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What not to eat when Breastfeeding

What not to eat when Breastfeeding   Tips for healthy breast feeding: The lucky moms who have no issue can eat whatever they like and their babies enjoy their moms milk. Some babies enjoy the spice if you are fond of spicy food , but if the spice gets a bit too much you know what happens Down under the baby’s bottoms… The first and foremost tip when it comes to proper breast feeding would be to find out on your own as to what suits your baby. Careful examination of what you eat directly affects the baby’s bowels. If the baby feels gassy check on the protein content you are eating. Some babies are allergic to heavy doses of protein which come from meat, poultry and lentils. Mothers report that babies most often object to chocolate, spices (cinnamon, garlic, curry, chili pepper); citrus fruits and their juices, like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit; strawberries; kiwifruit; pineapple; the gassy veggies (onion, cabbage, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, and peppers); and fruits with a laxative effect, such as cherries and prunes. So eating these in moderation would be the best option. One or two cups of coffee is allowed but too much caffeine can interfere with your baby's sleep or make him/her fussy. Avoid sodas, teas and beverages as they also contain moderate amounts of caffeine. NO alcohol please and if you think you really can’t do without one, go for those mild drinks which have less alcohol content in them. Alcohol increases your blood alcohol level to the point that the alcohol gets into your milk. Some babies are known to be allergic to cows' milk , soya, wheat, egg, nuts, and corn or corn syrup. So if you think that these are causing the baby to go colic its best to avoid them.   Talk to your pediatrician before you stop any foods from your diet if the food causes any allergy. If avoiding foods like dairy products, you may need to see a nutritionist for advice on substituting other foods or taking nutritional supplements. Take your prenatal vitamins as long as you are  breastfeeding  to cover any gaps in your own diet.

The Art of Brushing Baby Teeth

The Art of Brushing Baby Teeth   Teaching toddlers to brush: It’s either a nightmare for some or a pleasant task for some parents whose children totally love the brushing routine. So what should the parents who are facing the task of teaching their child to brush the right way. 1.First and foremost stay Calm - Children have the uncanny ability to detect agitation in the parents. So when you start the first round of brushing session stay calm, use all the tactics you know to distract the child and brush their teeth. 2.Use the latest brushing equipment including the finger brushes so that your finger doesn’t get bitten. 3.Make your child choose his/her own dental supplies, the fancy brushes, sweet toothpastes with cartoon characters and rotary brushes in the super market. 4.Since brushing twice is the order of the day make him/her brush on his own at least once a day so that they get the hang of it. You could brush the teeth and massage the gums the other time so that you can compensate for inadequate brushing. 5.Want them to brush! Then brush along with them. This way they get into the habit and learn while brushing. 6.Make a trip to the dentist so that they feel important and make the dentist talk to them personally and explain oral hygiene. 7.As they grow older make it a point to check on them once in a while and also show them how to floss their teeth. 8.You could figure your own special way to help your children brush their teeth and this could pave way for better oral hygiene in the future.

Pocket money boosts your childs Self worth

Pocket money boosts your childs Self worth   How much pocket money should I give my Child: A Western concept which has picked up pace in India and other Asian countries, giving pocket money to ones child varies from family to family and their earning capabilities. The chores given to the child and the earning capabilities of the parent are the deciding factors of giving pocket money to the child. Another aspect is why do you want to give your child pocket money? Giving pocket money has several benefits other than just helping him/her buy toys or chocolates.   Teaches the value of money and money management at a young age. You can start teaching them the value of money at the earliest, say like from 5 years onwards. This helps the child to plan his/her future finances also. Nothing comes for free! As a parent you earn to take care of your family, so teach your child that money doesn’t come for free, you have to earn it. The concept of saving for a rainy day also can be taught. The child should be encouraged to save money and with banks offering savings accounts for children you could open one for him/her and help them save their pocket money. The child also learns to live within the pocket money s/he earns. If the money is spent quickly s/he will have to wait till the next month. So to spend wisely and appropriately is inculcated. Teaching the child to keep heads of account for the expenditure is another important benefit. S/he will understand the difference when money is spent on entertainment, games, stationery etc. And the most important aspect of Pocket money as reward for work done , is that it develops a healthy self worth and attitude in the child – a wonderful attribute which will be a part of their character- lifelong !

Handling growing pains in Older Children

Handling growing pains in older children A common phenomenon faced by many parents, growing pains are a normal occurrence in about 25 to 40 % of children worldwide. It occurs mostly in the age groups of 3 to 5 year olds and later in 8 to 12 year olds. Sometimes even through all the growing years. It does get a bit bothersome if you have to wake up in the middle of the night and massage your child’s leg, but there is no respite as he/she won’t be able to sleep properly. Why does it happen ? Blame it on the growth of bones or excessive playing, jumping and running around they do during the day; the actual cause is yet to be identified. You would probably notice that the pain is more when they have had a sports day or marathon. How can soothe pain in my child’s legs? 1. Medication like pain relievers should be used a last resort and if it is a chronic problem you could check with the doctor.Calcium supplements should be taken under doctors supervision only. 2. Massage the area with good OTC pain relieving creams, Ayurvedic pain relieving oils or gel for relief. You will need to massage till the child sleeps. 3. If it’s a minor pain , make the child stretch his/her legs and hold the stretch for some time. 4. If you have a heating pad or hot water bottle you could place that on the area which is paining. 5. Another home remedy is to take a tub full of hot water and put a handful of rock salt and soak the child feet. This is an excellent remedy when compared to massaging. Only to do it in the middle of the night could be a bit tiring!

Precautions when doing Yoga during Pregnancy

Precautions when doing Yoga during Pregnancy   Yoga has become a well endorsed form of Prenatal exercise during pregnancy and both the Hollywood and Bollywood superstars who swear by practicing Yoga as the reason for their fit and trim figures ! Yoga also has certain dos and don’ts according to the rule book and not all postures and pranayama can be done during pregnancy. Check out the following tips while practicing Yoga during Pregnancy.     Tip -1 Stick to standing exercises in the first trimester: Standing yoga poses are excellent to strengthen your leg muscles, improve circulation, increase energy and helps reduce leg cramps that one commonly feels during pregnancy.  They help keep pressure off the belly and abdomen making the exercise safe for you and your baby.     Tip-2 Breathing exercises in the second trimester and third trimester: The second and third trimester is the time to relax, and deep breathing and meditation can help you do just that.  Breathing techniques or Pranayama will help relax your mind, oxygenate your body and help you deal with mood swings. Check with your Yoga Therapist for the right form of breathing exercises and follow them. Tip-3 General Tips • Do consult your doctor before practicing yoga postures. • Avoid doing asanas that put pressure on the abdomen and those that are difficult during the earlier stages of pregnancy. • When you are practicing twisting poses do not overstretch your abdomen, instead lay emphasis on your shoulders and the upper back. • Do not do asanas where you are required to be upside down. • It is also advised not to practice yoga postures from the tenth through the fourteenth week of pregnancy. • Remember not to slouch or raise your shoulders while breathing in. Also, breathe in deeply using your lungs and try not to allow the air to fill in your stomach.

Holding your baby is good

Holding your baby is good   The maternal instinct of holding your baby is one of the best things a mother can do to bond with her child and there is no question where you cannot spoil a baby by holding her. "Babies who are held often and have their needs met right away are more likely to have higher self-images and learn they are respected and worthy," says Linda C. Donovan, RN, MHA, IBCLC. So, even if you keep hearing people tell you not to do it, rest assured that holding your baby is a good and natural thing. According to the researchers, maternal walking may be more effective in calming infants than other kinds of rhythmic motion, such as rocking. A study in 2013 from Japan confirms what many mothers may know instinctively: Picking up and carrying a fussy baby usually calms down and relaxes the child, making the move a good one for both moms and infants. ts became noticeably more relaxed and stopped crying and squirming. The babies' rapidly beating hearts also slowed down, evidence that the children were feeling calmer. "Infants become calm and relaxed when they are carried by their mother," said study researcher Dr. Kumi Kuroda, who investigates social behavior at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Saitama, Japan. A strong calming effect For the small study, researchers monitored the responses of 12 healthy infants ages 1 month to 6 months. The scientists wanted to discover the most effective way for mothers to calm a crying baby over a 30-second period — simply holding the baby or carrying the infant while walking. Young babies carried by a walking mother were the most relaxed and soothed, compared with infants whose mothers sat in a chair and held them, the study found. As a mother stood up and started to walk with her child cradled close in her arms, scientists observed an automatic change in the baby's behavior. Kuroda said she was surprised by the strength of the calming effect from maternal holding and walking.

Simple & Natural De-worming tips for children

Simple & Natural De-worming tips for children      The tell tale signs of worms in your children’s gut could  range from patches on the skin, to decreased appetite , mild abdominal pain around the navel, bad breath, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, itching at anus and disturbed sleep. Depending on the age of the child you can de-worm them using regular allopathic medicines periodically. Once you notice any  of the above change in the body, first check with your pediatrician and resolve whether it is worms or any other symptoms. If any syrup or tablet is prescribed for de-worming, give it to the child as per the dosage. Follow these basic tips to keep worms at bay: * Wash your hands and the child’s hands with soap before and after eating and when you come from outside/play. * Give  1 tbs of Tulsi/Basil leave juice along with honey every 15 days. * In food  like Ajwain ( carom seeds), Black pepper, Asofoetida, Black salt, Dry ginger, Garlic and  Turmeric in your food  as they are good de-worming agents. * Ajwain( carom seeds) powder  mixed with a pinch of salt and taken on an empty stomach for a week helps to eliminate worms from the intestines. * Drinking boiled water till the problem solves is very important. * If the baby/child has worms coming from the anus , clean the place and keep a cotton ball soaked in sesame oil there when the child sleeps. * Avoid foods like  bananas, custard apples, pineapples, bread, jam, noodles, cheese, pastries and other bakery products and junk food. Increase intake of fresh vegetables and wash the green leafy vegetables thoroughly before cooking them.