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5 Exciting Bedtime Princess Stories for Kids
Bedtime stories are more than just sharing a cute story - they are an important way to bond with your little one. There are many advantages of interacting with your child by way of reading bedtime stories:
Daily Routine: It helps them develop a daily routine.
Bonding: It enhances the child’s bonding with the storyteller.
Reading Preparedness: It helps them inculcate an interest in reading.
Comprehension and logic: It improves their language skills.
Communication: It makes the child more expressive and interactive.
Morals and Values: It is a creative means to imbibe moral values in children.
Here's a list of stories that you could read to your children:
Princess and the Magical Ring
The Lonely Princess
The Princess and the Pea
The Princess and the Faithful Knight
Flora: The Princess Fairy
List of Short Princess Bedtime Stories for Children
1. Princess and the Magical Ring
One fine day, the princess of the kingdom of Norfolk found a ring while in the palace’s garden. When she inquired about the ring with her father, he informed her that it would bring her five special powers:
The ability to get sound sleep.
The ability to make fire without a flint.
The ability to grow any crop of her choice.
The ability to make it rain even without clouds in the sky.
The ability to sing like an enchanted siren.
The fifth was the princess’ most enjoyed power. She would keep singing for long, hoping that someday, a charming prince would fall for her beautiful voice.
One dark day, the kingdom got jinxed with a witch’s spell. It affected everyone except the princess. The witch deprived the kingdom of everything it had, including fire, the sun, the rains, and the crops. The miserable state of her country saddened the princess. But, all she had to help her kingdom were her five special powers! A spontaneous idea popped into her mind - she rushed to the balcony and started singing. The princess sang for months, all day and night. She didn’t stop even when her parents asked her. After about a year of singing, the kingdom normalised. But simultaneously, the princess disappeared in the winds. The kingdom was restored to its original glory because of the princess’ sacrifices.
2. The Lonely Princess
The Kingdom of Glora was home to Princess Isabella, a friendly young lady who was loved by the whole kingdom. She had two elder sisters, Rose and Juliette, but she was nothing like them. Rose was quite charming, but she was no match to Juliette. Nevertheless, they were both mean to Isabella because they were considered conventionally beautiful. They teased Isabella for her plain appearance and simplicity, and always made fun of her for playing with her toys. They coaxed her to dress up more, but Isabella paid no heed to her sisters and continued to play with her toys. She loved her dolls as they never called her names, but she often felt lonely. King Paul, her father, was distressed at the sorrow of his youngest child, and although he tried to spend his free time with her, he was often called away for extended periods because of his royal duties.
On a bright summer morning, the prince of the Kingdom of Meadow-Hill, Geoffrey, arrived in the Kingdom of Glora, seeking a bride. He was a year younger than Juliette, a year older than Rose, and two years older than Isabella. All the sisters were eager to meet the handsome prince. Prince Geoffrey first spoke to Juliette, praising her beautiful tresses. Flattered, Juliette told him how lovingly she took care of her hair. Geoffrey soon got tired of the conversation and tried to strike a conversation with Rose. To impress the young prince, Rose began describing her father’s court and talking about all the famous personalities in it. When Prince Geoffrey could hear no more, he decided to meet Isabella. As soon as he met her, he was awestruck by her beauty. Juliette and Rose scoffed at Isabelle, berating her unkempt hair. When the prince said she had beautiful eyes, both Rose and Juliette declared that all the sisters had beautiful eyes. Prince Geoffrey said, “She is blessed with beautiful eyes indeed. But she plays with toys!” Juliette countered, trying to make young Isabella appear childish. “So what? Even I like playing with dolls." Taking out a small doll from his pocket, he introduced it to everyone as Jane, his oldest friend. Isabella, delighted, offered to introduce him to her friends. When he agreed, she led him into the garden, leaving behind her mean sisters.
3. The Princess and the Pea
There once lived a prince who was in search of a suitable princess. He travelled across the seven seas in search of the right one, but he wasn’t sure if the princesses he met were genuine. Disheartened, he eventually returned home.
One evening, there was a terrible thunderstorm. Having heard a knock on the door, the queen went to open it. A princess was standing there in soiled and muddy clothes. Her hair looked dirty; she was thoroughly drenched, and her shoes were covered in mud. She claimed to be a real princess. “We’ll soon find out the truth,” said the queen. The queen went to the bedroom and took all the mattresses off the bed. She then placed a pea at the bottom and laid twenty mattresses on top of it. Next, she placed twenty feathered beds on top of the mattresses. The princess was asked to sleep on the bed for the night. In the morning, the queen questioned the princess about the quality of her sleep. The princess replied, “I just couldn’t sleep all night. God knows what, but there was something very hard on the bed.” The queen then understood that she was indeed a real princess, as only a real princess would feel the discomfort through the twenty mattresses and feathered beds. Knowing that she was a real princess, the prince took her as his wife.
4. The Princess and the Faithful Knight
Once upon a time, there was a princess whose beauty was the talk of not just her own, but many a land. As beautiful as she was, the princess had been raised to be fair and just. As the days went by, the happiness and the joy of her people became her only concern. One day, a prince arrived at the kingdom to court the princess. The two spent hours, days and weeks together. The princess had fallen in love with the charming prince.
One day, the prince took his princess to a shady grassland full of flowers located near the edge of the forest. He challenged the princess to pick out the rarest flower for him - the scarlet rose from the dense woods - if she truly loved him. The princess entered the woods to search for the scarlet rose. She loved the prince, and she would prove it to him. When she had almost given up, she saw a beautiful flower. The princess was fascinated by its beauty and reached out to touch it, but immediately fell asleep.
The prince suddenly appeared. He had planned to steal the riches and jewellery of the princess. He took the valuables and abandoned the princess. When the princess did not return to her father, the king sent his soldiers far and wide to look for her. After a long search, they discovered her in the meadow, covered in vine. His advisors discovered that she had touched a scarlet rose and thus couldn’t be awakened. The king tried every possible measure and potion to wake her up, but nothing helped.
The disheartened king made it known that anyone who could wait by the princesses’ side until she awoke would win her hand in marriage. Many suitors came drawn by the princesses’ beauty, but she slept on, unaware. As time passed, her beauty faded, as did most suitors, except for one- a knight who had knelt at the princess’ side and hadn’t moved since the time he had arrived. When the princess woke up, she saw the strong knight kneeling by her side. He told her about the poison and the king’s decree and declared his undying love for her. The king was overjoyed at having his daughter back, finding her a loving husband, and declared their wedding which took place the very next day.
5. Princess Rose and the Golden Bird
Long ago in a faraway land there lived a beautiful princess who had lovely red hair, and loved roses. Her name was princess Rose. Every evening, Princess Rose would come out on her balcony and clap her hands. On hearing her, a little golden bird would appear and sit on her shoulder. The princesses’ hair would have a beautiful red glow, and she and the bird would sing a lullaby that would put everyone in the kingdom to sleep.
One day, a jealous witch cast a spell on princess Rose and turned her lovely red hair black. That night, when the bird and the princess sang, the people of the kingdom had nightmares and bad dreams. The bird told the princess to wash her hair in rose water, and all would be well again. The princess washed her hair with rose water, and people of the kingdom slept well.
When the evil witch heard this, she turned princess Rose’s hair black again; and this time, she also made all the roses in the land disappear. As princess Rose wept in despair, a prince appeared with a strand of red hair. When her tears touched the hair, a beautiful red rose bloomed, and princess Rose was able to make her hair red again. The Prince revealed that he and the princess had exchanged a strand of hair as children as a sign of loyalty..
The prince and princess Rose got married and lived happily ever after, and the evil witch was so furious at the failure of her plan that she exploded into a thousand pieces.
Tips to Remember When Reading a Bedtime Story to Your Child
Act like the character
When you get into the zone of the character, it makes your child's imagination soar. To make things more interesting, you could ask your child what he thinks a character would sound like. Then, continue on with that voice.
Put a finger on every word as you read it
Reading these stories with your child will also help develop his communication and grammar skills. Enunciate every word you read, and try making him spell words out loud. However, don't turn storytime into a lesson for him - make sure to do this only every now and then.
Make it interactive
A lot of the stories you read involve scenes where characters decide what they have to do. In such a case, you can ask your child what he would do if he was a character in the story. That way, your child will be involved in the story and you can also explain to him how certain actions have consequences.
Young children often enjoy bedtime stories, and it has become a traditional way to put their curious minds to rest. Besides making them go to bed with a smile, bedtime stories help their mental and social development in a very subtle yet powerful way. So, make sure to read your child a story to bed whenever you can!
Also Read:
Interesting Bedtime Stories for Kids
Best Inspirational Stories for Kids
Short Moral Stories for Kids Read more
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Safe & Unsafe Mosquito Repellents for Infants
Dealing with mosquitoes is not easy and more so, when there is a baby you need to protect. You probably have already put all kinds of physical barriers to ensure mosquitoes do not make it inside your home at least the bedroom. However, they always find their way in, causing trouble to you and your family.
It does not end there. Bugs and other insects may also enter your home and trouble your baby, especially during the monsoon and winters. Making use of mosquito repellents is probably one of the best ways to drive away these insects. However, the question remains; are they good for the health of your baby?
Using mosquito repellents is not a very good (or safe) idea if you have an infant at home. Most of the mosquito repellents are harmful to babies. However, there are a few that you can use safely. Let’s look at them in detail.
Video: Mosquito Repellents for Babies - Which Ones Are Safe?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrfShLmGSOk
What Are Mosquito Repellents?
Anything that keeps mosquitoes away is a mosquito repellent. Mosquito coils, mosquito repellent lotions, mosquito repellent sprays etc. all fall under this category.
Different Mosquito Repellent for Babies
Mosquito repellents come in different shapes and forms and whether one is safe for the baby depends on its type. Mosquito repellents like coils and vaporisers give out unhealthy smoke that can harm your baby’s health. On the other hand, repellents like mosquito bands and nets are harmless. We’ll look at both the categories in detail.
1. Safe Mosquito Repellents
Protective Clothing
While this does not give 100% results, this is something that you can try to keep most of your baby’s body protected from mosquitoes. Make your baby wear a bodysuit or a onesie to minimise the area of the baby’s skin that is exposed. If the temperature outside is relatively warm, keep your baby inside in a cool room and do not make him wear an undershirt. If you have opted for a shirt and pant, make sure your baby’s tummy is covered properly with an inner to avoid exposing any skin.
Cover the baby’s feet with socks and hands with cotton mittens while he is asleep. One can make use of a hat with a broad brim to ward off any insects from the face. Dress your baby in light-coloured clothes as dark-coloured ones will attract more mosquitoes. Avoid floral prints too, as they can attract other insects.
Gels, Creams, Body Sprays, Wipes, Roll-ons
Using one of these is probably one of the best ways to keep mosquitoes and other insects away from your baby’s skin. However, remember, that the effects of these gels and creams last only for few hours, after which you will need to reapply these again.
Do not think that applying too much of these will offer more protection. By doing this, you will be exposing your baby’s skin to toxins, which is not required. Apply the required amount on your baby’s exposed skin. Make sure to go through the instructions thoroughly to know when you need to reapply the cream again, so that your baby always stays protected.
If you have an infant or your baby is less than eight weeks old, do not use a repellent that has chemicals. Look for repellents that come with natural ingredients, so that there is minimal chance of any adverse reaction with the baby’s skin. Mosquito repellent creams that contain lemon eucalyptus or PMD (the synthetic form of eucalyptus) should be avoided when it comes to children less than thirty-six months of age.
Mosquito Nets
This is the MOST effective mosquito repellent if you can use it in the right way. What’s the best part of using a net? They have zero negative effects on your baby’s health.
One can buy nets of all sizes. There are mosquito nets for infants and there are nets for baby’s cot and for family beds as well. Mosquito nets are designed for strollers and prams too. Portable mosquito nets are also available, which you can use to cover the baby wherever he sleeps.
However, you cannot use mosquito nets for the entire day, as it can be troublesome when you must feed or change your baby’s diaper frequently at night.
A mosquito net is the best choice when you are sleeping with your baby or your baby does not wake up during the night or he is weaned.
2. Unsafe Mosquito Repellents
Liquid Vaporiser
This is probably the most common mosquito repellent that is being used in households. Plug-in vaporisers usually contain harmful chemicals and inhaling these are not good for your baby’s health. Inhaling these harmful fumes can cause breathing problems and aggravate existing ones. It can also cause allergies and irritate your baby’s eyes.
Consider putting the vaporiser on for a limited duration to eliminate all the mosquitoes. Turn it off well in advance so that the baby isn’t troubled by the smell in the room.
Foams and Sprays
Pest control foams and sprays are hazardous for your baby. They may cause severe respiratory problems for them. Those planning on using foams and sprays must ensure that there is no route of escape for the mosquitoes in the room. Also, the baby should be left outside until the odour of the foam/spray has subsided.
Fumes and sprays prevent mosquitoes and other insects from entering a certain area. They do not offer protection against mosquito and insect bites. This makes them effective only when they are used in addition to other effective mosquito repellents.
Coils
Coils, when used for a long time and when burned indoors, can cause breathing problems and allergies. They produce smoke and there are studies that claim that coils can cause lung cancer. Place coils at all the openings to keep mosquitoes away from the room. Do not use coils inside rooms.
Plug-in Mats
The fumes from plug-in mats are toxic in the same way as liquid vaporisers are. So, it is always a good idea to keep them away from your baby.
Mosquito Bands and Patches
Clothing strips and wristbands laced with DEET can keep away mosquitoes for over 4 hours. The potency depends on DEET’s concentration in the product. Most experts do not support this method as a safety mechanism for babies as far as mosquitoes are concerned.
Mosquito Rackets
Physical barriers are always the best option for babies when it comes to getting rid of mosquitoes. You can use these rackets to kill mosquitoes in the area. However, these rackets do not provide protection to mosquito bites and should be used along with other forms of mosquito repellents.
Rackets are battery-charged and they kill the mosquito upon contact. If you are using this, you need to make sure that your baby is not playing with this.
Essential Oils
Candles and incense giving out natural scents that mosquitos are averse to. However, these are not as potent as the chemical based repellents. Scents like eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender, neem, cedar, and citronella can help repel mosquitoes.
One must exercise caution, as most of the essential oils come with a strong scent and direct contact with the skin of the baby must be avoided. Most of these oils are considered unsafe for babies under the age of two years. Using on the skin can cause allergies. Read the product label well before using it.
Is It Safe to Use Mosquito Repellents With Infants Around?
The answer to this question lies on the type of the mosquito repellent that you plan to use. It is best to not use mosquito repellents like coils and pest control fumes and sprays when your baby is around. Keep your baby away from liquid vaporisers and mats as well. Natural mosquito repellent creams, body sprays, and gels and mosquito nets are the safest options you have.
Why Should You Use Insect Repellents?
It is more than a necessity to use insect repellents, as protective clothing alone cannot offer 100% protection to your baby. Also, you cannot keep your baby inside a mosquito net 24x7. Mosquito bites and insect bites can irritate your baby’s skin and cause itching. Mosquitoes are also carriers of malaria and dengue virus, which can be life-threatening.
How Do Mosquito Repellents Work?
The working of each mosquito repellent is different. Most of the repellents simply keep the mosquitoes at bay but do not kill them and there are few that kill the mosquitoes. The time duration for which the mosquito repellent stays effective depends on its type and its ingredients.
Which Repellent is Best for My Baby?
Choosing the right type of mosquito repellent for your baby depends on factors like your baby’s age, the effectiveness of the type of repellent etc.
Refer to the table below to know the best baby friendly mosquito repellent:
Type of Mosquito Repellent
Pros
Cons
Safety precautions
Creams, lotions, roll-on sticks, wipes, and body sprays
Offers mobile protection to your child
Effective both indoors and outdoors
Effective for not more than 4-5 hours, after which a reapplication is required
May cause allergic reaction and irritation
If your baby is less than 2 months of age, use creams and lotions with not more than 30% DEET, or IR3535, or picaridin. Also, do not spray directly on your baby’s face. Instead, take some in your hand and rub it on your baby’s face. Do not spray on wounds and cuts as well. If you are using body sprays, spray them in open areas, so that your baby does not breathe it in. Apply after the application of sunscreen.
Mosquito Nets
Effective both indoors and outdoors and has no negative health effects
Needs to be maintained and checked for holes regularly
Useless if mosquitoes get trapped inside
Ensure that the net is tied to the corners of the bed properly and there is enough room for your baby to breathe properly. In case of ‘place from the top’ nets, buy sturdy ones, so that they do not collapse.
Liquid Vaporisers
Suitable for a limited area
Contains chemicals that might not be safe for the baby to inhale
Fumes from vaporisers can cause breathing issues and allergies, and eye irritation
Does not work during power cuts, as the device works on electricity
It is best to keep the baby away from the room where the vaporiser has been switched on. Take the baby inside only after switching off the device. Keep the device out of reach of toddlers and children. The liquid used in vaporisers is toxic and cause serious troubles if swallowed. The baby should not touch the electrical point of the device as well, as it can lead to electrocution.
Pest Control Fumes and Sprays
These are highly effective in a limited area.
Fumes and sprays are not good for the baby. Inhaling the fumes can cause breathing problems and allergies.
Keep your baby away from home when spraying the surroundings and inside of your home with pest control fumes.
Once treatment is over, open windows and doors to ensure the fumes go out of your home. Bring the baby inside only when the smell is gone completely.
Coils
Coils are highly effective in a limited area
Coils give out toxic smokes while burning and this can cause allergies and breathing problems
Coils can cause lung cancer if used on a regular basis for a long term
Fire risk is involved if not burnt in the correct way
Don’t use coils in closed rooms where family members are present.
Always burn a coil outside your home, in front of doors and windows, to keep away mosquitoes.
Also, burn the coil on a metal stand and away from things that are flammable.
Mats
Suitable for indoor usage and a limited area.
Gives out poisonous fumes that can cause allergies and breathing problems
Does not work during power cuts, as the device works on electricity
Do not use in closed rooms and use it away from your family members
If you are using mats, keep the baby away from the room and bring him inside after switching off the device and ventilating the room
Natural repellents and essential oils
Works only in a limited area.
Are not as effective as chemical repellents and work for a short time
Don’t use essential oils directly on your baby’s skin.
Mosquito zappers and rackets
Work both indoors and outdoors and come with zero health effects.
You need to use these physically, every time, to kill mosquitoes that are hovering around
Need regular recharging
Make sure toddlers and children are not playing with the racket.
Tips for Using Mosquito Repellents for Babies
When using chemical repellents, make sure the baby is not inside the room. Bring the baby inside only after switching off the device and ventilating the room. Maintaining infant safety from mosquito repellents is important.
Learn About DEET & DEET-Free Insect Repellents
The most common chemical that is used in mosquito repellent creams and lotions are DEET, IR3535, or picaridin. These do not only repel mosquitoes but work as baby safe bug repellents too.
However, don’t use any of these if your baby is less than 2 months old. You can take the natural route, and opt for essential oils or repellents with natural plant oils.
Coping with Bug Bites in Babies
Wrap ice cubes in a towel or take a cool washcloth and apply that on the affected area. If your baby is above two months, you can also apply a paste of baking soda and water on the bites to ease the irritation. Take your baby to a doctor, in case of an infection.
Other Remedies to Keep Mosquitoes Away
Neem is a great natural mosquito repellent for babies. Burn neem leaves to keep away mosquitoes. Tea tree and bath oils, yeast, garlic, cloves, and limes can also be used as natural mosquito repellents.
Suggested Baby Insect Repellents
Mosquito bats and mosquito nets are the safest options for babies. You can also use fabric roll-ons and mosquito patches but make sure to check the ingredients. Mats and liquid vaporisers are safe too, but use them with caution. Lotions are suitable only for babies above two months.
One has numerous options to choose from when it comes to protecting kids against these tiny trouble-makers. The focus should always be on methods that cause the least harm and can be used in addition to the more potent ones. Read more
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7 Things You Should NEVER Do In Front Of Your Children
As a parent it is our duty to shield and protect our children from wrong and unpleasant things. However, there are a lot of things we do ourselves that can prove to be harmful to our children. Here are 7 things parents should never do in front of their children.
Indeed, imitation is the best form of flattery. However, young children have no filter. They imitate everything their parents do. Children are more observant than we realise or give them credit for, and so it is very important to be vigilant about your actions around them. This article will tell you about some behaviours that you should avoid in front of your child, in order to set a good example in front of them.
7 Things Parents Should Never Do In Front Of Children
There are a lot of things parents will consciously make an effort to shield their children from 'wrong things'. Parents often actively seek to keep their children safe from negative emotions, feelings, and experiences. However, there are a lot of things we do ourselves that can prove to be harmful to our children. Here are 7 things parents should never do in front of their children.
1. Fight
Fighting is a very juvenile way of working through any kind of situation. Anger is real… so is hurt, pain, disappointment, and all those negative emotions you feel. However, there are other, more adult and constructive ways to deal with these emotions than to engage in a fight with your partner – verbal or physical. Fighting does not resolve anything – it only worsens the mess.
In fact, some of you might be surprised at just how much fighting can affect children. A study carried out by University of East Anglia actually reported that children who grew up in a household with mild to moderate family problems, had smaller cerebellums than other kids. The cerebellum is a part of the brain that is linked with psychiatric illnesses.
Instead of fighting, the next time you feel the urge to retort your partner’s words with an equal and opposite force and your child is around, sit your partner down and have an adult, mature conversation with them. Become each other’s partner in crime and resolve to always approach conflicts in this manner. Not only will this remarkably and positively affect your relationship, your child will also learn how to communicate effectively.
WATCH: Dr Gunjan Agrawal Talks About Parental Conflict And How To Resolve It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thIhRujC9Ac
2. Call Names
This is another tricky one to understand, and yes it is different from swearing in front of your child.
Most of us will be mindful about not addressing anyone with any colourful names when our children are around. However, it is also important to keep the sarcasm in check. A lot of parents may complain about how kids these days are over smart and talk back too often and too much. However, what we don't realise is – it is our own sarcasm that the children are picking on and learning to apply.
While a child may not be able to explain what sarcasm means, children are smart. They are able to pick up on things like pitch, tone, and underlying emotions with which a thing is being said. This is how they will know that you did not mean it when you looked at your partner and said, “Oh you're SUCH a dear! Thank you SO MUCH for forgetting yet again!”
They will know when you are calling names, be it your partner, your mother-in-law, the neighbour, the maid, the school teacher... children will know, even if you sugar-coat it.
3. ‘Get Busy’
This one is another no brainer. For all obvious reasons, it is a bad idea to have sex when your child is around, or to even get naughty with each other. One of the reasons why our children are hitting puberty early now a days is the early exposure they are getting to sexually explicit content – through movies, music, TV, and now the internet too. We might think they are “too young to understand” and so “it’s okay” or “no big deal”, but talk to any good child psychologist, and they will always advise against this kind of early exposure.
However, one thing to note here is: children do need to learn how to show love, affection, empathy and sympathy through healthy physical contact. So while it is advised against getting down and dirty, physical display of affection is necessary for your child to learn this important social and personal skill. So feel free to hug your partner, kiss them on the cheek, put your arm around them, or cuddle together. So long as your acts are not sexual in nature, physical contact should not be completely eliminated.
4. Swear
Remember how you taught your child to speak? You went through all the trouble of sounding ridiculous talking in Parentese, and drawing your syllables out! But it worked, and your child finally learnt to speak. Along with that, however, your child also learnt one important life lesson – doing what you do, following in your footsteps, is a good idea!
Now imagine if you say f*ck, sh*t, and all those colourful words in front of your child… scary thought, yes?
We all might have experienced our children putting us in a spot, quoting something we said, or repeating a word we used, uncannily in the correct context too, at the most inappropriate times. What needs to be emphasised upon is, children not only absorb the actual word, but are tuning in more to the sentiment with which the word was spoken. And so, the next time they experience similar emotions, that is the method they are going to use to express and channelize them. Not healthy, right?
5. Get Drunk
Several studies show that children whose parents drink alcohol in front of them tend to not consider drinking as ‘harmful’ or ‘bad’, and are more likely to start drinking earlier than other children. In fact, such children are also twice as likely than other children to 'abuse' alcohol and binge on it .
When we get drunk in front of our children, they see us ‘losing control’ of the situation. And we are the people who are responsible for their well-being and are supposed to be their providers. This has a lot of negative impact on their social and emotional health, affecting most importantly, their sense of security and assurance.
Alcoholism is one end of the spectrum, and we all know we are not going down that path. However, what may come as a surprise to most parents is just how much even casual and/or social drinking (and smoking) can affect children. While we may not be indulging in the bottle or the glass too much, and may be well within our limits for our drinking to actually harm us, children lack the perspective and maturity to understand this.
It is best to keep the bottle (and the glass) away when your child is around. For house parties, hold off on the drinking till your child is asleep. For social drinking, try and avoid drinking altogether. If that is not going to be possible, do not take children along for such parties.
6. Preach and Not Practice
As parents, we all teach our children good things: brush your teeth in the morning and before going to bed, wash your hand when you return home, pick up your own used plate and glass after the meal, etc.
However, a lot of us don’t, in fact, brush our teeth before going to bed, head straight to the kitchen when we return from work to quickly grab a bottle of water or a snack, and a majority of times, it is always mommy who sets the table, and then tidies it after the meal, while dad goes to the living room and switches the TV on.
You need to do yourself whatever you ask children to do. The best way for them to pick up habits is by showing them the importance of these habits through your own actions.
7. Glue to a Screen
This one is particularly important for us gen-next parents. We are much more technology-savvy than our parents were. However, as a generation, we are all facing problems of being eternally glued to some screen or the other (mobile, PC, tablet, etc.) - watery eyes, chronic headaches, poor sleep, stress, have all become part and parcel of our screen-time-heavy lives.
The next stage of these problems is contracting lifestyle problems like myopia (short-sightedness), diabetes, obesity and many more. However, what's scary is, too much screen time can actually affect your brain too: it can lead to reduced cortical thickness, impaired cognitive function, atrophy of gray matter in the brain, loss of integrity in the white matter of the brain, and erroneous dopamine functioning .
These alone are enough reasons why parents should severely and actively restrict their own screen time. However, the final straw that should break this habit for us is the fact that – if we don't restrict ourselves, how are we going to be able to shield our children from these things? If brain impairment can occur even in fully-developed adult brains, can you imagine what children who grow up looking at too many screens for too long might have to face?
It might sound like a lot of work, to be on such a constant vigilance about your actions and words. However, it will be a lot easier to try and think of it as 'being your best self', for yourself, to begin with. Kick the butt not only because you don't want to smoke in front of your child, but because it is the right choice to make for your own health. Be kind to others because it is indeed a virtue, not only because you want your children to be kind too. Flip your perspective, and the journey can become a cake walk. All the best! Read more
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Water for Baby Formula - Know What Works Better for Your Child
When you have decided to give baby formula to your little one, the next thing that you need to think about is the water that you will be using for this. The baby formula needs to be mixed with water, and it is important to know how and what kind you will use. There are questions that have been raised by parents regarding the safety of using boiled water or bottled water and other types when they use it for the formula. One thing to note is that you have to be sure of the water quality. Otherwise, your little one’s developing body might not be able to handle it.
What Kind of Water is Best for Baby Formula?
While using baby formula, there are certain things that need to be kept in mind. Most prescriptions will tell you that you need to use safe water for baby formula. Well, this could be quite confusing as you might be wondering what exactly is safe water for formula fed babies.
It is always advisable to check the nature and the quality of water that is coming to your house. This will give you an idea of how safe it is to use. Also consulting a doctor is a great way to figure it out.
Types of Water You Can Use :
1. Bottled Water Just For Babies : Using bottled water for babies is a safe option as the water is mostly purified for the little one to consume. However, make sure to check the bottle description for quality once again.
2. Tap Water : Tap water is not recommended for use in baby formula. Well, there are places that have extremely pure water, and this can be used. However, at many places tap water has other chemical substances in it which can lead to complications.
3. Bottled Water : After all these little details given to you, you must be wondering can you use bottled water for baby formula? Bottle water is good as long as there are no extra constituents added to it for taste. Some companies add chemicals to make their bottled water tastier. This must definitely be brought to check.
Should You Boil The Water?
It is important to make sure that the water is clean and pure and it is absolutely safe for children. Boiled water gives you the assurance that all sorts of bacteria and germs are killed. However, when you boil water, make sure that you are cooling the water to make baby formula.
Is Fluoride The Only Thing to be Avoided for Baby's Formula?
The American Dental Association is also known as ADA has reported that high concentrations of fluoride are not a wise option. This is because excessive fluoride intake can lead to fluorosis. Fluoride is obviously one of the most important things you need to check. However, you also need to check and avoid if the water is too hard, as this can be highly unsafe for the little one. Too many minerals are also something that you need to watch out for.
Distilled Water for Baby Formula
There is hardly any research or disclaimer which says you need to use only distilled water in your baby formula. However, it is quite clear that distilled water has gone through purification and process and so it could be the safest one to use for your baby formula.
Distilled water also is not hard, and its calcium and magnesium are removed to a large extent. The minerals that exist in soft water is usually less than 17.1 mg/l.
If you have the public water system, then make sure to get information from the local water utility. Mineral water for baby formula is not recommended as it could contain concentrated minerals that are meant for the adult body.
Water You Should Avoid?
There are a few water quality checks that you must perform to figure out if the water that you use is safe for your baby. You need to check the minerals and other components to know if it is purified water for baby formula. There are a couple of things that you can keep an eye out for.
1. Well Water
You might not be sure of how pure the well water is. In fact, rainwater collected from the ground should be safe by itself. But since it collects all the dust and impurities from the atmosphere, it is best to avoid it.
2. Water Containing High-Levels of Fluoride
You might have heard that fluoride is absolutely safe to use when making baby formula for your little one. However, this is not true because high levels of fluoride can lead to problems in your little one.
You need to figure out the fluoride content in the water. If this is less than 0.7/ mg/L, then you are good to go. Sometimes, you can spot bottled water which clearly mentions that it is demineralized and purified, these are comparatively safe water for baby formula. This water is also low in fluoride, and so it is ok for the child.
Instructions for Boiling Water
Boil the water for a minute. Mae sure not to boil it too much as this can invite impurities.
Allow the water to come to a lukewarm or room temperature and then you can mix it with the baby formula.
It is best not to use the boiling water directly as it could lead to the formation of clumps and also can reduce the nutritional value.
Easy Steps for Preparing Best Water for Baby Formula
Make sure to keep your hands clean by washing it well.
Pour the required amount of water into the bottle.
Add scoops of baby formula powder into the bottle.
Close it with the cap and shake it.
Some formula will require it to be a little warm. So use a hot water bath to make it warm and do not use a microwave.
Your little one needs the best of everything at this point, including drinking water. At times, we might think that it is just water and there is no need to panic. However, remember that water is one of the most common things that can cause a lot of complications if it is not clean. Hence make sure you do your quality check and keep your baby safe and free from any sort of health difficulties. It is these little steps that you take to protect your baby that will go a long way.
Also Read -
When & How to Introduce Water to Infants
Introducing Solid Foods to Babies
How to Wean a Baby Read more
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10 Effective Ways on How to Praise A Child with Words
As a parent, you will be the one who plays the most part in the development of your child. This not only includes physical development, but also the emotional aspects. Parents have a huge say on the mental condition and the personality the child.
Therefore, it is extremely important that you do what is best for your child when he is growing up. You must remember to praise your child when he does something well, but this is a double-edged sword- too much praising will not be good for the child. In this article, let us take a look at how to praise a child with words and actions, and when praise and encouragement for children must be given.
When is Praising your Child Considered Good?
Praising your child is good, but like everything else, it has its time and situation. You must praise your child in a few situations when it can have maximum effect on his personality.
Praising your child is good when the praise is realistic. This means that you must not go over the top with your words, and give him a false belief. You have to ensure that the praise which you have given can be used by him as a yardstick in order to measure his progress.
Praising is good if he has earned it. If your child has done something, even if it is something as simple as helping you out in the kitchen, you must ensure that he gets the praise he deserves.
Praise is good when it is specific. This means that you must be as specific as possible in your praises so that he understands what he has done to deserve it.
The most important thing to remember is that praise is best only when it is used sparingly. You must be sure to use it when he deserves it, but not for every single little thing he does. Otherwise, he might fail to understand the value of your words, and it soon has no effect on him whatsoever.
Why should you Praise your Kid?
There are many reasons as to why you should definitely be praising your child. Praise, motivation and the child’s personality are hugely interconnected, and praise can have wondrous effects on his psyche as a whole. You can easily boost his self-confidence and motivate him, with a few well-chosen words. There are no limits to what praise can do- you can help him understand that he should never compromise on his well-being, and instil a fighting spirit in your child right from a young age using praise.
You have to make sure that you choose a balance between effort-based and talent-based praise when you compliment him for his actions. The former focuses on his natural abilities, while the latter helps him understand that actions are more important than his talents. If you praise him for his talent often, it can make him feel uncomfortable towards opening up to new challenges- therefore, you should try and stick with effort-based praises as much as you can for his development.
How to Praise Kids without Spoiling them?
There are many ways to praise kids without it having a bad effect on your children. Some of these methods are given below.
1. Encourage
Encouragement is the best way to ensure that your child knows why he deserves the praise you give him. You can encourage your child to develop a skill of your liking and make him focus on it in a constructive manner. Even when the results do not deserve to be praised, you can still rally around him and give him your support by encouraging him to do better.
2. Mirroring
You have to take care to notice the small things too when you encourage your child. It can be something trivial and unimportant, like the way he keeps his toys arranged. Let him know that you are interested in every single little thing he does, and you can have a lasting mark on his psychological development. Your child will grow up to be more confident and collected with this praise.
3. Listen
It is just as important to listen to your child, and not simply praise him for whatever he has done. Most parents today have jobs and workplace issues, which leads to less time with their children. It is no hidden fact that children crave attention- therefore, you have to listen to him whenever he has to say something. Also, be empathetic towards him- you do not have to always pick your child’s side when he complains.
4. Rewards
Whenever your child gets close to some sort of an achievement, you have to praise him on it no matter how small it may be. This means that you can praise and motivate him for trying to memorise that poem, or for a tight game of soccer which your child lost. When he succeeds eventually, you can reinforce good values by saying that he proved that he can change everything with hard work with this result.
5. Reinforcement
You should also try to make your child remember something he has done that deserves praise. This leads to him believing more in himself and gaining self-confidence. You have to be genuinely interested in the actions of your child, and praise him for his accomplishments in order to cultivate diligence.
6. Questioning
Praise does not always have to be compliments- you can also ask him questions regarding the accomplishments he made. Start by asking him questions regarding how he did what he did so that he gets a better idea about his thought process and reasons as to why he was successful.
7. Eye Contact
In matters of praise, you should take care to deliver in the right manner. This means that you have to not only say the right thing but also say it right. You should maintain eye contact with your child to show that you mean what you say, and use a warm, nurturing tone of voice. Also, try to say it at their level, face-to-face if possible.
8. Construct Sentences Wisely
It is important to choose the right words when you praise your child. Your child has to understand what you mean, for the praise to be successful. Therefore, it is important that you choose the words keeping in mind the developmental stage of your child while praising him. As they get older, you can go for words which reflect how experienced they are and say them accordingly.
9. Individual Strength
No two children have the exact same skill set, so you might find your child doubting his capabilities when he sees someone do something that he cannot. In such instances, it is important that you remind of his own strengths so that he is not short on confidence. You can point out that there are things that he can do better than his peers so that he feels better.
10. Do not Overdo It
This is perhaps the most important thing that you have to keep in mind when you are praising your child. You should never go overboard with praise, as it can have detrimental effects on your child’s personality. He might lose value to your words and pay no heed to whatever you have to say when he grows up. Also, you should try not to tell him that he is the best at something, as it only leads to disappointment and loss of credibility later.
Praise is a double-edged sword that parents have to handle with care- too little or too much, both can have a bad effect on the development of the child. Therefore, you have to aim to be balanced when you offer praise to your child and help him become a better person as he grows up.
Also Read: Ways to Improve Your Parenting Skills Read more
Suggested for you
How to Use Keto Diet for Weight Loss - Tips and Diet Plan
Losing weight is a major concern that a significant chunk of the world population is facing in the present times. Where some may opt for excessive or rigorous workout regimes, others may opt for strict diet plans. Keto is one such diet that is vastly gaining popularity among people who are looking for ways to lose weight. Read this post and find out how you can incorporate this diet to lose weight.
What is Keto Diet?
The rules of the keto diet are simple; one has to remove as many carbohydrates from the diet as possible and replace it with more amounts of fats and proteins. In simple words, if you wish to follow this diet, then 70 to 75 per cent of your diet should consist of fats, 10 to 15 per cent of the diet should contain proteins, and the rest may consist of carbohydrates. Therefore, keto diet aims at reducing carbohydrates from your diet, or this low-carbohydrate diet aims at changing your body in such a way that the body depends on fats for energy and thus starts burning more fats. This diet alters the metabolism, and the body’s energy source gets shifted from glucose to fats, this process is called ketosis. The diet also works on the principle that fats and proteins are food groups that help you feel satiated and fuller for a longer period of time and also are a great source of energy. Every day, there are more people opting for this diet to lose weight and for becoming fit.
How Keto Diet is Beneficial for Weight Loss?
Obesity is taking a toll on people all over the world, and it also lays the foundation to some of the serious medical issues. Opting for ways to mend your diet is a great step in getting fit. Here are some reasons that may help in explaining how keto diet is beneficial for weight loss:
1. It Suppresses Your Appetite
Including more fats and proteins in your diet helps you feel satiated and thus reduces hunger pangs. Changes in hunger hormones such as leptin and ghrelin help in suppressing the appetite.
2. It is Easier to Follow
Unlike other staunch diets that require you to let go of your favourite foods thus making it hard to follow, keto does not do that. With this diet, one can lose weight by eating yummy and healthy food.
3. It Helps Your Body Burn More Fats
The changes in your diet bring in significant changes in your metabolism. The changed metabolism helps in faster burning of fats, even when you are doing your daily chores, resting or exercising.
4. Lesser Fat Storage
Because your body is relying on fats for energy, this means there is lesser fat storage in the body. Also, according to a study, it has been observed that this diet helps in reduction of lipogenesis that is the conversion of sugar into fats.
5. Helps in Improving Insulin Sensitivity
This diet helps in improving metabolism and fuel utilisation by the body by improving the insulin sensitivity of the body.
6. Because of Food Elimination
Because this diet needs you to reduce your carb intake, your food options get limited. This way your calorie intake gets reduced, which becomes one of the substantial weight-loss contributors.
7. Because of Increased Protein Intake
Some keto diets aim at increasing the protein intake, and a high-protein diet leads to more weight loss benefits.
8. Because You Can Exercise More
High-fat diet helps you feel more energised. Increased amounts of energy can be effectively utilised in working out or exercising and thus aiding the weight loss process.
Tips to Follow Keto Diet
Keto diet can show effective results if it is followed with care and dedication. Here are several tips that you should keep in mind while following a keto diet:
1. Stick to the Plan
If you have been relying on a high-carbohydrate diet all your life, switching to low-carbohydrate and a high-fat diet can get pretty challenging. It is important that you plan your diet well, instead of going unplanned. Once you have your diet planned, it is easier for you to stick to the diet.
2. Try to be Consistent
Any diet works only if you are consistent with your efforts. Stopping your diet mid-way or cheating with your diet may not get you the desired results.
3. You May Include Supplements
It will be a good idea to support your ketogenic diet with supplements. The supplements will help in boosting the process and achieving the results. Some of the supplements may include, coconut oil, MCT oil or ketone salt, etc.
4. Maintain Your Fluid and Mineral Balance
This diet may sometimes take a toll on your mineral and fluid balance. You may include magnesium supplements, add salt to your diet or take electrolyte to compensate the same.
5. Do What You Like
Following a diet that you do not like is something that you will find hard to maintain. Therefore, you should opt for the dietary choices that you like or are as per your preference. This will help you be on track.
6. Monitor Your Progress
Keep checking your progress on a regular basis to establish how much improvement you have made. Watching yourself changing for good will help you in staying motivated and positive about your dietary plan.
7. Be Experimental
You need to get experimental with your diet. This is because after you learn your limitation, you need to bring in changes to your present diet and get experimental with it. For example, if pasta is your favourite meal, you can look for ketogenic ways of making pasta. Doing this will keep you happy and satisfied with your dietary choices.
8. Include Green Vegetables
A high-fat diet is high on calories too; therefore, you should include a lot of green vegetables that are low in crabs. Doing this will keep you feel fuller.
Following these tips may help you in gaining the best from your diet. The idea is to follow the diet religiously for obtaining maximum benefits from it. You may get your urine or blood samples checked on a regular basis to see if you can keep up with your low carbohydrate diet.
Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss Sample Plan
Here’s a sample keto diet plan for weight loss for Indian vegetarians or a ketogenic diet for weight loss menu for Indians:
Time
Meal
6 to 7 AM
One glass vegetable juice (preferably bottle gourd)
9 AM
Soy flour and quinoa chapatti with paneer bhurji
11 AM
A bowl of cucumber salad
1 PM
2 Quinoa chapatti with broccoli sabji
5 PM
1 cup green tea and half cup roasted chana
7 PM
2 tablespoon peanuts
9 PM
Spinach bhaji, soy flour and quinoa chapatti with a green salad.
Are There Any Side Effects of Keto Diet?
Keto diet aims at making some severe dietary changes and thus can lead to certain complications. Here are some side-effects that may occur:
You may lose excess water in the form of urine from your body because your body is burning excess glucose stored in your muscles and liver. This can make you feel dehydrated.
You may feel drowsy or giddy because your body is not only losing fluid, but it is also losing sodium, potassium and magnesium from the body, which may trigger the feelings of light-headedness.
The sudden changes in diet can fiddle with the blood sugar levels and make them extremely low.
The extreme dietary changes may take a toll on your digestive health, which may lead to constipation and other digestive issues.
Reasons You May Not Be Losing Weight On Keto Diet, Despite Your Best Efforts
Though keto diet is straightforward and easy to follow, however, sometimes this diet may not help you yield the desired results. Well, this may happen due to some of the following reasons:
1. You May be Gobbling Down Too Many Calories
The basic idea of this diet is to include more fats but sometimes people may pile up on so many fats without even checking on the calorific intake. It is equally important to keep your calorific intake under check, or else the diet won’t work.
2. No Ketosis Happening
Your body needs to mend the metabolism and shift towards burning fats instead of carbohydrates, also known as ketosis. Sometimes, people may be blindly following the diet without keeping track of what they are consuming, which may hinder ketosis.
3. More Protein Intake
You may be on a low carbohydrate diet but if you are consuming more amounts of protein, that may also defeat the purpose of the diet. Remain within your dietary limits of consuming protein for the diet to work well.
4. More Carbohydrates
Including more than required amounts of carbohydrates can take you back from where you started or derail your entire efforts. Maintain your carbohydrate intake, or else you may not monitor any changes in your weight.
5. You May be Eating Less
Because of your dietary restriction or to be in sync with the diet, some people may reduce their calorie intake to extreme levels. Any kind of extremity may take a toll on the efficacy of the diet. Therefore, eating lesser calories than required may also affect your progress.
6. Any Kind of Food Allergies
If, while following this diet, you develop any kind of food allergies, it may spoil your progress. This is because food allergies or any kind of food intolerance increases the inflammation and inflammation may lead to weight gain.
7. If You Develop Leptin Resistance
Leptin is a hunger hormone, which helps in sending a signal to the brain when the body feels satiated. However, sometimes due to stress, lesser calorie intake, increased calorie intake or sleep issues, the functionality of this hormone may get affected leading to leptin resistance. If you become leptin resistant, your body is unable to send proper signals to the brain.
We hope that the keto diet helps you lose weight. If you have any queries in making major dietary choices, consult your dietician for the same.
Also Read:
Tips to Figuring Out Perfect Diet Plan For Weight Loss
Fat Burning Foods to Include in Your Diet for Losing Weight
Healthy Drinks to Consume for Guranteed Weight Loss Read more
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
11 hours ago
Q. I am having pcod problem.
At which day should I take pregnancy test
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
9 hours ago
A. after 2 weeks. do ultrasound n necessary tests after consulting a specialist. without proper check up we can't advise or help you.. Avoid shirt cuts when it comes to health if mother n baby. ok.
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
11 hours ago
Q. I am having pcod problem.
when should I take pregnancy test?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
10 hours ago
A. after missed your periods you can wait for one week more ,then you can do a urine pregnancy test to know about the pregnancy result and consult with your doctor according to the result for medication
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
11 hours ago
Q. I am having pcod problem.
but having regular cycles below 35 days. some time it will extended upto 40 days.
so when should I take pregnancy test at home?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
10 hours ago
A. If you have missed your periods you can wait for one week more or else you can do a urine pregnancy test to know about the pregnancy result and consult with your doctor according to the result for medication.
The best treatment to have Regular periods is by having a healthy lifestyle with regular daily walking or jogging along with mild exercise and meditation whenever possible. as medications will only act till you are taking them
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
8 hours ago
Q. Done my first routine blood test ..it shows thyroid border line.its my 6 week running as per USG.
but prior to that my thyroid level was always normal I did check up every year and got it normal .this time it shows borderline high in 6 week pregnancy.
is it something to worry.plz guide
Read moreDr Ghouse
Paediatrician
7 hours ago
A. it is better to follow your doctors advice for treating the thyroid deficiency. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts
Best activity toys for 15 month old baby
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. Toys which have light and also sounds so that is going to be a good option for you to use apart from the different kids have different interest some kids like to play with cars some like to play with something else so just have to try to figure out what your child likes to eat just check what your child is more inclined towards
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. how to gain weight 32weeks
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. You need to have a lot of good proteins and that is what is going to be helpful have a balanced diet and good have good amount of proteins as well which is what is going to be beneficial and good weight gain for your child as well
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