Farfella Studio

Brief background

One of the most amazing picture ideas

The owners of this business are the talented Marafi sisters, Afnan and Ansam who started documenting family moments in 2003. Three years later, they bought studio flashes and backgrounds for fun and and started spending time on something they enjoyed doing. Their family supported them and their cousins started asking them to take pictures of their kids with paying the printing cost, and that was how they started their business.

My experience

 11

Baby Nasser wearing Dishdasha for Gergean

I took an appointment  with Afnan Marafi immediately after I gave birth to Nasser. I went to the studio with Baby Nasser and took 4 outfits only because she told me that she already had some outfits and ideas that we could use if we had to. Afnan is a very talented photographer and her creative ideas are what make people come back again and again to the studio. For that reason, I take baby Nasser every 2 months to her and she always surprises me with some great ideas. So, hurry up take an appointment mommy to visit her studio.

Baby Nasser, 7 weeks old.

Studio Information:
Location
Addan City
Hawalli, Kuwait

Phone

+965 65149696

+965 65149797

How much sleep does your baby get?

......

Sleepy baby

Before reading this article which is taken from Baby Center, I would like you to take this small survey and answer its 5 questions. 

The purpose of the survey is that Baby Center Arabia are trying to gather information about number of babies sleeping hours and naps each day in order to compare them with the real number of hours babies need to get per day to see if they are getting enough sleep or not. In addition, these data will be used to determine how it might affect babies health and development. 

Please note that this survey is corporate work between me and Baby Center Arabia, and these date will be analyzed and approved by the BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board. Click here to take the survey. 

As a new parent, you're bound to wonder if your baby is getting enough sleep. Here are the hours of sleep your baby is likely to need between the ages of one month and 12 months. But remember that every baby is different, and your little one may need more or less sleep than this. 

How much sleep does your baby need?
Approved by the BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board

Age	Daytime sleep	Night-time sleep	Total sleep
Newborn	7hrs 30mins (3 naps)	8hrs 30mins	16 hrs
One month	6hrs 45mins (3 naps)	8hrs 30mins	15hrs 15mins
Two months	5hrs 30mins (3 naps)	10hrs	15hrs 30mins
Three months	5hrs (3 naps)	10hrs	15hrs
Six months	3 hrs (2 naps)	11hrs	14hrs
Nine months	2hrs 45mins (2 naps)	11hrs 15mins	14hrs
12 months	2hrs 15mins (2 naps)	11hrs 30mins	13hrs 45mins

Your baby needs lots of sleep, but she won't stay asleep for more than three hours or four hours at a time in her first few months. She needs to wake frequently so that she can refill her tummy, so be prepared for some interrupted nights. 

But be reassured that once your baby is about three months old, you can start to follow a set pattern every night. By six months she may even sleep through the night, allowing you to get more sleep again. 

Your baby will quickly come to appreciate the consistency and predictability of a routine. Your baby's routine could include a bath, a change into night clothes, a favourite story and a cuddle. Knowing what's coming every night will help your baby to learn sleep habits that will stand you both in good stead for the future. 

Introducing Your Baby Solids

Nasser eating celery stick at five months old

When should I introduce my baby to solids?
You can start introducing solids to your baby between 4-6 months, however, it depends on your baby's nature. Introducing solids does not need to have a special order and there is not any right way to do it. Therefore, you need to keep an eye on you little one's developments and behaviors in order to figure out when he is ready.

Some signs to help your decide weather to introduce solids to your baby or not:

• When your baby seems hungry even with 4-8 feedings of milk
• When your baby is gaining weight
• When your baby becomes able to sit on his high chair
• When your baby becomes curious about what you are eating
• When your baby opens his mouth while you are eating
• When your baby is able to control his head and nick

How to introduce my baby to solids?

During the first few days of introducing solids, you can give your baby few teaspoons of pureed or mashed solids like pureed carrots or mashed potatoes once a day. I started giving his pureed carrots first, and after I make sure that he is not allergic to carrots, I start mixing carrots with rice, potato, and any other vegetable.

After your baby is used to solids, he will be ready for more than one meal a day. One thing last to add, if your baby is teething, you can start giving him some cucumber sticks or carrot sticks or any other vegetables. 

If your baby starts pushing the food away, try to let him smell the food, or give him something to drink in between and this usually works. However, if it did not work, your baby might not be ready yet, that is why you need to wait for few days until your start again.

How will I know when my baby is hungry?

• When your baby starts biting his fingers or his clothes
• When your baby gets excited while your are preparing his food
• When your baby opens his mouth when you feed him or try to catch/hold the food. 

How will I know when my baby's full?

• When he turns his head away
• When he refuses to open his mouth
• When he pushes your the food away
• When he starts playing around
• When he start screaming and crying.

Tips

• Always let your baby wears a bib before eating
• Put your baby on a baby chair so that he knows that it is time to eat
• Let you baby try to eat by herself
• Do not take the food off until you make sure that your baby had enough
• Give you baby snack between meals like rusks, yogurt, or some sliced fruits like banana, apple, pineapple, and peach. 

When should I stop giving my little one milk?

You should keep feeding your baby milk for almost a year. There are some minerals breast and formula milk provide that solids cannot replace like some types vitamins, protein, and iron. Therefore, it is important to keep giving your baby milk for the first few years to help his development in the right way. 

Note: one your baby starts moving around, you will notice a loss of appetite. Do not worry, everything is fine. Your baby wants to spend time moving and discovering his surroundings, therefore, I advise you feed him more milk in order to replace the loss appetite on food. 

Traveling with a Baby? Then You Should Read This Article!

If you are traveling with a newborn for the first time, then there are some things you should keep in mind, mommy! I know that traveling with a baby may sound stressful, but in fact, it is not if you prepared for the trip. Here are some things that you should keep in mind before traveling:

Safety and Health

Talking to the pediatrician is important

• Talk to your pediatrician. If you took the decision of traveling with your newborn, be sure to see your midwife to make sure that everything is okay with your baby, and it is okay for him to travel with you. Pediatricians usually advise mothers not to travel during the first few months for two main reasons. The first reason is that the mother needs to get some rest after a journey that lasted for 9 months of pregnancy. The second reason is because the newborn needs to be in a cozy environment to get used to the new world. Therefore, try to stay home with your little one for the first few months, unless in case of emergency. 
• Book the right seat. When you are making reservations, make sure to choose a seat that has a spacious area in front of it to allow you to move around, since you will need to change your baby's diaper every once and then during the flight.
• Fasten the seat belt. Make sure to fasten your seatbelt and your baby's for his safety.
• Give your baby a pacifier. Your baby's ears will be affected by the air pressure during takeoff and landing. Therefore, let him suck his pacifier to avoid ears pain.

Food & Comfort

Snack ideas

• Feed your baby. Make sure you feed your baby before entering the plane and burp him well to avoid colic and vomit. 
• Breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, make sure to drink fluids during the flight to avoid dehydration. In addition, bring formula milk in case you were not able to breast-feed.
• Prepare snacks in boxes. If your baby eats solids, giving him light snacks during the flight. Eating will keep him busy and full till you reach your destination. So, bring with you a small snacks box with some rusks or some sliced fruits that he can eat during the flight.

• Bring your baby's blanket. When your baby is asleep, make sure to cover him with the blanket to keep him warm. Moreover, if you are breast-feeding, you can cover your self with the blanket.

• Change you baby's diaper. Do not forget to check your baby's diaper every once in a while and if you realized that the diaper is wet or solid, change it to avoid baby's disturbance.

Entertainment

• Bringing some toys. Do not forget to bring some of your baby's favorite toys to keep him entertained during the flight.

Some toys for baby Nasser

• Download baby songs applications on your mobile. Before traveling, you can download some songs for your baby from your mobile’s App Store. Baby Songs is one is one of the best apps that I personally use and it is available for both iPhone and Android users.

Those were some tips that you should keep in mind, but you still need to prepare your baby's traveling bag. I will share with you a video of how I prepare my little one's traveling bag later on, but for now, here is what you are going to need:

• Diapers: Bring some extra diapers is case of emergency.



Diapers, changing pad, blanket, and a towel

• Plastic bags: You will need them for the soiled diapers.

• Changing pad: You will need one during diaper changing.

• Small towel: Bring a towel in case you had to wash your baby, who knows what might happen?
• Blanket: A small warm blanket to cover your baby.

• Clothes: You will need at least 3 outfits, some bibs, socks, shoe, and finally a coat in case of weather changes. 

Some of the product I put inside my baby's bag

• A small bag: for wipes, tissues, baby lotion, body wash, baby powder.  (Do not forget to bring medicines you might need).

• Bottles: Do not forget two bring at least two feeding bottles for water, milk, or juice and encourage your baby to drink to avoid dehydration.

• Small Snack Box: You can put inside some snacks for your baby.

• Toys: To keep him entertained.

Finally, make sure to take either a baby stroller or a baby holder with you; whatever you feel is more comfortable. During our last trip to Turkey, we took our baby's stroller with us. However, it was really hard to take it everywhere especially when we were visiting historical places. Therefore, we visited the nearest Mothercare store and got our baby holder. If you have any question, please feel free to send me an email.

The first video part of things you need to pack if you are traveling with a baby (Food and Beverages):