Mother&Baby India

Think your baby has another pearly white on the way?

1 Knowing his early warning signs really helps
Your baby won’t teethe in quite the same as any other baby on the planet. But play detective and you’ll be able to pinpoint what’s normal for him. While a tooth is on the way, he might make extra saliva, which means he may dribble or cough. And swallowing all that drool might mean you have a few choice nappies or an out-of-the-blue nappy rash to deal with. A warm or flushed cheek might be a clue, or he might not be as keen on drinking, eating or sleeping as usual. Perhaps he’ll pull at his ear, chew his fingers or bat his face. Some babies get clingy and some get cranky, others cruise through the whole thing with a big gummy smile.

2 Teething doesn’t cause a fever
There’s no evidence to link teething to fevers, so don’t attribute a raised temperature to his fangs and the same goes for diarrhoea. Ear infections can present a very similar stack of symptoms to teething. As a general rule, if you’d be worried by his symptoms if he wasn’t teething, see your GP.

3  Cold works
Keep a sealed tub of teethers in the fridge. If your baby is already weaned, pop a couple of pots of apple purée in there too for a gum-easing snack, and chilled cucumber sticks and bananas are also effective if he’s old enough to have these. Make your wn toddler-sized ice lollies from yoghurt or fruit pureés.

4 You need more than one type of teether
The type of pressure that eases the pain of a sharp little incisor might be very different from what works for a chunky molar. And what soothes a grumbling peg a month before it pops up won’t be the same as what helps the pang as it cuts through the gum. So buy a few teethers and let your baby experiment to find which one works for him right now. As well as teethers made from hard wood through to soft rubber, aim for flat, round, smooth and knobbly surfaces. Find a teether that features terry-towel fabric too and make sure there are different shapes so there’s something that will reach even if that troublesome tooth is right at the back of his little mouth.
5 Nothing works better than the crook of your little finger
First wash your hands thoroughly, then let him gnash away on it with his gums to relieve his discomfort. Think of it as sharing the pain.

6 It’s not only the tooth that’s about to come through that’s hurting
When your baby was born, the crowns of all 20 of his milk teeth were almost completely formed. So although you might not see his front teeth until they pop up in a few months, or those big-boy molars for another couple of years, they’re all busy growing. And the long process that forces them up or down from your baby’s jaw and out into his mouth would test the patience of a saint. So when you’re rubbing a clean finger on his gums to ease the pain, let him guide you as to where it hurts. And don’t dismiss that he’s teething when there’s not so much as a hint of a swollen gum, let alone a glimmer of white under the surface.

7 Use pain relief when you need to
If pressure isn’t enough to appease your teething baby, then your next step should be to reach for a sugar-free teething gel with a mild local anaesthetic to numb the pain. Make sure it’s one made specifically for infants, check the minimum age as brands vary, and stick to the recommended dose and frequency. Try homeopathic teething granules  too: your baby will either love them or hate them, and it’s worth finding out which. If he’s still in pain, then a medicine made specifically for young children containing paracetamol or ibuprofen is a last resort, but don’t use this as a long term treatment—the rule is don’t give it for more than three days without seeing your doctor.

8 Comfort the way you know best
Cuddles with you on the sofa often win the top prize for soothing a teething baby. Motion takes the runnerup spot, so combining the two for a walk with your baby in a front sling can settle him like nothing else.

9 Control the things that you can
Teething can lead to other issues that add to his discomfort, but not if you get there first. All that dribbling can cause a rash on his chin, so smear on a barrier cream before it gets red. The same goes for protecting his bottom. Sucking as he drinks can trigger pain, so hunger can escalate the hardship too. So if you find him bobbing on and off your breast or the bottle, see if he finds it easier to drink facing the other way: just swap the arm you’re holding him with if you’re bottle feeding, or let him feed from both breasts on his most comfortable side by popping his body under your arm like a rugby ball to feed from the second boob. Or he might find it less painful to sip from a cup. If he’s weaned, be led by him if munching on something dry like toast brings relief or he can manage soft foods better.

10 Have teether friends
Emotional comfort alongside the physical works wonders, so invest in a tasty new best pal for your little one. MB

By Rishu Gandhi, Founder & Head – Brand Strategy, Mother Sparsh

Babies are tiny, vulnerable, gentle and sensitive creatures. You need to be extremely cautious when taking care of them. Their immune system is in the nascent stage, so you need to take all possible precautions, to keep them out of harm’s way. Babies are most at risk within the first 28 days after birth. Below is a list of things you need to keep in mind for the flawless care of babies.

For the mother and the caregiver

• Wash hands before handling the new born baby, especially before feeding. Make sure to clean your hands when you come from outside or after using the bathroom or working in the kitchen and after changing nappies.

• You need to protect yourself from catching cold or cough or any infections. It’s a matter of time within which babies catch infections from the mothers.

• Dirty or dusting cloths need to be kept away from the baby’s reach. Dust can irritate the baby’s inhalation because of its allergic properties, as well as its potential to collect many microorganisms.

• Similarly avoid rubbish accumulation at home. The garbage can breed bacteria if not taken out regularly.

• Frequent ventilation of the house is important for the baby, especially in summers, to avoid dust or germs inside the house.

For the Baby

• Any product used for the baby needs to be chosen wisely, after analysing the ingredients and considering the sensitivity of the baby. Only mild, gentle babycare  soaps, shampoos, diapers, wipes should be used.

• Sanitising the feeding kit, e.g. sterilizing the bottles, baby’s food utensils, prevents the baby’s contact with any microbes or germs. The left over milk needs to be thrown and not reheated.

• Changing the baby’s nappies frequently i.e. soon after bowel movements, or after every two to three hours. And the bottoms need to be cleaned with baby wipes. This prevents infections and nappy rash on the baby’s sensitive skin.

• Don’t let the pets in the house lick the baby’s face or hands or feet etc. Anyone who comes in contact with pets in the house should wash their hands properly before touching the baby.

• Babies can catch infections very soon, so it’s advisable to keep the baby away from crowded places etc.

• The house, especially the floor, kitchen and bathrooms need to be cleaned regularly, especially when the baby has started crawling. You need to avoid cleaning the floor with strong chemicals; as such products may harm the baby.

• Clean the baby’s room at least once a week. Again mild chemicals need to be used and the room needs to be well-ventilated before the baby is brought back in the room.

• Baby clothes should be kept separately in a closet or laundry basket, and not with anyone else’s clothes. Bacteria or viruses can easily get into the baby’s clothes, from the other clothes.

• Regular bathing of babies i.e. once or twice a week, taking care to wash the baby’s folds of skin and drying them thoroughly, is important. A sponge bath to the new born until the navel region heals completely, will help. The face, hands and diaper area need to be cleaned every day. The face needs to be cleaned with plain water while the hands and feet can be cleaned with a mild soap for babies. Frequent bathing may dry the baby’s skin.

• The baby’s nails may be dirty and long, may contain germs; and hurt the baby. So appropriate clippers can be used to trim and clean them, without hurting the baby.

• The baby’s delicate ears especially behind the ears need to be cleaned gently. Cotton buds are not suited for cleaning them. If the baby feels uncomfortable while touching the ears, there could be an infection and a doctor needs to be immediately consulted.

• A damp soft cotton cloth or wet a cotton ball or a gauze pad can be used to gently clean the dried mucous deposit in the baby’s nose, the eyes and around the eyes to avoid infections.

• Babies often put toys in their mouth, so it’s important to keep the toys clean with plain water and clean tissue papers.

If your child is spending more time swiping and scrolling, instead of interaction with the real world, you need to act before it’s too late says Dr (Brig.) K S Rana, senior consultant, Paediatric Neurology at Venkateshwara Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi.

Early childhood is the blue print of adulthood. These years are akin to the foundation stone of a building under construction. Any abrasion during this time is permanent and can never be rectified. Development during these formative years is critical. Your child’s cognitive development takes place in the early years of his life. The overuse of gadgets stunts this growth and causes a negative impact on his overall development. These gadgets keep your child away from the social stimuli that is critical for the development of the brain. A child’s memory goes hand in hand with his awakening of consciousness. As your child grows up, he will start to recognise faces, words and colours, names of friends, and even nursery rhymes. With age, they begin to record and remember experiences, both good and bad, which will eventually shape the rest of their lives. What strings together their intellectual, practical and autobiographical modes of remembering, is memory.

A child’s life is shaped by his ability to remember things. Children need both long and short term memory to succeed in school, personal pursuits, play, social and personal life. Short-term memory allows children to remember things that happen in the recent past such as details from a story. Long-term memory skills include remembering how to read the names of friends and family members. Kids also use long-term memory to recall how to do basic movements and processes such as riding a bike and solving a puzzle.

Both long-term and short-term memory skills help children learn to think, plan, reflect, follow directions, solve problems, imagine and learn basic literacy skills. These key developments in childhood memory occurs between infancy and kindergarten. Problems with the development of memory tends to delay language and motor skill development. Fortunately, you dear parents, can help shape your child’s memory skills through various brain-engaging activities.

THE FOLLOWING TIPS CAN HELP BOOST YOUR CHILD’S MEMORY:
1 Keep your child’s mind engaged with memory games and nature:
Learning does not have to be limited to school, books or even boring activities. The best way to promote your child’s education while making sure they have fun is through  mind games or brain teasers. Simple and fun activities not only stimulate your child’s brain, but also accelerate their verbal and motor skills. They could be one-on- one games such as building blocks, puzzles, or word hunt. They could also involve group activities like board games, hide and seek, etc. Engage your child in nature like counting trees, colours of flowers, counting stars and flowing water streams. Explain to them what nature is all about. For example, how the trees grow and why the water flows in the streams. Exposing children to nature is the best way to make them more inquisitive. Inquisitiveness enhances the imagination and explanatory power of the brain.

2 Ensure they have a noise free environment to study in:
Too much noise around the house negatively affects a child’s memory skills. A noise-free environment is said to improve concentration and help your child learn better. Although concentration is paramount during tests and examinations, it’s ideal if we can communicate softly and keep noise down at other times as well. A quiet and calm household will aid your child’s memory and concentration. Constant listening to music or chatting using earphones is damaging to a child’s eardrums and growing brain.

3 Make sure they get adequate amount of sleep:
A proper sleeping routine is the best way to improve memory for kids, as well as for adults. It is believed that the brain converts short term memory into long term memory when children are asleep and completely relaxed. Various hormones secreted during sleep are very important for the memory development of the child. Children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep but these hours should not mean letting them sleep late in the next morning. Ideally, children should be in bed by 9 pm so that they can start in a fresh mood the next day.

4 Give them adequate down time:
Fatigue can take levels of concentration to an all-time low. Children lose focus when they get excessively tired. Sleeping easily  after being extremely tired does not mean that they have slept well. This fatigue gets carried over to the next few days and affects their productivity. Make sure your children have a balance between work and play. There needs to be a little fun time without too much physical or mental exertion, where parents are actively involved. Engage your child in storytelling, board games, general conversations about school and friends, or just singing songs. Watching TV or playing video games does not count.

5 Always keep them well fed:
Often, children lose focus and attention because they are not full. Children need to eat four to five times in day to keep their concentration levels up throughout the day. Make sure that whatever they are eating is balanced, nutritive and tasty. Let your child eat by himself. Make him sit at the dining table with the family. Discussion and observation by children at the dining table along with nutritive food is also essential to boost one’s memory. Avoid indulging in junk food, as it does little to aid overall development and growth. On the contrary, junk food is said to make children dull and lazy. The key here is to let your child feel pangs of hunger. This makes it demand feeding rather than a scheduled feeding.

6 Time to play:
Play during childhood is vital for brain development. A young child must play at least three to four hours a day, outside the house, with his group of friends. Play enhances the overall personality of the child in all aspects. A child learns social norms, adjustment, friendship and adaptability skills. Children who play regularly are less prone for various behavioural problems and their IQ is superior to those who don’t indulge in outdoor games in their formative years. Later in life, these children adjust well at home and their work place. However, children must interact with other kids in their own age groups, irrespective of the socio-economic status of their parents. Moreover, children must choose their own games to play, and not go with what their parents tell them to do. Games that have too many rules tends to negate the fun aspect, and doesn’t help the development of the brain and memory. Rather, it causes undue stress.

Following these simple tips will ensure your child has an overall healthy development, but more importantly, experiences the world the way a child is meant to. MB