www.Medimanage.com
Swagata Yadavar
Priyanka Parab Pooja Biraia Geetai Nivangune
Mahavir Chopra
K S Sankar
Dr. Geetanjali Shah, M D (Pediatrician) Dr. Sudhir Sane, M D DCH (Pediatrician, Neonatologist) Dr. Sangeeta Pikale , (Gynecologist)
All rights reserved under Indian Copyright Act.
1. Coping with Motherhood
6
2. How to prepare your Home for your newborn 9
3. How to select a Doctor for your Baby? 12
4. Caring for your Premature Baby 15
5. Feeding the Baby 18
6. Baby Hygiene 27
7. Friends, Family and the Baby 31
8. Thumb Sucking 35
9. Keep your Baby smiling in all weathers! 37
10. Diapering your Baby 41
11. Why is my Baby crying!? 47
12. Baby massage- A Gift for both Parents and Babies 50
13. Danger signs in Babies 54
14. Bonding tips for the New Father 56
15. Baby, Sleep like a Baby… 60
16. Teething Issues at Hand 64
17. Foods for your Baby 66
18. Travelling with your Baby 71
19. Solving the Vaccination Woes 75
20. Dealing with Common Illnesses of the Baby 79
21. Stimulating the Baby 85
22. Traditional vs. Modern approach to Baby care 88
23. Baby’s Development Milestones
93
24. Mommy’s health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com)
100
The best foreword for this book probably is verily what it brought rolling down
my cheeks as I read it – a drop of tear.
Like the parenthood is the most natural human instinct, the tear drop is the most natural expression of any human instinct. I was wondering what brought about this drop of tear – only to realize this tiny
tear drop contained in it an ocean of emotions. Sublime love and compassion that is typical of parenthood; Care so supreme
that one would offer one’s own self at the altar for the wellbeing of the one that is cared for.
Empathy tempered with insights – the mother instinctively understands what
pains and troubles the child – The book provides the insights to temper the
empathy with – so that the anxious mother does not go overboard. Awe at the almost superhuman ability to multitask during the period of rearing the newborn – I have come across many a mother wondering aloud, looking back at those demanding days of rearing their infant – Honest to God I do not know where I got the ability to manage those days. This book offers valuable wisdom to make those arduous days a little less arduous.
Gratitude – Some worthy has said ‘every child born is a proof that God has still not lost faith in humanity’. The emotion of gratitude that I find in my tear drop is that sense of gratitude to all the mothers and motherhood at large that indeed holds humanity together and makes togetherness human.
As I was getting tossed around these and several other similar waves of emotion, the tear drop suddenly chose to demonstrate another innate character it possesses – of being a natural prism. And made my reflections move from me the receiver to the givers of this book – Medimanage.com.
This reflection led to the realization that it is these very values that drive Medimanage. I see it manifest in the very effort of bringing out this book. I see unwritten but clearly visible in between every two lines of this book – We care, that we help you care for the one you care for the most in this entire universe – your newborn. Empathy in all that Medimanage does ‐ in understanding the pain areas ‐ tempered with invaluable insights they provide. And the integrated process driven approach that make arduous situations that much less arduous for all those concerned.
My heartfelt congratulations to the entire content team of Medimanage.com, lead ably from the front by Mahavir Chopra, and to the entire Medimanage leadership on crossing this new milestone. I have been observing with pride the steady enhancement of the quality and relevance in the contributions of the entire content team of Medimanage.com. Swagata Yadavar, verily the compiler/composer/author of this compendium deserves special mention here for her demonstrated dedication and devotion, and for her steadfast adherence to timelines. She is one person who is always willing to walk the extra mile in pursuit of perfection, and what you have in the following pages is the outcome of such pursuit.
So, the blessed lot of parents‐to‐be and brand‐new‐parents, parents and brothers and sisters and other relatives and friends of such blessed lot – each of you have some take away in this compendium. I am sure you will find the authentic content of this compendium to be of immense use to you. I am equally sure Medimanage.com will continue to come up with more such authentic India relevant compendiums.
‐K S Sankar
Along with the euphoria after the announcement
that you are expecting, you find that your heart
flutters whenever you think about the baby. Don’t worry! It’s just your apprehension about becoming a mother. This being your first time you are not really sure of how well you can deal with the pregnancy, about how you will be reacting to the labor pains and the biggest question of all, will you be a good mother or not!
As you face these fears, you are given nothing but guidelines and more guidelines! Everybody talks about what you should eat, what you should avoid along with what to do and what not to when pregnant! There are solutions for everything from backaches to swollen legs that come with pregnancy but none for soothing the nerves of a soon‐to ‐be mother. We understand what you are going through, and here is our sincere effort at trying to make you feel better.
You mother can tell you of a thousand ways to do things in the right way, when it comes to the baby as they worked for her! But don’t think that those are the only ways to do it! Each baby is different, as every mother is. For some mothers the crying part of caring for babies is the difficult one, while it is the sleep for others and so on. There is no manufacturer’s manual that comes with the baby, you just have to take things the way they come and do whatever seems right to you, with due consultation of the doctor. Don’t let the disproving remarks of others dampen your confidence; as in the end you are the mother and no one knows your baby the way you do! Do what comes to you naturally and what works well for your baby.
If there were an eligibility requirement for being a mother, having a sense of humor would be placed at the top. The reason being, having a baby and caring for the baby is no mean task! It is a road full of ups and downs and having a sense of humor will be of a great help if you are to make it through
the first year without any breakdowns! Imagine this scenario, it is 3 am at night and the third time your baby cries for a feed or you are ready to go out and have finished dressing him in a very cute outfit, when he decides to spit up milk on it. Just like these incidents, there will be several more moments that will leave you as a mother completely exhausted, frustrated and on the verge of tears! This is where you will require a sense of humor to laugh about such incidences with the baby, as there is nothing you can do about them!
‘When in doubt ask for help’. This saying can be modified for mothers, into, ‘whenever overwhelmed‐ask for help!’ Women in general have their hands full with household as well as the workplace chores, plus they are better at multitasking than men, but still there is a limit as to how much they can handle.
Whenever you find it difficult to take any more strain, call for help. The reason you need to do that is an overstressed and unhappy mom is not in the best shape to care for the baby. You can ask either your spouse, mom, in laws or your friends to come and assist you in some of chores. When they are at home, relax, catch on some sleep and do something for yourself. This time alone will rejuvenate you and energize you enough to handle motherhood once again!
There will be times when you are unsure of what you are doing. There will also be countless other times when you think, whatever you are doing is wrong! But don’t you worry, like most others you will learn on the job. Experience is what teaches you the best, along with the maternal instinct that everyone talks about. After all, even the best of us fail sometimes; we just learn from the mistakes and do it again properly the next time round!
When your baby is young, most of the time will be spent in caring for the baby. By the end of the day you will be exhausted with no energy left to do anything else but to fall on your bed and slip into an exhausted sleep! So, you may find that the dishes will lie unwashed, the house will be filled with diapers and toys etc. in short the house won’t be exactly visitor friendly.
If the sight of your house is making you sigh. Don’t! It is, but natural that taking care of the baby will take over as your number one priority leading you to overlook your household duties. Accept that the house will be messy for few months! Let go and
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don’t fret over it as after a few months you will be able to manage both your baby and the household duties wonderfully!
Motherhood is a journey to be enjoyed with a heart open, a mind full of enthusiasm and a smiling face….Bon Voyage!
The news of pregnancy brings joy, fear, excitem
ent and nervousness for the ‘would be parents’. While some of us are nervous because we know that our life won’t be same after the arrival of the baby, others are excited by the very thought of the imminent arrival of tiny feet. Whatever the feeling maybe, it is accompanied by the acceptance of a responsibility that rests on our shoulders, the responsibility of taking care of a little human being!
There is an awful lot to learn and know about pregnancy and we often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed by the myriad information on Parental Dos and Don’ts. With so much to think and fret about, the practical issue of how to prepare your home for the newborn is forgotten. Here are our tips on how to prepare your home for your newborn.
Most women in India spend their last stages of pregnancy, in their parent’s home. It is also this home, which the baby is most likely to arrive from the hospital room. The room that baby should stay in, should be
• Well ventilated
vitamin D. From whichever rooms are available, you have to select the right one.” If the room where the baby is kept is not sunny,
you can keep him in a spot at home where he
receives sunlight to benefit from it. Dr. Geetanjali also advices the parents to carry out pest control at least 3 months before the
arrival of the baby, if they are considering doing it.
Decorating a room for the baby brings in all sorts of ideas from rainbows to fairies and cartoon characters. You can let your imagination run free in this room, but think about these things too, as you go about decorating your baby’s room‐
Color‐ Select a color that is neutral and bright. The color should suit both a boy and a girl‐ like hues of yellow, peach etc. Make sure that the paint used is lead free.
Dr. Geetanjali Shah however says that, “though we color the walls of the baby’s room in pastel colors and keep colorful soft toys in their room, these colors don’t work much! The colors that babies can see are white, black and red. If you keep toys of these colors and have formations of these colors painted on the wall, these help stimulate the baby’s brain.”
All furniture that you buy must be splinter free, with smooth edges and of a solid construction. You should also need to check for exposed
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hinges, springs and routinely maintain the
furniture. Cribs‐ Generally popularized by the west, they offer space, comfort and keep the babies safe. They have adjustable bed height and some can be converted to a toddler bed after the baby grows up.
Cradles‐ The traditional Indian choice to keep the baby, these come in handy to sway and help the baby fall asleep. You can hang various toys from the cradle that produce music which can help to soothe the baby when he is crying or cranky.
Mosquito net‐The last thing you want is for your baby to be bitten by ruthless mosquitoes and to have their skin covered in mosquito bites. A mosquito net is thus an essential that you must invest in.
Your home which seems perfectly safe might be filled with sharp edges, exposed sockets and other unknown hazards for the baby. The first few months will be worry free as your baby cannot crawl and thus will be safe from any accidents, however it would be a wise move to
start baby proofing your home early on. The trick lies in looking at your home furniture and appliances from your baby’s perspective. Take a tour of the house crawling and look at things that may interest you like open sockets, tiny objects lying on the floor and so on. Here are the common things you can do to baby proof your home.
Cover electrical sockets with plastic and rubber outlet covers
Lock all your cabinets and drawers that are within the baby’s reach
Pad all the sharp edges in your furniture or smoothen it to avoid injury to the baby
that prevent your baby from opening the door and going out
locks. You must have by now realized; parenting does not start from the moment when you bring the baby home but long before it, since the time you plan your baby. It is about changing your priorities or rather choosing the right things as priorities. Hope you have started doing that, and Happy Parenting!
The first step in choosing the right doctor for
your baby is starting early! You should start looking for the doctor from the time you are pregnant and make a decision as you near the end of your pregnancy which should ideally be around the 8 month mark. The next question that pops up is what to look for in your baby’s doctor? Here are some tips to give you a head start in choosing the right doctor for your baby.
You need to start by asking your close friends and relatives for any good pediatrician that they can refer. You can also take suggestions from your Family doctor and your gynecologist; doctors are known to suggest the name of their own friends and sometimes relatives too, so it won’t necessarily be an unbiased recommendation. Once you get a few names in, you can start your research.
• You can start from the very basics, like which university has the doctor completed the specialties form. A well known
university may suggest proper validation.
good reference for you to choose him.
In the Western countries, there is a concept of interviewing the doctor before you select him to as pediatrician for your baby. You can follow a similar routine for your baby by visiting the doctor’s clinic regularly or by just paying a visit to his clinic with your friend. Once at the doctor’s clinic, keep an eye for certain things such as.
When you get an opportunity to meet the doctor himself, do consider these points.
• What are his opinions on breastfeeding, baby schedules, co‐ sleeping, vaccinations, single parenting, day care system and alternative medicines?
After a careful analysis of all these factors, make a well thought of decision. After the selection, inform him about your decision and contact him after the delivery for the first checkup. In the first year, there will be at least 6 periodic checkups wherein the doctor will gauge your baby’s growth. If, you find that in spite of your careful considerations you and your doctor don’t
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seem to gel well, talk to him about it. See if you can resolve the issue before you change doctors, as having the same doctor helps in diagnosis and better treatment of baby’s illness.
To ensure that your child’s health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) is in safe hands, choose your doctor carefully.
Generally parents of a new born baby do not
spend more time in the hospital than required – which is the approximately the first few days after the baby is born but parents with premature babies have to spend not only days but weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit! Seeing their extremely tiny babies attached to needles and tubes till the babies gain enough weight ‐ 1.8 Kg or 4 lbs and are strong enough to breathe on their own properly. Only when the doctors are certain of the baby’s development will they give their consent for the baby to be taken home.
Along with the happiness associated with their baby coming home, the parents are also bound to be anxious about the health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) of the baby when he is at home. Here are some tips to help parents of premature babies to care for them.
medicines. This will be especially useful at times, when there would be someone else taking care of your baby.
• Though full term babies start solid foods at 4 months of age, a premature baby needs to start solids later. Generally doctors recommend starting solids after the baby’s weight comes to 5.9 to 6.8 Kg.
If you find that your premature baby is not reaching the developmental milestones prescribed for his age, don’t worry. A Premature baby’s age, though he is born early, should be calculated from his gestational age which is called the corrected age. For example, a 5 month old premature baby, who is born two months preterm, is actually only 3 months old as per as the corrected age. And if you want to gauge his growth, remember to use the corrected age.
Premature babies are vaccinated in line with a full term baby’s schedule when their weight (1.5 Kg) is suitable for vaccinations. The only difference is that these babies do not receive the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth as other babies do. Instead the premature babies receive the vaccine only after they start weighing in at least
1.95 Kg.
The Great Indian GUIDE for Postnatal Care
Premature babies need more nourishment and the best way to ensure this is to feed them with breast milk. Premature babies, who are breast fed, develop better and faster than those premature babies who were bottle fed. Premature babies have little tummies so they need to be fed frequently‐every 2 hours. These babies tire easily too, and sleep through their feedings so you need to wake them at night to feed them.
Mothers should select a comfortable position for breastfeeding the baby like holding him close to the chest while keeping the neck supported. It is found that premature babies are most comfortable in the Football hold (see Football hold in the chapter ‘Feeding your baby’ page no.20).
Since a premature baby doesn’t have the rooting reflex mastered yet, you have to help him by placing him on the nipple with the areola into the mouth. Compress your breast lightly with your fingers to make it easier for him to latch on to.
You will observe that your baby does not start feeding right from the start and that he is just
suckling in a motion. You should allow the baby
to do that, as suckling stimulates the breasts to produce more milk and makes it easier for the baby to get it. Premature babies take more time to feed as they are not good at sucking. So even if your baby stops feeding for a while, wait for a few minutes to see whether he has really finished feeding or not. Be patient with breast feedings as sometimes it takes about an hour or so for a premature baby to fill up his tummy.
Premature babies spend the early few weeks of their life in the NICU so they have more problems in understanding the difference between Day and Night and tend to take more time than their full term peers in sleeping through the night. Normal babies take about 6 months time to start sleeping through the night; premature babies, however take more than 6 months to start sleeping through the night, which means that the parents of these babies have to remain awake in the night for longer periods of time.
Also do not allow the baby sleep on his back as premature babies are more likely to suffer from SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as compared to normally born babies.
There are differences between a premature baby and term baby but only for a while. After their second birthday, you will find that his growth and development is normal after a while. So relax!
Feeding the baby be it through breast
feeding or through a bottle is a rich emotional experience for the mother. It is heartening to watch the baby and the mother bond in this special way. This article will tell you the right technique and method for feeding to make it easy for both you and the baby.
| infections and urinary tract infection etc. away from the baby. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • | Convenience | food: | Breast | milk | is |
| available to the baby, be it night or day, as it does not have to be heated or | |||||
| prepared! If the mother is going to be away for a while, breast milk can be pumped into a bottle and preserved for later feeds. | |||||
| • | Baby ‐ Mother bonding: Breastfeeding is an amazing way of boosting the bond between a mother and her child. This is | ||||
| the time when the child maintains an eye ‐contact with the mother; he cozies up with the mother and shares a strong bonding which lasts for a lifetime. | |||||
| • | Quicker recovery for mother: Breastfeeding releases a range of hormones within the mother’s body that help her get back in shape. It not only | ||||
heals the uterus but also helps in burning up to 300 calories per session.
Understanding the mechanism of how lactation works, will help you understand the right way to breast feed your baby.
Colostrum, the first feed: Mothers are advised to breastfeed their babies as soon as possible, preferably just after the delivery ‐ generally within an hour. Even though this may seem tough for the mother who has just overcome her labor pain, she should do it as immediate breastfeeding is essential for good health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) of both the mother and the child.
During the first feed, you will observe a yellowish colored thick liquid is all that comes out, that too in a very small amount about a teaspoonful. This is the precious Colostrum, that has antibodies which protect your baby from infections and this small quantity filled with protein, vitamins and minerals proves to be just enough to for the newborn’s immature digestive system. Colostrum is produced in mother’s body for few days after delivery.
As the baby is pushed out of the body, the body quickly starts producing milk. The levels of estrogen and progesterone go down and prolactin levels go up, which stimulates the mother’s mammary glands to produce milk.
However, the baby is the one who actually, regulates the milk flow. As the baby suckles the breast, prolactin ups the milk production in the mother.
Breast milk as mentioned earlier, changes its properties according to the need of the baby. The breast milk at the start of the feeding session is the foremilk or the ‘thirst quencher’ which is diluted and low in fat. And as the session progress, the breast begins to produce hind milk that is high in protein, calories and fat.
Note: When the feeding session is a shorter one or if you change breasts too soon while feeding the baby, he will only get the foremilk and miss out on the more nutritious hind milk. Hind Milk helps the baby gain weight and shorter feeding sessions in which he is deprived of hind milk can result in him being underweight.
To know when to change your breast, press your breast and if it is softer than it was before the feed, then you can offer the second breast to your baby.
Breast feeding is as much an emotional experience as it is a physical one for you, so make sure you and your baby are comfortable. Choose a quiet corner to maintain focus, which is required at least at the start.
For mothers who are ready, but clueless, as to how to place the baby, here are the options:
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Position your baby in a semi‐sitting position facing you, with the legs of the baby under your arm. Remember to use a pillow to bring your baby to the height of the breast, cup your breast with the opposite arm and hold the baby’s neck with the arm on the same side of the breast that is nursing.
• Side lying position: This is a good position when you are nursing in the middle of the night or if you are resting. Lie on your side with your head on a pillow and position your baby on his side facing you. Make sure that his mouth is in line with the nipple. You can use a pillow to hold the baby close.
Many problems that are associated with breast feeding can be solved if mothers use the correct way to latch and position the baby for breast feeding.
milk your baby may end up sucking on another part of the breast which leads to sore breast tissue.
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to breastfeeding. As long as the positioning of the baby is right, there is no need to limit the baby’s feed; you however need to ensure that your baby feeds from both the breasts and that he is satiated.
As a newborn, your baby will feed eight to ten times a day, which means you are nursing every two hours. This does not mean that your baby feeds as per the clock as some babies feed little by little all the time, while other babies like their meals long. As the baby grows older, he will have to be fed less frequently.
How to know if your baby is getting enough milk?
Though babies generally make sure that they get enough milk, here are some signs that tell if he is not being fed enough.
You’re baby is not getting enough milk if he is,
all these signs and is cranky and underweight, then he is not getting enough milk.
The Great Indian GUIDE for Postnatal Care
Though there seems to be nothing embarrassing about feeding, the very thought of breastfeeding in public does not go down with some women. Here are tips if you feel the same
There are different types of Formula that you can choose from. Though nothing can match up to the properties of breast milk, there are different formulas that add protein, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins almost like those found in breast milk. The options are:
Cow based formula: Cow based formula is considered to be the best formula for babies; hence a majority of formulas are made of these. Cow’s milk is made suitable for the baby when lactose is added to protein and butter fat is replaced by vegetable oil.
Soy based formula: This is usually considered if the baby has an allergy to cow’s milk or if the parents are vegan and only want vegetarian options for the baby. Soy formula does not make for such a good formula as it is quite different from breast milk.
Special formulas: These are designed for special needs of some babies. Some are lactose free for lactose intolerant babies while some are designed for babies suffering from metabolic disorders where the babies cannot metabolize a kind of amino acid found in proteins. These are generally recommended by the doctor for special babies. There are other formulas that are organic for the babies of health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) conscious parents.
Your doctor is the best person to tell you what kind of formula comes close to the real thing and which one is advisable for your baby. The special formulas should only be given when recommended by a doctor.
Different forms Ready to eat: These formulas are already mixed with water and packed in bottles of different
sizes. These are very easy to use but heavy on the wallet. Ready to pour: These need to be poured into
the bottle of your choice. These formulas are less expensive than the ready to eat versions but the remaining liquid after use, needs to be preserved properly.
Powder: The least expensive option is powder. It requires more time and work from the parent’s side. You need to mix the powder with the right amount of water as specified.
The Correct Way Keeping it safe:
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baby swallows air it will lead to bloating.
a pacifier for a while after feeding to avoid the dissatisfaction.
Your work is not over just with feeding your baby, burping him is also important. The purpose of burping your baby is to remove the air that your baby sucks in along with the milk. This is an important part of the feeding process because air in the tummy causes discomfort to the baby.
Here is the way to do it‐
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“How difficult can it be to bathe a baby?” you had
thought but when you come to actually doing it is when you realize that it is no easy task; the baby doesn’t like to be undressed and is wary of the water at first. You also realize that supporting the baby’s neck while cleaning his body in not as simple as it seems.
Relax; we give you tips that will make bath times easier for you. We also give you guidelines on the other slippery topics like cleaning the baby’s umbilical stump, trimming his nails and taking care of this oral hygiene, so read on….
Time: Any time of the day can be the right time to give a bathe a baby! But the time before he sleeps seems to work the best as it soothes the baby and is more practical as the baby is more likely to stay clean after that. Do not bathe the baby just after a meal as he is likely to spit the food out.
Mood: The worst thing you can do during bath times is be flustered and inattentive. Your baby can sense whether you are confident or nervous through your touch and will react accordingly during bath times. So it becomes imperative that you show, that you know what you are doing and by confidently holding him and singing or talking with him. Doing this will calm your baby.
Temperature: When you are bathing the baby, make sure that the temperature is comfortable for him. The temperature of the room should be between 240 C to 270 C that is considered comfortable for the baby. Heat water at a normal range and check it by dipping your elbow in it, let the water be warm yet comfortable for the baby.
Until the umbilical cord (and Circumcision wound if present) is healed, water baths will be a no‐ no for the baby, a sponge bath is all that your baby will have to contend with!
Keep all the apparatus ready before you start. Get the baby ready, remove all his clothing except the diaper and cover him in a loose towel. Since babies can easily catch cold and feel uncomfortable being completely bare always cover him in a towel and just expose the part you want to clean. Do not remove his diaper until it is the time to wash his bottom.
You need to start from the cleanest part of the
body to the dirtiest, i.e. from the head to
the diaper area.
• Head: You don’t need to wash the baby’s head everyday with shampoo , shampooing it once or twice in a week and a daily rinsing with water is generally enough. While washing the head, maintain a careful hold
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on his head and gently pour water and rub with the cloth. Do not forget to dry his head with the towel before proceeding further.
get to the area at the back of his knees and dry.
• Diaper area: There is no special care that needs to be taken for circumcised penis, just soap and water applied externally after the wound heals is enough. Otherwise it is important to clean all the creases without retracting the foreskin. For girls, wash from front to the back with soap and water and pour water over all the parts.
After washing the bottom, dry it and apply cream or ointment if needed.
Once the umbilical cord stump falls off, you can give your baby a full fledged bath. All kids have a different reaction to being in water, some consider it to be similar to the womb and enjoy it and others are tearful and wary of the water.
The things required are the same as a sponge bath. Once you have everything ready, undress the baby and gently slip him into the bath tub, talking to the baby in soothing words, hold him firmly as he is expected to be startled at first. Hold the baby in a semi reclining position with the neck supported with your hands until he is old enough to support his neck.
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With your free hand, wash the baby from the cleanest to the dirtiest area in the same way as in the sponge bath.
You need to start taking care of the baby’s oral hygiene even before his first tooth appears.
After feedings, wipe your baby’s gum with your finger wrapped in gauze to remove any food residue and to prevent plaque buildup. After the first teeth come in, use a baby toothbrush and with pea sized toothpaste on it clean his teeth and tongue.
For their size, newborns have an amazing nail growth, their finger nails need to be trimmed every week and toe nails every 2 weeks. The best time to trim these is after a bath when they are asleep. You need a baby‐sized nail clippers or blunt‐nosed scissors to trim his nails. Remember not to cut too close to his finger.
Clean the entrance to the baby’s ear but don’t touch the insides of his ear canal. Clean the external part of the baby with a cotton wool ball. Don’t try the swab or with a finger.
Generally, the nose cleans itself through the mucus but if you find that your baby has a cold you can use an infant nasal aspirator. It has a special rubber suction bulb to remove the excess mucus from the baby’s nose, all you have to do is squeeze the bulb at the end of the syringe first, then insert the pointed tip gently into baby’s nose and slowly release the bulb. If the secretions are thick, your doctor may recommend that you liquefy them with saline nose drops meant for babies. Do not use cotton swabs, tissues or your fingers to remove any material from inside his nose as you may just push the matter deep inside the nose or worse scratch the membrane.
Keep the stump of the umbilical cord clean and dry until it falls off. The cord usually falls off in a few weeks time. Clean the cord at each diaper change to help it dry out and to prevent infection. Wipe the area around the cord with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and then squeeze.
Make sure you fold the diaper below the navel area to keep the cord from being soaked with urine. If you notice pus or redness at the base of the cord, or if baby cries when you touch it, call your pediatrician.
Do you remember the time, when you announced
the news of your pregnancy to your family and friends? Do you remember them being almost more elated than you? Giddily happy at the prospect of a little baby that will soon enter the world! Their fussing over you, pampering you along with the gradual changes in your body such as the belly growing bigger and your face glowing, certainly made you feel special and above all happy.
But now that the baby is born, this elated bunch of well wishers simply refuses to leave your baby alone and you are worried about germs passing from then onto the baby…
But there’s no need to worry as we give you ways to keep the baby safe and yet not hurt friends and family’s feelings too,
Even though the smoker does not smoke in the presence of the baby, the tobacco particles remain on his body which can be harmful for the baby.
• Flu blues: Ensure that visitors with flu avoid close contact with the baby; they must not sneeze around the baby and if they do, they must use a handkerchief. When it is the mother who is suffering from a cold and has to breast feed her child, she must remember to wash her hands before touching her baby.
Remember, a good social circle where the baby is loved and cared for is more important for the baby’s development; the risk of catching the germs is real only for the first few months. Later the contact with germs will only boost the immunity and keep the baby health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) y in future.
Grandparents love to dote on their grandchildren. As the first time round, with their own kids all they got to do was the difficult part‐changing the diapers, feeding and soothing the baby. And now the second time round when they aren’t really needed to do the changing and cleaning, they have all the time in the world to play, sing and laugh with the baby, as you do the
cleaning and changing. Most of the time, you are grateful for their presence for their experience and help with chores, lightens the burden over your head. The only problem is the clash of ideas, as you find that your mother‐in‐law does not trust the modern nappies, your mother frowns upon the very idea of baby food being given to her grandchild and sometimes they even disagree with your very instincts!
parenting rules such as‐what time the baby needs to sleep, what is the correct time to massage the baby, what foods to offer to the baby etc. and let them do the execution, you will find that they are more than happy to oblige!
When the second one’s coming the first one is bound to feel left out, less loved and jealous, too! The pregnancy part they can handle but having to share their parents with another might prove difficult for them. The parent’s lap has to be shared and so are the hugs and kisses along with the toys and sometimes the room. Suddenly they are the older one and are expected to behave responsibly! Some measures taken by the parents can help the older kid deal with their siblings in a positive way,
| • | Be | Honest | and | open | You | must | start | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| preparing your older child for the arrival of a | |||||||||||
| sibling, right from the time you are about to | |||||||||||
| show the signs of your pregnancy. You must | |||||||||||
| tell them that a new member of the family is | |||||||||||
| coming and is growing inside mummy. | |||||||||||
| • | More | Daddy | time‐Anticipating | that | the | ||||||
| mother won’t be able participate as actively as | |||||||||||
| before, daddies can take over! Fathers must | |||||||||||
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spend more time with the first born and let them know that they are still loved and nothing will change that.
delicate small babies are. Make sure they understand that babies are not toys and they cannot pull and push the baby around.
When your firstborns are secure about your love and affection, they are less likely to feel threatened and will be more like the bhaiya or the didi you want them to be!
Pets have been your babies before you had human ones! The arrival of the baby may bring feelings of jealousy among your pets (dogs and cats). You need to prepare your pet for the baby before the actual delivery, only then can you expect cooperation from them.
• Get your dog used to obedience training. Get him to stay at your orders. Don’t worry; you won’t be curbing his personality in the process! By obedience training, you are just
channelizing his energy in a better way.
With time your pet is likely to adjust to the new born and treat it with their trademark style; with love and lots of affection!
Your little angel is sleeping soundlessly on the
bed, quite cozy in the blankets! Surely, a priceless image, when suddenly the baby’s thumb appears out of nowhere and he begins sucking on his thumb; you have a powerful urge to remove the thumb that instant. But, stop and relax! Thumb sucking is a very common habit found in almost all babies. Sometimes sonography images show that the baby is sucking his thumb even in the womb. Here is why babies take up thumb sucking and how you can deal with it.
Babies have an instinct to suck, when they realize that the thumb provides for an excellent sucking option, they gladly indulge in it! Thus thumb sucking soothes and comforts the baby.
Sometimes thumb sucking may just be a sign that the baby is hungry and it also stops after the baby is fed. If this is the cause, increase the frequency of the feeding.
It is also seen that breastfed babies are less likely to thumb suck as compared to the bottle fed babies, since their need to suck is being fulfilled at the mother’s breast itself!
the parents can reduce the flow of milk from the bottle, so that the baby can be satisfied by the feeding as well as the sucking part.
pulling out the thumb from his mouth, which will make him more stressed than he already is.
• Most kids stop thumb sucking on their own by the first or the second year when they spend time with their peer group.
Buck teeth? Most parents are worried that their thumb sucking baby will end up having buck teeth and is destined to be laughed at for life. But these are just baseless fears of worried parents; thumb sucking in the first few years will not result in buck teeth for life. The reason being, teeth before 6 years of age are milk teeth and will fall off to make way for a completely new set of teeth. But if the habit stays beyond 6 years of age then you need to take some steps to stop your baby from thumb sucking. Now that you know the truth behind thumb sucking, go back and enjoy seeing your little angel sleep!
A change of season and you have plenty of
people with running noses, headaches, fevers and colds. The common cause we hear is the weather. We find our immunity so weak that any change in the weather reflects badly on our health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) . Imagine if we as adults struggle to adjust to different weather conditions! How will our little, delicate babies fare?
Your only solution to ensure the health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) and safety of your baby in changing weather conditions is to keep him covered as much as possible. In fact it is observed that parents pile on layers upon layers of clothes on their baby in attempts to ‘protect him’ even when it is not cold. Learn more about the effect of changing climatic conditions on the health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) of your baby and keep him safe and health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) y.
Your baby is crying. He is fed, clothed, his diaper changed. Why can he be crying? ‐ It is hot and sunny outside, the temperature soaring as the day goes on and you are wearing light cotton clothes while the baby is sweating it out in two layers of clothes!
Babies do not need to be kept covered all the time. When the temperature is hot; they need to be dressed accordingly.
When indoors, keep the temperature cool with ACs and fans. Just make sure that your baby is not directly under the flow of the fan or the AC and that the temperature of the AC does not go below 220 C.
If the hands and legs of your baby seem cold then he is not chilly, he is just perspiring. His head, neck and underarms will tell you if they are really warm or cold.
When you find the temperature soaring, remember to hydrate your baby. Since babies loose so much of water through their urine, they constantly require replacement of the fluids. Babies less than 6 months who are breastfed generally get all the fluids through breast milk and hence do not need additional water unless it is recommended by the doctor. Formula fed babies can also be given water between the feedings if the doctor suggests. You can give older babies fruit juices and water in cups but extra sweetened and fizzy drinks must be avoided.
• Babies are prone to sunburn as they have a relatively thin and delicate skin. You need to apply sunscreen with adequate SPF protection (of at least 15). Apply sunscreen to a patch of his skin first, to make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the sunscreen. Apply sunscreen every two hours and 15
minutes before an exposure to sunlight.
Babies are not only sensitive to cold temperature but also to excessive heat. Excessive heat can be very dangerous for babies as their body’s temperature regulation systems aren’t functional and they find it difficult to cool themselves effectively.
After the heat of the summer, lashing monsoons follow bringing along, humidity and waterborne diseases like Jaundice, Diphtheria, Cholera and Gastroenteritis.
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Winters brings cold winds, chilly mornings and are the perfect time for you to cover your baby with woolens, mittens, coats, socks and monkey caps. It is very important to cover the baby adequately in winters because infants under 6 months have a greater ratio of body surface to body weight and also because they can’t shiver to generate heat yet.
more layers of clothes.
The cold dry air in winters is sure to dry out the baby’s soft and smooth skin. You need to take
care of his skin. Here is how you can,
soap dry up your baby’s skin. With these precautions you can be sure that your baby will be smiling be it the summer, winter or the rain.
It was the right time; he was engrossed in his
newest favorite toy when you decided to do it! As discreetly as possible, but just as you were lifting his legs, he gauged your movements and showed his disapproval through his cries and kicks. Yes, we are talking about changing the diaper ‐ the one chore that nobody really enjoys; the baby does not like being in contact with the cool air outside and you don’t like your baby’s discomfort along with the fact that you will get your hands and sometimes even your face dirty, in the process. Whatever the case is, you need to do it; here is everything you need to know about your baby’s dia
pers. There are two options available to parents when it comes to choosing a diaper for their baby ‐ the traditional cloth diaper or the disposable one. There are also pros and cons that come with each variety of the diaper and the things to consider when choosing a diaper for your baby are affordability, convenience and whether it suits your baby’s skin.
We give you a comparison between the two to help you decide better.
Benefits
• Babies get used to disposable diapers which lead to a difficulty in potty training them as they grow older.
Cloth diapers have undergone a lot of change since the days of the langoti. Today there are various styles of the cloth diapers to match those of the disposable variety.
These provide a waterproof outer layer and are used with most types of cloth diapers. These are generally fastened over the absorbent cloth layer with snaps or hook‐andloop tabs. Pre‐folds are simple pieces of cloth, typically cotton that act as the absorbent when you fold it to fit your baby. They’re used with a cover and include squares and pre‐fold diapers, with a center strip that is several layers thick.
In the early days diapers needed to be changed almost every hour when the baby is awake. Though the process of changing the diaper is a tedious one, it is better to change the diaper
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frequently than facing the diaper rash. The Diaper size: You need to choose a diaper taking into consideration the size of your baby. A size too small, can cause discomfort for the baby, while a bigger size will lead to leaks. Even for the disposable diapers you need to check the actual size of the diaper along with the size
mentioned on the pack, to judge if it will fit your baby or not. The place: Select a place which is clean, has a
smooth surface and is at a suitable height for you. Spread a waterproof cloth over the surface where you change the baby’s diapers, to prevent stains on the surface.
A fresh diaper, a change of clothes if the diaper has leaked; ointment or cream for the diaper rash, cotton balls and warm water to clean babies less than a month old and a dry cloth, towel or baby wipes to clean older babies.
Make sure you have some toy that distracts the baby while you are changing the diaper, or you can even sing and talk to him while you are at it.
Remember: Make sure you have everything at hand when you start diapering your baby, so that you do not have to leave him unattended even for an instant, while his diapers are being changed.
legs, slide the diaper half way in, then bring the front side up, put out the tabs and then bring the tabs together .
bag or a diaper pail which is a plastic dust bin specially designed for keeping soiled diapers.
It is common to find red rashes around the diaper area of the baby; these are nothing but‐ ‘Diaper rashes’. A Diaper rash affects more than 35% of babies. It occurs when the nappy area is exposed to high moisture, various chemicals, frequent rubbing and low air flow and when that the area develops openings; they are attacked by germs found in stool and urine.
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clean it as baby’s have a delicate skin; similarly don’t use soap every time you clean. Using mild baby soap once a day is enough.
• Use a cloth diaper, only after you sanitize it completely by soaking it in boiling water with 120 ml of vinegar.
sprinkling a little corn flour helps. If the baby’s rash shows no sign of improvement within 3 days, consult your pediatrician.
Any pediatrician will tell you that to know if the baby is okay, look not only at his face but also at his poop. Sounds weird? It is true. The color and texture of the baby’s stool can tell you about how he is doing and feeling. Here is what the poop tells you,
• Sticky, tar‐like, black or dark green Stool‐
Parents are alarmed that their newborn is excreting this frightening looking stool. But there is no reason to panic, as this is nothing but meconium‐this stuff consists of the many materials that the baby ingested when it was inside the womb like bile, mucus, epithelial cells.
to mustard green Stool‐ These are the stools that a breastfeeding baby will pass on a day to day basis.
All you hear is that noise, your baby’s smile
suddenly contorts to a frown, the brow creases, the lip quivers and gradually the cry gets loud enough to wake up the entire building. So, just what is it with your baby’s cries, which make you so nervous and restless? His cry urges you to hug him at that very instant, and sometimes this works, but, many times, even after holding, feeding and distracting, the cry continues.
At such times, most first time parents are stumped as to just what are the various reasons that make their baby cry…
We give you possible reasons why your baby may be going full vocal:
others. Shower as much love and attention on your baby as you can, don’t worry it won’t spoil him ‐instead it will make your baby feel safe and will also make him less cranky.
but if you wrap them in way too many layers, your baby will let you know by crying. Ensure that you add only one more layer of clothing than the number of layers you are wearing.
• Colic condition starts in babies from the 3rd week and continues till 3 months. Colicky babies are known to cry for no apparent reason for a longer period of time than normal babies. About 1 in 4 babies has colic. Dealing with colicky babies is very difficult since no amount of soothing can get them to stop crying.
For mothers whose babies suffer from colic, ‘stress’ seems to be an understatement. The incessant crying that can go up to 3 hours a day is enough to drive anyone mad;
• Take a break‐ When you have done everything to soothe your baby and nothing works, then it’s advisable to take deep breaths and just keep your calm. Try to distract yourself by doing something else other than just watching your baby cry.
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your fault. Similarly you should also not blame your baby for crying too, as he is merely expressing himself.
Crying is only a way in which your baby can communicate with you. If the reason your baby cries, baffles you in the start, don’t worry! As with experience you will be able to tell what your baby requires and you will also be able to soothe him better and faster.
Baby massages have become a tricky subject to
deal with in many households! What with the older generation believing that massages are vital for the baby’s development, as opposed to the baby’s parents who may not be entirely convinced of its benefits. To top this confusion within the household, are some doctors who themselves are against the very practice of massaging the baby! The reason for their opposition is not the practice itself but the other practices around it like applying kajal, instilling oil in the baby’s ears and nose along with the fear of the masseuse applying too much pressure on the baby.
Baby massage if done in the right way will not only foster baby’s growth and development but also give the mother and baby an incredible bonding experience. Even though in India, we have older women who specialize in giving these massages, you can massage your baby yourself at least once a day to get all the benefits that it can give.
During the development of the fetus, the senses of sound, touch and smell are amongst the quickest to develop. These senses are well stimulated during a massage, as there is the mother’s touch, smell of the oil and her soothing voice speaking
to the baby. Furthermore, touch is a very important mode of communication between the mother and child in the first few months of the baby’s growth as it communicates the mother’s love to the child. Plus touch has such remarkable effect that it is even known as touch therapy!
Research by The Touch Research institute at Miami University has proven what our grandmothers have been saying since ages! Massaging improves circulation, boosts immunity, stimulates digestion, aids sleep, improves growth, reduces stress and helps during diarrhea and constipation in babies. It also shows that babies who are massaged have more chances of gaining normal weight than others.
According to Dr. Geetanjali Shah, pediatrician and co‐author of Garbhasanskar (a book on pre natal and post natal care) massaging a baby enhances the mother’s maternal instinct which in turn causes an increase in her milk secretion.
Massaging your baby in the evening when your baby is cranky and restless gives you an opportunity to bond with the baby and gives the mother a much needed break. The massage in the evening needs to be light is known to soothe the cranky mood, that babies are known to be in‐usually at the end of the day!
It also helps the parents gain confidence in their parenting skills, as their touch and baby’s response gives them instant feedback about their skills.
How to do it? Oils: The oils that are generally used for massage are edible or plant extract oils like coconut, sesame or til, mustard, almond and olive. The choice of the oil depends on the season, as til and mustard oils are preferred during the winter while coconut oil is preferred in summers. Natural oils
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are said to be more beneficial for the babies than the commercially available baby oils, even babies are known to react well to natural oils.
Another consideration, when choosing an oil to massage your baby is whether your baby is allergic to the oil. To check, apply a few drops of oil on your baby’s wrist for a period of 24 hours; if there is no reaction, then you can opt for that oil.
When to start: You can start 10‐15 days after birth. The duration of massage should be 10 minutes when the baby is very young and can gradually extend to 20 minutes as he grows older.
Preparation: Babies don’t like to stay uncovered for long so make sure you keep everything ready like the massage oil, extra towels, fresh clothes etc. Pour oil in an open vessel to save time. Soften your hand texture by using a moisturizer, remove jewelry from your finger so that it does not irritate the baby. You can also heat the oil a bit, especially in winters to increase the benefits. Uncover your baby only after you are ready with all this.
Time: Choose such a time for the massage, when your baby is not too tired but is active and receptive or has just had his nap. Also make sure that the baby is not massaged immediately after being fed. Generally we, in India, massage the baby just before giving them a bath, so that the excess oil is drained off their bodies. But do leave a gap of time between massage and the bath so that the baby isn’t too stimulated! If the baby is cranky in the evening, a massage will help calm him down and also put him to sleep.
Pressure: Even though your baby looks very tiny and fragile, you cannot be way too gentle, as a massage done with less pressure will serve very little purpose. To know how much pressure to apply, close your eyes and press your fingers on your eyelids until you experience discomfort, this is the pressure that you need to use. Even if it is difficult at first to know how much pressure to apply while massaging, with time and your baby’s response you will become better at it.
The traditional way of giving the massage is sitting with legs stretched in front of you and the baby lying on your legs with his head away from you. You can also spread a mat on the floor, keep the baby on its back and start massaging him.
Generally you start from the feet and then proceed towards the stomach, the torso followed by the arms, hands and finally his face. After this you turn the baby over and gently massage the back and finish by exercising his arms and legs.
Maintain eye contact with the baby while massaging him. Hum a lullaby and call out its
name, it will reassure and soothe the baby. ‐Feet: According to Reflexology, all organs have pressure points represented in the sole of the foot. Thus a massage of the baby’s foot is important. Start by massaging the baby’s sole in circular motions and gently stretch each toe. Use your thumb to rub from the baby’s heel towards his toe.
‐Legs: Start from the ankle and calves and continue to stroke upwards towards knees and thighs.
‐Stomach: Stomach massage is good for getting rid of gas and helps in improving movement in babies. Massage the stomach in circular motions, proceeding in a clockwise direction as you go.
Another movement is to keep the palm below the navel and sweep your fingers in an arc on the stomach from right to left.
To get rid of gas, stroke the baby with your thumbs. Start from the right side of the groin move your thumb upwards and then move them across towards the left side of the groin. This movement is in line with the movement of the bowel and hence is effective in expelling gas.
‐Chest: Use gentle force from the middle of the chest and move your palms outwards as you go. ‐Arms, hands: Starting from the armpits of the baby, squeeze and gently twist the arms moving towards the hands. Be careful near the elbows,
massage the top of the hands and roll each finger between the baby’s thumb and the fingers. ‐Head: The baby’s skull is soft for the first few
months; so you need to be careful while massaging it. Place your hand on the forehead and work gently towards the base of the cranium. Pour some oil on the top of the baby’s head and gently move your hand in circular motions.
While massaging the face, stroke the eyebrows, the eyelids, the cheeks and the baby’s nose. Gently massage his ear lobe too.
‐Back: Turn the baby on his back gently and start massaging slowly in a circular motion, massage his head first followed by the neck, arms and legs. Do not massage the spinal cord; just place your hand over it for the baby to feel the warmth.
When you want to end the massage, do so by gently rubbing oil on your hands while talking to
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the baby and maintaining the contact. If you
end it suddenly, the baby may start crying. Massages have long been a part of baby rearing routine in India. Scientific research has just confirmed what we always knew! There are innumerable reasons why you must massage your baby, so do not miss out on this wonderful tool. Massage provides an opportunity for the baby and the one who is massaging to communicate and bond. Hence parents and grandparents should make full use of it.
As a first‐time parent, you make sure that your
baby is under your constant observation at all times, and every small you tend to get alarmed by something as small as the sound of your baby’s burp. We worry incessantly that there might be something wrong with the baby. To this, Dr. Geetanjali Shah, Pediatrician and co‐ author of the bestselling book on pregnancy, Garbhasanskar says, “Mothers and fathers have a natural instinct which tells them if something is wrong with their baby. It is just that, we don’t recognize it and hence we are scared often even when there is nothing wrong.
Danger signs for Newborns: ! Vomiting: All babies tend to throw up a little milk after feeding which is normal, but if your child is
vomiting excessively and if there is blood in his vomit, you should consult a pediatrician. ! Jaundice: All babies have a yellow tinge and mild
jaundice during the initial week after birth due to the liver having not developed fully. But it is rarely from the first day itself so notify the doctor if it is present. To check if your baby is suffering from jaundice, press the sole of the feet gently and release. Then observe whether the color that returns, is pink or yellow.
! Delayed passage of Urine: If your baby has passed urine less than 6 times in day, it is a danger sign.
! Lethargy: One sure sign that your baby is unwell is when his behavior is totally different from everyday. If he is listless, cries weakly and refuses his feed, he might be suffering from an infection.
! Breathing difficultly: If you notice that your child has a fast rapid breathing movement for more than a minute and has a bluish coloration of his lips, your baby might be ill.
! High Fever: Fever generally means that the body is fighting infection. Fever, itself should not be a cause for worry, but you should look for a possible cause for the infection. For babies running a temperature above 100.50 F medical attention is needed. Dr. Geetanjali says, “Most newborn babies have fevers because of dehydration due to taking less feed. In this case, Crocin does not help so we tell parents to increase the fluids. If the fever does not subside
then they have to get the baby for examination.” ! Excessive Weight loss: Newborns lose 8‐10% of their weight in the initial week of their birth. Most of this weight is gained back in another week. If the weight loss is more than 10% then it is a danger sign.
! Blood or mucus in the stool: Blood or mucus in the stool is a sign of danger. Please consult your pediatrician immediately in such cases.
• Your child hasn’t passed stool for a day‐Dr. Geetanjali says “Not passing stool is very common in babies. A baby can pass stools 10 times in a day or once in 5 days. So there is a wide spectrum and hence parents need not worry if babies don’t pass stools every day.” She says that if the baby is gaining weight and urinating every day then he is normal. If the baby is very restless then Dr. Geetanjali
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advises parents to try massaging the tummy and keeping the baby on her/his tummy. Consult your doctor if the problem persists.
Bonding tips for the New
The news of your partner’s pregnancy has bought
insurmountable joy not only to you, but also to your family and friends. Everyone is gushing over the soon‐to‐be mother, pampering her and so on. Even the written material found on pregnancies usually talks about the almost sacred bond between the mother and the baby, about breast feeding, impending motherhood and so on. With so much attention being concentrated on the mother, the poor father’s are bound to feel left out.
While some fathers feel left out, others are uncomfortable about holding their fragile, new born children in their hands and thus end up showing very little inclination to help when the little one cries or is distressed!
The first few months after the baby is born are the most difficult, and occasionally the mother is found at the end of her wits, it is in such situations that a father can step in and take care of the baby, letting the mother catch her breath.
First, some change of attitude, please! Don’t say
• ‘I work the whole day, I am tired’‐When you feel that your day has been busy and tiring and that you need your rest now, think about the mother. Think how she has a 24/7 job with, no lunch or even tea breaks for that matter plus she hardly gets a day off from her job i.e caring for your baby. So, don’t give those excuses of being tired and help your wife.
• ‘Why is he crying at night?’‐Again, you have worked hard all day and require a good night’s sleep to refill your energy reserves for the next day and ‘waaah’ goes the baby! Now, rather than cribbing about the noise, accept that a newborn will cry at anytime in the night. Take turns with your wife in soothing him, if he is found to be crying in the night.
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after a day’s play, you are bound to feel that you have missed spending time with your baby. But all is not lost; when you volunteer to massage the baby all by yourself in the evening you will not only spend quality time bonding with your baby but also reduce the baby’s irritability and help him fall sleep.
| and use tear less soap and shampoo for the | bottom’s wet, dads start looking for an exit | ||
| bath. | strategy, but the process of changing | ||
| • | Going for walks: You come home from work and instead of seeing your wife’s smiling face you see an exhausted face staring back at you, the reason being she’s had a difficult day with your baby! To help her out you can take the baby outside (don’t forget the diaper) for | diapers doesn’t have to be so difficult. You must maintain eye contact, talk to them, make silly faces and see this as any other time to bond with your baby. Changing diapers will also earn you brownie points from the spouse! | |
| some time and give your spouse some much | • | Helping out at night: When you find your | |
| needed moments of peace and quiet. Babies | baby wailing out loud in the middle of the | ||
| too will like it as they love to look at the | night, don’t crib but take hold of the | ||
| surroundings and imbibe things around them, | situation! You and your wife can work up a | ||
| remember not to take him to very noisy areas; | system in which you both take turns at | ||
| a stroll in the park or a round or two in the | soothing the baby. It provides for a golden | ||
| locality works just fine. | opportunity to be with the baby alone. In | ||
| • | Playing: Mommies like to cuddle and hold the babies while daddies like to be more | such times, just rocking the baby along with gentle talking and singing will help calm | |
| playful. They like to throw the babies up in the air, give their limbs gentle exercise and support the child on their shoulders and generally be involved in a more physical play with the baby, plus babies love this kind of interaction. Don’t worry, this will not hurt the | your baby down. What’s more, you will also be able to see the serene face of the baby as he falls asleep! And the sight of your baby falling asleep in your arms is something that no father in the entire world would want to miss. | ||
| child unless you are too rough. | • | Go skin‐to‐skin: Newborn babies are | |
| • | Changing Diapers: All fathers cringe at the thought of changing the diaper. Spending time with the baby sounds fine but once the | comforted by the touch, voice and smell of the parent. Studies show that just holding your baby skin to skin against you is enough |
to stimulate him. When you are trying to get the baby to sleep try doing it on your bare chest, this will not only help the baby fall asleep quickly but you will love the experience, too.
• Studies have shown that babies and toddlers, whose fathers were involved in caring for them in an active way by playing, talking and spending time with them have better
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interpersonal relations with others and have lesser issues trusting others as they grow up. Research also shows that daddy’s interaction with the baby is as important as a mother’s interaction with the baby.
For the First time anxious father, worried about whether he will be able to do anything right; here is tip‐ go with the flow, be open, and be spontaneous. Help out your wife and trust us and your very own parental instincts, you will
do fine!
Remember those very first days in the hospital
after the delivery‐ Where you would constantly wish that your little one would wake up from his deep sleep, so you could spend more time with him? But now just a few days after being bought back home, you find that he is altering your sleeping schedule with his own erratic sleeping schedule! He sleeps all day long when you are feeling fresh and energetic, and prefers to wail out aloud for his feed in the middle of the night, when all you want to do is sleep. Before you turn into a zombie due to your lack of sleep, here are some tips to understand your baby’s sleeping pattern and help him to sleep better.
Though an average baby is supposed to sleep for 16 hours a day in the first month, there are a few babies who only sleep for 12 hours a day, with a lot of naps during the daytime, while some other babies sleep for 22 hours a day! This shows that there is a huge spectrum with no standard for the number of hours that a baby must sleep. The baby instinctively sleeps when he should and wakes when he feels like he’s had enough sleep or for other reasons like he is hungry or wet.
After an exhausting day, everyone deserves a good night’s sleep. But parents of newborn babies do not get it (though they deserve it more) as babies wake up many times at night either because they are hungry or their diapers are wet. And both of these are good reasons for a baby to cry. Metabolically, breast fed babies need to feed every 2 ‐3 hours, until they are at least 3 months of age, while bottle fed babies need to feed less often ‐ every 4 hours.
A wet diaper can cause discomfort to the child and could even lead to a diaper rash. A diaper change just before sleeping and a diaper with a thicker soft pad may help prevent the discomfort experienced by the baby.
Babies cannot grasp the concept of days and nights in the early months after their birth; this is the reason why we find them wide awake at 2 am in the night and sleepy in the afternoons. Babies learn to adjust their body’s internal clock in time, but you can help them to do it
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efforts should be made to put him off back to sleep.
If you have observed your baby at night, you will see that he tends to toss and turn and make sounds and even smile. This is because your baby spends most of his sleeping time in the REM or Rapid Eye Movement Sleep when the brain is active and the baby is actually dreaming. So don’t worry if your baby just cries softly and moves around while sleeping.
Babies naturally prefer to be sleeping on their tummy as it supports their arms and legs and gives a comfortable feeling like that of being in the womb, even their tummy feels better when they lie this way. But research has shown that babies who sleep on their tummy stand the risk of becoming prone to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS which is responsible for the death of many babies without any explainable medical condition. To make sleeping on the back easier for the baby, train the baby since the very beginning. Swaddling – wrapping the baby in soft material ‐also contributes towards his comfort while he is sleeping on his back.
Some parents can go to great lengths to prevent their baby from waking up from his sleep; they switch off their mobiles, talk in whispers and create a ‘no sound zone’ around the baby, only to find the noise of a honking car waking up their baby. Keeping the environment around the baby very quiet is not recommended, as the baby gets molded to sleep only in perfect silence which is difficult to achieve regularly in normal daily life. Also babies are capable of sleeping in normal surroundings when the phone rings, people talk and vehicles move around, so do not over sensitize them early on.
Once your baby is older (about six to seven months) and does not need to be fed during the nights, you can start a nightly routine that encourages more sleep and fewer occasions of waking up at night. Start a nightly routine with a massage, a bath, changing into nightwear, a night time book reading session, saying ‘good night’ followed by lights out. If the baby awakens at night, you should soothe him without feeding. This job can be easily done by the father and your baby is also not likely to demand feed from him.
Another concept that helps the baby to sleep better is when the baby is put in the crib or the cradle while he is still awake. This way the baby is drowsy but not sleepy yet, and can fall asleep all by himself. Remember you need to condition your baby in such a way that he learns to fall asleep on his own, so that he can fall asleep by himself.
You cannot always rush to soothe your baby whenever he cries at night; your baby has to learn to soothe himself back to sleep, at some point of time. After the baby is 6 months old or older, you can start weaning him away from all midnight feedings and gradually make the baby fall back asleep on his own.
picking him up just by rubbing his back,
patting him and talking to him. There is no ‘one’ way or method that works for all, you choose whichever method suits you and your baby to sleep. Another thing to remember is that you have to be consistent with whichever
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approach you select and stick to it for so that
the method works. All the parents of infants have to live through sleepless nights early on and as time passes by, babies and parents can get into a routine and say ‘Yes’ to a good night’ sleep.
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Now that your baby has grown up (read‐about
five to six months old), caring for him is now easier. He now seems to sleep peacefully through the night, feeds regularly and has an active social life (read – wherein he interacts with doting grandparents and excited relatives while being passed on from one set of arms to another).
But when this peace is interrupted with his crankiness, loud cries in the night, avoidance of feeds and random chewing (on anything he can get his hands on), it is time to know that your baby has begun teething. Teething generally begins around the fifth or the sixth month and brings along with it, issues of its own.
The ‘Tooth Fairy’ often brings along with it, loose motions, fever, irritability and pain for a baby. But some babies are lucky enough, to not have any problems with teething at all.
Mentioned below, are the symptoms associated with teething in babies
Drooling: Teething stimulates drooling, so there is also saliva dripping out of your baby’s mouth.
Face rash: Due to constant contact with saliva, the skin near the mouth becomes dry, thereby leading to the appearance of rashes on the face.
Pain: There is inflammation seen over the gums, as the body treats the first tooth as a foreign object and reacts accordingly.
Irritability: Babies appear to be irritable and cranky as the process of teething brings with it, low intensity but constant pain for the baby.
Biting: Teething brings with it, an urge in babies, to keep chewing onto something. This is because the counter pressure that chewing brings, helps in relieving the pain under the gums.
Refusal to feed: When babies are teething, they usually refuse feed, as feeding creates a suction that worsens the pain associated with teething. This is the reason your baby will want to feed one instant and refuse feed, the other instant.
Diarrhea: Though there is no scientific backing to teething causing diarrhea, there are instances of babies suffering from loose motions during this period.
Low fever: Though fever is not directly linked with teething, some babies are seen suffering from fever during their teething days. At such times, parents must treat it as they would treat a low grade fever unless the fever lasts for more than three days.
Here is what parents can do to help their baby get over the teething phase smoothly,
Chew this: Babies try to get their gums on anything and everything they can that includes remotes, table edges and even your finger as the counter pressure such chewing brings relieves their discomfort. But, most of these places the baby bites on aren’t amongst the most hygienic and safe places for your baby as they harbor plenty of germs.
Instead, you can give your baby a teething ring that is commonly available, or a carrot with its narrow end chopped off, so that the narrowsharp end does not hurt the insides of the baby’s mouth or an ice cube or pieces of fruits wrapped inside a clean soft cloth.
Rub their gums: Your baby will be cranky and
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under pain when he undergoes the process of teething. To relieve his pain, run your fingers over his gums. This gentle rubbing would create a counter pressure and would relieve some of his pain.
Offer a Cold drink: Here we mean something cold to drink and not a soft drink! The cool sensation of a liquid will help in soothing your baby’s gums. Also, it will take care of his fluid intake.
Cool options: Once you have introduced your baby to solid foods, you can offer him cold foods that will soothe his gums like cool apple puree, cold yoghurt or cool soft fruit pieces.
Take care of other symptoms: Loose stools and mild fever often occur during the process teething in babies and can be ignored for a while. But if loose motions last for 2 bowel movements and if the fever is higher than 101.50 F, then there may be reason for concern.
Teething remains a problem, only till the time of the arrival of your baby’s first tooth. After that the baby’s body gets accustomed to the sensation. So if the teething process seems difficult to you, have patience, soon it will be over and your baby will give you a sparkling tooth smile!
Breast milk provides all the nutrition required by
your baby and Formula milk provides almost all the nutrition needed until your baby turns 4‐6 months old. After this, you may begin to introduce him to solid foods. The strategy is ‘be prepared and be slow’. Be prepared for the spills and meltdowns on the table and be slow, so that he can digest all that you feed him. Now that he has started with the intake of solid foods, don’t go overboard by introducing him to a buffet!
Though, in India it is believed that starting foods when the baby reaches the age of 4 months is okay, there is a strong opinion against it by WHO, as well as by UNICEF, both of which say that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months to be able to reach optimal growth and development. After six months, an infant is physiologically and developmentally ready for new foods, textures and modes of feeding.
If you are thinking of starting solids before your baby turns six months old, it is advisable to consult your Pediatrician.
Here are the early foods to offer your baby:
| 4‐6 months | Rice cereal, (oat cereal if rice doesn’t suit the baby) |
| 6 months | Apple puree, Bananas, Pears, Peas, Carrots, Squash and Other cereals |
| 7‐8 months | Chicken, Egg, Fish (only if parents are non vegetarian) |
| 9 months | Yogurt, Beans, cheese |
‘First Food’ Options Rice: In the past, rice had always been considered as the ideal first food option for babies because it is gluten free, easy to digest, comes in a fine consistency, has fewer chances of allergic reactions, keeps the baby with a feeling of fullness and aids sleep. Today however, there are different opinions as to whether rice should or should not be concerned as a baby’s first food option with increasing cases of babies reacting unfavorably to rice, as a result
there are other options that are being considered now‐Fruits: Solid foods for many babies start with
mashed sweet fruits, like, finely mashed bananas or apple puree. However many experts are of the opinion that starting a baby’s intake of solid foods with sweet options, makes him reject non sweetened foods like vegetables and cereals.
Here are some guidelines you must keep in mind, before you feed your baby:
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thinning. Offer foods at room temperature or slightly warmer.
Mash a banana and soften it by mixing it with breast milk or formula milk to tender it. You can also later offer your baby mashed banana without mixing it with milk. Other seasonal fruits like chickoos, papayas, and mangoes can also be simply be mashed and offered to baby. Papaya is known to help relieve constipation in babies.
Cut an apple into pieces, remove the seeds and the bark and boil in adequate water. Let the liquid cool and mash the apple with a blender or with hands. Initially start with half an apple and then try the entire piece.
In order to provide your baby with the vitamins and nutrients that are lost during the process of preparation of food, care must be taken to not discard the excess water that remains after boiling vegetables and fruits and after cooking dal. It is advisable to feed this water to your baby or to use it for thinning the consistency of the vegetables and cereals that you feed your baby.
Puree of vegetables including, broccoli, green peas, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot and cauliflower can be given as early foods to babies.
After removing the skin and seeds, boil the vegetables in just little water (to preserve the vitamins), then push the boiled food through a sieve or a tea filter or blend it in a blender. When your baby has just started solids, make a paste having a smooth consistency by adding a little water or breast milk or formula milk and as he becomes more accustomed to solids, make the consistency thicker.
Pumpkin is high in nutrients like Vitamin A, beta carotene, iron and potassium. Pumpkin is also a good source of fiber and is low on fats. All of this makes Pumpkin nutritious for babies. Remember: Never over boil pumpkin, lest it loses all its nutrients.
(Remember‐ Do not unnecessarily add salt and sugar to your baby’s foods. Jaggery is preferred than sugar to be added in kheer and sheera but adding salt should be avoided. Your baby gets enough sodium from vegetables.)
Finger Millet or Nachni cereal is easily available in Indian market and is a well‐known baby food. Nachni is a great source of protein and is also rich in calcium and iron as compared to other cereals. Also, because of its high nutritional value, nachni kheer is the first food which is given
to a baby after 6 months. Both Nachni cereal and nachni flour are easily available in any Indian kitchen. Take a few nachni cereals and roast them on low flame, then grind them in a grinder to make fine flour. You can keep this flour in stock, as it has a very long shelf life.
For one bowl of kheer: Take 2 to 3 tablespoons of nachni flour. Boil water for 5 minutes and then add this flour to the water and stir continuously. Stirring continuously is very important so that clots don’t get formed. Once the mixture turns semi solid, add little milk, 1 teaspoon of ghee, a pinch of salt and little jaggery to give it a sweet taste. Cool it for 5 minutes and your health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) y nachni kheer is ready for your baby’s consumption.
It is advisable to start with a small quantity. Don’t expect your kid to finish it in one go. Nachni kheer is filling and hence keeps the baby satiated for a very long time.
Both, Moong dal and rice are also very easy to find in the Indian kitchen. To make Moong Dal and Rice Phej, you need to roast moong dal and rice on a pan and then grind them together to make a fine powder. The ratio for preparing the mixture is, half cup of moong dal to one cup of rice. You can prepare this flour and keep it for days together
The Great Indian GUIDE for Postnatal Care
and use it whenever needed. For one bowl: Boil water and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of moong dal and rice powder to it. Stir well, and then remove from the flame, let it cool down to room temperature and serve. Rice is a great source of carbohydrates and moong dal is very nutritious and easy to digest. This makes Moong dal and Rice Phej, the best food for growing babies.
Suji kheer is an excellent combination of fats, carbohydrates and protein – all of which are necessary for your baby’s growth. Suji Kheer is quick to prepare and at the same time, it is health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) y for your baby.
To make one bowl of suji kheer, take 2 to 3 tablespoons of suji and roast it in ghee. Soon the colour of the roasted suji will change to brownish red. Then add milk and sugar to it, to make it into a thick paste.
Dalia or broken wheat is a health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) y food option for babies as it is made from whole wheat. Also, as it is easy to digest and quick to prepare, Dalia can be a regular part of your baby’s diet.
Start with equal quantities of wheat Dalia and lentil. Add Dalia to boiling water and cook it for some time until it is half‐cooked. Then add lentil to it, until both are well‐cooked. You can add a pinch of salt and ghee to taste. You can also cook it with vegetables like potatoes, onions, peas and any other green vegetables.
A month after your baby has started the intake of solids; you can introduce him to non vegetarian food. You can start with soups and stews of chicken. You can also blend boiled chicken with other vegetables and spices, to add taste. When offering an egg to your baby, remember to give only the yolk and not the egg white for at least a year.
In the early days of weaning, when you remain busy dishing out a variety of food options for your baby and he in turn remains busy rejecting your offers, there is every chance that you might feel like giving up on your efforts and buying packaged foods to feed him.
Here is all you need to know about packaged baby foods,
thus, the quantity wasted is less.
• The strained variety of packaged baby foods has a smooth texture which suits a baby who has newly been introduced to packaged baby foods.
Your baby gets so used to packaged foods that he no longer accepts the homemade variety which, in comparison to packaged food, is not perfectly textured.
You realize that parenting is a full time job quite
literally when you find it impossible to do the things you did earlier without a second thought. These things include, having lunch in a restaurant, catching up for a movie with friends in a nearby theatre, talking on the phone without a thousand thoughts running in your head et al. But now, even something as mundane as going to the bathroom, needs to be coordinated with your baby’s nap timings.
Even with your life turned upside down, you have to do the things you always did, like travelling. This article makes sure that your travel with the baby remains smooth and safe.
If you are to travel with your baby, make sure you plan the trip well as your baby’s comfort and happiness take a priority over everything else, right?
For a short trip‐Changing bag: Now what should a changing bag contain? If your baby is bottle feeding, you need a separate insulated bottle holding area. You will also need to consider the size and carrying comfort. The size should be big enough to carry more than one nappy and a bottle, but not too big that it
becomes difficult to carry. Also look for a bag made of moisture resistant material like nylon or vinyl with compartments to keep dirty diapers away from the bottle and the food. Remember to keep the bag well stocked with fresh stuff in case of last minute travels.
These are the things that you need to carry: Diapers: A baby with a soiled nappy tends to get cranky and irritable, which in turn spoils your outing. So, always keep a bunch of extra diapers handy with you. Never underestimate the
number of diapers your baby will need and always carry extra. Diaper changing mat‐You must carry a cloth, a towel or a waterproof pad to provide for a clean,
safe surface to change your baby’s diapers. Baby wipes: These are tissues which you can use to wipe your baby’s bottom when changing his diapers and to wipe your hand after you have changed his diaper.
Plastic bags or Zip lock bags: Carry plastic bags or zip locks, which can serve as dumping bags for dirty diapers and soiled clothes.
Formula: If you are going to be away till your baby’s next feed, carry along a bottle of water in which you mix the powdered formula. And remember, Formula prepared at home should be kept in an insulated container.
Baby’s shoulder cloth ‐ Babies like to feed but also tend to spit out the last meal. Hence, it is always better to carry along a cloth to be draped on to prevent smelly shoulders and messy dresses.
Change of Clothes‐You would need to keep changing your baby’s clothes in case your baby’s brand new clothes get spoilt due to baby poop, baby spit or even due to the solid foods he has been newly introduced to.
Snack for your baby‐If your baby has been introduced to solids, you can carry a snack along for him. Carry something that needs neither refrigeration nor heating. Remember to also carry along a spoon, a bib to tie around the baby’s neck and tissues to clean up the mess! Also keep the finger foods like fruits and biscuits ready, to keep your baby occupied and fed during the journey.
Snack for you‐ While you take care of your baby’s needs, remember to take care of your own health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) too. If you are a breast feeding mother, you need to carry something nutritious to keep up your energy levels. Fruits, whole wheat biscuits, cakes and nuts work well in such cases.
Now you know why mothers carrying their little ones, have big bags!
For a longer trip Along with the things mentioned above, you also need to carry the ones mentioned below, Extra layer of clothing‐Carry an extra layer of clothing for your baby, when away from home. This helps in preventing your baby from cold and fever. Toys‐When there is a long journey involved, you should have entertainment planned because you don’t want a cranky baby while travelling. So take along his favorite toys, favorite blanket, maybe a favorite audio – video CD he loves as well as the book he loves being read to. Sunscreen‐Not only does your child need
protection from cold, but also from the sun. Do carry along light cotton clothing and hats to cover him from sun, and apply sunscreen to his body, to prevent him from sunburns.
Medical kit‐ Travelling involves the chances of sickness and accidents. Keep the baby’s medical kit ready with medicines for cold, fever, loose motions etc. Learn about the basic first aid kit meant for kids, before you start your journey.
Pacifier‐Keeping your baby happy means keeping his pacifier close to him; even though you think it is high time he learns to sleep without the pacifier. In a place and surroundings that are alien, the familiar pacifier can reassure the baby, so let him have it.
Baby care products ‐Carry along, the oils, baby creams, diapers, soaps, shampoos and diaper rash cream along with many sets of clothes.
Some tips‐Time it well
In order to have a smooth journey with your baby onboard, time your journey as per your baby’s schedule. And take into account various factors like, modes of transport, the time taken for the journey etc. If it will be a long journey, time it according to your baby’s nap timings.
Before planning to go on a long journey with your baby, talk to a doctor and let him examine your
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baby’s health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) . If he okays the trip, ask for some medicines for common cold and cough that are recommended for babies. You must also be aware of the temperature at the place you are heading to, as you would need to pack your baby’s bag accordingly.
Do not change your baby’s routine much before you start your journey. This includes, not shifting from breastfeeding to bottles or weaning the child before the journey begins. Let your baby continue with his normal routine so as to feel secure when in unfamiliar surroundings .
Modes of travel Be it the car, plane or train travel; look for options to keep your baby happy. Here are some tips‐Car travel: Before you decide to go on a trip in a car with your baby, invest in an infant seat in your car. The infant seat makes sure that the baby remains safe and secure during the journey. This way the mother is less hassled. Remember to adjust the belts according to the size of your baby and make sure he is comfortable. If your baby is soothed by a particular song, bring the CD along to help him calm down when he cries. Take frequent breaks (about every 2 hours) and let your baby out, so that he gets fresh air. Drive
slower than the usual speed and take care around bad roads and avoid sudden jerks, as these can startle the baby, leading him into a crying fit.
Air travel: Babies below 2 years of age do not require a separate ticket but you can still opt for one, if having your baby constantly on your lap proves to be uncomfortable. Moreover, a separate seat for your baby will give you enough space to be able to change his diapers, feed him and allow him to move around. If opting for a single seat, opt for one near the engine so that the noise of your baby’s cries, does not disturb the other passengers and the aisle seat so that you can move easily if you need to, without disturbing your neighboring passenger. Cover your baby’s ears with soft cotton when the plane takes off as the pressure change can affect his ear drums.
Bus Travel: Not a comfortable ride for you and your baby. Your baby may not like to be held in one position for long and may soon get bored. Also, the seats in a bus are positioned closer, allowing very little leg space and room for movement for your baby. Unless you have a window seat, the journey in the bus may be a long, arduous one, for both, you as well as your baby.
A bus journey, unless taken at night, generally means a hot and sweaty journey. So dress your baby in loose cottons and use a wet cloth to keep his temperature down. It is advisable to take the baby by bus only if it is a night journey.
Train Travel: Travelling in the train is better than travelling in the car or in the bus, given the benefits of a smooth ride and space available in the train. But the chances of your baby taking in dirt and grime is more in the train, especially if he touches the window grill or the seat covers etc. So make sure you frequently clean his hands and keep an eye on what goes into his mouth.
If you are travelling in sleeper class, the upper berth should be ruled out due to the chance of the baby falling down, when he turns or moves.
Opt for a lower berth and spread a clean sheet on the seat on which you are seated. Let your baby lie on the sheet. Create a barrier with pillows, so that he does not fall. Keep him covered, so that he remains protected from the cold wind outside. Keep the windows shut and swaddle your baby.
Travelling with a baby may not seem to be an easy task, but it is not an impossible task either. All you need to do is to plan ahead and keep your cool.
The very idea of someone jabbing a needle in
your baby’s delicate arm, is enough to give many parents nightmares! Now add to this idea, your baby’s inconsolable crying and subsequent fever and suddenly you’ll realize why many parents don’t look forward to vaccinations for their babies. While vaccinations are vital for protecting your baby against harmful diseases and for keeping him health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) y and fit, many parents lose their keenness on getting their baby vaccinated after hearing stories of serious illnesses following vaccinations! This is why it is very important for you to be aware of the correct precautions to be taken before and after the vaccination of your baby.
Why Vaccinations?
Vaccination functions on a basic, general premise that, if a person suffers from a particular disease his body produces antibodies which fight that disease, thereby making his system immune to that particular disease for his entire life. During vaccination, a person’s body is injected with weakened or dead disease spreading microorganisms which are harmless to his body. His body then reacts to the injection by producing antibodies that fight the disease and strengthen his immunity against that disease. This way, in his entire life, the person never suffers from that particular disease for which he has received the vaccine.
Certain vaccines, which can prevent your baby from falling prey to serious ailments later on in life, are mandatory. These vaccines must be administered when your baby reaches a certain age, so that the vaccine is most effective. Government of India has made it mandatory for parents to get their babies vaccinated against various serious ailments including Diphtheria, Polio , Tuberculosis etc.
The names of essential vaccinations and the diseases, for which they are administered to babies, are given below:
Government of India has made it mandatory for parents to give vaccinations like DPT for Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough) mentally for dealing with your baby’s cries and
Vaccination Schedule
| Age of the child | Government Schedule | IAP Schedule |
| At Birth | BCG(Against Tuberculosis) OPV (Against Polio) This dose of vaccine at birth is called the zero dose. | BCG, OPV HB (Against hepatitis B) |
| 6 weeks | OPV (first dose) DPT (Triple vaccine against Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) | OPV (first dose) DPT (first dose) HB (2nd dose) |
| 10 weeks | OPV ( second dose) DPT (second dose) | OPV (second dose) DPT(second Dose) |
| 14 weeks | OPV (third dose) DPT (third does) | OPV (third dose) DPT (third dose) |
| 6‐9 months | ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ | HB ( third dose) |
| 9 months | Measles | Measles |
| 15‐18 months | OPV (fourth dose) DPT (fourth dose) | OPV (fourth dose) DPT (fourth dose) MMR (vaccine against Measles, Mumps and German Measles (rubella) |
| 5 years | DT (fifth dose) (only for diphtheria and tetanus) | OPV (fifth dose) DPT (fifth dose) |
| 10 years | TT (against tetanus) | TT HB |
| 16 years | TT | TT |
| The Great Indian GUIDE for Postnatal Care | |
| Tetanus, BCG for Tuberculosis, OPV for Polio. | sometimes vaccines are not administered if |
| Along with these vaccines, Indian Academy of | the baby is unwell. |
| Pediatricians has updated the list by including | • Inform your Pediatrician about any sort of |
| HBV vaccine for Hepatitis B and MMR vaccine for | allergy your baby may have especially egg |
| Measles, Mumps and Rubella or German measles. | allergy. |
| As a new mother of an infant, you will be provided | • Also, inform the medical professional if your |
| with a vaccine schedule after being discharged | baby suffers from fits and seizures. |
| from the hospital post delivery. You may also refer to the chart given below indicating the schedule to | • Check the expiry date of the vaccine |
| be followed for vaccination of your baby. | before it is administered, as expired |
| Some tips for your Vaccination trip: | vaccines can be harmful for your baby |
| • Prepare yourself mentally for dealing with | Side effects of Vaccination: |
| your baby’s cries and also take along his | • Generally children develop slight fever after |
| favorite toy for distracting his attention from | vaccinations and pediatricians prescribe |
| the jab of a needle. | half a teaspoon Paracetemol to treat the |
| • You will have to hold your baby in your arms | fever. |
| to get the vaccine administered onto him. If | • After a measles injection there are chances |
| you aren’t comfortable seeing your baby cry, | of rashes appearing on your baby’s skin, but |
| ask your spouse or relative to accompany you | this is normal. |
| so that either of them can hold your baby | • If your baby experiences allergic reactions, |
| while the vaccine gets administered. | high fever and loss of consciousness after |
| • Vaccinations are generally given by a | getting vaccinated you should consult a |
| registered Pediatrician, but you can also take | doctor. |
| your baby to a government hospital for | Some common myths about Vaccines: |
| vaccinating him. | Vaccines themselves cause many ailments |
| • Inform the medical professional who is to | All vaccines are thoroughly tested before being |
| administer the vaccine, about any fever or | introduced for administration. There are very |
| illness baby may have at that time because | few known side effects of vaccines and these are |
easily overshadowed by the kind of protection vaccines offer against serious ailments like meningitis, diphtheria and whooping cough, all of which can be fatal for kids.
Germs are present everywhere ‐ water, air, soil and many children as well as adults are known to carry them. You may feel that you can protect your child against germs but unless he is vaccinated, there is no guarantee that he will not fall prey to serious ailments.
One vaccine in a series gives the baby enough protection
Researchers have found that skipping vaccines puts your child under a risk of contracting diseases. Hence, if a series of injections have been recommended for your baby, make sure he receives the complete course.
If your baby misses even one shot of a particular vaccine, it’s pointless vaccinating the next time
This is not true. Even though it is recommended, that you follow the given schedule, your baby can be vaccinated, even though he has missed one shot. It is important that your baby gets the shot, albeit late, than not get it at all. Go to your doctor at the earliest and inform him about the vaccine your baby missed.
When you compare the pain vaccination brings to your baby, as against the benefits it provides, you will realize the importance of that jab in your baby’s arm. So the next time when you hear rumors pertaining to vaccination, you know what to do with those‐ Ignore the rumors and get your child vaccinated for sure!
Every time your precious little angel has a cold or
a nasal congestion, you don’t have to switch to panic mode and rush him to the doctor! You can easily reduce the number of medications prescribed to your baby by replacing them with some equally effective home remedies. Dr. Sudhir Sane, Pediatrician, however, says “A baby less than 3 months old should not normally suffer from any disease, but if you find that he is not well, do not try the home remedies as he is still too young to be fed anything other than breast milk.”
Mentioned below are some of the possible health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) problems your baby may suffer from and the ways in which you can provide treatment
Whenever your mother would touch your forehead and find it hot, she would get worried and would ask you to strictly lie on the bed, eat nothing but boring soups and curd rice. Similar feelings occupy your mind when you find your baby suffering from fever.
Contrary to popular perception, the occurrence of fever in your baby is in fact, a sign showing that his body is fighting against infections, rather than being a victim to the bad viruses
80‐90% of the time, fever in newborns gets cured without the help of medications, hence don’t rush your baby to the doctor each time he has fever. Also, doctors don’t recommend applying cold pads to the baby unless the fever is higher than 1020 F.
Keep baby cool‐When your baby has fever rather than bundling him up in blankets, it is advisable to remove the extra layers of cloth to cool down his body temperature. Unless his body loses his body heat it can lead to overheating and heatstroke. To ensure that the baby loses body heat, switch on the fan or the AC in the room your baby sleeps, but it is advisable to keep your baby out of the direct air flow.
Increase fluid intakes– Older babies that are weaned must be given juices along with oral dehydration fluids, clear soups etc, while younger babies, must be breast fed regularly so that they get their daily quota of fluids.
Medication to reduce Fever‐For babies less than 2‐6 months of age, having fever of 100.20 or more
(102.60 for babies older than 6 months) you can give paracetamol drops or medications as prescribed by your doctor. If the temperature still does not drop, contact your pediatrician.
Sponging‐Sponge your baby only if the temperature does not drop even after an hour of administering the medication. Use lukewarm water for sponging the baby. Take 3 cloths for sponging and spread out a waterproof material on the ground. Cover your baby with a towel and then alternately dip two cloths into water and place them on his forehead and keep the third cloth for rubbing over the baby’s neck, face, stomach, under arms and groin. Continue to do this for 20 minutes to 1 hour until the temperature drops.
• A baby less than 2 months old has fever over
100.20 and if a baby more than 2 months of
age is having fever of more than 102.60F.
Common cold is one of the most common ailment babies suffer from. The main reason for this is that their bodies are still in the developing stage and the immunities are not completely formed.
Symptoms: Runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion and sometime dry cough, fever, itchy throat, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Duration: Common cold Generally lasts for 3‐10 days but may last longer in babies.
• For nasal congestion, instill saline drops that are available as OTC drugs into the baby’s nostrils so that the hard mucus softens, and it can drip out of the nose or can be swallowed by the baby which later comes out with stool.
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The cold is accompanied with a fever of more than 101.40 F and if the fever lasts for more than 2 days. Also, if dry cough interferes with the baby’s sleep. The general rule is, as Dr. Sane explains, “if the baby seems lethargic and weak or, if he seems more cranky than usual and if the baby is unlike his normal self then call the doctor, otherwise if the baby is playful, you can treat him at home.”
The problem of constipation is mostly seen in bottle fed babies than breast fed babies. The reason being, movements of formula milk are generally hard and difficult to expel.
Symptoms: Infrequent bowel movements with stools that are hard to pass, blood in the stool, irritability and gastric distress.
Causes: Illness, lack of fiber in the diet, a slow digestive system, insufficient activity in the anal fissure.
Duration: Can be chronic or can be an occasional occurrence.
• Exercise the baby by moving his legs and hands in a cyclic manner.
• For babies who have started the intake of solids, increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, while that of dairy products, should be reduced.
Call the doctor if: There are frequent constipation bouts or if there is a presence of blood in the stool.
Diarrhea is another problem seen mostly in bottle fed babies and to a lesser extent in breast fed babies. This is because breast milk has a substance that kills the organisms that cause diarrhea.
Symptoms: Liquidy stools, runny stools, mucus in stool, blood in the stool, vomiting, increased volume and frequency of the stools.
Causes: Infection, teething, consumption of too many fruits, sensitivity to a particular food item in the diet, antibiotics.
Duration: From few hours to some days.
• Continue with either breast milk or formula milk as before but if the problem persists, then it may be due to temporary intolerance of milk, hence a better option would be to switch to soy milk. Do consult the doctor
before switching your options.
Babies often fall prey to infections of the ear. Here are a few ways in which parents can deal with the problem.
Symptoms: Pain in the ear that worsens at night, baby pulling and rubbing his ears, crying when sucking on breasts, slight fever, fatigue, runny nose and congestion, sometimes nausea and vomiting.
Cause: Infection and even allergy.
Duration: Few days. Usually regular ear infection cases get cured within a week’s time.
GER is a common problem occurring in more than half of the babies when they are less than 3 months of age. GER is also the cause behind the ‘spit ups’ that occurs in babies less than a year old.
Symptoms: Excessive spitting or vomiting, extremely forceful vomiting, erratic feeding pattern, slow weight gain, poor sleep habits, excessive drooling, choking and frequent burping.
Cause: GER occurs in babies, when partially digested food is thrown back into the esophagus
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or the food pipe in the throat. In babies the muscles that close the opening which keeps the food from entering in the esophagus, do not work well. The food then reaches the esophagus where its acidic content irritates the lining of the esophagus, prompting the ‘spitting up’ of food.
When could GER occur: From the time the baby is 2 weeks old and stays till the baby becomes one or two years old.
• Breast milk helps to prevent GER as it is easy to digest, and keeps the acid level in the stomach low.
Burp your baby frequently.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are caused by an infection that occurs in the urinary tract of kidneys, ureters, bladders and urethra of the baby. Generally, an unexplained fever is the only symptom of UTI. UTI can cause serious damage in children less than 2 years of age, hence proper diagnosis and treatment are essential.
Symptoms: Unexplained fever, crying, irritability, stomach or back pain, cloudy urine, frequent urination, vomiting and diarrhea.
Cause: UTI happens when bacteria begin to grow in the baby’s urinary tract.
You can try these home remedies when the symptoms are minor and the baby otherwise seems well; however if the condition prolongs or worsens then consult your doctor immediately.
As a parent, wouldn’t you want your child to be
gifted with many talents and qualities? Who doesn’t want a kid as smart as Einstein, who can speak 5 languages, is mathematically gifted and who can sing? If you want your kid to as be as talented use the early months to stimulate his mind‐ show him pictures, talk to him, play with him; babies can understand more than we give them credit for.
Your baby is constantly in the process of learning. Even at times when he may seem to be simply staring at the ceiling, his mind remains active and stores information in order to be able to retrieve it later for his understanding. It is found that 55% of your baby’s learning ability is developed within the first 4 years of his life. Your baby is born with a fully developed neuron system. After birth, the process of making connections between the different neurons start and it is this potential that you should tap into.
You must have decorated your baby’s room with various cartoon characters, colorful patterns and expensive furnishings. But if you thought your baby would be able to notice your efforts and appreciate them with a smile, think again! Because a baby can barely see beyond his immediate surroundings, and cannot differentiate between colors either.
Babies can identify with a human face more easily, than they can relate to cartoons and colors. About 15 days after his birth your baby will be able to identify the outline of your face. Even just‐born babies love to see any design that is similar to a human face. Hence, it is advisable to stimulate your baby’s senses by sticking pictures of human faces near his crib or cradle.
Since red, white and black are the only colors that babies are able to identify in their early months, parents must prepare charts with contrasting images in these three colors and stick the charts on to your baby’s crib. There are also books available which are specially designed to stimulate babies’ brains.
A baby’s auditory senses develop inside the mother’s uterus as he keeps listening to his mother’s voice and to the many sounds that form a part of the mother’s immediate environment. This means that when a baby is born, he is already able to identify his parents’ voice, from the rest of the family.. In order to be able to stimulate your baby through auditory senses, it is important that you keep talking to him constantly. A research shows that those babies, whose parents talk to them regularly, are able to speak 300 words more than their peers by the age of 2.
And if you are wondering as to what you should talk to your baby about, here are some tips: Talk to your baby about what you are doing, point out at the various things around him and name them, call him by his name, sing songs to him and so on. This kind of active stimulation is very important than the passive stimulation offered by DVDs and CDs.
The latter can be used to supplement active stimulation in the baby. Overall, it is the participation of the parents in baby’s development and their constant involvement in their lives that stimulates the baby most.
When you speak to your baby in more than one language or play CDS or cassettes in many languages, he will be able to grasp these languages fast and easy. Also, if your little one is being exposed to different genres of music‐from Classical and Jazz, to Indian folk and Bollywood, ‐ he will develop a discerning ear for good music that will remain with him as he grows up.
A soothing touch, a gentle pat, a loving caress‐all work towards the emotional and mental development of your baby. Research has shown that skin‐to‐skin contact between the parent and the baby helps in strengthening the bond between them in the early days after the baby’s birth. Activities like massages, rocking, cuddling and tickling the baby, help in stimulating the vestibular centre in the baby’s brain which in turn helps in maintaining balance and ability to move. Touch also breeds familiarity in the baby’s mind and helps in preventing childhood phobias.
For stimulating your baby’s sense of touch, provide him with objects of different textures including soft, hard, smooth, rough and granular. As he touches each object, name it aloud for him to be able to hear. Make sure that all objects are clean and safe for your baby and make sure he doesn’t put them into his mouth.
Smell: Your baby’s sense of smell can best develop naturally, without any need of a conscious effort from your side. As your baby comes in contact with different smells at home, for instance the smell of milk – which he seems to like, while the smell of his own poop – which he does not like, he will keep learning.
Other than stimulating your baby’s senses you also need to respond to his needs so that he feels loved and cared for. You need to respond to his cries indicating hunger and irritation, you need to cuddle him and play with him, entertain him and distract him. Through these gestures of love and care, you are actually laying the foundation of trust and love in the mind of your child. This way your baby gets enough confidence to express himself without inhibitions and to venture and learn new things.
These are other things you can do:
Take him out‐ When your child remains at home for a long time, he gets acquainted with all the objects present around him and there remains nothing new that can stimulate his mind and body. If you take him to a park, his mind will be stimulated by the newness of the place and by the many other things which would attract his little mind.
Challenge him‐To help your baby grow, challenge
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him. Hold a ball and let him reach towards it. Remember, you need to be gentle with him and challenge him within the limits of his capacities.
Read to him‐ Reading stories to your baby will help in teaching him many things and will also help in keeping his mind calm and occupied.
Name things‐Whenever you see new objects, point those to your baby and name them. He will remember some of these words later when he starts talking and this will leave you amazed.
Peek‐a‐boo‐ This age‐old method of entertaining a child, also serves as an educational purpose for your baby. By way of peek‐a‐boo, babies learn that, object permanence that is ‘if the object is not seen doesn’t mean that it is gone’ phenomenon.
If you notice, most of the ways of stimulating babies mentioned in this article can be easily done at home There is a lot of stimulation that happens in a baby’s mind, when he interacts with you and with the environment around him; the trick lies in identifying and channelizing the stimulation further. Stimulations should be fun for both, you as well as your baby. You must constantly encourage him and applaud when he does well, but never push him into doing something; he is not in the mood of doing at that time.
“Let the baby cry for a while, a little crying
doesn’t hurt anyone” this is what you find your mother‐in‐ law telling you, each time you think of soothing your crying baby. There are times when you have placed your baby lying on his back and come back to see that your mother has placed him on the belly which is now considered a taboo due to the risk of SIDS (see baby sleep like a baby page no.61)
With new research coming in, the way we care for the baby is undergoing a lot of change. These changes don’t easily go well with the older generation as they are staunch believers in the “this is how it was done since ages” argument and as a result there seems to be a struggle to come up with a method that is acceptable to you both.
This article is just about that, about the traditional practices that are being followed since ages and why some of them should be stopped while some need to be followed even today.
Swaddling, Verdict: Good Our mothers and grandmothers believed that tying the baby in a cloth in the initial days post birth soothes the baby and he tends to cry less. And modern science too, concurs with this traditional) belief and also confirms the various
benefits of swaddling the baby. Swaddling, as per science, makes the baby feel secured and reminds him of the cocoon like environment of his mother’s womb. The warmth that results by way of swaddling helps the baby, until his own temperature regulation mechanism matures. Moreover, swaddling as a method also prevents the baby waking up due to his own movements in his sleep. It also ensures that the baby lies on his back reducing the risk for SIDS. In India, swaddling helps in protecting the baby from mosquito bites, as the entire body except the face, remains covered. You can swaddle your baby until he is 3 months old after which your baby finds it to be too restrictive and learns to roll over. Remember to swaddle your baby only if your baby likes it.
Carrying babies through slings and carriers, Verdict: Good ‘If you cannot carry your work to where your baby is, carry your baby to where your work is’ – this was the golden rule which many women in the ancient times followed. The age‐old trend of the
mother carrying the baby with slings has come back and everyone is raving about its benefits. The slings keep the baby close to the mother and
due to this continuous contact with the mother, the baby develops a sense of security which he finds soothing. The slings also allow the mother to have both her hands free as the baby is tied to her front body, thereby enabling her to do her work and keep a watch on the baby at the same time. Slings are highly beneficial for those babies who need to be constantly cuddled and carried.
But, along with the advantages, slings also have certain drawbacks: First, overuse of slings, can be restrictive for the baby. Second if you are carrying you baby in a sling, in hot climate, your baby would feel very hot and uncomfortable. Third, if you become even a bit careless when bending down, your baby can slide down onto the ground, which can be very dangerous.
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Remember: Do not wear your slings when you are cooking, exercising, jogging or driving.
If you are an Indian, most of your own baby pictures had your eyes covered with Kajal. It is time that you prevent your child from having similar pictures!
A popular notion behind the application of kajal to babies is, to keep the baby away from those with evil intentions. Besides, there are still many who believe in the medicinal property of the black kohl.
Since ancient times the application of kajal to babies has been considered as a remedy against some common eye ailments like corneal ulcer, conjunctivitis, and trachoma. This is because compounds like copper sulphate and zinc, present in kajal were considered to be beneficial for treating eye problems. But, since there are better treatments available today, the ritual of application of kajal to babies has become obsolete.
In fact, application of kajal to babies can cause them harm as there is no way to ascertain if the finger of the person applying it is clean or if the sterility of the kajal is maintained. Further, doctors say that applying kajal can lead to eye allergies, glaucoma, conjunctivitis and other eye
infections. If it is difficult to give up the practice in its entirety, the best way out is to apply the kajal mark anywhere on your baby’s body, anywhere except around his eyes.
Massage is one among the many practices that India has given to the world. Every mother and grandmother will tell you the kind of joy that massaging a baby brings, along with its associated health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) benefits for the baby. Research conducted by The Touch Research Institute of Miami University proves that massages are good for baby’s immunity, digestion, growth, stress reduction and sleep and also help in fighting diarrhea and constipation in babies.
Moreover, the loving touch of the mother’s hands along with the songs she sings to her baby during the massage helps in soothing the baby to a good sleep. It also helps to create a bond between the mother and her baby.
Remember: Parents must ensure that the massage is done gently and without causing too much stress to the baby.
In India, all babies, be they girls or boys, get their ears pierced. It is believed that pierced ear wards off evil spirits, while there is alternate reason that piercing the ear stimulates point for vision according to acupuncture.
Ear piercing is generally done within days of the birth, sometimes during the namkaran ceremony. Parents think that when the skin is very young there is no pain and therefore piercing should be done as soon as possible. Doctors on the other hand think that it should only be done around the 6 month mark, when the tetanus (DPT) vaccinations are administered to avoid infection. Also as the baby is older he is in a better shape to tolerate the pain.
Parents must also take care of the place from where they pierce the ears. Parents should avoid going to any other jeweler or ‘massagewalli’ to pierce their baby’s ears. It is advisable that parents opt for a clean and hygienic place. Even the instrument that will be used to do the piercing has to be selected with care. The gun shot is a popular choice but there are several parts of the gun that cannot be sterilized. A sterilized needle can be used for this purpose.
Shaving off the hair, Verdict: Must be done with Care ‘Shaving the hair while they are babies will lead to great texture and thickness of hair in children’‐ this is what we say when we shave the baby’s hair. Though there is no evidence to prove it, the parents still firmly believe in it. The only change that shaving brings is that all of the hair grow
uniformly which gives it an appearance of being thick. Also it is common for babies to lose some or even
all of the hair that they were born with, usually
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around the 4 month mark. The new hair that comes may be thicker or curlier or even a new color! But whether you shave, trim, or brush his hair a hundred strokes a day won't affect how it grows in. For some babies there is a delay in hair growth but shaving their head isn’t anyway going to help.
Here are some tips when you decide to shave your baby’s head
Tying a black thread around the neck, hand and the waist is an old tradition among us to ward off evil spirits. But it ends up doing more harm to the baby than good! Sometimes the baby might just pull on the thread, which may lead to strangulation. Also if he puts the thread in the mouth which has been dyed, it can be toxic to the baby. If you tie the thread too tight around the baby’s neck, it may hamper the blood circulation.
The thread remains wet for a long time after taking bath and remains in close contact with the baby’s body, which increases the chances of fungal infection.
If you still want to tie the thread, tie it loosely around the ankle not the wrist or the waist.
Earlier, putting oil in the ear was believed to soften the ear wax so that it can be cleaned easily. It was believed that the ear wax hindered hearing.
Doctors today believe that ear wax, in fact helps to protect the ear against air, moisture, bacteria and water. If you try to soften the wax with oil and then try to remove it with an ear bud, you may end up scratching and hurting the baby’s ear drums which will affect his hearing. Sometimes the oils themselves cause infections!
If it is the dirt in the ear that you are worried
about, ask your pediatrician about it. You shouldn’t pour oil in the baby’s navel especially when the umbilical stump is still linked to the navel as dirt particles containing germs stick to the oil which may cause infections. You must take care of the stump and observe it carefully for any signs of pus or blood and consult the doctor if you find any. If the stump seems to be partially separated do not pull it apart. Be patient and let it fall off on its own.
With these scientific reasons behind following or discarding a ritual made clear, you easily convince your elders about them, after all they also want the best for the baby!
Each baby is unique and develops at his own pace. Some may start walking early while some are early talkers. So parents remember, do not compare your baby with other babies as each of them develop differently. Here is the development chart indicating the development milestones for your baby. Unless your baby is off track on most counts you have no reason to worry.
Even after one month, your baby still feels like a newcomer in the house amongst all of you. He has just mastered the art of breastfeeding and the art of sleeping in his cradle. Here are the other things he is expected to accomplish by this time…
As time passes by, you find yourself getting increasingly better at baby care and now you have learnt all the tricks that can help in soothing your baby’s cries in no time. And by the second month, the bond between you two, has become so strong that he recognizes you and even smiles and coos in your presence.
Respond with a smile
Hold the head steady when upright
Roll over to one or the other way
Reach for an object at a distance
Laugh out loud, or squeal
A thorough medical checkup for your baby scheduled during the third month ‐ should help in clearing all your doubts pertaining to his upbringing , care and his development milestones.
• Lift the head up to 450 while lying on the belly
Your baby seems to be like an angel this month. He seems to be all smiles when you are close to him, he cries less and even sleeps peacefully through the night. He seems cheerful and happy, and both of you seem to have a gala time in each other’s company.
Reach for an object kept at a short distance
Object, if the toy is taken away
Sit without support
By the 5th month, your baby seems to be much stronger and active. He is now able to go and get his toy from a distance, he even tries to crawl and is able to notice small things that seem interesting to him, including fallen food pieces, tiny insects etc. Your baby’s increased activity also means that you need to be more careful and alert.
Hold the head steady when upright
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as much as possible.
It’s the sixth month, and there are already some signs of teeth in your little one, and he has now begun with his mischieves too. He has started to pull and push in order to be able to get his toys, and has even begun surprising you by making different sounds.
Say ‘ah‐goo ‘or similar sounding notes
Some babies will be able to,
Sit without support
Creep or crawl
Pick up tiny objects
By the seventh month, you see your baby becoming independent; he wants to feed himself now, ‐ doesn’t matter, that the table cloth and his own clothes are also being fed in the process, ‐ and he is also getting better at expressing himself by cooing and smiling at the world!
• Pull up to standing position from the ‘sitting’ position
The eighth month has brought about a lot of changes in your baby ‐ the once quiet and meek infant has turned into a mischief making and a never tiring tot who can now crawl and get his tiny fingers onto almost anything he comes across. With so much of novelty around him, your baby sure is making the most of now.
Look for an object dropped in front of them
Stand holding onto someone or something
Play peek‐a‐boo
Creep or crawl
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‘sitting position’
By now, your baby has gained some useful social skills. He is entertaining everyone around him by mimicking the sounds he hears and doing things that get him attention.
Stand well, without support
Your baby is getting smarter by the 10th month, but he is also getting thinner and losing his rate of growth. He continues to leave no stone unturned in exploring your house. When you tell him something, he listens and understands but has no intention of obeying. No wonder, they say, ‘Parenting is difficult’.
Object, if their toy is taken away from them
Play peek‐a‐boo
Say “mama” or “dada” discriminately
• Understand a ‘No’
Your baby has now turned into a rebel; he resists the diaper change, the rice cereal and the afternoon nap. At this point, he hates to be confined and makes sure that you know it. His latest, favorite activity is to keep pointing at different things and he keeps doing this all the time.
are met with.
Say “mama” or “dada” discriminately
Play ball
Stand alone well without support
Drink from a cup independently
Talk in gibberish
Your baby completes one year this month and he also embarks on another milestone, which is ‘Walking’. He starts with a few unsteady steps holding on to someone or something for support but is sure on his way to walking independently. Celebrate the year by taking a note of the many things you learnt and all that you had to deal with. Oh! What a year it has been! It seems just yesterday that you brought your baby into the house from the hospital….
Walk holding on to the furniture
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This is an article that is dedicated only to you the
first‐time mother. Are you surprised that a baby care book has an entire chapter about the mother? You shouldn’t be, because a mother’s health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) is most affected by the physical and emotional upheavals that accompany pregnancy and child birth. But after a few days of fussing over the mother, everybody else focuses on the baby and no one more than the mother herself! We would like to remind all the mothers out there, that their health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) is as important as the baby’s. Think about this: if the mother is unwell, has diet and sleep issues, can she take care of the baby? If she is on medication, can she breastfeed her child? A big No. And now that you are convinced, read on to know how you can take care of your health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) and how your husband too can help you remain fit and fine!
As a first‐time mother, there are a number of problems you face after child birth which can keep you off the joy of breast feeding your baby. For instance, you often notice that your breasts enlarge in size and sometimes the increase is almost twice the normal size, and you also sense tenderness and pain near your breast area. Relax! These problems are a part of the process of engorgement of breasts – which happens during breastfeeding. In simple words, engorgement of breasts means that your breasts get filled with milk and there is more blood rushing to the area. In some women, engorgement may be seen to a greater extent and it is more during the first pregnancy than others.
Engorgement is often a temporary phenomenon, and it diminishes gradually as the milk production and supply gets regulated. The swelling and pain in the breasts, does not last for more than 2 days.
| The Great Indian GUIDE for Postnatal Care | |
| the discomfort: | drips and even sprays out from the breasts, |
| • Feed your baby regularly – The more you | thereby spoiling your clothes. |
| breast feed your baby, the less are the | • But, don’t worry. This process of leakage of |
| chances for your breasts to swell. Regular | milk from the breasts – known as ‘Let |
| breast feeding is necessary to make sure that | Down’ ‐ is a physical process that takes |
| the increase in the supply of milk is met with | place even when you think about your baby. |
| adequate outflow of the same. This in turn is | ‘Let Down’ is more frequent in the early |
| essential for your breasts to return to their | days after childbirth, it gradually decreases |
| normal size. | with time, once the rhythm in demand and |
| • Warm up– If the milk does not flow out | supply of milk is established. |
| smoothly, then try to soften the areola by way | Here are tips to help you deal with deal with |
| of heat. This can start the flow. Another | this uncomfortable and embarrassing |
| option for a smooth flow of milk, is to | problem, |
| massage the breast that you are nursing your | • Nursing pads placed in the bras help in |
| baby with. | absorbing the leaks. Do not opt for nursing |
| • Cool it – The other ways of reducing breast | pads which are lined with plastic, opt |
| engorgements are – to use ice packs, to keep | instead, for those, that are made from |
| chilled cabbage leaves on the breasts, or to | 100% cotton. These maintain the airflow |
| use specially designed cooling bra inserts | and which are easy on your nipples. Both |
| when you are not feeding the baby. | washable and disposable varieties are |
| • Position – It is important to keep changing | available. |
| the position from Cradle to Football hold (see | • To keep your bed sheet from stains of wet |
| breast feeding positions page no.20) in order | milk, place extra nursing pads and place a |
| to ensure that the milk is being taken by the | large towel on the bed when you sleep. |
| baby in a uniform manner. | • Wear dark clothes with big prints so that |
| • Leaking breasts‐One of your most common | the stains remain hidden. |
| routines as a new mother would be to keep | • Do not pump milk as doing so will only |
| changing clothes ‐ yours as well as your baby’s | increase the leaking. |
| – most of the times in a day . This is because during the early days of nursing, milk leaks, | Sore Nipples |
Some mothers are known to suffer from the problem of ‘sore nipples’ ‐ which occurs if the position of the baby during breastfeeding is not correct or if the baby has a vigorous suck. If you suffer from ‘sore nipples’, breastfeeding may seem difficult to you, but you will find that as time passes, the breast tissue toughens up to the challenge of breast feeding, and you no longer face any problem. Here are some beneficial tips that can help,
vigorously.
• Make sure you wash your nipple with water only and not with any type of soap, alcohol or tincture as your baby will be in direct contact with your nipple and consume what is applied on it.
After delivery you feel like getting back in shape and eating what you want to, without any restrictions. Though there is nothing wrong in feeling this way, remember that you are still breastfeeding at this point and whatever you eat in turn becomes your baby’s food too. Hence, the more balanced and nutritious food you eat, the health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) ier will be the milk that becomes your baby’s food.
Right diet is also important for those mothers who aren’t breast feeding, because taking care of your baby and looking after him for his every small need, is physically exhausting. So, it is not time yet, to go binging or to opt for extreme diets, you still need to watch not only what goes in your baby’s mouth but also what goes into your mouth.
Here is a list of essential nutrients that make up the diet of a feeding mother: Protein
(paneer).
All new mothers are advised to have a variety of traditional homemade foods. These include, Methi Ladoo (rich in iron), Dink Ladoo (rich in collagen), rotis made of jowar and bajra (rich in iron), khus
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khus kheer (good for milk production) etc.
The doctor may recommend vitamin and iron supplements to a new mother, if her diet is insufficient in essential nutrients, even after she has had nutrient‐rich foods listed above.
In the life of a couple, the birth of a baby means abundant joy and happiness on the one hand and tiredness, exhaustion and no‐time‐for‐sex on the other. This is more in case of mothers, as the female hormones incline the new mother more towards baby care than towards sex. And if you too have been giving all your love and attention to your baby, your partner may feel ignored and the intimacy and love between you too may suffer in the process. Hence, it is advisable and safe for both of you to resume your sex life after six weeks of delivery.
Here are tips by which you can safely get ‘sex’ back into your lives: Matters of the Mind
their baby sleeps or even in the next room. But this feeling of awkwardness must change and women must look at themselves not just as mothers, but also as loving partners. There are also women who get uncomfortable with the idea of having sex after childbirth, yet, do not gather enough courage to refuse their partners. This kind of approach leads to feelings of resentment between the partners.
• Intimacy not sex: Sometimes, a loving touch, a cuddle, a candle light dinner or even something as simple as, volunteering to soothe the baby’s cries if you are a husband, can bring back the spark in a couple’s life. Love and intimacy need not always have sexual connotations.
relax. Forget about all your worries and chores and simply shut your mind and relax.
Before you look at each other with love, we would like to introduce this topic upfront. Yes, we are asking you to start thinking about birth control unless you don’t mind having another baby this early.
If you think that you don’t need to take birth control measures until you have weaned your baby, you are wrong. Though it is true that most women don’t get their menstrual periods until at least 6 months after the delivery there are exceptions. Chances of conception without periods cannot be ruled out. So it is better not to take chances and to talk to your gynecologist about the various birth control options available. after 6 weeks of childbirth.
t has set in and you can’t seem to stop it. All the happiness that you imagined you will experience after childbirth just evaporated in thin air and all that you are left with, is a feeling of a loss of control and of dismay. These may be the kind of thoughts that go about in the mind of a mother who suffers from baby blues. Baby Blues set in after pregnancy in about 60 percent of women, but if the symptoms don’t go away in sometime then it may be a case of Postnatal Depression or PND.
Some symptoms of Baby Blues‐Excessive crying, lack of sleep, eating problems, persistent sadness, lack of concern for the baby and memory loss.
Many women are seen to suffer from Post natal depression however they are not comfortable discussing it as they feel having such feelings is wrong and inappropriate. It is important for mothers to understand that PND is not the mother’s fault and does not reflect a mother’s parenting skills. Also family members should look out for these symptoms and consult a doctor as PND is easily curable. But it is important to bring the problem into light, else, it can hurt the mother as well as the baby.
It’s just a month into motherhood, and you already resemble a zombie! With dark circles under your
The Great Indian GUIDE for Postnatal Care
eyes indicating a lack of sleep, disheveled hair for effect, and a creased forehead that is brought about by bouts of bad temper, you definitely aren’t painting a happy picture of motherhood. As a new mother, you have been sleeping so little, that you feel drowsy throughout the day. Here are some tips that will keep you on your feet, even with your meager hours of sleep
straining any part of your body 8 times. Abdominal muscles: These are the muscles that stretched as they sheltered your baby for nine months but now even as the baby is out of your womb these muscles seem to be sagging and bloated.
and hold as much as you can. Pelvic muscles: Childbirth is a life‐altering event
The Great Indian GUIDE for Postnatal Care
that leaves an impression on the mother’s mind forever; but also leaves an indelible mark on the mother’s pelvic muscles. They become loose and can lead to incontinence in some women. Kegel exercises are recommended for relief.
You can do these exercises whilst sitting, lying down or standing.‐All you have to do is, tighten your pelvic muscles as if you are stopping your stream of urine. You have to tighten them for five seconds a time, four to five times in a row. Start by doing 2‐3 contractions at first and then stay longer and try more contractions each time.
General: You can also try other low intensity workouts like walking, swimming and yoga to help regain the physique as well as the muscle strength as before.
Now that you know how to take care of your baby and your own health(Buy now from http://www.drugswell.com) , have a happy parenting experience!
sleep. Most babies also get calmer when they are in close contact with their parents.
Many mothers find themselves looking pregnant even after their delivery due to their bloated tummies, fat thighs and still larger breasts! This is bound to make any woman unhappy. So now to get back in shape, you have dutifully cut down on your diet. But unless you re‐strengthen the areas which were affected by pregnancy, you can never truly go back to the shape you were in before getting pregnant.
Before you set out to work on your body, remember, exercises are to be resumed only after 6 weeks of delivery as the muscles are too weak to undergo any vigorous form of exercise before that time. Also if yours was a complicated delivery, consult your doctor before you start any kind of exercise.
Yoga for you Back under control: Backaches become a part of life during pregnancy but sometimes the ache remains even after delivery and gets worse as you keep bending down to pick up your baby. Here is an exercise for your spine: Begin on all fours with the neck at ease. Inhale and lift your neck keeping the back straight or arching slightly. Now, exhale and bend your neck, tighten the abdominal muscles and tuck in the neck and head. Do this exercise without
Why didn't someone tell me How fast a baby grows, That every little baby stage Soon comes, but sooner goes. So I'll enjoy the fleeting time
Before you learn to talk. For soon you'll learn to walk, Then run, And talk and sing a song,
The Great Indian GUIDE for Postnatal Care
References:
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