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Tips to prepare yourself for the change ahead

That said, what can you do to deal with the situation? Since going back to work is a given, let’s take a look at some ways by which you can adjust to your new routine. It’s equally important to make the transition as smooth as possible for your little one as well. Let’s find out how!

• Go over your childcare arrangements: Whether you’re going to send your child to daycare or have someone at home supervise him, he needs time to adapt to being with a new person. Ask the person to join at least 2-3 weeks before you have to resume work so that it’s an easier transition.
• Ease into work: Do you have the option to return to work part-time, or for a reduced number of hours each day? Speak to your employer and clarify your duties, so that expectations are clear on both sides. You can ask for flexible hours, telecommuting, or part-time. Eventually, as you and the baby both adapt to the new routine, you can consider going back full time.
• Prepare to continue breastfeeding: If you plan to breastfeed your baby even after returning to work, talk to your employer. Since you are returning to work, you will also have to make changes to your breastfeeding schedule. Start adjusting to your new schedule about two weeks before you return to work. You may need to extract breast milk and store it to ensure your baby is fed while you’re at work.
• Give yourself time to rest: Being a new mum is exhausting, and when you introduce going to work into the mix, you will need some time to yourself. Try to catch a quick power nap, whenever possible, to rejuvenate yourself.

Don’t forget…

Having to quit work because you’ve just had a baby is not necessary. Evaluate your needs and options before you take any decision, and know that you’re a great mum for being able to balance work, home, and baby!

0 to 6 months

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding as a sole source of nutrition for newborns during the first six months of life. Breast milk contains all the nutrients the baby will need for these six months. That’s why it is necessary for you to pay special attention to your diet, as that will determine what nutrients are passed on to your baby. Continue to take vitamin supplements, if necessary.

6 to 12 months

As your baby reaches 6 months of age, their digestive system is better developed, and the iron stores they were born with will start running low. This is a good time to introduce them to pureed or soft foods. A varied diet is highly recommended, like pureed greens, fruit, or oatmeal. You can try to puree chickpeas, lentils, avocados, or leafy greens.

The sooner they are exposed to different tastes and textures, the better it is. Ensure they get a good amount of iron for brain and muscle development. The older they get, the more different types of iron-rich foods they are able to consume. Also from 6 months on, it is recommended that they start taking Vitamin D supplements.

12 to 18 months

At this stage, iron and Vitamin D are still quite essential. Ensure your child consumes at least one iron-rich food per day. When they consume iron-rich foods, ensure that they are also eating vegetables and/or Vitamin C rich foods so that the iron is absorbed properly. It is also good to continue the Vitamin D supplements. These support appropriate bone development, as Vitamin D is imperative for calcium and phosphorus absorption. Children between the ages of 1 to 3 years are recommended to consume at least 7mcg of Vitamin D daily.

18 to 24 months

By now your growing toddler is eating a large variety of foods and is comfortable eating solids. You are of course ensuring that they have a well-rounded diet, but it is still a good idea to continue their Vitamin D supplements. Also, ensure their iron intake continues as before, along with Vitamin C rich foods to ensure absorption.

Remember, you may continue to breastfeed up to 3 years of age, or till mother and child are comfortable doing so. Complementary breastfeeding may continue even after the baby can eat solids.

When do food allergies become visible?

While most food allergies appear almost instantly after your baby has had his food, some do take time to appear. You need to wait for at least 2 hours after feeding your baby to check for allergic reactions, if any. If you don’t notice any not-so-good reactions or changes in your baby’s body for 2 hours, you can be rest assured that your baby’s digestive system can handle the food that you fed him, perfectly well.

Importance of early diagnosis

It is important to check with your paediatrician, whenever your baby exhibits strange reactions after having had a meal. Even if you see minor rashes on his body, you will have to report this to your doctor. It is very important that you don’t ignore any of these symptoms. In rare cases, allergies, when not treated properly, may turn into a serious ailment as well.

Some common allergy symptoms

• Hives
• Skin rashes, itchiness or redness
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Severe bouts of coughing
• Wheezing and respiratory issues
• Swelling in the lips, face and tongue
• Drowsiness

You need to talk with your doctor and have a list of the symptoms that are very dangerous for your baby. When you notice these symptoms, you have to ensure that your baby gets medical help right away.

What should you know about food allergies in babies?

Young babies, infants in particular, are more prone to food allergies than kids who are aged 5 and above. This is because as they grow, their immunity system gets developed. For example, many parents have experienced that as their kids grow up, they begin to eat eggs and milk without any problems, even though these kids were allergic to these food items as a baby. So, you can be assured that most of your baby’s food allergies too will start vanishing one by one as he grows up.

What can you do?

To ensure that your baby is not prone to any food allergies, you should do all that it takes to improve his immunity system. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months will help him make him less prone to allergies. Also, before introducing any new food, you should always check with your paediatrician to know if you are introducing it at the right time. Make sure you introduce new foods, especially those that can trigger an allergic reaction, one at a time.

PREBIOTICS

A healthy level of bacteria is required to aid a good digestive and intestinal system. To build strong immune, the good bacteria or the prebiotics provide for an essential natural dose to fight against the harmful bacteria and build up strong immunity. Prebiotics are naturally found in:

• Bananas
• Yogurt
• Tomatoes
• Garlica
• Whole-wheat

Prebiotics are also available in fortified-milk formulas to provide for the daily dose.

IRON

Iron is essential for healthy growth of red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body. This accelerates the energy level in the child, their growth and development and their immune function. Food items like raisins, apricots, spinach, kale, beans, nuts etc have iron in high amounts. Feeding at least 7mg of iron to your toddler daily is important to promote a healthy immune system.

ZINC

ZINC is an important mineral that helps release a number of enzymes in the body that creates new cells and strengthens body’s defence system. Zinc is one of the key compounds to build strong immunity. Zinc isn’t stored in the body, so it is important to provide for the food like milk, cheese, bread, cereals, meat etc. on a regular basis for the daily dosage.

VITAMIN D

The sunshine Vitamin or the Vitamin D is essential to prepare the body to fight against infections, germs and bacteria. It builds strong immunity as well as prevents from a variety of allergies. Most kids need to be given due time under the sun as Vitamin D can be absorbed by the skin naturally from Sunlight. But if there is lack of opportunities for this, you can resort to feeding your child with Vitamin D rich food like eggs, margarine, fortified cereals, fish, milk etc.

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that also heals and protects cell. Vitamin C helps fight infection, Aids iron absorption and builds strong immune system. Feeding your child with Vitamin C enriched food like Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, oranges, kiwi, or pepper keeps a check on their nutrition.

VITAMIN A

Building antibody response as a support to immune system, Vitamin A is an essential nutrient in your toddler’s diet. Feeding them with eggs, cheese, yogurt, carrots, mango, green cabbage, kale etc ensures their immune system develops as fast as they do!

Pick the right food to feed to your child to help them build a stronger and healthier immune system!

You should start giving her solids gradually, one at a time. This will help you understand the exact issue she has with different foods. It is advisable to introduce her to nutritious foods and those which have the least possibility of an allergic reaction, like rice, lentils, apples, and vegetables. Once you introduce her to a new food item, you should wait for 2 hours or 2 days to see if she is reacting to it.

There are some foods that are more allergic than others. You may want to avoid egg, peanuts, and fish for at least till the baby turns 2 years old. Some babies are also allergic to milk which you will realize as soon as you introduce cow milk in her diet. Allergic reactions happen minutes or hours after having the food.

The most common symptoms of allergy are:

• Itching
• Hives
• Face, tongue or lips swelling
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Coughing or wheezing

Dealing with allergies

As soon as you see mild symptoms, visit your doctor. The doctor is the best person to help you diagnose the reason for the condition. The only way to manage these allergies is to avoid the respective food substances in your baby’s diet. Some allergies go away with time and some become worse.

If there is any history of allergy in you or your family, the baby has a high probability of getting these allergies too. In this case, you may want to keep your doctor informed.

Breastfeeding for the first 6 months is the best way to avoid milk and many other allergies. Breastmilk is filled with essential nutrients that help her immune system to get stronger.

The symptoms can differ from baby to baby and the range can be from mild to severe. Symptoms may include

• Hives
• Wheezing
• Vomiting
• Loose stools
• Skin rashes
• Diarrhoea
• Continuous crying

If you think your child has an allergy to cow’s milk, even if mild, reach out to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to diagnose and help you with the situation. You will have to give an accurate history to the paediatrician for him to correctly diagnose the allergy.

Your baby can be exposed to cow’s milk if you are feeding him formula milk or if you are having certain cow’s milk or dairy products and breastfeeding him.

If you are breastfeeding your baby, your doctor may probably ask you to cut down on many things including milk, ghee, bread, biscuits and all other forms of dairy products. You should make sure to avoid all the dairy products and ask your doctor for calcium alternatives.

In case your baby is formula fed, the doctor may advice you to switch to a specialised formula that breaks down protein so that it is not recognised by your baby’s immune system. They may suggest this for 2-4 weeks to confirm the diagnosis.

Before you visit the doctor:

• Ask the doctor if you need to do anything before the appointment. Sometimes the doctor may ask you to stop certain medicines before the check-up.
• Make a note of all symptoms that you see in your baby

Your doctor is the best person to help you deal with cow’s milk allergy in your baby. Consult an expert before jumping to conclusions in such a case.

If your baby is going through any of the below, it probably means he is suffering from constipation.

• Passing hard stools
• Blood drops seen in stools
• Straining while passing stools
• Bloating of tummy
• Doesn’t eat enough
• Cranky and crying while passing stool

If you find it persistent, then consult your doctor. Here are some additional tips you can use which help in avoiding constipation.

• In case of formula feeding, talk to your doctor and change the brand of formula milk.
• Try adding fruit juices to his diet. Pear or apple juice will help with digestion.
• If he’s older than 4 months, start giving him some water (1-2 ounces per day).
• Gentle massage on the stomach and lower abdomen may stimulate bowel movement.
• Let the baby move around. Some form of physical movement helps in easy bowel movement.
• If you have started giving your baby solid foods, you may want to try softer foods or foods in puree form. Also, you can add more fiber in his diet.

If nothing works, then it is best to go to your doctor and they can help you treat it.

Play, play… and did we mention play?

Here are some of the things you can do to engage with your newborn in the first month or so of his life:

• Introduce age-appropriate toys: Don’t go all out and buy out the first toy shop you see! What your baby needs are simple, age-appropriate toys such as musical toys or play gyms. Select toys that stimulate his senses and encourage him to learn. Try toys with contrasting colors and patterns to help improve your baby’s vision. A cot mobile is also a good way to entertain your baby.
• Sing to your baby: There’s nothing better your baby likes at this stage than to hear your – his mother’s – voice! Softly sing his favorite lullaby or any gentle tune that will soothe him.
• Massage your baby: Just like your baby loves your voice, he also loves your touch. Use this playtime to gently massage your baby. Move his hands and legs in a soothing rhythm that he not only enjoys but is great bonding for you both. Don’t forget to speak or sing to your baby while doing this!
• Read to your baby: It’s never too early to get your little one his first book! Since their vision develops rather slowly, get picture books with high contrast, such as black and white images. This helps stimulate his developing senses.
• Introduce sensory play: Introduce your little one to games that involve touch and textures. Move his little hands, feet, fingers, and toes as you go along. Another good option is to make bath time interactive, with brightly colored bath toys and splashing around in the water!

Tips to make playtime with your newborn fun

• Remember that your newborn will tire easily and that the initial phase of his life is all about his sleep! He’ll be responsive in small bursts, so prepare activities that won’t stretch longer than 10-15 minutes.
• For your baby to respond, he needs to be comfortable. Make sure, then, that he is fed and changed. A happy baby translates into a playful one, eager to learn and respond!
• Use this time to bond with your baby. In fact, if you live with extended family, now’s a great time for them to interact (and maybe pamper!) your little one. After all, grandparents love to indulge their grandkids, don’t they?
• Don’t overcomplicate things. Keep playtime simple, yet engaging.

Enjoy your time with your little one!

What makes sleep so important for babies?

While sleeping is considered a passive activity, it is in fact an active process when it comes to babies. Infant sleep differs from that of adults. You baby may sleep a lot, and with the reasons given below, you’ll be glad that they do. Here’s what makes sleep essential for your baby:

• Despite the limited waking hours, whilst sleeping, your baby learns and process responses to the world.
• It promotes brain development and maturing.
• Sleep plays a crucial role in formation of memories.
• Sleep is also important to boost your baby’s immunity. A well-rested body is able to fight off infections more successfully.
• Adequate sleep also has a positive impact on your baby’s attention span and memory. It helps him learn and remember things that he is constantly absorbing throughout the day.

How much sleep do babies require?

You may think that your baby sleeps too much or not enough (depending on whether or not they are night owls). But, babies sleep patterns develop over time, say around 12 months.

• Your newborn will sleep for around 18hours a day, with night sleep duration increasing gradually.
• After a few weeks, your baby may sleep for longer periods and is also awake for long, with night wakings also reducing.
• There are two sleep states, and your baby may spend 50% of their time in each of these states. The states are active sleep, where breathing becomes regular and your baby may startle at some noise and deep sleep, where baby lies quietly without moving.

Establishing a sleep routine

It’s important to establish a sleep routine for your baby to ensure that he gets adequate rest. Here are a few tips on how you can get there:

• Your baby may give you cues when he is overtired or sleepy. Watch out for tell-tale signs such as his being more cranky or rubbing his eyes. Try and settle him down for a nap if so.
• Encourage your baby to self-soothe; settling to sleep at night and getting back to sleep if they wake up at night, as it can help develop healthy sleep-wake patterns.
• You can support self-soothing by establishing day time sleep habits. This will help improve their sleep at night, and set routines for sleeping, bathing, and feeding.
• Provide a sense of permanence as to where your baby sleeps, be it a cot, crib or you co-sleeping with them. This will help encourage a better sleep routine.

In conclusion

Get to know your baby’s sleep cycle to help him form healthy sleeping habits as he grows.

Fever

Fever in the first months is a sign of bacterial infection and should not be avoided. Temperature above 100.4 F is also not normal and should be reported to the doctor.

Marks on Skin/Rashes

If you see any kind of little red mark or rash on the arms, legs, forehead or any part of the body, try pressing a finger on it. Most of the rashes go away by pressing on it. If the rash doesn’t go away with pressing, it may be a sign of meningitis infection or blood vessels disease. Let the doctor examine and help you with the medicines.

Vomiting or diarrhoea

The baby’s immune system is still developing, so vomiting and diarrhoea is normal. Continuously vomiting after every feed needs treatment. If you observe blood drops in vomit or stools, it is a serious issue and should be treated at the earliest

Problem in breathing

If you see a spot in the middle of chest sinking in while breathing or the space between his ribs being pulled, you should get medical help. Rapid breathing is also not a good sign.

Nonstop crying

Your baby cannot talk or complain about what’s happening yet.The only way he will communicate that something is wrong is by crying. Schedule an appointment with the paediatrician for a regular check-up and he will let you know the exact reason. It could be gastro issues, food allergy among many other probable things.

Watery eyes

Watery eyes or discharge from the eyes even when he is not crying could be a symptom of infection in the membrane lining or eyelids. Sometimes there could be a foreign object in the eye which causes watery eyes. You can use moist clean cloth and remove the particle carefully.

Red Lump on eyes

Pus-filled lump at the corner of the eye is probably an infection. Visit a doctor and get it treated. You can also apply warm compress and it will go away in a week.

Yellow Skin and eyes

Yellow eyes or skin is the most common symptom of Jaundice. Many new-borns suffer from jaundice only because their livers are not yet working fully. Jaundice is quite normal and generally your doctor checks for it as soon as the baby is born and after the first regular check-up.

Discharge from ears

A continuous cold could cause that can get fluids trapped in the ear. It could result in pus coming out of ears, not able to listen correctly. Ear infection can be painful for your baby and doctors can help with some medicines.

Stuffy or runny nose

Excess mucus causes congestion in the nose and can affect the breathing. Viral infection can cause runny nose, fever, cough, and cold. Your baby would be uncomfortable but this generally goes on its own.

Nosebleed

Nosebleed happens when the nasal membranes dry up. Also, blood vessels in the nose lining may be ruptured. The doctor may recommend nasal drops which will help

Inflammation

You should be careful about maintaining the hygiene around your baby’s genitals. If you see redness or swelling around in that area, it could be because of bacterial infection or poor hygiene. Visit the doctor immediately because it’s quite painful for your baby. Antibiotics should help.

Foul smelling urine

Urinary tract infection is uncommon but can happen to children. Foul smelling urine, cloudy urine are some signs of the infection and may need antibiotics.