Hi!
Srushtee is now 18 months old and I feel I am a little better equipped to deal with babies now than I was when she was first born.
When Srushtee was just a few days old, I realized that she followed a pattern and became cranky and difficult during the evenings. In just a couple of days, I'd start getting all anxious and would pretty high strung by evening.
Babies can sense their mother's anxieties. Srushtee would take her cues from me and bawl her head off and between the two of us, it was pretty bad.
Having my Mum or sis or Srushtee's Dad handle her at such times worked well because they were much calmer and she would calm down considerably when in their arms.
As Srushtee grew odler, I started taking her out for walks in the evenings. This would distract her and evenings became calmer and even pleasant!
In hindsight, I wonder if these tips may have worked. I'm definitely going to try them when I have my second baby. You could try them out just now!
1. Take a Break! Hand the baby over to someone else. Leave the room. Consciously calm down. Take deep breaths, read a book, take a shower or something along those lines. When you are feeling good about yourself, go back to your baby.
2. Distract the baby: Go for a walk, play with a toy, dance with your baby. Involve your baby in some activity so both of you are distracted from the immediate crying.
3.Try putting the baby to sleep: Breastfeed and cuddle your baby in a darkened room. Maybe she's just tired and wants to sleep.
Hope these work for you!
Showing posts with label Baby Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby Care. Show all posts
Monday, May 21, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Care For A Baby With A Cold.
It’s enough to drive any Mum up the wall. Baby is sniffling, her nose is running, she isn’t sleeping well because her nose keeps getting blocked and she is irritable. She doesn’t want to eat much food and is feeling mighty uncomfortable. As a result, you are exhausted and wish there was something to help her calm down.
Of course you need to take her to her doctor and follow what he prescribes, but there are a whole lot of other things you can do to help your baby when she has a cold.
Steam Inhalation:
Boil water in a dish with a lid. When the water is boiling vigorously, pour this into a steam inhaler or a bottle with a narrow mouth. Add a few drops of
Euclayptus oil OR
Zinda Tilismath OR
Vicks Vaporub OR
Inhalade Plus OR
Karvol / Karvol Plus Capsule.
Sit under a blanket with your baby and the bottle. You will slowly be able to smell the vapours from the bottle. Remain under the blanket with your baby inhaling the steam for as long as your baby is comfortable.
Take Care to ensure that your baby does not tip the bottle over. Since the water is very hot, you have to be very careful that your baby does not get burnt.
It is possible that your baby may feel a lack of oxygen or feel choked if the fumes under your blanket are too heavy. If your baby shows signs of distress, take her out of the blanket and allow her to breathe in fresh air.
Steam inhalation helps to release blocked noses and relieves cold related headaches.
Vapour inahalation:
Heat a pan / tava on your stove till it is very hot. If you pour a drop of water on it, the drop should sizzle and evaporate immediately. Keep the tava on the stove for a minute more.
On the hot tava, sprinkle a little
Ajwain / Ova / Omam seeds Or
Turmeric / Haldi powder
Bajra Flour
These will let off vapours.
With the assistance of someone else, hold your baby close to the vapours so she can smell them.
Never hold your baby directly over the tava.
Keep your baby’s arms and legs restrained so she does not touch the hot tava by accident.
Vapor inhalation helps to release blocked noses and relieves cold related headaches.
Saffron:
Take a couple of strands of saffron in a teaspoon. Add a few drops of milk. Rub the saffron against the teaspoon with your fingers. The saffron will slowly dissolve and the milk will take on its colour. When the saffron strands have fully dissolved, apply the milk on your baby’s nose, forehead and chest.
This provides temporary relief from colds.
Kashaayam:
To make a kashaayam, you add the herbs to a glass of water. Boil the herbs in the water till the water is reduced to half.
Herbs you can use in your kashaayam:
Tulasi
Ajwain ( Ova / Omam ) Leaves / Seeds
Dhania (Coriander) seeds
Ginger
Garlic
Haldi / Turmeric
Honey / Jaggery
All these herbs are good for colds.
You could also make a kashaayam of Aleev & Shepa seeds with jaggery.
Feed your baby the kashaayam when it is lukewarm. Always test the temperature of any liquid on your lips before giving it to your baby.
Garlic Milk
Take 6 medium garlic slivers and pound them.
Take a glass of milk.
Add 1 tsp haldi to the milk. Add the garlic.
Add 1 tsp honey to the milk.
Boil the milk. Take off the stove and cool it.
When it is luke warm, give it to your baby. Always test the temperature of any liquid on your lips before giving it to your baby.
Loss Of Appetite
Your baby may lose her appetite when she is having a cold. Try enhancing the taste of her food by adding a bit of lemon juice to it or use some amchur powder. If you feel your baby is old enough, you may even add a pinch of pepper.
Vitamin C:
Vitamin C is said to help build up body immunity and particularly helps the body to fight colds. Giving your baby Cecon Drops may help. Vitamin C is water soluble and excess vitamin C is generally passed out of the system through urine, so it won’t harm your baby.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Breastfeeding
Hi!
Just the other day, I realized that not everyone knows much about breastfeeding.
All that "it-comes-to-you-naturally" stuff doesn't happen in real life. Also, most often your own Mums have had babies so long ago, they are not expected to remember all the details! So what ends up happening is that you get bombarded with often conflicting, well meant advice and you are more at sea than you were before!
Having gone through the process of trial and error, here are some tips I'd like to pass on.
1. Start preparing when you are pregnant.
Before the baby is born, make sure you oil your nipples well. Many people have dry skin during pregnancy and while we pay ample attention to the skin on our face and hands, your nipples need attention now. Oiling them and keeping them moisturised goes a long way in making it easier when your baby is born.
Take "Shatavari Kalp" (Ayurvedic herbal drink) with a glass of milk in the ninth month of your pregnancy. This will ensure that you have enough milk for your baby when she is born. Shatavari Kalp will be available at many chemist shops and will definitely be available in Ayurvedic shops or shops that sell herbs.
2. The First Feed.
If you've had a normal delivery, your baby will be brought to you soon after you have settled down in your room after the delivery. If you have had a Cesarean, your baby may be brought to after your anaesthesia has worn off a bit. Again, if you have been given spinal anaesthesia during your delivery, you will be advised by your doctor not to over on your side for 24 hours. In such a case, have a pillow placed by your side lengthwise and place your baby on the pillow so she can reach your breast without having to turn over. You will need to have someone watching so the baby doesn't accidentally roll off the pillow.
3. The Actual Feeding.
Ideally, your baby should have maximum skin contact with you while feeding. It helps to make the baby feel warm and secure. It goes a long way in developing the mother-baby bond. Personally, I found that touching and holding my baby while feeding her also helped me to cope better with my post-surgery pain.
Some Facts:
Your baby may sleep off while feeding. If you feel she hasn't had enough milk, gently rub her cheek or her ears or the back of her head to wake her. Do NOT shake your baby at all. Do NOT pat your baby.
Your baby does get tired sucking. All her mouth muscles may pain with all the hard work they go through getting milk. She may take small gaps while feeding. Allow her those gaps. Be patient.
Your baby may get a small sucking blister on her lips because of the friction between her lips and your breast initially. This will stop when she is more used to drinking milk.
Your nipples may feel very sore initially. There are many creams available that you can apply to alleviate your pain. Your doctor should be bale to help you with a prescription. If you feel too much pain or experience bleeding nipples, you could use a breast shield. The important thing is to openly communicate with your doctor about all discomfort.
Your breast milk is almost 90% water (my Doctor friend told me this). Drink at least 2 litres of fluids so you have enough milk.
If you feel you are not having enough milk for your baby, talk to your doctor. She may prescribe medicines which help in generating milk. Alternatively, you could try "Shatavari Kalp" an ayurvedic medicine. It is made of Asparagus and is miraculous in its effectiveness. There are many other options available to help lactation. Talk to your doctor about them.
As your baby grows, you will find that you have both developed an understanding of what is best for you. Do not hesitate to experiment (within reasonable limits) with different positions and grips for the two of you.
When my baby was very tiny, I preferred feeding her while sitting in a chair with armrests and holding her so her spine was along my arm and my palm was near her bottom. Slowly, this changed and now at 14 months, it is most convenient to feed her while both of us are lying down.
See what works best for you and enjoy it! Also share it with us, so some weary mother can get some help when it is her turn to feed her baby!
Just the other day, I realized that not everyone knows much about breastfeeding.
All that "it-comes-to-you-naturally" stuff doesn't happen in real life. Also, most often your own Mums have had babies so long ago, they are not expected to remember all the details! So what ends up happening is that you get bombarded with often conflicting, well meant advice and you are more at sea than you were before!
Having gone through the process of trial and error, here are some tips I'd like to pass on.
1. Start preparing when you are pregnant.
Before the baby is born, make sure you oil your nipples well. Many people have dry skin during pregnancy and while we pay ample attention to the skin on our face and hands, your nipples need attention now. Oiling them and keeping them moisturised goes a long way in making it easier when your baby is born.
Take "Shatavari Kalp" (Ayurvedic herbal drink) with a glass of milk in the ninth month of your pregnancy. This will ensure that you have enough milk for your baby when she is born. Shatavari Kalp will be available at many chemist shops and will definitely be available in Ayurvedic shops or shops that sell herbs.
2. The First Feed.
If you've had a normal delivery, your baby will be brought to you soon after you have settled down in your room after the delivery. If you have had a Cesarean, your baby may be brought to after your anaesthesia has worn off a bit. Again, if you have been given spinal anaesthesia during your delivery, you will be advised by your doctor not to over on your side for 24 hours. In such a case, have a pillow placed by your side lengthwise and place your baby on the pillow so she can reach your breast without having to turn over. You will need to have someone watching so the baby doesn't accidentally roll off the pillow.
3. The Actual Feeding.
Ideally, your baby should have maximum skin contact with you while feeding. It helps to make the baby feel warm and secure. It goes a long way in developing the mother-baby bond. Personally, I found that touching and holding my baby while feeding her also helped me to cope better with my post-surgery pain.
- Place your baby so you are both facing each other with the baby's mouth at your breast.
- If you can, put your arm around your baby.
- Let your baby open her mouth wide and latch on to your breast. Make sure that your nipple and areola (brown portion around the nipple) are in your baby's mouth. The baby's lips should be outside her mouth and visible around your breast.
- Don't hesitate to detach your baby and go through this process again till you both get it right.
- If your baby gets only the nipple in her mouth, she will be unable to get a good enough flow of milk and will cry out of frustration. Your nipples will get very sore very soon and you will find all future feeds painful, so get it right.
- From there on, your baby will be able to suck the milk in.
- Allow her to feed from one breast for a maximum of 15 minutes by the clock and then change over to the other breast.
- Hold your breast with your fingers in a "C"shape for all this (Thumb and index finger forming a "C" around your breast.")
- If you want to detach your baby, make sure your fingers are clean and slip your little finger into the baby's mouth to break the suction and then pull your breast out.
Some Facts:
Your baby may sleep off while feeding. If you feel she hasn't had enough milk, gently rub her cheek or her ears or the back of her head to wake her. Do NOT shake your baby at all. Do NOT pat your baby.
Your baby does get tired sucking. All her mouth muscles may pain with all the hard work they go through getting milk. She may take small gaps while feeding. Allow her those gaps. Be patient.
Your baby may get a small sucking blister on her lips because of the friction between her lips and your breast initially. This will stop when she is more used to drinking milk.
Your nipples may feel very sore initially. There are many creams available that you can apply to alleviate your pain. Your doctor should be bale to help you with a prescription. If you feel too much pain or experience bleeding nipples, you could use a breast shield. The important thing is to openly communicate with your doctor about all discomfort.
Your breast milk is almost 90% water (my Doctor friend told me this). Drink at least 2 litres of fluids so you have enough milk.
If you feel you are not having enough milk for your baby, talk to your doctor. She may prescribe medicines which help in generating milk. Alternatively, you could try "Shatavari Kalp" an ayurvedic medicine. It is made of Asparagus and is miraculous in its effectiveness. There are many other options available to help lactation. Talk to your doctor about them.
As your baby grows, you will find that you have both developed an understanding of what is best for you. Do not hesitate to experiment (within reasonable limits) with different positions and grips for the two of you.
When my baby was very tiny, I preferred feeding her while sitting in a chair with armrests and holding her so her spine was along my arm and my palm was near her bottom. Slowly, this changed and now at 14 months, it is most convenient to feed her while both of us are lying down.
See what works best for you and enjoy it! Also share it with us, so some weary mother can get some help when it is her turn to feed her baby!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
How to reduce the Frequency of Feeds at Night
Hi!
I had a problem and asked a couple of my friends and relatives for advice. I'm reprducing all of it here so we all benefit from it!
Me
Hi!
I need advice.
Srushtee is 13 months old now. So far, if she'd had a good dinner, she would sleep for 4-5 hours at a stretch and then ask for my feed maybe every 2hours or so. I'd get enough sleep that way and things were fine.
Of late, even if she's had a good dinner, she wakes up every one hour for a feed. Then, somewhere between 3 and 5a.m., she wants to feed continuously for about an hour or so before she sleeps for the next two hours. I am unable to get enough sleep this way.
Did any of you face this kind of a situation? What did you do to come out of it? Is this a phase that will pass by itself? How long did this phase last in your kids?
All your experience will greatly help. I really need help!
Love,
Sonu.
Niharika
hi!
this seems like a growth spurt. the metabolic activities increase making
them more hungry and demanding. also she maybe playing more between her
sleep and meal, thus digesting the meal sooner.
one way is to put her on bottle feed, it works. once she is into her sleep
for an hour or so, offer her about 6 ounces of milk (plain or junior
horlicks).
put her to sleep in diapers because winter can make her pass urine often and
disturb her sleep, for which she needs to feed on you for longer hours to
pacify herself.
hope this helps.
take care,
love,
niha.
(Niharika Tiwari is a dear friend and a mother of two wonderful children! Her younger daughter is around 15 months old.)
Jayashree
Are you still breast feeding her? I had this exact same problem. My
pediatrician advised me to stop/wean her away. It took a couple of months,
but things settled down. She was 15 months old at the time.
Love,
Jayu
(Jayashree Chava is my aunt. Her daughter is around 22 years old. So this advice stems from EXPERIENCE)
Frian
i noticed that khushru wanted to feed a lot when he had growth spurts, so see if she does it for a week or so n then stops. maybe she is just going thru a growth spurt!
Otherwise she is probably just growing up n breast milk is not enough for her. usually after a year kids need something more substantial n filling, n invariably breast milk is too light by then. i know that breast milk is best but by the time baby is a year it is not sufficient by itself. I had the same problem with Khushi n i used to give him a tin of custard in the night when he first woke up n he started sleeping better n longer.
Try increasing her solid intake in the evenings with maybe a good snack before dinner.
Also she is probably comfort feeding more than anything else. I breast fed Khushi till 15 months but it was more just a comfort n bonding thing rather than nutrition food. You need to introduce regular milk or formula soon as it would be more filling n just breast feed 2 or 3 times a day, or completely stop it. The problem with Khush was he didn't want to take any other milk once i weened him off n till today he doesn't drink any milk. So I supplement his calcium intake with lots of custard n cheese. Besides he knew I was trying to ween him off n he would keep demanding more feeds as a comfort thing. See what works best for u.
Just another thing..... check out if she has worms by any chance. That might also explain the increase in appetite.
good luck n take care. will catch up another time, been real busy with 2!!
love
Friu.
(Frian Patel works with children! Also, She has just delivered her second baby boy just about a month ago and still took the time to help me out. Friends truly are God's gift to us!)
I hope to receive more advice from other Mom's I'd asked for help. I'll post it here as I receive it! I'll also try out all of it and tell you what worked best for me right here!
Until then, take care and do share your experiences here with us!
I had a problem and asked a couple of my friends and relatives for advice. I'm reprducing all of it here so we all benefit from it!
Me
Hi!
I need advice.
Srushtee is 13 months old now. So far, if she'd had a good dinner, she would sleep for 4-5 hours at a stretch and then ask for my feed maybe every 2hours or so. I'd get enough sleep that way and things were fine.
Of late, even if she's had a good dinner, she wakes up every one hour for a feed. Then, somewhere between 3 and 5a.m., she wants to feed continuously for about an hour or so before she sleeps for the next two hours. I am unable to get enough sleep this way.
Did any of you face this kind of a situation? What did you do to come out of it? Is this a phase that will pass by itself? How long did this phase last in your kids?
All your experience will greatly help. I really need help!
Love,
Sonu.
Niharika
hi!
this seems like a growth spurt. the metabolic activities increase making
them more hungry and demanding. also she maybe playing more between her
sleep and meal, thus digesting the meal sooner.
one way is to put her on bottle feed, it works. once she is into her sleep
for an hour or so, offer her about 6 ounces of milk (plain or junior
horlicks).
put her to sleep in diapers because winter can make her pass urine often and
disturb her sleep, for which she needs to feed on you for longer hours to
pacify herself.
hope this helps.
take care,
love,
niha.
(Niharika Tiwari is a dear friend and a mother of two wonderful children! Her younger daughter is around 15 months old.)
Jayashree
Are you still breast feeding her? I had this exact same problem. My
pediatrician advised me to stop/wean her away. It took a couple of months,
but things settled down. She was 15 months old at the time.
Love,
Jayu
(Jayashree Chava is my aunt. Her daughter is around 22 years old. So this advice stems from EXPERIENCE)
Frian
i noticed that khushru wanted to feed a lot when he had growth spurts, so see if she does it for a week or so n then stops. maybe she is just going thru a growth spurt!
Otherwise she is probably just growing up n breast milk is not enough for her. usually after a year kids need something more substantial n filling, n invariably breast milk is too light by then. i know that breast milk is best but by the time baby is a year it is not sufficient by itself. I had the same problem with Khushi n i used to give him a tin of custard in the night when he first woke up n he started sleeping better n longer.
Try increasing her solid intake in the evenings with maybe a good snack before dinner.
Also she is probably comfort feeding more than anything else. I breast fed Khushi till 15 months but it was more just a comfort n bonding thing rather than nutrition food. You need to introduce regular milk or formula soon as it would be more filling n just breast feed 2 or 3 times a day, or completely stop it. The problem with Khush was he didn't want to take any other milk once i weened him off n till today he doesn't drink any milk. So I supplement his calcium intake with lots of custard n cheese. Besides he knew I was trying to ween him off n he would keep demanding more feeds as a comfort thing. See what works best for u.
Just another thing..... check out if she has worms by any chance. That might also explain the increase in appetite.
good luck n take care. will catch up another time, been real busy with 2!!
love
Friu.
(Frian Patel works with children! Also, She has just delivered her second baby boy just about a month ago and still took the time to help me out. Friends truly are God's gift to us!)
I hope to receive more advice from other Mom's I'd asked for help. I'll post it here as I receive it! I'll also try out all of it and tell you what worked best for me right here!
Until then, take care and do share your experiences here with us!
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Avoid Sickness
Avoid sickness.
When visiting Friends and relatives, do not hesistate to call and ask if anyone has a cold, sore throat or fever before visiting.
You can then decide whether or not to take the baby there. The last thing you want to take home from someone else's home are their illnesses in your baby.
I personally give my baby a tiny dose of Vitamin C (Cecon Drops) and/ or homeopathic pills (Easident) that help boost immunity whenever I go out in the midst of a crowd where I cannot control to whom she will be exposed (eg. large family gatherings, weddings).
When visiting Friends and relatives, do not hesistate to call and ask if anyone has a cold, sore throat or fever before visiting.
You can then decide whether or not to take the baby there. The last thing you want to take home from someone else's home are their illnesses in your baby.
I personally give my baby a tiny dose of Vitamin C (Cecon Drops) and/ or homeopathic pills (Easident) that help boost immunity whenever I go out in the midst of a crowd where I cannot control to whom she will be exposed (eg. large family gatherings, weddings).
Friday, January 5, 2007
Bathing your baby
Our tradition decrees a set routine for a baby's bath: Massage, Bath and after bath care.
Massage
The main idea is to oil the baby's skin (moisturising) and stimulate it. You have to be careful not to harm the baby's tender body in the process.
It's a good idea to allow someone who is experienced at massaging babies to massage your baby for a few days. You can watch them and decide what elements of their method you would like to retain and discard.
Once you are comfortable with your own body's healing post delivery, you can take over the massage. This helps you to have a lot of skin contact with your baby and increases bonding.
Oil
Your pediatrician may suggest you do not use any oil on the baby's skin initially. It's your call on whether you want to follow his/her advice.I personally used Johnson's baby oil for the first few days. Then my baby developed a rash and I tried out olive oil, til oil and finally settled down at coconut oil. I generally added a couple of drops of Almond (badam) oil to the coconut oil and then applied it to the baby's skin and head.
It is kind to use lukewarm oil on the baby's skin, so it is best to heat the oil for a few seconds before use. Test the temperature of the oil on the back of your palm before you apply it to your baby's tender skin.
Soap Or...
Once the baby is massaged, he is ready for a bath.
Never use cold water on new born babies. They are used to the warmth of the womb and it is necessary to bathe them in warm water to make the bath as pleasant as possible for them.
As always, test the temperature of the water on the back of your palm before you apply it to your baby's tender skin. The water should be warm but not hot. You should be able to pour an entire mug of it on the back of your palm without feeling in the least bit uncomfortable.
The hospital where you deliver will have it's own suggestion about what soap to use for your baby in the initial few days. It's a good idea to continue to use the same soap for the baby until a week after the umbilical cord has fallen off.When you feel the umbilical cord area has completely dried and healed, you can start using other traditional bathing methods.
For the first 2 months, I used a mixture of Turmeric (Haldi) powder and Mung Dal (Green Gram) Flour mixed in milk cream instead of soap for my baby.
From then on, I used a mixture of Turmeric (Haldi) powder, Chana Dal Flour (Besan), milk cream & rose water mixed to the consistency of thick cake batter.
Oil the baby as usual, then apply this paste evenly on the entire body and face and wash off with water. There is no need to use soap.
From the 8th month onwards, I started using almond (badam) and sandalwood (chandan) paste. After the massage, I apply this paste on the baby's skin and leave it on for a minute or two. Then I bathe the baby with the Chana dal, turmeric etc. mixture mentioned above.
Not using soap makes me feel that I am not subjecting my baby's skin to an onslaught of complex chemicals. Besides, Turmeric, Milk Cream, Rose water, Besan, all have properties that contribute to good complexions.
When the whole world is turning to Ayurveda and people are paying BIG money to get treated at spas, start early with your baby at home!!
All your suggestions are welcome. If you have any opinions, feedback, do post them here.
Massage
The main idea is to oil the baby's skin (moisturising) and stimulate it. You have to be careful not to harm the baby's tender body in the process.
It's a good idea to allow someone who is experienced at massaging babies to massage your baby for a few days. You can watch them and decide what elements of their method you would like to retain and discard.
Once you are comfortable with your own body's healing post delivery, you can take over the massage. This helps you to have a lot of skin contact with your baby and increases bonding.
Oil
Your pediatrician may suggest you do not use any oil on the baby's skin initially. It's your call on whether you want to follow his/her advice.I personally used Johnson's baby oil for the first few days. Then my baby developed a rash and I tried out olive oil, til oil and finally settled down at coconut oil. I generally added a couple of drops of Almond (badam) oil to the coconut oil and then applied it to the baby's skin and head.
It is kind to use lukewarm oil on the baby's skin, so it is best to heat the oil for a few seconds before use. Test the temperature of the oil on the back of your palm before you apply it to your baby's tender skin.
Soap Or...
Once the baby is massaged, he is ready for a bath.
Never use cold water on new born babies. They are used to the warmth of the womb and it is necessary to bathe them in warm water to make the bath as pleasant as possible for them.
As always, test the temperature of the water on the back of your palm before you apply it to your baby's tender skin. The water should be warm but not hot. You should be able to pour an entire mug of it on the back of your palm without feeling in the least bit uncomfortable.
The hospital where you deliver will have it's own suggestion about what soap to use for your baby in the initial few days. It's a good idea to continue to use the same soap for the baby until a week after the umbilical cord has fallen off.When you feel the umbilical cord area has completely dried and healed, you can start using other traditional bathing methods.
For the first 2 months, I used a mixture of Turmeric (Haldi) powder and Mung Dal (Green Gram) Flour mixed in milk cream instead of soap for my baby.
From then on, I used a mixture of Turmeric (Haldi) powder, Chana Dal Flour (Besan), milk cream & rose water mixed to the consistency of thick cake batter.
Oil the baby as usual, then apply this paste evenly on the entire body and face and wash off with water. There is no need to use soap.
From the 8th month onwards, I started using almond (badam) and sandalwood (chandan) paste. After the massage, I apply this paste on the baby's skin and leave it on for a minute or two. Then I bathe the baby with the Chana dal, turmeric etc. mixture mentioned above.
Not using soap makes me feel that I am not subjecting my baby's skin to an onslaught of complex chemicals. Besides, Turmeric, Milk Cream, Rose water, Besan, all have properties that contribute to good complexions.
When the whole world is turning to Ayurveda and people are paying BIG money to get treated at spas, start early with your baby at home!!
All your suggestions are welcome. If you have any opinions, feedback, do post them here.
Travelling with Baby
In our culture, elders generally recommend that children be taken out of the house only after they are 45 days old.
If you think about it, there may be some logical sense in it.
Babies below 45 days old may not have the immunity it takes to face the great outdoors before that especially in a tropical country like India.However, visits to the pediatrician may be necessary long before this.
The first few times I decided to take my baby out, I was at a complete loss of what and how much to take along.
Here's a general list that might help you.
Babies less than three months old generally pass urine about every 25 minutes or so.
Anticipate a wait of about two hours at the pediatrician and take along 4 nappies and 4 swaddling cloths.
Babies above three months old can wear nappy pads and then progress to diapers when they are about 6 months old.
Just carry one spare underwear and one spare nappy pad / diaper then.
Babies older than 6 months would have started eating outside food. So if you plan to be out at a feed time, you will also have to carry some food for your baby.
Trips for a couple of hours:
Nappies & Swaddling Cloths / Underwear & Nappy Pads / Diapers
Baby Wipes
Baby's water
Baby's food
Bib
Baby's cap
Baby's socks / footwear
Insect repellent
Baby's toy/s
Trips for a couple of days:
Baby's clothes
Nappies / underwear & nappy pads / diapers
Swaddling cloths / Spread cloths
Baby's cap
Baby's socks / footwear
T-shirts, Shorts, Skirts, Frocks, Jump suits etc.
Full sleeved long legged nightwear
Baby's bibs.
Baby Wipes
Baby's water
Baby's food
Baby's bottles, bowls, dishes, spoons
Insect repellent
Babies daily medication, Crocin and other first aid recommended by your pediatrician
Baby's toy/s
Rubber / Plastic sheets and their covers
Kangaroo Bag / Baby basket
Lots of tissues
As ususal, I may have overlooked something and it would be great if you could add it and share it!!
If you think about it, there may be some logical sense in it.
Babies below 45 days old may not have the immunity it takes to face the great outdoors before that especially in a tropical country like India.However, visits to the pediatrician may be necessary long before this.
The first few times I decided to take my baby out, I was at a complete loss of what and how much to take along.
Here's a general list that might help you.
Babies less than three months old generally pass urine about every 25 minutes or so.
Anticipate a wait of about two hours at the pediatrician and take along 4 nappies and 4 swaddling cloths.
Babies above three months old can wear nappy pads and then progress to diapers when they are about 6 months old.
Just carry one spare underwear and one spare nappy pad / diaper then.
Babies older than 6 months would have started eating outside food. So if you plan to be out at a feed time, you will also have to carry some food for your baby.
Trips for a couple of hours:
Nappies & Swaddling Cloths / Underwear & Nappy Pads / Diapers
Baby Wipes
Baby's water
Baby's food
Bib
Baby's cap
Baby's socks / footwear
Insect repellent
Baby's toy/s
Trips for a couple of days:
Baby's clothes
Nappies / underwear & nappy pads / diapers
Swaddling cloths / Spread cloths
Baby's cap
Baby's socks / footwear
T-shirts, Shorts, Skirts, Frocks, Jump suits etc.
Full sleeved long legged nightwear
Baby's bibs.
Baby Wipes
Baby's water
Baby's food
Baby's bottles, bowls, dishes, spoons
Insect repellent
Babies daily medication, Crocin and other first aid recommended by your pediatrician
Baby's toy/s
Rubber / Plastic sheets and their covers
Kangaroo Bag / Baby basket
Lots of tissues
As ususal, I may have overlooked something and it would be great if you could add it and share it!!
How to Deal With Crying Babies
How to Deal With Crying Babies
In the first few months of her life, my baby cried a lot. I received a lot of advice from helpful friends and family on how to deal with my crying baby. I tried out most of it at different points in time. I am listing here what worked for me.You may have to try a couple of remedies at a time before you arrive at a solution that works at that particular time. Don't be afraid to try things out. Always remember your instincts are your best guides.
Check Nappy
One of the most common reasons for babies feeling uncomfortable is a soiled nappy. Check and change the nappy if necessary. While checking, see if there is any redness, soreness, or blisters in the baby's nappy area. These can appear very fast, so you can check every time. If there is a rash, any soothing, mild, moisturizer will help for the moment. Then consult your pediatrician.
Check if hungry
In the initial months, babies are normally willing to drink milk and quieten down quite readily unless something is very wrong or they are very full. Just try breastfeeding the child and it may solve the problem!
Check if sleepy
Use your usual sleep inducing methods - rocking, feeding, shushing, darkening the room etc. If your child is very tired and sleepy, they may cry and be very irritable.
Check if too hot or too cold
Touch your baby's feet, hands and tummy. If they are cold, your baby is feeling cold and needs to be warmed up. Hug and cuddle the baby a little and put on warmer clothes.
It could also be that your child is feeling too hot. Check for any sweating or simply try colling the baby. Take off a couple of layers of clothing. Switch on the fan / Air conditioner.Ideal baby temperatures are between 24 and 26 degrees Centigrade.
Rock in cradle
Sometimes, just putting your baby in a cradle and rocking her will calm her down. She may even drift off to sleep!
Rock in arms
Carry your crying baby in your arms and gently rock him. It might help if you make wooshing / humming sounds / say om.
Babies are sensitive to moods. If you are tense or high strung, you will find your baby is also irritable and will not sleep easily. Make sure you take a couple of deep breaths, calm yourself and make soothing sounds to the baby.
Shushing and wooshing sounds resemble the sounds the baby would have heard while in the womb and are therefore comforting. Humming sounds and Om create reverberations which also help to calm the baby.
Holding the baby close to your heart so he can hear your rhythmic heartbeat is reassuring to them.
Check for insects on clothes
Sometimes, insects may get into your babies clothes without your realizing it. Remove your babies clothes and check in the various folds of skin to see if an insect is troubling your baby. Ants like to hide in babies hair so make sure you check your babies head as well. Make sure your baby doesn't smell of milk cream or any other food to prevent insect bites.
Try all colic remedies
Try all the colic remedies I have posted earlier.
Remember, your instinct is your best guide. You may have to run through a lot of these methods before you arrive at a solution that calms your baby down at that particular time. The same remedy may not work every time.
Be calm and feel free to experiment within reasonable limits.
If you come up with a new method, do post it here so we all share it!!
In the first few months of her life, my baby cried a lot. I received a lot of advice from helpful friends and family on how to deal with my crying baby. I tried out most of it at different points in time. I am listing here what worked for me.You may have to try a couple of remedies at a time before you arrive at a solution that works at that particular time. Don't be afraid to try things out. Always remember your instincts are your best guides.
Check Nappy
One of the most common reasons for babies feeling uncomfortable is a soiled nappy. Check and change the nappy if necessary. While checking, see if there is any redness, soreness, or blisters in the baby's nappy area. These can appear very fast, so you can check every time. If there is a rash, any soothing, mild, moisturizer will help for the moment. Then consult your pediatrician.
Check if hungry
In the initial months, babies are normally willing to drink milk and quieten down quite readily unless something is very wrong or they are very full. Just try breastfeeding the child and it may solve the problem!
Check if sleepy
Use your usual sleep inducing methods - rocking, feeding, shushing, darkening the room etc. If your child is very tired and sleepy, they may cry and be very irritable.
Check if too hot or too cold
Touch your baby's feet, hands and tummy. If they are cold, your baby is feeling cold and needs to be warmed up. Hug and cuddle the baby a little and put on warmer clothes.
It could also be that your child is feeling too hot. Check for any sweating or simply try colling the baby. Take off a couple of layers of clothing. Switch on the fan / Air conditioner.Ideal baby temperatures are between 24 and 26 degrees Centigrade.
Rock in cradle
Sometimes, just putting your baby in a cradle and rocking her will calm her down. She may even drift off to sleep!
Rock in arms
Carry your crying baby in your arms and gently rock him. It might help if you make wooshing / humming sounds / say om.
Babies are sensitive to moods. If you are tense or high strung, you will find your baby is also irritable and will not sleep easily. Make sure you take a couple of deep breaths, calm yourself and make soothing sounds to the baby.
Shushing and wooshing sounds resemble the sounds the baby would have heard while in the womb and are therefore comforting. Humming sounds and Om create reverberations which also help to calm the baby.
Holding the baby close to your heart so he can hear your rhythmic heartbeat is reassuring to them.
Check for insects on clothes
Sometimes, insects may get into your babies clothes without your realizing it. Remove your babies clothes and check in the various folds of skin to see if an insect is troubling your baby. Ants like to hide in babies hair so make sure you check your babies head as well. Make sure your baby doesn't smell of milk cream or any other food to prevent insect bites.
Try all colic remedies
Try all the colic remedies I have posted earlier.
Remember, your instinct is your best guide. You may have to run through a lot of these methods before you arrive at a solution that calms your baby down at that particular time. The same remedy may not work every time.
Be calm and feel free to experiment within reasonable limits.
If you come up with a new method, do post it here so we all share it!!
How I dealt with Colic
My baby was Colicky!!She would cry for apparently no reason and for quite a while at a time.
The Doctor prescribed some colic medicines, but they had a limited effect. Nevertheless, I kept giving them to her as prescribed.
We did try (and seemed to benefit from) some home remedies.
1. Take a pinch of asafoetida powder (Hing) in a teaspoon. Add a couple of drops of lukewarm / room temperature water and create a paste. Apply this on the baby's abdomen around the belly button without touching the stub of the umbilical cord or allowing any of the paste to get into the baby's belly button.
2. Take a Paan leaf (betel leaf) and apply a layer of castor oil on it. Heat the leaf by holding above an open flame. Test the temperature of the leaf on the back of your palm and if okay, apply the leaf on the baby's abdomen with the castor oil side touching the baby's skin. You can repeat this process with the same leaf every 3-4 minutes till the leaf changes colour.
3. There's a herb called Vesambu in tamil, Bach in Hindi, Vaj in Marathi and Acorus in English. It looks like a thick twig. Hold this above an open flame till it gets blackened. wait for it to cool. Rub your finger on the blackened part so some of it comes onto your finger. Put this on the baby's tongue.
4. Take a fist full of Ajwain/Omum/Ova seeds. Wrap them in a cloth and heat them in the microwave oven till they are warm. Alternatively, heat them on a hot pan and then put them in a cloth. Foment the babies tummy and chest with this. You could also grind them to a paste with water and then heat the paste and use it for fomentation. Always remember to test the temperature on the back of your palm before you apply it to the baby's skin!
We tried all these until we felt any one of them was working and then we just stuck to that one remedy for that time.
Hope this brings releif to some of you!
Your suggestions and experiences are welcome.
The Doctor prescribed some colic medicines, but they had a limited effect. Nevertheless, I kept giving them to her as prescribed.
We did try (and seemed to benefit from) some home remedies.
1. Take a pinch of asafoetida powder (Hing) in a teaspoon. Add a couple of drops of lukewarm / room temperature water and create a paste. Apply this on the baby's abdomen around the belly button without touching the stub of the umbilical cord or allowing any of the paste to get into the baby's belly button.
2. Take a Paan leaf (betel leaf) and apply a layer of castor oil on it. Heat the leaf by holding above an open flame. Test the temperature of the leaf on the back of your palm and if okay, apply the leaf on the baby's abdomen with the castor oil side touching the baby's skin. You can repeat this process with the same leaf every 3-4 minutes till the leaf changes colour.
3. There's a herb called Vesambu in tamil, Bach in Hindi, Vaj in Marathi and Acorus in English. It looks like a thick twig. Hold this above an open flame till it gets blackened. wait for it to cool. Rub your finger on the blackened part so some of it comes onto your finger. Put this on the baby's tongue.
4. Take a fist full of Ajwain/Omum/Ova seeds. Wrap them in a cloth and heat them in the microwave oven till they are warm. Alternatively, heat them on a hot pan and then put them in a cloth. Foment the babies tummy and chest with this. You could also grind them to a paste with water and then heat the paste and use it for fomentation. Always remember to test the temperature on the back of your palm before you apply it to the baby's skin!
We tried all these until we felt any one of them was working and then we just stuck to that one remedy for that time.
Hope this brings releif to some of you!
Your suggestions and experiences are welcome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
