If there’s one thing that can throw your weight loss progress right off course, it’s catching a cold or being struck down with the flu. While Doctors generally agree that it’s ok to exercise with a slight case of the sniffles, it’s recommended that anything that involves full blown symptoms be treated seriously and with a break from working out.

It’s so much fun to have friends and family over for a meal on the weekend.

But when the responsibility for feeding everyone falls on you (and let’s face it, that happens!) it can get a tad stressful.

So today we have some ideas for catering that don’t involve turning on a BBQ, stove or oven.

They are healthy too (but no one has to know).

With Renee from The Content Baby who 11 years as an Early Childhood Professional has kindly supplied these questions and answers to commonly asked questions that new mums face

How soon should I put my baby into a routine?

As an Early Childhood Professional I get this question a lot. As a parent and an Early Childhood Professional I have one answer. When you think it is best.

In my opinion there is no right or wrong time to place your child in a routine. I believe that it is a personal choice that needs to fit in with you and your partner’s personal parenting philosophy and your home environment.

However, if you do want to eventually have your baby in a predictable routine, just keep in mind that the longer you wait often the harder it can be to train them. But in saying this, I believe it is never too late to start a routine.

Some theorists believe that you should start to routine your baby from one week old, and then there are theorists who believe in a child-led routine where your child will set the pace for how often and when they require feeding and sleeping.

You may also change your mind as you add to your family. Maybe you chose a child-led routine for your first as you could easily work around them as they were the only ones demanding your time but now with a toddler and a baby you decide the baby needs to go straight into a set routine to fit in with your already established daily routine.

Remember travelling before kids? When you could sometimes just take carry-on luggage?

Well those days are gone for those of us with little ones in tow.

Now it seems as though the littlest people need the most bags!

Travelling with kids might seem like a stressful event, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

With a little bit of planning you can ensure a smooth transition for you and your children.

My 1 year old is currently passed out as I type this, exhausted from two days of celebrating her birthday with friends and family.

She is cuddled up with her brand new bubba, and hopefully this slumber will last a good hour or more, so that this frazzled mum can enjoy a cuppa and work through how I feel about this whole weekend.

One year ago today, I emerged from a natural and difficult labour. My little one had been stuck, and I can remember feeling like I would never get to meet this tenant of my womb.

But she did finally emerge, and it was truly love at first sight.

This crying little wonder, with black hair and blue eyes, hungry for her first feed, and truly perfect in every way.

Sometimes the idea of cleaning the house can make you just want to curl up and take a nap.

Throw a kid or two (or three) into the mix and it can just feel like an impossible task.

As with many jobs, one way to make it feel more manageable is to break it down into smaller parts.

Here we have a checklist for you that will help you get some chores done each day that will have a big impact on the look of your home.

Who knows, it may even make you feel as though the house is reasonably tidy enough to invite someone over…

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day job of parenting.

Entertaining them, feeding them, changing nappies, feeding them again, reading books, going to the park, and visiting friends.

It’s important to remember to take a step back sometimes and remember the bigger picture.

What do you want your children’s view of health and wellness to be?

There’s nothing like some wet weather or a bit of illness to bring on a dose of the dreaded ‘cabin fever’.

I don’t know about you but my toddler goes a little crazy when trapped indoors all day.

Instead of watching Toy Story 3 for the 100^th time, why not try your hand at some old school kids entertainment?

Here are three great recipes that you and the kids can try out – finger paint, play dough and home made bubble mix.

Why is finger painting, play dough and bubble fun beneficial for children?

• It’s a great opportunity to let your children get a little bit artistic
• Kids love to see their works of art displayed on the shelf, wall or fridge
• It uses all the senses, especially touch (and hopefully not too much taste)
• In this don’t-forget-the-hand-sanitiser world, sometimes it’s good for kids to get a little messy (pop some newspaper down if this makes you nervous!)
• It allows kids to let their imagination run wild
• It works on developing their fine motor skills
• Children can learn how colours are made

Giving birth to our bundle of joy is a truly amazing experience that we will hold dear in our hearts forever.

There is no better feeling in the world than being a new mum and being able to see the angelic smile on their faces.

As loving parents, all we want to do is give our babies a pleasant and happy environment to grow up in, and one of the best ways to ensure their happiness is to establish positive interaction with them.

It is very important that we create a bond with our babies so that they will always feel our love and be emotionally secure at all times.

There are so many fun and interesting ways to bond with your baby, and here are a couple of bonding tips to help you deepen your relationship with your baby.

There is nothing more wonderful than the feeling of being a new mum and it is a totally rewarding experience that we will cherish in our hearts forever.

Whilst you may love spending time and taking care of your newborn, sometimes the responsibility of being a new mum might get a little bit exhausting if you don’t know how to manage your own sleepy time.

Is it possible to get a healthy sleep as a new mum? Well, there are definitely ways to improve the quantity AND qualities of your sleep but before we get into it, let’s have a look at why it is so important to get some precious sleep.

A good night’s sleep will help you feel better about yourself and give you the energy you need to be a supermum throughout the day. Sleep irregularity could also affect your post pregnancy weight loss goals, and a recent study shows that women who get only 5 hours or less of sleep a day are more likely to have weight retention issues.