Stories

As children go through different stages of growth, their physiology changes and their sucking urge and capacity increases. That’s why Difrax offers five different sizes of pacifier, based on age,  to suit every child’s needs as they grow. This range spans from pacifiers for newborns to pacifiers for kids over 20 months old. As the age and size increase, the pacifier shield becomes bigger and the teat becomes firmer. But when is the right time to upgrade? Is age the only indicator or are there more factors that reveal if your child is ready to move up a size? Read on to find out. Pay attention to your child First and foremost, every child is unique. As a parent, you should be keeping a close eye on your child’s behaviour. You’re the best judge of what your child needs. If their pacifier seems to be getting uncomfortable or too small for them, upgrade it to a bigger one. Age is a good indicator Our pacifiers do come with an age indication – as a reference. This makes it easy for you to choose the right pacifier for your child. However, it’s important to note that it’s just an indication. If your child is bigger or smaller than average, for example, a pacifier for their age range may well be the incorrect size. Again, we recommend using your discretion as a parent. When to switch? The most important criterion is that your baby should be able to properly hold their pacifier comfortably in their mouth on their own – especially the Newborn, 0-6 months, and 6+ months pacifiers. Here are some signs that your child might be struggling to hold their pacifier in their mouth: They make a visible, conscious effort to hold it in their mouth Your child quickly or often spits their pacifier out when you put it in their mouth The pacifier’s shape is imprinted on your child’s cheeks after use If your child shows any of these signs, we recommend switching to a larger pacifier. ‍ ‍ Please note that it’s important to inspect your child’s pacifier for damage every day. To do this, firmly pull the teat and check to see if it is damaged in any way. If it is, replace it immediately. For a little help with how to safely use a pacifier.

‍ Nothing comes close to the love we feel for our kids, which is why we only want the best for them. Well, the Difrax S-Bottle is the best anti-colic baby bottle there is. It’s specially designed to prevent colic, reflux, and vomiting, stimulate a comfortable natural feeding position, and make sure your little one has a pleasant, nutritious feed every time. There are two types of S-Bottle — Natural and Wide – and they come in different sizes. We’re here to help you figure out which one is the right choice for your baby. Natural and Wide S-Bottles The S-Bottle Natural ‍ This award-winning baby bottle is favoured by kids and parents alike. It’s uniquely shaped to stimulate a comfortable natural feeding position for your baby and ensure a constant and regular flow of nutrition that makes feeding easy and pleasant for both of you. Its slim shape makes it easy to hold, and it comes with a proprietary anti-colic valve that reduces the risk of colic, vomiting, burping, and reflux. The base is unscrewable for easy, thorough cleaning and wide enough to fit cubes of frozen breast milk. The S-Bottle Natural is suitable for use from birth for both full-term and premature babies and is proven to be useful in combination with breastfeeding.  The S-bottle Natural is available in 170 ml and 250 ml sizes.   Which size S-Bottle should I choose? ‍ Natural S-Bottles come in 170 ml and 250 ml models and Wide S-Bottles come in 200 ml and 310 ml models. The smaller-sized variety of Natural and Wide S-Bottles (170 ml and 200 ml, respectively) are typically used early on in your baby’s life – from birth. After a while, they will begin to drink more and require a larger bottle. When you notice the smaller bottles no longer fully satisfy their hunger, switch to the Natural 250 ml or the Wide 310 ml S-Bottle. The Silicone Bottle Teat ‍ All S-Bottles come with a safe, soft-coated silicone bottle teat that’s comfortable for your young one and easy for them to accept. They’re tasteless, odourless, easy to clean, and safe for use even for kids with latex allergies. S-Bottles come with a standard size S bottle teat. Please note: Difrax bottle teats come in different sizes to best suit your young one’s suction power and the type of food you use. Click here to find out which teat is best for your young one.   The Difrax S-bottle is recommended by parents and professionals 80% of professionals recommend the Difrax S-bottle for your baby*78% of users of the Difrax S-bottle report fewer colic cramps in their children*46% of Dutch parents use a Difrax S-bottle* Over 80% of birth care professionals recommend the Difrax S-Bottle to the families they care for*. The reason is simple: S-Bottles are designed specifically to prevent colic, work well in combination with breastfeeding, and are suitable for use from birth. S-Bottles are also extremely hygienic. They’re completely disassemblable for easy cleaning and made of suitable, safe materials for children. The Difrax S-Bottle is rated 8/10 by professionals and parents. ‍ ‍ * The figures quoted are based on consumer research conducted by WIJ Special Media amongst 1886 participants and an online survey conducted by Difrax BV at verloskundigenloket.nl and kraamzorgloket.nl. More than 160 maternity nurses and 100 obstetricians took part in the research.

Annie Johnson has her hands and heart full as a Mother to two twins and a teenager. Especially given that she works as well. In this edition of Mom Talk, we spoke to her about life, work, motherhood, parenting, and, of course, her twins’ favourite Sprout products. Read on for some practical parenting tips and insights. Annie, tell us a bit about yourself, your family and your parenting journey. I became a mother at the young age of 20. Our eldest daughter, Leah (who will be 16 in January) was born at a time when I was still finding myself as a young adult. Being a young mom meant I had to face all the challenges of raising a child whilst still studying and building my career. The sacrifices we made to give her a home and a sense of stability are the same reasons I had decided I was done having babies – until I turned 33 and realised that my window of opportunity was closing.We made plans, but life is full of challenges. I struggled for a while to fall pregnant. We eventually conceived a baby boy, but his heart unfortunately stopped beating at 20 weeks. After 16 months of working to get physically and emotionally healthy, I finally fell pregnant again. I decided to take this pregnancy day by day and waited to see my gyne until I was 16 weeks pregnant. It was only at this point that we discovered we had been blessed with our twins Judah and Aviyah – a boy and a girl. I’ve worked in the FMCG industry for over 13 years, first in sales then in Marketing and Brand Management which I continue to do now as a freelance marketing specialist. Luckily, I work from home, which means I can dedicate more time to raising our family. What are some of the advantages and challenges you’ve faced having twins? One major advantage of having twins, in my experience, is just witnessing the unique bond they share. From birth, you see their empathy for one another. They even try to comfort each other if they’re crying. They play together and motivate each other to reach their milestones. I get to experience the best of both worlds with two personalities that keep us laughing and full of love.Sometimes, one baby will wake the other at night when crying, which is a challenge. As is comforting two babies who both want their mom at the same time. This leads to a lot of mom guilt. They love each other, but at this young age, they sometimes become jealous and fight. I feel that, as a twin mom, part of your rearing them is also nurturing a healthy relationship between them, whilst still empowering them to be who they are as individuals. Do you have any clever hacks to make life easier as a parent of twins? Have a routine. Be organised. Prepare. My twins are on formula milk now, which means I have to make sure their bottles are clean and filled with water every morning, then ration their powder into compartments, ready to be added to their bottles at feeding time. I find that the best way to feed twins when you’re by yourself is to place them side by side on a pillow in front of you and have their dummies ready at hand. But there are times when side-by-side won’t work – like when one of them is crying. In such cases, be prepared to use your hands, legs, tummy, and any other part of your body to keep them safe and comfortable while they feed. I also set up a changing station with everything I could possibly need nearby. They each have a mouth, face, and bum cloth hanging on the wall, and every changing product is within easy reach. I often use my pram around the house as an extra set of hands as well. I know that I can safely place one or both twins into it whilst I do what I need to do, like hang laundry. One of the best pieces of advice I read was to not buy two of everything as twins are different and might not necessarily like the same things. If something works for both of them, get another, but if they don’t, don’t. We set up a Montessori-style play area where they play and move from one thing to the next. There’s a 16-year age gap between your oldest daughter and your twins. How has the world of parenting changed after all this time? Things have changed a lot. Back in 2008, we raised our kids the way our moms taught us, whereas now it seems that new-school parenting is based on what scientists in America or paediatricians say. There are so many gadgets and products in the market now too, which wasn’t the case back then. Most are a waste, but there are a few things that have made life so much easier. I especially love the development of natural, healthy products and how quick and easy it is to make my twins’ food nowadays thanks to high-speed blenders.  Social media has certainly amplified mom-shaming and the judgement of different parenting styles. But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that a child grows up happy, healthy, and safe. We all have our methods of making that happen. We hear you have a clever way of colour-coding your Difrax bottles. Tell us more. Difrax bottles come in such gorgeous colours. I’ve made sure all of Judah’s bottles and pacifiers are grey or black and all of Aviyah’s are blossom pink. It’s just easier that way. I never have to remember whose bottle is whose. Believe it or not, at this age, they can tell which one is and isn’t theirs. What are some of your favourite Sprout products for the twins? Definitely Difrax’s S-Bottle. The built-in anti-colic valve has been very helpful – especially with Judah as he sometimes gets bad reflux. And it’s so easy to hold! I can hold two bottles in one hand or even rest one on my arm during feeding, which is great when I need my other hand free. I also really love Difrax’s pacifiers. They were easy for the twins to accept easily and they’re shaped in such a way to leave nostrils free. Lastly, the Silicone Fingertip Toothbrush. Nothing works better for massaging the twin’s gums and cleaning their teeth.

Bianca Klein knows a thing or two (or three) about work-life balance. For Women’s Day this year, we spoke to the 24-year-old mom of two about juggling parenting, work, and her passion for lifestyle blogging, what it means to be a woman in South Africa today, and, of course, her and her son’s favourite Sprout product – the Difrax S-Bottle.

Kelly Fung is the definition of a career-driven mom. Working as the Fashion and Beauty Director and Editor-in-Chief of some of South Africa's top magazines has paved the way for her to become Head of Marketing at ARC Store. We stole a few minutes of her time to get some tips on how she juggles her work and  motherhood. Kelly, Tell us about your family, your career, and how mom life has treated you. For the past seven years, I have taken on big career roles, from Fashion and Beauty Director for Marie Claire magazine to Fashion Director at Superbalist.com, to moving on to Editor-in-Chief at ELLE magazine. In 2021 (at the height of Covid) I took a big risk and joined a tiny team with a big dream; to start South Africa's first beauty-focused retailer - ARC. I never expected to get through the volume of work thrown at me and launch a brand during such a tumultuous time. Perhaps the universe needed to remind me that there were other things in life besides work and a career, and so another surprise landed in my lap. I found out I was pregnant.    Mom-life, my biggest role so far, has been this unexpected gift that has turned my world upside down. Describing it as challenging is like explaining the ocean's vastness - it just doesn't quite cut it. On the flip side, it's altered my perception of life and what is important. Have you faced any challenges being a new mom, and how have you overcome them? My husband Ben and I decided to relocate to London, which had been our dream for a while. I now know that pregnancy-brain is a real thing. Looking back, I would never recommend taking on two of life's biggest challenges as a two-for-one package deal, but we did it! I look at Ben every day in awe and sometimes pinch myself because I can't quite believe that Issey and I scored such a hands-on, devoted husband and father. It's the three of us against the world! Moving countries, a difficult start to breastfeeding, sleepless nights, and constant chaos aside, my biggest challenge is the uncontrollable grief in leaving behind the 'you' before becoming a mom. While Issey was a surprise, I am grateful that I had so many of my personal goals ticked off. At 35, I believe I waited a good amount of time to feel ready (or as ready as I could be) but I still struggle with that feeling of withdrawal and loss of identity, which creeps in even as one feels the ultimate joy in having a baby. I wouldn't say I have overcome this yet, but I understand it is part of the process for many women - especially workaholics like me.  What does your daily schedule look like and how do you make time to be a dedicated mom whilst running a business? We try our best to keep a steady routine, but babies are like schedule shmedule. Currently, Issey is going through her apparent 7-8 month sleep regression, so we are up sometimes 2-3 times a night. She will wake up at 6.30 am and make it known to Ben and me that the day has begun. She is full of beans in the morning, so we usually give her her breakfast porridge by 8 am and let her get messy in her PJs. She'll then have some play time and have her first nap at 10 am. The rest of the day is up in the air. We aim for two naps in the day and bedtime by 7 pm. Issey loves her bath time, so we rarely skip that.  I weave in work throughout the day. Luckily, I have been able to extend my maternity leave for a full year but continue to work flexibly. Work is taking a backseat for the first time ever.  What is Issey's favourite Sprout product, and why? Issey loves her Difrax S-Bottle which she took to very easily. She has her morning bottle with her dad. The shape is comfortable for her and she easily holds it with her little hands. She also loves playing peekaboo with her Cuddle Comforter.  Photography credits: Sophie Smith Photography      

Mashita,Tell us a bit about your family, yourself as a mom and your work and studies. My little family consists of myself, my fiancé, and our baby Didier. I have a BCom Law degree, worked for two years and then stopped working to further my studies, so I’m currently a full-time student. I’m a new mom but I still want to achieve my goals and this is why I decided to continue studying. I simultaneously have to juggle being a mother and a student, and yes it has not been easy, but with the support of my fiancé and siblings who also reside in the same city it’s been doable.  How have you managed to maintain a healthy balance between family, studies and being a mom? I don’t have the luxury of doing things spontaneously or procrastinating anymore, so I have to manage my time properly, pre-plan my days and try to stick to those plans. I have to allocate time to my studies and time for family. It hasn’t been easy hearing Didier playing and laughing in the other room while I’m sitting behind a desk preparing for a test, but thankfully I have a super supportive fiancé who understands that some days he will be attending to Didier without me and I will catch up with them later. Along the road to furthering your career, what have the challenges been and has being a mom changed the way you deal with certain things? Starting my motherhood journey off without having my own mother here to guide me has been challenging. Everything I came to know was mostly off the internet. Low milk supply during my early postpartum days was also a challenge. My milk supply was so low that it got both me and my baby frustrated and I resorted to formula. Didier has been a formula baby since then. Right now, I’m having difficulties with getting him to eat consistently. He loves his formula so the transition to solids is still an ongoing one and he is a picky eater. With my studies one of the biggest challenges is when school requires most of my attention. I feel as though I'm missing out from fully witnessing my baby grow and develop, but I think even working moms feel that way. It often feels like the time we have is just never enough.    What is Didier's favourite Difrax product and why?  It has to be the 360-degree cup, because he just prefers it and I've noticed how easy it is for him to hold because of the shape - perhaps that's the reason why.  For more on Mashita and Didier's journey and adventures, follow their pages @baby_motsi and @thee_mash on Instagram.    

After giving birth, it's important to nourish your body with healthy, nutrient-dense foods to help with recovery and promote milk production if breastfeeding. Kath Megaw from Nutripaeds gives us some valuable tips for postpartum nutrition.⁠ ⁠ 1. Oats are a great source of iron, which can help replenish blood lost during childbirth. They are also high in fibre, which can help prevent constipation, a common postpartum issue.⁠2. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. It is also a great source of protein and vitamin D, which are important for postpartum recovery.⁠3. Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collard greens are packed with vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, and vitamin K, which can help with recovery and support milk production.⁠4. Eggs are a great source of protein and vitamin D, which can help with recovery and support breastfeeding. They are also versatile and easy to prepare, making them a convenient postpartum food.⁠5. Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are high in antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. They are also a great source of fibre and vitamin C, which can support overall health and recovery.  

What happens when the phrase "We're not saving lives here" doesn't apply to you? Dr. Marguerite Barnard is one of those people. As a specialist surgeon in training, wife, and mom to a toddler, we search for the secret to her calm composure and tips on how she stays on top of her game. DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about yourself as a Specialist Surgeon in training and what your work entails. MARGUERITE: It's been a long, compelling, and adrenaline-filled road for the last 14 years, since starting medical school. I've unexpectedly found a love for the operating room ever since I set foot in the sterile world of surgery as a student. I found every excuse to assist in theatre, attend surgery courses, network with talented female surgery mentors, and learn from their tips and tricks. Now I'm becoming a general surgeon myself.  Most of my scope revolves around cancer operations, trauma, hernias, appendixes, emergency surgeries, breast and thyroid operations, cholecystectomies, and endoscopies. Knowing what I wanted to do early on made it easier for me to manage my ambition as well as give it a name and a purpose. DIFRAX: Describe to us what a typical day in your life looks like, and how you deal with the pressures of your work while juggling family life. MARGUERITE: My typical day doesn't have a lot of “typical” in it, unfortunately. You can plan the perfect theatre or clinic day, only to find an ICU patient decompensating and needing urgent major surgery, but it keeps you on your toes. The week is filled with being on-call, seeing sick patients, scrubbing in on major cases, and long ward rounds. Academics are also a big part of what we do, so we slot in meetings during the week. I love research so sometimes statistical meetings or conferences also get scheduled throughout my year.   Nobody is perfect at dealing with a work-life balance I guess. The important part is just to keep re-adjusting. I've found a lot of serenity in swimming, so we'll often make use of our local gym's babysitting services to get a quick few laps in. I've also gotten good at queuing podcasts that I'd love to listen to, and always keep earphones nearby. Another big advantage in our household is that we don't own a TV. It affords us a lot of extra hours in the day, but if I'm craving a good series or a movie night, there's always a laptop for that.  DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about your family and what your favourite part of parenting is.  MARGUERITE: I really didn't imagine I was going to enjoy parenting this much! We didn't go into our parenting journey with a lot of friends with kids. It really allowed us the opportunity to decide what our lives with a daughter was going to look like without people's preconceived ideas about how it should be. We love travelling, so we even hopped on a flight when Daphne was two weeks old. I don't know if it was bravery or oblivion, nevertheless, I had such a great maternity leave figuring out what our own boundaries should be. She's by far the best part of my day. After work we get on the floor, play hide and seek, and awkwardly dance around the living room, even if it's just for 5 precious minutes.  This means the world to me.     DIFRAX: What tips do you have for other moms who have extremely high-pressure jobs and are struggling to maintain a work-life balance? MARGUERITE: The rules aren't written for you. Be brave. You are most likely never going to fit into society's mould of what parenting should be, and that might just be your saving grace. I consulted with a big mentor of mine before I decided to become pregnant during my surgical training years and her advice was the following - your daughter should be able to function without you around. If you sleep at the hospital for a week, have a deadline, or have a big meeting presentation coming up, you need to know that she is 110% safe, loved, and looked after. So that is something my husband and I never compromise on. We have a nanny that means the world to us, and an equally amazing night nanny I arrange beforehand when I'm on call. We've curated a network of close family and friends who we know she feels safe around, and that allows us the opportunity to fully commit to our work environment.     DIFRAX: What is your favourite Difrax product and why?  MARGUERITE: We recently got our hands on Difrax's soft spout cup in a cute dusty brick colour which Daphne enjoys. It fits in well with our on-the-go nappy bag and because of the unique design I never have to wonder which cup is hers at busy birthday parties.   For more on Marguerite's life and parenting tips check out her Instagram page  and read her article here.  

From starting BodE in lockdown to managing stress and a busy schedule, talented and inspiring Elena Pappas gives us some valuable tips on how moms can fit a workout into a busy day while being a momtrepreneur.  DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about yourself as a Fitness Instructor and Health Science Graduate, and how you came to start BodE? ELENA: My goal was always to become a medical doctor just like my dad, so I started off with my Health Science Degree in Public Health, but things ended up going in a completely different direction when I moved to Cape Town. Fast forward a few years and here I am, still somewhat in the health industry as I always hoped, but in a totally different way. BodE was born during lockdown when all we had was online workouts to keep us moving. During that time, I also had the opportunity to complete my fitness instructor course, and I started off by doing a couple of Instagram workouts which people really enjoyed. From there I had my website built and slowly started to grow and evolve to where I am now, which is an online platform and mobile app that has five different trainers as well as a nutrition team. The way that BodE has helped and inspired others is what drives and fulfils me, so I may not have become a medical doctor, but I still get to change lives one way or another. That’s good enough for me!  DIFRAX: As a business owner and mother, what does a typical day look like for you from start to finish, and how do you manage to balance your schedule with family time? ELENA: I definitely do struggle to juggle everything, and I often find myself becoming really anxious and stressed about how much I need to get through, but I am definitely starting to manage my time better. We have an incredible nanny who helps out twice a week, so those are my days to film and edit workouts, and to complete all my admin. On the days she is not around, I am in mom mode, which involves playing with Ethan most of the day. When he naps I try to squeeze in a workout, some admin or just getting things done around the house. I don’t really get much time to chill, but I am really blessed to be able to have my own business and to work from home, so I really can’t complain. I absolutely love what I do, but I also love being a mom and being with my son, so I try my best to find a good balance.  DIFRAX: What are some of the obstacles that pregnant and postpartum moms encounter when getting motivated to work out and trying to maintain a balance? ELENA: I think the two biggest obstacles are time management and exhaustion! I speak from experience when I say that trying to find the time to train when you have a baby or when you’ve hardly slept is almost impossible. The same goes for the fatigue you feel when you are pregnant, but I can also say that I have NEVER regretted a workout, so you really need to dig deep and find that motivation, because you always feel fantastic afterwards. BodE workouts are designed to be short & effective, so they are easy to fit into any type of schedule. As a mom, I don’t have enough time to get ready for gym, drive to gym, do a workout and then still drive home. With BodE, I can do all of that in under 45 minutes in the comfort of my own home. What more could one ask for?  DIFRAX: We’ve seen a rise in popularity of home workouts since the pandemic started, offering a safe and accessible way to exercise and stay fit from home. What benefits does this offer stay-at-home moms or moms on maternity leave? ELENA: The beauty of online workouts is that they offer one the ability to train while still being at home with their little one. Most moms aren’t able to go to the gym and leave their baby at home alone, so why not wait until he/she takes a nap, or even when awake, they can safely play with their toys right next to you while you get your workout in. Another factor is self-confidence. The last thing a pregnant or postpartum mamma wants to do is step into a gym full of people. Half the time you are in pajamas and you haven’t even brushed your teeth… absolutely suitable for home workouts! If working out is a hassle, then most mammas won’t do it, so my aim is to make exercise as fun, convenient, accessible and affordable as possible. DIFRAX: We see you offer both BodE Bump and BodE Postpartum packages for moms. How do these workouts focus specifically on pregnant and postpartum moms? ELENA: The pregnancy safe workouts are a bit of everything, so the library has a combination of Pilates, Barre, Yoga and my workouts. They are all pregnancy safe and low impact, and there are three difficulty levels for members to choose from. For the Postpartum library, I have an incredible trainer based in Johannesburg who specialises in pre and postnatal movement, and we have structured the library into a 17 week program for postpartum mammas to work through. I did the program myself after having Ethan, and I can safely say it is highly effective and extremely enjoyable. It’s the perfect way to ease back into exercise, because it builds up in difficulty as you progress through the library, with a specific focus on core connection which is something that so many women forget about when it comes to postpartum training. Exercise during and after pregnancy is really important, and having been there myself, I really want to ensure that I can offer women a safe, effective platform to use throughout their motherhood journey. To find out more about the incredible BodE packages, visit the website here. Watch our Instagram page as we launch an incredible giveaway with Elena tomorrow.  

In the spirit of gifting this festive season, Difrax and Shop North have selected some of our favourite treasures from female-owned businesses that will make beautifully considered gifts and unique stocking fillers for the whole family. For a limited period, from 5-15 December, we will be selling these products on our website. Amanda-Jayne Candles Proudly local and deliciously addictive, these candles do not disappoint. We love that this brand is locally produced in Cape Town and owned by momtrepreneur Amanda Cumming. In the spirit of gifting we particularly love her beautiful festive gift packs, deliciously scented and as delightful to open and look at as they are to light and smell. Hand poured in stylish gold tins, made with natural soy wax, and scented with a unique blend of pure essential oils, the scents in this gift box are Greenhouse, Night Bloom, Ginger Cake and Seasoned. They are all beautifully decorated with unique Christmas inspired labels and include a chic box of white tipped candles.  For the Festive Pop-Up Shop, Amanda has put together a special set of scents that are soothing for pregnant moms, available in the standard 4 tin gift set, comprising of Greenhouse, Night Bloom, Orange Blossom and Pink Petal. Shop Amanda Jayne here.   Ben Ben After having a child late August of 2019 and then experiencing a pandemic and lockdown, this mother and father team, Celeste and Alain Ferrier, began manufacturing amazing room accessories for toddlers and kids, with a true family spirit at the heart of it all. Ben Ben, comprises of crafted wooden products and lights that will make any toddler light up when they open these gorgeous gifts. The designs are eco-friendly and are plastic-free. They are made from sustainable birch ply timber and use non-toxic and biodegradable paints. Ben Ben is locally made with the goal of uplifting the communities they source from.  We are particularly obsessed with the cleverly designed height charts in the shape of surfboards that will look beautiful as a decor element in any kid's room. As a special bonus, Ben Ben is giving away free hand-made up-cycled Christmas stockings to the first few orders received. Stock is limited.  Shop Ben Ben here.     Bloom  Harriet Came is a well known and highly respected doula, as well as an amazingly established yoga teacher of 25 years, specialising in prenatal and postnatal yoga. With this wealth of insight and knowledge, Harriet really is an industry leader in her field. Her company, Blossom and Bloom, provides products and services to support women around fertility, pregnancy, birth and beyond. Under this umbrella she runs the NPO, Bloom Mama, which looks to provide less fortunate mothers in Cape Town with pregnancy assistance. We are a big fan of Harriet's oil range, Bloom oils, made up of five different nurturing oils that vary from anti-nausea to sleep aids to massage oil for mothers and babies. We highly recommend this beautiful range of healing and soothing oils, and are stocking it in our Pop-Up shop as a must-have for a Christmas pamper. Shop Bloom Oils here.  Sensorium Toys Robyn Turnbull is a paediatric occupational therapist who specialises in sensory integration. With play being a big part of her every day life, finding and sharing the best toys with parents has become her mission. Through Sensorium Toys Robyn is achieving this mission by showcasing beautiful toy brands who offer clever design and support child development. We love her selection of gorgeously crafted wooden toys that have a different skill or mission behind each of them. From the Sensory Tumbling set that rolls and encourages reaching and interaction in little ones, to developing their fine motor skills through the colourful Fruit Cutting set, Sensorium has got all the stages covered in beautifully designed and executed educational toys. This is the perfect gift or stocking filler for your little ones. Shop Sensorium here. ⁠  

We were lucky enough to catch a few minutes with the amazing celebrity makeup artist, social media guru and business owner, Lindy Lin, to find out how she juggles being a new mom and a busy entrepreneur. DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about yourself and your business. LINDY: I’m a self-made, full-time entrepreneur. I primarily do bridal & occasion makeup, as well as running my own clothing line and store in Canal Walk. I also dabble in a few social media endeavours. I'm new to the mom scene but I love it! DIFRAX: As a mom and business owner how have you adapted your schedule to fit everything in? Do you have any tips for other working moms?   LINDY: Luckily I make my own schedule and thanks to help from my mother-in-law and babysitters I’m still able to attend events and functions as I would before having a baby, as well as fulfilling my clients' makeup bookings. TIP: It really does take a village, so seek out all the help from your loved ones that you can get. Being a mom is definitely a 24/7 gig, but luckily most of my bookings / planning / social media work gets scheduled in advance, however my baby comes first and any spare time goes towards making the income I need to. DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about you guys as a family and what your favourite part of parenting is.   LINDY: Joao and I recently celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary (we've been together for 5 years in total). He is half Portuguese and I’m half Taiwanese, which makes Malakhi a complete South African, haha. We love every part of being new parents, and his smile makes me forget about the sleepless nights I get to experience. I do believe that it is our duty to bring our babies back to God and to try our utmost to rear them as best as possible.  DIFRAX: What is Malakhi's favourite Difrax product and why? LINDY: Malakhi is 4 months old now and I am still breastfeeding him. I do sometimes express and feed him in the S-bottles which he took well to the FIRST TIME and hasn’t rejected since ( my feelings were a little bit hurt, haha ) but I'm so glad it works well for us. The anti-colic valve definitely helps reduce the intake of air in the milk and reduces the winds he experiences.  For more on Lindy, her business and her brilliant makeup tutorials, check out her website here and her Instagram page here.

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and breast health, we asked the fitters at Storm in A-G Cup to give us a few pointers about finding the ideal bra fit to avoid the knock-on effects that can be caused by an ill-fitting bra. DIFRAX: How does wearing the correct bra size and type of bra promote good breast health? STORM IN A-G CUP: Wearing the wrong size bra may cause headaches due to pressure on the neck and shoulders. A lump can also form due to irritation from an ill-fitting bra or underwire digging into your chest. DIFRAX: What tips would you give someone on finding their ideal fit and support in a bra? STORM IN A-G CUP: Have a professional fitting. It will save you a lot of frustration. A bra is meant to feel comfortable on your body. Never let the size on the tag get you down. If it bothers you, cut the tag off.  DIFRAX: During pregnancy and breastfeeding, when your bra size is fluctuating, how do you select the correct size? STORM IN A-G CUP: As a fitter, we usually see ladies go up one band size and two cup sizes during pregnancy, but everybody is different. When you feel your bra is getting too tight and you have done all the obvious things like loosened your back band to the last hook, then come in for a fitting. You could purchase hook extensions to help before you decide to purchase your feeding bras. For breastfeeding we can also alter your regular bra to a feeding bra.   DIFRAX: Which bras would you recommend for women who have sensitivity or cysts? STORM IN A-G CUP: Again, we would need to see the client first as there is no straight forward rule of thumb here.  We have a sister company called LIKEB4 who specialises in mastectomy products and post-operative bras. We would advise against underwire bras and recommend a soft bra with no rigid moulding. DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about your role at Storm in A-G Cup. STORM IN A-G CUP: As a fitter, we always want to see you in your current bra. We pick up on the common mistakes straight away like spilling over of cups, straps digging into shoulders and we work from there. You will be surprised how wearing the right bra can change and improve your silhouette. Being fitted for a bra is quite an intimate situation, so making our clients feel completely comfortable is key here and to educate them on what to look out for and how to put a bra on properly. DIFRAX: What are a few tips you have for women in Breast Cancer Awareness Month? STORM IN A-G CUP:  Get fitted! Get fitted! Get fitted! Don’t look at the numbers on the tag with regards to size. Bras can be expensive, so how you care for your bra is also key.  Your support is not in your shoulder straps, but actually in your back band.

It's World Breastfeeding Week, and we had the privilege of speaking to Heather Wood, a qualified nurse, midwife and internationally certified lactation consultant at Thula Baby Centre. Heather gave us some pearls of wisdom when it comes to breastfeeding issues and valuable tips for breastfeeding moms. DIFRAX: What are your tips for avoiding or treating mastitis?  HEATHER: Mastitis is bad luck, so it's hard to avoid and there's no blame if it happens to you. It can happen in the first week, last week, or any time in the middle of your breastfeeding journey. It doesn't happen to most breastfeeding women and is usually a once-off occurance. Some unlucky women get it more than once. If not treated proactively it can deteriorate to become an abscess. To avoid mastitis, you want to have a good latch, so your nipples are comfy and happy. With a poor latch the breast often doesn't drain well, and damaged nipples are an entry point for infection. If you're tired and run down, you are more prone to mastitis (the fact is that there are no young mums who aren't on the near side to exhaustion, and most of us don't get mastitis...so, again, it’s mostly just bad luck!). Regarding treating mastitis, you must first recognise it. If you feel achy, feverish, fluey, and you have one sore breast, which is hot, hard, and tender in a quadrant, then you most likely have mastitis. Treat it with antibiotics if the fever is above 38,5 or the symptoms have not improved after 24 hours. The breast should be drained by baby or a pump every two to three hours in the day. Anti-inflammatories help with pain and fever and heat and massage as tolerated, which will help drain the breast. Cold packs after feeds help reduce pain and inflammation. DIFRAX: How do you know when a baby is consuming enough milk?  HEATHER: The breast feels softer after a feed, and the baby has been feeding actively at the breast, in a regular motion, usually both breasts at each feed. The baby is content and sleepy after the feeds (at least for the first couple of weeks) and there are wees with every feed and upwards of three to four poos a day. Most importantly, the weekly weigh-in confirms that your baby is thriving. Weekly weigh-ins for the first 4 to 6 weeks are super important for confirming all is well. DIFRAX: What are your top tips for cracked nipples?  HEATHER: If you notice any pinching or pain in your nipples when you first start breastfeeding, you can get a lactation specialist in to help you achieve a comfortable latch before you leave the hospital, if the nurses can’t help you achieve a comfy latch. Nipples don't toughen up if the latch isn't improved. They become cracked or bleed and cause great pain and suffering. There is no nipple preparation that will prevent damaged nipples and many of the nipple creams do more harm than good, making the nipple and areola too slippery for the baby. A warm hairdryer on your nipples will sooth them after a feed. Nipple shields are often used to protect nipples, but don't always achieve this, and I see several babies latching poorly with the shields, not accessing any milk at the breast through them. So use them in conjunction with expert advice and guidance. DIFRAX: What are the best feeding positions?  HEATHER: Most common positions are across mum's abdomen/chest, called cross-cradle. Twins who feed in tandem will usually feed in the rugby ball position, or this position can be easier for very small babies, or engorgement of the breast in D3 to D6. DIFRAX: What is your advice to moms who are beating themselves up when their baby doesn’t latch, and you have to resort to expressing and bottle feeding? HEATHER: Just don't. Put your best friend on your shoulder and chase away your critic. Breastfeeding is a two-person activity, and your baby may not be an A-student in the breastfeeding department, but with coaching and time your baby may excel, while some never get good at it. If you love pumping, then grab some help and exclusively pump for your baby. If you don't love expressing, then let's talk about our options. Life is too short to spend hours a day away from your baby, not enjoying the fun side!   For more on Heather and her practice visit www.heatherwood.co.za and www.thulababy.co.za.

Camilla Copeman, @camillacrafter, stylist mom and content creator, bravely rehashes the struggles that she went through with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, extreme nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, and gives us some good advice on how to come out on the other side with the proper assistance. DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about your pregnancy and the hurdles and challenges you faced along the way.  CAMILLA: Pregnancy was really hard for me, and for my partner Mili. Before becoming pregnant I didn't really know one could get as sick as I got. I had something called Hyperemesis Gravidarum which, in a very simplified manner, I would categorise as extreme morning sickness (but I have to say I hate using the term morning sickness because it diminishes how bad Hyperemesis actually can be).  For me personally, I had 8 ER visits, 4 hospitalisations, an emergency surgery and effectively spent 9 months in bed sleeping with a bucket. Besides the obvious challenges of vomiting up to 10 times a day, I really struggled with people understanding that I was really ill and not just 'being dramatic'. Even my first gynie said to me 'you're pregnant, not sick'. I felt so completely undermined by that statement. I cried and changed gynies as soon as I could. I barely have any happy memories of being pregnant, even my baby kicking inside my belly would make me vomit. It was probably one of the most depressing and challenging experiences of my life. This is hard to say because I love my daughter so much and I have always wanted to be a mother but HG took me to lows I didn’t think were possible. If you're reading this and think you have HG, look for support on the Facebook groups available and make sure you get a health care professional who is actually supportive.   DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about you guys as a family and how you've adapted a busy stylist and work life to also juggle being a mom.  CAMILLA: So, because I was so sick during pregnancy it stopped me working almost completely. I physically just wasn't able to get out of bed never mind going to shoots and working like I used to. Since having Sienna, I've tried to adapt the way I work and what I’m working on, spending as much time as possible with her. I've been fortunate enough to be blessed with a complete angel baby who hardly cries and is almost always happy (I know, I'm sorry moms). That in conjunction with my super amazing support system has made working while caring for her possible. Mili and I have also decided that while she is so small we would do what we could to be there and enjoy every moment.   DIFRAX: What is your favourite Difrax product for Sienna and why?  CAMILLA: Little Sienna didn’t take to a pacifiers straight away and I must have bought 10 types to try to find one she liked. When she did decide to give it a go, the Difrax ones have definitely been her firm favourites. She's constantly working on her coordination and pincer grasp, popping it in and out of her mouth. I really approve that the teats are shaped so there is no 'wrong' way for it to go into her mouth. Also let's be real, the colours and shapes are so cute I could die.     

One of the priorities during pregnancy is maintaining a healthy body, mind and routine. We chatted to Carla West, pre and postnatal fitness trainer, gaining some insight into her career as well as some valuable tips for pregnant moms.  DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about yourself as a mom and a fitness coach.   CARLA: For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to be a mom. My mom had my brother when I was twelve years old and I think that is when my obsession with babies began. I had some hormone issues as a teenager in my early twenties, and I thought I would never be able to fall pregnant naturally. To our surprise, on a spontaneous pre-Covid trip to Bali, our Bali baby was conceived.  With regards to fitness, I loooved sport at school, especially running. I tried every sport in that period, and I think I was only good at them because I was fast and fit. After school, and a gap year later, my mom found a course that had the words 'sport' in it. Sport was something I was naturally good at, and I had no idea what I wanted to study so I decided to give it a shot. During that course I found my absolute passion for health and fitness, travelled the world working as a personal trainer and ever since then, for the last ten years, I’ve lived and breathed that lifestyle. I am a qualified pre and postnatal trainer, sports conditioner, sports massage therapist, spinning instructor and I've worked as a PT since 2012 in London, Germany and Cape Town. I mostly just focus on online coaching now.  DIFRAX: Did you always have an interest in pre and postnatal training or did it become part of your journey when you became pregnant?  CARLA: No, I qualified as a pre and postnatal trainer in 2013, seven years before I had my first child. I already knew back then that it was my absolute passion to work with moms but I never fully committed to only working with moms because I wasn't there yet. Now that I've experienced pregnancy, birth, postnatal life and parenthood myself I can relate a lot more, and know this is definitely all I want to do.  DIFRAX: What tips would you give moms on how to keep fit and look after themselves during pregnancy and postpartum?  CARLA: Just show up. Every little bit helps. Training during pregnancy isn't always fun. You are often tired, sore and unmotivated because you aren't training towards a tangible performance goal. In the postnatal period you are tired, depleted, sleep deprived and have a million things on your mind. Someone once told me, if you wait for your children to sleep through the night before you start training again you're going to have to wait ten years, and I agree with that. It probably won’t literally be ten years, but if you wait until you have the energy to train again you’ll keep finding reasons not to. Doing small amounts of exercise adds up so much more than killing yourself in the gym once a week, or once a month. Consistency is key, and keeping the workouts under 30 minutes makes it more realistic to fit in to your schedule. Train when you are rested as well as when you are tired. It will always make you feel better.   For more fitness advice visit  www.carlawestfitness.com.

In celebration of Father's Day this Sunday we bring you our segment of "The Dads behind the brand" showcasing the skilled and creative dads out there who run local businesses that inspire.  This one is close to home, as we introduce you to the three partners of @northvca; Olivier van der Schroeff, Mike Bond and Gavin Williams, who head this brand design consultancy with forward thinking and on-the-pulse creative skills.⁠ ⁠The business was founded by Olivier, the business director, and Mike, the creative director in 2014. Together they started an agency that creates eye-catching and thought-provoking ad campaigns and brand identities. ⁠Gavin joined in 2017 as the third partner and the "word wizard" who weaves these wonderful concepts together with copy and creatively directs content along with Mike.⁠ North went on to become an agency that creates the blueprint of a business, guiding brands with anything from their names to their voice, visual identities and brand stories. They also create campaigns and content that inherently add value to the brand, helping them to reach their business objectives. ⁠⁠ North VCA developed the Difrax campaign last season with Gavin's baby daughter Willow featuring as one of the adorable faces on the campaign.⁠ ⁠The concept of Sprout came about as a platform to bring considered, well designed and innovative products into South Africa. The first brand on the Sprout site is Difrax, and so there is a special connection and history between Difrax and North VCA, with Sprout guiding the brand into the South African market.⁠⁠A round of applause for the dads of North! 

Taryn Ulster, @3boys.and.2lilmiss, parent blogger and mom of five, gives us valuable feedback about how the anti-colic S-bottle has assisted her with pace feeding while multi-tasking a busy family life. DIFRAX: Which Difrax product has helped you and your family? TARYN: I (or rather my husband or mom) have been using the anti-colic S-bottle to feed expressed breastmilk to my now 4 month old when I’m out and not able to breastfeed her. As a breastfed baby with a unique personality, she will not take a pacifier, unlike my other children. She dislikes all the artificial teats that we’ve tried, but from the first time we tried the Difrax S-bottle she accepted it and drank from the bottle with ease. DIFRAX: How did the anti-colic S-bottle help you with pace feeding?  TARYN: As a well-seasoned breastfeeding mom, I am aware that babies do not drink the same amounts of breastmilk compared to formula fed babies. As a very cautious bottle user, I looked into ways to further ensure that my baby does not prefer a bottle over breast, which can happened when they become ‘lazy’, for lack of a better word, because the milk comes out faster and requires less work from a bottle than the breast.  With my third baby, almost 7 years ago, I came across paced feeding. My mom who was and still is our carer and nanny for our babies, uses it when I am not able to breastfeed while I'm out or working. While this can be done with most regular baby bottles, when I discovered the S-bottle I just knew it would be a game changer because of the unique shape that allows one to more comfortably hold the bottle while still ensuring that you allow your baby to work to extract the milk as they would when breastfeeding. I especially love how the S-shape allows you to easily feed the last bit of milk, while still pace feeding and avoiding waste. DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about you and your family, and how you juggle being a mom of five. TARYN: As you can imagine, having five kids can be challenging at times, but as crazy as it sounds it’s the chaotic and noisy moments that we often miss. Now, four months into our new normal, we’ve all found a nice rhythm of morning routines, school pick-ups, extra mural activities, weekend social engagements and chilling in our pyjamas. Most of all, it takes a village to raise kids. The support of my husband and my mom (ma Pam to the kids) who lives with us and helps with the kids on a daily basis, is essential. Then there’s my in-laws, often taking the four older kids overnight for fun sleep overs and play dates. Even our weekends, when not filled with social engagements like kids birthday parties, are spent with our extended family. All this helps keep us sane in our parenting journey. The balance between work and play is about always favouring quality family time when you get the chance. We’re not perfect at it, but it’s our end goal.    

Over the period of Mother's Day we, at Difrax SA, got to collaborate with local brands that were created by talented #Momtrepreneurs who shared their stories about running their own businesses while raising and running after their little humans.     Momtrepreneur Hannah - Skin Creamery Hannah is the owner of @skincreamery, here’s how she juggles being a mom while running her own business:⁠⁠I have two children, Adam 10 and Emily 7. I always knew I wanted to be a mom and the process has taught me a lot about myself. It is a constant learning journey that brings me joy and challenges every day.I wanted to start my own business so that I could work at my own pace. I started Skin Creamery when both my kids were very small and it grew as my children grew, so it has been a beautiful journey to witness. ⁠It’s been great having control over my schedule so I have time for my children when they’ve needed me. It's important that I do the school pick-ups and hear about their day and that I am there for them in the afternoons.The challenges have been juggling all the responsibilities of being a mom and a small business owner. Sometimes it feels like there isn’t enough of me to go around and at times it is extremely overwhelming, however it’s something I’ve had to learn to deal with and there is much more balance now than there was in the early years. I have the right support structures in place in the business and I make sure to support myself emotionally and by keeping healthy.⁠  Momtrepreneur Michele - Karoo Baba Michele is the owner of @karoo_baba who we collaborated with and she what triggered her focus onto making Karoo Baba the success it is.⁠I am a mom of two boys, 8 and 16 years old, and ever since I had children I vowed to not have a full time career that keeps me away from my kids. I always endeavoured to have a job that would allow me to be able to avoid sending my kids to aftercare and always be available and work from home. I am so proud to say that even though this has not been easy, I have stuck to my guns and have managed to raise amazing kids as well as build a beautiful local brand and business through it. ⁠⁠Karoo Baba started in 2017 when I was still working as an independent travel agent, but since Covid I have been so grateful for the time to focus on this amazing brand, as it has grown from strength to strength. Through it all, managing a small local business as a mom of two as well as having to motivate myself every day has not been an easy task, but has been worth it in every way.⁠⁠The joys are that I don't have to work according to anyone else's schedule. The challenges are that you have no one to call when things go wrong, however knowing why I do it makes it worthwhile and I would not have it any other way. It also proves how resilient and strong us moms can be when we are working for the right cause - absolutely unstoppable! Momtrepreneur Amanda - Amanda Jane Candles Our last featured Momtrepreneur is Amanda-Jayne Cumming, the owner of @amandajaynecandles.⁠First and foremost I am a mom to two beautiful boys, 8 years and 3 years old. Life is super busy, but at the same time extremely rewarding. Juggling has become something I have had to master over the past few years - with a growing business and family to nurture I have learnt to make every moment count. ⁠⁠I started Amanda-Jayne back in 2014 when I had my firstborn. My plan was to have a small business aligned with my passion and love for scents, that I could run from home and still be around for my boys. After my second child was born Amanda-Jayne rapidly expanded, we moved into a factory, and I now have a lovely team of ladies who support and assist me. ⁠⁠The hardest part of it all has been finding that balance, time for work, time for my family and time for me. Each day has new hurdles, but with my strong team and incredible family supporting me it has been an amazing journey, and I feel truly blessed. ⁠⁠  

Difrax had the privilege of chatting to Roxanne Atkinson, occupational therapist and author of the informative and humorous book, The Unicorn Baby, in which she debunks 10 myths of modern parenting. DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about yourself. ROXANNE: Hi! I am Roxanne Atkinson. Most people call me Roxi. I am a South African OT working out of Cape Town. I am a proud mom of a pigeon pair who have transformed how I see myself, my life and my work. I have always been passionate about babies, but I only really became passionate about families a decade ago when I became a mom myself. Prior to this, I was rather judgy as many of us can be prior to making and raising actual human beings.   I am one of those weirdos who always knew what I wanted to do and went after it. I love travelling and have gotten to do OT in countries like Ghana, America, Malawi and Madagascar. Currently, I get to work with incredible families in private practice. I usually see about 25 patients a week and get to serve as a researcher, cheerleader, counsellor and advocate. I also love words and sharing knowledge so you may spot me writing a column for Your Pregnancy Magazine or chatting about development on the Pippa Hudson show.    DIFRAX: What inspired you to write The Unicorn Baby? ROXANNE: The field of neuroscience has exploded over the last 15 years and we now know so much more about babies and their brains. However, most of this information is not accessible to the people who really need it - parents of real babies! I got tired of repeating the same information over and over to anxious parents who had bought into these modern parenting myths. I wrote this book to go to war against these myths and to help empower families with evidence. I decided to swim against the tide and make the science and the journals accessible to parents in an honest and humorous way, so that they could feel confident in making the best parenting decisions for their families. DIFRAX: Which myths baffled you the most when you had your little ones? ROXANNE:  Some people are ugly drunks, I am ugly tired. I really need and appreciate good sleep and so I struggled most with the pervasive sleep myths I encountered. You know, "you must get your baby to sleep through the night"... "if your baby wakes it is because they are hungry".... "Don't feed your baby to sleep"... "don't hold your baby"... "your baby must sleep alone in their cot" etc. Whilst I had my first baby a decade ago, these sleep myths still seem to be hanging around and terrorising babies and their parents. This blows my mind as we know babies are biologically programmed to wake and that the more direct care babies get, the better the long-term outcome. Both my babies woke regularly, but with my first I fought this reality and tried all the bad advice for months. It was exhausting. With our second, although he woke just as much, I was less tired as I wasn't constantly trying to fix a 'problem' by enforcing an unrealistic sleep schedule as I had more knowledge of what normal and healthy baby sleep actually looks like.   DIFRAX: Pick a paragraph from your book to share with us. ROXANNE:  When I say you need to consider your baby’s biology, I am referring to the cells of your child’s brain and body. These cells are constantly growing and changing to allow your baby to develop. So, when I say a baby has a biological need, you should try to imagine this on a cellular level. A baby’s biology creates a drive towards meeting that need, whether it is for energy, love, warmth, or play. Development is a dance between biology and experience. Some babies will require more experience to learn than others. The golden rule is to respectfully introduce your baby to a wider variety of sensorimotor experiences, watching and waiting as their development unfolds. Almost all babies will have an area of development that is tricky for them, be it sleep, feeding, talking or teething. Oh except the Unicorn Baby of course. The Unicorn baby develops without exposure. The Unicorn Baby never fails. In fact, the Unicorn Baby does not rely on biology! My hope is that as you unpack each myth and replace it with the corresponding biological and developmental realities, you will feel more prepared. You will gain insight into and appreciation for your baby and your role as a parent. You will celebrate your baby’s uniqueness, whether they have been born a Unicorn or not. There has never been, and never will be, another baby just like yours. For further myth busting you can get a copy of The Unicorn Baby at Loot, Amazon, Takealot, Exclusive Books, Readers Warehouse and Bargain Books.    

Our first Mom Talk is with @just_another_manic_mom_day, Jessie Buxton, on her family life, journey as a working mom, and how Difrax has assisted with Jude’s tongue tie. DIFRAX: How has Difrax assisted Jude? JESSIE: Initially I was exclusively breastfeeding Jude. Supplementing a feed with a bottle so early after birth had never been part of my plan but when we discovered Jude’s tongue tie and saw how he battled to breastfeed, we had to find an alternative solution while we waited to sort out his tongue tie. Thankfully Difrax sent us a bottle, so we gave it a try and WOW, it lives up to its promises. Jude’s tongue tie caused him to swallow too much air when he breastfed and, paired with my fast flow, it ended up giving him huge digestive discomfort. The Difrax anti-colic S-bottle was such a welcomed relief for him. He could drink much slower and no air got in the way. He drank so much better with this bottle and became a much happier bub! DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about your family. JESSIE: My husband, Lyle, and I have been married for almost 5 years now. He stalked me on Facebook through a mutual friend and after making sure he wasn’t a creep, the rest is history! Lyle is an actor, singer and teacher and I’m a recruitment specialist who works from home. We had our daughter, Lucy, in 2019. Shortly after, when I was meant to go back to work in the office, Covid hit, and so I started working from home while trying to stimulate Lucy and help her grow and develop as best as she could. It was then that I became a big fan of affordable home play ideas, which I share on my Instagram page. Lucy is two and a half now and has started going to day care, which she absolutely loves. Sometimes she even cries when I pick her up to come home. She is quite the character and an absolute ball of silly energy, making us laugh every day. In November 2021 we had our son, Jude. I had a successful vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) with him, which I am so proud of and now I’m a huge advocate for natural birth. The female body is so amazing! Right now our life feels like utter chaos on some days, learning how to balance life with two kids. Ten weeks in and we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and we are in absolute love with our little family. DIFRAX: From your experience as a mom of two, what advice do you have for new moms out there? JESSIE: Becoming a Mom is absolutely beautiful and rewarding. From the milestones they reach to the special memories you get to create as a family, it’s the most fulfilling journey ever. However, it can also feel like the toughest journey at times. The chaos it brings can be overwhelming, but my best advice would be to embrace the chaos instead of fight against it. You will never be able to control it all, especially once they reach toddler years! I think a lot of parents try to hide the fact that parenthood is chaotic, maybe because they feel as if they’re failing. If there is one thing I hope you take away from reading this, it is that chaos in parenthood is absolutely NORMAL!   Shop Difrax SA baby products