Pumpkin-daddy misses you

India did this to me.

Baby Mischa

Here is the Desai family's little darling.



for more pictures click here

Babies and omega 3 fatty acids

"Omega 3 fatty acids are important for the baby's developing eyes and brain," says Dr. Sheila Innis, head of the nutrition and metabolism program at the Child & Family Research Institute at BC Children's Hospital, and professor, department of pediatrics, University of British Columbia.

"During pregnancy and breastfeeding, fat consumed by the mum is transferred to the developing baby and breastfed infant, and this fat is important for the baby's developing organs. Researchers found that the women who ate lots of meat and little fish were deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and their babies didn't do as well on eye tests as babies from mothers who weren't deficient. The results were noticeable as early as two months of age. After the babies were born, researchers did vision tests to evaluate the infants' ability to distinguish lines of different widths. It's an innovative way of evaluating neurological maturity in babies who are unable to talk. Since the eyes are connected to the brain, they reflect the brain's development.
For better health, it's important for pregnant and nursing mums -- and all of us -- to eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, eggs, and fish while minimizing consumption of processed and prepared foods.

Credit:sciencedaily.com

Jaundice and newborns

If you are anxious that your newborn is a bit yellow or the doctors cite Jaundice, do not stress out.
"Jaundice refers literally to the yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes of babies who have high bilirubin levels in their blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigmented chemical that is released from red blood cells.
Newborns have a higher red blood cell mass than older babies. So as those red blood cells break down, they release the bilirubin and there is more bilirubin in the blood. Newborns also have an immature liver, and the bilirubin is processed in a complex manner, but it requires the liver. So the combination of the increased red blood cell mass and the immaturity of the liver means that more is being produced and less is being excreted.
Breastfeeding jaundice is the result of the fact that mothers who exclusively breastfeed their babies do typically have a little less volume of milk to offer in the first few days as their volume of milk supply is building. These babies are slightly dehydrated and they take in slightly fewer calories than a formula-fed baby.
Phototherapy:
The way that works is it takes advantage of the fact that the bilirubin makes its way out of the blood and into the baby's skin. When the skin is exposed to a particular wavelength of light that is in the blue range of the spectrum, it transforms the bilirubin into another chemical that is harmless and easier for the baby to excrete. The phototherapy tends to be only needed for a couple of days and babies usually go home without any long-term medical concerns.
the babies get cool shades protecting their eyes.
Getting jaundice is no biggie as most babies do get it. One thing that helps is exposing the baby to natural sunlight as much as possible in the first couple of days. Remember billirubin levels are looked at using an index which factors in the babies age and weight.

Credit: cnn/health

Mischa is here!!

Mischa arrives healthy & happy- monday March'17th @10:53 p.m
Congratulations!! to the proud parents

The way kids grow

For starters, healthy kids come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and they don't grow at a steady rate, either.

Your child can look very different from your friends' kids -- or from his own siblings at the same age -- and still be completely normal.

What influences growth

At birth: A baby's size when he's born is based partly on genetics. Firstborns tend to be smaller than subsequent children because the uterus is smaller and tighter in first-time moms.

Boys are larger than girls, and multiples, boys and girls, are smaller than average.

Some environmental factors that can influence a newborn's size:

• the mother's weight -- very heavy women tend to have larger babies

• weight gain during pregnancy -- a very low gain (under ten pounds) usually means a smaller baby

• whether or not Mom smokes or drinks a lot of caffeine -- both of which can limit an unborn baby's growth

• a mom's chronic illness -- diabetics, for instance, often have very large babies.

During the first two years: A baby's growth is based on a combination of her birth size and the size she's genetically programmed to be: A small newborn who's going to be a big child will grow faster in the first two years than a big baby who's going to be a small child.

Credit: cnn.com/health

FIND THE APPROPRIATE GROWTH CHARTS HERE

Glass bottles are coming back!!

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a manmade chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, the material used to make most baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic food containers. Americans are widely exposed to BPA, but opinions on its safety are mixed.

The Food and drug adminstration says current uses with food are safe. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says animal testing has shown that BPA has hormone-like effects on the reproductive system. The CDC says more study is needed to see if it could be harming people.

Some pediatricians advise families to use alternatives to polycarbonate bottles to be on the safe side.

"I can't assure parents that it's safe, and I would not use that for my own babies," said Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician and author of "Raising Baby Green." "There are a number of BPA free bottles, and I also love glass bottles."

As parents turn to glass, manufacturers are responding with new versions of the old-fashioned favorite.

Babies "R" Us had a dramatic increase in glass bottle sales in the spring of 2007 and current sales are more than five times what they were a year ago, the company said, without releasing figures.

Credit: By LISA A. FLAM, Associated Press Writer, Yahoo news.

Dare to question your pediatrician?

Since pediatricians don't always make that distinction clear, here are examples of five parenting issues where there's plenty of room to disagree with the pediatrician.

1. 'Don't pick up your baby in the middle of the night'

Dr. Joyce Zmuda, a pediatrician in private practice in Owings Mills, Maryland, says she tells patients there's lots of "wiggle room" on this issue. "They have to first understand that if they go to their baby in the middle of the night, they're creating an expectation that the parent will always be there when they cry," she says. "But if they understand that and just can't stand to hear the baby crying and want to go to them, that's fine with me. It's a personal decision."

2. 'Baby should be at home with Mom'

"There's been a whole debate about this in the psychological literature," Dr Needlman says. "And the bottom line is that the timing of the day care isn't as important as the quality of the day care. Poor-quality day care is bad for a kid at any age, as is poor-quality home care."

He says that if your pediatrician tells you it's best for your child to stay at home, this is just an opinion.

3. 'Don't give your baby 'triple nipple confusion''

Dr. Laura Jana, Shu's co-author of the newborn book and of "Food Fights," a nutrition book for parents and kids, says some newborns do experience nipple confusion, so she offers this advice: "I tell them if they're concerned about nipple confusion, they can do just breastfeeding for a week or two to make sure their baby's getting the hang of it, and then if everything's working OK, try a paci or a bottle if they want."

4. 'Your baby must eat solid foods by 6 months'

The standard advice for parents is to start their babies on solids sometime between 4 and 6 months of age. But if your baby's that age and isn't interested in real food and wants to get all his calories by breast milk or formula, there's no reason to panic, Shu says. "Some are just slower to take to the textures of food and want just the bottle or the breast."

5. 'You must take the pacifier away'

Some pediatricians get very opinionated about the age at which to wean a child off the pacifier. But experts say as long as it's not interfering with the child's speech, or causing dental problems, it's OK to let a child soothe herself with a pacifier.

Credit: cnn.com

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Babies and solid food

Many parents are anxious to be able to share their own regular people-food with their baby.

However, it is important to know when your baby is ready for solid foods.

During those first three months of life, formula or breast milk will be all that your baby needs. By around 4 months old, you can begin to introduce solid foods to your baby. Some health care providers recommend waiting until the age of 6 months, so it is best to check with your health care provider. Some signs that your baby is ready for solids include:

- Baby is able to support her own head.

- Baby is interested in food; she watches you eat, stares at your food.

- Baby’s tongue-thrusting reflex is gone or has greatly subsided.

Once you’ve got the OK for solids, its time to introduce cereal. You might use a bit of iron-fortified infant rice cereal, and mix it with either formula or with breast milk. Don’t add cereal to the bottle unless your health care provider suggests that you do so. After he’s got the hang of cereal, you can begin to introduce a pureed fruit or vegetable. Always introduce a little at a time, so that you can help identify potential food allergies.

At the age of around 7 months to 1 year, it is time to explore table foods. you might introduce meats or foods with coarser textures that might require more chewing. You can use pre-packaged foods, or you can mash up food that you serve to the whole family. Make sure that the pieces are not too big, so as to reduce the risk of choking.

Cow’s milk, eggs, honey, and citrus fruits or juices should wait until after your baby’s first birthday. Sometime around your first birthday, she should be able to give up formula. Many women choose to stop breastfeeding at this age as well.

At around 15 to 18 months, your will begin learning how to pick up foods and get them into their mouths, even eventually using utensils. During this time, you might transition to a cup. Again, it is important to avoid foods that present a choking hazard, and it is important to introduce foods one at a time to rule out allergies.

Before you know it, your baby will be eating right along with the rest of the family. In time, she’ll even learn to get the majority of her food into her mouth!

credit:laboroflove.com

To Vaccinate or not?

For those convinced that vaccines can cause autism, the sad case of a Georgia girl, daughter of a doctor and lawyer, seems like clear-cut evidence. The government has agreed to pay the girl's family for injury caused by vaccines. The 9-year-old girl, Hannah Poling, had an underlying condition that may have been worsened, triggering her autism-like symptoms.

Her parents believe it was the five simultaneous vaccines she got as a toddler in one day eight years ago that did it. Government scientists say something like a fever or infection could have set off the problem -- but they didn't rule out the vaccines either. Rest of the story @ link

Source: CNN News

What ever the actual reason maybe, it def is a concern when getting multiple vaccinations especially when an infant is trying to catch up on missed ones. Pays to get them when they are due and pray that your child is not the one exception to the many benefits of these vaccines.

Sign language and Infants

Credit: Excerpts from humanhand.com

"Baby sign language is rapidly becoming very popular with many of today's new parents. This early method of communication has so much potential, both positive and negative, that I feel compelled to share some of what I've learned about hand signs for babies.

There are many different versions and styles of baby sign language, but they all have one thing in common - They provide a way for parent and child to communicate with each other long before the infant is capable of speaking. Babies hand signing works because the child can control some of their hand movements long before they can do much with their vocal cords.

Non-verbal communication is very important to a child's early development. It gives them practice in sharing their needs, and lets them exert some degree of control over their own environment. Simply put, non-verbal communication provides an alternative to the usual frustration and crying (which also means a LOT less stress for the parents).

Non-verbal signing is also a great way to understand what's going on in your child's mind. Most children are able to start using a few different signs by the time they are 7 or 8 months old, and can have a vocabulary of more than 50 "words" by their first birthday.

Babies can start using hand signs as early as about 7 months, but what about for even younger infants? In the same way that an infant can communicate with their hands before their vocal cords, they can control the lips and tongue long before the hands. You can start with 1 or 2 "lip signs" almost from the time they are born.

The way to teach your child to sign is very simple. Just use any sign along with the verbal word every time you say it. Repeat, repeat, repeat - Keep using the same sign every single time you say the word. The child learns that this is the normal way to communicate. You don't need to use any "official" sign language - You just need a sign that is easy enough for the baby to do physically, and simple enough for you to remember. Some good early ones to start with are puckering the lips as a sign for "milk", poking out the tongue for "teething ring", and blowing air for "hot".

Once your child starts using the signs, gradually keep adding new "words", but make sure they are ones that are important to your child. Some very good ones are "more" (probably the most frequently used sign by infants), "good", "cup/drink", "bonk/ouch", "hot", "cold", and "all gone". Remember that you can use any sign at all, as long as you keep each one consistant for each word. The more obvious a sign's meaning is, the easier it will be to remember. Point to the different body parts as you name them. As your child develops, they will make up some new signs on their own.

For most parents, signing is just a temporary phase until the verbal skills develop. Repetition is the key to quicker learning, as long as you keep it fun, and don't be concerned if the signs aren't "proper" sign language. As long as you and your child are learning to communicate with each other, any sign will work."

Games to play with your baby

4 to 6 months:

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere
There's something magical about bubbles, and at this point your baby can see far enough away to focus on them. Blow bubbles when she's getting fussy and watch the tears dry up. Blow bubbles in the bathtub or out on the porch when it's late afternoon and your baby is cranky. Bubbles are unbelievably cheap, easily transportable, and endlessly fascinating for babies.

I'm Gonna Get You!
Your baby is old enough to have a sense of anticipation now. And no baby can resist your coming at her mock-menacingly with a threat of hugs, kisses, or tickles. Here's what you could say: "Hey, Sanav! I see you over there sitting up! Well, that just makes you closer to my lips and I'm going to come over there and kiss you! I'm going to steal a kiss, baby! I'm coming! I'm coming! I...gotcha!" Then cover your baby in smooches.

This Little Wullu
Touch your baby's toes in turn, starting with the big toe. Say, "This little wullu went to market, this little wullu stayed home, this little wullu had chicken, this little wullu had none. And this little wullu went kwee-kwee-kwee all the way home."

As you say that last part, run your fingers up your baby's belly. This game is useful for putting on socks and shoes or distracting your baby during diaper changes. You can also play this game in the bathtub with a squirt bottle targeting your baby's toes.

Tummy Time
By now, your doctor's probably nagging you to get your baby on her tummy, and your baby may be protesting vociferously.

Get down on the floor with your baby. Look her in the eye as you lie on your own belly. Lay your baby down on a towel and use it to gently roll her from side to side. Try saying, "Aklum buklum-boo, Aklum-buklum-boo" as you roll her.

Fly, Baby, Fly!
Now that your baby can hold her head up, it's time to hoist her into the air. You can play that she's a rocket ship, flying her over you and making realistic rocket noises (dads are great at this). You can play that your baby is in an elevator, which advances up floor by floor before sinking quickly to the bottom.

7 to 9 months :

Touchy, Holdy, Bang bang.
If your baby has one object, he'll bang it on the table. If he has two objects, he'll bang them together, hold them up to the light, squint at them, bang them separately on the table, hit the table with both at the same time, see if the object sounds different when hit using the left hand rather than the right hand, and on and on.
Help him out by handing over objects that make interesting sounds: hollow containers, metal spoons & bells.

I Can Control the World
Babies love cause and effect at this age, as in: I do this, the light comes on. I do that, the light goes off. Showing your baby how to work light switches, remote controls, cell phones, and more will thrill him — but can make life more difficult for you when he insists on being held up to work the lights yet again.

Instead, you may want to offer a toy phone or remote to satisfy his craving for control, or a jack-in-the-box to provide a thrillingly surprising result. Or, let him manage his environment by filling a low-lying cabinet or drawer with safe objects and letting your baby rummage around. Make sure there are no sharp edges or other dangers

Obstacle Course
If your baby's crawling, scooting, or walking, he may enjoy the challenge of having to move over things. (This is great for developing his motor skills, too.) Pillows, phone books, tired parents, and laundry make good obstacles. Sleeping cats do not make good obstacles.

Roll Play
Babies are fascinated by balls and how they move. You'll get a big laugh by juggling or tossing balls up in the air and letting them hit the floor while you make a silly sound effect: "Whoops!" Roll a soft ball toward your baby and watch him grab and squeeze it. Eventually, with encouragement, he'll roll the ball back toward you. And someday he'll be able to kick and toss the ball or drop it into a big bowl or bucket. For now, bounce and roll.

Variations on Peek-a-boo
The classic: Hold up a towel between your face and your baby's and ask, "Where's Sanav? There's Sanav!" over and over again. You can vary this game in a million ways. Hide behind a door and make your baby push it open to see you. Hide behind a chair and pop out first from above then from the sides. Go behind a corner with another person and alternate who jumps out and yells "Boo!"
Keep a selection of hats behind the couch and pop up wearing a different one each time. A surefire laugh-getter is to put a hat on your head, hiding your eyes, and let your baby take it off, saying "Oh!" in surprise each time he does it. (This will also guarantee that you'll never wear a hat in peace again.)

Credit: Joyce Lollar @ babycenter.com

Polycarbonate milk bottles

Do not use polycarbonate bottles (the really transparent and slightly brittle bottles) they contain a chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA) which has been observed to be leeching into baby bottles.
Use a glass bottle or regular plastic(slightly translucent and more flexible) bottles. Some companies indicate that their bottles are BPA free on the label. Pay attention.
Sanav uses glass bottles that can be easily sterilized and cleaned(old school)

Here is the link(click) to the National Institute of healths website. Scroll down all the way to the bottom for their recommendations.

Growth charts

0-36 months:
boys: length and weight
boys: head circumference
girls: length and weight
girls: head circumference

2-20 years:
boys: weight and stature
boys: bmi
girls: weight and stature
girls: bmi

ready for india.

changing table- yes or no?

While you are all excited about the new baby and are getting ready to set up your baby's room you will be faced with a whole lot of purchasing choices. Changing table is definitely one of them and here is my take on it.
Yes a changing table helps a great deal. It helps you manage the time in a much better way and is more comfortable(being the correct height) than trying to change on the floor or elsewhere. You will have all the required accessories right at hand and within reach for little unexpected emergencies.

However instead of going out and getting a regular changing table which has open shelves, we bought a dresser instead and secured the dresser to the wall and stuck a changing pad with wide velcro straps to the top surface of the dresser. What we have is a changing table/dresser for sanav that is the perfect height, doubles as a dresser as well for now and will eventually become his dresser when he grows up.

formula while travelling

carrying formula, bottles and the paraphernalia along with you every single time you travel is a hassle that is inescapable for all parents.
here are some tips that can make the experience a little easier on you.
Presort the formula(if you are still doing formula as a powder) in small pouches in one/two spoon amounts.
Use a drop system bottle with drop in bottle liners that can be easily disposed as you get done instead of cleaning or carrying multiple bottles.

applying whipped butter

Whipped butter found on the butter shelves in your local grocery stores is the closest you can get to the "venna" (butter) applied to baby's skin in India. This makes the baby's skin very soft and smooth. A lot better than baby oil or even olive oil.

bumbo seat

As the baby starts to sit up aided one of the best things to get is a bumbo seat.

This is a soft rubbery molded seat with high back support for the baby to sit in unaided. They will enjoy this as they would prefer to be seated than lying on their backs or tummies. A big plus is the ease of taking pictures of babies in the upright position without someone having to support them or prop them up. It is light enough to take with you on your trips and to the beach as well.

Caution: Use this on the ground and never unattended if on a raised surface.

Changing diapers- fun?

Might not be for you, but the baby can have fun this way.
Put up a collage of faces cut from old parenting magazines or flyers that various companies start sending you once they find out that you are having a baby. Get a $4.00 wood poster frame at Ikea and make a collage of all the faces that you can fill it with. (the bigger the faces the better- babies love faces) put it up on the wall so the baby on the changing table will be facing the collage.
Sanav loves his diaper changing time. Never made a sound even when the cold wipes were being used.

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