SNOOZE SOLUTIONS -1 Most of the parents complain about their babies taking too long to sleep or not wanting to be off the parents' lap. One reason why these babies get upset when you try to put them on bed for sleep is the drastic change in the temperature. Our hands are warm, so they prefer to slumber in the lap. How long will we sit holding them. I faced this problem too. Just to make a bed feel warm, DONT PLACE BLANKETS, PILLOWS, SOFT TOYS around, they only pose a hazard but bring no comfort, the baby has no room to feel free. If the baby is under 3 months, swaddle him/her, feed the baby and put the baby down on the bed, or a crib. Don't let the baby get used to swinging in your arms, let it not become a habit. Swaddling process is shown in the picture. It makes a baby feel the same way they were in the tummy and also feel cozy. If the baby is beyond 3 months age and not keeping the swaddle on, put them in sleep sack (sleeping bags), as in the picture. It covers the body like a blanket and is warm. Put the baby in the crib/bed, stand beside and pat on the tummy. Feeding to sleep is not a good plan once the baby is 4 months old, they start to teeth around 6 months of age, and if you stop feeding to sleep by 4 months, the baby tends to forget the habit soon and get ready to teeth healthy.   - Prathyusha

చిన్నారులకు ఆహారపు అలవాట్లు మీ చిన్నారులకు ఆహారం ఎలా ఇవ్వాలి అనే ఆలోచనతో సతమతమవుతున్నారా? మొదటగా చిన్నారులకు కొత్తగా ఘన ఆహారం మొదలు పెట్టినప్పుడు అది బాగా మెత్తగా చేసి ఇవ్వాలి. అలా రోజు పెడుతూ చిన్నారులకు ఆహారపు అలవాటుగా మార్చాలి. ఒకవేళ చిన్నారులు ఏ ఆహారాన్ని అయినా ఇష్టపడకపోతే.. అలాంటివి పెట్టకుండా జాగ్రత్తపడాలి . చిన్నారులకు ఆహారంతోపాటు బాగా కాచి చల్లార్చిన నీరు కూడా తాగించడం మంచిది. ముఖ్యంగా చిన్నారులకు ఆహారంగా అన్నంలో ఉడికించిన బంగాల దుంప ,నెయ్యీతో మెత్తగా చేసిన ఆహారాన్ని పెడితే బాగా ఇష్టపడి తింటారు. అరటిపండును కూడా బాగా ఇష్టపడి తింటారు. అదేవిధంగా గోధుమ, రాగి, బియ్యంపిండి, కందిపప్పు ,నెయ్యీ ,నూనే తో ఉడికించిన మెత్తని ఆహార పదార్థమేదైనా ఇవ్వడం మంచిది. ఆరు నుండి తొమ్మిది నెలల పిల్లలకు మెత్తని అన్నం, పప్పుతో పాటు కూరగాయలు కూడా ఇవ్వడం మంచిది. పిల్లలు పెరిగేకొద్దీ ఇడ్లి ,ఉప్మా ,పొంగలి ,మజ్జిగ ,అన్నం ,పాయసం ,మొదలైనవి పెట్టడం మంచిది .ఇలా ఏ వయసుకు తగ్గట్టు అలా ఆహారం పెట్టడం వల్ల వారిలో శారీరక పెరుగుదల కూడా ఎక్కువగా వుంటుంది .

TOP BABY FOODS -2 Is your baby ready to handle finger foods? Offer him/her whole wheat crackers or a whole wheat toast cut into long strips. Just starting on purees? Try wheat cereal like farina, Cream of Wheat, or a mix of different grains including wheat Beans and lentils are a stellar source of protein, iron, folate, zinc and manganese for the whole family, including baby. Introducing flavors improves the work of tastebuds. Plus, studies show that children who are exposed to a variety of flavors early in life are more adventurous eaters as they grow up. i know you will not add too much chilli, sugar or salt and pepper. Tofu is a sure-fire way to boost iron, zinc, protein and fat, all crucial nutrients for small children. Bonus: tofu is easy to chew and most kids enjoy its mild flavor. Learning to enjoy the flavor of plain yogurt is a process that is best started when children are more open-minded about foods, before the age of 18 months. Just make sure to pick a full-fat yogurt because babies and small children need about 50% of the calories in their diet to come from fat. Current advice offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests exploring other iron- and zinc-rich foods such as dark poultry and red meat, especially if you are breastfeeding. These foods provide the type of iron that is better-absorbed than the type found in plant sources. To improve absorption even further, combine iron-rich foods with those high in vitamin C, like fruit and vegetables. Meatballs and tomato sauce were meant to be together!   - Prathyusha   More articles from this author....   http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/best-foods-for-babies-76-26713.html#.Uu8bZvvQtQA

TOP BABY FOODS- 1 Nuts can be introduced to babies as young as 6 months of age, once they have had exposure to a few typical first foods like cereals, fruit and vegetables. This is great news because nuts and nut butters like peanut, cashew, and almond are nutrition powerhouses, providing protein, beneficial fatty acids, vitamin E and minerals like manganese, potassium and iron. Lumps of nut butters are a choking hazard for small babies so try mixing a small amount into a cereal or puree or spread a thin layer over a long strip of toast to serve as a finger food. You may need to talk to your allergist before introducing these foods if there is a history of nut allergies in the family. Eggs are a nearly perfect first food. They are easily digestible, and they offer the important nutrition your baby needs--iron, folate and choline, high-quality protein, plus vitamins A, D and E. And, happily for busy moms, eggs are a cinch to prepare. Just hard-cook an egg, mash the yolk and thin it with breast milk, formula or water to the consistency your baby can handle. Hard-boiled and chopped egg white is a perfect finger food, as are scrambled eggs or omelets cut into thin strips. Choose an organic brand of butter, as fat helps babies meet their caloric needs, contributes to satiety, and helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins and boosts nutrition. And it makes food taste good! . you can also include other sources of fat in your child's diet like avocado, olive oil, full-fat yogurt and cheese. Fish used to be a no-no for small babies because of allergy concerns, but not anymore. You can include cold-water fish like salmon, herring, canned tuna or sardines to your baby's menu, these are outstanding sources of DHA. DHA plays a crucial role in retinal and brain development and is especially important for children in the first two years of life.Introducing fish to your baby is simple. Just bake or steam a boneless fillet, puree it and thin it to a desired consistency using breast milk, formula or water. Few more coming next.....   - Prathyusha

BABY SKIN CARE Baby skin care is one of the many concerns that a new mother has to worry about. Having a baby is a special blessing, but most mothers are unsure of what they should do because Newborn skin is very delicate, soft & sensitive. Chemicals, fragrances, and dyes in clothing, detergents, and baby products can cause skin irritation, dryness,and rashes. However, there's much you can do to protect your baby from these skin problems. Normal Baby Skin Care: A newborn baby is born with smooth skin and a protective covering called vernix that naturally peels off during the first week. There's no need to rush it, rub it, or treat it with lotions or creams. Here are tips to help protect your baby from developing allergies and rashes: Frequent bathing: Too-frequent bathing -- more than three times per week during the first year of life -- removes the natural oils that protect baby's skin. That leaves baby's skin vulnerable, so it reacts to any potential allergen -- triggering a reaction like eczema. Newborns don't get very dirty. For the first month a sponge baths two or three times a week will keep your baby safely clean. In between, simply clean baby’s mouth and diaper area with a little water or cleanser. Once-a-week sponge baths are best for newborns with darker skin tones. These infants tend to have dryer skin and have a higher risk of skin problems such as eczema. Don't use baby products in the early months. The immune system is still developing. If you have a family history of skin problems, allergies, or asthma, it's especially important to protect your baby's immune system -- and protect baby from irritating allergens. Wash baby's clothing before it's worn. Use only baby laundry detergents that are fragrance- and dye-free. Wash baby clothes, bedding, and blankets separately from the family's laundry.

DISCIPLINE MANTRA-2 Raising kids is definitely not easy. Well, parents who just started thier journey, still expecting the baby need not worry so early but there are days ahead of you when you will read books, browse websites, talk to friends for suggestions to raise happy children, happily. In my earlier article, we discussed few points, and here are few more for your help. To handle naughty or irate kids, first Set limits -- but let those limits be with love and care. You can say "i know you want to play more, its time to sleep now, i will also play with you tomorrow" Say YES...for every rule you set up, start the instruction with a Yes..like "Yes, i know its difficult to do your homework everyday, and Yes, i will allow you to read an extra story before bedtime today". Special time, every day. Turn off the cell phone and TV, close yourself with the child in a room and play whatever your asked to by the kid...he/she will love the Mommy/Daddy time. When all else fails, don't feel bad, but don't give up, carry patience and smile, hug your child, never shout at the child. If you ever had hurt your child, forgive yourself and forget. Try to commit that mistake ever, repair the relationship.   - Prathyusha More articles from this author.... http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/simple-discipline-mantras-76-26609.html

DISCIPLINE MANTRA Teaching a good behaviour is an art of Patience. Its like a narrow path to success, unlike punishment thats like the wide gate to failure. Actually, research shows that punishing kids creates more misbehavior. It makes them angry and defensive. If, instead, our kind behaviour with few set limits teaches them to learn the same and follow our rules, happily. You’re the role model. Never act when you’re upset. Resist the urge to shout and scold your child. It always backfires. Instead stay calm, and they will realise that mom/dad are calm and not talking to them because they committed a mistake. When the child is upset and grumpy, you give him/her more personal time and let the child have his/her meltdown in your attentive presence. Your goal is to provide a calm "holding environment" for your child's upset mood. You might be mad when she/he repeats the same error, but yelling won't help them remember the right thing or follow your instructions. Your calm words will help. Give the child few duties to excel, assign tasks as they are the leaders, and then they will take ownership and follow. Remember that children misbehave when they feel bad about themselves and disconnected from us. If he/she goofed up or had a meltdown, think down to their level and look in the eye and say "are you worried that i will shout at you?, i will not, talk to me!" and then the story ends well when your child expresses the fear or hesitation to you and you are already friends with them. Few more important things to talk..................   - Prathyusha

Plastic Alert Plastic food storage containers may be affecting your child's health. New studies prove that Phthalates which are found in some plastic and vinyl materials can cause diabetes, and increase insulin resistance, leading to diabetes as well as heart problems, and bisphenol-A (BPA) leading to increased body fat and bigger waistlines. Solutions to this problem: Using glass/ ceramic containers to store food or plastic containers that are BPA free and Melamine free. Using traditional paper bag or a stainless steel lunch box, and send stainless steel or bamboo fork or spoon instead of plastic ones sold in the market. When using microwave to heat food, use glass/ceramic containers to hold food and heat. Even if the plastic container is labelled as BPA free and Microwave safe, avoid using the plastic ones. Use a glass/ceramic/ paper towel as lip instead of plastic spill-guards or plastic wraps.   - Prathyusha More articles from this author..... http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/little-helpers-76-26448.html#.UuXylfu6Zkg

CUTE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHILDREN •Develop a warm, caring relationship with children: Show them that you care deeply about them. Express joy in who they are. Help them to feel safe and secure. •Serve-and-return: Like a tennis match, how you respond to a child’s cues and clues makes a world of difference in their learning. Notice their rhythms and moods, even in the first days and weeks of life. Respond to children when they are upset as well as when they are happy. Try to understand what children are feeling, what they are telling you (in words or actions), and what they are trying to do. Hold and touch them; play with them in a way that lets you follow their lead. Move in when children want to play, and pull back when they seem to have had enough stimulation. •Recognize that each child is unique: Keep in mind that from birth, children have different natures, that they grow at their own step, and that this step varies from child to child. At the same time, have positive expectations about what children can do and hold on to the belief that every child can succeed. •Talk, read, and sing to children: Surround them with language. Maintain an ongoing conversation with them about what you and they are doing. Sing to them, play music, tell stories and read books. Ask babies and preschoolers to guess what will come next in a story. Play word games. Ask babies and preschoolers questions that require more than a yes or no answer, like “What do you think…?” Ask children to picture things that have happened in the past or might happen in the future. Provide reading and writing materials, including crayons and paper, books, magazines, and toys. These are key pre-reading experiences. •Encourage safe exploration and play: Give children opportunities to move around, explore and play. Help them to explore relationships as well. Arrange for children to spend time with children of their own age and of other ages and support their learning to solve the fights that certainly arise. •Use discipline to teach: Talk to children about what they seem to be feeling and teach them words to describe those feelings. Make it clear that while you might not like the way they are behaving, you love them. Explain the rules and values of behavior so children can learn the “whys” behind what you are asking them to do. Tell them what you want them to do, not just what you don’t want them to do. Point out how their behavior affects others. •Establish habits: Create habits and rites for special times during the day like mealtime, rest time, and bedtime. Try to be sure so the children know that they can count on you. •Become involved in child care and preschool: Keep in close touch with your children’s child care providers or teachers about what they are doing. Occasionally, especially during transitions, spend time with your children while they are being cared for by others. The caring relationships they form outside of the home are among the most important relationships they have.   -Y.Lilly nirmala santhi

LITTLE HELPERS You might be busy through the day, falling short of helping hands. You kids can fill in. They might think house chore is a serious job but disguise the jobs as games and fun so that they offer help daily, without complaining of boredom. Let your child collect 10 different things from the room and organise them or give to you, in 10 minutes, or at a count of 10-20 and so. Let your child act like his/her favourite animal and pick few things from the floor, or help you unload the dishwasher or the stack of dishes on the drying mat. Ask your child to sing a favourite rhyme and help you unload the clothes dryer or clean up his/her bedroom or tidy the floor or make the bed. Treat them with compliments or healthy goodies as a thanks for helping you!!! 2 Benefits, your work done and they will also learn that helping Mom/parents is important and fun too, this improves their ability to understand and take up family responsibilty.   - Prathyusha More articles from this author..... http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/secrets-to-shopping-with-kids-76-26022.html#.UuCpVPu6Zkg http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/planning-for-parenting-time-76-25890.html#.UuCpffu6Zkg

FLAT HEAD Flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly) now affects 47 percent of infants ages 7 to 12 weeks, say Canadian researchers. Here are some misconceptions clarified: It is caused by back sleeping only: All the time spent in a bed or a bouncer, or a cradle plays a role too. Along with regular tummy time, or holding the baby helps, but it can be resolved fully once the baby can handle his/her neck straight. Flat head syndrome results in developmental delays: Infact, its the other way around, babies who are facing developmental delays don't move their head or neck as often as a child without delays. A Helmet is the only fix: Helmet can be one aid but repositioning the head when the baby is asleep instead of allowing them to slant their heads to one side only everytime will be helpful too. I faced the same problem with my baby, she was 4-5 months old when i realised her head is flat a little, and we were alarmed when the pediatrician also noticed it and suggested a helmet if it worsens. I ddn't give in, i started putting my child to sleep in the opposite direction to what she was used to, and moved the cradle to a different corner of the room, and slowly her flat head shaped up round. Problem solved!!   - Prathyusha More articles from this author.... http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/swallowed-a-chewing-gum-76- 26171.html#.Ut3_Hfu6Zkg http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/teaching-kids-patience-76- 26388.html#.Ut9vUvu6Zkg

KIDS and ART OF PATIENCE Teach the Kids the lost art of patience: Kids learn everything and anything from the parents and other elders at home. If we are displaying impatience, they learn that too. I met a 21 month old recently. Her mom told me that she bites mom when she doesnot respond to her immediately. Biting comes to them naturally, similar to their mouthing everything when babies are very young. Mom says her husband is impatient and so the baby girl learnt it. Refusing or atleast holding off on indulgences will help your child develop self- discipline and allow him to place a higher value on the things he receives. Thanks to the tablets and cell phones, the apps get downloaded pretty fast and kids get to watch whatever they like within seconds of recalling, they are just not ready to wait when it comes to real life things. They expect the same speed everywhere. The main reason kids will continue a tantrum is because parents can be manipulated. Don't engage the behaviour and it will stop eventually. They try tantrum tricks in public where parents tend to give them everything they ask for just to keep quiet. Instead of giving in, take your child to a far, calm place and keep quiet, the child will eventually settle calmly and might try it one more time, but if you are steadfast, they will not repeat it. Whenever there is an oppurtunity, display patience. When you take them to shopping, tell them you are not buying a new dress for yourselves as the old jeans you have still looks new and that you can wait few more days. Gradually, this observation will encourage them to behave similarly.   - Prathyusha More articles from this author.... http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/swallowed-a-chewing-gum-76- 26171.html#.Ut3_Hfu6Zkg http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/trashing-kids-art-work-76- 26151.html#.Ut3_Kfu6Zkg  

Interact with your newborn You can't play with the child just yet, but they do get bored like we do. Try taking them for a walk to the park once a day, talking to them, putting pictures in the room where they spend most of their time, listening to music, or taking them in the car. Remember that your baby is just a baby and is not ready for rough play, do not shake your baby and be as gentle as possible instead. In the beginning, the most important thing you can do is to bond with your baby. This means you should stroke your baby, cradle your baby, give the baby some skin-to-skin contact, or even consider giving your baby an infant massage.Mainly babies love vocal sounds, and it's never too early to start talking, babbling, singing with your baby. Play some music for the baby while you're bonding, or play with toys that make noise.Some babies are more sensitive to touch and light than others, so if your baby doesn't seem to be responding well to your attempts at bonding, then you can take it easier with the noise and lights until your baby gets used to it.

NO SODA Soda sometimes is not bad!!! Some parents feel this, some Grandparents say so, but Soda is a big No No for anyone, definitely not for Children. Even one Soda a day may negatively affect kids' behaviour, found a new University study of close to 3000 5-year olds. And the children who drank four or more carbonated drinks a day were twice as likely to destroy others' belongings and get into fights. Its not clear exactly what it is about Soda that may be associated with behaviour, but study author points to the fact that many sodas contain synthetic food coloring which have been linked to Hyperactivity, and some contain Caffeine, which can make anyone jittery.   - Prathyusha   More articles from this author.... http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/all-about-baby-crawling-76- 26256.html#.UtoirvvQtQA http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/caring-for-sibblings-76-26110.html

My Baby Gifted Of course we all think our babies are special and they all are, in their individual ways. But how do you know if yours is really exceptional truly gifted child, one whose talents and needs are, well, just a little more special and unique than an average child.It's hard to measure a baby's intellectual gifts, but if you suspect that you have a young genius in your midst, consider the following questions. Is he always ahead of the game: Does he do everything early, meeting developmental milestones well before his peers? And not just in a single area, such as crawling or walking, but across the board sitting, smiling, talking, fine motor skills. Does he have a very good memory: Most babies this age show few signs of recall, but gifted children may demonstrate a surprising ability to remember where they left a favorite book, for example, or which shoes are yours and which are your partner's. Is he a good problem solver: Gifted babies may show off their creativity and originality by tackling a challenge in a surprising way, such as through sign language, pretend play, or tools (scooping a toy out of a narrow-necked jar with a spoon). They may also exhibit an unusual ability to focus and concentrate. Does he make connections: Can he take knowledge he's learned in one situation and apply it to another? For example, he might point to the refrigerator at a friend's house when he wants milk, even if it is a different color and shape than the one at home. Is he particularly perceptive: Does he notice changes in his surroundings (a new piece of furniture), your appearance (a new haircut), or even your mood (why does Mommy seem sad?)? Does he have trouble sleeping: In a gifted baby, this could mean he has a hard time dialing down on the stimulation so he can get some z's. If your baby does show many of these signs, he may well be gifted. On the other hand, he may merely be precocious, meaning that he's learning new skills and reaching developmental milestones earlier than other babies. However, if your child does indeed turn out to be gifted, it's a blessing that will bring some challenges along with it, but for now what he needs most is lots of love, playtime, talking, and reading just like all babies do!

NO BONES ABOUT IT   A 7 month old baby starts crawling all around the house, here and there, everywhere. New parents are concerned about the kneecaps of the child. And when they learn to walk and run, kids tip over and fall, it hurts the parents more. It may not hurt the child more than hurting the head or other parts of the body. Because a newborn's kneecap is made entirely of cartilage. Through a process called Ossification, the cartilage slowly converts to bone. During early years, a kneecap won't even show up on the X-ray. It usually takes anywhere between 3 to 5 years after birth for kneecaps to develop into real bones.    Children who are just learning how to walk often start by walking on the toes or ball of the foot, which is referred to as Toe Walking. it is typically outgrown, but some kids continue the practice beyond toddler years simply out of habit. According to Specialists, as long as the child's growth and development is normal, then toe walking shouldn't be a major concern on its own.       - Prathyusha Talluri

Swallowed a Chewing Gum Despite what your parents have told you in your childhood, that piece you accidentally swallowed won't stay in your stomach for seven years. Like any food, it will probably pass through your system within two days. Your body can't digest gum, but that doesn't make it dangerous, the fluids in your body will flush it out. Swallowing it is like gulping anything else you eat. That is, unless you're ingesting a giant ball of gum at once or gulping numerous pieces a day, in which case the gum will form a mass and get stuck in the stomach,colon or intestines, we don't tend to do that anyways. Although rare, this complication occurs most often in young children. So, Parents save gum-chewing for kids who are old enough to understand they have to spit it out, usually after age 5 or 6.   - Prathyusha More articles from this author..... http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/trashing-kids-art-work-76- 26151.html#.Us-Q0_vQtQA http://teluguone.com/vanitha/content/ways-to-build-confidence-in-your-child-76 -26072.html#.Us-Q4fvQtQA

TRASHING THEIR ART WORK? Your kid's first art work is special to you. And i know that piece will stay longer and sometimes forever in your storewell along with your valuables. But what about the other paintings and junk drawings...are you going to keep them all, or can you take the liberty to trash them? It is always better to ask the child and them think of throwing them away. We never know the child might be emotionally attached to a certain painting, he/she might have made an art piece after visiting a zoo or a holiday tour and got inspired or if its a piece of sweet memory. You should not be sitting feeling bad. Ask today, they might say yes to thrashing the papers, sometimes they might request to keep them but if you ask them after a month, that piece might not be on their priority list so the child might agree to throw it away. Some children however, want to keep all their paintings and papers forever. Now, you have to tel them clearly that all this junk cant be stored at home. Thats when the child has to prioritize which one stays. Parents should also teach the children to safeguard only the valuable stuff and let go of the junk instead of piling up things for mommy to organise and worry about.   - Prathyusha Talluri