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"Do you have any advice on transitioning my son from breast to bottle feeding? He's 5 months and I'm really done with BF, ready to get him on the bottle but not sure where to start really." Yes absolutely! Some tips for transitioning from breast to bottle that have worked for the Carol App Team have been: Take your time - try to not rush the transition. Your little one might not be keen on taking the bottle at first, so trying things like skin to skin time when starting to introduce the bottle, lots of cuddles and affection, eye contact and try to keep the feed as relaxed as possible. If you have tried to feed your little one a bottle and it didn't go so well, it's completely fine to stop and try again later on. It's much easier to try introduce the bottle when both you and baby are calmer. Timing is an important thing to note. Try to introduce the bottle an hour after your little one has had a feed, so that they aren't hungry and get stressed out when they notice you are feeding them with the bottle and not breastfeeding straight away when they are hungry. If you have been expressing and bottle feeding your baby, a tip that worked for us with transitioning to formula was to mix a little formula with the breastmilk in the bottle and slowly increase the amount of formula in the bottle and decrease the amount of breastmilk to ease your baby into the different taste of milk from breast to formula. It's important to also be aware of the different types of bottles and different flow types on the bottle teats/nipples, making sure you get the right flow for your babies age - too large will mean they are taking on too much milk and can cause excess gas and they may gag, too small they may find it difficult to get the liquid out of the bottle and cause them excess stress. Remember you can always ask your health visitor for advice on transitioning and there are some brilliant lactation consultants out there who will be able to offer you specific advice too. It does take a few attempts for your little one to become comfortable with being bottle fed, especially if they have been exclusively breastfed but it does get easier. You've got this!

"Hey! Can you share any advice on teething and helping to soothe my baby when she's going through it?" Teething is tough when you're in it and it can really feel like it's going to go on forever! Here are some tips and advice that has helped us soothe our little ones as they were teething from being small babies to toddlers - remember every baby will get their teeth through at different times and that has been the same for us at Carol App! Teething toys - there are many brilliant teething toys on the market - teething rings, Sophie the teething giraffe, Matchstick Monkey Teething toy - and it's worth trying one of these if you haven't already. Rubbing babies gums - this is often recommended. With a clean fingertip, softly rub babies gums with your finger for a few minutes, in circular motions. If your baby is over 6 months old and is moving onto solid foods, you could give them some food to chew on such as a small piece of soft melon which could help to soothe their teething. There are teething gels on the market but being totally honest, none of them worked for us! We have used the Weleda Chamomile teething granules and they did seem to offer a slight relief, but nothing enough for us to say it's a must have! We did find our sons' dummy was a comfort for him when he was teething and would be more needy of it around those times, so we would say that this did help him find a little comfort. Lots of cuddles for your little one, playing games, distractions and getting outside also helps! Good luck mama, we've all been there with you!

"Hi There! Please could you share your top prams that you have used and personally liked? We need to get our first pram and we really don't know where to start! TIA." This has been the most common question we have received over the Christmas break - so you aren't alone with this! There are so many prams out there it can feel almost impossible to know which one to go for! Some important points to note are that the NHS guidance on pushchairs is that they are only suitable for young babies if they have 'fully reclining seats so your baby can lay flat' and to wait until your little one can sit by themselves before using an elevated pushchair/ any other type other than laying flat. We would recommend getting a Pram that also has a newborn system so you are covered from birth - toddler! Our number 1 pram is without doubt the Babyzen Yoyo+- £386. The Yoyo comes with a newborn system and can then be used until your little one is a toddler! The Yoyo is very light, brilliant for travelling, fits down the aisle of the airplane and easily folded into the overhead locker. The Yoyo is also car seat compatible, very compact in size and very easy to fold down. The Yoyo is brilliant for those living in the city or a flat as it's so compact and light! The second pram we would recommend is the Bugaboo Chameleon 3 - £556 - The Bugaboo Chameleon can be used from birth to age 3 and comes with the newborn bassinet attachment. The Chameleon is versatile, can be used for city or country living, is sturdy and hard wearing and is a smooth ride for your baby. The Chameleon has an easy fold system and we have used ours daily since our son was born (he's now over 2!). Third and at a slightly higher price point is the iCandy Peach - £1,199 - The iCandy Peach is sturdy, stylish and due to the ease of being able to remove the carrycot, recline the seat and add a car seat, the Peach is one of the easiest travel systems on the market in our opinion! The iCandy Peach is great for long walks and has very durable tyres, is comfortable for baby and is a dream to push!

"We are about to go on our first family holiday with our son who is 6 months. Do you have any tips? Feeling quite nervous about the flight!" We have all been there - the first flight with your little one can seem daunting. There are a few things that we recommend and have done ourselves when flying with little ones to make it a little easier, hopefully these will help! - If you can pre-book your seats by a bassinet, we would recommend doing this! Many airlines provide bassinets on a first come first serve basis and it can make a huge difference to your babies sleep on the plane, especially long haul flights! - Pack plenty of food and snacks for you and your little one - and if you are bottle feeding, prepare your bottles in advance so you are all ready to go. You can take formula and breastmilk through security no problem! - We try to dress our little ones in zip-up onesies when travelling to make changes much easier and quicker than poppers or a full outfit of top and trousers - it also means if there are any sick/nappy incidents you can quickly whip off the onesie and put on another! - If you are checking in your pram, we would recommend wearing your baby through the airport to make it that bit easier particularly with having to unload the pram and pack it down to go through security. A few of us on the Carol App team have the Yoyo Baby Zen and we couldn't recommend it more for travelling, you can take it down the aisle of the plane as it fits and easily folds down to go in the overhead locker. - Change your babies nappy just before you get on the flight - it's a lot easier than changing them on the plane. - We also make sure we have enough dummies with us for the flight and pack an extra two, with dummy clips, so they can be clipped onto babies onesie and they won't fall on the floor and get filthy. - Bring a few toys and books, but you don't need to overdo it and end up carrying an extensive amount of things with you! - Finally, we recommend packing some disinfectant wipes!

"Hey! I'm due with my first in a couple months and we are looking at which is the best bedside crib for us to get! Do you have any recommendations?" Bedside cribs are great for you to stay close to your newborn throughout the night and also makes it much easier for those night-time feeds! A bedside crib is a cot where one side can be removed/opened and you can very easily lift your little one out onto your chest for feeding or to help soothe them back to sleep. A bedside crib is a popular option for parents and there are a number of options available, with varying price points too! Not only this, but if you have had a C-Section, a bedside crib can be invaluable as it makes things much easier than having to get out of bed to lift your baby for a feed, change or to soothe them. The safe sleep guidance from the NHS and The Lullaby Trust advises that your newborn stays in the same room as you for the first 6 months, but not in your bed due to the risk of overheating and suffocation. Our recommendations for bedside cribs are: Snuzpod 4 Bedside Crib £159 - The Snuzpod has a light bassinet, can be used as a stand-alone crib, a bedside crib or a Moses basket, has a stylish look, has the ability to rock to help soothe your baby and has a number of different height positions! Tutti Bambini CoZee £159 - The Tutti Bambini can also be used as a stand-alone crib or a bedside crib. It contains a storage shelf below which is handy for wipes, nappies and is very easy to assemble! At the higher price bracket, there is the Snoo Smart Sleeper £1,195 - The Snoo is a much higher price point, and is regarded as a 'smart sleeper' crib. The Snoo connects to an app on your phone and has the ability to automatically rock, play white noise, soothe your baby and 'shush' without the need for you to get out of bed! The Snoo also comes with an integrated swaddle which helps to keep your baby in a safe sleep position during the night. The Snoo is also a stand-alone crib, not a bedside crib but is often used close by the bed.

"Hi there, I was wondering if you had any suggestions on baby monitors? One that you can have on your phone but that also has a screen you can take around the house with you? Thank you." There are so many baby monitors out there, it can be a complete minefield and many at very different price points too! There are also different things to think about including whether you want your baby monitor to be wireless, battery powered or come with a mains charger. Generally speaking the baby monitors that need charging last up to 12 hours so will most likely need changing every day. Some other things to consider are the video and camera quality, especially with good night vision as you are more than likely going to be using the baby monitor in a darker room. Movement alerts and crying detection may also be something that you want your baby monitor to have, but it's up to you what your preference is. In terms of price, baby monitors can range from around £60 - over £200, so there is a big difference in price for some monitors. Our top budget video monitor is the Motorola VM481 £87.95 as it offers video, a long range, doesn't require an app to be downloaded and is compact. The Angelcare AC327 £149.99 is another baby monitor we would recommend. Slightly more expensive than the Motorola, however the Angelcare has an added movement sensor pad which tracks any small movements from your babies breathing and will alert you if there has been no movement for 15 seconds - giving you peace of mind. The Angelcare is also expandable, comes with a screen and an app so you can watch your baby on your phone too. Our top Smart baby monitor is the Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor £299 which is a sleep tracker, wearable and hybrid video monitor. The Nanit camera itself has movement tracking however the wearables (sold separately) enable you to track your babies sleep in more more detail, as well as their breathing. The Nanit also has an app so you can watch the camera from your phone. The Nanit is high-tech and offers amazing insights into your little ones sleep. The Nanit is definitely a higher price point than many other baby monitors however it does offer a lot more than the standard baby monitors and doesn't come with an additional screen, the camera can purely be viewed on the mobile app.

"Do you have any advice for falling back to sleep after a middle of the night feed?" This is such a common question we get sent regularly. We know what it's like after you've just finished feeding your little one and neither of you seem to be able to get back to sleep or your little one gets back to sleep only to wake a few hours later and you're still wide awake! Some tips that have worked for us include: - As little stimulation as possible for the middle of the night feeds - dim lights - a himalayan salt lamp is what we used and would recommend. A white noise machine can help to keep the mood relaxed and potentially help with you falling back to sleep after feeding too. - Try to limit screen time for the middle of the night feeds - this will make it harder for you to fall back to sleep as your mind will get going and keep you awake for longer. - Keep hydrated but try to avoid eating as this can also keep you awake for longer, particularly if it's a sugary snack! Hope that helps!

Did you know the importance of the gut-brain connection? Emerging evidence has shown that there is a strong connection between a well functioning gut and brain activity and it is now heavily researched as the ‘gut-brain axis’. It is the vagus nerve that carries signals to and from the digestive system and the brain to influence appetite-regulating hormones, digestive processes and even foods we crave. 95% of our serotonin supply is manufactured by gut bacteria, while other neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and GABA are also made in our gut. It is these key neurotransmitters that play an important role in our mood, anxiety, concentration and even motivation! We are therefore delighted to share the newest product by our partner, Feel , the Feel Daily Biotic. Having used the Pregnancy and Multivitiamin by Feel, we are looking forward to using the Daily Biotic in our daily routine. Feel always use the highest quality ingredients, offer a 30 day money back guarantee and they are offering our community 20% off any product (excl. Bundles) with the code ‘PARTNER20’. The Daily Biotic contains prebiotics as well as probiotics, making the Daily Biotic a synbiotic to fully nourish the gut! You will have more than likely heard about the link between the brain and the gut, and there is research to suggest how gut health influences immune health, as it can strengthen the intestinal barrier and activate protective T cells to ward off unfriendly bacteria and viruses. The Feel Daily Biotic , when taken on a daily basis, can help strengthen the intestinal barrier and provide optimal immune support. The gut microbiome and the immune system have been interconnected from as early as birth, to help protect from any harmful pathogens. As we age and go through life, the gut-immune connection continues to flourish and it is the gut microbiome that influences the strength and development of the immune system. While microbes can be found all over the body, over 70% of bacteria are contained in the gastro-intestinal tract. Simultaneously, a weakened immune system can impair gut function and cause further issues such as bloating, systemic inflammation and leaky gut. The Feel Daily Biotic combines 14 different strains of live cultures and soluble prebiotic dietary fibre to help nourish the gut and bring a host of benefits for gut and immune health as well as brain function and mood regulation. The Daily biotic is tailored as a comprehensive and effective daily digestive support with 10 billion CFU of live bacteria. The Daily Biotic is vegan, allergen-free, gluten-free, kosher and non-GMO. Having tried the Daily Biotic for a number of weeks now, we can confirm that it doesn't leave a chalky taste in your mouth like many other competitors, has helped improve our digestion, reduced bloating and has become a solid part of our daily routine to help nourish our gut bacteria! The Feel Biotic is suitable for use in pregnancy. However, if you are planning on becoming pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, please consult with your doctor before using. The Carol App Community can receive 20% off any Feel product (excl. Bundles) with the code ‘PARTNER20’.

Hey there, new mama! Welcome to the incredible journey of motherhood, where each day is filled with endless love, joy, and a dash of chaos. We know that being a new mum can be overwhelming, exhilarating, and sometimes downright hilarious. So, grab a cup of tea (or maybe a few extra minutes in the bathroom) and join us as we delve into the wonderful world of new motherhood. Carol is here for you, Mama. Through our hundred's of hand picked, expert-led articles from Pregnancy, Postpartum to Baby Sleep & Feeding, Baby Development and The Early Years, Community Questions sent in from other mums just like you & product recommendations, we've got you covered. Sleep? What's That? Ah, sleep – that elusive concept that seems to vanish once you become a mum. We understand the struggles of sleep deprivation and the constant dance between naps, late-night feedings, and trying to catch some shut-eye yourself. Rest assured, you're not alone in those bleary-eyed moments, and we've got tips and tricks to help you survive (and maybe even embrace) the sleep-deprived journey. The Art of Multitasking As a new mum, you're a master of multitasking like never before. From juggling nappy changes, feedings, and endless baby gear to attempting to eat a meal with one hand while rocking your little one to sleep with the other – you're a superhero with incredible skills! We'll share some hilarious tales, tips, and perhaps a few cautionary tales about the art of multitasking in the world of motherhood. Embracing the Mess Let's face it: motherhood and messes go hand in hand. From spit-up stains on your favourite shirt to the explosion of baby food artfully decorating your kitchen walls, messes are just a part of the adventure. We'll dive into the chaos and celebrate the messy moments that make motherhood beautifully imperfect. The Power of Mum Friends - Finding your tribe of fellow mamas is like discovering a hidden treasure. They're the ones who truly get it – the sleepless nights, the endless worries, and the overwhelming love. We'll explore the importance of mum friends, the support they provide, and the incredible bonds that form when navigating the journey of motherhood together. Embracing Self-Care Amidst the whirlwind of motherhood, it's crucial to carve out some time for self-care. We'll share practical tips and ideas for taking care of yourself, whether it's stealing moments of relaxation, indulging in a guilty pleasure, or simply finding joy in the little things. Remember, a happy mama means a happy baby! As you embark on this extraordinary adventure of motherhood, know that you're not alone. We're here to celebrate the laughter, the tears, and everything in between. So, let's embrace the beautiful chaos together, sharing stories, tips, and support as we navigate this incredible journey. You're doing an amazing job, and we're here to cheer you on every step of the way. Welcome to the incredible sisterhood of motherhood! Carol is here for you, come join us!

"Hi! My 6 month old has started waking up between 4-5am every morning - has this happened to you and how did you get them sleeping longer in the mornings?" Yes this has happened to us for sure! Early wake ups are tough, especially if they begin with a 4! Sometimes it could be a phase, and last a few days, but if it's happening for a longer period of time, some things you could look at are: - Routine - Try to keep your little one consistent with their naps and bedtime as much as possible. Try to make sure your little one isn't napping too late in the evening and therefore close to bedtime. - Try using a white noise machine if you aren't already - make sure that you can hear it from outside the room so that you know it's loud enough. - Check the temperature of the room - you want the bedroom to be a cool temperature around 20-22'C. - Try to keep your little one in their cot until 'wake up time' - so letting them doze, kick about and not feeling like you need to immediately get them out of their cot once you know that they are awake. Hope that helps!

"Mums, I'm in the thick of the 4 month sleep regression with my daughter, any tips?" We know that the 4 month 'sleep regression' is tough - we've all been there! But just to make it feel a little better, this period is actually a huge developmental break through for your little one! Generally, 4 months old is when your little one is likely to be hitting huge milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, becoming more aware of what's going on around them, and as all of this development is taking place, often their sleep gets disrupted. This is totally normal! Some tips that worked for us when we were going through this period with our little ones, are: - Sticking to their daytime nap routine - trying not to 'make up' the hours of sleep in the day as this can further impact their nighttime sleep. - Get outside everyday, the fresh air and sunlight helps with regulating their sleep/wake cycle. - When your little one does wake in the night, try not take them out of their cot. Make sure that they feel safe and know that you are there for them but from our experience, keeping them in their cot helps to avoid creating the habit of getting them out every time they cried which can ultimately lead to the regression lasting much longer. Placing your hand gently on their stomach, softly speaking to them and reassuring them that you are there are things that helped us. Although the 4 month sleep regression feels like it may never end, remember, this too shall pass! You've got this!!

"Hi Mums! My LO is 4 weeks and wondered if you had any advice on how long to offer tummy time for? How long should I aim to be feeding him for? (I'm BF). And any tips on keeping them entertained? Thanks!" We would suggest tummy time 3 times per day at 4 weeks old, for around 5 minutes at a time - but check with your health visitor as they may suggest otherwise for your little one. 3-4 times a day is what we aimed for with our babies, but every baby is different. With regards to feeding, we would suggest feeding for around 30 minutes at a time, however this can change from baby to baby, especially as your milk is becoming more established and getting to know your babies rhythm. If you are BF, you may notice that your babies feeding time decreases as baby gets older - this doesn't necessarily mean that your supply is reducing, but that baby is becoming more efficient at feeding! Keeping babies entertained at 4 weeks could look something like tummy time a few times per day for 5 minutes, playtime on an activity mat with you, lots of cuddles and kisses, reading books to them and of course lots of snuggles!