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Tackling thumb-sucking

Dec 13
Posted by Mritunjay in Motherhood, New Baby

Thumb sucking is a common action performed by majority of babies. One thing about thumb sucking is that, it subsides on its own with the passage of time. As baby grows older, this habit tends to subsidises. Normally it has been found that a child quits this habit of thumb sucking between the age of thee and six. Most of the babies stop this habit before the appearance of the second teeth. A child resorts to thumb sucking because he/she seeks additional comfort or support. But parents need not worry about this habit as it will go anyhow. But parents should not force child to leave this habit through coercive measures.

Parents should watch the frequency of thumb sucking. If the child does it occasionally, it is not a concern then but if child does it frequently then it might be a cause of concern. As frequent thumb sucking indicates lack of love or even maladjustment. There could be several other reasons like if child is seeking companionship or [parents are giving him enough time or could be anything else. It is the job of the parents to identify what is bothering the kid and take corrective measures.

There are certain steps that parents could think of. One of them is stop nagging the child. It won’t do any good to the kid. There is also no point in making the kid feel conscious about it. Parents should stop worrying unduly about the habit of thumb sucking. Your worry is not going to help the situation. You can think of using different methods to distract her. For example, you can use toy for distraction or offer some candies to the kid if he does not suck the thumb. Finally, don’t use any harsh treatment and rather focus on friendly methods.

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When babies cry

Dec 12
Posted by pankti in Motherhood, New Baby

There are numerous reasons as to why babies cry. Sometimes babies cry because they are hungry, sometimes because of indigestion and stomach pain while some other times, they just cry for no reason at all! Indeed, handling a baby is no easy task. Hats off to all the mothers who have raised and have been raising their kids so well!

In the human kind, crying is the first form of communication. It is the only way a baby communicates to their mother and father. Crying is also a language in itself. Ask most experienced mothers and they will tell you what sort of crying means what for the baby. Over the period of time, mothers tend to understand what the baby is expressing through its cry.

Most of the times, babies cry when they are hungry. Babies also sometimes cry because of fatigue. The first time parents really get apprehensive because they think that the baby is facing certain problems or going through pain that the parents cannot understand. But some babies cry for no reason at all. Your baby will eventually outgrow this habit. Some babies also cry before going to the bed. A bedtime routine and adequate rest during the day is what the baby needs. Babies also cry because they often feel uncomfortable if they have swallowed air. Try and keep the baby upright as this will help them to swallow less air while feeding. Just observe for a few days what suits your baby, what are the certain patterns that your baby follows and what are his sleep timings. You will slowly get to know why your baby is crying and will be able to provide him or her with the right thing.

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Baby’s Clothes

Dec 10
Posted by Mritunjay in Advice, New Baby

One of the toughest works for any mother would be taking care of baby’s clothes. It is no doubt a problematic task that needs to be done any which way. The thing with a cloth is that it is very close to a baby’s skin and because of that clothes need to be in hygienic condition. It is quite imperative for parents to keep baby’s clothes germ free. Baby will also feel comfortable if her clothes are cool, comfortable, soft and clean. Parents need to devote utmost attention to hygiene factor and any carelessness in this regard can prove costly. A new born baby is susceptible to allergy or any sort of reaction if clothes are not well managed. So apart from health perspective, clean clothes also help in making baby feel comfortable and relaxed.

Ideally, baby’s clothes should be washed with a soap or mild detergent. Don’t use any detergent that has high levels of chemicals in it. Strong detergents make clothes very harsh and rough and that will make baby uncomfortable. It is also important to get every ounce of detergent out of clothes so health perspective.

You can also use fabric softeners while washing baby’s clothes. That will help in keeping baby’s clothes soft. One mistake often committed by people is washing baby’s clothes with adult’s clothes or others clothes. Avoid that habit as germs from other clothes can harm your baby. Soap should always be washed completely off from baby’s clothes. You should also dry baby’s clothes in sun because that will ensure all the germs present in clothes will be killed completely. Finally, avoid using detergents with strong scents and soak your baby’s clothes in warm water before washing. Following all these suggestions will keep your baby healthy and hearty.

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Sleeping Tips

Dec 08
Posted by Mritunjay in Advice, New Baby

So you along with several other parents are facing the problem of sleeping cycle of the baby? Sleepless nights are often faced by parents and they keep wondering to handle this problem. When the baby is born there is all round excitement and parents experience world of emotions. But soon enough the pleasure is accompanied by gamut of emotions ranging from hormonal changes, sleepless nights and constant feedings. This is experienced by every mother and no doubt it is hard. So ideally, mothers should prepare themselves for such eventualities. When it has to happen anyway then why not get yourself ready for it any which way? Probably, few months or years down the line, you are going to remember all this and feel proud of whatever sacrifices you made and pain you endured. For the first few months, you have to be ready for sleepless nights keeping aside all your works. You have to adjust your timing according to baby’s sleeping pattern and hours.

As the baby grows, she will start sleeping longer. You should never try your baby to change sleep pattern like forcefully keeping her awake during the day so that she will be sleeping all night. Don’t do that. A baby needs lots of sleep and forced sleeping cycles will adversely affect her. Let her sleep as and when she desires. You can also change certain things like keeping silent in nights and turning off the lights so that baby will learn that night is for sleeping.

Baby must be fed whenever she demands it. Do not try to enforce a routine as per your convenience. One more thing that you can do is to bundle up the baby in a cloth preferably cotton sheet. This way, she will feel secure and will sleep properly.

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Is Playschool Education Necessary?

Dec 08
Posted by pankti in Advice, Schools

If not in the metros and the urban cities of India, many families still feel that playschool education is not necessary and that it adds burden on to the child at an early age. This is a wrong thought. In fact, playschool education builds a foundation for the child for his suture. It is a bridge that prepares the child for school. It is true that a few decades ago, the concept of playschool was unheard of in India however, this is now hugely popular. Most parents living in urban cities want to send their kids to playschools because they have realized the importance of a playschool in a child’s life.

Most preschools in India are privately owned. This is one of the major reasons that the concept of playschool has not reached semi urban and rural areas. Government must build a scheme that lays importance to playschool education.

Playschool concept has been adopted from the west. In the west most mothers and fathers are working and they do not have enough time to devote to their kids. Hence, they send the kids to playschool where they are not just taken care of but are also made to learn and understand using a variety of toys and techniques. In India however, many mothers want to completely devote their time to their children. Such parents who feel that they can be with the kid and teach them something may consider not sending their child to the playschool. Having said that, I feel playschool helps a child to develop social skills. He or she meets other children, interacts with them, and learns from the environment and grasps a lot of new things which I feel contribute to a child’s learning.

Sending your child to a playschool helps ease him into a routine earlier on. Playschool is definitely something that helps your child in his learning and growth and more than that, most schools in today’s time prefer giving admission to children who have completed their playschool course.

Resource: http://www.preschoolsinindia.in/

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Understanding Crying Babies

Dec 06
Posted by Mritunjay in Advice, New Baby

One of the biggest challenges for a parent is to how to handle crying baby. The problem is a common one faced by all the parents. The first thing you need to notice is what makes your baby cry? There could be several reasons like hunger, thirst, irritation, pain, health issues and likewise. Try remembering how did you react when the baby started crying? One option could be of picking her up every time she cries or to simply ignore her tears and pray that she stops on her own. Both options have their pros and cons. Like in case you don’t pick her up and let her cry she might develop low self-esteem and feel insecure without your touch. This can have a long term repercussions. On the other hand, if you pick her every time she cries, she will understand that what she needs to do to get held.

Parents must know that usually babies cry when they feel sleepy. What normally happens that parents let babies cry so they get tired and sleep on their own. This is more like a time tested method. This way, parents can also have a peaceful sleep. One thing parents need to remember is that a baby is not smart enough to fake her cry. She has some genuine reasons and that could be something like discomfort she is facing. She is sleep as well and has no clue how to react and what to do so she is crying.

But don’t assume that letting her cry is the only option you have. Try to comfort her and fed her because that normally makes babies sleep. Balance out the things. She may also have a need that you need to identify. May be her nappy is wet and something on the bed is making her uncomfortable. Try to recognise those signs. Don’t get panicked and understand that it is a normal thing.

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Aloe Vera beneficial for kids

Dec 02
Posted by pankti in Advice, Family

Aloe Vera is extensively used these days in many skin care and hair care products. This is because of the many benefits that the plant offers. Aloe Vera is a plant that is rich in polysaccharides, phytosterols, glycerol, vitamins E, B and C and zinc. This makes it the ideal for kinds of skin ailments like; wounds scars and burns, milder eczema a mild skin disease in which the skin swells and you feel itchy and chronic eczema, recurring acne, dark circles and psoriasis which is a common chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by scaly patches.

Aloe Vera plants can be grown at home as well and used. When drunk as a juice, Aloe Vera also helps to detoxify the body. Aloe Vera juice can be given to children as well. It not just detoxifies the body but also helps them to get the necessary nutrients. The plant is readily available at any nursery and can be kept indoors. At home, there are various ways of using it depending on the ailment. The best way is to cut a leaf, use the inner gel and apply it directly on the affected area. Do not apply any part of the outer covering as it causes skin irritation. Aloe Vera is also very good for hair and can be applied on the scalp to treat dandruff problem.

Processed aloe creams and lotions gives the skin a special glow. Creams are also available for the hair scalp. Brands like Himalaya and Kaya have a range of aloe lip balms, sunscreen lotions, acne creams, etc. These are priced between Rs.75 – Rs.120. Aloe fresh creams are also available which are reasonably priced. Parents should in fact use Aloe Vera creams, lotions etc for the entire family.

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