If we let nature take its own course and do not meddle too much in its ways, it usually works to our benefit. Scientists have for long known that breastfed babies are healthier and happier than formula-fed babies. Formulaic preparations for babies came into vogue during World War II and became the norm because of the convenience they offered. However, as we know today the convenience came at a cost to the babies, who were more vulnerable to illnesses as compared to babies fed on breast milk.

Breast milk is healthy because –

• The very first milk, colustrum, which is produced for the first two three days is a nutrient-packed thick whitish liquid that benefits the baby’s guts by helping good bacteria achieve an ascendancy over harmful bacteria. This is crucial because a baby’s digestive system is sterile when he is born. Colustrum is low in fat and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies. Also it is easily digested by the baby. Colustrum has a laxative effect which helps the baby to pass the first stools, meconium, which is thick and tarry. It also helps to clear the baby’s body of excess bilirubin and prevent jaundice. Colustrum provides the baby with antibodies and white blood cells thereby preparing it to face life outside the womb.

• The second stage begins on the fourth day when the breast milk changes consistency and becomes thinner. It is no longer densely packed with antibodies but is still full of nutrition for the baby.

• Breast-fed babies are less susceptible to illnesses such as ear infections, disorders of the digestive systems, allergies, colds, flu, pneumonia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, etc. A huge benefit of breastfeeding is that offers a lifetime of protection against ulcerative colitis, insulin dependent diabetes, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and Crohn’s disease.

• Women who breastfeed their babies for a period of around two years reduce their chances of contracting breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding is also a natural birth control mechanism as women who breastfeed their babies do not get their periods back till they have stopped breastfeeding the babies.
So, it is important to remember that breast milk is hugely beneficial to both the mother and the baby.

Pain relievers for your teething baby.

Wise baby

Communicating with your baby in sign language not only allows you to develop a bond with your baby and understand his requirements, it fast tracks your baby’s mental development. Not to mention, it is a wonderful means of having fun with your baby.

It’s an established fact that babies pick up sign language before they learn a spoken tongue and if they can be encouraged to communicate thus parents will be spared the tantrums of a frustrated baby. Gestures denoting hunger, sleepiness, and need for help are basic gestures and can be taught.

Babies can pick up visual gestures quite fast and with some training they will be able to relate a gesture to an activity or an object. If you can do it regularly, your baby will pick it up and when you accompany gestures with relevant words, your baby will pick those up too. Communication is learnt by imitation and therefore consistent correct training by the parents will do your baby a world of good as you are going to help him lay the foundation of good communication skills.

First time parents, especially those who live in a nuclear family without the support system that an extended family provides, often struggle for information and are faced with puzzling issues every day. This adds to the mirth and excitement of caring for a baby but also causes some helplessness if the parents don’t know how to react to a situation.

Do not worry if the first few bowel movements of your baby result in a greenish black and sticky discharge, this is called meconium. Later on the stools take on a runny consistency and a mustard yellow color. Babies can have bowel movement one to two times after every feed.

Lactating mothers should be aware that for the first two-three days after childbirth they produce colustrum which may not be much in quantity but is crucial for the life-long health of the baby. The colustrum initiates bowel movement that helps eliminate the meconium. Keep in mind that breastfeeding your baby during the beginning two-three days is very important. Also the more you suckle your baby the more it stimulates milk production in you.

Do not stress yourself if you find tiny white pimples on the baby’s face. These are termed milia and are caused by the baby’s oil glands getting clogged. They do not require any treatment and go away on their own in a few days.

Often you will find yellowish flakes collecting on the baby’s scalp. This is seborrhiec dermatitis and you can get rid of it using some baby oil or olive oil on the scalp. Follow the oil massage with a gentle shampoo bath and then use a gentle scrub to remove the scales.

Aww!! cho chweet.

Instructions for new parents.

Cute 6-month old baby trying to talk to his mother.

Organic clothes for your baby’s tender skin.

There are gadgets for all of us adults so gadget makers very kindly have come up with a whole range of gadgets are sure to appeal to the kid within us who will then make us reach out to our wallet and buy the cool stuff for the real kid who may or may not be impressed by it. Kids have a strange way of ignoring the uber cool robot toy and being happiest clanging a steel plate and a spoon.

Here are eight gadgets that you may find enticing but your kid may just give you a bewildered smile for it. When you go to purchase a gadget, ensure that it is utilitarian one and looks are secondary unless of course it’s a baby toupee that you wish to buy…

1. A baby toupee is probably an idea that was just waiting to happen or maybe it was already out there but I missed it. The internet brings the idea closer to us and you can visit BabyToupee.com to choose from a cute and wonderful selection of baby toupees. A small teeny weeny bald baby with a Bob Marley wig, how’s that for a giggle and some memories when the baby grows up. The products are patent pending and am sure they use materials that are more than 100% safe for the baby’s soft skin and scalp. The image is of the Donald Trump wig.

2. A Wireless Color Baby Monitor for parents who are looking for something more than just audio-only baby monitor. This device lets you see your baby on a 1.5 inch color LCD. This is a high-tech device that returns infra-red images when the lights are switched off. You can use either an AC adaptor (included) or batteries for both units. The baby unit (with camera) uses 4 AA batteries, while the adult unit (with display) uses only 3 AA batteries. Though one wonders how parents bring themselves to keep their kids so far away from themselves that they need to install a gadget. Wouldn’t it be easier to keep the baby’s pram in your own room?

3. The Bear Baby Bath Thermometer is a nice utilitarian gadget wrapped in an adorable design. It lets you get the temperature of the water just right before the baby enters the tub for some frolic. The product is made up of soft plastic and serves as an adorable bath toy. That’s a true two-in-one product for you. Don’t let Rover get his teeth on it though, it won’t stand scrutiny from his teeth.

4. A Pacifier thermometer is again one of those beautiful ideas that come when a brainwave hits an inventor. Who could’ve thought of combining a pacifier with a thermometer to resolve an age-old problem of getting a baby to yield his temperature? Anyone who has tried to cajole a baby into giving himself up for a temperature reading knows the frustrations involved. This device consists of a silicone orthodontic nipple that is placed in the baby’s mouth and the pacifier beeps once the reading is complete.

5. Baby booger extractor or NasalClear Nasal Aspirator as the manufacturer prefers to call it. It’s not the babies put the parents I guess who are getting picky about picking their baby’s nose the right way. So, what we have is a battery operated, advanced version of those traditional bulb-style aspirators. It comes with two different silicon tips for booger of different consistencies. A clear plastic collection cup lets you what’s been sucked out. It plays twelve different tunes to keep the baby amused while it does its job.

6. BebeSounds Heart Listener is a device that puts you in touch with your baby while it is still inside mama’s womb. A marvel of technology it’s a nice piece for those who get smitten by their baby’s sounds and movements that they get to see at the doctors’ when they do all those tests, sonography etc. The included speakers let you hear your baby’s heartbeat, kicks, and hiccups. The microphone lets you project your voice or music—sixty-minute Mozart CD also included—into the womb. The device lets you record and email your child’s heartbeats.

7. Dimmerlamps not exactly for babies but an admirable adaptation to add class to your baby’s space. Also very handy when you do not want the baby to be enveloped in total darkness but at the same time do not want too much light. The soft lights are “liberated”, as the makers put it and you can control the amount of illumination that you wish to experience.

8. The Wooden Tabletop Market Stand is an elaborate piece not exactly for babies but kids growing up. It educates them about the virtues of farm fresh food and can lead to the beginning of a love affair for fresh food that can last a lifetime. The good thing is that there is an endless variety of fun food sets that you can add to the stand and pretend that your stuff is the freshest and tastiest in the market.