Breast Feeding Protects Your Babies

Your breast milk changes as your baby grows – Colostrum changes into what is called mature milk. By the third to fifth day after birth, this mature breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein to help your baby continue to grow. It is a thinner type of milk than colostrum, but it provides all of the nutrients and antibodies your baby needs.

• Early breast milk is liquid gold – This is known as colostrum that is thick yellow in colour. That first breast milk that you make during pregnancy and just after baby birth. This milk is very rich in antibodies and nutrients to protect health and growth of your baby. Although your baby only gets a small amount of colostrum at each feeding, it matches the amount of his or her tiny stomach.

• Breast milk is easier to digest – For most babies, especially premature babies ,breast milk is easier to digest than formula. The proteins in formula are made from cow’s milk and it takes time for babies’ stomachs to adjust to digesting them.
• Breast milk fights disease – The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk protect babies from illness. This protection is unique; formula cannot match the chemical makeup of human breast milk. In fact, among formula-fed babies, ear infections and diarrhoea are more common.
  Breast milk protects your baby from illness and infection and promotes brain development.
• It is very easily digested and changes daily to meet your baby’s nutritional needs. It also helps in other ways. Breastfeeding creates a close emotional bond between you and your baby. It improves your baby’s oral and facial development. And it lowers your risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer later in life.By breastfeeding, you are doing something only you can do for your baby and giving baby the very best.

Breastfeeding is  very important during infancy and childhood because of its effect on growth and development. Many of the important ingredients in breast milk are not found in artificial baby milk.

How To Dine Out With Kids

It's easy to see why many parents of young children avoid restaurants and prefer to eat at home, where thrown food will hit only members of the immediate family. But sometimes it's necessary and even fun  to eat out. If you have a 2 to 4year-old and you're still uneasy about dining out, these suggestions will help:

Before you go

• Pack a bag of tricks. Bring a variety of reliable amusements, including favourite books, games, and (quiet) toys. If you know you'll need to fill an hour, overestimate and bring two hours' worth of goodies.

If your child is especially energetic and restless, pack a couple of new, small toys that will hold his interest (at least until the food arrives). It's also a good idea to throw in a few favourite snacks, in case the food is slow to arrive or not to your child's liking (just because he loves the mac 'n' cheese at home doesn't mean he'll eat the restaurant version).

• Pick the right restaurant. Choose a child-friendly restaurant, preferably one casual and loud enough to absorb any noise your family might make. Make a reservation if possible, so you don't have to wait to be seated.
• If you're new to eating out with kids, consider working your way gradually up the food chain by practicing good behaviour in a basic burger joint, where manners matter less to those around you. Buffets are great for families with small children.kids like the wide selection, and everyone is walking around, so no one minds (or even notices) you taking short forays with your pre-schooler.
• Set some ground rules, and enforce them at home. Young children are creatures of habit. If you establish realistic, age-appropriate guidelines at home, you're more likely to see your child following the rules when dining out.
• Go early. Be among the first to arrive for the breakfast, lunch, or dinner hour and you'll be seated and served more quickly. Quicker service means less "gap time" between ordering and food arrival or between courses and less gap time means less time for your active pre-schooler to get rambunctious.
• Treat eating out as a reward. To motivate your child to maintain some decorum in public, make eating out a special event where good behaviour is not only expected but required.

source(babycenter)

Cradle Cap–Home Remedies

The good news about cradle cap is the fact that you can do some home remedies to help get rid of it. One thing that you may want to do is try to massage your baby’s scalp with some vegetable oil. All you need to do is leave the oil in the baby’s scalp for about 15 minutes.
After that, you can wash off the oil, and you should see a small improvement. Other people like to use things like lavender oil as well on their baby’s head. This can help remove some redness from your baby’s scalp. Last, but not least, using a teabag on your baby’s head is a good idea. Some of the best teabags that you can use are things like meadow sweet and, of course, comfrey root. Other people like to use slippery elm. No matter what you use, you can bet that it will be able to help cure your baby’s cradle cap faster.
Conclusion Overall, cradle cap is something that can happen to any baby. You can use a lot of different home remedies for cradle cap, but the best thing that you can do is wait it out. After all, cradle cap home remedies can speed the process along, but it will not get rid of it overnight. Cradle cap is something that can go on for months at a time. If it does not go away, then you might want to contact your doctor to see what the problem is. Cradle cap cures are not hard to find, and they can be affective.

Lipstick Techniques and Tips

No make up is complete without some lip colour. Whether it is lipstick,lip gloss or just a slick of lip liner to balance heavy and beautiful eye looks and give focus to face. When using more neutral eye shades.
So here are some best lipstick tips and techniques which adds more beauty to your lips.
Step 1: Using your finger, rub a balm / moisturizer or foundation first into your lips.

step 2: Choose a beautiful colour and apply a light coat to your lips with your finger and rub in.
Step 3: Using your finger, dab a very small amount of lip gloss onto the middle of your bottom lip.
Now using a soft, deep beautiful colour lip liner outline your lips,rub in with your finger then apply gloss. This gives more definition and fuller lips whilst still maintaining that natural look. Lipstick tips like this are worth trying.

Cradle Cap

Babies can have a lot of problems when they are first born. One of these problems is known as cradle cap. This is when babies are born with infantile seborrhoea dermatitis. This is more commonly called cradle cap. For the most part, it just looks like a scaly patch on your baby’s head. The main thing to remember about this problem is that it is not serious at all.

If your baby is going to get cradle cap it will normally come about within just a few months of when it is first born. For most people, they find that simply curing it yourself is the best bet. Doing this, like washing your baby’s scalp daily with shampoo, can help. If you can not get rid of the cradle cap in a few weeks, then you need to go see your doctor.
Prevalence
Any baby can get cradle cap. Although it is not the most common thing in the world, it is something that you have to look out for. Some of the main signs that you have to look for are things like a scaling head. However, if your baby is one of the few to get it, remember, it is nothing to go crazy over. This is something that can be taken care of pretty easily.
Symptoms
When you are looking for cradle cap on your baby, there are some main symptoms that you need to look out for. The first things that you should look for are things like a patch of scaling or thick crust on your baby’s head. Sometimes it is not just scaling, however. You may notice that it is greasy skin that has some flaky white or yellow scales. Other things that you may need to look for would be, of course, skin flakes and dandruff or some mild redness. Although cradle cap looks bad, it is nothing that is wrong with your baby. This just happens from time to time, and it is something that can be treated.
Diagnosis
You should be able to diagnosis cradle cap yourself. However, if you want your doctor to take a look at it, he will do an exam on your baby’s head. Usually this is just a visual exam, because there is not much that your doctor can do about this condition. All you can do is wait it out, and make sure that you take care of it. However, there are some things that you can do to make the cradle cap to go faster.
Treatment
The main thing to remember about cradle cap is the fact that it normally does not require any kind of medical treatment. When your baby has cradle cap it will go away within a few months of having it. Of course, in the meantime, you are able to do a few things to help your baby. For example, if you wash your baby’s head with shampoo, then it will help remove some of the scales. If you notice that the shampooing does not help, then you might want to call your doctor. He should be able to give you some more tips on how you can help. If you do not want to do that, then you might want to use some of the home remedies for cradle cap that we are about to talk about.

Straighten your tresses

Follow these special tips to get silky, smooth locks without damaging your hair.

Most of us are born with naturally wavy hair and while waves and curls can be beautiful too, majority of women lust after a straight mane. Aside from the option of permanently straightening your locks through a chemical process, there are other techniques and treatments that can help you get a smooth, frizz-free look.

• The easiest way to straighten your hair is by blow drying it. After a hair wash, towel dry your hair and then apply some leave-in conditioner (for dry hair) and a heat-protective product. You get plenty of creams and even hair sprays in the market that will help minimise the damage and give some shine. Take a round brush and starting at the hairline, blow dry your hair section by section. Don't move the hairdryer nozzle much as this can harm the cuticle.

• A quick blast of cold air to finish off and a frizz-fighting serum and you're good to go. A faster way to get your hair straight is by using a straightening iron. It definitely gives a more sleek look, but may not last as long as a blow dry due to the humidity in air. Here you will have to take your hair in small sections and pass it through the iron. It's advisable to ensure that your hair has been deep-conditioned before as this can dry it out. Utilise a heat-protective product or even a straightening balm. Always adjust the temperature of the iron and make sure your locks aren't getting burned.
• Once you have achieved the look you desire, it's important to try and keep your hair looking that way for a few days. Try using a small amount of hair spray. Another option is using a serum and frizz-controlling balm every morning. Apply a small coin-sized amount, it will give lots of shine and smoothen the hair.Taking good care of your hair is essential as well. Regular spa or hot oil treatments will help keep the locks hydrated and make it easier to style later on.

Sourec(timesofindia)

7 Things To TAKE CARE, For WOMAN

EYELIDS: Check your upper eyelids for tiny yellowish bumps clustered together. These could be cholesterol deposits.
NOSE: A 'butterfly rash' i.e. a rash that is shaped like a tiny little butterfly at the bridge of your nose is a sign of a connective tissue disease or Lupus. While it doesn't make you look pretty, it is also a multi-organ disease that can affect your vital organs. It can strike at any age, but females are more prone to it than males.
MOUTH: If you notice a discoloration, about two shades lighter than your normal lip colour around the angles of your mouth, then you could be suffering from Vitamin B deficiency. Based on a blood test, your doctor may suggest a change in diet and/or vitamin supplements.
FINGERS: Are the tips of your fingers swollen? This is medically referred to as 'clubbing of fingers'. It could signal chronic lung disorder.
NAILS: Do you have depressions smack in the middle of your nails? It could signal iron deficiency. This too is more common in women than men. Supplements or a changed diet will take care of the problem.
LEGS: If you have a flattish rash on the inner side of your leg, above the ankle, it could signal a thyroid problem. And contrary to popular belief, men are prone to it too.
NATURE CALLS: If you are visiting the toilet frequently, especially after dark, you need to be tested for diabetes. Diabetes affects a host of organs and all it takes to detect it is a simple blood test.

LESS SLEEP, MORE TV MAKE KIDS FAT.

Lack of sleep and excessive TV watching are increasing the ‘waist circumference’ of young urban children. A study conducted by a team of nutritionists at St John's Research Institute found that 22% of children between 3 years and 10 years and 15% children between 10 and 16 years are overweight / obese respectively.

The study looked at 8,444 children (4707 between 3 and 10 years and 3737 between 10 and 16 years) in Bangalore based on the frequency of consumption of certain food, physical activity, sedentary habits at home, sleep duration, watching TV, frequency of eating out, etc. The research papers were submitted to the Indian Paediatrics association last year. 

The results found that increase in waist circumference (obesity) of children was directly related to lack of sleep, watching television while eating, snacking between meals and maternal obesity. "With regard to physical activity, increased duration of TV viewing and decreased duration of sleep contributed to increase in waist circumference in both groups of children. Maternal BMI (Body Mass Index) too was a strong contributor in both groups. 

Says Dr Priyanka Rohatgi, president, Indian Dietetic Association, Bangalore chapter and chief clinical nutritionist, Apollo Hospital: “Lack of sleep adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. Going to bed earlier will actually help your body maintain proper hormonal balance. Sleep loss is currently proposed to disturb endocrine regulation of energy homeostasis leading to weight gain and obesity. A reduction of sleep duration to 4 hours for two consecutive nights has recently been shown to decrease circulating leptin levels and to increase ghrelin (hormones controlling weight) levels, as well as self-reported hunger.” 

   The study found that decreased sleep was strongly related to waist circumference and likely due to homework, tuitions and TV viewing in older children. "Shorter sleep is a risk factor for obesity in children through modulation of leptin and grehlin," noted the researchers. 

    Explains Dr Rohatgi: "Too little sleep may cause weight gain by way of two hormones. Firstly, lack of sleep may decrease leptin levels in fat cells. Lowered leptin levels can block feelings of satiety and encourage eating more. Secondly, sleep deprivation increases ghrelin in the gastrointestinal tract, which stimulates appetite.

THE WAIST NEVER LIES: Sedentary Habits Are A Bane For Urban Children.

(Source: Division of nutrition and department of paediatrics, St. John's Research Institute).

Image & article source: The Times of India

A Guide to Diapering For 12 - 24 Months

12 – 18 months

• By now you’ve probably settled into a pretty comfortable diapering routine with a preferred disposable brand and/or a reliable cloth diapering system.
• Your toddler is definitely on the move now, which requires a stretchy, durable diaper that will keep up.
• You’ll probably start to notice that your toddler is dry for a longer period in between diaper changes, which means less leaking and fewer diapers.
• Some parents start to gear up for potty training as they near the 18-month mark, but don’t worry if you don’t feel ready quite yet. You might want to buy a potty seat just to get him or her acquainted with it.

18 – 24 months +

• Start looking for signs that your baby is ready to take the big potty plunge (if you haven’t already), and read up on different tactics and advice.
• Some parents swear that using cloth diapers helps in the potty training process because kids can better feel when they’re wet, while others go straight to underwear to make toilet use almost necessary. If you want a more gradual potty training process, many parents prefer potty training pants that are more like a diaper than underwear. Find whichever method works best for you and your child.
• If you round the 24-month mark and your little (or not-so-little) one is no where near being potty trained, take a deep breath and realize that different children might be potty – ready  at different times. They all get there eventually.

A Guide to Diapering for 3 - 12 Months

3 – 5 months

• Your baby will still be producing a lot of wet diapers and having multiple bowel movements a day, yet could very possibly be sleeping for longer stretches of time at night. If your little one is leaking through his or her clothes, try overnight diapers for more absorbency.
• As your baby’s bowel movements diminish and become less explosive, now might be an easier time to switch to cloth diapers.
• Some find that cloth diapers fit better and are more absorbent, while others still prefer overnight disposables for night-time leaking. This is going to be a trial-and-error period in finding what works best.
• If you’re already sick of using diapers, look into the method called”elimination communication” which requires you to be in tune with your baby’s bathroom cues and basically anticipate when he or she needs to urinate or pass a bowel movement. It might sound intense and overwhelming but a lot of families find it to be very successful.

6 – 12 months

• Once your baby starts solids, you’ll find that everything changes down there. On the plus side, stools eventually become more solid, which means less liquid mess with cloth diapers. On the downside, there’s definitely a more offensive, human-like odour and larger loads.
• Your baby is also more prone to diaper rash as more foods are introduced into his or her system, so really keep on top of changing your little one.
• And as your baby starts to become more mobile — creeping, crawling and cruising — you’ll want a more flexible diaper with strong tabs.
• Some will warn that potty training before the 12-month mark can cause a harder potty training yet others believe that all babies should be potty trained by the time they are one year old. With all of the contradictory information out there, it’s obvious that both potty training methods will work depending on your approach, commitment and most importantly child.

A Guide to Diapering For New Borns

Age-By-Age Diapering Guide
New-borns

• Many parents opt to use disposable diapers during the early new-born phase, simply because of the overwhelming amount of dirty diapers that characterise the early weeks
• If you choose disposables, know that many brands call their new-born line “Swaddlers”.

• They make diapers that have a color-changing strip to help parents easily detect wet diapers.
• Look for diapers with an umbilical cord cut-out for those early days.
• Before coming home from the hospital, have both the new-born and size 1 diapers on hand, because you never know how big your baby will be at birth.
• Because some babies are born close to over 8-pound limit, putting them in size 1 to begin with.
• Don't buy diapers of same size 1 because you might want to try out different brands before settling one.

Barbie Dolls In Sari

Trimming Your Baby Nails

Some new-born’s enter the world with fingernails so long that they need to be cut right away to prevent them from scratching their faces. Expect your new-born's nails to grow very fast and don't be afraid to cut them. If you're timid about cutting your baby's fingernails, as many parents are, here's how to make it easier:

• Trim your baby's fingernails while baby is in a state of deep sleep, recognized by the limp-limb sign: Baby's limbs dangle limply, and the hands are wide open.
• Use a miniature nail clipper designed especially for babies. They are much easier and safer than scissors or adult-sized clippers, and baby's paper-thin nails are so easy to cut anyway. If not using a nail clipper, use safety scissors with blunt ends in case baby startles during the cutting.
• To avoid snipping the fingertip skin as you clip the nail, depress the finger pad away from the nail as you cut. As a beginning nail cutter, have your spouse hold baby's hand while you manipulate the finger and the nail clipper. After a while you will be able to trim baby's nails by yourself.
• Drawing a drop of blood is part of learning nail trimming. Apply a bit of pressure and a dab of antibiotic ointment to the little nip.
• If you're squeamish about cutting tiny nails, cover them with cotton mittens.

A baby's toenails do not seem to grow as fast, and quite often the nails are surrounded with heaped-up skin, making trimming difficult. Don't worry that the toenails may grow into this skin. Ingrown toenails are rarely a problem in infants.

source(ask dr sears)