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7 Quick and Nutritious Recipes You Can Make With Breast Milk
For the first six months of a baby’s life, breast milk provides her with all the nutrients and antibodies she needs for growth and development. So, if you’re producing milk after weaning or have breast milk frozen in packets, you shouldn’t let it go waste. After all, it is considered liquid gold!
Baby Recipes That Can Be Made From Breast Milk
You can use breast milk or formula to make delicious and nutritious recipes even after you’ve weaned your baby off the breast. The following recipes combine breast milk with fruits and veggies that are great first foods for babies.
1. Breast Milk Butter
Don’t be surprised! You can indeed make butter from breast milk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3dzhjiwCog
Ingredients:
Breast milk – 1/2 cup
Clean jar (with a lid)
Recommended Age: 6+ months
Method:
Add it to a freshly cleaned jar.
Put the lid on and shake well for 5-8https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/your-6-months-old-baby-growth-and-development/ minutes till you get butter.
Drain off the remaining liquid and serve.
2. Pureed Sweet Potato With Breast Milk
Sweet potatoes are one of the best first foods for babies. You can thin the puree with breast milk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOM-am-hFd0
Ingredients:
Sweet potatoes – 1 or 2
Breast milk – 1/2 cup
Recommended Age: 6+ months
Method:
Wash the sweet potatoes and peel them. Cut into small pieces.
Boil water in a saucepan. Add the diced sweet potatoes and cook for 15 minutes till they become tender.
You can mash with a fork or use a mixer to blend to a fine paste.
Add the breast milk to the puree.
Serve.
3. Breast Milk Banana Ice Cream
This recipe has the wholesomeness of breast milk and also doesn’t contain preservatives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMoJhJYvmYQ
Ingredients:
Breast milk – 1/2 cup
Banana – 1/2, sliced
Recommended Age: 6+ months
Method:
Refrigerate the banana slices for at least two hours.
Add the slices and breast milk to a mixer and blend to a fine paste. You can also just mash it with a fork instead of blending it.
Serve immediately.
4. Breast Milk Oats Porridge
If you wish to wait to introduce your little one to cow’s milk, breast milk can be used to make delicious porridge for breakfast!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8fHafdLC7s
Ingredients:
Breast milk – 1/2 cup
Rolled oats – 3 tablespoons
Apple puree
Recommended Age: 6+ months
Method:
Add the rolled oats to a mixer and blend to a fine powder consistency. You can use this immediately or store in an airtight container.
Use 1 portion of oats and 2 portions of breast milk to make the porridge.
Add these to a saucepan and keep stirring for 3-4 minutes.
You can add the apple puree while the porridge is getting cooked.
Serve hot or cool, depending on how your baby likes it.
5. Breast Milk Banana Puree
This puree is so yummy that your baby will drink it all up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_7WsJZN8DM
Ingredients:
Breast milk – 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder (optional)
Banana – 1, sliced
Recommended Age: 6+ months
Method:
Slice the banana and mash it with a fork.
Add breast milk to thin the consistency.
Add cardamom powder if you want.
Mix well and serve.
6. Beetroot and Breast Milk Puree
Beetroot is also one of the best first foods you can feed your little one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zkEUOex-xA&t=29s
Ingredients:
Breast milk – 1/2 cup
Beetroot – 1 cup, peeled and sliced
Recommended Age: 8+ months
Method:
Cook the beetroot until it turns soft.
Add the pieces to a mixer and blend till smooth.
Add the breastmilk for a thinner consistency.
Serve.
7. Breast Milk Teething Popsicle
This teething popsicle will help give your baby something nutritious to chew on when her teeth start to erupt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVYSrp5nAWU
Ingredients:
Pacifier – 1
Bottle cap/ mould – 1
Breast milk – 1/2 cup
Recommended Age: 6+ months
Method:
Pour the breast milk into the bottle cap/ mould.
Stick the pacifier into the mould.
Freeze for at least two hours.
Your baby can suck on this teething popsicle.
Tips for Cooking With Breast Milk
Here are some tips you should keep in mind while using breast milk in the above recipes.
1. Breast milk lasts for upto 4 hours at room temperature, 4 days in the fridge, and 6 months in the freezer before it goes bad.
2. You can thaw frozen breast milk by placing it in a bowl of warm water.
3. Thawed breast milk should not be re-frozen.
4. Don’t heat breast milk by placing it on the stove or in the microwave.
5. Ensure that the vessels used to prepare baby food are sterilised before use.
Once your baby is 6 months old, start with one and introduce new foods gradually, after noting whether she develops a food allergy. If this is the case, that particular fruit or vegetable should not be fed any further, without consulting a paediatrician.
Also Read:
When Can Babies Start Drinking Cow's Milk?
Almond Milk for Babies: Is It safe?
Is Raw Milk Safe for Babies? Read more
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8 Interesting (and Weird!) Christmas Traditions Followed Around the World
When we think of Christmas, the image that comes to mind is probably right out of a Hollywood movie - there’s the grandly decked-up tree, the snow-blanketed roads, red and green colours adorning everything in sight, presents, winter-wear, and most of all, happy faces! Watching enough of Hollywood (and regional movies shot in Western countries) can lead you to picture a white and snowy Christmas, but we all know that it’s a far cry from the different ways we celebrate the festival here, in India. And that goes for a lot of countries around the world as well, where the traditions will make you wonder if we’re talking about Christmas at all! Here are some unique Christmas traditions around the world.
8 Unique Christmas Traditions From Around the World
Some seemingly normal, some downright strange, and some with no sign of anything remotely “Christmas” - check out these unique, and some weird, Christmas traditions.
1. Great Britain - A Kiss Under the Mistletoe
Hanging mistletoe indoors and stealing a kiss under the bough was a tradition practised by British servants, way back in the 18th century. It was considered to be bad luck if a kiss was refused under the mistletoe. The tradition has stuck around ever since and has made its way into popular culture as well.
2. Japan - A Fried Chicken Meal
Christmas in Japan means bucket-loads of KFC meals - which is weird, considering how chicken has almost nothing to do with the festival. But what this does mean for KFC in Japan is plenty of business - people book their buckets months in advance so that they don’t miss out last minute!
3. Sweden - Goat Burning
No, people don’t troop around and set fire to herds of goats, but the actual custom isn’t far from strange either. The Gavle Goat is erected every year in central Gavle in Sweden,at the beginning of Advent. A wooden skeleton is covered entirely by straw and the shape is that of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat. The practice that has now become commonplace is that arson attacks are carried out to burn the goat down! The goat was first erected in 1966, and since then, has been burned down or damaged at least 37 times. There’s nothing legal about this either, as suspects have been arrested and punished with huge fines. So, no, it’s not like the accepted custom of burning a huge effigy of Raavan during Dusshera!
4. Ukraine - The Christmas Spider
Quite a strange Christmas tradition, an Eastern European folktale is the reason why ornaments shaped like spider-webs are now placed on Christmas trees primarily in Ukraine. According to legend, a poor widow and her children cared for a pine tree that grew in their garden, all year long, in the hope that they’d have a Christmas tree when the festival rolled around. However, they all went to bed sad on Christmas Eve when they realised they couldn’t afford to decorate it. The next morning, though, the tree was covered in cobwebs; when the first rays of sunlight touched these cobwebs, they turned into gold and silver. Legend has it that the family never experienced poverty after that Christmas. Who knew a dreaded creepy-crawly could bring people such joy!
5. Yugoslavia - Demanding Gifts as Ransom
A Serbian tradition you may not want your child to know of, gifts are given in exchange for getting untied! That’s right - on the three Sundays leading up to Christmas Day, members of the family take turns to gift each other. Kids give gifts on the first holiday which is called Djetinjci, married women do so on Materice, the second holiday, and married men, on Oci, the third holiday. The tradition basically involves kids tying up the legs of the parents, then dancing around them chanting and asking what they would give to be untied. The parents pretend to be surprised then give gifts to be freed. On Djetinjci, kids are tied up by adults and they give gifts that have been pre-arranged. Materice is celebrated with much joy out of all three for some reason; kids sure seem to get a kick out of binding their mothers’ legs with a belt or rope or scarf, then demanding gifts to let them go free!
6. Norway - Hiding Brooms from the ‘Witch’
One of the Christmas traditions here involve hiding broomsticks inside the house so that wicked witches won’t steal them for a midnight ride!
7. Czech Republic - Santa Claus isn’t the Gift-giver
Kids don’t look forward to Santa’s visits here; instead, they eagerly await the presents brought to them by Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve and St. Mikulas at the beginning of December. Parents ring a bell in the room where the tree is kept, indicating that Baby Jesus has dropped off the presents and that the kids can enter the room. St. Mikulas doesn’t dress up in the traditional red Santa suit, but rather in white clothing, much like a Bishop. Oh well, as long as they get the gifts right, we wouldn’t mind a special appearance by someone other than Santa either!
8. Venezuela - Roller Skating to Mass
Usually between the 16th and 24th of December every year, roads in Venezuela are closed to vehicles and are host to a flurry of people rollerskating their way to Christmas mass! In fact, some kids go to sleep after tying a piece of thread on their big toe and dangling their foot outside their window; passersby rollerskating the next day pull on these strings to wake the kids up, so that they can witness the spectacle! Now that’s a fun (and eco-friendly) start to the occasion, don’t you think?
9. Germany- German Pickle
This is probably one of the weirder International Christmas traditions. In Germany, a pickle is usually hidden somewhere on the tree, once the tree has been completely decorated. On Christmas morning, the kids search for the pickle, and the one who finds it first gets a special gift. The adult who spots it first is said to have good luck.
10. Iceland- Icelandic Yule Cat
Looking for a reason to go shopping? Wait for it. In Iceland, all those who finished all their Christmas cleaning and decorating chores on time would receive new clothes to wear on Christmas, while the lazy ones would not. It is believed that the yule cat roams the countryside on Christmas eve and eats those who have not received new clothes.
Did you enjoy reading about these Christmas celebrations around the world? In India, given that the population of Christians is comparatively low, the festival is celebrated on a smaller scale. Don’t be fooled by the word ‘small’ though; banana or mango trees are decorated, snacks and goodies are prepared aplenty, families attend midnight mass (especially Catholics), and you cannot miss the classic star lanterns anywhere. Santa Claus is welcomed warmly in households when he comes with carolers, distributing sweets and toys. That’s right, Indians also celebrate Christmas with much fun and love - it’s just spiders and goats and tying up people that they give a hard pass!
Also Read:
How to Celebrate Christmas with Your Kids
Simple Ideas for Decorating Your Home for Christmas
Unique Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas
Amazing Christmas Gift Ideas for Everyone in 2018 Read more
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Helping Your Preschooler Improve His Balance
In the quest to help with their child's physical development, parents often forego the need to teach them to attain perfect body balance. However, it's very important to help a child learn this well before he starts school. Find out how you can assist in the balance development of children.
You put in a lot of effort to encourage your child's development. However, you may not give much thought to helping him hone his balance. Though it's true that he'll gradually learn to balance himself, a little assistance can help him learn quicker.
How to Make Preschoolers Practice Balance with Games and Exercise
1. Alternating Steps
Get a foot stool that's the height of your child's knee. Ask him to place one foot on the floor and the other on the stool. Encourage him to alternate between steps every few seconds. You can engage him by singing songs or telling stories! This is a great exercise for teaching balance to kids.
2. Balancing on Shoes
Sit down on a chair and ask your child to raise his arms sideways. Tell him to step on the toes of your shoes and try to balance himself as long as he can without any support. Other than being one of the best exercises to improve balance in children, this is also a fun game that your preschooler will enjoy.
3. Balancing Like a Stork
Stand straight and ask your child to follow suit. Raise your right leg and have him do the same. The thigh of the right leg should be parallel to the floor. Next, place the heel of the right leg on the left knee. Hold the posture, and repeat with the left leg. This balancing game for preschoolers quite challenging.
4. Doing It with Balance Beams
Take a cue from gymnasts and teach your child to hone his balance with the help of balance beam activities for preschoolers. Have him stand on a flat wooden beam and ask him to place his left foot a few inches in front of his right foot. Ask him to bend his left leg such that his left thigh is parallel to the ground. Encourage him to hold this position as long as he can. Then, let him repeat the exercise with the other leg. Once he gets used to it, increase the complexity by raising the beam a foot off the ground.
5. Balancing with Balls
This is another excellent balance and coordination exercise for kids. You'll need a big ball to start. Ask your child to stand with the ball at his feet. Using alternate hand movements, tell him to roll the ball as far as he can from his feet and bring it back to position. He should not lose his balance in the process.
When to Expect a Child to Balance
Balance starts developing from as early as 2 months. It begins when a child learns to hold up his head. With every passing day, his sense of balance improves. However, with movement and balance activities, you can ensure your child coordinates his body better. Read more
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The Complete Baby Bouncer Buying Guide
Overview
Nothing beats holding your baby in your arms. But as a new mother, you need some 'me'-time to get back to your prime physical and emotional state. A baby bouncer is the perfect answer to the times when you want to have your hands for yourself � to put up your feet and catch up on your reading, or to whip up a nutritious meal for yourself and your family, or to attack those pending emails and tasks from work. Baby bouncers are comfy and entertaining accessories for your baby and you. They ease the stress of early motherhood by being the 'mother's arms' for her child when she needs her arms for herself.
What is a Baby Bouncer?
A Baby bouncer, in simple words, is a soft, comfortable bassinet fixed over a metal frame, which bounces with the movement of your baby.
Baby Bouncer - A safe, comfort zone for your bundle of joy
Baby bouncers are useful baby products for babies in their early stages of development, providing them with a safe and secure environment in both your presence and absence. It is a place where babies find comfort in the padded seat with a sturdy frame, allowing them to recline at ease in a comfortable position. The design of a baby bouncer comfortably provides full support to the baby's entire body. When the baby kicks, the seat responds with a springy up-and-down motion. This not only satisfies the baby's desire for movement, but also helps the baby develop the muscles necessary for crawling.
Some baby bouncers come with added features that help in soothing and entertaining your baby. The battery-operated music boxes play happy or peaceful tunes to calm your baby into a restful state. The vibration feature helps relax your baby when in a fussy mood. You can even hang soft toys within your baby's arm's reach. Some bouncers have dancing lights that flash according to your baby's movements in the bouncer.
When to Start and Stop Using a Baby Bouncer?
Baby bouncers indeed make your life a lot easier by holding and entertaining the apple of your eye while you complete your daily chores. However, over-use of any gadget can spell harm to the baby, and you certainly do not want that to happen. There are various factors you need to consider to determine whether it is ok to use a bouncer for your baby or not.
Weight
Every baby bouncer comes with a manufacturer's guidelines specifying the exact weight capacity of the bouncer. Most manufacturers specify an upper weight limit of 9 to 11 kg. (A heavier child may tip off the seat.) Some seats do accommodate toddlers and bigger kids, with weight limits ranging from 5 to 8 kg. One must refer to these specifications at the time of purchase.
Age
The ideal age of using a baby bouncer, specified on the bouncer seat guide, ranges from 0 � 7 months. However, the use of the baby bouncer is subject to change depending on factors other than age, i.e. baby's weight and development.
Growth and Development
Every baby reaches developmental milestones at different ages - some might learn to sit up unassisted by the age of 5 months while others might accomplish the same at 7 months of age. Look out for signs of development in your baby. If you baby is attempting to climb out of the seat, or has learned to sit up unassisted, it is time to stop using the bouncer seat, irrespective of your child's chronological age.
With Preemies
Premature babies require greater neck, back and tummy support than normal babies. Also, being smaller in size than normal newborns, preemies will not be the right fit for a bouncer. Therefore, it is best to avoid using bouncers for premature babies. If you feel that your baby is healthy enough to enjoy a bouncer, please consult your paediatrician before starting to use the bouncer for your baby.
Don't Make it a Habit
It becomes very tempting for mothers to keep their babies in the bouncer for longer periods of time as they get to use both hands and get a lot of work done then. However, letting your baby spend too much time in the bouncer might not be a great idea. Babies remain in a reclined position in a bouncer at all times, and this prevents them from indulging in other playful activities necessary for their growth and development.
Reclining Seat
You should place your newborn in the bouncer only when it is in a full reclining position. This is the safest position for your baby. A semi-reclined position might press on the chest and block your baby's airflow.
Features and Characteristics of a Baby Bouncer
Features of a Baby Bouncer
Baby Bouncer
Having a detailed knowledge of the major features of a baby bouncer will help you make an informed buying decision. With that aim in mind, we have listed below some of the important features provided by the various baby bouncer manufacturers.
Frame
A basic bouncer seat consists of a lightweight frame made of metal wire, tubular metal or heavy-gauge plastic. Covered with a soft, removable, washable pad that conforms to a baby's shape, bouncer seats are springy and bounce or rock when your baby moves. The frame also adds to the sturdiness of the bouncer.
Safety Harness
The second most important feature in a baby bouncer is the safety harness. Bouncers come with three-point or five-point harnesses. Most baby bouncers have a soft three-point safety belt that goes around babies' waist and in-between their legs. This keeps them from falling or slipping out of the seat.
Reclining Seat
Bouncers offer you three different reclining positions to choose from. You can quickly transit your baby's playtime to sleeping time by changing the bouncer's reclining position - all you have to do is adjust the bouncer's upright position to a reclined one. However, be sure to transfer your baby to a crib or bassinet after the baby falls asleep.
Head and Neck Support
Head and neck support is of utmost importance for newborns. Until the age or 3-4 months, babies cannot hold their heads up. Their skull bones are soft and fragile. A head rest attached to the bouncer seat supports baby's delicate head and neck. It also helps to avoid any head injuries by cushioning the hard frame of the bouncer.
Padded Seat
Seat padding can vary from basic to extra thick to comfortably thin. A nicely padded baby bouncer will be very comfortable for your little one.
Removable and Washable Seat Cover
Many types of baby bouncers come with removable seat covers suitable for machine washing. This is an important feature, as the bouncer is guaranteed to get dirty. Easy to wash feature maintains the cleanliness of your baby bouncer.
Toy Bar
Simply lying down in a bouncer will bore any baby. Most bouncers come with an attachable toy bar. When attached within reach of your baby's arms, it will entertain your baby and provide sensory stimulation. Toy bars allow you to add toys like soft plush animals, teethers and squeaking toys, and only begin to amuse babies once they have crossed the age of 4 months.
Canopy
Sometimes, when you take your baby outdoors to the park, etc., the rays of the sun could prove to be hazardous to the baby's skin and delicate eyes. Canopies provide the necessary shade to babies while they are still comfortably seated in their bouncers.
Music and Vibration Unit
Most bouncers come with an inbuilt music, vibration unit, which when turned on adds gentle vibrations to the bouncer seat, helping to pacify and relax the baby. The bouncer plays happy or peaceful sounds to lull your child into a restful state.
Characteristics of a Baby Bouncer
Bounciness
Bouncers, well, have to bounce, don't they? The bouncing movement can be provided in two different ways – naturally or through a battery operated mechanism. Natural bouncing helps strengthen the motor skills of babies. Their movement bounces the chair, causing them to have lots of fun. However, if your baby is extremely active and loves extra fun, you can choose the battery-operated alternative that will increase the fun quotient. For younger babies, gently help them bounce using your hand and feet.
Fabric
The fabric used on the bouncer seat comes in direct contact with your baby’s delicate skin, and needs to be soft, non-slippery, smooth and comfortable. It also needs to be free from health-hazardous substances and allergens. The most preferred material would be soft cotton. Such a fabric is gentle on the skin and safe to chew or suck on, making it a perfect material for little babies to relax and play in.
Body Support
The bouncers are designed to provide comfort to your baby, by ensuring proper head and back support. Headrests prevent your baby's head from flopping around when trying to wriggle.The fitted, padded fabric of the seat moulds itself to your baby's weight and size, ensuring that your baby is comfortable and protected.
Grippers
Grippers provide a firm grip on the surface and keep the bouncer stable when vibrating mode is on.
Portability
Bouncers are compact and easy to carry along with your luggage. Their size and simple design make them ideal for storage and transport. If you are going to be waiting at the airport or relaxing on a vacation, your baby can enjoy too, on the bouncer.
Multi-Utility
An advantage of bouncers is that they can be used as bouncers as well as chairs. Once your baby has outgrown the bouncer's age or weight limits and can sit upright unattended, you can turn the fabric around and use the bouncer as a chair.
Comfort
A soft, comfortable fabric used in a bouncer provides maximum comfort to babies. They experience the freedom to bounce, swing and enjoy the world outside your arms while still being ensconced in the soft luxury of the fabric. Leading baby bouncer manufacturers ensure that the fabric is eco-friendly and made of non-hazardous material, so it is even ok if your baby ends up inadvertently teething it.
MP3 Player/iPhone/iPod Hook Up
MP3 player/iPhone/iPod hook up are of great help to listen to soothing music, sounds of your baby's choice while you take a relaxing shower.
Compact Fold
It should be easy to pack up and store when not required.
Motion, Speed, Sound and Light Control Unit
The bouncer which allows swing motion offers a control panel which allows motion, speed, sound and light settings in accordance to your baby's preference.
Trendy
Baby bouncer seats come in a variety of sizes, colours, themes, etc. Some even offer changeable seat covers and matching toy bars. These little angels are probably going to be tomorrow's fashionistas, so why fence away from trends and colours? Let them be today's trendsetter too.
As the competition in the market is increasing, manufacturers are coming up with new never-thought-before features for their bouncers, trying to make their product stand out from the rest.
Pros and Cons of a Baby Bouncer
Baby bouncers are fast becoming one of the staples in the baby development arsenal of new parents. Here are the pros & cons of a baby bouncer to help you choose the right one for your bundle of joy.
Pros
Cons
Vibration unit: Many bouncers come with an inbuilt vibration mechanism with adjustable speed. The calming vibrations can effectively soothe crying and fussy babies and lull them to sleep.
Weight restrictions: Baby bouncers can be used only for a very specific weight range (up to 12kgs).They cannot be used for premature babies, who are below the weight limit. It can prove hazardous to them.
Music box: Baby bouncers come with additional features like a built-in music box or soft plush animals hanging from a play bar that babies can easily grab and play with. These keep the babies engaged in other developmental activities, when in bouncers.
Age restrictions: Bouncers can be used only till the baby is about 6 to 7 months old.
Portable: Unlike cribs and elaborate swings, most baby bouncers are portable. They allow new parents to get out of their homes and spend time outdoors without worrying about engaging their babies.
Preference over cribs or beds to sleep in: Babies tend to stay in their bouncers for as long as possible and even like to sleep in them. This can be a hindrance for crib training. You can resolve this by restricting your baby's bouncer time and encouraging intermittent usage of the crib.
Fabric: All recognized brands of baby bouncers undergo a quality check by JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) and adhere to the usage of skin friendly fabrics and materials. This ensures that a baby doesn't get a rash or skin problem by staying in the bouncer for a long time.
Wide base placement hazard: A baby bouncer is considered to have a good design and balance if it has a wide enough base to absorb jerky motion. However, this wide base can become a placement hazard, so be careful about placing the baby bouncer around the house.
Ergonomic design: Baby bouncers are designed to better suit the delicate, growing spines of babies. So your baby can lie in the bouncer comfortably, without experiencing any discomfort or ill effects at a later stage.
Reference:- 1-http://jpma.org/
What to Look for in a Baby Bouncer?
There are many variants of baby bouncers available in the market for varied price ranges. Even the most basic ones are approved by JPMA or similar governing authorities before being sold for retail. The more advanced ones are designed with paediatric help and undergo numerous quality checks to ensure the development of best possible products. You must, therefore, clearly know what to look for in a baby bouncer and how to look for it.
So here is mentioning those critical features you should keep an eye out for:
Safety Features
Baby bouncers come with safety belts (and water hooks if you intend to use them in a paddling pool) to ensure that the baby isn't hurt due to any erratic movement. Parents must check the tensile strength and ruggedness of the safety features at the time of buying a baby bouncer.
Weight Capacity
Since the calming mechanism of a baby bouncer involves bouncing and vibrating, most baby bouncers come with a weight restriction. If the baby is below the specified weight limit, the vibrations can be uncomfortable or topple the baby. If the baby is above the specified weight limit, then the baby bouncer may not work properly. Thus, parents must check the weight restriction for a baby bouncer, determine the usage term of the bouncer and then decide how much to invest in it accordingly.
Body and Base Design
The body of a bouncer must be pliant and designed in such a way that the delicate frame and developing spinal cord of the baby is sufficiently supported. A wide base is also essential to ensure that the contraption remains balanced while the baby is in it. Thus, parents must check for these features while selecting a baby bouncer.
Quality Textile and Materials
As a baby spends a good amount of time in the baby bouncer, it is quite important to have a bouncer with good quality textile and materials, which are baby skin-friendly. Many baby bouncers even ensure that the surface material is chewable and doesn't cause any rash or skin problem for babies. A bouncer can get messy in no time, and the fabric must therefore be easy to clean. Check to see if the seat cover can be removed easily for cleaning, and whether or not it is machine washable.
Portability
Little babies get used to a particular routine, schedule and space much more quickly than you think they do. If they do fall in love with the comfort of their new bouncer, they will probably want to be in it all the time. Thus, it should be lightweight and easy to move around with. Check to see if the bouncer can be folded or easily taken apart for storage or travel. If you are planning a family, you might want to dismantle and store it away until your next sweetheart arrives into this world.
Interactive Features
Baby bouncers come with additional interactive features such as felt toys and music boxes, which can keep a baby engaged on a bouncer for long intervals of time. Parents must consider these carefully before selecting a baby bouncer.
Price
Lastly, a baby can only use the bouncer in the initial developmental months. Parents must keep this in mind, consider the competitive prices offered in the market and select a baby bouncer that doesn't burn a hole in their pocket yet serves their purpose sufficiently.
Types of Baby Bouncers
Bouncers can fulfil your newborn baby’s need for constant movement. Their gentle motion calms babies and lulls them to sleep, making your life easier.
While there are a number of brands available in the market, they can all be categorized into three broad categories:
1. Simple Baby Bouncers
Simple baby bouncers have a simple design that helps babies have fun while also letting them get some physical action by moving their arms and legs.
2. Battery-operated or Vibrating Baby Bouncers
In contrast to simple baby bouncers that have only a limited range of movement, battery-operated bouncers offer a lot more options. These are quite similar to the simple, non-powered bouncers, with the difference that they produce a vibrating motion with a battery-operated motor. These are an excellent choice if your baby enjoys constant motion.
3. Combination Baby Bouncers
Combination bouncers, as the name suggests, are bouncers combined with another baby device.
There are two types of combination bouncers:
Bouncer Rockers
Bouncer rockers are a combination of bouncers and rockers. These bouncers can be easily converted into rockers, by providing a variation in the type of movement offered to the baby. Basically, the movement pattern of a bouncer is low in intensity - perfect for infants. But as infants grow, they require a more intense movement and therein comes the need for a rocker. Bouncer rockers can thus be used right from the early days of your baby’s life until toddler-hood.
Bouncer Swings
Bouncer swings are a combination of bouncers and swings. Such bouncers have a detachable bouncer seat. So when children learn to sit by themselves, the bouncer seat can be placed into a swing frame, thereby converting it into a swing.
Dos and Don'ts
Baby bouncers are a must buy for all parents. However, it is important for you to consider its usability, comfort and convenience, and the cost associated with it, before making an informed buying decision.
While Buying a Bouncer
Dos
Think well about how you would be using the bouncer before deciding on which type of bouncer to buy. If you want to be completely hands-free while still keeping your baby engaged, then go for a battery-operated model.
Study brand reviews and look at the major features of all the models. Most big brands offer plenty of attractive features like, a toy tray along with toys in multiple colours, selection of fabric for bouncer seat, durability, etc.
Make sure that the bouncer you are planning to buy has passed the safety standards of organizations like JPMA.
Look out for sharp edges, frayed ends or loose fittings.
Buy combination bouncers according to your baby's preference. If your baby does not like to swing, go for a bouncer rocker instead.
If buying offline, take your baby along and try a bouncer model by placing the baby in it. If buying online, be sure to buy from trusted websites that are capable of providing you with all the necessary information and are also capable of recommending a good model suited to your needs.
Don'ts
Don't buy a bouncer model if your baby is already over or nearing the upper weight limit specified for the model. Before buying one, check that the age and weight limits specified are appropriate for your needs for your child.
Don't buy bouncers without asking for a demonstration. Check out the music volume levels and ensure that it isn't too loud or brash, as it could end up irritating babies instead of soothing them. Similarly, check for other functions like speed, different motions, etc.
While Using a Bouncer
Dos
Use baby bouncers only up to six or seven months or until your baby begins to sit independently.
Make sure that the fittings have been made properly and that there are no sharp edges left unnoticed while assembling the baby bouncer.
Make sure the fabric is dry and clean.
Wrap your baby properly and make sure that your baby is not placed inside the bouncer without a diaper.
Make sure to always keep the bouncer within your reach.
When placing the baby bouncer on the floor, make sure that it is kept away from hazardous things like cables, cords, heaters, sharp things, etc. Place your baby in the bouncer only after you are sure that you have completely understood and followed the manufacturer's instructions.
Don'ts
Don't use bouncers for babies weighing above 11 kg or above the specified weight limit of a bouncer.
Don't place the baby bouncer with your baby inside, on an elevated surface like tabletop or soft surfaces like bed, sofa or couch. The bouncing movement could slide the bouncer to the edge and lead to a fall.
While shifting bouncer chairs along with baby from one place to another, don't carry it by frame or the toy bar. These features are almost brittle and aren't supposed to be used as handles.
Avoid leaving your baby in the bouncer for long periods of time and give the baby some floor time, in your supervision. Experts recommend mandatory time for natural movements such as crawling, tummy time, etc. for the growth of your baby's limbs and other organs.
FAQs
1. My Child Sleeps Better in The Bouncer Than on The Bed. Is it Safe to Let Her Sleep in The Bouncer?
Most baby bouncers are designed to provide babies with a soothing and comforting ambiance. The bouncing motions and vibrations, along with soft music, are most conducive to a happy baby sleep. However, bouncers are not designed for a long period usage. Hence, it is not recommended to let your baby sleep in the bouncer. What you can do, is transfer the baby to a bed or crib once she sleeps.
2. I am Worried If There Will Be Any Issues Related to Spinal Alignment if My Baby Sits in a Baby Bouncer.
There has been no strong proof of spinal alignment associated with baby bouncer usage. However, letting your baby remain in bouncers for long periods can hamper the spine development13. Hence, use the bouncer only for short periods of time, under your supervision, and your baby should be just fine.
3. Can I Use Bouncers for Both My Kids?
Most bouncers can only be used for kids who cannot yet sit independently, so you might want to check the bouncer's weight limit before letting both your kids use them. In any case, a bouncer can, and should, hold only one kid at a time. However, using a bouncer for one child in combination with a baby carrier or stroller for another can help you easily manage both your kids simultaneously, without getting too harrowed.
4. Is It Ok If I Use The Bouncer for My Two Months Old Baby?
Bouncer can be used for baby right from birth. However, if your child is a preemie, you might want to consult your paediatrician before determining whether the bouncer is suitable for your baby.
5. My Baby is So Attached to her Bouncer That She is Reluctant to Play on The Floor. What Do I Do?
Bouncer or not, floor time is highly important for babies. Most bouncers are compact, foldable and lightweight. So try distracting the baby with a toy or book while putting away the bouncer for some time to give the baby adequate floor time. You can always set up the bouncer back quickly when you need to attend to something else and require the baby to be safe while you are distracted.
6. My Daughter is Colicky. Can a Bouncer Help Her Feel More Comfortable?
The vibrations/ movements of a bouncer are a godsend for colicky babies. Placing them on a bouncer works more effectively than comforting them by holding them in the arms or putting them down on their tummy.
7. Is It Safe to Feed My Four-month-old on a Bouncer?
Bouncer seats are not designed for feeding. Babies can choke or get injured by the feeding utensil. This is unavoidable on any moving baby seat, including swings. You are supposed to hold baby when feeding using a bottle, and for solids, you are supposed to use high chairs or convertible baby boosters/feeding chairs to prevent injury to your baby.
Reference:-
12-//www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile107.stm
13-http://blog.intellidance.ca/blog/2-15-2011/c-s-how-nurture-your-babys-spine-development
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