Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
Why Do Babies Clench Their Fists?
When you hold your newborn in your arms for the first time, the first thought that you have is, "how can someone be this tiny and utterly pretty?" It is simply impossible to take eyes off that cute wonder whom you nurtured and protected in your womb for the longest time. As the time passes your baby will amaze you with various unusual activities. Yes, all that you notice is he sleeps, breastfeeds, poops, and sleeps some more...only to repeat rest of the activities over and over. But did you notice how your baby's hands fists are clenched tightly? You certainly did not give it a thought, did you now? No worries...you can find out why a baby clenches his fist, almost all the time.
Causes of Clenched Fists in Babies
When a baby clenches his fists, it is more of a primal instinct. It has no clinical significance. However, some of the possible causes of clenched fists in babies can be.
1. Palmer Grasp Reflex
Babies have a very strong grasping reflex called the "Palmar grasp which prevents them from opening their hands. In case you tickle your baby’s palm or offer him your finger to hold he is likely to close his fingers around it and clutch it tightly.
2. Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy could also be a cause of why a baby clenches his fists all the time. In case a baby's fists are clenched all the time and his body is stiff, it could be a sign of a neurological disorder, wherein the baby’s brain has difficulty directing the various muscles to perform different functions. Rigid or spastic movements, poor motor control, and muscle weakness are other symptoms of the condition.
3. Vestigial Primitive Reflex
Newborn babies during their initial days of life tend to remember and keep the position they held while curbed inside the uterus. They often hold their arms near their body and have their hands clenched into fists. It may take them several weeks before they clench and unclench their fists.
4. Evolutionary History of Humans
Scientists studying human evolution offer a logical explanation for why do babies clench their fists when feeding. A popular view is that they do it because the monkeys did it. Modern humans who seem to share a common ancestry with some species of upright-walking apes learnt the vice-like grip from baby apes who hold on to their mom’s thick hair for survival as they hang in precarious positions while their mom swings from treetops.
What Would Happen If They Did Not Clench Their Fists?
If babies don't clench their fists when they are in the womb, they would perhaps try to pinch or grab. Furthermore, babies have fingernails which could hurt a mother. The most fragile part of the womb is the thin amniotic sac which surrounds the baby. It is a nurturing membrane made up of complex biochemicals. Any pricking or scratching of this flimsy sac can lead to the release of hormones and chemicals that may induce premature labour. Thus, a baby’s clenched fist can be a way of preventing baby’s fingernails from harming the amniotic sac.
Researchers cite a congenital issue called amniotic band syndrome as a plausible explanation for a baby not clenching his fists. Sometimes thin strands from amniotic sac may get peeled away to float with the amniotic fluid which is around the baby. The strands may wrap around the toes, fingers or even arms of the baby causing serious injury to the limbs including amputation. The reason why some tiny bands get stripped away from the amniotic sac is not known yet. But some doctors propose that a baby’s lack of appropriate palmar grasp reflex can be a reason of amniotic band syndrome. And hence, a baby may not be able to clench his fists.
When Do Babies Unclench Their Fists and Start Using Their Hands
Most moms would like to know for how long babies clench their fists. The answer is that newborn babies usually clench their fists for the initial few months after their birth due to palmer grasp reflex. By the age of 3-4 months, they gradually begin unclenching their fists. You may see them relaxing their tight fists and opening their hands as their nervous system slowly matures. They may also try and reach for toys with open hands that you tie them in their crib. And by the age of 6-7 months, they learn to grasp, hold, and release objects.
It is normal for babies to clench their fists and slowly they will learn to unclench their fists and grasp and hold other objects. All babies will learn this in their own time so don't you worry if your baby is a little late. However, if your baby keeps his fists clenched even after 6-7 months, you can talk to your baby's paediatrician for the same.
Also Read: Why Baby is Putting Fingers in Mouth Constantly Read more
Suggested for you
How to Raise a Happy Child - 10 Effective Parenting Tips
Raising kids right can be hard and raising them in a way that they stay happy, and content is much more challenging. Parenting a child the right way and ensuring that he grows up to be happy cannot be merely done by providing him basics. To raise a happy child, you need to make certain changes in your parenting style.
Tips To Help You Raise A Happy Child
It becomes necessary to know what makes a child happy if you want to see him grow normally. Here's how you can ensure that your child grows up happy.
1. Positive Reinforcement
Kids need a lot of validation. For children, parents are the only moral compass they have to know whether they are doing a certain thing right or not. Positive reinforcement is necessary to raise a confident and happy child. This is why it is necessary to appreciate your child whenever he does something right. But do not praise him when he is wrong. False praise can be harmful; he may look for words of appreciation all the time, which could cause motivation related issues later in life.
2. Inculcating Behaviour of Patience
Children are primed to be powered by instant gratification. And in today’s world, with everything being available at the snap of a finger, this need to satisfy any need at a moment’s notice is increasing day by day. It is important to let your kids understand the benefits of long-term enjoyment and just the basic fact that everything takes its own time. By inculcating the values of patience, your kids will stop being their own enemies in feeling sad and dejected and instead look forward to things in life.
3. Forming Good Relationships and Nurturing Them
Living life is personal, but the social aspect is what brings meaning to it. Family and friends bring a lot of happiness as well as memorable moments to cherish forever. Kids might bond easily with family and even with their friends. They also need to learn how to do that with acquaintances or even your neighbours. Your own love for your child should not come with a 'conditions apply' tag since he needs to rely on you in various matters. By developing relationships with others, it can further empower him in his identity.
4. Developing Kindness
Kids might be possessive in the early days and may not care about others in their life, except for immediate family. Over time, it is necessary for your kids to know that there is more to their life than just themselves. By cultivating empathy and kindness for others, they will begin to discover the happiness of a unique kind that only ever emerges from this. Have honest conversations with your kid when he tends to behave in a manner that is unbecoming of him. That will help him establish his own moral compass in the right way and gradually be kind.
5. Letting Your Child Be Independent
Certain parents get intensely overprotective about their children and tend to be constantly around them like a surveillance drone. This behaviour can make kids irritated or make them excessively dependent on you. Rushing to stop your kid from doing something that’s wrong can be harmful to him in the long term, as long as the activity is not fatal. If your kid falls while playing, let him fall and cry for a while. He will gradually learn to dust himself up and start playing again.
6. Establish Proper Routines
At a young age, your child’s mind can be all over the place with the amount of stimulation he receives. That could get him confused and lose focus, causing him to constantly keep wondering what he’s doing. By helping establish a routine, your child can instantly know when to wake up, brush, eat, sleep, study, play, and all that. Having a routine also helps him develop a sense of achievement where he has done everything he needs to do in the day. A routine helps repeat activities beneficial to him, and this repetition helps manifest it into a good habit.
7. Working Towards Developing An Interesting Skill
Your child might seem to have a keen interest in a particular thing in his life. It could be as minuscule as collecting different types of leaves to something as complex as understanding how astronauts go into space. He could also be trying his hand at the piano or emulating dance moves by watching videos. Whatever it might be, allow him time to pursue it and guide him in getting better at it. They might not pursue the same skill later on in life, but they would know how to keep at it and get better.
8. Spend Fun-Filled Moments Together
Your child will cherish the memories spent with you the most. Make time to spend with him in various fun-filled activities. If he likes playing video games, join him on a match and play with each other as well as against each other. Try to disconnect from the role of a parent and an adult, and instead become a child and his friend, while simply enjoying the time with him. That will further strengthen the bond that you have, help develop trust between you both and make him open up to you more often.
9. Ensure That You Listen to Your Child
Many children do communicate their emotions to their parents. However, these are mostly looked at as the usual childhood rants or tantrums and easily ignored. Your child might then begin to develop a sense of not being wanted or inferiority. He needs to know that he can talk to you about anything and you will truly understand what he’s going through. Give him time, drop what you’re doing for a moment and listen to him even when he’s telling you what happened in his favourite cartoon episode.
10. You Need to Be Happy Yourself
No amount of games, parties, activities will work if you are an unhappy person yourself. Children tend to sense that a lot quicker than others and will tend to think that’s how life usually is. They might feel guilty if they do have something to be happy about. Happiness is contagious, so if you are happy, your child will be happy with you.
Raising a child to be a responsible young person and have a happy mindset is not an easy task. The right kind of feedback, interaction, and moderate guidance is how to make kids happy the right way. Being a parent, a team player, a friend, and a person he can always rely on will help your child develop his inner personality in a stronger way and make him an adult that you will be extremely proud of.
Also Read: Personality Development Tips For Kids Read more
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Yoga for Asthma - Great Yoga Poses to Ease Breathing
Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that has helped people around the world from different ailments. Millions of people across the globe have asthma and if you are one among them, consider using yoga to get relief.
How Can Yoga Help with Asthma?
Asthma, as most of you know is an inflammatory disease that makes the airways narrow. They produce extra mucus, swell up, and makes it difficult to breathe. Other symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and tightness of chest. The signs and their intensity vary from one person to another. There is no treatment for asthma, but you can always reduce the symptoms. Using asthma for this purpose will give you great results.
Yoga helps by improving your lung capacity and facilitating proper breathing. The respiratory benefits of yoga are many. Breathing exercises like pranayama enhance the functioning of the lungs and make breathing easy.
Yoga can also reduce asthma attacks, and this has been proved in several studies. It reduces the dependency on drugs and is known to improve the rate of peak expiratory flow rate. However, a lot of research still needs to be conducted to establish some of these facts.
Yoga Poses for Asthma Relief
Here, are some of the yoga poses that you can try to ease breathing:
1. Sukhasana (Pleasant Pose)
Steps
Stretch out your feet after sitting down with your spine straight
Now cross your knees and keep them wide. Cross your shins and keep your feet under the knees
Keep your feet relaxed while resting the outer edges on the floor and keeping your pelvis in the neutral position
Now put one of your palms on the other and place them on your lap
Make your shoulders firm and elongate the tailbone
Take deep breaths
Do this for 10-15 minutes
How Does It Help?
This yoga pose is a great option for both advanced practitioners and beginners. It focuses completely on your breathing and improves lung function.
2. Savasana (Corpse Pose)
Steps
Take a yoga mat and lie on your back with your feet and arms relaxed
Soften and relax your jaws after closing your eyes
Take all your attention to your breath and slowly slow it down
Take deep rhymic breaths and relax every part of your body
Do this for 5-10 minutes
How Does It Help?
Savasana also helps by managing your stress. It also helps in breath management.
3. Setu Bhandasana
You will need to form a bridge with your body.
Steps
Take a yoga mat and lie flat on your back with your arms and palms facing down and your arms being parallel to your body
Now bend your knees in a such a way that your feet are flat on the floor
Inhale, press your feet firmly on the floor and lift your hip from the floor
Now slowly try to light your upper body with your body weight being on your shoulders
Be in this position and take 8-10 deep breaths
Exhale and slowly lower down your spine
Stand up after taking a few more deep breaths
How Does It Help?
The bridge pose, as it is sometimes called, helps in opening up your chests and lungs. It has a lot of other benefits like improving the functioning of your thyroid glands, bone strengthening, improving digestion, and enhancing immunity. Setu Bhadasana also relaxes your tired muscles.
4. Bending Pose
This is a simple pose that you can try to reduce your asthma symptoms.
Steps
Stand straight with your legs hip-width apart
Bend your body forward while bending your knees a little to relieve any lower back strain
Lift your body and fold it a little forward with your knees still bent
Now fold your arms with your palms holding elbows of the opposite hands
Now let your body hang and close your eyes closed
Take deep breaths
How Does It Help?
This too helps by opening up your lungs.
5. Baddhakonasana
Also known as the butterfly pose, this is one of the most recommended yoga poses for asthma patients.
Steps
Sit on a yoga mat with your legs relaxing on the floor
Bring your feet inward by bending your knees
Now bring your feet together and ensure the distance between your feet and pelvis is about 6 inches
Hold your feet tightly with your hands
Push your thighs and knees down while inhaling deeply
Now start moving your things up and down—breathe normally
Start slowly and then increase your speed gradually
Keep doing this for 8-10 minutes
Slowly bring your legs to rest
Take a deep breath and stretch your legs slowly
How Does It Help?
This relaxing asthma yoga exercise gives relief from asthma symptoms by stretching your body. It improves circulation to the entire body, including lungs, by stimulating your heart. Doing this can also give you relief from fatigue.
6. Bhujangasana
This is also known as the snake pose
Steps
Lie down on the yoga mat on your stomach and stretch your legs
Now place your palms parallel to your shoulders
Make sure your toes and chin are touching the floor
Slowly raise your chest and bend backwards while inhaling
Stay in this position for 20-30 seconds
Exhale and return to your original position
Take a deep breath and relax
Repeat this for at least five times taking a break of 15 seconds between each
How Does It Help?
This is an excellent exercise for asthma patients and helps by improving the circulation of blood and oxygen in the entire body. It also helps in the proper expansion of the lungs and chest.
7. Straddled Splits
This can improve your lung capacity
Steps
Sit on your yoga mat
Stretch your legs as much as possible both being wide apart and the heels flexed
Now make your things firm, inhale deeply and put your arms on the front on the floor
Now, as you exhale, bend your body forward and make your hands walk in front of you
Take five deep breaths before getting back to the starting position
How Does It Help?
This yoga pose will open up your lungs by stretching your upper body.
8. Pranayama
End your yoga routine with this.
Steps
Sit on the yoga mat with your legs crossed
Keep your head, spine, and neck in one straight line
Close your eyes and shift all your attention to breathing
Breathe from your abdomen
Balance out rapid breaths with slower ones
Repeat this for 8-10 minutes
How It Helps
As already mentioned above, pranayama makes breathing easy and improves the functioning of the lungs. It is a great yoga exercise for all.
FAQs
Some questions you might have are:
1. Which Pranayama is Best for Asthma?
There is no pranayama that can be considered the best for asthma. Some of the recommended ones apart from the usual pranayama are Anulom Vilom pranayama, Nadi shodan pranayama, and kapalbhati pranayama. While doing these yoga exercises, having the correct yoga mudra is very important.
2. Can Asthma Patient Do Kapalbhati?
Kapalbhati pranayama can prove to become very effective in improving your breathing.
3. Is Hot Yoga Safe for Asthma Patient?
Yes, it is. Hot yoga induces humidity, and heat and these can serve to be beneficial for asthma patients. It helps in improving normal breathing technique and also expands chest and lung capacity.
Asthma cure with yoga is not an option as yoga alone can’t help. It is never recommended to depend on yoga only. You will still need to continue with your medications, more so if your asthma is severe. Yoga can only improve your general health by expanding your lungs and chest capacity; making it easier to inhale and exhale.
Also Read:
Health Benefits of Yoga for Your Entire Family
Yoga Poses for Managing Pain
Tips for Living a Yoga Lifestyle Read more
Suggested for you
Easy Answers for Awkward Tween Questions
The barrage of questions that come from children can be embarrassing to say the least. Putting them off will only make them get their information from less reliable sources. How to answer your teen’s awkward questions? Give reassuring answers as the honest truth is what they'll appreciate.
When your little babies are learning to crawl, you can't wait for them to utter their first words. But, before you know it, they've grown up into pesky tweens. This is the time when they start to ask questions that can get a tad bit embarrassing. Questions about bodily changes and dreaded sexual queries can be especially awkward. Don't shy away - follow these tips to answer uncomfortable questions.
Answering Your Tween's Awkward Questions Confidently
1. That pubic age!
Your tweens begin to find hair sprouting in places other than on their heads and they turn to you for answers. Remember, they're still children so calmly respond with words that their young minds are able to understand and accept. The simplest answer is to tell them it's all part of growing up. That should keep them satisfied, at least for a while!
2. Your daughter sets sail
Your daughter has reached puberty and begins her first menstrual cycle. You're left with the task of explaining the changes happening in her body. If you don't really want to go into details, you could start with the basics. Tell her its nature's way of cleansing and strengthening the body. Once she becomes older, you can explain to her the mechanics of her menstruation.
3. Using sanitary products
Once you've explained menstruation to your daughter, explaining the use of pads, tampons and menstrual cups should be a piece of cake. However, what you may not anticipate is to have to explain the use of these products to an inquisitive son. An easy enough answer would be to tell him that just like how he requires extra padding when playing sports and games, so does your daughter. That should kill his curiosity for a while!
4. Boy, oh boy!
As your son grows older, the changes in his body are bound to fire up some embarrassing questions that you'd rather not answer, if you had the choice. Your husband can be the one to satisfy your boy's curiosity, but if he isn't around, just remember there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Questions of erections can be answered by telling him that sometimes the genital stands up and it's all a part of growing up. Topics on masturbation, meanwhile, can be answered by telling him that while the act itself is normal, it's private.
5. When boy meets girl and girl meets boy
If your kids are at that age where they begun to notice the other gender, it's time to have a talk. Being overprotective will only make them back away but too much freedom isn't the solution either. Teach your children to behave with dignity, and treat their partners with respect!
Whatever the questions, the key is to listen to your children without judgement. Don't let an awkward tween question turn into an awkward moment. Welcome your tween's concerns with calming assurance. You want him or her to be able to come to you for help, not find it somewhere else. Read more
Suggested for you
Every child deserves a basic respect
Mom,dad.No comparison please !!
We live in a world where everyone is in constant competition with each other and with oneself. In this race of proving ourselves better than others, most of whom don't even have any significant place in our lives, we often don't realize that unknowingly we are pushing our kids beyond limits in name of making their future.
Gone were the days when festivals and social gatherings were actually meant to meet friends & relatives. Now these are mere ways to show our status and luxurious life style, most of the time if not always. And unfortunately our children are also becoming our status symbol, a trophy with which we can boast in front of others. My daughter is a fantastic singer, my son won a trophy last week etc etc. Little do we realise that our kids have an individual identity. Their interest might not match with our expectations.The worst part of this is comparison of children,might be among siblings, classmates, neighbours , relatives etc and most of the time irrespective of their age, their interests, their performance in various fields apart from academics. This has been traditionally considered as a mean of motivating the child to do better but most of the time it affects the child adversely, making them feel inferior, incompetent and leads to low self esteem.
Merely because we brought our kids in this world never means we own them. Every child has the ability to do well, in a field of his/her choice. Our responsibility is to identify that talent and allow them to grow, & at the same time protecting them from the negative influences. But instead we force our unfulfilled dreams on them. When asked most of us reply that we are providing the best of facilities to our kids, which we couldn't even imagine during our childhood. But this doesn't give us a certificate to do whatever we wish to. It is perfectly okay to be busy with our job and career, paying bills is equally important. But nothing can replace those few moments, as little as an hour which you spend with your kid, discussing their fears and inhibitions, showing your trust in their dreams and assuring them that they will always find their parents by their side whatever the circumstances might be. It is so disheartening to read about adolescent depression and young kids committing suicide, but just assuming that it can never happen to our children is nothing else but negligence. It's of utmost importance to make them understand that nothing is end of life however bad it might appear to be. Only condition is to keep putting efforts and that they always have the helping hands of their parents with them.
It's high time when we should understand, accept and respect the unique identity of our children. One shoe doesn't fit all so what was correct during our childhood and with one kid might not go the same way for other. Be the support system of your child, appreciate the good and correct or modify the bad without hurting their self esteem. Because however young or old your child might be, he or she deserves a basic respect. Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. which soap is better tedibar or sebamed?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. no problem u can use anyone. 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
Rashmi has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
4 hours ago
Q. Hi, are matte sunscreens suitable for oily skin? I am a new mother and I have to join office after my maternity leave, please suggest me a good one.
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. Cetaphil SPF 50 sunscreen lotion is going to be a very good choice for you to use for your skin it’s one of the best things that you can currently use and I’m very certain it is going to be good for your skin options also otherwise if you want you can try consulting a dermatologist for that
Anu Sharma has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
2 hours ago
Q. can i use pain relief spray at time of pregancy
Anu Sharma
Mom of a 1 yr old boy
1 hour ago
A. yes
Anu Sharma has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. hi iam 13th week pregnant my mind is completely in pressure stress and I cried alott does this affect my baby or baby growth
Anu Sharma
Mom of a 1 yr old boy
1 hour ago
A. yes. mood swings are normal
Rashmi has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 8 m old child
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts 300 vochure
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. If you have any question concerning the parenting platform then please feel free to post your question once I know what are you willing to ask with all the necessary details associated it will be easier for me to give you appropriate help and response onto your question
Rashmi has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
2 hours ago
Q. My daughter (9months old) is not at all willing to drink aptamil and breast milk I am getting only 100 ml per day now. I have tried adding jaggery powder in aptamil but still she is not at all willing to drink.I tried to feed her with aptamil midnight when she was in deep sleep but still she woke up and started crying. I am not able to find any solution for this.Its been 2 days that I have started trying aptamil.So I will continue to try for another week and if she still doesn't drink can you suggest what can be done
Read moreRashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. For yourself I would recommend you Shatavari powder three times in the day to increase your lactation other than that since your child is six months complete you can give Amul Taaza milk to your child that is easier for the childhood digest and flavour is also good even if you want you can add some dry fruit powder saffron or turmeric for flavour change that’s also a good option to try these alternative
Check out this new Memory
Ashima
Mom of a 2 yr old boy
11 mins ago
#grandphoto
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Shaily Jain
Mom of a 3 m old girl
19 mins ago
#grandphoto
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
samaira
Guardian of a 2 m old boy
25 mins ago
#stylishbaby
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Kavita
Guardian of a 8 m old girl
25 mins ago
#grandphoto
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Astha
Mom of a 8 m old girl
29 mins ago
#amazingbaby
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive