How many times should Children drink milk in a day? What are the Benefits and disadvantages of drinking milk?
Dear Moms the above questions flash in the mind of every parent. Let us help you with the proper details.
According to my research, Children (Age group – above 2 years) should consume 2 cups of whole milk per day; that is morning when they wake up – one cup and evening between 4.30 – 5.30 PM.
Children who drink milk more than 3 cups per day often have a very limited intake of solid foods, which ultimately leads to an imbalance in nutrition and they fall anemic.
Note: Do not give cow milk or buffalo milk till 1 year; they feel hard to digest this milk. From birth to till 12 months strictly follow breast milk or formula milk. And avoid bottle feeding, the bottle is the root cause of infection because the microorganisms may stick on the neck and teat of the bottle and these microorganisms transmit to the infant. (Feeding bottles require perfect sterilization and regular cleaning.)
Pediatricians generally do not recommend bottles instead they advise giving top milk with the help of a cup and spoon.
And my personal suggestion is to adopt our elder’s method of feeding top milk i.e. our Indian feeding device, the Paladai.
Milk is a wholesome drink packed with essential nutrients like calcium, riboflavin, phosphorous, potassium, Vitamins A, and B12.
Milk helps us to maintain normal vision, increases red blood cell count, supplies proteins for body repair, builds healthy bone & teeth, may prevent bone fractures, and help to maintain a healthy weight.
The disadvantage of drinking milk more than 3 cups:
Imbalance in nutrition (Nutritional deficiency).
Vomiting after eating solid food.
Stomach pain.
Loss of interest in solid foods.
Gassiness.
Fussiness.
Constipation.
Dear MoMsters hope this post might have helped in some way to say bye-bye to your confusion, kindly follow our tips, and have happy parenting. 🙂
Dear New Mom’s generally after child birth women required extra care.
Preserve your body heat.
Post delivery, women are requested to cover their head with scarf the whole day according to Indian tradition. This is because generally the body heat is lost primarily, covering your head is believed to keep you warm and protect you from unnecessary cold.
Keep yourself Stress-free.️
Stress plays an important role in decreasing breastmilk (BM). Hence find a way to take rest, nap with baby. Try to assign housework to other members during your nap.
During this period your digestive system will be very sensitive, hence proper diet plan should be maintained.
Always prefer fresh food and avoid leftover food.
The new mother is advised to eat on time and not too much or too little.
At first take plenty of oral liquids including water, juice, and milk.
Milk contains calcium which boosts milk production, drink 1 glass of milk morning and before bedtime.
*[Limit drinks that contain caffeine like coffee, soda. Too much intake of caffeine can cause irritability to your baby and also it can interfere with your baby’s sleep.]*
Cook dill leaves with 10 pieces of garlic cloves, consume medium quantity in the morning and night for 3 days.It is rich in fiber, vitamin K, iron, and antioxidants which promotes enough BM and easy to digest. Garlic cloves stimulate lactation (galactagogue).
For non-vegetarian eat mutton thrice a week which boost BM.
Among fish you can go for Salmon which is rich in omega-3, it also helps to boost lactation.
take spinach noon time it contains iron, folic acid, vitamins which is beneficial for both mom and baby.
Soak 5 almonds overnight & morning grind it, mix with milk and drink. Almonds are rich in calories, vitamins & minerals which boost BM.
take iron rich foods like pulses and legumes, green leafy vegetables, red meat, beetroot,
for vitamin D – exposure to morning sunlight will help, because during delivery mom would have lost calcium and vitamin. Till 6 month, doctor would have given calcium and vitamin supplements , continue the same.
Do not skip breakfast.
Avoid oily food, spicy and junk food like chips, chocolates, cakes and soft drinks, also avoid gassy veggies like cabbage, potatoes and cauliflower for the first three weeks after childbirth, as they disturb the digestive system.
Among Fruits: any fruits which doesn’t trigger cold. You can take apple, melons, small banana, papaya etc.
Avoid foods which cause indigestion, it depends on individual, check and go accordingly.
Take care dear MoMsters and follow our tips, stay healthy.
Itching during pregnancy is a common skin problem and yes you may wonder what’s causing this? Is this normal?
Let me tell you what causes itching during pregnancy?
Stretching skin:During pregnancy when your size of skin stretches especially increase in belly size leads to itchy skin. (Remember scratching the skin area worsens the stretch mark after delivery).
Hormones: A sudden hormonal change affects the skin tone such as dryness, itchy skin.
Obstetric Cholestasis: If Itching worsens and non-stop or unbearable & worse at night, then it is a serious Liver condition usually observed in the last 3 months of pregnancy. In this disorder, itching happens usually on the palms and soles of the feet. Discuss with your doctor for further treatment.
Due to increased blood supply during pregnancy.
Sensitive to perfumes and detergents.
And most women complaints that they get a severe itch in the belly and sides of their breasts, and yes this is due to growing uterus and the skin size changes particularly in the belly area and breasts.
Remedies for Itching during pregnancy:
The use of aloe gel or moisturizer helps with dry skin.
Consult a doctor for an anti-itch lotion that is safe to use in order to reduce itching.
Apply pure coconut oil to the itchy area.
Eat healthy fruits and vegetables, which improve skin tone.
The skin should be well-hydrated, consume at least 8 glasses of water every day to keep your skin hydrated and protect from toxins.
During summer drink coconut water.
Bath with a gentle cleanser and avoid hot water for bathing.
Avoid highly chemical-based perfumes and detergents.
Wear cotton breathable clothes.
Avoid caffeine, spicy and oily food.
Some women also experience vaginal itching during pregnancy, which could be sweat accumulation, in that case, keep the area dry and use breathable cotton cloths. There can be itchy due to urine infection too; in that case, doctor consultation is necessary.
When should you see a doctor?
“Usually mild itching is normal during pregnancy; anything has intense itchy or symptoms gets worse than doctor consultation is recommended.”
If Itching worsens and non-stop or unbearable & worse at night (that can be a sign of a serious liver condition called Obstetric Cholestasis).
Lack of appetite.
Dark Urine.
Pale bowel movement.
Yellowish of skin.
Itching and Rashes with raised lumps (called Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy a kind of skin condition).
If itching everywhere.
I hope all New Moms are clear with doubts, please make yourself comfortable by following our tips, and don’t worry, itching is one of the pregnancy symptoms and you would stop scratching after your delivery.
“When I step out without sweater, I feel an extreme chill, even though there is no temperature dip down at our place.”
Do not worry moms that are usually a sign of postpartum chills.
And it is observed that most women haven’t heard about postpartum chills. We’ll try to explain to you, it is after delivery and during the first few days, you may feel extra cold and chills.
What could be the reason behind postpartum chills?
Postpartum chills can be witnessed by either caesarean section or vaginal birth.
Generally, proper blood circulation helps to maintain our body temperature, but during delivery, the amount of blood loss results in changes in our body
temperature.
Hormonal changes after delivery.
If you have an episiotomy during delivery and that is not healed yet.
If you are breastfeeding and nipple has some soreness/ pain, then you may experience the chill.
Anaemia and thyroid imbalance also could be a reason.
“Don’t stress yourself MoMsters;
these kinds of chills are just temporary, you will have a speedy recovery.”
When to contact your Doctor?
If you feel chills with body ache and fever then this indicates infection or flu.
Breast infection also called Mastitis, symptoms such as swollen breasts, chills, soreness or pain are suggested to contact a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Chills when you have a urine infection.
Suggestions:
Check the haemoglobin level…
Check whether you have lumps in the breast.
Check whether your urine as foul smell.
Check your BP.
In order to avoid sore breasts, nurse your baby every 2 hours once.
After delivery, in order to reduce soreness around the vagina, a sitz bath is necessary that is sitting in a warm water tub for 5-10 minutes till recovery.
Take a good rest and proper sleep (when the baby asleep, you too sleep).
Drink warm water and stay hydrated.
Eat nutritious food.
Take vitamin and calcium supplements for 6 months post-delivery which should be suggested by the doctor.
Do not lift anything heavier.
Keep yourself warm by wearing a scarf, socks and sweaters at least for 6 months.
After delivery till 1 year avoid water-related work example washing clothes, utensils etc.
“Dear MoMsters incorporate our tips and stay healthy.”
To encourage us, kindly share your views in the comments section below.
“My Baby won’t sleep at night and I need some rest”, it’s the common complaint that we hear from every new parent. Dear MoMsters cool down it’s quite normal; most of the parents have faced this.
With my experience, I have tried to list down a few solutions. Remember each baby is different and what works for me may not work for you. Find a solution that helps your present situation. If one doesn’t work, move on to another. At last, you’ll find something that works and you will get enough time to understand your baby’s sleep pattern!
“Generally a baby gets adapted to sleep well during nights from 3rd month onwards. But dear moms, some babies take a longer time to adjust to night-time sleep, which might be 6 months or even more.
Understanding sleep pattern, Month Wise:
Newborn – 5 Months.
A newborn will not sleep throughout the night anyway. They generally wake up every 3-4 hours for a feed. And during night time it’s your duty to feed him every 2- 3 hours for 20 mins. After 3 months some babies can be fed even when they are in deep sleep. If baby’s tummy is full, they don’t cry or disturb you at least for 3 hours
Feeding during nighttime should be followed for 6 months at least and don’t forget to burp after every feed.
Tips: Some babies start crying by sucking their hands. In that case, you need to feed him/her frequently, he/she might not be getting adequate milk, that’s the reason they suck hands and crying.
6 month – 11 Month:
Check whether the baby is feeling uncomfortable due to the wet diaper.
If the baby is having gas in the stomach; in that case try the cycling exercise before bedtime.
If the baby is not able to sleep due to heat, then create a suitable environment and switch to a ventilated room.
Other reasons for disturbed sleep could be teething or having a growth spurt.
What is a growth spurt?
During a growth spurt, your baby may be more restless and you may notice that he/she wants to be held all the time and they will cry when you put them on the bed. Also sometimes you may find sudden wake up from sleep and start weeping for a longer time. Don’t worry it’s normal.
What should you do during a growth spurt?
Respond to your baby’s cues and try to give her what she needs, such as extra feeds, a short nap on your lap, a soft lullaby, and cuddles.
Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned that his/ her symptoms might be something more.
If the one-year baby is not sleeping:
Then check does he/she feels hungry?
Diapers are wet?
Does he/she oversleep during the daytime?
If the child is on medication that can disturb her/his sleep.
Provide deworming syrup. (Note: Only once per year)
General Tips:
Before bedtime breastfeeds your infant full and burp for 20 mins after each feed and also make sure he is not suffering from colic, if so do cycling exercise or give Himalaya bonnisan drops / colicaid drops only when necessary and during the day Massage babies body with warm coconut oil and give a bath – (which relieves his body pain and helps in good sleep).
Always feed your baby by holding an upright position (so that they don’t swallow air).
Before breastfeeding mom should drink plenty of water.
Make a regular schedule for sleeping and establish a bedtime routine such as reading books, rocking, and creating a soothing environment with soft lullaby music also make sure to comfort your baby when he or she is afraid.
Usually, babies refuse to go to sleep without a parent nearby. Babies are comfortable sleeping in mothers lap, but it’s always better to practice to make them sleep in the comfortable cradle, I know it’s tough to shift from mother’s lap to cradle; definitely, it will take some time, but have patience they will get habituated with cradle slowly.
If the baby is suffering from a cold, then avoid bottle feeding which is the root cause for infection. Continue breastfeeding and if find a blocked nose try to use Nasoclear Saline Nasal Drops- 2 drops in each nostril half an hour before feeding or sleeping.
Avoid mobile or TV before bedtime.
Suppose at night when baby wakes up, maintain to keep the lights and noise low. He should figure out night time is for sleeping, if they are cranky try to soothe them by rocking are singing a lullaby.
Interact and play with your toddler during day time. Keep house bright and well lighted on the day.
A good feeding and more playing will help your toddler. Give them rich food such as fruits and vegetables. Afternoon short sleep will be fine, but do not make them oversleep during the day.
Signs of sleep readiness
Yawning
Rubbing eyes
Looking away
Fussing
Health advice for parents:
Take breaks whenever possible, sleep when your baby sleeps and doesn’t matter whether it is day or night.
Keep away mobile phones from you and your baby, in order to avoid radiation.
Try to keep your life simple at least till the baby reaches 1 year old.
Get help from your relatives or friends whenever necessary.
Eat Healthy foods and do some simple exercise such as walking or climbing stairs.
Meditation helps to overcome postpartum depression.
Join discussion forums to understand parenting tips.
Dear MoMsters, I hope this content helps all New MoMS! Kindly drop your comments.
Vitamins A, and B12.
repair, builds healthy bone & teeth, may prevent bone fractures, and help to maintain a healthy weight.
temperature.
