Dear Momsters here are some fun exercises to develop gross motor skills in kids.
Throwing the crushed paper ball.
Throwing skills is a fundamental movement skill in the early years of the child and also it improves hand-eye coordination, manipulative skills, balance, and gross motor skill.
Materials needed for activity:
Waste papers. (We know that during COVID pandemic most of the parents have stopped using newspaper, instead collect some waste workbooks, old notebooks papers).
Empty bucket.
The objective of this game is simple:
Take waste paper; crunch them tight in order to throw easily.
Place a bucket at a 6 feet distance.
Before proceeding to throw, make your child count the number of paper balls. (At the beginning you can make 5 paper balls, counting helps to improve their maths skills in a fun way.)
Make your child focus on the target and throw the crunched paper ball into a bucket.
This skill takes time to develop as there is a lot of movements to coordinate.
Let your child stand closer to the target and as your child improves let him take a step back to be farther away.
Once all the paper balls are thrown in the tub, make your child count them and ask how many did you miss.
Reward them for their achievements even for the count one.
When you and your little one are done with the activity, wash your hands with sanitizer.
Enjoy the cute activity and please give us feedback and you can also share the activity pictures of your little one.
Dear Moms, here we go with some frequently asked questions by most of the mothers….
Does green poop indicate an infection?
Should I take my baby to the pediatrician if poop is green in color?
Don’t worry MoMsters, this post is exclusively for this topic only. we will clear all your doubts.
The reason for green poop is different for 3 stages of kids i.e. babies, toddlers, and older children.
Green poop in Babies
Imbalance of Foremilk/Hindmilk:
In the case of breastfeeding, there is thin and thick milk in our breast, if baby drinks only thin milk their poop color will be green i.e. they are taking in too much lactose (the natural sugar found in milk). Generally, liquidly foremilk is higher in lactose and lower in fat. Too much foremilk may also lead to gassiness.
whereas, hindmilk is rich in fat and has creamy consistency; it is gained at the end of a feed to fill him up.
(If you observe thin milk/foremilk comes out at the starting stage of feed, after 5 – 6 min thick milk/hindmilk will be sucked by baby.
Make sure your baby finishes feeding from one breast before your offer him your other one.
And check whether baby latching properly, bad latch also a reason for skipping thick creamy hindmilk. In that case check some feeding techniques or go for lactation consultants.
Illness:
A simple cold can also be the reason for the green poop in babies, continue breastfeeding your baby under such circumstances, as breast milk contains antibodies that can help boost the baby’s immunity!- read, Common Cold in kids and home remedies to cure it!
Infection:
If the stool is green with mucus, then he is suffering from infection or stomach bug. Consult doctor in such case.
Mother’s Diet
Some babies are sensitive to something you are eating, check accordingly mothers diet and skip the food which creating problems. And also check whether the mother consumed spinach, peas? But don’t worry, it’s not harmful for the baby until he is cranky because of your diet.
Teething:
During the teething phase, they end up swallowing excessive drool and saliva which leads to a green stool. Hence during teething keep baby’s surrounding clean and dust-free, make sure that they not chewing any cloth around them.
Jaundice:
During jaundice phototherapy treatment, the new-borns can have green poop.
Brand of formula feed:
Some formula feed can make your baby’s poo dark green, in such case discuss with your pediatrician and go accordingly.
Green poop in toddlers and older children
Your Child’s diet
After 6 months, once you started semisolid food; if you find green poop then that must be due to green foods such as pureed peas, spinach, and green beans.
Another possible chance is an allergic reaction, did you gave any new food? Once you start semi solid food check for 3 days one single food and figure out which food is the cause of the reaction. Make a note in which food was eaten before allergy reaction and discontinue for a few days and then reintroduce after some days.
Medication:
If a child taking iron supplements, then you may notice green poop; nothing to worry it’s a normal condition.
Another medication reason is antibiotics, if a lactating mother or baby has taken antibiotics then baby poop can be green colored; in that case, doctor may prescribe probiotics to avoid side effects of antibiotics.
When to see a doctor
If your baby continues to pass green poop frequently for longer days, then check with the doctor.
A sudden drop in weight coupled with green poop.
Diarrhea or signs of dehydration.
Green poop with blood tinges.
a fever higher than 100.4°F
Looking dull and lack of interest in eating.
General tips to avoid green poop
Before breastfeeding, mom should drink plenty of water, per day at least 6 litre of water necessarily.
Avoid giving cow milk/ buffalo milk to your baby before 1 year.
For toddler/ older child, add curd and banana in their diet. (Curd, yogurt acts as probiotic which is good for maintaining intestinal flora.)
Maintain hygiene while preparing formula feed and avoid feeding bottles, instead use a cup and spoon. Read – Common questions on Formula feed, click here for more details.
So, say goodbye to worries Mommies. Stay healthy and Stay Happy.. !!
Hi MoMsters, if by any reason you are starting off with formula feed then I am sure you will be having plenty of questions and doubts in your mind. In this topic, we have put together all the common questions related to formula feed. Please go through it and make yourself comfortable using it.
‘Remember one thing’ “none of the formula feed can replace breastmilk feed”. Generally weight gain will be best on breastfeed.
Now, let’s move ahead with the common questions which are generally asked by Moms:
Is the feeding bottle good for my baby?
No… 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 to adopt our elder’s method of feeding top milk i.e. our Indian feeding device,the Paladai.
How to clean and sterilize the feeding bottle?
All the feeding device including if you prefer cup-spoon, paladai, and feeding bottle should be cleaned and sterilized well.
Most importantly if you use bottle, special care should be given to clean and sterilize (bottle, teats & lids).
Cleaning and sterilizing feeding utensils, bottles removes microorganisms.
Now, let’s talk on Cleaning Feeding Bottle:
At first, wash your hands well.
Secondly, in a clean container prepare hot soapy water and then place all items inside it, which is needed for cleaning, then wash all the feeding equipment thoroughly by using hot soapy water.
Use a small brush to scrub inside and outside of bottles and teats.
And make sure all the hard left over feed is removed.
Finally rinse thoroughly in clean running water.
Sterilizing feeding bottle:
The cleaned equipment can be sterilized by 2 methods.
By a pan and boiling water.
Fill water in a large pan in order to place the cleaned feeding equipment into the water.
(Note: the feeding items should be disassembled before placing in water).
Make sure that the equipment is completely immersed with water.
Bring the pan to boil for 5 minutes.
Remove items carefully without contamination.
Always keep the sterilized items in a clean and covered place.
Commercial sterilizer which is easily available in the market (refer manual for sterilization instruction)
Always Remember: To clean and sterilize after and before you prepare formula feed.
What if I travel out, how to prepare formula feed?
Try having boiled water in a flask and a separate storage container to preserve formula powder. Mix accordingly and feed baby using sterilized cup and spoon.
After preparing formula if baby does not drink, then can we store it or should we discard it? Discard it.
Makeup one feed at a time. It is safer to feed immediately after preparation. The longer you store prepared formula, the greater the risk of microorganism’s growth.
What is the proportion of formula feed?
It’s given on the tin itself.
Follow the mixing instructions which is given on the tin you are using including appropriate use of scoop provided in that tin. This is really important as different formulas will have different scoops size, which will affect the dilution of the formula, do not change proportion of powder except on medical advice. Incorrect preparation can make your baby very ill.
At what temperature should I use to prepare formula powder?
Boil water first and let it cool – the water should be no cooler than 700C. Now add formula to the water in the bottle, mix thoroughly by gentle shaking or swirling the bottle, then immediately cool to feeding temperature by placing in container of cold or iced water. Make sure that the level of the cooling water is below the lid of the bottle, so that you do not contaminate the feed. With a clean cloth, dry outside of the bottle. The feed should be lukewarm, not hot or cold.
Can I warm the prepared formula?
Warming prepared formula is not recommended because it will damage the nutrients.
How many times in a day, formula feed to be given?
It depends on age and the information is given on the tin itself.
Is that ok to let my baby to sleep with a bottle?
A big No…
It can cause choking, ear infections, tooth decay.
Does the formula feeding cause gas?
Yes after you prepare formula, generally air is retained inside the baby bottle and in turn baby swallow air while bottle feeding. And also formula feeds cause constipation in some babies.
Hold in an upright position while feeding and burp well for 10-15 mins after a feed.
How often bottles should be cleaned and sterilized?
Bottles should be cleaned before and after every feeding.
What is the proportion of water to be added for the preparation of formula feed?
Follow the instruction on the tin you are using, which explains clearly about the amount of water to be added. Always measure the water and then add the powder.
Remember: Too much water leads to insufficient nutrients and too little water may cause digestion issue. Just follow the instruction on the tin closely and prepare accordingly.
I purchased Formula milk powder and started to use only once and again I discontinued and used after 4 month, when I mix powder in a bottle it’s turning yellow. Should I use it or not?
Check for expiry date and also check within how many days it should be used after opening the pack..? Generally, within 3 weeks it should be used after opening… This rule is because there will be a chance of contamination of milk after the powder exposed to air, which leads to discoloration i.e. it will begin to have a yellowish tint and sometimes odor. If you notice discoloration or odor in your powdered milk, then it should be discarded.
Since it’s a milk product do not take a chance MoMster.
General advice:
On opening the pack of formula powder, transfer the contents of the pack along with the pouch into a clean airtight container. And note the manufacture date and expiry date carefully.
Ok, MoMsters now you would have got some clear picture about formula feed-related queries and doubts. For more information, please leave a comment.
we know many of you come across the term tonsils and also looking for safe home remediesfor your little wonders.
Here we go, what is tonsil? And how to manage?
Tonsils are part of the lymphatic system which helps to fight infection by filtering bacteria and viruses from the air and food, but sometimes the tonsils itself get infected which leads to tonsillitis.
Tonsils can become enlarged because they become infected with a virus or bacteria that cause throat infections. In addition, allergies such as seasonal allergies, dust, pollen grains also can cause the tonsils to enlarge.
Usually, tonsils return to normal size once the infection is over, so don’t worry…
But sometimes they remain enlarged, particularly in children who have chronic infections.
What are the Symptoms?
Sore throat
Difficulty swallowing
Bad breath
Runny nose
Vomiting
Fatigue
Swelling of lymph nodes
Headaches
Fever
Home remedies:
Start giving your child– Turmeric milk at night or early morning, which works like a magic.
Take half spoon of turmeric powder, ¼ teaspoon powdered black pepper and half a teaspoon of palm sugar in a glass of warm milk. Give this drink to your child before they go to bed or early morning. (Turmeric is a natural antibiotic…)
Ginger milk with honeyhelps to get rid of throat pain and inflammation. (Honey is rich in antioxidants)
Preparation: Boil half –inch grated ginger with a cup of water, get the ginger extract and mix with warm milk with a drop of honey. You can give this remedy early morning, the child may even feel hungry because of ginger effect.
You can also try this –Squeeze ½ a lemon into a glass of warm water also add 1 tbsp honey and pinch of salt. Mix well, let the child drink this mixture 2 times a day.
Teach your child to gargle with a salt water solution twice every day.
Make sure the child consumes sufficient water (preferably warm water) to prevent dehydration
Humidifier or steam inhalation will help to relieve the sore throat.
Give Vitamin C rich food, which helps to fight the microorganism.
Try all the above mentioned remedies.
Avoid crowded place
Keep home dust free.
Maintain hygiene.
Take a good care so that baby should not suffer from severe cold, cold will trigger throat pain.
If doctor prescribes antibiotics, then use it. Antibiotic helps to remove bacterial infection.
And also help your child to take the antibiotic exactly as directed and follow the same timing schedule for medication. This helps clear up symptoms quickly.
Even if your child feels better please complete antibiotic course as directed by doctor. I’m saying this because irregular medication leads to welcoming back the infection again.
Things to remember- For few days
Avoid spicy food.
Do not give junk food and chocolates.
Avoid cold water, chilled juices, ice creams, curd and buttermilk.
Give warm water for drinking
Give freshly made food.
Give liquid type food, which helps who have difficulty in swallowing.
And dear MoMsters if child has high fever and feeling very uncomfortable please consult doctor.
After recovery give your child a new toothbrush so that previous infection should not pass.
Hoping for speedy recovery. Take care.
If any doubts or needed more clarification, kindly leave a comment.
Dear MoMsters we know that you might be worried about coronavirus, and we are here to explain what the coronavirus is and how to fight with it.
Coronavirus are a large family of virus that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases like Pneumonia.
COVID-19 appeared in Wuhan, a city in China, in December 2019 and it is likely to spread many countries and many people are affected which includes Italy, the USA, Spain, Germany, Iran, France, South Korea, UK, and India.
Now dear MoMsters all I want to say is people of all ages can be infected by COVID-19. However my request is to take care older people and kids whose immune system is still developing, and particularly people with conditions like heart diseases, asthma are more vulnerable to the virus.
Coming to Symptoms: There is still lots of confusion in the minds of people what exactly the symptoms of coronavirus are? Because sometimes it resembles like the common cold and it finds very difficult to differentiate. No confusion, we will help you to recognize exact symptoms. The symptoms will be like respiratory viral fever for 85% of the population. If you have flu or cold 1st thing you should do is isolate yourself and follow your symptoms.
DAY 1-3—–The symptoms will be similar to normal cold and flu.
-The patient will experience fever and they will experience mild throat pain or no throat pain at all.
– People with the weakest immune system may experience nausea & diarrhea.
DAY 4 —––The throat pain of infected person increases.
–Voice of patients becomes sore.
-Raise in body temperature above 99.7 degrees F.
-Mild headache and mild diarrhea.
DAY 5 —- There is intense pain in the throat. Pain while eat or drink. Soreness of voice increases. Body pain and joint pain.
DAY 6 ———– Fever is still mild. Dry cough with painful throat. Painful throat while eating, swallowing or talking. Feeling of being exhausted and severe nausea. Occasionally the patient face difficulty in breathing. The intensity of diarrhea and vomiting increases.
DAY 7———– Fever increases up to 100.4 F. Excessive coughing with sputum. Headache, diarrhea, body pain and vomiting worsens. Loss of appetite.
DAY 8 ————- Severe difficulty in breathing. The chest becomes very heavy. Coughing increases.
Loss of taste and smell
DAY 9 ———— All of the symptoms starts getting worse.
This list of symptoms was released by the ministry of health, Singapore. Severe Symptoms include – difficulty breathing, pain in the chest, bluish lips or face. Finally if you ever feel the three symptoms Fever, Cough and shortness of breath seek medical attention immediately. It is noticed that symptoms are showing up in people within 14 days of exposure to the virus.
Who is at more risk? Immuno compromised individuals Chronic disorders – Bronchial Asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular patients. Old age people.
How is the mode of Transmission? There is only one thing you need to understand about a coronavirus spread. The virus spreads when a sick person cough or sneezes and a droplets from a sick person get into your eyes, nose, mouth of an healthy person or when a healthy person touching contaminated objects.
It is always said that prevention is better than cure. Wash your hands with antimicrobial soap thoroughly, wash upto elbow and wash between fingers, back of your hands for 20 seconds.
Wash the face mask after every use, because sometimes sick person saliva can even get on the outside of your face mask.
• If using disposable mask throw away within 6-7 hours, because bacteria can grow on the insides of your mask if you wear them too long.
• If using a washable mask, do not touch the front portion of mask and wash it after every use.
Do not share towels, spoon, utensils, food etc.
Always wash your hands with soap before you eat and after being out in the public.
The sick person’s saliva can get on anything’s such as their hands, doorknobs, train straps, pens, mobile, lift button, stair banisters, etc. and if you touch any of these things by accident and then touch your face, rub eyes, you might fall sick. (It is said that virus can last for upto 24 hours on objects and do not worry the only solution is to wash your hands with antimicrobial soap for 20 secs and please teach your kids how to wash hands).
If you find someone who is coughing, sneezing/sick, please keep 2m of distance away from them. (Advice those to use a mask when they are sick).
It’s better to avoid traveling in a crowded place because you don’t know who might be sick. (Remember people who are infected can show no symptoms but are still infectious).
Dear working parents please be unsocial: If possible work from home which helps your kids as well as you.
Avoid parties, meeting people, public transport, salon, crowded place. And be at home till everything settles down. What the future beholds for us, nobody knows, it’s good to be ready for worse, we already have examples of other countries who suffer to get daily routine, so dear MoMsters stock some basic things at your home like food which won’t get spoiled easily and also necessary medicines for kids and pregnant ladies.
Try to isolate children and elders as much as possible.
“Include immune-boosting foods in your daily diet for a healthy immune system, such as ginger, garlic, turmeric, and among fruits – Kiwi, oranges, papaya, lemon and vegetables like – spinach, broccoli, carrot, beetroot, and nuts. However, immune-boosting foods will not stop you from getting COVID-19 infection, but these foods helps for healthy immune system to fight against COVID-19 during treatment.”
Persons infected with coronavirus can recover from the disease if their body and immune system support during hospital treatment, but till now there is no certain specific treatment protocol published by WHO.
Dear MoMsters it is very important to understand that panicking won’t help its time to think smart and work accordingly by following necessary precautions.
wash all the feeding equipment thoroughly by using hot soapy water.
