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How to Night Wean a Baby
Constantly feeding a hungry baby during the night can leave the mother tired and exhausted from the lack of proper sleep. Many times babies take one or two comfort feeds in the night just to go back to sleep. Transitioning smoothly from feeding once or twice in the night to completely weaning them off breastmilk can be very tricky. Although there is no single success formula for night weaning, there are a couple of tricks that you can follow to slowly make your baby sleep through the night. Read on to know about some effective ways on how to stop breastfeeding at night.
At What Age Will Your Baby Be Ready for Night Weaning?
Every baby is different, and each of them has their own needs and routines. However, between the ages of four to six months, most babies are ready to sleep through the night. Typically, at this age, they receive enough energy from their daytime feeding to sustain through the night. You can check their wet diaper count to ensure that they are getting enough milk.
How to Know if Your Baby is Ready?
Babies who are ready for a night wean show one or more of the following signs:
Eats less during the day: If the baby feeds less during the day and compensates for it in the night, it is high time you shift the cycle and focus on feeding during the day. This a is a clear sign that the baby needs to fall back into a regular daytime feeding habit.
Plays during the night feed: If your baby wakes up to have some fun with the feeding, then it is clearly an indication that he is not hungry and is simply unable to break the habit of waking up to feed.
Baby is on solids: When the baby has started having solids during the day, he or she is less likely to feel hungry in the night. This is the right time to wean from feeding in the night.
Tips for Night-Weaning Your Baby
If you are unsure about how to wean off breastfeeding at night, the following tips can help you.
Gradually increase daytime feed: Observe the quantity that the baby drinks during the night and try to add a few ml of milk extra during the morning and evening feed just to keep the baby full. Gradually increasing the quantity of daytime feed can make them less hungry during the night,
Break the mental map: Observe the time at which the baby wakes up crying for a feed. Wake yourself and the baby up half an hour before the feeding time and feed the baby before it cries for milk. Doing this over time breaks the mental map that the baby has between crying and feeding.
Slowly reduce feeding time: Slowly reduce the time that the baby feeds during the night. Stop the session a couple of minutes before every day and compensate for the milk consumption during the daytime feed.
Feed before sleep: Feed the baby to its heart's content before sleeping time, to make sure that the baby is full. This will give you a couple of more hours to sleep, as the baby will not feel hungry for a long time.
Involve another family member: Sometimes, babies feed in the night to soothe themselves. You can try to involve the father or any other member of the family to do the job of calming the baby. You can slowly break the association between calming down and feeding, by allowing somebody else to take over while you step aside.
Include an evening feed: Feeding in the evening, few hours before dinner can be very helpful in creating a feeling of fullness. This reduces the chances of getting up repeatedly in the night because of hunger.
Empty one breast at a time: Sometimes, babies get hungry frequently because they do not get enough of the thick and nourishing hindmilk. Make sure you allow the baby to drain one breast at a time. If your child switches breasts in very short time, she may get only the foremilk making her wake up again for feed.
Avoid distractions: Make sure you keep the distractions during the day minimal while feeding. If the baby does not take enough food during the day because of any distractions, she tends to catch up with the food at night.
Cuddle up well: Babies require a lot of physical touches to feel safe and secure. During the day and even the night make sure you cuddle them and constantly nurture them. This avoids any kind of insecurity-led feeding that some babies tend to adopt.
Reason it out: If you are trying to wean a toddler who has got into the habit of feeding in the night, then you can reason it out with him or her. Sometimes, a clear message of 'no' does the job. You can lovingly reiterate the fact that it is sleeping time and not feeding time.
Is Night Weaning Necessary to Get Baby to Sleep Through the Night?
Yes, weaning at night is necessary for babies to learn to sleep through the night. Nursing sessions typically break their sleep and make them irritable and cranky. A baby with full stomach tends to sleep peacefully the whole night. Night weaning a 1-year-old is also a vital step towards growth as babies grow during their sleep.
Common Reasons Why Night Weaning May Not Be Working for Baby
sometimes it more be exceptionally difficult to night wean a baby. Here are few reasons why this may be happening to you.
If your baby is a dream feeder, then the connection between sleep and nursing can be very strong sometimes. Breaking this connection can take longer than usual, prolonging the process of weaning. Although these babies are capable of sleeping without a feed, they still wake up in the night to feed and go back to sleep.
If your baby calms down only by feeding, then in such cases feeding often in the night becomes very important for the baby. Night weaning might not be possible until the baby learns to self-soothe and sleep.
If the baby is too small, then he or she may not have the ability to go long hours without a feed. Typical age at which weaning can be started is between four and six months.Trying to night wean before that is not good for the health of the baby,
When the baby is eating solid food, he or she may be requiring some extra calories in the night. Until their calorie requirement is taken care of in the day, night weaning can be difficult.
If your baby eats very little during the day, then he may tend to feel hungry in the night. You may have to regularize your baby's daytime eating habits to start night weaning.
When your baby prefers to feed breastmilk directly over other formula feed from a bottle, you may have a tougher time weaning your baby. Some babies particularly prefer feeding on the breast in the night. This rules out the option of using a bottle or even requesting other family members to share the responsibility.
Night weaning can be tricky if your kid is very strongly attached to nursing and sleeping. To get a full nights sleep for both you and the baby, you can follow any of the above-mentioned techniques to wean your baby at night.
Also Read: Effective Ways to Train Your Baby for Self Soothing Read more
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12 Best Ways to Deal With and Calm Child’s Anger
Everyone gets angry once in a while and children are likely to lose their temper more often than adults. This anger can be a result of frustration, loneliness, fear, sadness, or feeling threatened. While anger cannot be categorised as bad outright, it is essential to look at how your child copes with this powerful emotion.
By observing how your child deals with their anger, you can determine whether you need to worry about anger issues and think or anger management or not. Here are some signs that indicate a need for concern:
Frequent anger
Angry over the smallest of issues
Angry outbursts that result in loss of self-control
Cannot express feelings clearly
Reckless behaviour
Not bothered about how anger is hurting other’s feelings
Speaks in a threatening manner
Expresses aggression or violence through drawings or writings
Has to be reminded to control anger
Understanding what triggered the anger is the first step in helping your child cope. Through anger management methods, you can get your child to learn how to channel their anger and calm down gradually.
How to Teach Kids to Control Anger – 12 Effective Ways
The easy way out is to punish your child by shouting at them and venting your anger or cutting off privileges such as television time or play time. But the best strategies are those that encourage your child to cope with anger on their own. Here are some tips that can teach you how to deal with a child with anger issues.
1. Take A Break
Tell your child to take a break or a timeout by going to their room till they calm down. If your child is ranting, wait for them to finish before sending them away. However, if your child is aggressive or violent, then it is essential first to stop it. You can do that by making them sit down quietly until their anger dissipates. Teaching your child breathing exercises and counting from one to ten can be of help in calming them.
2. Improve Verbal Communication
Quite often, when children get angry, they throw tantrums, shout or hit because they are do not know that anger can be expressed verbally too. Teaching them a ‘feeling vocabulary’ which is a list of words to show how they feel can prove useful in helping children deal with anger. Some examples are words like angry, scared, furious, and irritated or sentences such as, “ I am so angry now!” and “He is annoying me”, and so on.
3. Redirecting Anger
When anger is triggered, your child feels an adrenaline rush that gives them more energy and strength and also results in a louder voice. All these can lead to aggression or violence unless the adrenaline is channelised to something less harmful. So, you could get your child to vent their anger on a punching bag or shout into a pillow till the urge to get violent passes off.
4. Show Empathy
When your child is angry, try to get them to talk about why they are feeling so. This shows them that you are responding to their needs instead of just reacting. On seeing you lend a listening ear, your child is more likely to calm down. They realise that you are letting them express their feelings instead of simply judging them first. This makes it one of the most effective tips on how to handle an angry child.
5. Set Some Anger Rules
Make your child understand that it is alright to express their feelings and emotions especially anger, but anger is not to take on a physical form such as hitting or kicking. Let them know that screaming, calling names, or being mean is not acceptable and instead calmly talking things out is a better way. Enforce these rules of behaviour whenever your child is angry without exception to gradually see the results you want.
6. Change Your Behaviour
If you are in the habit of shouting when angry, then your children will also imbibe it. So, learn to control yourself by not yelling at your kids no matter what the provocation. By staying calm and using an even tone, you will get across the message that it is possible to control feelings of anger and deal with it calmly without getting agitated.
7. Set A Daily Routine
Come up with a daily routine for your child to follow to help them cope with their anger better. Ensure they get about 30 minutes of physical activity each day through a sport or hobby to help them get rid of all the excess energy that can then feed anger. Make it a point to spend around 15 minutes one-on-one with each child simply making conversation and bonding.
8. Take Preventive Action
Once your child flies off the handle, the situation gets difficult. So, try to identify the cues that indicate your child is about to throw a tantrum and take steps to deflect it. You can do this by distracting them with an activity or even simply cuddling your child.
9. Identify A Safe Spot
Talk to your child when they are in a good mood and agree upon a safe location where he or she is to head when they are angry. For example, the child’s bedroom, the porch, or the backyard might be a safe spot for them to give vent to their feelings without being embarrassed in front of others or being disturbed by siblings who might then become the subject of their anger. Give the spot a fun name such as ‘Parking Lot’ or ‘Hideaway’ to avoid any negative associations.
10. Find The Triggers
Observe your child to understand the particular situation or circumstance that triggers the outburst. There may be different things that set it off but a pattern will emerge over time, and by avoiding these triggers you will be able to contain the situation. If the triggers are unavoidable, then making your child understand the reason why such a reaction occurs can help them calm down.
11. Use Touch
Try to calm down your child during angry outbursts by hugging them or getting them to hold your hand. Touch can have a calming effect on many children and can help defuse a volatile situation instantly.
12. Appeal To Child’s Compassion
Tell your child how the outburst is affecting you. You could say that it saddened you as a parent to see your child behave in this way. Or you can try telling them that you are exhausted and could use some rest, so could they please find something else to do quietly.
Keeping the lines of communication open in your home is the right way of connecting with your children on all levels and not just when they are angry. If these simple tips do not help you calm your child down over a period, then it might be time to seek professional help. A good therapist and some family counselling alongside individual therapy might help your child work through their feelings better.
Disclaimer: This information is just a guide and not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified professional.
Also Read: Effective Ways to Deal with Stubborn Child Read more
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Developmental Milestones for your 2-3 Years Old Toddler
Your toddler has officially entered the ‘terrible twos’ and can be a handful to manage. This is an age in which kids will start exploring the world around them. This is the time to explore and test their limits in terms of physical abilities.
Child development milestones are important events in a child’s growth and development. Events like standing, crawling, taking the first step, eating, talking and reading are examples of these milestones. They refer to certain things that children should be able to do by a certain age.
At this stage, you can expect your child to act, behave and do things that steer him towards being independent. Child development milestones for toddlers aged 2-3 years comprise developments such as, their ability to express emotions, imitate actions, follow two or three-step directions and sort out objects by their shape and colour. You can find several learning toys in the market which will help in stimulating your toddler’s sense of shapes and colours.
Physical Development: Milestones
Between the ages of 2-3 years, your toddler will be able to walk about with little external support from her parents. She will begin to experiment with her body parts. For instance, she will try to do multiple movements like walk while dragging a toy behind her, or stand on her toes to reach for something which is beyond her reach. In the playground, she may experiment with a little running, and even start going up and down the stairs with the help of a handrail. She will discover the use of her fingers, and may start to scribble with a pencil. You will find that she will begin to use her fingers to put food into her mouth, and would even imitate your gestures while holding a spoon. She may be able to stack her building blocks during play time. She may also be able to open boxes, drawers, cabinets, etc., on her own.
Social Skills: Milestones
Your 2-year-old may suddenly discover the world around her. She may start showing interest in other people; especially kids, and may be even excited about playing with them. She may try to imitate your actions or mannerisms. This is the age where she might carry out ‘make believe’ plays.
Emotional Growth: Milestones
Your child may start understanding that she is a separate individual, and may begin labelling things as “mine”. She may start testing her boundaries, and can become stubborn and defiant if things do not go her way. She can now describe what she feels. For instance, if she can’t find her toy, she will tell you that she is sad. As she starts discovering her own skills, she may resort to tantrums and aggression to get things done. She will display likes and dislikes and show interest in what she eats and wears.
Cognitive and Literacy Skills: Milestones
By this age, your little one would have started to progress from stand alone words to making small sentences, albeit broken. Her vocabulary would also have increased to around 200 to 400 words, and she will never leave a chance to chatter around. She can understand when she is told to do something such as putting a toy away, or picking up things. Your child begins to understand the concept of classification; for instance, she will know that a dog is an animal and a sparrow is a bird. She may start to scribble with a pencil or a crayon. She may enjoy being read to, and may even demand the same story over and over again. She may begin to understand the concept of hiding things and may enjoy a game of hide and seek. She will be able to tell you simple things like a couple of animal names or body parts.
Everyday Skills
Your toddler will now develop a sense of cleanliness, and will want to remain dry and clean. She may tell you when she wants to use the toilet. Toddlers are able to do more things themselves and are ready for toilet training. Again, this differs from child to child . Your child may also start dressing and undressing herself, if the clothes are simple and without any tie ups or buttons. She may be able to feed herself a little, though she cannot be expected to follow table manners. It might be a good time to let your little toddler sit with everyone for a family meal. Little things like washing hands will be a joyful activity for most toddlers.
Thinking
Toddlers are able to think, sort objects, match colours and shapes, and use trial and error to solve problems.
Talking
At around two years of age, your toddler might be able to say ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘me’, and utter more than 50 words, and use 2-3 word sentences. During this time, toddlers are able to grasp and use many new words and it becomes easier for other people to understand what your toddler is saying. At the age of 3, toddlers are able to understand more words and use sentences with 3-5 words. Conversational skills will pick up, and develop by leaps and bounds.
Moving
Toddlers can run around without falling very often. They can climb upstairs and downstairs by holding a handrailing for support. Between the ages of 2 and 3 years, toddlers get better at kicking, throwing and catching things.
Expressing Feelings
This phase is not known as the “terrible twos” for nothing. Tantrums around this age are normal even as toddlers are just finding their bearings, and are unable to speak out and express anger, frustration or embarrassment they might be experiencing.
Remember that children grow at their own pace, and that each child is different. These are general guidelines and there is no need to be alarmed if your toddler is not yet doing an activity expected by this age. It is always a good idea to get your child assessed periodically by a doctor even as you go for her routine checkups, so that the parents can be assured of their toddler’s overall development and well-being. Read more
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Six months completed
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to give children when starting solids?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. After completing the time of six months you should start with dal water and rice water followed by all kind of fruits and vegetables porridge khichadi mash banana mash potato mash sweet potato dairy products and varieties made made out of ragi Suji and oats can also be given to your child
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Teach Your Child To Follow Directions Easily
So your little humans refusing to listen to you again? Use these techniques to get your child to follow directions easily – without having to keep her on a leash.
Kids aren't born knowing that they have to do as they are told. It is up to parents to teach them to do so. Here's what you should do, stage by stage:
Newborn to 2 Years Old
Your little one learns a lot about the world and her role in it by the way you interact with her. Set the foundation for cooperative behaviour by responding to your newborn's cries. And when her basic needs are taken care of, encourage her to respond to your actions. For example, if you look into her eyes and make funny faces, try to get her to laugh. As she transitions into a toddler, you will notice that your child will oscillate between being perfectly obedient to a child whose favourite word is no. Get your child to listen by only giving her simple instructions, and praising her whenever she follows them. Your approval will encourage her to behave well.
Three to Four Year Old
Again, your child will behave wonderfully when given simple instructions and loads of appreciation. As her vocabulary grows, increase the complexity of directions accordingly. On the flip side, your child's attention span will decrease, so make sure she is really listening when you are talking to her.
Five to Six Year Old
Now is when your child's attention span will really improve, and so will her vocabulary. She will now be able to understand longer instructions – all you have to do is ensure you are giving them in the proper order. As her cognitive development has not yet finished, jumbling up a series of instructions will only confuse her, and she might end up doing none of them. Again, appreciation will go a long way in helping her to cooperate.
Seven to Nine Years Old
Your child is growing up into a big person now, and her obedience will depend heavily on how well-behaved her friends are, particularly with their parents. It is important that you know the kind of company your child keeps. And if you see a child misbehaving with an adult in a public space, say a shopping mall, explain to her why that child's behaviour is wrong. Simply declaring that the behaviour is wrong will not do much good.
Ten to Twelve Years Old
As your kiddo enters her preteen years, friends will continue to have a huge influence on how obedient she is. Plus, her mood swings will also determine whether or not she wants to do what you are saying. Again, do not declare what your child should or shouldn't do. If you followed the above in her previous years, you are more likely to have a preteen who listens to you. Of course, there will be typical bursts of rebellion. How you deal with them will either make your child rebel more, or just rebel from time to time. As a thumb rule, try to reason with them, and do not mete out extreme punishments.
Although these techniques will definitely help mould your child into an obedient kid, do not have unrealistic expectations. Kids will be kids. There will be instances when they will simply refuse to listen to you, no matter what. At times like these, all you can do is reassure yourself that one day they will have kids of their own! Read more
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Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
This recipe is different from the usual mashed potato recipes apart from being absolutely delicious. Although its calorie content is high, this recipe packs in a lot of calcium and phosphorus which is important for maximizing bone density. Moms, can involve your kids in the preparation bit, by getting your preschoolers to gather the ingredients, or peel the potatoes and shred the cheese.
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
4 People
10-15 Minutes
25-30 Minutes
Ingredients
200 g mashed potatoes
100 g shredded cheddar cheese
50 g sour cream
50 g parmesan cheese
100 g slices of chicken, fried and striped
1 onion, chopped finely
salt and pepper, to taste
1 clove of garlic
Method
Step 1
Keep the oven for pre-heating to 350° Fahrenheit (176° Celsius).
Step 2
Take a large bowl, and drop in the mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese, fried chicken pieces, onion, salt, pepper, and garlic.
Step 3
Place this mixture in a greased oven-proof casserole dish and bake this for 30 minutes or until the top turns golden brown.
Nutritional Information
Calories
270 Kcal
Proteins
19.3 g,
Fat
16.1 g
Carbohydrates
12.2 g
Cholesterol
64 mg
Sodium
413 mg
Potassium
294 mg
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Contribution – Babyhug Froggy Gyro Swing Car With Easy Steering Wheel Review
We were super excited when the Babyhug Froggy Gyro Swing Car was delivered. The unboxing and unpacking happened immediately thereafter without any waste of time. We have received the Blue and Yellow coloured Car which is a pleasant colour combination. All the components were neatly packed alongwith the Instruction Manual. However, I found it easier to assemble the Car using a Youtube video available online. It took me around 30 to 45 mins to put it all together. My little one just couldn’t sit still and wanted to start driving it immediately.
The Car can be used for 18 months toddlers. It being the first time she is riding such a car, I have been a little cautious and manoeuvring it myself. Once she gets used to it & I develop the confidence I think I will let her drive on her own. My little one on the other hand has no such worries and rushes to sit on it by herself. It feels good to watch her smile when the Car moves. She keeps both her feet on the designated yellow patch of foot mat and holds the steering wheel with her both hands. She does not like it when I stop pushing the car and keeps insisting that I push her again. The two Orange Buttons through which the Nursery rhymes play and the Light effects fascinate her. She has quickly learned how to get the music on. My husband and I were impressed with the Car.
It is an excellent “Play & Learn” tool for toddlers to learn the art of balancing themselves while in motion. It also keeps their mind alert on how to start/ stop the wheel movement and helps improve the eye, hand and feet co-ordination.
The Music and Lights work once the battery is inserted so you can easily decide if and when you would like to insert the battery. I liked the Nursey Rhymes that played through it since my little one listens to it and tries to mimic it.
If possible, the Car additionally should have a back support/ back rest which would give more confidence to little over protective parents like me. I had read the note on FirstCry regarding the Front wheels not touching the ground and I am sure there would be a valid reason behind this. However, due to the same, I felt that while taking a turn, one has to be cautious.
Despite this, I would definitely recommend purchasing the Babyhug Froggy Gyro Swing Car With Easy Steering Wheel for your toddler.
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. can I take gevocet m during breastfeeding
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. Please check with your doctor they will be able to confirm whether you can take this medicine or or not as a Dr who have a fair idea and they will know for what thing you are willing to take this medicine so whatever doubt you have associated there be able able able to clear it up for you
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. can I take zanocin 200 during breastfeeding
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. I’m not aware about what medicine it is for I can only tell you that these basic medicines you can take throughout your lactation it’s not a problem the medicines that you could take before your pregnancy can always be taken during the time of lactation
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert mam iam 33 weeks now when can I expect delivery date
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. The basic delivery date is normally 39 to 3 40 weeks of your pregnancy whenever you are ready for your delivery and whenever you hit your labour that’s going to be the right time for you further move your Dr is going to tell you when are you going to deliver with the help of an ultrasound
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. iam 33 weeks pregnant now
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. What is your question associated with your pregnancy that you haven’t mentioned clearly can you please repost your question providing all the necessary details so at least I know and understand what are you willing to ask and accordingly I can give you help and assistance on that
Jennifer has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 3 months
57 mins ago
Q. I am 23 weeks 1 day pregnant. I was feeling the movements actively until today. Baby movements were not that good or maybe I didn’t feel it that way today. Is it a cause of concern? Should I wait for a day or two or should I go and see my gynaecologist?
Please suggest!
Read moreJennifer
Mom of 6 children
19 mins ago
A. please consult ur gynae asap.
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