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Sleeping While Breastfeeding a Baby – Is It Safe?
Once you give birth to a baby, you hardly get any time for yourself and will be absorbed in the process of taking caring of your baby. This translates to very little rest and exhaustion almost everyday. Hence, many mothers tend to fall asleep when they sit or lie down while nursing their babies. This, however, can be extremely dangerous for the little ones. It is advised that you take the necessary precautions to ensure that you do not fall asleep while breastfeeding your baby.
Is It Natural for a Mom to Fall Asleep While Breastfeeding a Newborn?
It is a known fact that new moms rarely get a good night’s sleep. However, it’s not just the lack of sleep and fatigue that makes a mother sleepy while nursing her baby. When you breastfeed your baby, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin. This hormone triggers positive emotions in you and strengthens the bond between you and your baby. Oxytocin is also known to relax and make one feel calm.
In addition to this, your body also releases the hormone prolactin when you breastfeed. This hormone makes you feel relaxed and soothes you enough to make you feel sleepy. With both these hormones in abundance, you are more likely to fall asleep while breastfeeding.
Is It Safe to Fall Asleep While Breastfeeding?
No, it is not safe to fall asleep while breastfeeding. Although your body may work against you and try to put you to sleep while you nurse your baby, you need to stay vigilant and not give in. You will lose your hold on the baby if you fall asleep while breastfeeding. You may also end up smothering and suffocating your baby, especially if you are co-sleeping.
Things to Keep in Mind When You Are About to Breastfeed
Follow the steps mentioned below before you begin to breastfeed your baby to lower the possibility of any threat to the baby.
1. Prop up
In order to minimise the risks of falling asleep while breastfeeding, you can prepare ahead by propping up against something comfortable. You could lean against a large pillow (something comfortable but not too cosy!) or a comfortable large sofa. Position yourself in a way that will be safe for your baby even if you accidentally happen to shut your eyes. In case you are sitting on a sofa, stay away from the edges to prevent any instances of you or the baby slipping off.
2. Set an Alarm
While you might wake your baby up with this method, you could set an alarm or a timer to wake yourself up if you have the habit of falling asleep while breastfeeding. You can try and keep the volume of the alarm low or keep it on vibration mode so that your baby isn’t disturbed. It is also important to keep in mind that using a phone near a baby isn’t recommended, so this trick should be your last resort.
3. Take Help From Your Partner
You can ask your partner to check on you at a particular time to ensure that you haven’t fallen asleep. You won’t have to worry about drifting off to sleep if you know that your partner or a family member will wake you up.
4. Clear Out the Surroundings
It is important that you clear away any items that could be a potential threat to your baby. Ensure that there are no sharp objects or hot beverages lying within an arm’s distance from you. This is to ensure that no accidental spills happen if you do move around a little while breastfeeding.
How to Stop Yourself From Falling Asleep While Breastfeeding
Sleep deprivation is a real problem when you have a little one to take care of. But to prevent any dangers that may crop up, you can do a couple of things to avoid falling asleep while breastfeeding.
Rest well. Although this is easier said than done, you will want to work on this for your own good. Take naps in your spare time.You’ll need to get enough sleep to stay awakewhile breastfeeding.
Sit up straight. Sit on a comfortable chair without using extremely soft cushions or pillows, in order to stay awake. Cosy sofas and chairs can make you feel sleepy and you may drift off to sleep within no time. However, as discussed earlier, make sure you are well propped up and supported.
Eat healthy foods. There are many healthy foods that breastfeeding moms should consume. Eating right while you’re breastfeeding can boost your energy levels and can help you function better for longer time periods. Consume foods that are rich in protein and healthy carbs like peanut butter, nuts, and yoghurt. These can also fulfil your calorie requirements to maintain your milk supply. However, remember that while drinks laden with sugar can give you an energy boost, they can also drain you out faster, which can be counterproductive to your purpose. Avoid caffeinated drinks as they can be passed on to your baby through your milk.
Keep your mind engaged. You can read a book or simply strike up a conversation with your partner while breastfeeding to stay awake. However, if it’s your baby’s nap time, then it is best to rely on books as speaking to your partner or anyone can disturb the baby.
Taking care of a newborn is not easy and no doubt, you will be feeling exhausted most of the time. You will want to sleep as much as you can, whenever you can. However, it is important to prioritise your baby’s safety. A few precautions taken can go a long way in preventing accidents while breastfeeding. Read more
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Diet Plan for 22 Month 2 Week Old Toddler
Introduction
Your baby has now entered his 22nd month – we’re getting closer to year 2! Your baby is developing by the day – continue experimenting with new food and allow him to taste different things. Kids at this age require a good balance of all nutrients as they are full of energy, so ensure you feed him balanced meals. Here’s what you can feed your little one through the week.
Food Menu & Schedule for 22 Month 2 Week Old Toddler
Diet for a 22-month-old – Week 2, Day 1
Breakfast
Seviyan-coconut upma + milk
Mid-morning
Toast with cheese spread
Lunch
Besan(gram flour)-methi(fenugreek)paratha with carrot-palak(spinach) raita
Evening
Plain dahi(curd)with banana/apple/locally available fruit
Dinner
Paneer(cottage cheese) cutlets or grilled fish with coriander-tomato soup
Diet for a 22-month-old – Week 2, Day 2
Breakfast
Multigrain chilla + almond milkshake
Mid-morning
Fruit chaat
Lunch
Appam with vegetable stew + beetroot raita
Evening
Peanut chikki + ½ cup of locally available fruit
Dinner
Baked beans with toast
Diet for a 22-month-old – Week 2, Day 3
Breakfast
Almond waffles with raisins and honey
Mid-morning
Cucumber cubes with dahi dip
Lunch
Fish or soya chunks curry with rice + cucumber and tomato salad
Evening
Fruit milkshake
Dinner
Apple-coconut-dahi(curd)chutney
Diet for a 22-month-old – Week 2, Day 4
Breakfast
Phirni
Mid-morning
Besan(gram flour)laddoo
Lunch
Roti + dal + a subzi of choice + a few slices of carrots+ hand pounded rice
Evening
Dalia(broken wheat)
Dinner
Hakka noodles + sweet corn veg soup
Diet for a 22-month-old – Week 2, Day 5
Breakfast
Oats-almond kheer
Mid-morning
Roasted makhana(puffed lotus seeds)
Lunch
Palak(spinach) paneer(cottage cheese)and paratha + a few cherry tomatoes
Evening
Paneer(cottage cheese) with honey and almonds
Dinner
Methi(fenugreek) pithla with jowar(sorghum) rot
Diet for a 22-month-old – Week 2, Day 6
Breakfast
Poha(flattened rice) with tomatoes and capsicum
+ chocolate -almond milkhake
Mid-morning
Chopped dates with almonds and cashews
Lunch
Multigrain roti + dal + a subzi of choice + a few slices of boiled beetroot+ hand pounded rice
Evening
Cut fruits
Dinner
Stuffed parathas with curd or lassi
Diet for a 22-month-old – Week 2, Day 7
Breakfast
Chicken sandwich with tomato slices
Mid-morning
Yoghurt
Lunch
Bajra(pearl millet) roti + brinjal bharta + dal + vegetable raita
Evening
Baked potato wedges topped with cheese
Dinner
Besan(gram flour methi)(fenugreek)paratha with carrot palak(spinach) raita
Conclusion
Week two of your child’s 22nd month is done! If you’re having trouble getting your child to eat a certain food, remember to introduce it slowly but steadily – some aversions can change! Also remember not to over-feed your child and to allow him to eat food by himself whenever possible. To get to the meal plan for week 3 for your 22-month-old, click here! Read more
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Encouraging your Child to Become a Nature Lover
Nature nourishes the body and nurtures the soul. It’s in the folds of nature, a child should learn his first lessons. Yet in these days of play stations and increasing screen time, children are losing touch with the bounties of nature. We share some tips about making your child a nature-loving individual.
Are you worried that your child is spending too much time indoors- surfing channels and playing video games? Would you love to see him go outdoors instead and spend some time soaking in the sunshine or chasing butterflies? Would you like him to know the names of various little birds that fly across the sky? Do you often wistfully dream of pointing to him the stars, moon and the various clouds? Do you wish to see his face light up with joy as he catches a rainbow after the first rains? Most of the children have not witnessed a just born calf prancing joyfully in the green fields; nor are they familiar with the melodious song of the nightingale.
Hence hold your child’s hand today and bond with him under open, inviting skies. As your child embraces nature and begins to witness its many miracles, you would find him turn into a more compassionate, kinder and sensitive individual.
Ways to Encourage Your Child
Here are some ways in which you make your child embrace nature and its glorious ways:
1. Let Your Child Witness The Changes in Nature
Go on a hiking trip with your child to a farm or a sanctuary every season and let him witness how the colors of leaves and branches change with spring, autumn, winter and summer. Put up the pictures in his room or on the refrigerator. Encourage him to make seasonal greeting cards with those pictures to send it across to his friends.
2. Witness The Miracle of Birth
Your child still faithfully carries around the belief that storks deliver babies. How about dispelling this myth a little bit and make him aware of birds and bees? Call your local farmer to know if there are any pregnant cows or goats around. Take your child to the farm and show him the “Mommy” goat. Tell him there’s baby waiting to come out. Take him again after the birth and show him a little kid. This will increase his awareness of biological rhythms and fill his mind with questions.
3. Plant Trees
Bring a young sapling for your child and let him plant it. Let the tree be his pride. Show him how over a period of time, the tree starts developing slender branches, blossoms and fruits.
4. Camping and Star Gazing
A back yard is all that is needed for camping and a spot of star gazing! No expensive trips and elaborate planning is required to take your child into the lap of nature. Camp a night in your backyard and your little one will know how it becomes cold during nights and what it is to be woken by birds. Show him the dew on leaves and the paw prints of chipmunk.
5. Cloud Watching and Weather Foretelling
Nothing is more calming than lying down on the soft grass on a clear day and watch the clouds pass by. You and your child might have loads of fun deciphering various shapes of clouds or you can teach him about high clouds, low clouds, and rain clouds. Before long your child would be able to predict weather just looking at the clouds.
Being a nature-lover is not only invigorating for a soul, but it’s also the need of time today when the living-beings are confronted with the threats of global warming and natural calamities. It’s high time to extend some gratification to the mother nature, if we want our future generations to survive. Read more
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Baby is Fine, But How are YOU Doing?
Mommy care is Baby care
So motherhood has finally knocked on the door. You have just held your beautiful little creation in your arms. What is it that you want the most now? As a fellow mother, I know that one thing that's common with all mothers is the determination to keep their babies safe and healthy at any cost. This is a mother's basic nature which is a blessing to every child.
But somewhere down the line we forget ourselves, lose our individuality, put an abnormal load on our body and mind and hope to function like a superwoman. Even with our baby's best interests in mind, doing this is not advisable.
It is not selfish to take out time for your hobbies, pamper yourself with the food you like to eat, watch a movie, soak yourself in a warm bath and take a good night's sleep. Sounds like a dream? Well, it's not.
All this can be done if you want. If you are feeling guilty of not being with your baby while you are relaxing or enjoying then consider the following:
Only a healthy mother can nourish a healthy baby. Makes sense? Your body has gone through tremendous pressure and exhaustion throughout the pregnancy and delivery process. Your body is now recovering and needs your help in doing so. It needs food, sleep and care in that order.
Eat a wholesome diet, never skip a meal and take your multi vitamins. Take out time for eating, no matter what. Hand over the baby to a nanny or babysitter or any family member while you munch your food. Bon appetit, Mommy.
Sleep sounds like a crazy dream with a new born? It is difficult to squeeze in an 8-hour long sleep but there are other ways. One of them is to nap when your baby naps. So you can sleep 1 or 2 hrs sporadically throughout the day. It helps immensely. All the other housework can wait. While you sleep, your body is in recovery mode. Also sleep deprivation can make you irritable, sad and depressed. Another idea is to pump out breast milk, store it in zip lock bags or bottles, handover the baby to your spouse or support person while you nap. That way you can sleep a little longer as the baby doesn't need you while sleeping. Happy zzzzzzing.
Your baby is the centre of your world but you are an individual too. Respect your needs and take care of them. Taking care of a newborn can exert a lot of stress on your mind too. Go for a walk, eat chocolate you love ( dark chocolate is a mood enhancer), listen to your favourite sound tracks and take out at least 1 hour for something you love to do. Taking care of these will keep you emotionally healthy and sound.
Doing all this has a very effective and long-lasting effect on you and has the potential to offer a better parenting experience. When you hold the baby after a good meal, proper rest and a calm mind, you are better prepared to take care of him/her and shower all your love and attention because you feel better inside out.
Your energy resonates in the child. The positivity around you will bring out the best parent in the world.
Often the key to being a good parent is not sacrificing your needs for the sake of the child. It's the opposite. The better you take care of yourself, the more rejuvenated you will feel when you hold your baby. Your parenting will be more refined and much better.
Remember it starts with YOU.
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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Paniyaram / Appe
Paniyaram is a South Indian breakfast dish, made out of left over idli batter that is turned sour. It can be made spicy or sweet and you can also add to it veggies if you wish to. This healthy snack is soft like idlis from inside and crispy from outside. Pack it with chutney for your kid’s snack box and it can be a perfect breakfast or dinner if you are planning something light.
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
4 People
15-20 Minutes
15-20 Minutes
Ingredients
1 cup rice
1 cup parboiled rice
1/2 cup urad dal
1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
1 onion, chopped finely
2 - 3 green chillies, chopped
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp oil
2 sprigs of curry leaves, chopped
Salt to taste
Method
Step 1
Soak rice and urad dal in water for 5 - 6 hours. Drain the water and grind it until idli batter texture is obtained.
Step 2
Keep it for overnight fermentation.
Step 3
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, allow it to splutter. Now, add cumin seeds, onion, green chilli and curry leaves.
Step 4
Saute for 2 - 3 minutes and add this to the batter.
Step 5
Heat a non stick paniyaram pan on a medium flame. Apply little oil to each dents of the pan.
Step 6
Pour a laddleful of batter to each dent. Sprinkle little oil over the paniyaram. Cook for 4 - 5 minutes.
Step 7
Turn the paniyaram with a spoon and sprinkle some oil over again. Let it cook for another 4 - 5 minutes. Repeat this with the remaining batter.
Step 8
Serve hot paniyarams with coconut or tomato chutney.
Nutritional Information
Calories
461 K cal
Proteins
13.4 g
Fat
3.3 g
Carbohydrates
92.1 g
Cholesterol
11 mg
Sodium
51 mg
Potassium
410 mg
Read more
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Charul Verma has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 7 m old child
7 hours ago
Q. Hello my baby is 20 months old he swallowed a earpod bur he is normal he eat as well as drink please suggest???
Charul Verma
Nutritionist
6 hours ago
A. hi mom
mostly it will be out once he passes stool
but better to show to doctor
it can be checked in x ray if required
Rashmi has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 7 m old child
7 hours ago
Q. Hello my baby is 20 months old by mistake he swallowed a earpod but he is normal is eat drink plz suggest??
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
7 hours ago
A. It’s fine it should come out into the poop of your child within 24 to 48 hours a lot of mishaps happened with kids these days but these things since they are not edible they do not get digested which is why they come out into the motion
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
6 hours ago
Q. i am 5 months pregnant n i haven't gone for check up even once still now is it okay or should I go
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
1 hour ago
A. should go. do ultrasound n necessary tests after consulting a specialist. without proper check up we can't advise or help you.. Avoid shirt cuts when it comes to health if mother n baby. ok. better to show to specialist always as they get the correct diagnosis. try to avoid self and extra medication that will only complicate this and create more damage to the child
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. my baby is 2 months old and she has developed a white patch on her face. What should I do?
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. White spots on the body and face could be there sometimes, which maybe because of fungal infection or some conditions like pityriasis alba or some other factors some conditions are aggravated by dry skiniu, show a proper mousturisation is required. Also, maintain a proper hygiene and a proper assessment should be done to rule out any other causative factor
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. my baby passes stool after every feed. Is it normal?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. it's ok normal hai jj. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. how you can
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
24 mins ago
A. question is incomplete please repeat ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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