Wrapping, feeding and keeping baby close are the three keys to success in your baby’s first year, Midwife Cath Curtin says.
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These basic keys form part of the presentation that the nurse with more than 40 years experience will bring to Warrnambool when she presents her masterclass on June 27.
The parenting educator who has delivered over 10,000 babies during her career, says mums need to get back to basics.
“Mother nature wants a calm and secure baby,” she said. “It’s time to dispell some of the myths about sleeping babies.”
Midwife Cath, as she is only ever referred to, is bringing her tips to regional areas to help her country cousins.
“My idea was to go to regional areas where mums can’t travel to Melbourne with their bubs for this advice, so I’ll come to you.”
The class, she says, is for anyone who has a baby, is having a baby or has contact with a baby.
“New mums need a champion,” she said. “It’s really tough, they need someone to teach them.”
Ms Curtin admits the first question she is always faced with at her classes is about sleep.
“Sleep is key,” she said. “If mum is not sleeping we need to look into why.
“The answers depend on the baby’s age, if it’s a newborn we’re talking about, does it need more milk? can we supplement?
“Babies need a lot of food to get through the night.
“A lot of the advice offered by the internet just confuses a lot of mums.
“All mums want to do a good job but they’re seeing it all day and everyday on social media and they’re trying to be perfect when they need to know they just need to be happy, love their baby and let the rest happen.”
Ms Curtin said her teachings are not just for newborns.
“I teach about play as well. It sounds basic but babies need to be taught how to play.
“There are too many distractions now,” she said. “Many are not moving enough during the day either.
“They keep still for hours and because of doing nothing, they’re not sleeping at night.
“Babies need to move and to explore.
“Put your baby on the floor,” she said. “Stop rocking them, and shooshing them and relying on dummies.”
The longterm midwife who celebrity mum Rebecca Judd calls her ‘guardian angel’ is preparing to launch her third book in September.
She has an extensive reach including podcasts, private consultations, masterclasses and sleep classes.
“Mothers are getting more and more anxious,” she said. “What I’m teaching really is common sense. I feel like mother nature, it’s really basic stuff.”
The BabyLove Masterclass by Midwife Cath will be held at The Quest Warnambool on June 27.
Tickets are available online www.midwifecath.com.au