Bright Ideas | Practical Stuff

If your baby finds it difficult to eat slippery fruit pieces, coat the fruit in finely crushed weetbix or any other healthy crushed substance to make it easier for him to pick up.

Your toddler age 1 - 2 will start pushing the boundaries in his quest for independence. Don't sweat the small stuff - choose two to three things that are absolute no-no's and be consistent in these areas. Try not to use the word "no" too often as it will lose its effect.

Place your baby on his tummy when it's bath time. When he lifts his head to have a look around, it gives you the perfect opportunity to clean his neck area where all the milk seems to gather.

Bennett's Bum Creme is a great barrier cream, not only for bums. The area around your baby's mouth might react to the acid in fruit - smear a bit around his mouth and you'll soon see a difference. You can also mix some with baby's normal lotion to treat his winter's cheeks.

If you want to ensure your little one gets a good nights sleep without mozzies interfering, add some vanilla essence to a small bowl of water and leave it in his room overnight.

Always carry a bottle of pure lavender oil in your bag. The lavender oil acts as an aniseptic as well as calms your child down. This is great to use on any baby or toddler ouw-wee such as an insect bite or a scraped knee.

Sip on peppermint, chamomile or ginger tea to alleviate morning sickness symptoms. Another bright idea is to make your own iced-tea using rooibos and peppermint or ginger and store it in the fridge for quick access. More morning sickness cures here.

Drinking a fizzy sugary drink before you go for your scan can increase your chance of getting a nice peek at baby. This being said, some things in life can simply not be controlled and this is one of them. Mother Nature sometimes gets her way which means you will just have to wait for D-Day to meet your little one.

Pregnant women are more susceptible to brown spots and pigmentation - make a mental note not to leave your house without a layer of a sunscreen, at least 15 SPF. To lighten dark patches, try topical vitamin C serum under your moisturizer.

A thoughtful baby shower gift: Treat the new mom-to-be with a pregnancy massage at a spa that specialises in pregnancy pampering. Get a few friends to club in and treat your special friend at a time when she needs it most. There are many places that she won't be able to reach by now! Alternatively, arrange for a mobile spa to pamper her in the privacy of her home.