Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
Should You Give Gripe Water to Babies?
Newborns and babies can often cry for no evident reason. The culprit in these cases is usually colic. There is no clear definition as to what colic is, but it is a term used when babies cry excessively for an extended period of time. It is typically observed in babies between the age of three weeks to three months. Abdominal uneasiness caused by gas is widely believed to cause colic, and many parents opt for gripe water to remedy this situation.
What is Gripe Water?
Gripe water is a liquid solution intended to soothe the discomfort caused by flatulence, colic, indigestion, hiccups, and teething pain. There are different varieties of this liquid available, and they contain a mixture of different herbs.
Gripe Water - Ingredients
Fennel, ginger, chamomile, liquorice, cinnamon, and lemon balm are some of the ingredients that are found in gripe water. Originally water, alcohol, dill seed oil, sugar, and sodium bicarbonate were the ingredients used to make gripe water. Glycerine is also an ingredient used in some brands. The use of alcohol in gripe water has been discontinued in following objections from parents and doctors. Some brands are also known to use artificial sweeteners which can be harmful to a baby’s health. Mint oil is another ingredient that can be found in some Indian brands of gripe water. It is available in different flavours such as orange or strawberry.
Is Gripe Water Safe for Babies?
There is no concrete evidence that can prove that gripe water is unsafe for babies. Opinions differ on whether gripe water is effective as some have found it helpful for their babies while others have not. As far as safety goes, the brands of gripe water that contain alcohol, artificial sweeteners, or sodium bicarbonate are not recommended for babies.
Here is a breakdown of some of the traditional ingredients of gripe water and how they affect the baby:
Alcohol: Alcohol is not suitable for babies and can lead to the baby developing an addiction.
Sodium Bicarbonate: Also known as baking soda, this can lead to a milk-alkali syndrome which causes a surge in the levels of calcium in the blood. Since babies under six months are solely fed breast milk or formula, they are at greater risk of developing this condition which can also cause kidney problems.
Sugar: Excess sugar can lead to tooth decay and develop a dependence on sugar at an early age.
Dill Seed Oil: This is an essential oil that is known for offering relief from indigestion. However, some babies might be allergic to it. Therefore, caution must be exercised while using this ingredient.
Despite the increased awareness about natural ingredients and baby food composition, some brands of gripe water may contain parabens, vegetable carbon, or dairy products that ideally should be avoided. Some doctors believe that gripe water can be given to babies, while others think that it should be avoided. There are different brands of gripe water available in the market and babies should be given the one that is suitable to their condition. A doctor must be consulted before giving gripe water to a baby.
What is the Use of Gripe Water?
It is believed that gripe water is useful in treating colic in infants and also helps in easing certain digestion problems and hiccups. Teething babies tend to be irritable and cry a lot. This can cause them to swallow a good amount of air which can lead to flatulence. Babies suffering from flatulence or gastrointestinal problems like acidity might benefit from consuming it. Another way gripe water is useful is in the treatment of hiccups. Hiccups which result when the diaphragm is irritated can prove bothersome to babies and are caused by flatulence, acid reflux, or indigestion. Gripe water is thought to soothe the diaphragm and thus provide relief from hiccups.
When Can Babies Have Gripe Water?
The manufacturers of gripe water claim that it can be given to babies as young as two weeks. However, it is not advisable to offer it to babies under the age of one month since their digestive tract is still developing and is sensitive. Many people also believe that babies should not be given anything other than breast milk or formula until they are six months old. So, the best option is to consult with your paediatrician before giving gripe water to your baby.
How to Give Gripe Water to a Baby
About ten minutes after a feed is the best time to give the baby some gripe water. It can be administered to the baby using a dropper or a spoon. Owing to its pleasant taste, most babies will ingest it without any fuss. It is usually given once a day, but, your doctor will be able to advise you regarding the dosage.
Side Effects of Gripe Water
There are no clinically-proven side effects of gripe water. However, your baby may be allergic to one or more of the ingredients in a particular brand. Checking the list of ingredients can help you avoid those brands. Hives, watery eyes, swollen lips or tongue, vomiting, itchiness, and any change in your baby's breathing pattern after consuming gripe water may be signs of an allergic reaction. Seek medical help immediately if your baby shows any of these signs.
Can Gripe Water Be Mixed With Formula Milk?
Mixing gripe water with formula involves replacing some of the water used to prepare the formula milk, with gripe water instead. This can change the taste of the formula. You can mix it with water or breast milk, but there is a chance that your baby may start demanding this mixture all the time. For best results, administer it to the baby in its original form.
Alternatives to Gripe Water
Besides gripe water, there are quite a few ways that you can opt for to soothe your baby and help him feel better.
1. Massage
Try a gentle tummy massage to help rid of the abdominal tension and gas. Applying light pressure on the baby's tummy by rubbing his belly might also help in soothing him.
2. Change the Formula Milk
Switching the brand of formula milk might prove helpful for some babies. If your baby is prone to gastric issues, the formula milk you are giving him might not be suitable. Discuss with your baby's paediatrician and change the formula milk.
3. Baby Burping
When your baby is cranky, put him over your shoulder and gently rub his back to help him burp. You can also make him sit on our lap and gently pat his back to make him burp. At times, this might be all that is needed to help your baby feel better.
4. Try Swaddling
Swaddling your baby can be comforting and help him relax. It helps in calming the baby if he is over-stimulated or irritable.
If possible, ensure that your baby is exclusively breastfed until he is six months of age as breast milk is the best option to keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy.
Tips for Choosing & Giving Gripe Water
If you must give your baby gripe water, use these tips to ensure you find the right type of gripe water for your little one.
Don’t choose a solution which contains sodium bicarbonate, as it can cause imbalances in the pH levels of your baby’s stomach.
Go through the ingredients list carefully to ensure there is nothing your baby is allergic to.
Keep an eye out for any side effects or allergic reactions.
Consult with your doctor about the dosage and the brand to be used.
Try to find a brand that uses as many natural ingredients as possible.
Don’t buy gripe water that contains alcohol.
Steer clear of solutions which have sucrose, vegetable carbon, or charcoal.
Read the instructions carefully and administer the right dosage as recommended by the paediatrician.
Cranky babies and colic have been around for as long as there have been babies in this world! But gripe water might not be the solution every time. You need to try and understand why your baby is irritated or in pain. The next step is soothing and comforting the little one without the use of any external agents. This might be difficult if you are a first-time parent as nothing you do may seem to work. However, once you get the hang of it, things will settle down, and you will know exactly how to calm your baby down.
Disclaimer: This information is just a guide and not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified professional.
Also Read: Cow’s milk for babies – An Overview Read more
Check out this new Memory
Shobhana Radadiya
Mom of a 9 yr 10 m old girl
New Memory
#kidno1
1 Likes
0 Comment
Suggested for you
Your 8 Months Old Baby Growth and Development
Your child has finally started saying "mama" and "papa" and is becoming very curious about the world around him. As a parent, there's nothing more fulfilling than watching your little one grow up, physically, mentally and emotionally whilst achieving all the necessary milestones.
Below are some of the landmarks that you can expect in the coming weeks with regards to infant development at 8 months.
Growth of Baby
Nothing can quite fill you up with joy than watching your baby grow and develop. During the next four weeks, you will watch him improve his mobility, recognize others' faces and much more. Here's what to notice or look out for in your eight months baby activities.
Baby Development
Your baby will be rapidly developing his cognitive, social and emotional skills during this time. He will show a sense of empathy by being sad when kids around him cry, and he will be happy when he sees you! He will recognize different faces and be able to differentiate between voices. He will be developing different grips and gain better control of his fingers during this time, being able to pick, throw and grab objects at will and with increased accuracy.
32 Week Old Baby Development
Your 8-month baby's weight will increase, and your little one will begin trying to crawl. He will be propelling himself forward using his hands and is able to stand on his knees by holding furniture as support. This is not a good time to use baby walkers since playing and moving about on the floor will increase his mobility and build his posterior muscles. Let your baby roam around and keep cables and cords out of reach or anything that makes him trip or blocks his way.
33 Week Old Baby Development
Your baby will be choosing what he eats and how much he eats. He will still need to continue consuming breastmilk. However, this is the time you let him have a go at family foods since his molars are developing. Where mobility is concerned, your little one should be able to slowly clapping his hands and improve his dexterity with his fingers. Encourage him by showing how to clap and play games like Pat-A-Cake and let him copy you. At first, the household may get noisy due to utensils clashing like cymbals but keep in mind that he is gaining finer control over his motor movements in the process.
Your baby will also learn how to wave his wrist side by side or up and down. Encourage him to wave to family members and repeat that action in response to verbal cues given by family members such as "goodbye" or "see you later."
34 Week Old Baby Development
Your baby's vision will be improving rapidly during this week, and his short sight will be at its best. His long-range vision will take some time to improve, but he will be able to make out objects and people from a far-away distance and approach them. His true eye colour will also be slowly emerging, and besides vision, he will master the pincer grip. Since his dexterity is developing, he will now be able to pick up, drop and throw objects with increased precision. In addition to this, he will be able to point towards objects with his index finger as well.
35 Week Old Baby Development
Your baby will be very close to walking on his own at this stage. You may encourage him to walk by holding his hands and guiding him towards a direction. Remember that your baby's leg muscles are developing and it's a good idea to help them kneel and sit down. Your baby might take some time getting used to sitting down after standing, and that's okay. Alternatively, you may use a toddle truck with a stable base to assist and train their mobility. Cruising up the stairs and crawling across rooms shouldn't be a problem at this stage.
Baby Health
Your baby's health will be steadily improving. He will continue to be breastfed and eat solid foods now. Encourage your baby to self-feed and allow them to explore different tastes and textures in meals. Finger foods such as rice, cheese, and carrots will help them get acquainted with their taste buds, and you will often find them playing with saucepans and beakers. From a cognitive health standpoint, your baby will be able to understand basic instructions and will make object-noun associations. He will also greet family members when they return home from work by smiling gleefully.
Baby Milestones - 8 Months
At eight months old, these are the milestones you can expect your little one to achieve-
Speech improvement - Your baby will be making more consonant-based sounds and slowly transition to phrases. He will begin to understand words like "milk," "cat," and "table" and will have created object-word-link associations in his mind for them.
Improved grip - From the raking grasp, he will transition to the pincer grasp and be able to make complex motions with his fingers. His dexterity will increase and you will notice him trying to control and manipulate objects with his hands with greater precision now.
Tracking moving objects - No longer will your little one just be aware of moving objects but rather try to follow them or catch them.
Can handle separation - You can now expect your little one to be okay when you're away from the house or him for a few hours. He won't cry or be fazed at this age.
Will try to chew - Your baby's jaw muscles will start exercising as he tries to chew while eating different foods.
Standing on feet- Your little one should be able to stand on his feet partially or at least try to by now. His lower muscles should have developed, and he should now be capable of making other motions.
Behaviour
Your baby's behaviour will start to change a lot. This is the age when he is beginning to understand his surroundings, however, may not have the developed physical body or muscles needed to fetch the things he wants by himself. Your little one will also be chatting away all day long and experimenting with sounds using his own voice. Just remember to gently reinforce words that are linked with object-associations or people-associations to help him develop his vocabulary and add meaning to those babbles.
Their vocal skills will also expand if you make them interact with family members and involve them in social activities within the household.
8-Month Old Baby Activities
Here are activities you can do with your little one to speed up his growth and development in every single way-
The talking game - The talking game is an excellent way to let her senses soak in different words, vocabulary and start processing verbal information. Whenever you play with her, make sure you talk about the activity you're currently doing to get her absorbed in it.
Meeting others - Meeting new folks, friends, and family members will greatly reduce the anxiety of socializing with people. Socialising is also a great way to exercise visual recall and improve her social skills too.
Reading out stories - Babies enjoy illustrated books, especially the ones with big pictures and bright colours. This is the time to start reading out to her and stimulate her sense of colour perception and language understanding as well.
Make her crawl - Tell her to catch you by crawling towards you or ask her to get an object for you by making her crawl from one room to the next. Crawling strengthens her leg muscles which will prepare her for walking in the future.
Give her toys names - Give her toys a name and make her associate your sounds with them. Labelling objects with names create an object-noun link in her mind, and as you repeat it, he starts associating those names with the objects.
Mixing foods - Throw in a little spaghetti with different coloured vegetables and let your little one explore the different tastes and textures. Let your baby eat with their own hands since this will help them build their finger movements and enhance dexterity. Plus, they'll find it fun, and that'll keep them busy for awhile.
8-Month Old Baby Care
Your baby will be chewing toys and collecting every dust and particle lying in the house like a detective on the hunt. Make sure you babyproof the house and keep medicines or toxic products away from their reach. Make sure you keep movable furniture, potted plants and anything that can be dislodged from their place intact since you don't want falling objects or them getting hurt. At this age, they don't link cause and effect, so don't be alarmed if your little one starts to chew on your household pet or bite when you least expect it.
Feeding
Your baby may be less reluctant to consuming breastmilk unlike before once you introduce solid foods to his diet. Make sure he eats two to three solid meals a day to get his fill of nutrition and aim for 4 breastfeeds a day at this stage. For parents who are bottle feeding, 4 milk feeds are recommended too.
Sleeping
Your baby will be sleeping a lot at this age. You may find them sleeping anywhere between 10 to 12 hours a night in addition to taking between 1 to 3-hour naps in the afternoons. Don't fret though; it's completely normal and absolutely terrific news for you since you get to catch up on sleep a little finally and also plan out the everyday schedule. Your little one's routines and sleep patterns also become more predictable.
Tips for Parents
Here are some tips for parents who want to speed up their baby's development or prevent developmental delays -
Do not let your baby use a walker during these few weeks. The floor will become his best friend in teaching him how to crawl, sit and partially stand or walk
Introduce your kid to the world of colours and shapes through picture books and friendly comics.
Stack up a few pillows and ask him to crawl up them to build their sense of proprioception and strength.
To encourage physical activity, turn on some fun music and dance and sing along with that. You can use sock puppets or props to make it more fun and let your baby copy the rhymes and mimic words.
At the end of the day, your baby is exploring and expanding in many ways, just let him/her have a go at different things and remember not to get agitated whenever you hear funny noises in the noise (like the banging of cups and saucers). It's just their curious minds at work!
It's absolutely amazing to watch your little one progress from crawling to baby steps during these weeks. Introduce them to new foods, keep them busy and entertained and you'll be well on your way to successful parenting. The proof is in the pudding, and you must be patient because sometimes your little one might fall or slip when crawling or moving around and you have to let him learn how to deal with that.
Previous Month: 7 Months Old Baby Growth and Development
Next Month: 9 Months Old Baby Growth and Development Read more
Suggested for you
10 Father's Day Games & Activities that Kids & Dad's will Enjoy
Father’s day is an important day for a dad not just because it is a special day for him. This is also a day that can be best used to spend more time with the kids. Knowing a few father's day activities for pre-schoolers and other children can make the day quite engaging for both of them.
Father's Day Activity Ideas For Children
Here are some ideas for activities that can be conducted on Father's Day.
1. Camping Time with Daddy
Moving out of the city and taking a wonderful hike or an overnight camping by the lake can be quite fun for the entire family and rejuvenating for daddy.
How To Do
Pick out a nice spot for camping. Try to choose a closer one so that you don’t spend a lot of time travelling to get there. This could be a nearby fort, a lake, a hill, and so on. If you don’t have tents, you can easily rent them for a night or two. Pack together all the necessary items that you’ll need. Reach the place and set up camp. Put out the chairs and create a small campfire as well. Enjoy your food, sing songs and tell stories to each other.
2. Let your Daddy be a Kid Again with Kites
Kite-flying is something many dads of this generation enjoyed when they were kids. Here is a chance to let him try his hand at it again and teach a few tricks, too.
How To Do
Kite flying doesn’t have to be restricted to specific festivals. You can purchase a kite from your nearby store and give it to dad. Pick out a building that is tall enough and ask permission to use their terrace. Roll up the reel properly and tie it well to the kite. Let your dad fly the kite while you roll the reel just the way he wants. He will then teach you to fly the kite as well and even teach you some tricks that you can show off later to your friends.
3. Turn Father’s Day into a Teaching Session
Most fathers spend their time at work and don’t have enough time to interact or teach someone what they’ve learnt. Give them the opportunity to enjoy that again.
How To Do
Figure out what it is that your father is really good at and you’d like to learn as well. Maybe it could be an activity that he hasn’t had time to do in a long time, too. This could be anything from servicing the car to fertilizing the garden, and so on. Gather all the tools and accessories that might be needed for it and let your dad know you’re ready. He will most likely jump in with both feet and teach you all that there is to it.
4. Making your Cake and Eating it too
Father’s day is a time for celebration and no better way to have it with your dad’s favourite dish. Cook it together and have great fun!
How To Do
Working fathers rarely get the time to cook even when they like doing it. On father’s day, either work together to bake a cake for everyone or make lunch with the meal being your dad’s favourite food. Prepare in advance by buying all the ingredients necessary with your mom or elder sibling. On father’s day, surprise him by arranging everything and asking him to teach you how to cook. He will have a wonderful time reconnecting with his favourite activity and seeing you cook his favourite dish will be quite a delight.
5. No Better Time than Family Time
In today’s times, rarely do all family members come together and spend time with each other, except for rare occasions. Let’s make father’s day one of those occasions then.
How To Do
Make this a large get-together that is not simply restricted to family. Try and make contact with your dad’s old friends from school or college, or even from work. Call a few close family members that your dad is comfortable with. Organize a few activities and games as well that everyone can enjoy together. Try and get food prepared in advance so that it makes everyone free, or make it an open-air barbecue and have a delicious palate ready to serve.
Fathers Day Games for Children
Games can make any event fun. Try these fun games to add infinitely more fun to the father-child duo.
6. Who can Eat the Most
Fathers spend all their time taking care of their health and keeping things in check. Let them go all out one day in a competitive eating match
How To Play
Choose a food item that both you and your dad enjoy eating. This could be something sweet like a cake or gulab jamuns and so on. Elect your mom or one of your siblings to be an impartial judge. Set a timer and check who can eat the most pieces in the shortest time. Don’t be afraid to make a mess of things. Let your inner animal loose and gorge down all of it.
7. The Shaving Master
Nearly all dads spend a better part of their mornings getting a good shave. But are they really that quick with it? Put it to a test with a game.
How To Play
For the game, choose razors with the blades removed from them. Or go for using whipped cream with ice cream sticks instead. Let your dad put the cream on him and shave. Time him and see how long it takes. Next, you get to apply the cream on daddy. Have some fun and apply cream everywhere you can. Then use the stick and quickly shave him up. Time that as well and see who wins.
8. Are you Smarter than your Dad
Puzzles are something we have all solved since we were children. Now it is time to compete with your father, too.
How To Play
Use a couple of puzzle boxes that have roughly the same amount of pieces. To raise things up a notch, mix all the puzzle pieces together. Now each player has to find the pieces of his own puzzle and put them all together. Let this be a race to the finish and see who gets there first. You can be a little naughty and hide a few pieces of your father’s puzzle as well.
9. Blindfold Toolkit Discovery
Your dad spends a lot of time repairing things around the house with his tool. So check if he knows the tools that well with a blindfold game.
How To Play
Let your dad sit in a chair and blindfold him. Now place the toolkit below and pull out a tool from it. Start by making sounds with it if possible. Then describe its shape and colour without actually mentioning the name of the tool. If even that fails, let your dad touch the tool once for a couple of seconds. If he guesses the tool, he gets points.
10. Knowing the Real Dad
Do you really know the person that your father is? Make this pop quiz personal and get to know your dad even better.
How To Play
Refer to slam books or come up with interesting questions that you don’t know about your dad. This could be his favourite colour, or the name of his best friend in school, or the girl he liked in college, or the first toy he had as a child, and so on. Turn this into an interview and you will start discovering stories about him you did not know.
Father's day activities for toddlers, kids, and children of all ages are aplenty. This day is a great time for everyone to bond together as well as knowing your father better, giving him the love and care he deserves, and a day full of happiness.
Also Read:
Father’s Day Poems for Kids
Father’s Day Quotes and Wishes
Father’s Day Gift and Craft Ideas for Kids Read more
Suggested for you
Torch Infection during Pregnancy: Things You Must Know & Watch For
Being pregnant is one of the most challenging yet heart-warming times of a woman’s life. The happiness of carrying a new life within you is quite overwhelming yet the fear of infections harming you and the baby hovers around too. TORCH infection can infect a pregnant woman at any age and reach the growing foetus.
What is TORCH Infection?
TORCH infection can be a misleading term as it sounds like a single illness. However, the term is an acronym of five infections caused due to pathogens. These can cause some serious problems for the unborn foetus and the mother if it is not diagnosed at the right moment. These pathogens are transferred from the expectant mother to her foetus during pregnancy or at childbirth. TORCH consists of the following five infections:
1. Toxoplasma Gondii or Toxoplasmosis
This is often caused by parasites that can travel from your mouth to the baby through the placenta. Raw and undercooked meat and food can cause this infection.
2. Other Infections
Other infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, Chicken Pox, Syphilis and Chlamydia: Syphilis is caused by bacteria and can prevent a baby’s normal development. Such babies can have nerve-related issues which could cause deafness or blindness.
3. Rubella
This infection is known as German measles and is contagious. Body rash, sore throat and mild fever are some symptoms of rubella.
4. Cytomegalovirus
CMV can pass on to your unborn child and is an infection from the herpes virus group. Congenital CMV causes jaundice, hearing loss, lung issues and muscle weakness.
5. Herpes Simplex Virus 2
This is a form of genital herpes and is identified by open sores or blisters around the anus or the genitals.
Depending upon the foetus’ development stage at the time of exposure, the effects of the pathogens will vary. The above-mentioned diseases are capable of causing developmental issues since they are transmitted to the foetus through the placenta.
What Causes Torch Infection in Pregnancy?
Your baby can contract a TORCH infection through you if you are infected by it during pregnancy as it passes through the bloodstream. Since the baby’s immune system isn’t completely developed, it is vulnerable to illness and is unable to fight the infection yet.
TORCH infection is transferred from the mother to the baby and here are a few causes:
1. At Childbirth
While the baby is being delivered or even after a few minutes of being born, the torch infections acquired during pregnancy can infect it via blood or body fluids. Fortunately, it is possible to control its spread through modern medical treatment.
2. Through the Placenta
The baby is yet to develop a powerful immune system of its own and hence is dependent upon you to fight infection. The placenta provides a passage for the pathogens to fight and the baby is unable to resist. Though the mother is rarely at risk here, the TORCH infection can lead to a spontaneous abortion.
Signs and Symptoms of TORCH Infections when Pregnant
While each of the different diseases that form TORCH infections have their individual symptoms, the general signs of this infection are as follows:
Jaundice
Fever and loss of appetite
Enlargement of the spleen and liver
Flu in a mild form, may not be noticeable during pregnancy but can have drastic effect on the baby
Petechial rash (tiny purple or red spots on the skin). This is caused due to bleeding of the subcutaneous capillaries
Effects of Torch on Pregnancy
The following are the effects of TORCH infection:
Birth defects like bad eyesight, loss of hearing, diabetes at a young age, heart defects, cataract and mental retardation are noticed in babies where their mothers were detected with rubella in the first trimester.
A direct result of TORCH infection during pregnancy is a miscarriage.
If the mother is infected with TORCH during 11 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, there is a huge risk of congenital rubella syndrome affecting the baby.
The baby may also get meningitis, anaemia and pneumonia.
The infection leads to many severe complications like premature delivery, stillbirth, spontaneous abortions, congenital anomalies and intrauterine foetal death.
Diagnosis
During your prenatal visits to the doctor, if you are suspected of infections, you may get screened for TORCH infections. It is important to diagnose this infection at the earliest possible stage and continue monitoring of the baby’s growth post-diagnosis. Even if the maternal treatment is carried out, the foetal health is not benefited in any way. A blood test is done to check the pregnant woman for Toxoplasmosis, syphilis, parvovirus, varicella zoster, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes. Monitoring of foetal growth after a positive result is an important part of this diagnosis.
Treatment for Pregnancy TORCH Infections
The treatment and management of torch infections consist of different components as per the diagnosis made and they include the following:
1. Toxoplasmosis
For early stages of infection, you could be treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine to ensure the pathogens do not impact your baby
2. Hepatitis B
Newborn babies and their mothers who are exposed to Hepatitis B are administered with vaccines and given HBIG.
3. Herpes Simplex Virus
If the doctor notices active lesions, he may suggest you to have a caesarean delivery. The infection period can be shortened through antiviral drugs which also help in relieving its symptoms.
4. Rubella
While different symptoms of neonates are treated separately, patients infected with Rubella are prescribed with mild analgesics and asked to rest.
5. Cytomegalovirus
When a pregnant woman is infected with this virus, treatment for individual symptoms like hepatomegaly, fatigue and fever is carried out.
Precautions to Prevent Torch Infection
In order to prevent contracting TORCH viruses in pregnancy, you can take the following precautions:
Stay away from raw meat. Cook your meat till it is no longer pink.
Make sure you wash your hands meticulously after handling raw meat
Maintain cleanliness and hygiene around you at all times.
If you are fond of cats and dogs, do not handle strays as this could cause toxoplasmosis. If you have pets of your own, keep them indoors and prevent them from wandering.
Wash your hands with soap after you come home, especially before you eat.
Do not share personal items like razors, toothbrushes etc. with others, especially those items that can have blood on them.
Avoid getting tattoos on your body or piercings to keep torch diseases
Chocolate, peanuts, peanut butter, fever and stress act as triggers for genital herpes. Avoid them if you have a history of it in the past.
Although pregnancy is a beautiful time in a woman’s life, it can give you more than a few sleepless nights. The key, however, is not to panic and keep you from enjoying these unforgettable moments. If you know what this infection is all about, its treatment and the methods to keep it away, you should win the battle for sure. Do not miss your doctor’s appointments and check-ups and you will do fine.\
Also Read: Cholestasis of Pregnancy Read more
Suggested for you
20 Super Cute Baby Shower Cake Design Ideas to Make Your Day Even More Special
If you are hosting a baby shower for your friend or for your wife, a cake is a must. But if you don't know which cake would be perfect for a baby shower, then worry not. We bring some cute baby shower cake design ideas for you. Your wife and the guests will love eating these cakes, and so will you. These cakes are from the world of divine taste - are you ready to explore?
20 Adorable Ideas for Baby Shower Cake
Here are some lovely baby shower cake ideas that are gender neutral to capture the moment.
1. An Animal Cake
This cake can be made in many neutral colours like grey, white, and yellow. Even though these colours sound dull, they are not bland or boring at all! You could make this one in the form of a step cake or a single layered cake. At the bottom of the cake, add a bunch of flowers and branches. Around the next tier, you could wrap a bow. You could also include some polka dots and some cute little animals like a giraffe or elephants on the top of the cake. If you are planning on having an animal-themed shower, then this vibrant cake is the way to go. When you add many layers to the cake, make sure that each layer has a different theme.
2. Pastel Paradise
When it comes to baby shower celebration, pastels can add elegance to it. When making a cake for a baby shower, it doesn't have to be sky blue or soft pink. You can mix both blue and pink and make a gender-neutral cake. You can get it in any shape you like. The beautiful pastel base will impart a royal touch to it. The cake could either be of one colour or incorporate several different light colours.
3. A Cake with a Song
There are definitely parents out there already singing sweet kid rhyme like “Twinkle, twinkle little star”. You might have started planning on decorating the baby’s nursery with stars and moons. This cake is perfect for you. “Twinkle, twinkle little star” is a classic rhyme people sing to their children. You can get a cake made with cute fluffy clouds, beautiful moon, and shining stars on it. This cake is also perfect for parents who are into music and, perhaps, want to teach music to their own children. All of these amazing little details on this edible cake would definitely take your baby shower to a whole new level.
4. All About Baby
This idea might seem a little obvious but if you have not found a theme you like then why not make it all about the baby. If you are going for a classic “baby” theme, then the decorations could be necessary products like rattles and diapers which the mommy could take home afterwards. Regardless of the gender, the theme could have any colour. Fitting with the theme, the cake could be all about the baby too. The cake could be a sheet cake having a baby-themed image drawn on it. It could also have a nice 3D version that shows off objects the future child might need or want.
5. A Classy Cake
There are many types of fabulous and bright cakes, but there are many parents out there who might not want their baby shower to be too bright or very colourful. If you are one of those parents who want the shower to be a bit more dramatic or want to keep it classy or simple, then this cake is perfect for you. The classy colours like white, black, and gold can be used for a cake. The cake could have double layers - different colours for each layer. You could make one layer black, the next, white, and have a golden crown on top of the cake. You could also have a few golden dots and have “welcome baby” written in golden letters on the last step of the cake.
6. A Fun Cake
If the theme of the baby shower is all about fun then it should reflect in your cake too. This cake could be of a nice blue base with amazing lime-green and orange polka dots. You could also have a few little block letters at the bottom of the cake which says “welcome baby”. The best part of the cake is that you can add an adorable little elephant on top of the cake. This cake is really cheerful and modern and has the right amount of child-like quirkiness. It could work around themes that are centred on a circus.
7. A Fairytale Cake
Besides listening to rhymes, children also love listening to happy fairy tales. This cake could feature some of the best fairy tales out there following the bedtime tradition of fairy tale readings. You could have the characters of 'goodnight moon', 'the very hungry caterpillar', 'the frog prince', 'the little mermaid' on this cake. You could also write the titles of these cakes written out on the icing with many different colours. You could also have little figures based on the book to match with the cake. It does not matter if you are a child or an adult, everybody would want to have a bite of this book. This cake would work for any themed shower especially if you are into reading a lot of books.
8. Covered in Sprinkles
If your baby shower is going to be a big party, then this cake screams party! This special cake can be covered in rainbow sprinkles which are very festive. The inside of the cake can be filled with colourful candies. The vibrant colours and the bright image would fill the room with energy. Your decorations could be geometric art, confetti, colourful tablecloths, balloons, cupcakes, and sprinkle themed cake. Your guests are going to have an unforgettable time.
9. A Rustic Cake
If you want to follow the latest trends, then rustic cakes are perfect. While most of the parents are thinking about icing, it is better if you thought different and went for this cake with little to no icing. You can leave some of the cake still exposed and spread a thin layer of icing on the cake. This will create a fantastic artistic effect which tastes great. You could also add some greenery around this cake as well as a cake topper. The cake topper could be a banner that spells out the name of the mommy. This cake would work well for a baby shower that is being organised in a garden.
10. A Triple Lemon Cake
A fresh and pure lemon cake has a classic natural feel to it. It creates pleasure for the senses and provides a scene of innocence. You could keep a lavender sprig on top of the cake which will bring a feeling of walking in the forest. This would be the perfect cake for you and your guests to enjoy. The cake also shows its strength by standing beautifully upright. Moreover, the cake is creamy and smooth, and it has a divine lemon taste to it.
11. Watercolour Buttercream
Everybody loves an artistic idea. This cake brings out a new trend as it is a lovely watercolour cake made with buttercream and not a common fondant icing surface. This cake is made from whipped vanilla, dark chocolate with buttercream and little rainbow sprinkles. The dark chocolate and the vanilla frosting have a stunning contrast to it when paired together. You could also add a few edible gold leaves if you want to create a dramatic effect. The cake could be of any colour - it doesn't have to be pink or blue.
12. A Vanilla Cake With Ombre Macaroons
The gradual blending of one shade to another is called ombre, and this could make an amazing baby shower layer cake. For an impressive layer cake, you could choose a pink-berry colour to make a show-stopping cake. Then again, you can choose any colour combo you desire from bright rainbow stripes to pretty pastels. Each layer of the cake could have different colours to have a multilayered effect. Now you can make this cake more fun by adding some macaroons. This makes it sound too good to be true which means it is an amazing idea for your baby shower. You could also decorate the cake with some rainbow sprinkles.
13. A Gift Box Cake
The gift box cake is an amazing design for a baby shower. This cake will give the illusion of a gift. It is a great idea. You could either have the gift box in pink colour or in blue. In this cake too you can have a mix and match of colours. You can use gender neutral colours like yellow or grey. The gift box could also have a large white edible ribbon on top to give it a real effect.
14. A Spring Pastel Confetti Cake
If you are hosting a baby shower in the spring, then you can make a spring pastel confetti cake. Spring is a season of colours. This cake will have six colourful layers with a whole lot of confetti sprinkles. This would be a stunning centrepiece at your baby shower. Your guests will not forget the colour explosion the cake offers. The inside of the cake is even brighter with the rainbow surprise.
15. A Hello World Cake
The hello world baby shower cake screams simplicity. This cake will look beautiful no matter what. This cake will have several layers. Each of these layers will have fresh cream. You could also keep edible roses made from cream on top of the cake to give a touch of class. If you and your family are not into a lot of icing, then this cake is the way to go. This is such a pleasant baby shower cake.
16. A Traditional Baby Shower Cake
You can check out this cake if you are going for a little more of a traditional theme. You can go for a simple cake with a cute bear sitting on it. You could have many traditional designs like the clothes drying on the line. You could have writings on small edible baby blocks. You could have pink and blue icings to make the cake gender neutral. This would make a delightful and adorable baby shower cake.
17. A Baby Buggy Cake
This cake idea is one of the best unique baby shower cake ideas. It is a baby shower cake in the shape of a baby buggy! The baby buggy can be of any colour, either blue or pink. If you want to keep the gender of the baby a secret, then you can go for a gender neutral colour. Therefore this cake can suit all types of baby showers. If your baby shower is completely baby themed, then this cake is the perfect symbol. Everybody would like this idea since everyone in your shower must have pushed a baby buggy at some point in their lives meaning that everybody will have something common to talk about.
17. Baby Shoes Cake
Small things are really adorable and sweet. This cake will be the centre of attention at your party. You could either have a single-layered or a multi-layered cake. The tiny shoes present on top of the cake will just look adorable. Make each side straight and have breathtaking decorations. This cake is an awesome idea for the lovely occasion.
19. An Amazing Star Wars Cake
Are you planning on having a Star Wars-themed baby shower? If yes, then a star-war cake is a must. The cake could have two or three layers with a cute sleeping baby in a cloak and a Yoda hat on top of the cake. The cake could also have light sabres here and there as decorations. Other decorations include small characters like Han Solo and Yoda. All of these cute little details would make this cake stand out and would look like a cake from a galaxy far, far away.
20. Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Rainbows are beautiful to look at. But what makes them unique is that they are a mark of new beginnings. This is why having a rainbow cake is perfect for a baby shower to mark the baby’s birth - a new beginning. The cake is a single layered cake with white frosting. You could have a multi-coloured edible rainbow over the cake and some rainbow sprinkles at the bottom of the cake. This cake would also fit any theme.
We hope you liked these cake ideas for your baby shower. Get one made, the guests will surely enjoy eating them.
Also Read:
Phenomenal Baby Shower Theme Ideas
Tips for Planning a Perfect Baby Shower
Interesting Baby Shower Gift Ideas to Consider Read more
Suggested for you
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
15 hours ago
Q. Hlw dr its my 6th month pregnency can i intimate with my partner
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
15 hours ago
A. Hello dear! If your pregnancy is going on fine without any high risk factors then it’s okay. Still, would advise you to check with your doctor once before going further. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
12 hours ago
Q. My breasts feel full and heavy, but there’s no milk when pumping and during feeding baby —what do I do?
Abhaya Rajput
Mom of a 14 yr 4 m old boy
6 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much. But it is really very difficult to say anything without proper examination. It is advisable to get yourself evaluated by a doctor and follow doctors advise properly. You can also book online doctor’s appointment on FirstCry where the doctor can help you and guide you properly.
Thanks and take care
Dr Disha Patel has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
12 hours ago
Q. can I take medicine pcm n citrazene in pregnancy fir sore throats n fever
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
7 hours ago
A. dear mom.
better to take tab pcm for time being n do take steam inhakation couple of tines a day, follpw good home renedies for cold, taje more rest .
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
5 hours ago
Q. hi everyone good morning,
sorghum can I give to my 10 month baby is it safe or not please revert I waiting for your reply
Swati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. Yes but first give in very small quantity to judge the reaction of your baby.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts is it okay that the baby is kicking less than usual?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. Yes it is the what part is that your child is kicking if you feel that there is a movement of your child whether it is a cake or slight movement also you know that your child is doing fine so there is no problem in that if the movement is less it’s completely alright
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to do if the baby’s nose is blovked
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. Nasal blockage is very common, specially in small children because of the narrow nasal cavity. Any kind of saline drops like nasal clear will be helpful in dissolving the stuffy secretions, which can be taken out by vnasal aspirator gently also steam inhalation will be helpful also, try to avoid keeping the child directly under the fan.
Check out this new Memory
Deepali Sawant
Mom of a 4 yr 4 m old girl
New Memory
#kidno1
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Anam Khan
Mom of a 2 yr 8 m old boy
New Memory
#kidno1
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Rohit Narang
Father of a 11 m old boy
New Milestone
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Naresh
Father of a 1 yr 1 m old boy
1 min ago
#babyphotochallenge
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive