Month: March 2020

Categories
Health Parenting and Childcare Sleeping Habits

Soothing Activities to Help Your Baby Sleep

Some babies sleep much more whilst a few sleep pretty less. For instance, a few sleep through the night and some do not, for a long time. Your little one will have their pattern of sleeping and waking, and it is not likely to be similar to other kids you know. It is not going to fit in with your necessity for sleep. Try to sleep when your baby sleeps. If you are breastfeeding, in the initial weeks your little one is likely to sleep off for short periods during a feed. Continue feeding until you think your baby has completed or until they are completely asleep. This is a perfect opportunity to get a bit of rest yourself.

Soothing activities to help your baby sleep.

Teach your infant that night-time is different from daytime. During the day, play games, open curtains and do not worry too much about daily noises when they sleep.

At night, look out for tired signs and put your baby to bed as soon as they have been fed. You might also find it useful to not talk much and keep your voice low. Keep the dim lights on and do not play with your baby

Babies will show signs when they are getting tired such as frowning, yawning, grimacing, sucking, grizzling, staring, jerky movements, snuggling in, becoming overactive, rubbing eyes, clenching fists, crying or fussiness. Replying early to these tired signs stops your baby from becoming distressed and makes it easier for them to sleep.

Set-up schedule with a newborn

Newborn babies will sleep on and off all through the day and night. It could be useful to have a pattern, but you can always alter the routine to suit your requirements. For instance, you can try feeding your baby just before you go to sleep so that he/she can get sleep for longer hours.

Know how to settle your babies

In the initial six months, you can hold your newborn in your arms till they fall asleep. Utilize mild rocking, rhythmic patting, talking, stroking, or singing softly before placing your baby into the cot. These reiterations signal recreation and sleep.

You can also try placing the baby in the cot awake but drowsy and calm and gently stroke or pat them till they fall asleep, comforting them with mild sounds. If your baby becomes distressed, lift them for a cuddle until quiet or asleep before putting your baby back in the cot. Stay with them till they doze off.

Preparing a bedtime schedule

You might be prepared to start a bedtime schedule when your baby is approximately three months age. Getting them into a soothing, simple bedtime schedule can be useful for everyone and can assist to stop sleeping problems afterwards. Here are some things to try.

  • Changing into nightclothes and a fresh nappy
  • Reading a bedtime story
  • A warm bath before bedtime
  • Putting them to bed
  • Singing a lullaby or having a wind-up musical mobile that you can turn on when you have put your baby to bed
  • Dimming the lights in the room to create a tranquil atmosphere
  • Giving them a cuddle and goodnight kiss

As your child grows older, it can be useful to keep to a similar bedtime habit. Excessive stimulation and excitement just before bedtime can awaken your baby up again. Use some time relaxing and doing some quieter things, such as reading.

Categories
Technology

How to Prevent Your Toddler from Watching Mobile Videos During Meals

A majority of toddler moms complain about how they have difficulty in feeding their babies without distracting them with a video on their smartphones. Children are often very fussy eaters and persuading them to eat healthy food is not easy. Whether at home or in a restaurant, parents often resort to showing videos on their mobiles just to make the baby eat without a tantrum.

My baby does not eat without a mobile video playing on the side!

How does video-watching during meals affect a pre-schooler?

Just as in adults, distracted or hurried eating can cause a lot of physical and emotional damage in a toddler. Some of the harmful effects of watching mobile videos while eating are:

  1. Overeating – Video-watching is one of the biggest causes of toddler obesity. Studies have shown that we tend to overfeed the baby because the kid is engrossed in the video and does not indicate when the tummy is full.
  2. Gulping food – When your child is distracted by a smartphone video he just gulps the food. His mind does not savour the food and develop preferences.
  3. Slow metabolism – Seeing a video while eating lowers your baby’s metabolic rate. Consequently, the food is digested slowly and excess fat is burned slowly.
  4. Indigestion – Your toddler’s addiction to videos during meals every day may ultimately lead to frequent bouts of indigestion, colic pain, reflux, constipation/diarrhoea, etc.
  5. Allergies – Both you and the kid are distracted by the mobile video. So you are also not as alert as you should be in detecting allergic reactions to certain foods.
  6. Interaction – It is truly said that ‘a family that eats together stays together’! Meals are the best time for parent-child bonding. While watching a video, your pre-schooler does not interact with the rest of the family and misses out on precious quality time.
How to encourage your toddler to eat without a video

Distraction from a video makes it easier to feed your child. In due course, this becomes a habit and your kid may refuse to eat a meal without watching a video. Even if the habit has set in, you can wean your child from the habit. Initially, your little one may throw tantrums and make a huge fuss. But if you persist, then eventually the child will learn to eat without the distraction. These are a few tips on how to prevent toddler from watching videos during meals every day:

  • Keep everyone’s mobile devices away during meals
  • Take help from other members of the family to keep the child in conversation
  • Try to add creativity in the food, in order to make it look a little more attractive
  • Avoid texting or browsing on your phone during meals
  • If necessary, only play audio music (preferably nursery rhymes) instead of showing videos
  • Give more time to the toddler so that your child learns to value personal relationships more than objects.

As you have seen, there are many harmful side effects of a toddler not eating without mobile video clips. Video-watching during meals adversely affects the physical and emotional well-being of your toddler. Your child’s welfare is within your hands and not so difficult to manage.

Categories
Behaviour and Discipline

How to Promote Positive Behaviour in Your Toddler

The first few years of a child are vital for teaching positive behaviour. Daycare personnel and teachers play a major role, but the duty of promoting positive behaviour in toddlers is on the parents. To teach your child to be a caring, understanding and helpful individual, a constructive teaching approach will prove to be more effective than a punitive one. Your child needs to grow into an adult who is filled with these qualities and is positive towards life.

To Promote Positive Behaviour, Lead By Example

Children learn more by observation than by instruction. They tend to emulate their parents’ behaviour and attitude. If you, as a parent have a positive view of life, the child will naturally develop a similar attitude. Some of the steps you can take towards this goal are:

Politeness – Being polite can do a lot of good to your toddler. The child will imitate your behaviour and learn to be polite and respectful towards you as well as others. Speaking gently and using words like “please” and “thank you” will inculcate polite behaviour in your child’s responses too.

Praising – You could praise your toddlers for doing something good. This is the easiest method of building a positive attitude in a preschooler. But, simple compliments for a little bit of good work will boost their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Listening–When your kid is speaking, listen attentively and respond positively. This way, your child will also develop the habit of listening when you speak. Attentiveness also possesses the power of preventing toddler tantrums.

Sharing–Another easy way of encouraging positive behaviour in a toddler is by sharing time, space, and possessions. If your kids have access to the entire house rather than few designated play areas, then you must remove items that are unsafe for toddlers and keep them out of reach.

Teaching Positivity In Negative Situations

Being teased by an elder sibling, having to share a favourite toy, losing a race to the dinner table, rough-and-tumble behaviour of older siblings, tripping and getting hurt, etc. are few of the very common examples of negative situations around your toddler.

They might look simple on the outside, but they could prove to be one of the most stressful situations when it comes to your toddler. Promoting positive behaviour in early childhood is a good way to help your pre-schooler to deal with negativity.

If you jump to your child’s defense every time there is trouble, it might weaken your child and make him or her incapable of solving their own problems. This will have a long term effect and will be carried forward into adulthood. Letting your kids solve their problems will strengthen their resolve and teach them to cope with stress. As long as safety is not compromised, you kids should have the freedom to manage their relationships independently. It helps them grow into emotionally stronger adults.

Toddlers learn more by observation. Your toddler can learn the right values automatically as long as they live in a friendly and positive environment. Lowering the number of instructions and negative feedback, you can create an aura of positive thinking and good behaviour within the household. All of these ways can promote positive behaviour in a pre-schooler.

Categories
Development

What Are the Cognitive Milestones in Early Childhood Development?

In 1936, Jean Piaget, a world-famous psychologist, propounded the Theory of Cognitive Development. According to his theory, a small child creates a mental image of the world. The child’s academic and emotional development is not a sudden or one-time activity. It is an ongoing process that is affected by the level of maturity and the environment. This theory will help us understand the cognitive milestones for children. With these milestones, we can help them grow into smart and confident kids.

Piaget’s theory describes four stages of cognitive development in children, which are:

Sensorimotor stage

This cognitive development milestone occurs between the ages of birth to 2 years. During this stage, your kid will recognize objects and persons. The child will also know that the object or person exists even if not in the room.

Preoperational stage

This cognitive development occurs when your child is between the ages of 2 and 7 years. This milestone is manifested in the form of symbolism. Your child can not only recognize things and people but can also identify them by their name.

Concrete operational stage

Children between the ages of 7 and 11 go through this stage. Logic and operational thought become a part of a child’s cognitive development process. Concepts like weight, size, numbers, stature, shapes, colours, etc. develop now. Children also learn about how quantities can remain the same even if they change in appearance.

Formal operational stage

Cognitive development of a child after the age of 11 stretches between teenage and adulthood. At this level of cognitive development, the child also understands abstract concepts that cannot be seen with the eyes. The child can also hypothesize and test the hypothesis in a logical manner.

Ways to Encourage Cognitive Development

Promoting cognitive development in your toddler will help your child in his/her academic life. There are some beautiful ways in which you can encourage cognitive development in your child depending on the age.

Newborn to 6 months old:
  • Talk to the child
  • Show picture books
  • Point out things in nature
  • Change playing activities
  • Keep toys just short of reach but within their sight.
1 to 3 years old:
  • Play hide-and-seek
  • Show colours, shapes, objects
  • Teach sounds of animals and things
  • Play with the ball
  • Give step-by-step instructions in simple sentences
  • Indulge in role-play games
  • Encourage your child to take the lead in games
  • Sing and dance together.
4 to 7 years old:
  • Teach them easy chores
  • Encourage your kid to tell stories and/or read aloud
  • Increase the counting of numbers (more than 100)
  • Teach currency
  • Encourage your child to ask questions and answer them properly
  • Provide colouring books, drawing materials, and other artwork materials
  • Take your child to the zoo, park, nature trails, amusement parks, etc.

Developing your child’s cognition is not a difficult task. Kids are naturally curious and have a profound thirst for knowledge. The more time you spend with your toddler the easier it will be to recognize your kid’s cognitive milestones.

Categories
Parenting and Childcare Travel

Tips on How to Manage Jet Lag in Kids

Nothing can be compared to the bad jetlag suffered by kids, from not being able to sleep throughout the night to being ill-tempered and losing their hunger. As adults, we adjust and discover a way to beat it, but small children who follow routines find it very difficult to come around.

Typically parents suffer for days trying to get them back into bed at the right hour. Jet lag is a physical condition in which a person’s internal body clock is interrupted because of travelling among time zones. Jet lag influences patterns of eating, waking up and sleeping.

Here are some tips that you can refer to when managing jet lag in kids:

Think about the age of your child

According to doctors, jet lag may not affect kids from all age groups. Infants who are in the age group of 0 to 2 months have not yet started a diurnal cycle, so jet lag would possibly not influence them. For kids in the age group of 2 to 5 years, time-zone varies begin to cause deterioration. Infants who have learned to sleep through the night already may have more night wakening. Older kids will possibly respond likewise to adults physically but maybe less driven than adults to stay wakeful in attempts to adjust to the schedule.

Prepare kids

Teach kids old enough to be aware of time changes and the consequences of jet lag, and what they can expect to witness. In the days before a trip, parents should make it real for the children by saying things like, “Now we are eating lunch, but at this time in that country, they are getting ready for bed.” Besides, make sure that the kids get ample sleep before departure. Moreover, it is important to keep kids hydrated and this can be done by asking them to drink lots of water before, during and after the flight.

Select the flight carefully

Choose on a flight that will assist the parent to manage the kid’s probable time-regulation issues in the best way possible. Few experienced parents say that it is better to take a flight that leaves evening or late afternoon, as it makes it simpler to rest during the air travel. If it is nighttime, you will have an easier time convincing your kid that it is bedtime.

Get Cozy

Bring travel pillows and cozy blankets to make it simple for kids to get some sleep on the plane. At the same time, do not feel frustrated if no one sleeps much. Do not force the kids to sleep on the plane as it is going to be hard. There are too much thrill and adrenaline on the tour, and the lights are on late.

Make your mind up if a Time Change is Worth it

Think whether it is worth changing your crew over to local time. If you are only spending a few days in a diverse time zone, it may just be simple to keep your kids in your home time zone. Any person staying at their destination for less than a week should not force the practice on the children. Remember that it is an extra effort to work hard on eliminating the jet lag when the habit will be changed again in less than a week.

Jet lag is a strong possibility when traveling through time zones with a kid. Expectation, flexibility, and communication among all players are key to managing the trouble of grumpy kids.

Categories
Development Technology

Media Effects on Children’s Social and Moral Development

We live in an environment surrounded by television, mobile devices, and other digital gadgets. Since the time of our tiny one’s birth, they are exposed to the world of media. It not only impacts their beliefs, values, and behaviour but also shapes their social interactions. The psychological impact of media violence on toddlers is profound and can cause irreparable changes in behaviour.

A research study published by the US National Library of Medicine has shown that exposure to violence on television, video games, mobile videos, etc. increases the possibility of violent behaviour in children. The subjects of this study range between the age of 5 and 13 but this holds for toddlers and pre-schoolers too.

How does digital violence influence toddlers?

Young kids are impressionable and cannot differentiate between fiction and reality. The violence depicted in cartoon films or TV shows will give the impression that this is correct behaviour. Digital violence affects toddlers in some of the ways listed below:

  • Aggressive behaviour
  • Unprovoked anger
  • Frequent temper tantrums
  • Rebellion
  • Nightmares and/or phobias
  • Loss of appetite
  • Poor sleep patterns
  • Other psychological disorders.

How can you reduce digital violence at home?

The first step towards helping our kids grow in a less violent environment is to restrict the exposure to digital violence. Here’s how you can implement some simple but effective measures at home:

Be media literate

Educate yourself about the type of TV programs/videos that usually show violence. Kids often see games and mobile apps that show battle scenes in a combative environment. Restrict your child from playing such games or watching these types of videos.

Watch together

Sit with your little one during TV or video time. Watch the entertainment together so you know what is going on. Most stories have the basic theme that shows the triumph of good over evil. These stories usually have a villain whose behaviour is negative. Explain to your little toddler that such behaviour is bad and hence the villain loses in the end. Emphasise on other qualities depicted in the video like cooperation, multi-tasking, friendship, loyalty, kindness, etc.

Child-safe logins

If you are permitting your toddler to watch Netflix or Amazon Prime videos, make sure that you use the Kid’s login and not your usual one. This login will automatically permit the child to only watch toddler-safe movies and shows. This way, Parental guidance will not be required most of the time.

Change your viewing time

You may be very fond of action thrillers but it is not appropriate to watch them while your toddler is awake and in the same room. With a small child in the house, you will have to adjust your timings so that the child is not inadvertently exposed to digital violence by just being in the same room. Also, your baby will start enjoying violent content too, that is something you must avoid at any cost. You could binge-watch all you want when your child is asleep.

Most importantly, as a parent, believe that you have the right to restrict digital violence and its influence on your toddlers.

Categories
Travel

Secrets of Easy Air Travel with a Baby

Air travel with a baby can be very stressful if you have not planned well for the trip. You probably have a checklist of what kind of clothes and essentials you should carry according to the baby’s age and needs. But here are other secrets that will make air travel with a baby easier for you.

Saving Travel Time

  • To save time, book your flights as follows:
  • Choose direct flights as far as possible.
  • If you need to change flights, try to use the same airline for the connecting flight so that check-in luggage is carried forward automatically.
  • Opt for online flight check-in and print out the boarding passes in advance.

Ensure that there is a layover of at least 3-4 hours so you can go across the airport at a leisurely pace. This will give some time to your delightful toddler to run around and play for a while before boarding. Hopefully, your little one will start feeling tired and sleep through the flight.

Potty Breaks

About 15-20 minutes before boarding, change your baby’s diaper. Your child might not feel comfortable in the tiny airplane lavatory. So, it makes perfect sense to take a short potty break before boarding time.

Elder Kid Arrangements

If you have an elder kid, book a separate seat for him. He will probably be restless and need plenty of space. Airplane travel for toddlers is not easy. Sitting in a cramped space with two kids is a recipe for disaster!

Low Price Alerts

Airfares are expensive, so it is economical to register on www.skyscanner.co.in to get notifications when prices of specific flights drop. With this tool, you can pre-set an alert for low price options to a particular destination. By booking when the prices are low, you can afford to buy a separate seat for the elder kid(s) so that everyone is comfortable.

Gate Checking baby gear

At the time of boarding, gate-check your baby’s stroller and other gear. Attach tags to each item. Leave the air travel accessories for your toddler at the bottom of the jet-way. The airplane staff will ensure that they are on board. Pick them up again once the flight has landed. Although one can rent baby gear at the destination, taking your own set of baby items is always preferable. Your child is familiar with his gear and is usually willing to sit peacefully in his car seat.

The Pacifier Effect

During flights, we often chew gum or sweets once the flight is airborne. At the same time, give your baby his pacifier. Chewing on the soother keeps his ears from popping and he is comfortable during take-off and throughout the flight. Carry a couple of spare soothers in the baby bag (cabin luggage).

Try these tricks and you will see that air travel with a baby is not so horrifying! In fact, it will motivate you to travel often and enjoy frequent breaks. These air travel tips with a baby will surely make your next trip easier and stress-free.