Being a Seychelles mama (The good bits) 0-6 months
Thought I’d share a little bit about being a seychelles mama (the good bits):
Getting Arthur dressed
is never really a chore he pretty much lives in bodysuits. It’s too hot for anything else, so no layers required. In fact often he is just in a nappy during the day.
He gets to be outdoors – a lot!
I always wanted to have kids somewhere where we could spend a lot of time outside, somewhere hot basically . We definitely get this here. I find it amazing how a walk in the fresh air can do a grumpy baby so much good (and a grumpy mama too!). The view is obviously good too which is another bonus for us both! At 6 months he’s just starting to get to an age where taking him to the beach is fun. He can sit up by himself and so can have a good look round at everything.
Health and Safety hasn’t gone mad here.
I guess the most obvious example I can think of is how baby walkers are now so frowned at as they are ‘dangerous’ due to the injuries they can cause. They have even been banned in Canada. Now I bet that nearly all of us had baby walkers when we were little and we are all just fine!!! Surely common sense needs to be used here, if the baby is supervised these things are perfectly safe!! Sorry I’ll get off my soapbox now I just get cross when ‘health & safety’ steps in when a bit of common sense just needs to be used!! Here people get along just fine without all of the health and safety overkill that happens elsewhere!
I don’t feel judged.
I’m not saying everyone feels this way in other places, but we really are pretty much left to it here. We had a health visitor come round once for about 5 minutes and we go down to the clinic once a month to get him weighed. His 6 month check up consisted of them asking if we had started feeding solids yet, seeing he could sit up already, seeing if he could crawl (he can’t). We briefly spoke about his sleep and that was pretty much it! I can breastfeed wherever I like, without any weird looks or comments.
There’s no ‘x-box culture’.
I guess this partly goes hand in hand with my second point. I know Arthur is too young for this to be an issue yet. It’s still it’s something that scares me and is one of the reasons we wanted to have a baby here!!
Swimming.
There is a small hotel thats a two minute walk from our house that we can Arthur swimming in all the time. It’s my favourite thing to do with him. He loves being in the water (just like me!). We have started taking him to splash his feet in the Ocean too. It’s rainy season here right now. This means its a little chilly by Seychelles standards so we haven’t taken him in for a full dip but it won’t be long….I can’t wait.
The expat community.
It’s been amazing how helpful people have been. We had a lot of stuff given/loaned to us that has been so useful. To name a few, a bumbo, a changing table and we even got our cot (actually this was from a Seychelleois family)…..Its at least 20 years old and handmade. It was in a bit of a sorry state as had been kept outside and kind of used for storage so me and Mark did it up and now its beautiful. We had to order a custom mattress as its an unusual size but it will last until Arthur is ready to go into a proper bed as its really big. I even got thrown a baby shower which was just so lovely considering by that point we hadn’t even been here a year!
Baby love.
People here LOVE babies. Everywhere you go people want to give Arthur cuddles, he gets a lot of fuss made of him! If we go out for somewhere to eat there’s always been someone offering to hold him/play with him while we eat….amazing! Also there is more availability of baby things then there is anything else which is of course very useful!
There are also some challenges in being a Mama in Seychelles. Read all about the harder bits of being a Seychelles Mama!
I cannot imagine bringing up a baby overseas BUT look at that beach! And swimming regularly! Amazing place for him to grow up x
I imagine it’s pretty different to how things would be back in the uk!! I always wanted a really outdoorsy, simple life when I had kids so for me it truly is a dream come true!! Xx
Sounds wonderful 🙂 Gorgeous pics of Arthur x
Ahhh thanks, he’s a cutie (I’m definitely biased though!) 🙂 xx
Just wow! So interesting reading about your life in Praslin, i am very jealous right now!! x
Aw thanks I’m pleased you find it interesting
Sounds like you have a really blissful like lovely lady. The judgey pants are annoying in the UK. I tend to ignore them now as they are fools! A lovely insight into a life so far removed from my own. Sigh xxx
brummymummyof2 recently posted…Wicked Wednesdays 5th November
This reminded me of having Curly Girl in China – my expat friends were SO supportive and it was wonderful to have a network of Mummys nearby when we were so far away from home. By the way I’m having a total *heartmelt* over your photos – what a cutie! Lovely post x #ShareWithMe
Michelle Reeves (bodfortea) recently posted…Countdown to 10 miles: 1 week to go
Just a teensy tiny bit jealous my lovely – ok I AM WELL JELL of your expat life. You guys have a lovely time, and it’s great reading all about it xxx #sharewithme
Mummy Tries recently posted…Book update: did I make my deadline?
I love that 1st photo of him in his cute hat! Life with a baba in the Seychelles sounds perfect. I would love to dress my monkeys in vests. x
Mel recently posted…Happy Sausage Week with debbie&andrew’s (and a Giveaway)!
Surely there are no bad bits?! What a lovely post – I know he is older now but what a cute baby and your life sounds bliss. I’ll be off the plane by 4pm tomorrow that okay ha? x
Complicated Gorgeousness recently posted…Man the hell up woman
Haha see you soon then 🙂
There are some downsides believe it or not haha! I’ll share that post next week!!
Thanks for stopping by lovely xx
I think one of the worst things about having a baby in the UK was when we had a harsh winter in 2009 – when it snowed the baby groups (my lifeline) were cancelled and I was house bound with a collicky four month old – I could have done with some of your sunshine then! Pop over to The Truth about… linky when you decide to do your challenging bits 😉 Xx #sharewithme
Sam recently posted…On piracy and other party themes…
Arthur was such a cute baby! Which doesn’t surprise me as he is the sweetest little toddler ever! 🙂 Once again, I’m so jealous of your gorgeous surroundings Chantelle. What a beautiful lifestyle for little (and big!) people xxx
Oh this is so interesting to hear what life is like in another country with a small baby, and where you are really does seem to have so many benefits. I love the idea of a more laid back lifestyle with less judgement- it all seems so competitive over here at times! x
Becky | Spirited Puddle Jumper recently posted…Our break at Butlins Bognor Regis! Part 1
What a fab and positive post. Your life there seems idyllic and Arthur is a MAJOR cutie – no wonder everyone wants to give him lots of scrummy cuddles 🙂 #sharewithme
Lucas says – I would love to live near the beach and am REALLY jealous of Arthur who looks like a most awesome cool dude by the way. We went to Portugal on holiday and our house had its own swimming pool. I wanted to stay there but the Mother said something about going back to work. She’s such a spoilsport……………. I think the Mother enjoyed reading this too as she kept going ‘AAAHHHHHH’ over Arthur’s photo!!! he he #sharewithme
kidGLloves recently posted…Mini Creations Wednesday 5th November 2014
Oh it really is great to be a seychelles mama indeed. You just made me jealous. Arthur is so cute too. How fast has the time gone now they are so grown up. Love this. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me with an oldie. They are still goodies in my book. Love love…. #sharewithme
Jenny recently posted…Share With Me ~ wk 40
So interesting to read this, to see how it was when Arthur was still small. It really is an amazing place to bring up a baby x #ShareWithMe
Sara (@mumturnedmom) recently posted…Our Garden: play space update
gush, look at Arthur! he is so gorgeous! and look at that beach! idyllic! I can’t wait to move to Thailand and go to the beach with Thomas! life is so much simpler there! there will be challenges too, but worth it i think! #brilliantblogposts
susan @happyhealthymumma recently posted…Detoxifying My Life
Oh my gosh Arthur looks adorable with that little hat on. This post makes ME want to be a seychelles mama too. It really does sound so chilled out, I remember visiting family in India and it was so similar, all outdoors and everyone really laid back about parenting. Apparently I had a walker for ages and was really speedy in it. I walk really normally 🙂
ToInfinityAndIVF recently posted…When It Felt A Bit Like Breaking Bad
Aww he looks so cute! Sounds like a fabulous place to bring up children, being able to be outdoors a lot and go swimming. Sounds like a much more relaxed way of life #brilliantblogposts
tracey bowden recently posted…Pink for Girls, Blue for Boys?
I imagine the Seychelles to be an amazing place to raise kids. I had the pleasure of visitng when I was a travel journalist many years ago and I must say I’m very jealous (though as you say, it must have challenges too!). Glad to hear you have the support of a strong community and no doubt your little one will be a competent swimmer at a young age #brilliantblogposts
John Adams recently posted…Bring In Your Parents Day; a mother’s candid opinion
This made me want to go and live there right about now that the weather is wreaking havoc to my skin! Such love description and I can read love in between the lines. #brillblogposts
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) recently posted…Gossip Girl
I do think it is a wonderful way to grow up, outdoors enjoying the sun and sand and ocean. No need for vitamin D tablets like here in the UK. 🙂 #sharewithme
Californian Mum in London recently posted…Pizza Yumminess at John Lewis
Wow – lovely post, it’s really interesting to hear about what it’s like bringing up baby overseas. Are you British originally? It looks absolutely amazing. I have always wanted to do something just like that, but sadly it has all come down to practical things like schools and work for us, which we found the best combination for to be here in the UK. Am totally jealous of your beautiful pictures and smiley outdoors baby though!! xxxx
Mackenzie recently posted…Playdough Leaf Printing and Nomenclature
Oh Arthur’s too cute for words! That would be my dream – to live in a hot country and let Monkey just wander outdoors and not worry about every car coming round the corner. Like you said I’m sure there are challenges too, I bet you miss your loved ones x
Ting at My Travel Monkey recently posted…Time Travel Thursdays: Indian Moments Part Two
Oh wow, it looks amazing and I love that picture of Arthur on the beach, so cute! It seems such a laid back place, ideal for bringing up a baby! xx
Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…Wicked Wednesday – The Mess!
What an interesting read! It must be amazing to be able to bring up a child in such an outdoorsy place. As we live smack-bang in the middle of Milan M is growing up to be a right little city kid and I don’t like it at all! There are more trams and train than you can shake a stick at though, which he definitely does like 😉
Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork recently posted…“Triple Puff” Granny Square – Free Pattern & Tutorial
Aw what gorgeous photos! Sounds wonderful where you are and I would gladly swap with this weather we’re having lately!!! x x x
ghostwritermummy recently posted…The night before the c-section
Such a beautiful boy and Mama and where you live is just paradise, love that everyone loves kids so much and the sunshine and outdoors way of life is like no other! I wanna move now! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts
Honest mum recently posted…Official A/W Modelling Shoot for Nova Harley
I’m now retired and living in my pension and disability. I’ve given thought about moving to Seychelles from the u.s. I think I would love it.im single no children so why not