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Drooling in Babies
When the saliva flows out of a person's mouth unintentionally, it is known as drooling. We have six salivary glands that produce saliva for us and when excess saliva is produced, we tend to drool. Drooling is a common occurrence in babies. Babies start drooling at about 3 months of age. Some babies drool a bit while others drool a lot. If you see your baby drooling a lot, it could be due to the underdeveloped muscles in his mouth or excess production of saliva in his mouth. There is nothing to worry about, as drooling is a part of his physical development.
Is Drooling Common in Babies?
It is common for babies to drool and a baby might drool for the first two years of his life. As an infant is not in complete control of the function of swallowing and his mouth muscles, he may drool, even when he is asleep. If your baby has started drooling, you can expect this condition to continue until he turns 18 to 24 months old. Drooling is quite common during the teething period, so be ready to change your baby's clothes about 5-6 times in a day. It is quite common for babies to drool. But if a child drools even after the age of four years, then it is not normal.
Drooling in Babies Between 1 and 24 Months of Age
Drooling in babies is normal and it even helps in their development. A baby may drool slightly to excessively at different stages of his life and as he grows.
1. 1-3 Months
When a baby is between 1 and 3 months of age, he may not drool at all. Drooling is rare at this time as a baby is always in a face-up position. So he may not drool during this time or even after that. But some babies start drooling by 3 months of age.
2. 6 Months
By this time, drooling is slightly more controlled but it continues when the baby babbles or puts toys in his mouth. Usually, babies start teething by this time, hence they drool.
3. 9 Months
By this stage, babies start rolling over and crawling.They may continue to drool as they are still teething. Teething can stimulate drooling.
4. 15 Months
By 15 months of age, most babies start walking and running, but they may not drool while they walk or run. However, if they indulge in activities or tasks which require concentration, they may drool.
5. 18 Months
Babies will not drool while indulging in regular activities or in activities that promote fine motor skills. But they may drool while they are being fed or are dressing.
6. 24 Months
By this time, drooling is minimal in babies. It is almost non-existent.
Does Drooling Play an Important Role in Baby’s Development?
Yes, drooling does play an important role in the growth and development of a baby. Drooling is a sign of teething in a baby. Drooling and blowing bubbles are also a sign of physical development in toddlers. If your little one drools or blows bubbles, then it is a sign that he has entered a new period of growth. If your baby drools after smelling milk or food, you should know that his sense of smell is growing.
Drool contains enzymes which are useful for the baby to digest semi-solid or solid food when he is between 4 and 6 months of age. Saliva neutralizes the stomach acid and it helps in developing the baby’s intestinal lining fully and protect the lining of the oesophagus from irritation. Saliva also helps bind the food together due to its slick nature that facilitates swallowing.
What Is Excessive Drooling in Babies?
When there is an involuntary flow of saliva from a baby's mouth after he has passed the normal age of drooling, it can be termed as excessive drooling. If your little one drools a lot after he has crossed the age of 2 years, you need to worry and consult a doctor for the same. Although it is often attributed to over-production of saliva, excessive drooling happens because of poor coordination between mouth and tongue. This lack of coordination can result in bad swallowing.
What Are the Causes of Excessive Drooling in Infants?
Excessive drooling in babies and toddlers is caused due to the following reasons:
1. Teething
Although babies don't have a tooth by the age of 6-8 months, the process begins quite early, i.e., they start teething quite early. This is the reason why they start drooling as early as 3 months of age. When the teething phase begins, there is excess production of saliva and they may drool excessively when a tooth pushes its way through the gums.
2. Open Mouth Posture
If a baby has a habit of keeping his mouth open for a longer period of time, he might drool. If your little one keeps his mouth open for long due to a blocked nose or plainly out of habit, then he may not be able to swallow the saliva at regular intervals and hence may drool.
3. Staying Focused For Long
Babies and toddlers are unable to swallow their saliva if they concentrate on a task at hand or an interesting object. This results in excessive drooling.
4. Food
It is seen that certain kinds of food, mostly those acidic in nature, are responsible for triggering excess drooling. If you give these foods to your baby, he might drool.
5. Neurological Disorders
Many neurological disorders like Bell’s palsy and Cerebral Palsy display symptoms like drooling and excessive salivating. Bell’s palsy is a temporary nerve condition which impacts one portion of the face. A droopy eyelid on the side on which excess drooling happens can indicate this condition. Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that can have an impact on the oral-muscular control of a baby.
6. Side Effects of Medication
The normal functioning of a child’s facial muscles can be affected due to the intake of certain medicines. Sometimes, the muscle tone of the lips increases or decreases, and this might result in excessive drooling.
Treatment for Drooling
If is normal for babies to drool and drooling is an important part of physical development and growing up in babies. However, it is not normal if they drool once they turn 2 years of age. If your toddler drools even after 2 years of age, you should not take it lightly. You should consult a doctor as it needs medical attention. If your child is drooling excessively, consult a doctor immediately as it might affect his social life and his day-to-day activities may get affected. If your little one drools a lot, your child's doctor will look for following signs to come to a conclusion and suggest a treatment for the same.
• If your child can seal his lips properly and move the tongue around.
• If your child is swallowing normally.
• If he has a stuffy or blocked nose.
• If the child has a natural swallowing reflex.
• The posture of the child and whether his jaw is firm or not.
Post these evaluations, the following line of treatment is followed:
• Helping the child to practice a closed-lip stance.
• Reducing acidic food from the child’s diet.
• Working on the child's capacity to swallow.
• Tightening of face muscles.
• Improving oral-sensory awareness to help the child understand when his mouth or face is wet.
• Oral motor therapy to strengthen his jaw, cheeks, and lips. This therapy will help him swallow his saliva properly.
What Is a Drool Rash?
Due to the constant dribbling of saliva through the mouth, a baby’s lower lips, cheeks, neck, and chest may show signs of skin irritation. If your baby drools excessively, the saliva will come on to his cheeks, neck or chest, and you might notice red, uneven rashes in these areas. If the rash from drooling is around a baby's mouth, it is known as a drool rash. To treat drool rash, you must wash the affected area properly, pat it dry, and apply a lanolin-based cream. You can tie a bib around your baby’s neck to keep the drool from spreading on to the neck and chest area. You can even apply petroleum jelly on the affected area to keep it moisturised and to help it heal quickly. However, speak to your doctor before applying any creams or lotions on your baby’s skin.
When to Consult a Doctor
You should consult a doctor if your child drools even after he crosses the age of four. Uncontrollable drooling that is caused by medical conditions can be addressed by consultation a paediatrician. Talk to your baby's doctor - he might suggest therapy or medication. However, if the therapy or medication is unable to provide relief, you should consider a higher level of treatment.
Drooling is a natural way of helping the baby to moisten and soften solid foods and makes it easy to swallow the food. Although it fulfils many important functions for the baby, keep a close watch if drooling increases and shows no signs of abating after the age of four. Get medical attention to address the problem before it worsens.
Also Read: Oral Thrush in Babies Read more
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to give children when starting solids?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
5 hours ago
A. After completing the time of six months you should start with dal water and rice water followed by all kind of fruits and vegetables porridge khichadi mash banana mash potato mash sweet potato dairy products and varieties made made out of ragi Suji and oats can also be given to your child
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Toddlers and The Conversations in your Household
Just because toddlers speak less does not mean that they can't follow conversations. The truth is that most parents are not aware of what toddlers understand when adults talk. If they knew, they'd be a lot more cautious about what they say and how they say it!
Your toddler hovers around you throughout the day. It’s only natural that you talk about him to others when he’s close by. But though you may think he doesn’t follow your conversation, the truth is that your tot can actually understand quite a lot! It’s very important that you think before you speak when you’re around your child.
What You Need to Know About Toddler Psychology
From as early as 4months of age, a child can make out when he’s being spoken about as he can recognise his name in the conversations. By the time he turns 1, he can understand the inflections in the voice of his parents and associate them with feelings of anger, happiness or sorrow. According to these emotions, he’s able to judge if a parent is praising or admonishing him.
However, since a toddler's receptive language is limited, he doesn’t understand the meaning of many words. He ends up keeping them at the back of his mind. When he finds out the meaning of a word, he starts associating himself with that word. So, if you call your toddler a "bully" time and again, he could grow up to be one. Knowingly or unknowingly, your conversations can have a lasting impression on his psyche.
Tips for Parents for Talking around Toddlers
1. Involve Him in Conversations
You and your partner might think it unnecessary to involve your toddler in your conversation. This is fine as long as you’re talking about something mundane. However, speaking about your child as if he isn’t there in the room is not wise. Since even a 22-month-old toddler understands conversations, include yours in your daily chatter. Encourage him to tell his father what he did during the day. You can also let him know if you’re upset with something naughty he did.
2. Avoid Negative Feedback
It’s quite natural to scold your child about his unpleasant or negative traits. And, though it’s important to work on them and help him overcome them, you should know what to avoid saying when talking around kids. Repetition of the same conversation can get embedded in a toddler's mind and make him associate with it as he grows up. For instance, even if you feel that your child is very shy, avoid using the word in front of him to describe him. He could remember it and term himself as shy when he grows up.
3. Avoid Unpleasant Words and Phrases
Children have the habit of mimicking the words and phrases that their parents use. This mainly happens because toddlers’ expressive language is limited. If you don’t want your little one uttering certain things, don't say them in front of him. He can pick up a lot more than you think!
So, now you know – just teaching good things to toddlers is not enough. Talking good things around them is equally important. Read more
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Diaper Doldrums or Happy Nappy? What Will You Choose?
Giving birth to your young little bundle of joy - that tiny little human is an outcome of one wonderful journey, right? Been there, done that - now comes raising the young one! Among all of this, one thing that sticks to us all the way along is the question of whether we should choose diapers or cloth nappies.Diapers - do they hurt? No! Nowadays, there are so many good things about diapers that you definitely can't give them a miss. They're a boon while you travel with your little one. Pant-style patterns make them fit nice and snug and the easy-to-tear option is the icing on the cake during tough times. Now you all are smiling since you guessed it perfectly right - I'm talking about disposable diapers!The ease of using diapers especially with your toddlers is wonderful.With so many brands coming up in the market and everyone promising something new always, it definitely adds up to more confusion.
So How to Look for Diapers? Here are a few Tips
1. Based on priority
2. Word of Mouth
Yes, it helps! Experienced moms who have an older kid always help. And if that lady turns out to be your friend, voila! You are sorted! If you're in doubt, ask about the product to someone whom you know who's using it for her baby, who knows the pros and cons, etc.
3. Commercials
Yes, we see a number of ads on the television, in print, SMSs, etc. One can definitely go through what that product is promising us... but is that helpful? Will it be accepted by my baby?In such cases, always bring a smaller pack and try; if babies happily giggle around all day long what more can we ask for!
Features of Diapers You Should Look for
Those which fit near the thigh quite snugly and pant styles are the trending ones and they work really well.
A cottony layer gives a smooth feel to the tiny little bum cheeks which play, fall, sit and topple around the house!
An extra-absorbent type makes sleep hassle-free for both mother and baby.
Now did someone utter rashes? Yes, they might crop up until you take care of hygiene!Proper wiping and ample and liberal use of baby powder along with anti-rash creams have made diapers the winner in this race! Cloth nappies are definitely breathable but they can't be sustained for long periods. They need to be changed almost after every pee/poop session. There will be a risk of infections if nappies are not changed in due time. The sleep of the baby and mom will be affected because of constant wetting in infants. So all of you mommies out there, please give diapers a try. And watch your babies giggle coo and laugh their way to glory and enjoy!
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Dealing with an Unexpected Pregnancy Financially
Unexpected pregnancies can either be moments of joy or fear. If you’ve always wanted to have a baby (or not) but figured it would be somewhere in the future, discovering you’re pregnant can be jarring. Can you afford to raise a child? Are your finances enough? Find out how to create sound financial plans to cope with an unexpected pregnancy.
Dealing with an Unplanned Pregnancy Made Easier
1. Make extra money
Parenting isn’t cheap. In fact, infants and young children can be very expensive. Diapers, baby formula, clothes, shoes, bedding, food and everything cost money. What you need to do is to find ways to increase your income. Try your hand at freelancing. Set aside a few hours in the day to earn extra bucks. If you’re a writer by profession, writing articles on a freelance basis can help you out tremendously. Your hubby can share your load by doing a little overtime at work too.
2. Start an emergency fund
A back-up plan to help you cope with an unexpected pregnancy is something every couple should have. As soon as you’re ladled with the ‘surprise’, start putting aside money. Your husband you can make a weekly or monthly contribution to the fund. The two of you will need to resist the temptation to splurge on clothes and frequently eating out. Remember, there’ll soon be another tiny yet hungry mouth to feed!
3. Say bye to debt
If your husband is the only breadwinner, high debts can equal disaster. So what do you do if you have an unexpected pregnancy? Don’t get into toxic debts! Use the money you have to pay outstanding bills and people you’ve borrowed from. Debts with the highest interest need to be taken care of first before additional payments are made. Work your way through getting rid of all your big debts.
4. Budget, budget, budget
One of the best unexpected pregnancy advices would be to budget your money on a monthly basis. Divide your earnings into ‘essentials’ and ‘most essential’. If you happen to have extra money, save it. It’ll come in useful when hospital bills need to be paid and provisions for the baby need to be bought.
5. Look for ways to get things cheap or for free!
Your purchases for when the baby arrives can also be made on a budget. It would be wise on your part to shop during discount periods to avail super offers. You can also ask your friends and family for baby stuff if they decide to throw you a baby shower. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed. They’d much rather buy what’s needed and inadvertently, help you learn how to deal with an unexpected pregnancy.
Unexpected pregnancies and financial planning should go hand-in-hand to ensure there are no major hiccups along the way. Think with a clear head, be determined and it should be smoother sailing. Read more
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Understanding Using a Breast Pump
While I was pregnant, I was very sure about one thing that I had to breastfeed my baby. Breastmilk is very beneficial as it contains all the good elements necessary for baby growth. When I delivered my baby girl, I realized that my nipples were not big enough.
She was unable to latch as it is very small. I tried a nipple puller and so many other tricks, but nothing worked. I then started using a breast pump, and whether it was night or day, I pumped every 2 hours to feed my daughter. Breast pumps are advantageous.
In this way, I also get assured of the amount of milk my baby is getting. By using the breast pump, milk storage is also effortless, and anybody can feed their baby by using that stored milk. I am a working mom, and I have to ensure that my baby is getting my
breast milk. Every mother should use breast pumps to ease your mind and assure you that your baby is fed. I have both manual and electric pumps, but I like using the manual pump. However, while using pumps, I realized that our milk supply was not the same throughout the day. I realized that I pump more milk in the morning as compared to the evening.
I store the extra milk from the morning in the fridge and use it in the evening when my supply is low. In this way, I ensure that my baby is getting enough milk to satisfy her hunger. It would be best if you did not reheat breastmilk as it will kill its beneficial elements. You can warm the bottle in a container with boiling water and keep your milk bottle in that water till it gets to room temperature, or you can use a bottle warmer. Once your baby shifts to solid food and is still producing enough breastmilk, one should always donate it. In this way, you can help those babies who, for any reason, cannot get breastmilk.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. can I take zanocin 200 during breastfeeding
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
4 hours ago
A. I’m not aware about what medicine it is for I can only tell you that these basic medicines you can take throughout your lactation it’s not a problem the medicines that you could take before your pregnancy can always be taken during the time of lactation
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert mam iam 33 weeks now when can I expect delivery date
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
4 hours ago
A. The basic delivery date is normally 39 to 3 40 weeks of your pregnancy whenever you are ready for your delivery and whenever you hit your labour that’s going to be the right time for you further move your Dr is going to tell you when are you going to deliver with the help of an ultrasound
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. iam 33 weeks pregnant now
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
4 hours ago
A. What is your question associated with your pregnancy that you haven’t mentioned clearly can you please repost your question providing all the necessary details so at least I know and understand what are you willing to ask and accordingly I can give you help and assistance on that
Jennifer has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 3 months
3 hours ago
Q. I am 23 weeks 1 day pregnant. I was feeling the movements actively until today. Baby movements were not that good or maybe I didn’t feel it that way today. Is it a cause of concern? Should I wait for a day or two or should I go and see my gynaecologist?
Please suggest!
Read moreJennifer
Mom of 6 children
2 hours ago
A. please consult ur gynae asap.
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. she doing from yesterday at night time only once and she having breast milk as well as formula feed nan pro 1 ,I have concern about like this potty yellow and grey ,I want to know it's normal ???
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
39 mins ago
A. Loose motion are most of the time infective where it is associated with fever and vomiting and its known as gastroenteritis where symptbomatic treatment along wjith management for dehydration is required if loose motions are associated with foul smell mucous high grade fever than it could be bacterial infection which needs antibiotics treatment
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