My Indescribable First Time Mommyhood Feelings

"You never understand life until it grows inside of you."

Beautiful thought...isn't it? I bet most women who have given birth would relate to it. Pregnancy is the time when a woman is at her happiest yet most anxious self. As I came across this touching video, I couldn't help recalling the transitional time of my life...

It was the morning of January 13th of that blessed year when I was standing in the washroom holding that home-pregnancy test kit in my hand with 'positive' indication. Finding out that I'm pregnant had been exhilarating and frightening at the same time. A whole spectrum of feelings from sheer joy to outright terror ran into my heart in that one moment. While stepping out of the washroom made me feel like I'm stepping into a different world of emotions. With a bit of panic in my voice, when I shared the news with my husband and saw his joyous reaction, that’s when I knew it was the time for us to step into the next chapter of our lives 'together'. 

Right after the announcement of pregnancy, all kinds of anxieties kicked in. Women around me who were already moms would share their experiences of pregnancy and childbirth so vividly with me; but none of the advices seem adequate to subside my fear. As a few weeks passed by, I started feeling how incredibly thankful I was to God for the blessing of carrying a child. Unlike many first time moms, I was happy with the change that my body was showing to accommodate my growing baby. I believed that being pregnant is carrying a blessing in my belly. The next few months were totally devoted to indulge in self-care to allow the baby grow inside my body. It gave me a sense of pride, a holy feeling that I've a 'new life' all tucked up safely inside me. Infact, despite all those crazy hormonal changes, I had been much tougher than I sometimes gave myself credit for.

My significant other managed to do all preparations in-time as the due date was approaching to avoid forgetting anything important at the moment. We were so eager to meet the little guy who has been kicking me inside and moving around for months. ;) 

Finally the moment arrived when hearing the little one’s heartbeat was a huge relief for the expecting family. I broke into tears when I cradled the little creature in my arms for the first time. Believe me, the profound feeling of giving birth is unparallelled to anything in whole universe. It was like being rewarded by Heavens with something so pure and virtuous for all your good deeds. 

Since my baby was a preemie, I was advised by my gynaecologist to use only chemical-free, skin friendly products for my little one as he was more prone to infections than full-term babies. Since we stayed at the hospital for two weeks and the baby was not supposed to be bathed everyday, we were recommended extra-soft baby wipes from India’s #FirstWaterWipes brand Mother Sparsh to clean my baby's hands, feet, face and bottom whenever required.

These parabens and alcohol free baby wipes with neither disturbed pH balance of baby's delicate skin nor caused him skin allergies because these are made of 98% water and plant based fabric. For a #FirstTimeMom, it was no less than a gift to find such a thoughtful product that could meet newborn's needs. Since then, it was a staple item in my baby's diaper kit. For the new mommies, I would recommend to avoid ordinary baby wipes loaded with allergens and use Mother Sparsh water based wipes to offer goodness of Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to your new born. Now it's available to purchase online as well. 

Wishing all moms and moms-to-be a happy motherhood journey ahead!

Diaper Rash, Baby Wipes And A Quick Solution

Arrival of a baby in the family is like getting to join the most difficult course for new mommy, trying and testing her knowledge to sort out everyday issues to the best of her capabilities and still failing at many instances. When it comes to baby's health, the early few months or may be few years are so challenging and many a times vulnerable for the mommy. 

I remember how anxious I used to feel for every task I would do for my baby for the next few months of his birth. My heart would explode with fear that something is terribly wrong as and when my baby faced even common health issues like eczema, diarrhoea, diaper rash or mild fever. I always made a point to detoxify my home every day for my baby's good health, but some issues were practically unavoidable, diaper rash being one of them. At the age of 6 months or so, my son developed a bacterial infection in her diaper region. The baby's sore, red, scaly skin didn't clear up despite changing his diaper often enough for next few days. Deep inside my heart, I was petrified and questioned my own parenting abilities. On the learning curve of motherhood, I realized that the problem was not with his diapering ritual, but with the ordinary disposable wipes that I had been using to wipe his bottoms with after every poop. The lesson I learnt was to switch to gentler baby wipes that do not burn baby's delicate skin.

In present times, the challenge to find an appropriate baby wipe brand is tougher as all brands claim to be 'child safe' and the parents need to be really watchful of what all has gone into making of certain product. 

For mommies, who are in search for a non-irrtant baby wipes brand, I recommend you to try Mother Sparsh baby wipes for your babies. Let me share why Mother Sparsh Baby Wipes should make space in your baby closet -

Mother Sparsh is India’s 1st water based baby wipes brand which is made of 98% water content. It cleans the baby's bottom as you wash with pure water. The material used is 100% plant fabric which makes the wipes not only cottony soft but non-allergic on skin. The ingredients list of Mother Sprash baby wipes is worth a look that mentions use of flower extracts so as to give these wipes a moisturizing effect. This is why when you pat your baby's skin gently with one of these wipes, it feels like a soft cloth and causes no dryness.

Most inexpensive baby wipes are loaded with chemicals that may lead to infections or rashes due to frequent use. Even some preservatives that are commonly found in ordinary wipes act as severe irritants and reasult in baby-wipe dermatitis. To provide the parents a solution to such wipes, Mother Sparsh has avoided use of any artificial preservatives in the formula and offered best solution by crafting skin-friendly baby wipes.   

Being a mother myself, I would suggest all mommies to buy these water wipes for their little ones as a preventive measure especially for allergy-prone kids, becuase it's better to be safe than sorry.

Intelligent Flame Test & Quality Assurance of Mother Sparsh Baby Wipes

"Blessed with a baby boy", the message flashed on my phone screen while I was busy curating content for my article on my laptop. One of my friends who is as dear as a sister to me, had delivered a baby boy and I was so excited to meet and snuggle the little one the very moment. But then I decided of giving her space for a few days, as the first couple of weeks with a newborn can be overwhelming for a new mom. I just replied back to her with a congratulatory message and promised to drop in at her place in next few days.

Before I could visit the cuddlesome baby and his mom, I thought of finding some meaningful, baby-focused gifts for the little one and the nursing mom that will stand the test of time. I got a beautifully decorated basket and filled it up with snacks like nuts, healthy snack bars, lactation beverages, bath n body products, massage oils, refillable water bottle and some parenting magazines for my friend. Now selecting gifts for the newborn was a task for me, but at least I was sure to give a break to the same old baby sets. I opted for practical items needed for the baby on daily basis i.e. cloth diapers, swaddling clothes, baby wipes, funky onesies, soft socks, bonnets and some toys.

After taking a consent of my friend after a few days whether she is ready for a long-stay visitor, I finally got the opportunity to meet my friend with an intention to take a little stress off her during this crazy, emotion-filled time. The lady felt so emotional as she picked and loved each of the thoughtful gifts I had carried along. But holding one of the packs in her hand, she surprisingly acclaimed "Should I use these baby wipes for my new born? I mean how can you go wrong picking these harmful wipes for a baby's delicate skin. See, using disposable baby wipes has already caused blistery skin on my baby's face, hands and bumps..."

In the impulse of the moment, I decided to settle on a plan of action to clarify her doubt by sharing what had worked in my experience when the similar inhibition had arouse in my mind during my early motherhood days. To begin with, I calmly showed her the pack of Mother Sparsh Baby Wipes which legibly mentions that these wipes are as good as cotton and water since these are made of natural fabric and are based on water. To further prove my point, I demonstrated the authenticity of my explanation through a simple Flame Test. 

Taking one of the wipes out of the pack, I burnt one of its corners over the flame of a candle which I took from her kitchen. While the wipe was being burnt, we noticed that the odour emitted from wipes smelt like a burnt paper or piece of cloth; rather than of burnt plastic. This proved that the Mother Sparsh baby wipes are made up of plant-based natural fabric without polyester content in them.

Also the burnt wipe left behind greyish powdered residue (that we commonly call as 'ash') instead of hard lump. This was again an evidence that these wipes are sans plastic content unlike ordinary baby wipes available at relatively cheaper price in the markets.

The outcome of this simple home test not only convinced my beloved friend of finding a skin-friendly product for her baby, but also reassured her trust that 'goodness' comes in all sizes and all forms ;)

For all the mommies out there, who are keen to try Mother Sparsh 98% water based baby wipes, you may shop online at the comfort of your home while you're busy juggling with your new responsibilities.

The Best Remedy To Unblock Your Baby’s Nose

It dreads every mom when all the viruses and bacteria out there are aiming for her little one. During the first year after birth, the babies are more prone to common ailments as their immune system is still developing.

My son, a preemie, used to easily falling prey to respiratory infections despite taking good care of hygiene and takes longer to recover from severe nasal congestion. Though my mom would always console me that certain childhood illnesses like cold has predictable life span and his nose mucus build-up would clear up by itself within a week or so, but seeing the baby so uncomfortable with laboured breathing has been very distressing for me as a first time mom. I would always be discussing and consulting with experienced moms around of the probable remedies that may outgrow this phase.

There were barely any intervals between his illness and wellness. During climatic changes like at the arrival of wet months in monsoon, when the air has elevated humidity and rains entitle respiratory viruses and pollutants to circulate in the air; his respiratory problems would complicate to a higher degree and his nose would block triggering some sort of allergic reaction. He would struggle breathing and nursing at the same time and would have only shorter feeds. Even while sleeping, he would breathe noisily, often keeping his mouth opened. I had read in some parenting literature that the babies up to one year of age are 'obligatory nose breathers' and they breathe exclusively through their nose. The frequent issue of a stuffy little nose had become one of the toughest challenge for me as a mom with noticeable effects on my child's health, energy level, ability to function and quality of life in general. It was heart breaking to hear him cry with a distinct sound of discomfort and behave cranky all the time. I was worried that if left untreated, this long-term nasal congestion can interfere with his ability to hear and talk as he grows up and may even adversely affect his mental health.

Like every other young mom, initially I relied only upon practical advice of elders in the family as I was deeply committed to raise my child on the principles of attachment parenting. After trying number of home remedies including saline drops, vapour bath and trying baby wearing frequently that comforted him occasionally; I finally decided to consult the paediatrician for my child's physical ENT examination to alleviate his stuffy nose and to put an end to this not-so-normal congestion nuisance.

The doctor directed me to use Nasivion Mini 0.01, a nasal decongestant specially formulated for our little ones of upto one year and instructed me regarding it's safe usage. For my child who was a few months old, I was advised to gently pour in 1-2 drops into each nostril in lying down posture 2-3 times a day. But for a baby up to the age of one month, the parent should instill only one drop of the solution into each nostril 2-3 times per day. With high hopes in my heart for the efficacy of the medication, I followed doctor's instructions and gradually noticed some relief after a day or two. The Oxymetazoline infused solution had been well-tolerated by his little nose and cleared his nasal passage within five days of continuous usage. Encouraged naps, sufficient food intake and normal lung function helped him soothe and heal in coming days. It seemed that life has taken a hopeful turn for all good.

I would recommend all parents whose babies are affected with similar ailment to consider Nasivion. But be sure to consult your paediatrician first. Because a sick baby is never a happy baby and at times, you're just one step away from happiness.

What If You Get Nature's Care In Your Baby's Wipes

Hey mommies

It's the time for 'mom to mom' advice and sharing something of great concern from my motherhood experience with you all :)

When I was an expectant mom and was staying for some time with my parents prior to my delivery, my mom not only took best care of me, but planned everything so well for the arrival of her first grandchild much ahead of his/her birth. The preparations for baby's arrival not just involved hauling around for best quality baby essentials from the market, but she put lot more effort to pack all kinds of 'comfort items' for me and the newborn in my hospital bag.

While she got me an ultimate maternity kit ready, I wasn't pleased to find her cutting her old, used premium cotton sarees and bedsheets into pieces and stacking those cloth pieces in my hospital bag. Collecting my courage as much as possible, I asked her why and she patiently explained me the logic that the newborn's delicate skin would demand mildest care and the key principle is to 'be genlte'. After my son was born, we would use one of those soft pieces of cotton cloth to wipe him clean and would dispose it after use.

In the present times, when we have access to anything and everything needed for newborns readily available in the stores and many of us don't trust such age-old practises, I'm really glad that the notion for baby care are still the same i.e. 'gentle, harmless care for the baby'. I know those pieces of cotton cloth have been replaced with easy-to-use moist towelettes or wet wipes that is one the most desirable items in a baby's diaper bag, but can all these wipes pass the quality-checks that ONLY a mom can impose? I personally used and tested a number of 'supposedly good' baby wipes, but wasn't convinced until I laid my hands on Mother Sparsh wipes.

Let's explore some key factors that influenced my opinion while picking Mother Sparsh Wipes over ordinary wipes-

The delicate baby skin demands for purest ingredients that are gonna be absorbed by their skin when any product comes into contact with the largest organ of their body. The thoughtful design of these wipes with 100% Plant-based Fabric & 98% of Water actually brought back memories of my mom's style of baby cleaning with only pure water using soft cleaning fabric. Since these wipes are as good as Cotton & Pure Water, it proves to be a skin-friendly product even in the early months after baby's birth.
After hygiene, finding the right amount of softness, moisture and fragrance in the wipes has to be a priority for every mom. The Mother Sparsh Wipes infused with purest Ayurvedic Actives would gain your trust when using these to clean your baby's dirty face, hands, eyes, ears, bottom won't cause him any allergic reaction or diaper rash. And the goodness of Vitamin E and Aloe Vera extract is the additional perks of relying on a A-grade product to won't compromise in hydrating the skin of little one.
I bet you're worried of preservatives in the wipes that are the most common allergens and lead to itchy skin. So procuring a cleaning item absolutely free from all harmful chemicals like Alcohol & Parabens is definitely a win-win situation for me and my fellow mommies.
For the reasons too good to be true, the mommies and babies ought to love Mother Sparsh wipes. Can't wait to get your little one a gift of good health, order your pack here and end your hunt for baby safe wipes today!

How ActivKids Immuno Boosters Helped Me Become My Son’s Best Friend

"Telling a mother not to worry about her child is like telling the water not to get wet." 

When my son was born, I realised that I too had entered the big league of worrying. Delivering a preterm baby caused me heart-thumping fear that kept on growing as days passed. Sacrificing my job to be with the little one came so naturally to me that I never had to give it a second thought. There were occasions when the overwhelming weight of worries about Shamit’s health would steal the joy of holding him in my arms and I would only wish his overall development to even out with his peers as early as possible.

My anxiety piled up into trauma and crossed the line of normal care and concern the day my son had to attend school for the first time. Refusal to school was no choice, so I decided training (rather warning) my son about what should be avoided when I'm not around... I still recall my frequent diary notes going to his teacher stating NOT to allow him share tiffin with classmates, NOT to take part in weekly splash-pool activity, NOT to play in sand-pit and the list was endless... I have to admit that his days were mostly dominated by playing indoors with me. As a result, he started resisting being face-to-face with the world beyond our front door :(

Well! I probably saved him from many dangers of outside world and managed to overcome number of health risks. But I barely could register how the personality of a little child was impacted by recursively saying 'NO' and turned him into a self-absorbed person.

Recently during the #YesMom campaign by ActivKids Immuno Boosters, I got a chance to watch an insightful video that shook my belief and pushed the demon of restrictions out I was living with. This video was launched as an awareness initiative on the impacts of saying NO to kids, by brand ActivKids Immuno Boosters, a unique nutritional supplement for kids that helps in strengthening immunity.

To be honest, I couldn't believe the product claims that a tiny-looking choco-bite kind of candy can offer up to 100% RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) of key immunity.

During one of my regular visits to our paediatrician, I got a chance to learn about benefits of ActivKids Immuno Boosters when a mother had similar doubts like I had. The doctor validated why the kids should be given this supplement choco bite by stating that most kids lack even 50% of RDA of key immunity nutrients due to improper diet, insufficient physical exercise and external factors like environmental pollution. This makes their body have low resistance power against disease causing organisms and they fall ill more often.

After this informative dialogue with the paediatrician, I confidently ordered a month's pack of ActivKids Immuno Boosters. You may buy the product here. 

No wonder, my son was joyously surprised to find that his mom who always has to say NO to chocolates had allowed him to enjoy a choco-bite everyday ;) 

When it's a 'real' struggle to pick right nutrition for our kids these days, it's blissful for moms like me to find a scientifically developed product that brings together the desired proportion of Anti-infective Vitamin A, Anti-Immune Stress Vitamin B9, Anti-Cold Vitamin C and Anti-Microbial Iron that will practically prevent us from crushing childhood of these kids because of our imaginary fears.

Give it a glance on to understand what ingredients go into product composition and how they help build immunity-

Inclusion of one Immuno Boosters choco-bite in my son's diet plan has actually given me the courage to undergo a transition to be #YesMom. Shamit usually likes to carry his daily dose of choco-bite to school. Isn't it actually an ideal time to conclude his meal in a tasty yet healthy way. This healthy snack helps in smoother digestion and increases his metabolism too. Now he remains more energetic and cheerful doing all his activities to seize the rest of the day after tiring school hours. I can clearly make out great improvement in his body's defence system. He barely fell ill in past months and needed no antibiotic as his immunity was stronger. 

Children's time in today's world is much more pressured than it once was. So I promised to myself to allow my son explore his world beyond my secure fencing, be it feeding the pet dogs of his friend, cycling through the muddy road, passing through the bushes to find his ball in the play ground or coming back home with pocket full of rocks. I would now let him set his own challenges, assess his own risks, take his own responsibility and learn from every situation. And here’s the TV ad for Immuno Boosters, a product that has made a significant impact in my life.

Becoming a #YesMom definitely wasn't a cakewalk for me, but maintaining a strategic balance during decisive moments has certainly bridged the gap. I truly feel accomplished as a mom to find my son with not just better immunity physically, but reaping emotional benefits like showing reduced aggression and increased happiness. The beautiful change that is filling up our hearts is a distinctive experience of nurturing our relationship. I cherish the moments when my son confides into me and instead of holding back his emotions, shares his feelings with me. I always believe that it's imperative to let the happiness bug pass on to our kids so that our emotional connect becomes intense and deeper. It's no less than a reward for me to be showered with purest of love by my little one and a sincere promise to be his lifetime friend.
You can read more here

Lastly, here is an honest confession from a mom -

Let your kids be the anchors of their lives. Because life doesn't come with a manual, 

it has its own ways to teach lessons.

Cloudnine Maternity Hospital Arrives at Chandigarh

Chandigarh, the hub of North India, boasts of state-of-the-art medical facilities available in various public and private hospitals. The real challenge had been to offer best maternity services to expectant moms in the city to make the most important stage of their life memorable.

In order to match up to the diverse medical requirements of the would-be moms, Cloudnine Hospitals, India’s leading chain of maternity, women and child care hospital marked the opening of their newest hospital in Chandigarh on 21st November.

The inauguration ceremony had none other than the most graceful supermom and bollywood celebrity Mrs. Shilpa Shetty Kundra as the chief guest at the Cloudnine facility to grace the occasion.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony by the celebrity herself marked the official opening of a newly-constructed facility.
The event flow continued further to address the attendees by Cloudnine authorities to introduce the services that the hospital will provide.

Dr. Pawan Kumar, Regional Director of the North, Cloudnine Hospitals took the opportunity to acknowledge an expression of gratitude for Mrs. Shilpa Shetty in his welcome note and invited the worthy chief guest to unveil 'It's Our Baby' Programme.

It’s Our Baby, a first of its kind exceptional, baby-ready programme for expectant parents was unveiled to offer a joyous and seamless experience to both the parents right from pregnancy to delivery. The program is a fine medley of educative prenatal workshops, fitness sessions and celebrations to welcome one’s bundle of joy. It offers a unique opportunity to be aware, better prepared and confident to manage pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care.

Stressing upon the importance of choosing the right healthcare partner for delivery, Mrs. Shilpa Shetty Kundra said, “Childbirth is a life changing phenomena for a woman. It is important to choose a comfortable, trustworthy environment that can offer her a happy and stress-free atmosphere not just during the final month but also during the entire term of pregnancy”.

She further added that every woman deserves the right kind of attention from the doctors during her time of need. She thanked Cloudnine on behalf of all the women to present Chandigarh one of the best affordable maternity, fertility, gynaecology, neonatology, newborn intensive care, high -risk pregnancy care and paediatric services across the country, when it comes to birthing.

In continuation to the conversation, Dr Kishore Kumar, Founder and Chairman, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, present at the launch event said, “Pregnancy brings about multiple changes making parents doubtful of various elements like lifestyle changes, correct diet, impact of their actions on the baby etc. In today’s time and age, the parents need a trusted partner that could navigate them through this significant stage in their lives. Cloudnine Hospitals brings that very essence of care to Chandigarh.”

Insights of Cloudnine Group of Hospitals:

• Cloudnine Group of Hospitals was set up in 2007 by the renowned neonatologist Dr.Kishore Kumar as India’s premier destination for comprehensive maternal, gynaecological, fertility, neonatal and paediatric care. 
• The organisation’s vision is to effectively bridge the gap between Indian and international standards through a combination of clinical excellence, comprehensive care and an atmosphere of celebration, to ensure world-class standards in woman and child healthcare. With over 50,000 births across 19 facilities in 6 cities and a 500+ bed strength supported by 3000+ strong workforce, Cloudnine is India’s leading chain of maternity hospitals.
• Cloudnine, a trusted single speciality hospital present across the country offers gold standards of care to their guests in the form of clinical excellence, personalised care and an atmosphere of celebration & well-being, all under one roof. The easy access to a versatile medical team including paediatricians, lactation specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists and nursing consultants with each expert demystifies and educates new parents on every need of a newborn such as feeding, sleeping techniques, baby massage, bath practices, breastfeeding, nutrition for the baby and new mother and the role of the entire family at home. 
• Celebrations are an integral theme in Cloudnine’s portfolio, with delightful moments dusted across specialty services. Every expectant couple is invited to a glorious baby shower, a coveted event thrown in their honour, to celebrate their journey so far. 
• Cloudnine’s birthing packages are experiences unto themselves, complete with a personal suite, a candlelight dinner and no restrictions on visiting hours. The hospital chain has also become a favored maternity destination among celebrities.
• Cloudnine has prestigious accolades including the Times Achievers Award 2017 for the Best Single Specialty Hospital in Delhi NCR, 2014 Australian Service Excellence award by Customer Service Institute of Australia, 8th Frost & Sullivan India Healthcare Excellence award for Mother & Child Care Service Provider, and Economic Times Best Healthcare Brands award for “Specialised Hospital for Woman and Child”.

A few glimpses of Cloudnine Chandigarh:

Cloudnine’s foray into Chandigarh marks a new beginning for the chain in the upper north region and is sure to scale up maternal healthcare in the region :)
Location: Site No. 48, Industrial Area, Phase-II, Chandigarh, 160002,

Effective Healthcare Remedies for Infants

Although unavoidable, your baby falling sick never fails to make a mommy super anxious. My heart would drop to my stomach every time my child suffered from common childhood illnesses and I would stress and want the ailment to get cured without discomforting my little one with medication.

In the initial phase of motherhood, I consulted and trusted only the paediatrician so as to offer instant relief to my ailing baby; but gradually I started relying on natural remedies suggested by elders in my family that really worked wonders.

Today I'm sharing a quick remedy index for your baby's recurring ills that are not only completely safe, but also go a long way in developing your baby's immune system.

Diaper Rash: Your baby might urinate and defecate a number of times a day, but whenever you change his nappy, you need to gently pat the area clean and dry. A little carelessness in cleaning the baby's bottom may lead to irritating rashes.

Cure:
Direct application of coconut oil is the easiest way to treat diaper rash. You may further enhance the efficacy by adding 3-4 drops of tea tree oil in coconut oil that would kill yeast causing bacteria and treat painful yeast diaper rash.

Teething Pain: Before a tooth actually breaks through the gums, the baby feels irritable pain and discomfort due to soreness.

Cure:
The cheapest remedy to deal with fussiness of teething is to freeze a clean washcloth dipped in plain water or breast milk for half an hour and then give it to your baby to bite and suck. The numbing effect coming from cold textured cloth calms the pain.
A homemade teether made out of an ice cube, chilled vegetables and fruits (like carrots, cucumber and avocado) have been most mommies' preferred choice over wooden/plastic teethers and topical medication over the years. As the babies chew on these hard things, the counter-pressure helps reduce the pain.

Stomach Ache: Usually stomach pain is caused by food intolerance, infection, intestinal blockage or some sort of food/milk allergy, etc. The trick is to touch and find out whether the baby's abdomen is more stiff and swollen than usual.

Cure:
Boil 1/2 cup of rice in 2 cups of water for about 15 minutes. Strain out the rice and flavour the water with sugar. Give warm rice water to the baby after frequent intervals.
A flavourful alternate is to boil a handful of large raisins (munakka) cut into halves in water and give spoonfuls of this warm concoction to the baby every now and then.

If the baby rejects consuming anything and cries inconsolably, make a sticky paste out of half a spoon of asafoetida (hing) mixed with water. Apply this paste on your baby’s tummy in a circular motion around the navel area to counter flatulence.

Ear Ache: I remember feeling totally puzzled whenever my baby would cry due to aching ears. I would helplessly check every body part to find what was wrong, to no avail. If your baby grabs or tugs at his ears, this could be a sign that he's in pain. Also observe if there is any fluid drainage from his ears.

Cure:
If you don't suspect a ruptured eardrum, pour 2-3 drops of slightly warm garlic oil or mustard oil or onion juice in the affected ear.
Parents who disapprove of putting anything inside the ears may opt for making Onion Earmuffs. Simply slice an onion in half, microwave it until it’s soft and then wrap the onion in a cloth to hold it up to your baby’s ear.

Mosquito Bites: While mosquito bites seem common, it can be a major cause for worry if it causes swollen bumps on your baby's skin along with high fever. Parents should avoid taking babies to mosquito-infested areas. But if you have to, then do not leave the house without applying mosquito repellents to avoid any complications that may arise later like mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, encephalitis, malaria and chikungunya to name a few. Apply a baby-safe mosquito repellent like Goodknight Fabric Roll-On on your baby's pram or clothes before stepping out to keep mosquitoes away for long hours. Made of citronella and eucalyptus oil, this personal repellent is 100% natural. It does not leave any stains on application and is certified as dermatologically safe by paediatricians. Simply apply 4 dots to keep those mosquitoes away from your baby for up to 8 hours.

Cure:
If pesky mosquitos manage to sting the baby despite practising prevention tricks, the quickest cure at hand is to rub a dry soap bar on the bite immediately. You may find several alternatives in your kitchen like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey or salt water that can be dabbed directly over the bitten area to curb inflammation instantly.

Cold & Cough: Babies who are less than a year old are more prone to cough and cold due to bacterial infection. They are vulnerable and easily infected on coming in contact with someone who is already sick.

Cure:
Boil few cloves of garlic into mustard oil. Let the oil cool and apply it externally on your baby’s neck, chest, back, under the feet and palms. The warmth of mustard oil and anti-bacterial properties of garlic help destroy bacteria that cause cold.
Another potent remedy for cold is to dry roast carom seeds (ajwain) on a flat pan and put it in a cotton cloth, making it a pouch. Place the pouch near the baby’s nose so that he may inhale the smell to soothe his nose and throat.
Placing a cool-mist humidifier in the baby's room is a popular instrument these days. It adds moisture to the air providing relief from dry, stuffy nasal passages.

Fever: A low degree fever should not scare you as long as your child is active and playful, as fever is our body’s way of controlling the temperature and its immune response. The fluctuation in the temperature may happen in the process and is natural to every baby. Fever may also occur as a reaction to vaccination or infections in throat, ear etc.

Cure:
Boil a handful of basil leaves in 2 cups of water until the solution is reduced to half. Add a little sugar and give it to your little one a few times a day.
In case of high fever, keep slices of onion under the feet of your baby and wrap the feet in the socks. Replace sliced onions every 4-6 hours until the fever is gone.
If you want to avoid stinky onions, take some slices of potato and soak them in vinegar for 10 minutes. Then place the potato slices on the baby's forehead and cover it with a washcloth on top.

These treasured natural remedies may shop results in varied time depending on the seriousness of the sickness of the baby, but are time-tested and have no side-effects. They are a brilliant alternatives for parents who are hesitant to use over-the-counter medication and feel more comfortable to nip the symptoms in the bud instead of resorting to medicines.
Let me know which remedy worked best to treat your little ones’ illness.

Caution: If any of the health-issues persists for longer than expected, do consult your medical adviser well in time.

Image Source: www.wikihow.com

Smart Ways to Ensure Hygiene for School-going Children

Having belonged to the education industry for more than one and a half decades now, I strongly advocate the fact that children should be imparted with knowledge of 'health and hygiene' above and beyond tutoring them for essential subjects in schools. And by way of that, not just enhance the scholastic curriculum, but empower the children with good habits of maintaining high degree of personal hygiene since young age.

Ideally, the school authorities and parents should team up for a collaborative effort that ensures forming a defence system against diseases that pose serious risk to children's health. The checklist that can help battle poor hygiene in smarter ways includes:

Scrub Those Germs Away:
Guide your child to wash his hands at critical times like before eating food, after using the toilet, after coughing or sneezing, and after handling the garbage bin. Instilling this habit significantly eliminates the probability of various bugs that might make your child fall sick. I personally recommend packing dermatologist tested, alcohol-free hand sanitizing wipes in your child's school bag that can be used for routine cleaning, in case of non-accessibility of water.

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Personal Hygiene:
Good hygiene habits should be introduced to children in primary schooling age even if they don't completely understand how staying clean can greatly impact the quality of life. Parents should help imbibe basic grooming habits in their children by behaving and acting in an ideal manner themselves. Simple everyday rituals like brushing your teeth, taking a shower, changing clothes, clipping fingernails etc. should be religiously practised. This will ensure that kids do not fall prey to communicable diseases or skip school/studies.

Besides, with so many diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria around, it is a must to use personal outdoor mosquito protection, as these diseases are spread by day biting mosquitoes. Make it a habit to apply mosquito repellents before stepping out.

While kids might not be comfortable with sticky creams, encourage them to use the Good knight Fabric Roll-On, an innovative mosquito repellent for all day long protection at school. Just need to apply 4 dots on their clothes and they are protected from mosquitoes for up to 8 hours.

It is 100% natural and paediatrician certified making it completely safe for use. The best part is that it needs to be applied on clothes, and not on your skin (it is non-staining).

Clean Toilets/Restrooms:

Children have a right to basic facilities such as clean school toilets. The school administration must ensure availability of water in the toilets on a regular basis. The areas like wash basins, soap dispensers, door knobs, handles etc. should be disinfected by the school crew members on a daily basis to avoid spread of germs. The issue of stinking odour within the vicinity of toilets/restrooms should be handled by spraying air fresheners after sweeping and mopping.

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Garbage Disposal:

Within the school campus, a lot of waste material gets collected in bins by the end of the day that becomes one of the main reason for various bacterial diseases and respiratory allergies. These dumping grounds can also become a hotspot for disease-causing mosquitoes. The school may conduct an eco-awareness activity among students to dig garbage pits away from the classroom area where they can dump this waste and allow it to decompose into manure. Not only will this add up to the learning aspect, but will also prevent outbreak of infectious ailments among children.

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Dealing with Illness:
Despite practising correct sanitation guidelines, if you suspect that your child might be exposed to unclean surroundings while off to school or if he/she has earlier demonstrated symptoms of weakened immune system, precautionary measures must be taken beforehand.

Parents should get their child vaccinated during the time of year when they tend to fall ill. Strictly avoid sending your child to school if he shows signs of being unwell because the shared spaces and supplies facilitate quick transmission of germs from one student to another.

Being major contributors of a child's well-being, parents and school authorities can greatly influence behavioural pattern of children and ensure that they exercise optimal hygiene habits to enhance the longevity of a healthy life.

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