Have you looked at job ads recently? Have you noticed the kind skills and attributes that they tend to list? Things like:
-Ability to learn quickly
-Think problems through logically and come up with creative solutions
-Honest and direct communication
-Be detail oriented
-Be reliable and punctual
-Be passionate
Sounds like a great candidate for most roles, right? You know what this also sounds like? Someone who is autistic.
Yep.
You&rsquo;d be forgiven for being surprised. Unfortunately, we live a world that is focused on people&rsquo;s short comings. We love to talk about all the things that are &ldquo;wrong&rdquo; with people and come up with &ldquo;treatments&rdquo; and &ldquo;interventions&rdquo; to &ldquo;rid&rdquo; them of their &ldquo;ailments&rdquo;&hellip;or worse, cover them up! If neither of those options work, we cast them aside and frame their difference as a &ldquo;them problem&rdquo;. And this is what happens to autistic people, they are a problem to be solved&hellip;or ignored and left to try to fit into a world that seems determined to work against them.
What we now know is that there are many of different neurotypes (aka all brains are physically different and therefore work differently). Autism, ADHD and neurotypical are just three of many different neurotypes. As such, it stands to reason that, in a world that has been built on a foundation of neurotypical social norms and structures, autistic people are not &ldquo;problems&rdquo; that need to be &ldquo;fixed&rdquo;.
In fact, if you look at job ads on Seek, you&rsquo;ll probably find that a lot of the skills qualities employers are looking for are autistic ones. Go figure!
Am I Autistic?
So the question remains, have you ever wondered &lsquo;am I autistic?&rsquo;
Maybe your child has been diagnosed, you are thinking to yourself: &ldquo;Gosh! I related a lot to what my child experiences and/or who they are.&rdquo; Or, &ldquo;I remember being/feeling like that when I was that age.&rdquo; Or, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m surprised they are autistic. They aren&rsquo;t all that different to me, or other people/kids I know.&rdquo;
Here is the thing, we know that there is a strong genetic relationship with neurodivergence, which means if your kiddo is autistic, it is likely to be genetic. What we also know from social psychology is that like-minded people tend to enjoy company of each other. As such, autistic people are likely to hang out with other autistic people. So if you are thinking that you are not so different from your child or that you and your child are not so different from others in your social circle, you might find that you are autistic.
Quick Facts!
Let&rsquo;s get into some quick facts:&nbsp;&nbsp;
In Australia, it is estimated that 1 in 100 people will be autistic.
Currently, males are 3.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than females.
Interesting stats right? You might be asking &lsquo;why is that?&rsquo; Good question! Are men more likely to be autistic than women?&hellip;.Actually, no, we don&rsquo;t think so. It is far more likely that women are more likely to go unidentified.
Why are women less like to be identified as autistic?
There are a few theories that might explain why more boys and men have a diagnosis of autism than girls and women. Including:
-The way that autism is diagnosed is biased towards the &lsquo;conventional&rsquo; (male) features, and needs to be modified to be more appropriate for women and girls.
-Autism in women and girls is &lsquo;overshadowed&rsquo; by a mental health (mis)diagnosis (e.g. anxiety, depression, OCD, Borderline Personality Disorder, eating disorders).
-Quietness or shyness in a girl is considered &lsquo;normal&rsquo; due to stereotypical social expectations of females.
-Autistic females are more socially motivated to engage with peers leading to a missed diagnosis.
-Women and girls who are autistic are better able to camouflage or mask their challenges through social imitation which results in them not receiving a diagnosis.
-Some autistic individuals, particularly adults, are likely to have neurodivergent friends (whether they realise or not) who share similar experiences, traits and preferences, which might result in the person not realising that they way their brain works is different to someone who is neurotypical. When they discover they are autistic, the person might be thinking - &lsquo;I thought everybody was like that!&rsquo;
Mini Self Appraisal
-Think you might be autistic? Try answering some of these questions:
-Are you passionate about particular topics?&nbsp;
-Do you find yourself figuring or moving your body often?
-Are you an honest or &ldquo;direct&rdquo; communicator?
-Do you prefer skipping small talk and talking about &lsquo;deep&rsquo; topics or topics of interest?
-Are you able to learn information quickly and remember it?
-Do you experience hyper-empathy and feel moved by other peoples emotions and experiences?&nbsp;
-Do you remember learning to read at a very early age?
-Would you describe yourself as a logical thinker and possibly enjoy science, engineering and maths based activities?
-Are you precise and detail oriented?
-Do others consider you reliable?
-Do you have a strong appreciation for the function of rules or justice?
Have you answered &lsquo;yes&rsquo; to a number of the questions above? This might be a sign that you are autistic! However, keep in mind, all autistic people are different and not all of these may apply. Something else to keep in mind is that autism and ADHD often occur together and can camouflage some of one another&rsquo;s common attributes.
&nbsp;
Special Offer for Mamalaide Mums!
Say Hooray is pleased to offer neurodiversity affirming autism assessment for women and AFAB people. We are offering an exclusive offer to Mamalaide Mums - 10% off Autism Assessments for the month of February 2023! To claim your discount quote &ldquo;Mamalaide&rdquo; when we call you to book your interview!*
You can choose from our 3 Assessment options below:
&nbsp;
1) Verbal feedback only - Exclusive Mamalaide Price of $675 (valued at $750!)
This option includes verbal feedback only. No written summary/report or letter is given.
2) Personal Profile&nbsp; - Exclusive Mamalaide Price of $810 (valued at $900!)
This option includes a 1 page written Personal Profile as well as a concise letter with confirmation of diagnosis, if you&rsquo;re found to be autistic.
3) Report - Exclusive Mamalaide Price of $1,350 (valued at $1,500!)
This option includes a more detailed written summary and a separate accomodations in the workplace/study environment letter, as well as a separate concise letter with confirmation of diagnosis, if you&rsquo;re found to be autistic.
All assessment options include:
-Autism questionnaires
-Up to 2 hour interview using MIGDAS-2 interview tool
-Verbal feedback
For more information, please visit: <a href="https://www.sayhooray.com.au/autismassessmentsforwomen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.sayhooray.com.au/autismassessmentsforwomen</a> or call us on (08) 8353 5543 or email <a href="mailto:autismassessments@sayhooray.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">autismassessments@sayhooray.com.au</a>
To book your spot, complete our Self Referral Form: <a title="Say Hooray self-referral" href="https://www.sayhooray.com.au/self-referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.sayhooray.com.au/self-referral&nbsp;</a>
*Subject to Terms and Conditions
Say Hooray&nbsp;

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Autism in women - it’s not what you think

Christmas is a time of year that people often think about adding a pet to their family. While this should never be an impulse or surprise purchase the Summer months or school holidays can be a great time of getting to know a new pet. The RSPCA have a fabulous guide to help decide what breed of dog might suit your family and to work through the decision-making process of dog ownership.&nbsp;<a href="https://rspcapuppyguide.com.au">The Smart Puppy and Dog Buyer's Guide | RSPCA (rspcapuppyguide.com.au)</a>
Having said that, we love our dogs and cats and they are very much a part of our family- our fur babies! Some couples worry about how their pets will respond when they bring a new baby home for the first time. In fact, this is a big reason why many people re-home their pets, however, it doesn&rsquo;t have to be this way.
Understandably, we are concerned with how everyone will go when there is a change. Who is going to be 'top- dog'?
There are some practical things we can do to make the transition easier for everyone!&nbsp;
-Practise walking your dog with the pram before baby arrives, so that you and your dog are both comfortable negotiating the pusher, before adding in the unpredictability of your baby!
-Find a sound grab of a baby crying and play it to your pets at a low volume.&nbsp;
-Gradually increase the volume over time so that your dog becomes acclimatised to the sound of a baby crying. This will help to reduce the anxiety of trying to soothe a crying baby and your stressed dog at the same time!
-Your dog or cat has an amazing sense of smell, so make sure you involve their nose. If you can, have your partner take some clothes home from hospital after you've given birth for your pet to smell- this will certainly smell different to the pregnant you. And offer your dog/cat a used baby blanket or clothes (or nappy) to smell before you bring the baby home too. They can start to know baby&rsquo;s smell too.
-Mumma, when you come home after the birth, have your partner hold babe so that your pets can greet you without babe in your arms. They will have missed you and will want to say hello. You will certainly have a changed fragrance compared to pregnancy, according to your dog!
-If you&rsquo;re worried about cats jumping onto baby&rsquo;s bassinet, try quarantining a room for babe that&rsquo;s out of bounds for heat-seeking cats (they&rsquo;re attracted to babe&rsquo;s warmth). Or try door guards prior to the birth to find one that works for you.
Give your pets space to come and meet baby in their own time. Don&rsquo;t try to force anything. You know your pets best, but the general advice is to never leave babies and pets together unsupervised. If they can&rsquo;t be actively supervised then they should be securely separated. Chat to your vet for some more specific advice, or check the resources on, <a href="https://www.wearefamily.vic.gov.au/understanding.html">We Are Family | Introduction (vic.gov.au)&nbsp;</a>
I&rsquo;ll leave you with a fun fact: Children of dog-owning families have a 13% lower chance of developing asthma than non-dog-owning families (Fall et al 2015)&hellip; having a dog is good for your gut microbiome! Who knew!!&nbsp;
Ros :)

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How to introduce your newborn to your fur-babies!

We are continuing to run our 12 Days of Giveaways via our Instagram page @mamalaide.au curated by our wonderful suppliers for our beautiful community. How amazing would it be for you or your friends to receive a giveaway package during this festive season to help kickstart the new year.&nbsp; We are delighted to see our community growing each day and it&rsquo;s an absolute pleasure to be able to connect parents and journey together. This giveaway will run until 12th December 2022 with the winners published via our giveaway space online - visit <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mamalaide.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mamalaide.au</a> to find out more and join the fun today!
Mamalaide Team

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12 Days of Giveaways

Where it all began..
Let's take a moment to unpack a little bit about who we are and how Mamalaide began. In 2020 Founders Josh and Sarah journeyed through their pregnancy, awaiting the arrival of their first little one. With the pair both experiencing many challenging seasons in life, this this was no different. A high risk pregnancy meant what should be fairly routine, became a little more complicated and quite overwhelming.&nbsp;
As new parents Josh and Sarah continued to search for support services and others who had similar experiences. It was during this period before Oscar was born, the conversation developed about a platform that would make everything a little easier.&nbsp;
In 2021 Oscar entered into the world and the first few months were not at all easy, encountering a variety of trivial experiences - this only pushed Josh and Sarah to engage with more people about the project. With a vision so great it was time to group developers and partners together, helping to create what we see today. A goal to empower a growing community within South Australia, a gallery of suppliers that offers a variety of service offerings and giveaways to provide an extra little bit of joy through the seasons of life!&nbsp;
This is just the beginning - the team is growing and the platform is about to enter into it's second phase of the rollout, after an incredible launch party the next event is already being shaped, which is to be announced shortly. This is a community, a collective of mamas and their families who are continuing to move mountains in their own life, we are simply here as and when it happens with over 100 suppliers to help.&nbsp;
2020: Founders Vision
2021: Project Development&nbsp;
2022: Mamalaide Official Launch&nbsp;
2023: Coming Soon!
&nbsp;
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Our Story

When to introduce food&nbsp;
Research indicates that the optimal age to begin exploring solid foods is 6 months. From 6 months, most babies are able to sit, are capable of feeding themselves, and are capable of actually digesting solid food.
At 6 months of age a child&rsquo;s iron requirements begin to increase, so this is when most children actually do require nutrition that is only available through solid food. Up until this point, their most valuable source of nutrition is milk feeding &ndash; breastmilk or formula.
&nbsp;
Signs that your baby is ready
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organisation have all agreed that waiting until your baby is around 6 months of age, and is showing signs of readiness, is the best foundation for long-term gut health.
Starting solid food is SUCH an exciting time, but it&rsquo;s essential to make sure your baby has reached these critical developmental milestones first;
&nbsp;
<h5>&bull; Sitting independently &bull; Independent head control &ndash; able to hold their head upright and steady &bull; Reaching for food, and able to bring food or other objects to their mouth &bull; Showing interest in other people eating &bull; Chewing motion with mouth</h5>
&nbsp;
Wait, do they need some extra tummy support first?
Parents often say that &ldquo;it all got worse around the time we introduced solids&rdquo;. We want to set tummies up for a lifetime of healthy digestion and nutrient absorption. The first step is to support the gut, and not rush it.
Red flags look out for:
<h5>&bull; Sleep disturbances</h5>
<h5>&bull; Waking during sleep stages, rather than just between sleep cycles (i.e waking every 30mins)</h5>
<h5>&bull; Gas</h5>
<h5>&bull; Reflux</h5>
<h5>&bull; Colic</h5>
<h5>&bull; Constipation</h5>
<h5>&bull; Mucus in stools</h5>
<h5>&bull; Persistent eczema that&rsquo;s resistant to treatment</h5>
&nbsp;
How do you start?
If your baby is showing the above signs of readiness;
<h5>&bull; Give their regular breastmilk or formula feed before feeding with solid foods. Remember that their milk feeds are still their primary source of nutrition until they&rsquo;re around 12 months old.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Begin by introducing one food at a time, and one new food every 3 days.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Go slow! A 1/2tsp taste is sufficient for their first meal.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Gradually increase the amount of solid food by &frac12;-1tsp each day. By 10 months, expect to be feeding them &frac12; cup of food per meal.</h5>
<h5>&bull; The most important thing to remember, is to let them tell you when they&rsquo;re full. Let their appetite be your guide.</h5>
&nbsp;
Signs that bub is full include turning their head away, refusing to open their mouth, leaning back in their highchair, and playing with the spoon/food rather than eating. Resist the urge to try and convince them to have 1 last bite. This is how we risk turning meal times into a power struggle. Lots of factors can influence your baby&rsquo;s appetite &ndash; activity level, growth spurts, illness can all create changes to their nutritional requirements.
&nbsp;
4- 6 months
<h5>&bull; 1-2tsp of single-ingredients.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Soup consistency.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Gradually increase to 1-2 tablespoons of food once per day.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Follow your baby&rsquo;s fullness cues.</h5>
&nbsp;
6-8 months
<h5>&bull; Expect to transition from 2-3tbs at 6 months, to &frac14; &ndash; &frac12; cup of mashed/minced food daily by 8 months.</h5>
<h5>&bull; By 7 months, add a second food to each meal.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Aim for 1-2tbs of protein per day at 7 months, and 2-4tbs by 8 months.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Transition from one to two meals per day, typically by 8 months.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Gradually add more texture &ndash; less water and less blending.</h5>
<h5>&bull; Expect breastmilk or formula intake to decrease around 8 months. Most babies will start to drink less milk at each milk feed and focus more on their solids intake.</h5>
<h5>&bull; The early days of eating are all about supporting the gut, and developing a positive relationship with food and eating.</h5>
&nbsp;
Serving single foods separately is how we learn that different foods have different flavors and textures. It can be tempting to serve a mixed veggie mash each day, but then we miss an opportunity to teach babies how carrots taste, how fish tastes, and how different foods feel like in the mouth. Early exposure to variety is the key to lifelong healthy eating habits.
&nbsp;
Starting solids can feel overwhelming and complicated. I strongly believe that there&rsquo;s no &lsquo;one size fits all&rsquo; approach when introducing food. If you have questions or concerns, reach out. There are many different ways to do the right thing, the trick is figuring out what&rsquo;s going to work best for your child and your family.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.nurturechildrenshealth.com/blog/starting-solids/">Ash Yates, Children&rsquo;s Health Naturopath.</a>

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Starting Solids

Are you worried if your little one is getting enough sleep? You're not alone - let me help you decode the &lsquo;recommended&rsquo; sleep totals for babies and toddlers so that you can find out if your little one is sleeping enough.
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Let's first take a look at the total amount of sleep recommended in a 24 hour period by age (as per the National Sleep Foundation Guidelines), shown in the above graphic.
The middle column is the AVERAGE sleep total that children of that age have in a 24 hour period.
However, you can also see the column on the right that shows the full range of normal - and yes, it is a HUGE RANGE! There is 3 hours difference in the average ranges, but up to 7-8 hours difference in the full ranges of normal!
So, what do we do with numbers like this? From my perspective, we look at them and agree that every baby really is different! We can use these numbers as a guide to get us started, but then we tune into YOUR UNIQUE baby and see what they need as an individual person, rather than trying to plot them somewhere within the charts.
There is a BIG gap between what mainstream sleep training culture tells us about how our baby &ldquo;should&rdquo; be sleeping and what our baby actually does. By taking a step back from the advice that doesn&rsquo;t seem to fit your little one, you will see that they are a unique human who is not meant to fit into a predetermined box.
What is the best indicator of whether your baby is sleeping enough? Their mood - if they are, for the most part, pretty content upon waking and when they are awake they are engaging and not too grizzly, they are likely getting just as much sleep as they need. Your baby may sleep 7 hours more or less than another baby in your mum&rsquo;s group, but they are both NORMAL and doing just what they need to be doing. The variance of sleep is not just from child to chid either, but within each individual child too - some days they may need more sleep than other days, because sleep isn&rsquo;t linear.
The range of normal when it comes to baby and toddler sleep is wide! If you are really lost and need a starting point for finding your baby&rsquo;s unique rhythm - download my FREE wake windows and sleep schedules guide to get you started!
Author: Sarah Palmer - Baby-Led Sleep &amp; Well-being Specialist (Blossom and Snooze)

Discover More

Autism in women - it’s not what you think

How to introduce your newborn to your fur-babies!

12 Days of Giveaways

Our Story

Starting Solids

How Much Sleep Does My Baby Need?

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