Cute Babies

Baby’s sleep is most important for parents. Most of the parents around the world face problems with their baby’s sleep. In the first few years every baby experience irregular sleep patterns with which parents have to struggle.

Do you know the actual reason why babies have disturbed sleep? The most common reasons are hunger, pain, discomfort, illness, and wet nappy. Sometimes baby’s sleep is also disturbed by extreme weather conditions and boredom. And if you wrap them with tight blankets or cloths they feel uncomfortable and this even disturbs their sleep.

Even though all these situations prevail its completely depends on parents how they deal with their baby’s sleep. Babies are not familiar to the day and night concept so it is the parent’s duty to make them feel the distinction. Parents should make them feel that darkness or dim light is the time for sleep. And after a few weeks of birth, food timings should also been set for them so that they don’t feel hungry at odd periods of the day. This all depends on how parents handle the situations and how they teach them.

Most of the parents make a common mistake of taking their babies on a stroll or long drive during night. At a time when you are teaching your baby to fall asleep when night arrives taking them on a drive makes them learn that night is not for sleeping but a time to have fun. This makes your baby more addicted to external aid and later on they’ll develop a habit to sleep with the use of such aids like a long drive, rocking on a chair, or using a pacifier.

You also need to keep them away from dirt, smoke, and other such materials that may cause discomfort to them and affect their sleep. For a more peaceful sleep you can even sing lullabies or soothing rhymes to help your baby sleep better.

Some babies just refuse to fall asleep at night and keep the parents wake up at odd hours. So here are some of the tips which can help your baby to sleep through the night. Bathe your baby with luke warm water before you make him/her sleep. Change the massage routine and give your baby a massage before the bath in the night. It has been noticed that massage helps the baby to sleep peacefully and massaging the babies in the night works for many parents. Also, bathing the baby twice a day should be avoided instead you can always give you baby a sponge bath.

Some babies wake up at night for a few minutes and then sleep on their own. Mothers sometimes get over protective and wake up at the slightest sound the baby makes. They then go and pat and try to put the baby to sleep and this backfires sometimes. The baby just refuses to go to sleep then. Sometimes, mothers and for that matter even fathers should just wait before they go and pt their baby to sleep. See for a few minutes if the baby goes to sleep on its own or not. If he/she cannot, and cries continuously then only try patting the baby.

Also, sleep arrangements are important. For the first few days, see which sleep arrangement works best for your baby. Notice if your baby sleeps well in the crib or on your bed with pillows etc. Does your baby need a lot of space, does he or she move around in sleep etc is what parents need to notice and prepare themselves for their baby’s sleep! And another question that arises here is that should parents play with their babies before going to bed? Some babies get so energetic after playing that they just do not want to sleep. So accordingly, I think, it is best to play with your baby at least an hour before you want to put them to sleep. Feeding your baby an hour before bedtime is also advisable so that your baby is full and wont cry out of hunger in the night. But inspite of feeding before bedtime, some babies still feel hungry at around 4 am so mums have to feed them to put them to sleep again. Put your baby to sleep at the same time every night. It is better to stick to a schedule.

Sometimes mothers are just unable to understand why babies cry inspite of all the babies’ needs being taken care of. Some research study has indicated that four out of five babies have daily crying sessions which last from fifteen minutes to an hour for no apparent reason. These crying sessions usually occur in the evening. Sometimes, babies cry because they experience a sensory overload. For the baby it could be the end of a tiring day, and that is why babies would like to relax by having a good cry.

Like adults, babies need change too. Mothers sometimes are tired of pampering their wailing baby especially when they just don’t stop to cry. Babies too need to see fresh faces. Give your baby a change – a change of people, a change of place. Stressed mothers can hardly do things to stop their babies from crying.  Babies are good with understanding mother’s tension and frustration and will respond with nothing but more tears. For a day, let the fathers or someone else in the house take over.

Babies can also cry if they are bored. Babies too need entertainment and cannot sleep and stare the world. Let the whole family sit with the baby and have some hearty laughs. Your baby will catch the happy vibrations and feel start feeling good. This does not mean giving toys to the baby and leaving him or her with it. Spend happy time with them and do something that is usually not a part of your daily routine. Sometimes your baby needs some fresh air. Taking your baby outdoors will often dramatically improve her mood. Taking her for a drive or take him to a garden and see how their mood changes.

Babies grow really fast and this is seen while we notice the apparent milestones that are felt with each development. The top most priority of every parent is to give the child nourishment in terms of physical growth and lots of love that is important to stimulate the emotional need. Children cherish on love and happiness. Allergies among children and new borns are very much common and also a cause of apprehension for parents.

 Children usually are allergic to mosquito bites or a certain application and hence doctors advise full sleeved clothes for infant’s alongwith no herbal application. Skin of new borns is extremely delicate and can erupt into rashes immediately. Oil, medication can also have adverse effects on the skin and hair of the child. It is also true that many kids are allergic to powder or certain chemicals present in the ointments.

 Food allergies are common and most of the children outgrow them sooner or later. Doctors usually advise a weekly time to introduce a new set of food. Certain kids are allergic to citric foods and it results in cramps. Incessant crying can also be a sign of tummy ache owing to certain foods. Though there is no set pattern about allergies there are foods like nuts, soyabean, milk items and greens that result in food.

 Allergy with chocolates or riboflavin present in certain foods can also result in food intolerance. Milk or milk related products will need to be substituted for the benefit of cute babies who express a food allergy. Though the symptoms of allergy are very noticeable like a skin rash, boils around the mouth or constant itching, there are serious symptoms like difficulty in breathing or choking.

 Hives or bloating of the tummy or even swelling will require medical care. Allergy tests are a sure way to determine a particular food type allergy. Certain kids are also allergic to synthetic clothing and organic or cotton is recommended. Gluten allergy and fiber foods may also cause stomach upsets in some babies. A few allergies persist but most of them are effectively outgrown by all babies.

Yoga is a science that defines the union of body and soul. It is an age old concept that promotes healthy growth and development in children. It not only promotes the physical development of children but also supports their emotional, mental, and spiritual growth. It has become even more important in this era where time and tide are running faster than life.

Yes, these days’ children are under lot of stress as compared to the previous generation. They are now experiencing a tough competition in terms of education and recreational hobbies. Peer pressure and parent’s high expectation is also forcing them to load themselves with as much they can. In such situations yoga help children to gain self-control, self awareness, and self esteem. It also improves concentration and helps them cope up with the stress of every day lives.

It is even more upsetting to know that today’s children are suffering from various emotional imbalances and mental disorders. Some of the common disorders are improper sleep, headaches, developmental delays, learning disabilities, down syndrome, and eating problems. To help children fight these disorders, yoga proves to be the most beneficial, risk-free, and drug-free medicine. Yoga is a perfect answer to many health problems.

Today it is terribly upsetting to see how many kids are suffering from psychosomatic disorders like sleep disturbances, eating problems, headaches and oftentimes wrong posture such as drooping shoulders plus as stress related to pressure, competition and aggression in school. To help kids manage we have to find a way of exercise that involves their whole body, the unity of body, soul and mind.

There are many yoga poses for kids that help them grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Some of the most common yoga poses for kids are Half Shoulderstand or Ardha Sarvangasana, Head to Knee or Janu Sirshasana, Mountain or Tadasana, The Bridge or Sethu Bandhasana, The Cobra or Bhujangasana, and Triangle or Trikonasana.

Regular practice of yoga has become very important for children these days. It helps them create a perfect balance between their mind and body. And those who are following these yogic activities are becoming more and more creative, imaginative, strong, and flexible.

Infants are a great source of joy and the almost the raison-de-etre for a new mum. They nourish themselves on the care and love the parents provide and parenting is a joyful learning experience. New borns are just happy with suckling and doctors too recommended an exclusive breast feed for six months. Slowly it is time to start on semi solids and introducing the child to new foods each week is a perfect diet program.

 Children learn by watching and at times resist food. Starting a routine time based meal actually works. If you are a working parent then do instruct the care giver to do the meals in a hygienic and systematic manner. Small details count a lot. Excessive addition of salt and sugar makes the child habituated to certain tastes. The Indian curry masala has lot of medicinal properties and it is fine to introduce the child to spices in a phased manner.

 By about a year the child should be able to eat food that is served for the entire family. Dollops of ghee are not required and alternatives to milk are seen in curds, smoothies and yummy milkshakes. Just as milk-drinking becomes a chore many kids do not like to drink milk. Try some fresh dry fruits in the milk or make a strawberry smoothie which is taken as a welcome change.

 For start ups all kids require to be spoon fed though occasionally let them feel the texture of food. The mess can always be cleared and clothes can always be washed. This is also their first step at independence and hence let them hold the papaya or mash it to glory. Let them try peeling a banana or allow them to smell the flavoring on the biryani. Let them watch you cook and mix and give them a chance to hold the pizza bread or use the salad ladle.

 Spoon feeding is just not about food but also weaning the child away from things which he was dependent on you from a long time. It is a point of letting go to create a distinct personality who is a strong individual in the coming years.

Crying is the first form of baby talk and it is the only way your baby communicates to you to tell you about his/her hunger, his/her pain, his/her happiness, his/her feeling etc. Mothers can understand from the difference in the cry as to why her baby is crying and she [provides the baby with the necessity. It is over a period of time that your baby becomes more self-reliant and a better communicator to tell you what he or she wants.

Usually babies cry when they are hungry. Some parents begin to catch the cry of hunger at a very early age.  It has been observed over the years that the feeling of a full stomach gives a lot of comfort to the baby. Babies also sometimes cry to themselves because of fatigue. Parents get worried and apprehensive with this. However, there is no need to panic. Your baby will eventually outgrow this habit. Parents should try and not pick the baby up, attempting to soothe the baby as this will make it difficult for the baby to learn to fall asleep on his own. A regular bedtime routine and adequate rest during the day is what should be taken care of.

Babies also cry because of indigestion and stomach pain. If you feel that your baby is suffering and crying because of stomach ache and indigestion it is advisable to take your baby to the doctor. Try and observe the food that is not suiting your baby. For example, some babies are not able to digest a particular type of milk and may cry because that is what is causing the trouble to the baby. In order to relieve this pain, many Indian mothers prefer to give their babies gripe water.  Although the medical benefits of gripe are still not clear. Babies also cry because they often feel uncomfortable if they have swallowed air. Parents can take a few precautionary measures to prevent this happening. Keep the baby upright as this will help them to swallow less air while feeding.