nap time? Try and give them a good feed before you go out… if you do manage to get a babysitter, then enjoy yourself…
7. Slap on some lippy… amazing how much more sexy you feel if you just whack on a bit of mascara, a dab of perfume, or a touch of rouge…challenge yourself to spend five minutes extra in the morning just making yourself that little bit more beautiful. So, you’re just popping out for some milk and to the park?… well, we all have days when the last thing we feel like doing is looking into the mirror, and that’s fine, but just have a day when you do make a bit of effort…
8. Walk sexy – stand up straight. Not only will you look thinner, but you will feel more confident, and look taller. One trick to getting you to lengthen your spine is to imagine someone has put an ice cube on your head and the icy water is dripping down between your shoulder blades, down to the base of your spine. Raise up your chin and upper body and strut your stuff. Walk as if you are Naomi Campbell. Slow down your pace and make your hips sway slightly…
9. Start an exercise regime… if you have the all clear from your doctor, and it’s been at least six weeks, then you may want to start thinking about starting some regular exercise. If the gym is not an option, there’s plenty you can do with your baby. Make sure you get out for some fresh air everyday. Push the buggy, and walk at a good pace… maybe try jogging if your buggy is up to it. Once your baby is over 8 months-old you could look into getting a bike seat attached and cycling to the shops.
Recently, where I live they have started exercise groups for mums with prams, other places have walking groups – chat to other mothers to see what is going on near you. If there is nothing on, and you want to exercise at home, consider getting a work out DVD, some yoga, or Wii fit. If anything, the sight of you jumping about to some music will be the source of much amusement to your baby. Think about putting them in a playpen or their baby seat so you don’t accidentally trip over them. You could also try some press ups or lifting exercises and use your baby like a weight…
11. Watch what you’re eating – if you’re breast feeding, you may start having some serious sugar cravings or be getting very hungry. Just try and make sure you dose up on your fresh fruit and veg… give yourself a well balance diet. The best way I have found this is to make sure you have a well stocked fridge and cupboards. Try to resist buying lots of sugary snacks… maybe treat yourself to some good quality chocolate for when you really crave something and try to limit yourself to a couple of squares so that it lasts…
12. Talking of chocolate – I’m going to throw this one in too. There’s something about eating good quality chocolate which just makes you feel so good…
13. If you’re daring – throw on some heels. Okay, so they are not the most practical thing to be pushing a stroller around the supermarket in, but you’ll sure look hot! Since giving birth to my first child I have pretty much lived in trainers… but when you make an effort, it does make a difference. Maybe find some boots or pretty slip ons… just something which makes you proud to go out…
14. Drink lots of water. This has been said to the supermodels top secret. You’re meant to drink 1.5 litres per day, but whoever actually keeps track? Just remember to top up your glass and drink regularly throughout the day. Flush away all those toxins. Not only will you have more energy, but your skin will look more refreshed. If you can, try and avoid tap water, especially if you live in a city. It is worth considering a filter or a reverse osmosis filter if you have some cash spare, or picking up mineral water with your groceries. On a completely separate note – never drink water from bottles you leave in the car, as the hot temperatures can cause the plastic to leak chemicals into the water which have been linked to breast cancer… so ladies, throw that water away…
15. Avoid caffeine – if you’re hooked on coffee… this could be a tricky one. Try and reduce your intake. Look out for some tasty herbal teas (which are safe to use if you are breastfeeding), or try some warm water with some lemon squeezed into it. Will make you feel and look great…
16. Start feeling sexy - Read some sexy novels… Look at some sexy art… Get yourself thinking some naughty thoughts…. Let’s face it, having babies can kill our sex drive, and the last thing we feel like doing is hopping back into bed for a bit of a rendezvous. So, you need to somehow get yourself in the ‘mood’… and if you really don’t have the energy, just make some time for a bit of a cuddle and smooch.
17. Get happy! When your miserable, the world is a miserable place, but when your happy, my goodness, what fun life is!… Try and snap out of those post natal blues… okay, your live has changed, and yes, you have lots more responsibilities nowadays… but try and see that silver lining… you have a beautiful baby, someone who needs your love and care…happy people always seem much more sexy… it is amazing how powerful a smile is. So go on, smile like you’ve just escaped from the mental asylum… yes, people will think you’re crazy when you give them a grin, but it has been mentally proven that there a huge health benefits from just smiling. Also, people will think you’re a lovely person…try listening to some music which gets you dancing, watching funny movies, reading some personal development books when the kids are asleep.
18. Feel more confident. Your body may feel completely different to how it was before becoming a mother. Not only that, but you may feel a bit of a social outcast around people who are not parents.
To feel more sexy you need to try and restore your confidence and self-esteem. Being able to think of something other than your wonderful kids will help make you feel more confident. Keep an eye on the headlines for conversation starters, flick through magazines, stay opinionated.
One good way of striking up conversation is to remember FLOP: Family, Living (where they live), Occupation and Passions… listen to what they say and try to think of good questions based around what they tell you. Thinking of things to talk to other than the kids and home will also help keep your relationship spiced up!
19. Put on some nice underwear, if you can walk around in something sexy without having to ‘adjust’ yourself whilst running after a toddler or bending down to pick up your baby, then get them on! Even if nobody but you gets to see them, you’ll feel so much better.
20. Soak in a warm bath, maybe with a few drops of lavender… when baby is asleep, take some time out to wash your worries away. Great time to exfoliate and moisturize so your skin feels smooth and sexy afterwards…
21. Arrange a ‘sexy’ night in with your partner…you may not be the only one who is too knackered to think of anything but sleep once the clock strikes twelve.
Arrange an evening where you both enjoy a bit of couple time and make an effort to set the mood: dim the lights, get good old Barry White singing his magic (god rest his soul… listening to his voice should definitely help get you in the mood!), light a few candles, get the massage oil out, maybe some toys (wink wink), chocolates, wine, poetry if that does it for you… spoil yourself.
Try to relax, and don’t put any pressure on each other to have sex – just see what happens, enjoy each others company, and be prepared to nip upstairs to give junior a tank up feed in between! If you’re worried about how you look or stretch marks, then just dim those lights some more… or you could just blindfold your man!
Many couples find that they end up arguing and even resenting each other as they deal with the new challenge of parenthood. I’ve heard that the first five years of having kids is the hardest on a relationship and many people find the changes they go through too much. This is a chance to reconnect with your man, to blow some passion back into your relationship and relight those fires.
23. Try tantalizing your lover throughout the day, giving him the odd cuddle, grab his bottom, give lots of kisses. The first few years of having children can really test your relationship, and it is hard to make the effort… but it’s important. Let your partner know that he’s special, kids love it when they see that their parents are in love.
24. Try meditating… the hardest thing about this is making the time. Once the kids are down, there may be an endless list of chores and tasks you need to sort out for the next day. But, just getting a few minutes to yourself to take some deep breathes and relax will help you reconnect to that sexy goddess within you.
25. Buy some silk or satin sheets and sleep naked! Not only will you feel a bit naughty, but you’ll feel like a movie star. Just make sure you’ve got your dressing gown to hand for when you called for a feed…
26. Send yourself some flowers! Make sure you remind yourself how special you are… don’t wait for your partner to do it, if you like flowers and they make you feel good… surprise yourself!
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to Baby Chums RSS feed.
Thanks for dropping by and enjoy!
10 Signs That Your Baby Is Ready To Be Weaned…
April 28, 2009 by tanya
Filed under Baby Health, Baby Tips
Weaning is the process of moving a baby gradually on to solid food. After six months, breastmilk alone doesn’t provide your baby with enough nutrients, in particular iron, so other foods are needed.
The Department of Health used to recommend that babies were started on solids between the ages of four and six months. Then in May 2003, the following statement was issued:
“Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of an infant’s life as it provides all the nutrients a baby needs.
If you do feel that your baby needs to start solids before six months, you may want to have a chat with your health visitor. This is particularly important if you baby was premature.
Be aware that introducing solids too early or increasing the amount too quickly may result in damage to the baby’s digestive system. It may also mean that your baby does not take the amount of milk it requires to obtain his daily requirement of essential nutrients.
Weaning too early has been linked with a higher risk of developing conditions such as asthma, eczema and hay fever. It sometimes also leads to infants being overfed and resulting in obesity, which increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease later on in life.
If you do decide to wean your baby onto solids before six months, there are a number of foods that need to be avoided, such as those containing gluten, eggs, cheese, dairy products, fish and shellfish.
The goal is to get your baby to be eating a well balanced diet by their first birthday. At this point, they should be eating most foods, although they will need meals to be chopped up.
Is my baby ready to start eating solids?
Every baby is different, take a look at the following checklist to help you decide whether your baby is ready to start eating solids:
1. Is your baby over four months old?
2. Can your baby swallow food easily? Young babies can only swallow liquids – as they get older, they will drool less and start transferring food from the front of their mouth to the throat.
3. Can they sit upright, either on their own or with help, and support their head and neck well?
4. Have they started to make chewing motions, such as trying to chew their hands more?
5. Are they showing more interest in solid food? This is one of the strongest signs of readiness to wean. They may try to grab food of your plate.
6. Have they doubled their birth weight? This usually happens before or around their sixth month.
7. Are they demanding more frequent milk feeds and showing signs of hunger?
8. Do they seem unsatisfied and still hungry after a full milk feed?
9. Are they sleeping through the night? After a period of sleeping through the night they may start waking up for a feed.
10. Do they get distracted when feeding? Maybe they are stopping and starting feeds to play with objects or to try and chat.
If you answered ‘Yes’ to the majority of the above signs, then you may want to think about starting to wean your baby. You should talk to your health visitor or doctor if you have any concerns about introducing solids to your baby’s diet.
15 Ways To Stop A Baby Crying
As a mother of three under fives - I’ve had my fair share of listening to a baby crying. What could be the problem? Are they hungry? Dirty? Hot? Cold? Do they have colic? Are they ill? Have you been socialising more than usual and they’re just overtired? Questions, questions, questions…
Below are some tips to help you cope with those tears… What I found out after my first was that it is perfectly normal for your baby to cry at some point during the day. You soon find out that around 6pm seems to be the witching time for most little ones…
By far, for me personally, the best results I have seen came from taking my first two children to the Chiropractor. If you ask around, you should be able to find a professional who has been trained to work with young infants.
For many people, birth can be quite traumatic, and the baby might come out into the world just a little bit ‘squished’!. With my son, they found that his neck was all tense, and after just one or two trips, he was a different baby.
With my third, I thought I would try out a cranial osteopath, and have again been very pleased with the results. They gently massage the baby’s head and body to release any pressure points they find.
If, after trying out some of the tips, you are still having problems with stopping your baby crying, go and see the doctor. There are times when crying is a sign of illness. Watch out for a sudden change in the type of crying, and follow your instinct.
- Let you baby suckle at your breast. Many people think when their baby cries, it must be hungry, and can not understand why after a feed they still keep crying. If you have just fed your baby, then try some of the other tips below.
- Hold your baby close. Try using a sling. Rocking, talking, singing, swaying your baby may help calm them down.
- Burp your baby. For the first three or four months, you want to make sure you can get your baby to expel any gas they may have - even if they are breast fed. All of my babies have been quite tricky to burp. What I have found works is gently patting and stroking the back upwards. Sometimes it takes a bit of time, but it is worth being patient. Walking up and down the stairs while trying to burp them can also help.
- Introduce a schedule. One of the best ways of maximising your chances of a happy baby is to introduce a schedule as soon as you can. Set up regular sleep and feeding times, and try to be consistent. One mother I know was told to feed her baby every three hours and he was sleeping through the night after just a few months. Some parents think that their baby is not sleeping as they are having too much, where the reverse is true. Check that your baby is getting the recommended amount of daytime and night time sleep. This is where a schedule will help you out.
- Check your babies clothes. Do they need a fresh nappy? Are they damp? Are they comfortable? Obvious - but important.
- Rock your baby. Babies love movement, and often prefer you to stand up while holding them. If you’re at your wits end and really need a break, try taking them out in their pram or the car. The rocking motion will soon send most babies to sleep.
- Changing position. One of the most effective positions I have found for upset babies is called the ‘Tiger in the Tree’ position. You turn your baby onto it’s front, and place over your arm so that your hand can massage the tummy. Use your other hand to support the baby, and gently rock from side to side. They should look a bit like a tiger lying on a tree branch.
- Try Music. Some babies may be distracted from crying with music, Mozart often works well. Even just the sound of a rattle may be enough. Babies love the sound of their mother’s voice, so try talking or singing.
- Visual Stimulation. Take your baby on a walk through the house, pointing out interesting things to look at. Try placing a mobile above the cot, or reading a picture book.
- Use a Pacifier. Bottle fed babies may be comforted by a pacifier. Remember to sterilise if they are young, and never sweeten. If they do not take to using a pacifier, they may use their thumbs. As babies get older, many will use a blanket or toy as a comforter.
- Massage your baby. Try stroking your baby using firm and rhythmical movements. Many babies enjoy their backs or heads being touched. You could try out some baby massage, using baby oil. Make sure that the room is warm and your baby is relaxed - you will need them to calm down first if they are very distressed.
- Change your diet. If you are breast feeding and your baby seems to be crying in discomfort - you may want to take a look at what you are eating. Often, too much dairy or alcohol may be having an effect on your infant. Try reducing your intake, or making a few changes, for example, try drinking goats milk and see if there is any difference. If your baby is bottle fed, can you find an alternative to one which uses cow’s milk?
- Try giving your baby a warm bath. Every baby is different, some will love the water, others will protest. Make sure the water is at the correct temperature.
- Find a good place your baby to sleep. Take a look at where your baby is sleeping, is it quiet? Is there too much sun coming in from the window? There may be some changes you can make to get your baby more comfy. If your baby is sleeping above a socket, you may want to move their cot. Also, try and minimize the amount of electrical items in the room.
- When all else fails - try feeding your baby and then leave them to cry for a few minutes. Sometimes, rocking and talking to your baby may over stimulate them. There are mixed opinions about letting a baby cry it out, so do what you feel is best for your baby.
Below are some interesting video clips which will give some more tips on getting your baby to sleep.
For a sleep program that works, take a look at the Get Your Baby To Sleep! program. Results are 100% guaranteed, so you have nothing to lose.
Do you have any techniques which have worked wonders on your little ones? We’d love to hear what some of our members do to stop their baby crying…
