How to help your toddler love reading!

How do you get a toddler to love books? Or enjoy looking at them? How do you introduce toddlers to books? Or sit still for longer than 3 seconds? Let's share some easy ways to help your toddler fall in love with reading.

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It's no secret that I am a bookworm. Before having Jensen, I'd read over 100 books each and every year without fail (let's not talk about how many i've had time to read post-Jensen) and it seems that perhaps that bookworm trait is genetic because I know have a little bookworm of my own. 

However, every time I post a photo or video of Jensen reading books on Instagram, I get a bunch of messages from other toddler Mums asking how I've gotten him to read/like/be interested in books.... and to be honest, it hasn't ever really been a conscious thing I've taught him, but there are quite a few things we do that have helped that.

So let's chat all things toddlers and books >> 

Recipe: 2 Ingredient Sweet Potato Scrolls (Gluten Free & Vegan, BLW Friendly)

This is a paid advertisement for ALDI Australia as part of their #ALDIBackToSchool campaign. #ad

It’s no secret that back to school expenses can add up quickly. 

You’ve got uniforms, shoes, books, lunchboxes, drink bottles, school fees, hair cuts, grocery bills to restock the pantry.

So naturally, when ALDI asked if I would help create some Back to School Inso for them, I knew I had to come up with some simple back to school recipes that were quick, easy, kid friendly and budget friendly too. 

This recipe cost less than $10 for all of the ingredients, making 12 scrolls with plenty left to make a second batch. 

Better still? It’s gluten free, nut free and egg free and can also be vegan and dairy free too. 

So let me share the recipe with you! >> 

Recipe: BLW Friendly Weetbix Banana Muffins (Gluten Free and Sugar Free)

A baby led weaning friendly recipe, these Weetbix Banana Muffins Recipe is sugar free, gluten free and so easy to make. A BLW fave that babies, toddlers and the whole family will love.

Life with an eight month old is hectic. 

With Jensen now on a mission to walk, he's climbing everything he can which means I can't take my eyes off him for a second. 

My beautiful shaker door cabinets have become finger holds for a baby who seems to think he's some kind of daredevil free climber. If he's not climbing, he's crab crawling through the house at lighting speed, untying shoelaces or chasing toys around.

And if he's not on the move, he's probably eating because oh boy does this kid love his food!

Muffins have become a recent favourite - both as entertainment (Jensen is fascinated with watching me cook) and as a snack and they've been perfect for taking with us on the go. From the zoo to the shopping centre and soon to be taken with us on our vacation, these muffins are the perfect portable snack for both baby and Mum and Dad. 

As a baby friendly recipe, they don't contain any added sugars - but you could easily add some sweetener (maple syrup or sugar) if you have an older baby or just want a sweeter muffin.

Best of all, these muffins use up the weetbix crumbs you get at the bottom of the box - and are great if, like us, you only have one weetbix eater in the family and want to use them up before they go stale.

We use gluten free weetbix for these muffins so that I can eat them to, but you can just as easily use regular weetbix. 

The recipe is also super adaptable. We add chia seeds, flaxseeds and almond meal to ours, but you can swap that out for more flour or mix through hemp seeds, raisins or whatever you like.

So let me share the recipe with you! >> 

Newborn Essentials We Used Daily

As a new Mum, it's easy to become overwhelmed with all the products you MUST buy... but what do you really use when you have a newborn?

With Jensen now four and a half months old, we know exactly what we did and didn't use in those early days - as well as what we're continuing to use now - so with so many of you expecting your own little ones, I wanted to share our newborn essentials to help you get a better idea of what you'll use, what you won't use and what we recommend.

Here's what we've been using daily! >> 

Jensen's Birth Story - An Elective C-Section Birth Story

I wasn't going to share Jensen's birth story.

To be honest, I've always found them a strange thing to share. Something so intimately personal and special, shared with the world to read - but whilst pregnant, I realised that my birth story might be a powerful tool for someone in similar shoes.

And it may have taken me 10 weeks to finally finish writing and posting it - but I still wanted to share.

You see, for many women, a c-section is a last resort.

It's what comes as an emergency procedure after a long labour that doesn't progress. 

It's the last mentioned on the birth plan "just in case". 

It's "major abdominal surgery" and to be avoided at all costs.

But for me, it was the only way.... and now I can tell you that for me, it was also the best way.

So let me share my story >> 

The Best One Handed Gluten Free Snacks

We've rounded up the best store bought, pre-packaged gluten free snacks in Australia that you can eat one handed and on the go! Perfect for anyone with a busy schedule - as well as a few extras especially recommended for breastfeeding mamas and new Mums.

I don't know about you, but I am definitely a snacker - especially while pregnant. Whilst huge meals aren't my thing, snacks definitely are and I love having healthy and convenient options in our pantry for when hunger strikes.

With a baby due in just a few weeks, I've been stocking up on my favourite one handed snacks so I always have something to eat - whether I'm snuggling a sleeping baby, up in the middle of the night feeding him or just wanting a snack.

As a coeliac, it's often hard to find good gluten free snack options - but I've rounded up my favourite One Handed Gluten Free Snacks that are perfect for stashing in your purse, glove box, nappy bag, pram or pantry. 

So let me share them with you! >> 

New Mama & Baby Essentials (Must Have Items)

With recommendations from midwives, seasoned mamas and professionals, we've rounded up the best products to buy and must have items for first time or new Mums with our New Mum Essentials Guide. From sleep aids to lactation cookies, swaddles, cot mattresses and more.

When you're pregnant, you're suddenly bombarded with advertisements of all of the products you and your baby need - but the truth is, they only really need a small fraction of those things.

Ask any Mum with a few kids and they'll tell you they had plenty of baby things that only got used once or twice - or maybe never used at all. 

It's the reason Facebook marketplace is always flooded with "like new" baby things and the reason why the baby industry produces so much waste - but what do you really need? 

Whilst I'm pregnant with my first baby, I was a nanny for quite some time and have been chatting with friends, midwives and professionals to put together a list with a few essentials you really should be adding to your list. 

Whether you're planning a baby shower and looking to put together a registry, or just want to know what things you actually need for your bub to be, this guide will provide you with some of our (and our friend's!) top picks.

So let's jump into it! >> 

Our (smallest) BIGGEST News Yet!

We've been keeping a secret! 

Whilst our kitchen renovations have stopped me from creating recipes for the last few months, there's been something else stopping me from cooking...

A sweet baby boy!

We'll be adding a new little guy to the Southern In Law fam in early December and cannot wait.

If you've been following me for a while, you'd know I don't like surprises... so naturally we had to find out if we were expecting a little girl or boy ASAP so we could start planning the nursery!

My head is now a flurry of woodland creatures and mood boards and I can't wait to get started.

Our kitchen may be almost complete, but we have a whole new set of renovations to plan now... and a whole lot of baking to do so I can share some new posts with you!

Don't worry, a kitchen reveal will be coming soon too!

IMPORTANT NOTE! 

Friends who are struggling to fall pregnant, have lost a baby or don't have the chance to become pregnant please know I have been in your shoes. If this news hurts you, please don't hesitate to unfollow me, hide my posts or ignore them. Your mental and emotional health is more important than blog views or Instagram comments. 

   

   

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