Baby care

sonu_627 · Feb 4, 2006

Choosing a Pillow for your Child



For the next time you are out pillow shopping for your kids, here are a few things to keep in mind

Is your child sleeping safely and soundly? If you’re lucky with that pillow buy, then yes.

[*]If your child is under two, provide no pillows as this will lower her risk of suffocation.
[*]If your child is a side-sleeper, a firm pillow should be perfect as this will fill the gap between her neck and bed, keeping her properly aligned.
[*]Use a medium-fill pillow for a back-sleeper as it will prevent stiff necks and keep her head properly elevated.
[*]A stomach-sleeper needs a soft pillow as it won’t put her neck in an awkward angle and will make it easy to sleep.
[*]For the allergy-prone, try a pillow made with polyester fibre-fill, which makes it harder for mould and dust mites to flourish.

sonu_627 · Feb 4, 2006

Feeding Tips

Useful Tips for Feeding Toddlers and Pre-schoolers



Unfortunately, children’s marvellous regulatory mechanism does not recognise the importance of what adults consider as healthy food such as cauliflower or leafy greens. Instead, they have a finely honed ‘yuck’ response to a single bite of anything new. Human beings as such are omnivores, programmed to eating many different things. But they are also programmed to be very suspicious of anything new. This is particularly true of the human offspring.

So, what do you do? Well, offering a new food upto a dozen times usually wears down a child’s resistance. But there is no guarantee. Usually, breast-fed babies are more open-minded to new food than formula-fed babies, because the flavour of breast feed keeps changing depending on what the mother consumes in her diet. Mother’s milk acts as a flavour bridge to the foods eaten in that culture.

The most important reason why kids should be helped to enjoy new tastes is that a varied diet of foods eaten for pleasure is most likely to be a healthy diet.

Children naturally love sweet and salty tasting food. So, it’s not difficult for them to get hooked on to fast food and junk food. That’s the reason why it’s never too early to set good eating habits.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help prevent many cancers. It also provides sufficient fibre to the body. Both adults and children should eat at least five servings of fruits or vegetables a day. This is not a very difficult task, since a serving is only half a cup of cooked food or a whole fruit.

Fruit juice, which many kids swig all day, is a poor substitute for whole fruit, water or milk. It’s not very different in calories from soda.

What if your child refuses vegetables in any form for weeks? Will her nutrition suffer? Vegetables are very valuable for vitamins, minerals and roughage. But a variety of fruits also supply these. Milk, meat, egg and high quality grains supply other nutrients that fruits do not provide. So, if your child dislikes vegetables but likes fruits, don’t panic and don’t fuss. Chances are her appetite will swing around to vegetables again if you don’t make an issue of it.

Never hold back one food until another is eaten. This will give your child the impression that plain foods are not as good as the sweet ones. If one day she catches sight of the dessert first and asks for it, let her have it right away, willingly.

Set a good example. If you are going to have a lot of sodas, ice creams or candy or chips all the time, of course your kid is going to ask for them. And then it will be very difficult for you to say ‘no’ to her.

Some children are born with a wolf’s appetite and seem to be cut out by nature to be plump. Others are more moderate eaters and are apparently intended to stay on the slender side. But every child is born with enough appetite to keep her healthy, and gain weight at the proper rate for her. It’s important for parents to understand this.

Parents' anxiety and urging usually makes it worse for the child and prevents the appetite from improving.

Once a feeding problem is established, it takes time, patience and understanding to undo it. The aim is not to make the child eat but to let her natural appetite come to the surface so that she wants to eat. Don’t talk about her eating, either with threats or encouragement.

A child with feeding problems is no more susceptible to diseases than a child without it. It is extremely rare to see serious malnutrition or vitamin deficiency or infectious disease result from a feeding problem.

If your child eats poorly, serve her small portions. Seeing a heapful of food in her plate will remind her of how much she is going to refuse. This will depress her appetite.

A child of two years or more should be eating by herself. But getting her to do this may take several weeks. You must never give her the impression that you are trying to take away a privilege. Instead, give her the impression that you want her to eat by herself because she wants to.

Do not bribe or threaten the child to eat, such as a story for every mouthful or an outing for every meal eaten well. These persuasions may seem to be doing the trick for the moment, but in the long run they will take away her appetite even more.

sonu_627 · Feb 6, 2006

Rubella shot.

Rubella shot.



Rubella. Also known as German measles, rubella is a contagious viral infection with mild symptoms associated with rash.

The disease is potentially serious because of the ability to produce defects in a developing foetus if the mother is infected during early pregnancy. As many as 10 to 15% of women in their childbearing years are susceptible to infection.

One or more defects may occur in an infected foetus and include deafness, cataracts, microcephaly, mental retardation, congenital heart defects, and other defects. A miscarriage or stillbirth may occur.

What causes rubella?

The disease is caused by a virus that is spread through the air or by close contact. It can also be transmitted to a foetus by a mother with an active infection. The disease is usually mild and may even go unnoticed. Children may have few symptoms, but adults may experience fever, headache, runny nose and inflamed eyes that last from 1 to 5 days before the rash appears. Lifelong immunity to the disease follows infection.

Prevention

Live rubella virus vaccine is routinely recommended for all children. It is routinely given at 15 months of age, but is sometimes given earlier during epidemics.

MMR immunisation vaccine, is a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella.Women of childbearing age may be screened by rubella serology. If immunity is not present, immunisation can be given if conception can be prevented for 3 months after the vaccination. Vaccination should not be given at any time during pregnancy

Treatment

There is no treatment for this disease.

sonu_627 · Feb 6, 2006

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea



Mild intestinal infection causes diarrhoea. Most episodes of diarrhoea can be controlled by dietary methods. But if it persists or gets worse, it can get serious. Significant loss of body fluid can be the direct result of this. Mildly loose movements that are only slightly more frequent than usual are not diarrhoea. This condition can be treated with a modified diet of rice gruel, tender coconut, bananas and applesauce. Breast milk should be continued but if your child is on formula, stop it for a while. Avoid sweet liquids like juices since sugar can aggravate the condition. If the changed diet does not help, call your paediatrician. Frequent loose stools can dehydrate the child and so give your baby as much liquid as possible. Keep track of the number of times she passes urine. If the urine output has reduced and she loses weight, then rush to your doctor without further delay.

An infection should be considered severe if any of the following symptoms are present:

Watery stools

Change in the colour of stools

Pus or blood in the stools

Vomiting

Fever of 101 F or more

The baby has sunken eyes with grey circles under them

Do not waste time!

Consult your doctor immediately!

Prevention of diarrhoea

Always give your baby clean, clear and double boiled water

Ensure that the food given to your infant is hygienically prepared

Always wash your hands before feeding your baby

Immunisation (check with your doctor on the possibilities of this)

sonu_627 · Feb 8, 2006

Baby massage

Baby Massage....

Incorporating infant massage into your daily routine is one of the most splendid forms of child care you can provide--not only for your little one, but for you, too, as a new parent. The babies benefit from the sme stress relief that big people get from massage.

Infant massage is beneficial to the baby for relaxation and for stimulation, for pain and colic relief, and for increasing the interaction (bonding) between the baby and parents. It increases circulation and stimulates the immune system for better functioning, relieves muscle tension from doing all those exercises and getting acquainted with their ever-changing bodies.

Brief outline for basic infant massage:

* Create the environment
* Gather your supplies
* Center Yourself
* Ask permission to begin
* Legs
* Tummy
* Chest and arms
* Head and face
* Back

Create the environment:

* The room should be warm enough. Infants aren't adept yet at regulating their own body temperature, and they will be undressed. If they shiver, or their skin mottles, warm the room or cover the part of their body you're not working on.
* Try to reduce distraction. Make the space as quiet as possible, and away from busy traffic. You may want to choose a piece of mellow music to play; this can help cue to baby to what's coming!

Gather your supplies:

* A waterproof pad under the massage surface is a good thing, for obvious reasons.
* Use a soft surface to lay the baby on; a washable quilt, or a thick towel works.
* An oil for lubrication. Make sure that it is of food quality; your baby sucks her hands, and you don't want her taking in anything made in a petroleum base, like many baby oils are. Grapeseed oil has a nice texture, or any light cooking oil. Avoid scented oils--one part of the bonding process of infant massage is the baby's identification with your unique smell; don't pollute that.
* A wet washcloth for cleaning up accidents.
* Clean diaper and clothing for after the massage.

Center Yourself:

* Take a deep breath, exhale, repeat. Your touch will transmit your mood, so calm yourself as much as possible before you begin.
* Make yourself and your baby comfortable.
* Put a little bit of oil, about the size of a quarter in the palm of your hand and warm it (and your hands) by rubbing your palms together

Ask permission to begin:

This is extremely important. The first time, your baby won't know what is coming, but do set the pattern for asking permission to touch with that first massage. Watch her eye movement and body language as she begins to respond to this new way of touching. There may be surprise, there may be delight, there may be a slight uneasiness.

After the first massage, honor her wishes if she says no by pulling away, turning her head, or withdrawing. If she shows any of those signs during the massage time, take a cuddle break, then resume if she again seems willing.

Legs:

* Massage one leg completely before you begin the other.

* Gently rub the oil on one leg. (See, isn't this easy?)
* Make circles with your thumb and fingers. Gently squeeze, alternating hands, from hip to ankle. Squeeze, release, repeat all the way down the leg.
* Using the pads of your thumbs, press gently against the sole of her foot, covering the entire surface.
* Massage her toes, giving each a very slight tug as you finish it.
* Make several (three is good) long strokes from her ankle to her hip.
* Cup her heel in the palm of your hand and gently shake.
* Repeat for other leg.

Tummy:

Use gentle pressure here; infant massage is never deep or gouging. Babies with gas or colic may tighten up if this is uncomfortable to them; however, if they will accept it with gentle encouragement from you, it is helpful for those conditions.

* Apply oil in a downward motion from ribcage to diaper line.
* Using the flat of your fingers, make clockwise circles. Begin with small ones around the navel, and enlarge them to cover her whole tummy.
* Hand over hand, using the little finger edge of your hand, make smooth movements from the rib cage down.
* Softly, with your thumbs, outline the bottom of her rib cage.
* With your fingers, both hands together, reach around to the back of her waist and pull forward.

Chest and arms:

This area around the heart can hold a lot of anguish, even in the littlest ones, and massaging here may stimulate crying. Let her "tell her story," but if the crying becomes intense, cuddle her a minute, soothe her with your voice, and resume the massage. Also, some babies hold their arms quite tightly for several months; do not force them to open, but gently encourage, to the point of resistance but not beyond.

* Apply oil across the chest, then down both arms at the same time.
* With the pads of your fingers of one hand, cover her chest with little, firm, but not gouging circles.
* Make circles with your fingers and squeeze from shoulder to wrist, as you did with her legs.
* Use your thumbs to massage her palms and open her fingers.
* Rub each little finger with a soft, twisting move, as if you were removing the cap from a small container.
* Repeat for other arm.
* Finish with long strokes across the chest and down both arms at the same time.

Head and face:

* Massage oil onto her scalp as though you were giving her a shampoo.
* Tap with the fingertips of both hands, covering the top of her head like gentle raindrops
* With your thumbs, make long smooth strokes across her forehead. Use both hands at the same time, working from the center out.
* Do the same thing on the upper lip.
* With one thumb or finger, stroke down her nose from her forehead to the tip.
* Gently, with both hands, stroke her jawline from her ear to the center.
* Massage her ears.

Back :

This can be done with her lying on her blanket or across your lap, or you can do this while holding her over your shoulder, whatever is most comfortable for both of you.

* Cover her back gently with oil.
* Using fingers, make little circles down one side of her spine, then the other. Do not put any pressure directly on the spinal bones.
* Using the flat of your fingers, make long smooth strokes from her waist to her neck, then back down again.

sonu_627 · Feb 13, 2006

10 tips to help your baby sleep through the night

10 tips to help your baby sleep through the night

Nighttime waking is one of the most common dilemmas for new parents. Here are a few simple tips you may want to try to get a bit more uninterrupted sleep:

1. Keep to a routine. If your baby wakes up late in the morning to help make up for some of his late nights, begin waking him at an earlier time each day to help encourage him to get the sleep he needs at night -- when the rest of the household sleeps.

2. Choose a well-lit area for your baby's naps. This will help encourage shorter naps, which in turn may help your little one sleep better at night.

3. Increase daytime feeds. Feeding your baby more often during the day will allow him to meet his nutritional needs at a time more convenient to you.

4. Feed your baby in a quiet, darkened room occasionally if your baby is easily distracted during the day.

5. If breastfeeding, allow your baby to finish the first breast offered. This will provide him or her with more of your rich hindmilk, which may also help to space out his nighttime feeds.

6. Carry your baby -- with the aid of a sling or other baby carrier. This will help to keep your baby relaxed, especially during the early evening hours, encouraging an easy transition to sleep.

7. Keep the evening calm to avoid overstimulation. If a bath is relaxing for your little one, you can bathe him before bed. If it's too stimulating, bathe him at another time.

8. Feed your baby in a darkened room at night if he or she wakes up hungry. Let him know that night is for sleeping.

9. Avoid nighttime diaper changes if at all possible.

10. Pull your baby into bed with you if that will help you get a bit more shuteye when your baby is wakeful.

And don't forget to take care of yourself!

Rest while your baby rests. This is especially important when you have a high-need baby.

Take a walk. Sunshine and fresh air are good for both of you. Going out together, with your baby in a sling, baby carrier or stroller can be a great stress reliever.

sonu_627 · Feb 17, 2006

Dealing With Food Allergies

DEALING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES

Food AllergiesBabies often suffer from food allergies since parents are not aware what foods are more prone to cause allergies. Normally if you or your husband's family do not have a history of food allergies (basically chocolate, peanut butter, peanuts etc) then it will not be a big problem for your baby. Children have a 40 to 70 percent chance of developing allergies if both parents have allergies, depending on whether the parents share the same allergy. The risk drops to about 20 to 30 percent with one allergic parent and to 10 percent if the parents have no allergies.

Food allergy is when the immune system responds to a particular food by releasing antibodies, causing allergic symptoms such as a rash, swelling at sudden parts of the body, bloating, wheezing, runny nose. Thus if your child suffers from food allergy, he's likely to show an obvious reaction soon after eating the offending food and the most important thing that you have to do is to stop giving that food immediately to the baby and avoid it for life.

The most common foods to which your baby might be allergic are:

Wheat, rye, oats and barley
Eggs
Sesame seeds
Nuts including peanuts
Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit
Cow's milk and cow's milk products
Fish and shellfish

Try cutting these out of your diet, one at a time, and see if your baby's health improves. It may take up to ten days for it to clear from his/her system. Avoiding the early introduction of potentially allergenic foods is the basic step in the primary prevention of food allergies in children who are at high risk and therefore it is advisable to clinically test your baby for any food allergies.

If you are concerned about the possibility of allergies try out the following:

1. Breastfeed your baby for as long as possible as this seems to help protect baby's system against some allergies.
2. Avoid introducing solids until your baby is at least four months old.
3. Take extra care to avoid common allergens in your baby's diet.
4. Introduce foods one at a time, with several days between them, so you can more easily identify the food that is causing a reaction.

sonu_627 · Feb 19, 2006

Baby's safety checklist

Baby's safety checklist



So, the baby is due any time now and you are still purchasing the things you have identified as urgent needs. While most hospitals give you a checklist as to what will be the immediate requirements, it is still up to you to go deeper into the matter and read between the lines, gather information from friends who have just had babies and survey the baby shops for the latest things that are available. While one 'chakkar' at the innumerable baby shops will give you a fair idea of what is currently available, you have to remember that from the beginning of a child's life, most products and equipment intended for a child must be selected with the utmost care with safety in mind.
We decided to research possible sources and give you a checklist which will help you select the right products, either new or secondhand. Just mark a YES / NO against each safety requirement and buy only if it meets these points.

Bassinets & Cradles
1. Has a wide base and a sturdy bottom for stability
2. Has a smooth surface - nothing protruding that will injure the baby
3. Has strong effective locks in the legs that will prevent it from folding while in use

Back Carriers
1. The carrier should have a restraining strap to secure the child
2. The leg openings should be small enough to prevent the child from slipping out and yet large enough to prevent chafing
3. There are no pinch points in the folding mechanism of the carrier
4. The metal frames are well padded near the baby's face to prevent accidents

Cribs
1. The slats are not more than 60mm apart
2. There are no gaps where slats are missing or broken
3. Mattresses fit well and no more than a 2-finger gap exists between the crib side and the mattress
4. Drop side latches are secure so that the child cannot accidentally release them
5. All screws and bolts are in place and secure

Crib toys
1. There are no strings with big loops hanging
2. No cord or string longer than 7" is hanging into the crib
3. Components of toys are not small enough to be a choking hazard

High chairs
1. The chair has a waist and crotch restraining strap independent of the tray
2. The tray gets securely locked
3. The buckles on the strap are easy to use
4. The chair has a wide and stable base
5. If it is a foldable high chair, the locks are secure so that the chair does not collapse suddenly

Play pens
1. The drop side is secure when fastened and the playpen has a printed warning that the side should never be left down
2. The mesh has a small weave and there are no tears or loose threads hanging
3. The mesh is secure well to the top plate and the bottom plate
4. If it is a wooden playpen, the slats are not more than 2" apart
5. There are no missing nuts and bolts that fasten the playpen

Other baby toys
1. Rattles, squeeze toys and teethers are large enough to prevent them from lodging in the baby's throat
2. The rattles are sturdy enough to prevent breakage when thrown around
3. The squeeze toys do not contain a squeaker that can get detached and choke the baby

Strollers and carriages
1. It has a wide base to prevent tipping accidents
2. Seat belts and crotch belts are secure
3. Brakes that lock the wheels securely

Walkers
1. Wide wheel base for good security
2. The coil springs have proper covers to prevent finger pinching
3. The seat is firmly attached to the frame or walker
4. No x-frames that can easily amputate a baby's tender finger

This is a list that is certainly not exhaustive, but can be used as a safety guideline for the main purchases for a baby. Parents of new-born or young babies need to be aware of the many potential hazards that may occur through the misuse of products or by using those that have not adopted the safety norms. You can ask yourself: does the equipment I intend buying have the safety features in this checklist? If it is a second hand equipment, can the missing parts be replaced? Is it better to buy a new product that meets with these requirements even if I have to spend a little more? Where a baby is concerned, one cannot be careful enough.

sonu_627 · Feb 20, 2006

Boost your child's self confidence

Boost your child's self confidence

The formative years of a child are crucial in determining his attitude, confidence and demeanour to face the future.
It is at this stage that we, as parents, play a major role in raising motivated and self-confident children.

Ways to boost your child's confidence.

Make your child responsible for simple chores at home like helping to set the table at mealtimes, keeping his books and toys in order etc. It helps to build his independence, competence and self-confidence. It also gives him a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose.

Give him an opportunity to discover what he is good at. Enrol him in extra-curricular activities like sports and music. Encourage him in these pursuits. He'll eventually learn that even if he can't do something, if he keeps trying he'll succeed.

Make time to work together on projects keeping your child's abilities in mind.

Encourage him to mix with his peer group.

Praise him whole-heartedly. When you think he has done well or when you feel that your child thinks he has done well, praise him and encourage him.

In case of a failure, teach your child to bounce back. Resilience separates kids who flourish from those who flounder.

Set reasonable tasks for your child. Let him take it one step at a time. Praise him once he has completed his task.

And finally pay good attention to what your child says and does. Be ready to listen to him when he wants you to. You may not agree with all that he does or says but give him a patient hearing.

This will go a long way in enhancing his sense of self worth.
Children need to feel cherished and admired. Give them your assurance time and again and you will see your child brim with self-confidence.

sonu_627 · Feb 22, 2006

Simple BABY CARE tips

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Simple BABY CARE tips

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Lift a new-born baby gently facing you and give support to the baby's neck and bottom.

Hold the baby to your chest level.

If your baby is in a crawling position, place one of your hands in between baby's legs underneath the baby's stomach and another hand underneath the baby's face. Turn your baby and let the baby's head rest on one of your hands.

While your walking, baby can rest on your shoulder, on your hip or make your hands as a chair. Your right hand should hold the baby's chest and your left hand should support the baby's bottom.

When your baby cries, sing some lullabies and soothe him / her.

Feed your baby using sterilized bottles. Boil your baby's bottles in a vessel of boiling water for 10 minutes and cool them.

Make sure the milk in baby's bottle is of right temperature for the baby to drink.

You should burp your baby after every drink.

Use bibs on the baby for wiping the baby's saliva.

Consult a Pediatrician for the right age to feed your baby with solid food.

Prepare fresh home made baby's food. Blend carrot, peaches, green beans and apples into puree and sauce.

Encourage your baby to feed himself / herself.

Dispose baby's soiled diapers in disposable plastic bags.

In order to be environment friendly, use cotton cloth diapers which can be washed and reused rather than giving it to a diaper service.

Often trim baby's toe nails and finger nails. Use blunt nail cutters or scissors.

Please check the expiration dates on baby's formulas and food containers.

Bathe your baby in a small baby bath tubs. Check the water temperature before you give bath to your baby. While giving bath to your baby, first pour the water on baby's feet and then proceed to the baby's body.

Make sure you take essential baby items while traveling. Baby's travel bag may include bottle of milk, bib, changing mat, disposable diapers, change of baby clothes, juice or water bottle, diaper wipes, small baby toy or a rattle and a plastic bag to dispose the soiled diaper.

Make sure Baby's toys are blunt and not sharp.

Do not leave your baby unattended.

Sing, read a book, play with a rattle or play hide & seek to encourage baby's response.