MoM 2 MoM 4 BabY

Feeding Schedules

2011-09-23T10:50:00.002-04:00

I have a few Feeding Schedules that I can share....
It is from some of the other members who shared this info with me when my DS was arnd that age.

Most often at 6mnths... u wud follow On Demand feeding.
Do scrap or email me your current feeding schedule and I can offer u specific answer.
These are schedules for 9 to 13mnth babies.

9months
6 a.m - 4 ounce formula
9 a.m- rice cereal/applesauce
11 a.m nap (4 ounce formula b4 nap)
12 p.m. snacks ,finger foods
2p.m. lunch Vegetable mashed and 4 ounce formula b4 nap
4:30 juice or yogurt on her preference
6:30 Thin arrowroot biscuit dipped in milk
8:30 Dinner rice cereal/fruits/veggie/khichdi
5 ounce before she goes to bed.

10months
wake up - 7/8 AM - 4 ounces milk
Breakfast - 9/10AM - Oats/cheerios with milk n a fruit
Lunch - 12/1PM - boiled veggies wit Quinoa/Couscous/Ragi/Rava/egg
Milk - 3/4PM - 4/5 ounces
Snack - 5/6PM Fruits/Bread toasted with ghee/finger food/egg
Dinner - 8/9 PM boiled veggies with Quinoa/Couscous/Ragi/Rava or parathas/egg
Milk - 4/5 ounces before bed

13months
7 am : Milk 5 Oz
9 AM BF : homemade pureed fruits or gerber pureed fruits
12/12.30 PM Lunch: homemade food
4 PM snack:junior horlicks 4 Oz
5 Pm : finger foods
8.30 PM Dinner: homemade food(parathas/idlis/dosa) with boiled veggies

DD is 10 months and weighs ~16.4 pounds.
wake up - 7/8 AM - 4 ounces milk
Breakfast - 9/10AM - cheerios/biscuit/snacks
milk in between (to finish the morning quota)
Lunch - 12/1PM - blander version of our food (rice+whatever ive made for the day)/oatmeal+gerber veg(if no cooking for me)
Milk - 3/4PM - 4/5 ounces
Dinner - Same as lunch (quantity is very less or sometimes absent as she is extremely sleepy/cranky by then)
Milk - quantity depends on dinner.
Again in the middle of the night one more feeding.

Sleep arrangements for your baby

2011-09-16T13:57:00.000-04:00

Need two options for sleeping arrangements.
Get a sleeper for your bedroom... baby can co-sleep with you for the first 3 months.
The First years - Secure Sleeper
better option is to get Arms-Reach-Mini-Co-Sleeper-Bassinet
and a play-yard for your living room/kitchen/main floor...
Graco-Pack-Playard-Bassinet-Morgan Available in variety of colors, easy to install, convenient for diaper changes, storage to keep diapers, wipes, creams, easy to carry around.
I have the Arms reach co-sleeper, my DS used it until 3-4months...once they learn to turn over... u need to take out the higher position of the cosleeper... and make it into a playyard. I wud leave DS in there with toys, or when I needed to attend the door, or go to the restroom.
At 2yrs, we still take it on our road trips, so easy to fold and use... and we know we have a safe space for him to sleep in at hotels or even at friend's place.

High Chairs - Reviews and Recommendations

2011-06-16T09:42:00.000-04:00

One could start using a high chair/booster seat from the time u start solids at around 4-5mnths and use it all the way until your LO in into the toddler/pre-school years.

I personally have this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-First-Years-Reclining-Feeding-Seat/14254250?findingMethod=rr

Available in colors.

Main features are:

Safe and durable feeding seat
Adjustable height helps the seat fit most tables. I kept it reclining until he was 10mnths, helps in feeding younger infants. By age 1, he was fine with sitting upright. When DS turned approx 16-18mnths, I placed this on the floor - we eat on the sofa on most days. Since its on the floor he can sit by himself, and goes there for all meals and drinks
Removable, dishwasher-safe tray makes clean up a breeze.
Full-sized pad is soft, reversible, and machine-washable. Best feature.
Features an 123 tray mat, which is easy to clean. DS loves to count the animals on the mat.
BPA-free plastic
Reversible, washable seat pads are polyester and polyester blend with polyester filling.

Best Seller on the market include:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Space-Saver-High-Chair-and-Booster-Mocha-Butterfly/13227368

Available in colors.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Booster-Seat/8072090

Keep kids entertained as well as for feeding purposes.

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Deluxe-Booster-White/dp/B001GQ2RWQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1308231522&sr=1-3

Healthy care feeding tray with snap-on lid keeps feeding surface clean wherever you go
Easy-clean seat with no crevices to trap crumbs
Three height adjustments and three-point harness adjusts to hold growing child securely
Adjustable shoulder straps make it easy to carry
Front and rear seat straps adjust to fit virtually any chair

Available in colors.

Power Foods

2011-03-15T21:22:00.000-04:00

4 Power-Food Pairings for Kids

Strawberries and Whole Wheat Toast

The vitamin C in strawberries converts the iron in whole wheat bread to a form that cells can absorb.

Oatmeal and Milk

The magnesium in oats increases the amount of calcium your child gets from the milk by keeping it from binding to fiber and other nutrients.

Olive Oil and Veggies

Spritz spinach, green peppers, squash, and dark greens with olive oil. This healthy fat helps your child absorb the veggies' antioxidants.

Chicken and Carrots

Don't save chicken soup for sick days -- and always include carrots. The zinc in chicken helps the body metabolize the carrots' vitamin A.

Originally published in the October 2008 issue of Parents magazine.

Tooth Care for Toddlers

2011-03-08T12:19:00.001-05:00

Find answers to your questions like

The Flu - Myths and Facts <--Click here

2011-03-08T12:16:00.001-05:00

Colds and Toddlers

2011-03-08T12:15:00.002-05:00

How should I treat my toddler's cold?

No medicine will make a virus go away faster, but you can help your toddler feel better and prevent the infection from getting worse by making sure he gets plenty of rest and liquids. Since most children don't master nose blowing until about age 4, here are a few ways to help ease his congestion:

It's not worth struggling over, but if your toddler tolerates it, tip his head back and squeeze over-the-counter saline (salt water) drops into his nostrils to loosen up the mucus. Then suction out the liquid and mucus a few minutes later with a rubber bulb syringe. Apply petroleum jelly to the outside of your toddler's nostrils to reduce irritation. (Don't use nasal sprays on your child unless his doctor says it's okay. They may work temporarily but can cause a rebound effect in which the congestion gets worse with continued use.)
Use a humidifier or a cool-mist vaporizer to moisten the air in his room. Or take your toddler into the bathroom with you, turn on the hot water, close the door, and sit in the steamy room for about 15 minutes. A warm bath can accomplish the same thing.
Elevate the head of your toddler's mattress by placing a couple of towels between the head of the mattress and the crib springs. Sleeping at a slight incline may help relieve his postnasal drip, but don't overdo it. If your toddler is a restless sleeper, he could end up flipping around so his feet are higher than his head, defeating the purpose of the elevation. (Never use pillows to prop up your toddler as they could suffocate him. And don't put anything under the legs of the crib because that could make it unstable.)

Is it okay to give my toddler over-the-counter cold medicine?

Most experts say no. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises doctors to tell their patients that OTC cough and cold medicines aren’t effective in children younger than 6, and can sometimes have dangerous side effects. You may want to ask your child’s doctor what she suggests.

Keep in mind that cough and cold medications won’t shorten the course of your child’s cold or prevent further complications such as such as ear infections or sinus infections.

If your toddler is feverish and uncomfortable, you may want to give him acetaminophen or ibuprofen, making sure to give him the correct dose for his age and weight.

Never give your child aspirin as it makes him more susceptible to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.

When should I call the doctor?

Call the doctor if your toddler's fever reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Also call if:

your toddler takes a turn for the worse instead of starting to improve after five to seven days, or if his cold symptoms last for more than 14 days.
his cough worsens and he's wheezing or gasping. These symptoms could be a sign of pneumonia, asthma, or respiratory syncytial virus, a relatively common but potentially serious respiratory illness.
he pulls or rubs his ear. This could be a sign of an ear infection.
he acts especially tired or listless.

Source: BabyCenter.com

Toys for children 18 to 24 months old <-- Click here

2011-03-08T12:03:00.001-05:00

At this age, children learn best from unstructured play, so just make the toys available and off she'll go.

Plastic tea set or playhouse: Your child will get a kick out of play eating and drinking. And in general, scaled-down toys, from rakes, push brooms, and shopping carts to miniature kitchens, give her a chance to do one of the things she loves best — mimic what she sees the adults around her do and organize her world to her own satisfaction.

Large and small blocks: Working with blocks lets your toddler build her handling skills by grabbing, stacking, and sorting. Large cardboard bricks easily add up to toddler-size forts and hiding spaces. Small wooden ones can be sorted and organized into any number of original designs.

Toy instruments: Children generally love music and the chance to create their own sound, no matter how cacophonous. Give her a toy guitar to strum or a keyboard to bang on and she'll treat you to many original compositions. Make sure whatever instrument you find has a volume dial you can turn down so that you — and your neighbors — can tolerate those early tunes.

Puzzles: Puzzles are a good way to give your young child little victories — the simple satisfaction of putting something exactly in place is a marvelous thing. Choose puzzles that have very few pieces and are made of thick, easy-to-manipulate blocks of wood.

Illustrated books and cassette tapes: While recorded stories are no substitute for reading to your child, many toddlers do enjoy the novelty of hearing a voice come out of a machine and can appreciate that the voice is new and different. The regular patter of nursery rhymes is particularly pleasing to a toddler's ear. For more ideas, see our recommended books and music for this age.

Train sets: Your toddler can use her new dexterity to link the cars and run the whole train around the house. She'll love seeing how it can take corners, and the difference between running it over a carpet and across a bare floor.

Washable crayons and paper: Your child is becoming more interested in making her own mark — on floors, walls, furniture. Clear a space for her to work, give her a big sheet of paper (tape it to the table) and a couple of crayons (you don't want to overwhelm her), and she'll get the idea that art has its place. Hang up whatever she makes for you. (See our article on writing and your toddler.)

Doctors Visit - Worksheet (18months) <--Click here

2011-03-08T12:00:00.002-05:00

HE DOCTOR WILL...

weigh and measure your child to make sure she's growing at a healthy rate.
give your toddler another round of immunizations (if she didn't get vaccines for DPT or DTaP, polio, or chicken pox at her 12-month checkup, she'll get immunized for them now).
address any health concerns that he notices. (Ear infections, colds, and the flu are common in toddlers, especially if they attend daycare or preschool, where they're exposed to many children.)
answer any questions you may have about toilet training or discipline.
give some insight into your toddler's development, temperament, and behavior.
look at your child's eyesight.
look at your child's hearing.

QUESTIONS THE DOCTOR MAY ASK

1. How is your child sleeping?
2. What are her eating habits?
3. Is your child showing any signs of toilet training readiness?
4. Is your child walking?
5. Has she been saying "no" a lot or throwing temper tantrums?
6. Is your child talking a lot?(
7. Does she respond to simple commands?
8. What games does she like to play?
9. Do you clean her teeth and gums?
10.Have you noticed anything unusual about your toddler's eyes or the way he looks at things?

Follow the link to get additional information.

Source: www.babycenter.com

Go Bananas!!!

2011-03-03T09:48:00.000-05:00

The Ultimate hunger buster... read the link above.

Source: www.yahoo.com

Arts and Crafts for your Toddler

2011-03-03T09:42:00.000-05:00

Kids Love Stickers
You can buy a package of stickers and a package of construction paper and help your toddler put the stickers on. They really enjoy the process, although they aren’t too interested in the finished product at this toddler stage. But they will have fun putting the stickers on, with your help.

Make a Collage
Buy a roll of clear contact paper. You can cut a piece and tape it to the surface of the table you’re working on. Your child can then easily make a collage with any kind of material that sticks on the contact paper, such as confetti. Your child will enjoy dribbling the confetti over the paper, and then pressing it down to make it stick. You can also rip up construction paper into smaller pieces and use that instead of confetti. When you are finished, place another piece of contact paper of the same size over the first one, and voila! You have a lovely work of art suitable for giving to Grandma or hanging on the refrigerator.

Play Dough and Finger Paint
The time period when children put everything they get hold of into their mouths seems to go on forever. But you can now make edible play dough and finger paints (not suitable if your child has nut allergies). Just be sure to let your toddler know that not all play dough is edible – or even worth tasting.

Edible Play Dough
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons powdered milk
Chocolate drink mix

Mix all the ingredients together until it makes a doughy consistency. Add enough drink mix so that the mixture is not sticky. Then the dough is ready for playtime.

Edible Finger Paints
1 small pack instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup water
Different colored food coloring

Mix the ingredients together and put into several containers. Add a different color food coloring to each pot and mix well. Start finger painting.

Just remember that an 18-month-old may love these activities, but they aren’t yet proud of their finished product. That comes later. So you can be the proud one and praise your child for her accomplishment!

Source:	www.parenting.com

Parent with Toddlers - Read and Learn

2011-01-30T22:34:00.000-05:00

9 mistakes parents make with toddlers
Source: www.webmd.com

Check out for Toddler to Two's Milestones

2011-01-30T22:27:00.000-05:00

Toddler-milestones-second-year

Source: www.webmd.com

Foods that Promote Happiness

2011-01-30T22:09:00.002-05:00

Foods that Promote Happiness
Source: Yahoo! Health

India Travel With Baby/Infant - My personal experience

2011-01-18T21:56:00.001-05:00

I traveled to India when my DS was 3months, accompanied by my DH and returned alone when he was 7months.

The best option is to carry your baby during travel is in a Baby Bjorn carrier
I would highly recommend - Baby Bjorn Carrier Active - Sporty
It provides great back support. Very easy for travel.
Useful for travel in India, as you cannot really use a stroller there.
Very convenient to keep baby close to you - in cold weather, or in crowded areas, its great to carry the little one to put him to sleep as well. It works like a charm.

There are always plenty of helpful people travelling on India flights... if anyone offers, take help and let them carry your baby for you... in turn u can tag along their stroller or anything. Ask and u will get help.

Next best option is a light weight stroller... something like this Dream on Me Featherlight Stroller
This stroller is light in weight and, can be checked in at the airplane gates.... this way u can use it all the way...and at ur stop-over destination too. If you have a child that is nearing his/her 12month mark or older, this is a great option.

Finger Foods

2010-10-12T20:57:00.001-04:00

Breakfast Bites
Bagel with butter or jelly/jam or cream cheese.
Pancakes
Muffins
Toast
Toast with butter or jam/jelly
English muffin
Dry Cereal - Cheerios
Eggs - scrambled, omelet, hard-boiled
Oatmeal - instant or rolled
waffles

Little Lunches
Sandwich - Cheese slice, deli meats
Pasta - Plain, butter/olive oil, cheese, sauce
Cooked Veggies
-Baby carrots
-Florets of cauliflower or Broccoli
-Asparagus and Green Beans
-Squash and Zucchini

Gerber graduate meals
Cooked cubes of Yam or sweet potatoBits of Chappati or wheat tortilla
Ravioli
Cheese cubes or String cheese

Fun Fruits
Melon - watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew
Cooked and cubed or Ready to eat from the store
-Apples, Pears, Plum, Peach
Cubes of Kiwi, Mango, Banana

Snacks - not too Sweet...not too Salty
Cookies Arrowroot and Banana
Yogurt - Gerber or Yo Baby
Puffs
Cheerios
Crunchies
Wagon wheels
biter biscuits
cheeze it
Graham crackers
animal crackers

Recipes for Toddlers

2010-10-06T10:56:00.000-04:00

Try out some great recipes for your growing Toddler...

Smashed Sweet potatoes with Cinnamon Yummy and filling!

Potato Pancakes OMG! Who doesn't love pacakes, right... Serve with boiled baby carrots or florets of cauliflower/broccoli.

Broccoli-Cheddar Cheese Nuggets ooee..gooey..cheesy...Yum!

Potato and Carrot mash with Salmon Salmon is the best source of essential fatty acids.

Home Remedies to soothe your child's cold and flu

2010-10-04T09:16:00.000-04:00

Great home remedies

Please add your own remedies as comments to this post.
Thanks.

Ideal Tips to follow.. Advice from a Doctor on IHM

2010-10-01T10:50:00.001-04:00

Its up to you and your beliefs to follow it or not but these are the ideal things to follow. I followed them...

1. Babies till 5months don't need anything other than Breast milk.
If you have enough milk to give its the best thing for baby.
It gives baby nutrition and immunity. Formula doesn't give immunity.
BREAST MILK IS PRECIOUS. http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020100.asp

2. You can start formula once a day to make baby aware of its taste by 4 months.
Also, if u have enough milk, introduce a bottle. You can use breast pump to increase your milk quantity.

3. Continue formula till 1 year. Start Whole milk only at Age 1.

4. Babies do not need water at all till you start babies on solids. Your supply of breast-milk alters itself to provide the required nourishment for your baby. Best indication of good hydration is 6-8 wet diapers or bowel movements per day.

5. For Gas...The trouble resolves once baby becomes 4-5 months old. Nothing helps much till that time. You can give mylicon. If at all you want to give gripe water check that there is no alcohol in it. Some Indian prep has alcohol in it.(Dee- From India I bought Carmicide for infants. In USA, you can get Little Tummies Gripe Water)

6. While starting solids by 5-6 months start with rice. May be rice cereals from US or our home made cooked rice-water(paze or kunji). Try it for 7 days. Give filtered/boiled water after solids.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032000.asp

7. Anytime adding new solids give 2-3 ml on first day...watch for the allergy...give it for 7 days and then introduce new food item. So that you can figure out allergic tendency of the baby.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t041800.asp#T041804

8. Avoid egg white till age 1. Boiled egg yolk maybe introduced at 10months.

9. If baby refuses any food keep on trying after a gap of 7-8 days. Eventually baby will accept it. Don't give up, even if its been 10 trials... try at different times of the day, in varied forms of foods.

10. Remember baby's digestive system is very immature, so it needs to be HANDLED WITH CARE

11. Any sign of bloating, diarrhea, restlessness, watery stool may be sign of allergy to that particular food. If you notice it after starting any new food stop giving it immediately and consult your doctor. Nothing will happen if you stop 1 food till doctors consultation. But if you continue to give it despite signs..baby may have serious troubles.

12. NO HONEY TILL 2 YR OF AGE. It can paralyse your baby lifelong called as infant botulism.
http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/fit17.asp

13. NO COW'S MILK until age 1. Many kids develop lactose intolerance.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t045700.asp

WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY AND SAFE MOTHERHOOD

Baby Massage and Oils.

2010-06-30T12:51:00.001-04:00

It is true from what I have heard and experienced with my own little DS and with my neice in India too.
As per my opinion, 9 out of 10 babies get rashes with J & J baby oil... Indians generally prefer using Parachute Coconut oil, its what your mom or mil will advice you to use. Some say that coconut oil makes the skin dark, and so opt for Almond oil available at Indian stores.
Figaro Olive Oil from India.
Sesame seed oil.
Burt Bees oil.
PED's recommend to avoid coconut oil in the winters as it harden and does not wash off easily from the skin and may cause rash for babies. So you could go for Olive oil for winter and coconut oil for the summer.
you can use any brand of extra virgin olive oil.

Click below:
Guideline on How to Massage your baby.

DIARRHEA

2010-06-15T12:38:00.000-04:00

Relevant and reliable information for Diarrhea in babies.

http://www.indiaparenting.com/articles/data/art10_001.shtml

Reviews from Moms - on Home-made baby food.

2010-06-01T15:30:00.000-04:00

=> Not eating veggies:
Mix it in with Fruits or Cereal.

=> Best Preparations are to Steam or Roast
Puree and Pour into small container
Fridge = 5days, Freeze = 3months

=>No need to purchase new containers.
Wash and reuse Gerber boxes.

=>Veggie Pulav
Rice+Lentils+ 2/3veggies(carrots, peas, green beans)+Veg Stock or Whole spices+Salt.
Pressure cook and blend if required.

Tasty Toddle Bites

2010-05-25T14:30:00.000-04:00

Its all about Texture and Presentation. Tiny Tots love pretty and cool looking stuff... colourful too.

Similar food that you did from 6 to 12months... Pimp it up and serve it up, 12 to 24months, or older.

APPY-CHEESE

Cut the Apple into Half, then quarter. Remove the Core. Peel if required.

Cut each Quarter into three, so that u get thin slices.

Arrange on a small plate, in the shape of a Fan.

Alternate the Apple slices with Cheddar Cheese Slices.

For older kids, you can also put in 1tbsp of smooth Peanut butter.

SUMMER FUN

It that time of the Year.. oh yeah! Melon Magic.

Get a melon-baller.

Use a combo of any of the following :

Cantaloupe, Honey-dew, Water-melon.

For older kids or adults, top with whipped cream, chopped nuts, chocolate syrup.

You may add Grapes or berries too.

KIWI KUPS

Just cut in Half, and serve with a spoon.
For smaller babies, mash with a fork.

First Foods

2010-05-19T15:09:00.000-04:00

No Cooking required.
Unsuitable for freezing.

AVOCADO
Great source of Vitamin E and Boosts the immune system.
Cut in half. Remove the pit. Scoop the Flesh. Mash.
Serve plain or with breast/formula milk.

BANANA
Provide energy, treats diarrhea and constipation.
Make sure its Ripe. Mash with a fork. Initially mix with milk to provide a familiar taste.

PAPAYA
Contains Papain - an enzyme that breaks down protein.helps to boost digestion as well as improve indigestion. Rich in Vit C. Provides soluble Fiber - important for normal bowel function.
Peel. Remove the black seeds. Puree or Mash the flesh until smooth.

The above 3 may be combined as well.

The list below are suitable for Freezing.
CARROT PUREE
Carrots are more nutritious when cooked with a little fat. A dab of unsalted butter may be used.
Cook the carrots until soft. Puree to the desired consistency.

APPLES OR PEARS
Good to offer to babies if babies has loose stools.
Chop and pu into a sauce-pan. Add a little water. Cover and cook on low heat until tender. Blend to a smooth puree. Serve lukewarm.
A pinch of Cinnamon may be added for taste.

BROCCOLI
Cut only the florets. Steam or microwave. Makes a great combo with Sweet potato, rutabaga, butternut squash or pumpkin.

SWEET POTATO
Cut into cubes. Cook. Mash. Makes a great combo with Milk, spinach, peas.

India Travel With Baby/Infant - Important Items

2010-05-19T10:45:00.002-04:00

This journey could prove quite challenging if you are not fully prepared.

Have a List of Items:
Cabin Bag/Diaper Bag (most airlines allow one Cabin bag + shoulder bag as diaper bag)
Changing Pad
Diapers - Wipes - Desitin(diaper rash cream)
Bottles - Bowls - spoon - bib - get paper towels from the airplane
You can carry water in sippy cups or your own water bottle (its allowed)
package/sealed bottled water is not allowed through security
Sealed jars/boxes of Gerber(or any other) foods are allowed - these stay good for upto24hours once opened. formula and scoop.
Milk - Whole milk available on flight. Ask for it. They could warm it up too. You may carry single serve packs of milk too. do not over-load.
toys - to keep baby busy
carry a blanket or two of your own.
a set of extra clothing for baby and yourself
Keep it light... don't over load on items.

In India
Formula/Milk substitute - Lactogen
Cereal - Easum (rice+dal) can be started at 4-6months and given right uptil 12months.
Nestum - a product of Nestle - has 3 stages - 3 flavors - available at any pharmacy
If you go into shopping malls/super store - you will find jars of food too.
Though if your baby is already eating Gerber or the like from here/ you can take some jars.
Home-made foods too are ok. Par-boil water. sterilize bottles well.
dress your child appropriately.
Recipes given under "healthy menus