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23 Effective Ways to Reduce Pregnancy Fatigue
Pregnancy puts a lot of pressure on the body of a woman. As the developing foetus requires essential nutrients for growth, it uses these vital elements from the mother's body. Thus, fatigue is one of the most common problems faced by pregnant women.
A woman may feel tired and lazy at the onset of her pregnancy. This is because there is a sudden change in the level of hormones. Fatigue may reduce or disappear in the second trimester, but it kicks back in the third trimester of pregnancy.
If you too are suffering from pregnancy fatigue, it is best to ensure a healthy and nutritious diet to fight the weariness. Read on to find out some effective remedies for pregnancy fatigue.
Causes of Pregnancy Fatigue
Tiredness in pregnancy is quite common and the levels of fatigue experienced during pregnancy can differ across the three trimesters.
1. First Trimester
A dramatic increase in progesterone levels in your body can be a cause of tiredness in early pregnancy; you may feel increasingly sleepy too. Apart from this, a decrease in blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and the much-dreaded morning sickness can also leave you craving for rest!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m22li-01qCw
KEY TAKEAWAY: Dr. Seema Sharma provides her insights on tiredness in early pregnancy.
She mentions that it is absolutely normal to feel weak and tired in the initial months, as the body is going through several physiological changes.
Increased heartbeat and blood volume, the kidneys working overtime, and insufficient sleep can get pregnant women tired in the first trimester.
2. Second Trimester
The extreme levels of fatigue that you faced in your first trimester are expected to go down by the beginning of the second trimester. But if you still feel as tired as you were during the first three months of your pregnancy, you would do best to consult your doctor.
3. Third Trimester
Just when you thought you were done and dusted with fatigue, it makes a return in your final trimester! The extra weight of the baby can cause you discomfort and lead to disturbed sleep too. The regular trips to the washroom won't make it any easier to reduce the tiredness during pregnancy.
Apart from hormonal changes and the consistent growth of your baby bump, you may be suffering from an iron deficiency, which can reduce your energy levels. Depression can also make you feel sluggish and disinterested, and it is imperative to get help for it at once! Your diet and sleep patterns play an important role in increasing your energy levels - and once you're pregnant, this becomes all the more important!
Tips to Fight Fatigue in Pregnancy
Here are some tips and remedies for fatigue during pregnancy.
1. Go Easy on Spicy Food
While getting pregnant is one of the best feelings in the world, it brings along a couple of restrictions. One such constraint is to cut down on foods that may cause burning sensations in the stomach. Instead try whole-wheat bread with peanut butter, dried fruit and nuts, salads or slices of low-fat cheese combined with vegetables. These complex carbohydrates go a long way in improving your vitality and providing the essential nutrients in abundance to the body.
2. Say No to Sweets and Caffeine
Sweets are irresistible for most of us, but pregnancy is the time to say no to them. Caffeine is yet another product that you need to chuck out of your food chart. Avoid coffee and go for juices rich in proteins and vitamin C, which are essential during pregnancy. Sugar and caffeine only cause your metabolism to slow down and make you sluggish.
3. Go for Small Meals
Eat five or six small meals in a day instead of three big meals. This helps in stabilizing your blood sugar and energy levels. Having light meals is easier on your digestive tract and helps fight fatigue. Consume a diet high in protein and complex carbs. Low-fat cheese, hard-boiled eggs, trail mix, frozen grapes, raw veggies and cereals are some of the foods that should be a part of your daily meals. Sometimes raw salads like cabbage and capsicum can cause gas and add to the discomfort. Identify and be wary of such foods.
4. Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can also cause exhaustion. You need to remember that whatever you consume reaches your baby. Staying hydrated is a good way to keep fatigue away. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Opt for freshly prepared juices and fruits that have high water content in them.
5. Avoid Alcohol
It is necessary to put that tranquillizing glass of wine away, as it may increase fatigue. In addition, doctors recommend not to have alcohol during pregnancy as it may cause birth defects or mental retardation of the child, and even miscarriage.
6. Consume a Protein-Rich Diet
A protein-rich diet helps in boosting energy levels. Also, proteins aid in the development of the baby. So include eggs, milk, cheese, tofu, lentils, fish, lean meat, and beans in your diet.
7. Pump Up Iron Intake
A lot of exhaustion in pregnancy is because of the deficiency of iron. Thus, it is important to add iron-rich foods in your meals such as lean meat, soy products, dry fruits, cereals, spinach and more.
8. Don’t Forget Your Prenatal Vitamins
Pregnant women require extra nutrition and prenatal vitamins are specially formulated to provide this much-needed extra boost. Be sure that your vitamins contain sufficient level of iron and vitamin B12.
9. Catch on Your Sleep
One of the causes of fatigue during pregnancy is that your growing baby is consuming all your energy, so sleep more to catch up on your daily requirement. Even short naps can charge you up for the rest of the day.
10. The Right Kind of Sleep
It's not just the quantity of your sleep that matters, but also the quality. Sleep should be restorative, which means that it should make you feel relaxed and reset your body. Maintain a healthy sleeping position, the best being to sleep on your left side. Also keep a pillow in between your legs, while keeping your knees and legs bent.
11. Relax More
You can experience extreme fatigue during the third trimester with the baby constantly moving inside your womb. It can be very difficult to be comfortable and leave you short of sleep. Soak yourself in a bath, read a book, listen to some soothing music or meditate. This will make you feel calm and rested.
12. Exercise Regularly
Exercise is actually a great way to invigorate your sleepy cells.Yoga, walking, pilates are popular choices during pregnancy though care must be taken to exercise only when energy levels are high. Consult with your doctor to find out what exercise is appropriate for you.
13. Listen to Upbeat Music
Yes, exercising is probably the last thing you want to do when you're already fatigued. So amp up your workout session with a fun playlist filled with upbeat songs. Studies have shown that songs with a fast rhythm can get people motivated to nod their head, tap their fingers, and react physically, even when they want to try and repress that instinct! It also helps to elevate your mood. So go ahead and download some foot-tapping numbers for your next exercise sessions!
14. Work-Life Balance
Working mothers-to-be might find it harder to manage their office work, along with their growing bump. It’s advisable to talk to your boss and explain to him about the fatigue and opt for flexible timings.
15. Accept Help
Share the workload like cooking, cleaning etc. with your spouse, family or well-meaning friends.This way, you can save much-needed energy for your baby. This is one of the easiest tips to overcome pregnancy fatigue.
16. Opt for a Healthy Lifestyle
Switch from late nights with friends to lunch meets, and catch up on sleep. It’s fine to turn down extra work assignments and not take up any new commitments.You should feel less fatigued this way.
17. A Wonderful Bed
Your bed should be a paradise radiating calm and peace. Distractions to your sleep - phones and laptops - should be completely avoided at night.
18. The Right Shot of Caffeine
While consumption of caffeine should always be in moderation during pregnancy, a glass of ginger tea in the morning can ward off exhaustion and fatigue, and also keep nausea and morning sickness at bay.
19. Consider Aromatherapy
Certain essential plant oils are believed to energize and also help regulate sleep patterns. You can use an oil diffuser at home with grapefruit, orange or lime essential oils. Lavender oil can also help you rest more deeply.
20. Try Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help reduce stress and fatigue by stimulating certain body parts and the brain. This releases the body’s feel-good hormone - endorphins. Look for a licensed acupuncturist with experience in treating pregnant patients.
21. Make a Manageable to-do List
Some pregnant women stay up late in the night worrying about all the things that haven’t been done. It’s okay if the nursery is yet to be set up. Focus on the present and organise your planner to be in control and have a good night’s sleep.
22. Listen to Your Body
Be sure to listen to any signs your body gives you. Being pregnant saps a lot of energy out of you, so you will need to take extra care of it than you did pre-pregnancy.
23. Professional Help
Fatigue can sometimes be symptoms of anaemia. If you are suffering from extreme fatigue then you should contact your healthcare provider to check for iron deficiency or any other medical condition. The same goes for your mental health as well.
While the above-mentioned points should be considered to reduce fatigue during pregnancy, it is best to consult a doctor and get a proper food chart that contains fostabilisingods from all the major food groups. The healthier the diet you consume, the better you can fight fatigue. Read more
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English Movies That Your Kids Can Watch in Their Free Time
Watching a movie with your family is one of the best ways to spend some quality time with the people you love. If you are planning to watch a movie, your kids won't just sit quietly and let you watch one - they'd want to watch the movie too. If your kids are young, then you will have to make sure that the movie you plan to watch is appropriate for them. If you are looking for some movies that you can watch with your kids or they can watch it on their own to kill time, we have some suggestions for you. We have compiled a list of English movies that your kids will love to watch - these movies are entertaining and we are sure your children will enjoy watching them.
Best English Movies That Your Kids Can Watch
Here is a list of animated, comedy, and fantasy English movies that your children can watch in their leisure time.
Animated Movies
Kids love to watch animated movies, so here are some of our recommendations of animated English movies for kids.
1. Cinderella, 1950
Cinderella is the story of a girl who has lost her parents at a young age. She lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters. She is forced to work as a maid in her own residence. Cinderella is tormented by her stepmother and stepsisters. However, her fate changes when she attends the royal ball where she dances with the prince, who is enchanted by her beauty. When it's midnight, she leaves the castle of the prince, but one of her glass slippers falls. The prince is determined to find Cinderella. Let your kids watch this movie to find out if the prince finds Cinderella in the end or not.
2. Frozen, 2013
Frozen is an animated musical film released in the year 2013. The story of this movie is about a fearless princess who embarks on a journey to find her estranged sister. The princess is accompanied by her loyal reindeer, a rugged iceman, and a naive snowman. Princess Elsa also has some magical power that allows her to create ice and snow. Her power inadvertently traps the entire kingdom into eternal winter. As the story progresses, you will see the struggles that she goes through in finding her sister and in undoing the damage to her kingdom.
3. Coco, 2017
Coco movie won the Oscar for best animated feature at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. The concept of this movie is inspired by the Mexican holiday ‘Day of the Dead’. The protagonist of the movie is a twelve-year-old boy named Miguel who dreams to have a career in the field of music. However, his family is dead against the idea and forbids it. Miguel accidentally gets transported to the land of the dead where he meets his great-great-grandfather, a deceased musician. He helps him to return to his family and to reverse his family's ban on music.
4. The Little Mermaid, 1989
This movie exhibits the life underwater through spectacular animation and gripping storyline. Ariel is a young mermaid who longs to go on land and experience life on the other side of the world. Her father forbids her but she still plans to go. She falls in love with a human prince. Being madly in love, she makes a mistake by making a deal with an evil witch. The witch gives Ariel human legs in exchange for her melodious voice. Whether she unites with the prince and gets her voice back or not, your kids will have to find out.
Funny Movies
Here is a list of comedy English movies for children.
1. Elf, 2003
This movie is about Buddy, who gets transported to the North Pole by crawling into Santa’s bag. He is raised by elves and he grows up believing himself to be an elf too. However, after learning the truth that he is a human, he heads back to New York City to get united with his biological parents and also to the spread the Christmas spirit in the world of cynics.
2. The Incredibles, 2004
This funny movie is about superheroes. The story revolves around a family of superheroes who live a quiet suburban life because they are not allowed to exercise their superpowers because of a government mandate. However, the innate urge of Mr. Incredible to save people in distress gets them in a vengeful confrontation with a fan-turned-enemy, who also owns a killer robot.
3. Mary Poppins, 1964
Mary Poppins is a classic children’s film which is loved by children of all age groups. The story revolves around a banker, his notorious kids, and a nanny. The nanny takes care of the kids and teaches them good virtues and manners by adopting her peculiar methods. Slowly and gradually the kids start to love the nanny.
4. The Sound of Music, 1965
The Sound of Music is another classic English movie that every child must watch. The story revolves around Maria, who is an aspiring nun. She is appointed a governess to seven motherless children who live with their father, a retired naval officer. Initially, the kids despise her, but soon they start adoring Maria. Maria also marries the officer and together they find a way to survive the loss of their homeland.
Fantasy/Adventure Movies
Here is a list of some famous fantasy or adventure movies for your kids
1. Beauty and the Beast, 1991
This movie presents the story of a fictional character Belle, who is a beautiful young damsel. She is a kind-hearted soul, who loves to read. This story explores the relationship between a prince, who is transformed into a monster, and Belle, who he imprisons in his castle. The beast (the prince) has to learn to become kind and love Belle if he wants to become human again. He must earn the love of Belle before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose or he will remain a beast forever. Let your kids watch this movie to find out if Belle falls in love with the beast or not.
2. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937
This movie is about Snow White, a princess, who lives with her evil stepmother. Her stepmother despises Snow White because of her enchanting beauty. Her stepmother wishes to kill her but Snow White runs into the jungle where she takes refuge into a house that is owned by seven dwarfs. These dwarfs slowly become her friends and help Snow White in defeating her evil stepmother.
3. Alice in Wonderland, 1985
This movie centres around Alice, who gets transported into a world of fantasy after she follows a white rabbit. Alice encounters many adventures and characters during her journey through the mystical land and finally finds herself in her bed dreaming. The movie is filled with many exciting adventures that your kid would surely enjoy.
4. Tangled, 2010
The movie Tangled is about Rapunzel, a beautiful, young, and innocent girl who is forced to stay in a high tower, away from the fancies of the normal world. Rapunzel is a princess who is separated from her parents. She has magical long blonde hair. She wishes to explore the world outside her secluded tower but her mother stops her from stepping outside. Soon her wish comes true and she goes out against her mother's wishes. She accepts the help of a good-hearted thief called Flynn. He helps her get out of her house and explore the outside world.
Upcoming English Films for Children in 2019
Now that you have a list of some classic English movies, you may be thinking what 2019 has in store for your kids. Here is a list of upcoming English movies that will keep your children entertained.
1. Wonder Park, 15th March 2019
Wonder Park is a fantasy movie. The protagonist of this movie is a girl named June. June once dreamt of an amusement park known as Wonderland, which had talking creatures and crazy rides. On growing up, June forgets about her dream but destiny has something else in the store because she finds that her dream park is for real.
2. Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, 10th May 2019
This is the first ever Pokémon movie that revolves around, Pikachu. The voice of the protagonist is given by the famous actor Ryan Reynolds. This movie is expected to hit the theatres in May this year. Get ready to have a wonderful time with your kids as they watch this movie.
3. The Secret Life of Pets 2, 7th June 2019
This movie is the sequel to The Secret Life of Pets, 2016. The story of Max and his friends is set to continue in this movie too. The movie is set to release in June this year. So book the tickets well in advance and take your kids to watch this movie.
4. The Lion King, 19th July 2019
It is a remake of the 1994 classic by the same name. The story revolves around Simba and his journey to get back what rightfully belongs to him.
These are some of our recommendations of English movies that your kids can watch in their free time. We hope your kids enjoy these movies.
Also Read:
Top Educational Movies for Children
Best Movies for Kids to Watch on Netflix Read more
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Cleft Lips and Cleft Palate in Babies
Children are sometimes born with a split in the upper lip. This is called cleft lip; cleft meaning split. While some children have only a small notch on their lips, others may have prominent splits. In some babies, the cleft can be on both sides of the lips. Let us figure out what causes cleft lips in babies and how it can be treated.
There is no definite cause for cleft lip or cleft palate in children. Researchers say that both genetic and environmental conditions may be responsible for it. So, either a child may inherit his cleft lip or palate from someone in the family or it may be caused due to the intake of certain medications during pregnancy.
Also, women who drink, smoke, or take drugs during pregnancy are at higher risk of giving birth to infants with birth defects like clefts.
Children develop a cleft lip or palate in the mother’s womb. It is also believed the cleft lips or palates occur when some parts of head, face, and skull don’t join properly during the development phase in the mother’s womb.
Cleft lips or palates are diagnosed soon after birth. In some cases, it is also seen in the 2nd level scan which is done in the 18th or 20th week of pregnancy.
Sometimes a cleft palate is not visible at all in newborns. It is hidden by the roof of the mouth. It is called sub-mucous cleft palate. This is detected only when the baby is 3 to 5 years of age. Children with this condition may have nasal sound while speaking. They may also not be able to blow a candle or drink out of a straw.
A cleft lip or cleft palate can only be fixed with a surgery. If your baby has a cleft lip, he should have a surgery when he is 2 to 3 months old and if your baby has a cleft palate then his surgery will be scheduled when he is 6 to 9 months old. If your baby has both, then the first surgery will take place when he is 3 months old and the 2nd surgery will take place when he is 9 months old. A special cleft team within the specialist centre will work on your baby to treat this problem. The team usually consists of cleft surgeons, cleft specialist doctors and nurses, speech therapists, clinical psychologists, children’s dentists, hearing specialists, and pediatric ENT surgeons.
If the cleft affects your baby’s gums, then he may have to go through a minor graft operation when he is 9 to 11 years old.
What Do Cleft Lip and Palates Look Like?
A cleft lip baby has a split on the upper lip. In some children, it is as small as a notch, while in others it may look like a prominent cut.
Cleft palate, on the other hand, is a split in the roof of the mouth. Cleft palate is usually a small gap in the roof of the mouth. But if the condition is severe, then the roof of the mouth may be completely separated.
Cleft palate can occur independently without a cleft lip.
Who Can Suffer From Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate?
This condition affects around 700 babies annually. It is 4th most common birth defect detected in children in the US. Clefts are usually seen in children from Asian, Latino or Native American descent. Cleft lips appear more in boys without a cleft palate whereas cleft palate is seen more in girls without cleft lip.
How Do Cleft Lips and Cleft Palates Form?
Cleft lip and cleft palates are formed in the first 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy. During this phase, the bones and tissues of baby’s upper jaw and mouth come together to form the upper lip and the roof of the baby’s mouth. If these parts don’t fuse together normally, then a cleft lip or palate forms.
Both cleft lips and cleft palates vary in size. While for some it may be almost invisible, in others it may appear more prominently and may cause issues.
What are the Causes?
The definite causes of cleft lips and cleft palates are unknown. It is believed that a cleft lip or palate could be caused due to changes in the genes or combination of genes. The other factors that may be responsible for causing cleft lip and cleft palate in newborns include:
Smoking during pregnancy
Women diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy
Use of certain medicines during pregnancy, especially the medicines used to treat epilepsy
Problems Faced By Children Having a Cleft Lip or Palate
The symptoms associated with cleft lip and cleft palate are as follows:
A child who has a split in the palate or in the lip will have eating issues. The food and liquid will pass from the mouth back towards the nose. There are specially made baby bottles and nipples available in the market that will help your baby to eat. Children with split palate may have to wear a manmade palate to help him/her eat better.
You may observe that children with cleft palate may have hearing issues.
A nasal tone while speaking is also one of the symptoms of cleft palate.
Children suffering from cleft palate may also have dental issues like cavities or malformed or displaced teeth.
Diagnosis and Tests
As discussed before, cleft lip or palate can either be diagnosed with the 2nd level of ultrasound that is usually done in the 18th or 20th week of pregnancy or it is diagnosed once the baby is born. So, they are either seen in the scan, which is rare or picked immediately after birth.
Risk Factors That May Increase the Chances of a Baby Developing a Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate
The two main risk factors that increase the chances of a baby developing a cleft lip or cleft palate are:
Mothers who are in the habit of smoking, drinking, and taking drugs during pregnancy usually give birth to children with clefts. These habits usually affect the baby in the womb during the first and second week of pregnancy.
Also, children born to mothers, who were taking seizure/anticonvulsant drugs, acne drugs containing Accutane and methotrexate, or drugs used for treating cancer, arthritis, and psoriasis, during pregnancy, are on the higher risks of developing clefts.
Complications With Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Children with cleft lip and cleft palate can have few complications that can be taken care of through the right treatment. Problems with cleft lip and palate vary from children to children. The most common ones are:
Cleft palate can cause severe hearing problems. If the problem is not treated on time, then ear infections caused due to cleft palate can cause hearing loss.
Children with cleft lips or palates also have serious speech issues. Their speech is difficult to comprehend and in some cases, their speech is nasal.
Children with clefts have far more cavities than other children. Some children also have missing, extra, malformed or displaced teeth. Children with cleft palates have a more severe dental complication. They may have alveolar ridge defect. Children suffering from alveolar ridge defect may have replaced, tipped or rotated permanent teeth. It can also prevent permanent teeth from appearing or prevent alveolus, the bony upper gum from forming.
Who Can Treat Clefts?
There is a specialized and dedicated medical team that specialises in treating clefts-
A cleft surgeon who performs necessary surgeries on lips and palates.
Specialised cleft doctors and nurses who help in evaluating the problem.
An ENT doctor to evaluate and treat hearing problems.
An oral surgeon who operates on the upper jaw and repairs the cleft of the gum.
An orthodontist who repositions the teeth.
A prosthodontist who makes artificial teeth and other necessary teeth accessories to ensure its sound function and also to set them right.
A speech therapist to work on speech and eating issues
A hearing specialist or audiologist to monitor hearing.
A clinical psychologist to help the child and family cope with its complications through counselling.
Treatment Of Cleft Lips/Palates
Management of cleft lip or a cleft palate can only be done through surgeries. A cleft lip can be treated with two surgeries. The first surgery is usually done under very light anaesthesia when the baby is 3 months old. The second surgery is done when the baby is about 9 to 12 months old.
The treatment of cleft palate can be extended to 18 years of age involving multiple surgeries and cleft palate ultrasound from time to time to determine the next course of action. To create a functional palate, the first surgery usually takes place when the baby is 6 to 12 months old. This surgery also protects the middle ear from getting infected and helps in the proper development of teeth and bone. The second surgery of cleft palate takes place around the age of 8. This is to fill in the upper gum line so that it can support the permanent teeth structure. Once the permanent teeth are formed, braces are put to straighten them.
Other surgeries may be performed on children with cleft palates to fix the appearance of lips and nose, close openings between mouth and nose, and to realign jaws. A final surgery may be required during adolescence to remove the scar from the initial surgeries.
Dental Care For Child With a Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate
As mentioned earlier, children with cleft lips and cleft palates have dental issues that require greater care and may require close monitoring. But the main dental care practices remain the same as other kids.
Early dental care practices include proper cleaning, good nutrition, and fluoride treatment for healthy teeth. Children with cleft lips and palates are usually advised to use toothette, a mouthwash with a sponge on the handle which is used to swab the teeth. This is because a normal soft brush may not work with children with clefts due to the irregular shapes of their teeth.
Children with clefts have to go through orthodontic treatment for proper development of the jaw and aligning of the permanent teeth.
A prosthodontic consultation is also important for children with clefts. This is needed to assess the child’s need and make either a dental bridge, speech bulbs or palate lifts based on the child’s problem. The prosthodontist will work closely with an oral and plastic surgeon and speech pathologist to fix the problem.
How Should You Breast Feed Your Baby With Cleft Lip or Palate?
While children with cleft lips can be breastfed even before the surgery, children with cleft palates may have issues with breastfeeding and may need bottles and nipples designed for children with clefts, which are easily available in the market these days. In this case, you have to express your breast milk and put it in the bottle to feed your baby.
In order to breastfeed children with clefts, mothers have to try various breastfeeding positions, While, these positions will work with children with cleft lips, the same may not work with children with cleft palate. Doctors may suggest at a late stage that your baby wear a manmade palate to eat better.
Is There Any Possibility Of Prevention?
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and food habits during pregnancy may help prevent clefts in children. Avoid medications of any kind and strictly avoid alcohol, smoking and use of drugs during pregnancy. These are the only possible preventive measures that you can take during pregnancy.
How To Help Your Child?
Children with clefts sometimes face teasing issues due to their appearance or speech issues. Encourage your child to be confident. Ensure that everyone at home is warm, supportive and accepting. Get your child involved in sports, music and other curricular activities. You may even speak to his/her teacher and set up a session for his/her classmates to brief them on clefts and the challenges that come along with it. Take the help of a medical practitioner in doing so.
With multiple surgeries and regular consultations with doctors, children with clefts miss school frequently and may find it difficult to cope with academic and peer pressure. But just remember that children with clefts can grow up to be healthy and happy adults. All they need is your love, support, and acceptance.
Also Read: Tongue Tie in Newborn Babies Read more
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How Does your Toddler Make his First Friends
Children are naturally very trusting and accommodating. This trait in them makes them become friends easily with others. And yet, we, as parents are concerned if our child will be able to fit into different groups be it in the park, school or a party. Read on to know how you can support your child’s socializing and help him make friends.
Children will make friends everywhere they go – this is their inherent nature. They may not be the most popular person around, but will have the one special person, who they will share toys and treats with. In households with more than one child, the toddler’s first friend is invariably the elder brother or sister. In case there isn’t an older sibling, the chances are that the little girl in pigtails in the park, the neighbour’s child or a cousin could hold the coveted position of the ‘first friend’.
How to Help Children Make Friends?
1. Mutual Likes
Don’t force him into social situations. He will resent it completely and turn averse to the whole idea of having a friend. Keep in mind what your child likes doing, and try to fix a play date with a child who has similar likes. Try and have a child over at your own place, so that your child is already comfortable with the place and now is getting warm to the idea of a friend. Else, adjusting to a new place and new people can be overwhelming.
2. Be Involved
Don’t detach yourself from the play date or when your child is with new people. He may look around for your approval or involvement with what he is doing; be present to encourage him along until he finds his feet and then back off.
The First Friend at School
1. Difference Between the First and the Best Friend
Try and chat up with your toddler on his best friend in school. At this age, they do not really understand the difference between ‘first’ and ‘best’. Very often, the first one is the only one they spend the class year with. The need for another friend does not arise in a child. Try and find out his/her name, meet the mother, and see if you would like to invite them home for a play date. That way you are helping your little one strengthen his friendship.
2. Visit the School
If you are not getting the desired responses from your toddler, you may visit the school and have a conversation with her teacher. Understand how your toddler is faring in school and the kids she ‘hangs out with’. This will also give you the idea if your child is a loner or shy, or worse if she is being bullied in school.
Child and Social Anxiety
1. Invite Your Own Friends Home
Toddlers often emulate their elders. When she sees you interact with friends and laugh around with them, she’ll pick up the same cues when interacting with others her own age. Try and have some friends, at least, who have their own kids so that your baby can have her own circle while the elders are engaged by themselves. However, always be mindful of what they are doing. A group of children can do a lot collectively, even in a span of five minutes.
2. Child-rich Venues
Take your child to the nearby park or the library as often as possible. Being surrounded by a lot of children, your toddler will get familiar to having other children around and soon will play with them too. This also gives your child the opportunity to understand that she will not always be the centre of attention, unlike at home. It also builds their instincts to share, negotiate and reach agreements in situations.
Making friends is a very personal experience and it is best if the child explores this field without supervision. However, if you see your child would benefit with some assistance, be the first to jump in. Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
Can we have sex during pregnancy and is it safe?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. okay no problem if you don't have any risk factors ko. 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
Trying To Conceive
3 hours ago
Q. Dr meri baby 12 month running hai uska weight 6 kg hai uska growth nahi ho pa Raha hai to kya kare or over active hai
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. ok see c. if the baby is not having proper height and weight it means that baby is having failure to thrive baby needs investigations like TSH and other related test to find out the reason
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. mere twins baby hai boy nd girl one month 8 days when I check eye and ear which month
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. For the query asked needs consultation with doctor for proper guidance so it is better that the doctor will guide you the correct way .
Online consultation can also be taken jjand the expert will give you the proper answer .
Ankita Mehta has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. is white discharge in 8th month normal?
Ankita Mehta
Mom of a 8 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. hi
yes
but if it is too thick or clear like water,if there other symptoms like itching, irritation, redness,foul smell from vagina, please visit your gynecologist
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. My son is 5 months old is suffering from cough..what to do?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
40 mins ago
A. give nasal saline drops every few hourly to the child in the nasal cavity.
try to prevent temperature variations around the child
you can go for indirect steam inhalation which will again help in decreasing both cough and cold
continue the regular diet of the child
if there is no improvement in few days then meet your doctoru
for fever and pain give paracetamol.u
anti-cold medicines at this age have got side effects so can be given only after medical consultation.
POOJA KOTHARI has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
1 hour ago
Q. hi. in Feb my period was last and I did pregnancy test in March its positive results but my belly is not being bigger
POOJA KOTHARI
Mom of a 7 yr 1 m old boy
1 hour ago
A. Typically, your bump becomes noticeable during your second trimester. Between 16-20 weeks, your body will start showing your baby's growth. For some women, their bump may not be noticeable until the end of the second trimester and even into the third trimester. The second trimester starts in the fourth month.
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