"Rest and regularity help. That may sound old-fashioned, but it's really very important for a baby."
begins Ingrid Schipperheijn - a maternity nurse for more than 30 years. "A baby has spent nine months in the womb, where he was more or less closed off from the outside world. After birth, suddenly everything is different: loud noises, brighter light, strange smells. It's good to take it easy then," says Ingrid. "So really take the time to get to know your baby. Watch how he moves, what kind of faces he pulls and how he cries. Then you will get to know him better and better and understand what he needs." Regularity is also important, according to Ingrid.
"A sleep routine helps calm your baby down - and the sleeping place is part of this. So it's good to use their own crib as much as possible."
Rest and regularity also help when there is restlessness. "Some people say that a baby just needs to get used to all the stimuli, but then I see that restlessness often occurs anyway. Parents quickly think of colic or reflux. And that might play a role, but with rest and regularity you can really fix a lot here. So first try to create real peace and quiet - for yourself and for your baby - and see what that does. Often the restlessness then becomes a lot less."
Challenge
It sounds simple: rest and regularity. But Ingrid sees in practice that it can still be quite a challenge. "We live in a society where we constantly receive messages on our mobile phones and our schedules are overflowing. And then a baby has to fit in there as well. So that doesn't work." Her advice is to really take your time and see what a baby needs. As a parent, you need to adjust your schedule accordingly, not the other way around. "If at some point your baby has set nap times, plan activities around that and let him sleep in his own bed." Ingrid says it would be good to have educational evenings during pregnancy about what the impact is of having a baby. "A lot really changes in your life then. It's good to be a little prepared for what to expect. For example, babies need feeding at night - and in the beginning even several times a night. That's exhausting, but it's part of the job. How do you handle this?"
How the PIKO can help
"The PIKO is a beautiful product that really fits these times." believes Ingrid. "With the PIKO you partially exclude the outside world and that immediately gives peace of mind." Still, parents should not start seeing it as a quick-fix. "The PIKO is definitely going to help you find a rhythm that suits your child. And the extensive advice in the app will help you do that. But you have to give it some time and not think that all the problems will be solved tomorrow." Ingrid therefore finds the App's diary overview a great addition. "The App gives a nice overview of when your child is crying and sleeping. Your child's crying can sometimes go on and on and seem to last a very long time. But in the App you can see what is really happening. For example, you can see when the naps are getting longer after all. This gives confirmation that you are working on the right things and keeps you confident." To find your own rhythm with the PIKO.
Do you also want a nice rhythm for you and your baby?
Then use the PIKO.
