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15 Interesting Bedtime Stories for Kids
Children love stories. They especially love to hear a story from their mother or father, just before bedtime. Reading bedtime stories to children is a wonderful way to bond with them and encourages a love for reading. Reading to children makes them love books and become readers themselves. It also sharpens memory, improves language, and strengthens their creative thinking. Here are 15 of the best bedtime stories for children.
Best Bedtime Stories for Children
Children are always active, and it can be hard to put them to sleep at times. This is when a good story can come to your aid. It helps you prepare your kids for bedtime, and they’ll even look forward to it if there are good stories to hear. Below, are some of the stories that you could read out to them.
1. The Ugly Duckling
This is one of the classic bedtime stories for kids. The story starts on a farm, where a duck sits on a clutch of eggs to make them hatch. The eggs hatch one by one, and soon, there are six yellow-feathered ducklings, chirping excitedly. The last egg takes longer to hatch, and from it emerges a strange looking duckling with grey feathers. Everybody finds the grey duckling ugly, including its own mother. The dejected duckling runs away and lives alone in a swamp until winter comes. Seeing the duckling starving in winter, a farmer takes pity on the ugly duckling and gives it food and shelter at home. However, the duckling is afraid of the farmer’s noisy children and flees to a cave by a frozen lake. When spring comes, a flock of beautiful swans descend on the lake, and the duckling, which is now fully grown, but lonely, approaches the swans, fully expecting to be rejected. To his surprise, the swans welcome him. He looks at his reflection in the water and realises that he is not an ugly duckling anymore, but a beautiful swan. The swan joins this flock and flies off with his new family.
2. Midas and the Golden touch
The story of Midas is another classic bedtime tale for kids. This ancient story from Greece describes King Midas as a greedy and discontented man, who loved gold more than anything else. Once, he did a good deed for someone, and a Greek God appeared before him, saying that he will be granted his heart’s desire for doing the good deed. Midas wished that everything he touched should turn into gold, instantly. The God granted his wish. Midas was very excited and went about touching random objects, turning everything he touched into gold. After a while, he became hungry. However, when he touched his food, it turned to gold, and he could not eat it. He was starving and dismayed that he could not eat. Seeing him troubled, his loving daughter threw her arms around him to comfort him, and she, too, turned to gold. Midas was horrified that his daughter had become a statue of gold. He regretted asking for the Golden Touch and realised that he had been greedy and that gold was not the most precious thing in the world. He cried and begged the God to take back his wish. The God took pity on him and asked him to take a dip in the river by his palace, and then fill a pitcher of water from the river and sprinkle it on all the things he wanted to change back. He followed the instructions and changed his daughter back to normal. He was very happy to get his beloved daughter back and stopped being greedy from that moment.
3. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
This story is from Aesop’s Fables and impresses the importance of being truthful. It is the story of a shepherd boy who watched a flock of sheep near his village. The area was known to have a wolf that was infamous for raiding the sheep flock and making away with a couple of sheep. Every villager knew of the menace and was always ready to come to the aid of anyone who had a problem with the wolf. But the boy overlooked this helpful nature of the villagers, and in fact, ridiculed it. For his amusement, he brought out the villagers, three times, by crying out for help, saying “Wolf! Wolf!”. The ever-vigilant villagers immediately came to help him, only to find the shepherd boy having a hearty laugh. They were naturally upset when he laughed at them for getting fooled. One day, however, a wolf actually came and started killing and eating his sheep. This time, when he cried for help, none of the villagers came to his aid, as they thought he was playing a prank on them again. As a result, the wolf destroyed the shepherd’s flock. The moral of the story is that no one believes a liar, even when he tells the truth.
4. The Ant and the Grasshopper
This is another tale from Aesop’s Fables, and talks about the importance of hard work and planning for the future. The story tells of a grasshopper that spends the summer singing and idling away his time. Meanwhile, his neighbours, a colony of ants, work hard throughout the summer to store food for the winter. The grasshopper laughs at the ants and tells them that they should enjoy the summer. The ants tell the grasshopper that he should store food for the winter or he will starve when everything is frozen. When winter comes, the ants are in their nest, resting and surviving on the food that they stored. The grasshopper comes to their door, hungry and cold. He begs the ants for food and says he realised the error of his ways. The ants share their food with him and make him promise to work hard, next summer, to gather and store food.
5. Beauty and the Beast
This is a famous fairy tale that tells us that we should look past outward appearances and give more importance to a person’s good nature. There once was a merchant who got lost in a storm and took shelter in a castle that he found. While leaving, he plucked a rose from the garden to gift to his daughter Belle. The castle belonged to a hideous beast, who imprisoned the merchant for trying to steal the rose. The merchant begged to be set free and told the beast he only wanted the rose for his daughter Belle. The Beast let him go, on the condition that his daughter will take his place and live in the castle. The merchant returned home and told Belle everything. Belle went to live in the castle with the Beast, in place of her father. The Beast fell in love with the beautiful Belle, who realised that the Beast was very good natured and not vicious. One day, Belle asked permission to go see her father. When she left, the Beast felt heartbroken. Belle returned to the castle, to see that the Beast was dying. She held the Beast and cried, admitting that she loves him. All of a sudden, the Beast turned into a handsome prince. He was cursed by a witch that he would remain a Beast, until a woman truly loved him, despite his hideous looks. When Belle said she loved the beast, the witch’s curse was broken. The prince and Belle got married and lived happily ever after.
6. Cinderella
Cinderella is another fairy tale full of magic and adventure. Once, a beautiful girl named Cinderella lived with her wicked stepmother and two stepsisters. The stepmother made her do all the housework and was very cruel to her. One day, the stepmother and stepsisters went to a ball in the King’s palace, leaving Cinderella behind. Cinderella really wanted to attend the ball and felt very sad that she had been left behind. Suddenly, a fairy godmother appeared in a burst of light, and she used her magic to transform Cinderella into a princess, wearing a lovely dress and glass slippers. She also turned a pumpkin and some mice into a carriage and horses, respectively. Cinderella could now attend the ball. The fairy godmother warned her that the magic will wear off at midnight and that Cinderella should return home before that. When Cinderella arrived at the ball, the prince saw her, and they fell in love. They danced together until midnight. When the clock struck twelve, Cinderella rushed to her carriage, leaving one of her glass slippers behind. The prince searched every house in town for the mysterious girl whose foot fit into the glass slipper. He reached the wicked stepmother’s house and found that the shoe belonged to Cinderella. Thus, the prince and Cinderella got married and lived happily ever after.
7. The Hungry Mouse
This is among the short bedtime stories for kids. It talks about how greed can get people into bad situations. There once was a mouse that was starving and had not eaten in days. He had grown really thin. After a lot of searching, the mouse found a basket full of corn. There was a tiny hole in the basket, through which he could just fit in. So, he crept into the basket and ate his fill of corn. However, he did not stop eating, once he was full. The mouse ate more and more, even though he was feeling full. Now, the mouse had grown larger from all that food and could no longer fit through the hole to get out. He was worried and wondered how to escape. A rat that was passing by heard the mouse and told him that he had to wait until he had grown thin again, in order to get out through that hole. The mouse regretted being greedy and overeating.
8. I’m Bored
This is another short bedtime story for kids. The story is about a girl who whines about boredom until she meets a potato. The potato tells her that kids are boring. The little girl is surprised and tells the potato that kids are not boring, and are actually a lot of fun. The potato asks the girl to prove this. The little girl tells the potato all the things children do to have fun. She tells the potato that kids can play games, do cartwheels, skip, walk on their hands, have a race, and play on the swing. She also tells the potato that better than everything else, kids can imagine. This story is a way to remind children of all the fun things they can do when they are bored. This story can also be interactive if you ask your child to recount all the fun things that he/she likes to do.
9. The Emperor’s New Clothes
This is a funny bedtime story for kids. A proud and boastful emperor only cares about displaying himself in beautiful clothes and finery. He hires two weavers and promises them a reward if they make for him the best suit of clothes ever worn by anyone. The weavers are con-men who tell the king that they are using a special fabric that is invisible to anyone who is stupid or unfit for his position. The weavers are actually tricking the king, by only pretending to stitch the clothes, by miming making clothes. Thus, even though no one, including the emperor and his ministers, can actually see the clothes, nobody admits it, for fear of being called stupid or unfit for his position. The weavers claim to have finished the suit and mime dressing the emperor, who then marches before his subjects to show off his new clothes. The townspeople go along with this, as they do not want to admit that the king is naked and risk being called stupid. Then, a child who is watching the procession screams that the emperor has no clothes. The child does not understand the reason to keep up the pretence. Hearing the child, others in the crowd also join the child in saying that the emperor is naked. The emperor is very embarrassed. He realises that his pride and foolishness put him in a situation where he became the object of ridicule.
10. Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
This is a story from The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights. It is a story full of magical adventures. It tells the tale of Aladdin, a poor tailor’s son. After his father dies, Aladdin’s mother earns money by spinning cotton. One day, a wicked magician comes to Aladdin and says he will pay him money for doing a small job. He also gifts him a ring as a token of advance. He then takes him to a hidden cave and asks him to go inside and bring him a lamp. The cave is full of gold and treasures. Aladdin finds the lamp and brings it to the opening of the cave. The magician asks Aladdin to give him the lamp, but Aladdin asks him to help him climb out of the cave, first. The magician gets angry and says magic words that trap Aladdin inside the cave. A desperate Aladdin absently rubs the ring on his finger, and a genie magically appears, saying it will grant him any wish. Aladdin asks the genie to help him get out. He then takes the lamp and goes home. He tells his mother everything. The next day, his mother rubs the lamp while cleaning it, and again, a genie appears. It grants Aladdin and his mother anything they wish for. They now become rich and live in comfort. Aladdin also marries the princess of the land and lives luxuriously in a palace built for them, by the genie. Meanwhile, the magician disguises himself as a lamp seller and comes to the palace, claiming to exchange new lamps for old. The princess gives away the magic lamp, not knowing what it really is. The magician then takes uses the genie of the lamp to take away Aladdin’s riches, palace and even the princess. Aladdin is in despair and tries to find a way to get everything back. He suddenly remembers the magic ring and uses the genie of the ring to bring back his palace, the lamp, and the princess. Aladdin then sets the genies of the lamp and ring free and lives happily ever after with the princess.
11. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
This is one of those lovely bedtime storybooks with pictures, for kids. This book has colourful illustrations and differently shaped pages, with holes showing the caterpillar’s trail through various foods. The story goes that one Sunday morning, a red-faced caterpillar hatches from an egg on a leaf and begins to look for food. He eats a leaf, but is very hungry. He then eats through various foods, in increasing quantities, over the next five days. The caterpillar eats through one apple on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday, four strawberries on Thursday, and five oranges on Friday. Then, on Saturday, the caterpillar has a huge feast of one piece each, of a chocolate cake, ice-cream cone, pickle, Swiss cheese, salami, lollipop, cherry pie, sausage, cupcake and watermelon. After this, the caterpillar gets a bad stomach ache from eating too much food. The caterpillar feels better on Sunday after he returns to his usual diet of a large green leaf. He then spins a cocoon around himself, in which he remains for two weeks. After two weeks, the caterpillar emerges from the cocoon, as a beautiful butterfly with colourful wings. This book teaches little children about numbers, names of various foods, days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly.
12. Goodnight Moon
This is a lovely picture book for children. It features a bunny saying goodnight to everything around it. The sentences form a rhyming poem and describe how the bunny says goodnight to various living and inanimate objects around it, such as a red balloon, a dollhouse, two kittens, the moon, and so on. It goes “Goodnight room, Goodnight moon, Goodnight cow jumping over the moon, Goodnight light, and the red balloon. Little children love the rhymes and the soothing rhythm of the story quickly lulls them to sleep.
13. Interrupting Chicken
This story is about a red chicken who is so excited to finish a story, that he interrupts it every time, much to the exasperation of his dad. Papa chicken is putting the little red chicken to bed. Papa chicken agrees to read a bedtime story to the red chicken and tells his son not to interrupt. The father starts reading Hansel and Gretel after the red chicken agrees. As the story nears the end, the little red chicken gets excited, interrupts the story, and finishes telling it on his own. The red chicken, then, interrupts again, when his dad reads him the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and Chicken Little. Finally, Papa chicken runs out of stories and asks the little one to read to him instead. Little red chicken starts reading a story, and within minutes, the dad is fast asleep, snoring in the little one’s bed.
14. Is it Bedtime, Wibbly Pig?
This story is in a question and answer format. The narrator asks Wibbly Pig if it is bedtime already, and each time, Wibbly Pig gives amusing excuses to avoid going to bed. Wibbly Pig is taking a shower when the narrator asks if it is bedtime. Wibbly Pig replies that it is not, since she is still in the bath. When asked if she has finished the bath, she says she is still drying her toes. The story goes on, with Wibbly Pig coming up with various excuses to avoid bedtime. The story ends when Wibbly finally falls asleep with her cuddly toys, Dimple the teddy bear, Pigley the pig, and Flop, the bunny.
15. Oh, the Places You’ll Go
This is a book full of rhyming verses and colourful illustrations. It tells children that life is a balance of both, good and bad things, but can be fun if you want it to be. Each verse tells children about different stages of life and the choices they can make to deal with the various situations they face. It teaches the children that they have to decide where to go and what to do in life. It also says that life is not always going to be easy, but the children can face any situation and keep moving ahead.
Tips on Making Story Time Interesting
Love for reading begins at home. Here’s how you can make story time the most looked forward to part of your child’s day:
1. Use different voices for each character, and change tempo and pitch as you read. This keeps your kids interested in the story and builds engagement.
2. Make your child trail over the words with his/her finger as you read. This helps in identification of alphabets and words and boosts progress in reading.
3. Spend 5-10 minutes after the story time talking about the story you just read. You can ask your child what he/she learnt or would do if put in the situation of one of the characters. Doing so boosts imagination and builds strategic thinking.
4. Another way to boost imagination is by asking your child to continue the story or add a character that doesn’t exist in the story. This is fun and may prove to be entertaining for both, you and your kid.
5. Break a long story in several parts and read one part each day. This keeps your child’s attention focused, little at a time, and builds suspense as well.
Reading bedtime stories to children is a great way to teach them good manners, right from wrong, and respect for others. They develop moral values and a civic sense. Apart from that, there are many gains in cognitive development as well. This nighttime routine helps you gain awareness about your child’s viewpoint and way of thinking. Hearing bedtime stories also helps a child build vocabulary and attain mastery in the language. To further encourage creative and imaginative abilities in your child, you can consider buying a kid’s activity kit; it will encourage your child to cultivate an active imagination and open a doorway to writing, as well as reading more.
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Short Princess Bedtime Stories for Kids to Read
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How to Handle your Baby Crying at Night
Having a baby is a life-altering event; we’re sure you’re aware that raising your little one is no piece of cake. Apart from feeding schedules, nap requirements, and vaccination schedules, one thing you will have to deal with a lot is your baby crying. It is through crying that babies communicate their needs and initially, it can be tricky to interpret what your little one is trying to tell you. But don’t worry - there are different ways to deal with the situation, depending on what works best for your baby.
Why Do Babies Cry at Night?
It is expected of a newborn baby to be crying all night, and frequently. But these episodes should become less frequent as the baby gets older. Here are some common reasons why babies cry at night:
1. Feeling Hungry
Babies have tiny stomachs and need to feed quite frequently during the first few months. Most babies will have to be fed every two to three hours. Watch out for signs of hunger, such as the baby putting his hands into his mouth, fussing, and smacking his lips. Starting the feed before your baby begins crying will help you have a peaceful night.
2. Experiencing Discomfort Due to Gas Troubles
Babies are prone to having gas troubles and may need to be burped or pass gas to feel relieved. Your baby might swallow air when breastfeeding or sucking from a bottle, and burping soon after a feed can provide him with relief. Placing your baby down on his tummy and gently massaging his back can also prove helpful.
3. Having a Dirty or Wet Diaper
Some babies can tolerate a wet or dirty diaper for a short time while others may need a change immediately. Putting on a fresh diaper will help the baby go back to sleep again quickly. However, ensure that you change the diaper quickly and don't interact much with your baby while doing so, so he can be soothed back to sleep.
4. Needing Reassurance
Being alone in the dark can be a scary thing for your baby. He might cry out loud for attention, and to be reassured that you’re right there beside him.
5. Feeling Cold
Your baby is likely to cry if he’s feeling too cold. Swaddling him in light layers can help him keep warm and provide him comfort. However, ensure that you’re not wrapping him in heavy layers, as this poses the risk of SIDS.
6. Experiencing Teething Troubles
If your baby seems to be crying at night for no reason, check to see if teething could be the culprit. Teething pains can start from as early as four months and can cause babies to drool excessively and chew on everything they get their hands on. If your little one is about to or has already started teething, massaging the gums gently or offering baby teethers, especially ones that have been refrigerated, can reduce his irritation.
7. Being Too Stimulated
Taking your baby to a social event or out on a shopping trip can sometimes prove to be too exciting for him. The sensory overload can prove to be too much, especially if you’re putting him to sleep immediately after the experience is over (eg: reaching home right before your baby’s bedtime or if he falls asleep on the way home), and this can result in him crying into the night. Placing the baby in a familiar setting and then easing him into his bedtime routine can help tackle this problem.
8. Feeling Ill
Feeling sick, tired, and fatigued can make even adults want to cry! If your baby is crying more than usual or sounds different, then it might be due to some illness. Check to see whether your baby has any other symptoms like a fever, cough, vomiting, or a loss of appetite, to name a few. Consult your doctor if this appears to be the reason.
How Long Does the Crying Last?
Early intervention can nip the problem in the bud and ensure you and your baby have peaceful nights. By resorting to appropriate methods of dealing with the crying, you can bring about changes in your baby’s behaviour in as little as two weeks. But this task gets more difficult as your baby grows older. Children aged one year or older are likely to fight off going to bed, even when they are sleepy and exhausted. They can cry for hours, protesting at the changes brought about in their schedule. If you do not take remedial measures when your child is an infant, the crying can last up until three or four years of age.
When Should Your Baby Be Able to Sleep Through the Night?
Babies under the age of two months are likely to awaken at least two times every night to be fed. After two months and up to four months of age, this comes down to one feed per night. After four months, formula-fed babies can sleep through the night for about seven hours straight. Breastfed babies should be able to get through seven hours without waking up for feeds by at least five months of age. This holds true for all normal babies of this age group; they should be able to fall asleep and stay that way without being held or rocked during the night.
Can You Comfort Your Baby if He Cries at Night?
There are two schools of thought on this topic. One belief is that babies will stop crying at night for no reason once they realize that no one responds. The other school of thought is that every time a baby cries, he should be held and comforted; that a baby should not be left alone for any reason. It is up to you to decide which way you want to go after weighing the pros and cons of each.
Would it Hurt Your Baby if You Leave Him Crying?
It is believed that letting a baby cry on his own can prove harmful to his physical and mental growth in the long term. But there is no evidence to support this claim. However, most of the sleep-training methods suggest that parents should stop responding instantaneously to every little cry of their child. But this also involves severing a connection between the parent and child. Some researchers opine that a sleep training method which involves letting a child cry for any period of time is likely to adversely impact the child’s physical, emotional, social, and behavioural growth due to interruptions in the natural biological cycle of the infant.
How to Calm Your Crying Baby at Night
If your baby wakes up crying at night despite all his needs being met, it is likely that he has made it a habit. Here are some ways in which you can help your child (over four months of age) calm down and sleep through the night:
Put your baby in the crib or on the bed when he’s drowsy but still awake. Be certain to place your child in the crib at this point even if his bedtime ritual has not been completed. The baby’s last waking memory has to be of the bed or crib, and not of you. This will encourage him to go back to sleep on his own when he wakes up in the middle of the night.
If your baby refuses to stop crying at bedtime, keep visiting him at intervals of five to fifteen minutes. You can keep increasing the duration between visits. However, do not let the baby get too upset; if he seems extremely fussy or afraid, hold him till he calms down. You can sit in the room for a few moments till he calms down, but try to leave before he falls asleep.
Don’t take your child out of the crib or bed once you have tucked him in for the night. Rocking your baby until he falls asleep or bringing him into your bed for a while will defeat the purpose of this exercise.
Introduce your baby to a security object such as a soft toy or a blanket if your baby is six months or older. This will be of comfort to your baby when he wakes up at night and he will soon be happy cuddling this object instead of you at night.
Some other things that you can try to ensure a regular sleep schedule for your child are:
Restricting the baby’s naps to two hours or less and limiting it to only two naps a day.
Avoiding changing wet diapers at night as much as possible; if you must, then keep the lights dim to prevent stimulating your baby.
Sleep Training for Your Baby
Sleep training refers to the method used to teach your baby to fall asleep on his own. Once this aim is achieved, your baby is more likely to sleep through the night. While some babies easily pick up this art of sleeping, others may take time. There are two ways of sleep training – the controlled crying approach and the no-tears method. The choice is up to both partners after looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each. That said, it is important to remember that for some parents, a single training method might not do the trick. There is no particular age specified at which sleep training should be started. A large number of parents choose the sleep training route because they cannot deal with sleep deprivation any longer. Experts opine that babies are fully able to drift off to sleep by themselves after three months of age.
What Is the Cry it Out/Crying Down/Ferber Method?
Devised by a physician called Dr Richard Ferber, this method recommends letting your baby cry for a short while before you offer him comfort. Dr Ferber has also penned a book on this topic and it can be ideally applied to babies six months and older. The method suggested is as follows:
Gently place your baby in his crib or cot when he is extremely drowsy but not fast asleep.
Give your baby a goodnight kiss and step out of the room.
If your baby cries soon after, wait for a few moments before going inside.
Comfort your baby in a low voice and let the light be on low or switched off. Do not pick him up or feed him.
Leave the room even if your baby is still crying.
You have to repeat these steps until your baby goes off to sleep. It is likely that this will take quite a few attempts before you fully succeed.
Be sure to extend the time between each visit, giving your child greater time to calm down and attempt to sleep.
If the baby wakes up again at night, repeat the same process.
According to Dr Ferber, babies should be able to put themselves to sleep in about a week’s time. It is believed that this technique works because a lot of older babies smartly make the most of the situation when they realize that crying will result in them being held or fed. So, this technique conveys the message that their crying game no longer has any takers. On realizing this, they are likely to stop crying without reason.
However, this method has had plenty of criticism come its way as well. The process of letting a helpless baby cry seems almost traumatising to parents, which is why they tend to give up on the method on the second or third night, which is when the baby’s crying gets truly worse. Referred to as the extinction burst, it is at this point that there can be some improvement expected (after around 3 or 4 days), provided parents do not tend to their baby’s cries.
Gradual Distance Technique for Your Crying Baby
The gradual distancing technique is one of the methods suggested to help stop a baby from crying at night for no reason. Instead of severing your role in the baby’s get-back-to-sleep routine in one go, this method advocates doing it in a phased manner. Here is how you can go about this:
For the first couple of days, you can wait in the baby’s room till he’s asleep, before stepping out.
Then, gradually start leaving the room before he is fully asleep.
If he cries out on seeing you leave, come back and reassure him in a gentle voice without picking him up. Leave when he’s calm.
This can happen quite a few times in the first few days and you may have to keep leaving and coming back till he falls asleep.
Then, start putting him in the crib or cot at bedtime while he is awake and sit nearby till he starts drifting off.
Every day, increase the distance between you and your baby till you reach the doorway.
Go out of the doorway but remain close so you know if baby calls out or cries.
With this method, in about a few weeks, you should be able to put down your baby in the crib at bedtime and walk out while he falls asleep on his own. Also, remember the following tips to make the most of this technique:
It is best to try this only when you feel your baby can handle it. Four months is the suggested age.
Try not to take a step back when using this method as it can undo all that has been achieved.
When Should You Consult a Doctor?
In most cases, your crying baby can be calmed once his needs are met or through your comforting physical presence. But at times, excessive crying in babies at night can be indicative of a more serious cause, such as an illness. You should contact the paediatrician if your baby won’t stop crying at night and one of the following is evident:
Physical discomfort or signs of illness, such as high fever, rashes and the like
Signs of fear or stress in your baby
Remedial measures do not bring about even the slightest change in your child’s behaviour in two weeks
Each baby has his own timeline for meeting milestones of physical and emotional growth. It is no different when it comes to sleep schedules. Also, sleep routines can go off track when the baby is sick or if he is on the verge of achieving some milestone. Thus, it is important to remember that when it comes to babies - time, patience, and a lot of effort are required to get the needed results.
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6 Must Knows About Formula Feeding Your Baby
Doctors recommend exclusive breastfeeding for babies till the minimum age of 6 months. Breast milk provides the right nutrients and antibodies to strengthen your baby's immune system as well. However, due to various reasons, mothers may sometimes need to opt out of breastfeeding their little ones. In such cases, the ideal alternative is infant formula. Let's understand more about infant formula and formula feeding with these must-know guidelines below. This formula feeding guide will help ensure that your baby gets complete nutrition to grow and develop normally.
Although it is highly recommended that a baby be exclusively breastfed for the initial few months of his life, there are instances where a mother may need to feed formula milk. She may be suffering from poor milk supply, have personal problems, or need to get back to work. She may even be advised by a professional health expert to introduce or supplement with formula feeds in the infant's diet. This can happen if the baby is not gaining enough weight or when there are problems with bowel movements.
Here are 6 extremely crucial points one should keep in mind while feeding formula to babies.
Easy-to-Follow Formula Feeding Guide
Note: Always make sure you consult a paediatrician and weigh the formula feeding pros and cons carefully before starting with it. Having said that, here are few easy tips to remember that will ensure the little one is well-fed and healthy.
1. Always Toss Away The Leftover Formula In The Bottle
Your baby may drink half of the formula in the bottle and you might save the remaining formula for his next feeding trying to ensure no wastage. However, you shouldn't do so. Bacteria that entered from your baby’s saliva into the remaining formula may multiply, so its better to toss away the leftover formula.
Tip: It’s preferable to give smaller or less quantity feedings to avoid wastage. You can feed more frequently if need be, going by your baby's hunger cues such as licking lips, opening his mouth, being restless, or crying. You can read about hunger cues in babies in detail here.
2. Baby’s Poop Turns Darker & Smellier Due To Formula - It's Normal
Formula fed baby’s poop is usually darker in colour and firmer than breast fed baby’s poop. Also, poop of formula fed infant smells stronger than that of a breast fed infant. There is nothing to worry about; this is totally normal and happens due to the difference in composition between breastmilk and formula milk. However, if the baby's poop is either very runny or too hard, it indicates a problem. He may be suffering from dehydration, constipation or diarrhoea. See the paediatrician to diagnose the problem.
3. Formula-Fed Baby May Eat Less
Formula milk stays in the tummy of your baby for a long time, and it is more difficult to digest than breast milk. Also, it makes your infant feel full for several hours. So, your baby may eat lesser than breast fed baby. Also, your infant requires longer breaks between feedings. Plan his schedule accordingly.
4. It Is Not Mandatory To Warm Up Formula Before Feeding
Even if you feel like you must warm the formula milk and then provide the warmed milk to your baby, it is not necessary. Heating the formula milk does not increase nutrients or health benefits. Only the taste matters. Some babies like to have warm formula while some infants like cold formula or formula at room temperature. So, it is advisable to start giving room temperature warm formula to your little one and if he doesn’t like it then warm it up and feed it. However, make sure you do not heat it in a microwave. Doing this can affect the composition of the formula.
Another strict rule is to never reheat formula. Most formula milk brands forbid reheating formula as doing this can affect its composition and make it difficult to absorb for the baby. The standard shelf life of formula is 1.5 - 3 hours. If you have formula older than the given shelf life, do not use it.
5. Use Formula Feeding as a Method to Promote Family Bonding
Any family member, say father, grandparents, and siblings of the baby, can feed formula milk to your baby and share the pleasure of feeding the new member of your family. Thus, formula feeding promotes family bonding. Encourage loved ones to formula feed your baby when they are free. Only remember to choose the right bottle that matches your baby's age and needs. Instruct your family members to feed the baby in a suitable bottle-feeding position so the milk can go down properly. Holding the bottle with one hand at a 45-degree angle while supporting your baby in the other arm is a good option. Raise your baby's head slightly to prevent choking and ear infections.
There are multiple benefits of doing this. Your family members would love to cuddle your baby and feed him formula milk. Providing your baby such warmth and love also promotes his optimum brain development and bonding with the family.
6. Your Infant May Develop Allergic Reaction To Formula - Watch Out
Even though most infants digest formula easily, some babies may develop an allergic reaction to the cow’s milk protein content present in the formula. Baby’s bowel movements can tell you about the digestion of formula and whether your little one suffers from any allergic reaction due to formula.
If you find mucus or blood in bowels then it is a sign of allergy. Also, vomiting, skin rash, diarrhoea, and irritability are signs of allergy. Consult your doctor if you observe any such kind of allergic reaction, and your doctor may recommend an extra-hydrolyzed formula or formula prepared using soy. Read more
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तिनेच केले कुटुंबाचे सारथ्य
माझे सर्व प्रिय समूह च्या सदस्यांना व वाचकांना माझा पुनः नमस्कार. सर्वात आधी माझे मागचे लेख आपण सर्वानी मनापासून वाचले, आणि तुम्हाला आवडले त्यासाठी तुम्ही सर्वांचे खूपच आभार.
पुनः एकदा एक खरी कहाणी आपल्या समोर घेऊन येती आहे, वाचाल तर मग.
ही कहाणी आहे नाशिकच्या कधीकाळी महाविद्यालयीन हॉकी संघाची गोलकीपर आणि एथलीट म्हणून मैदान गजवीणाऱ्या पंचवटीतील विडी कामगार वसाहतीतील कल्पना यशवंत नेमाडे ह्या एका पदवीधर रिक्षाचालक महिलेची, सध्या आजारी मुलाऐवजी स्वतःच रिक्षा चालवून कुटुंबाचा उदर निर्वाह ती करते.कल्पना या अर्थशास्त्रातिल पदवीवर आहेत. केटीएचएम महाविद्यालयात असताना क्रीडांगण गाजविणारी ही महिला २० वर्षा पासून एक मुलगा व एक मुलीसह राहते. दोन्ही मुलांना सोडून पति परागंदा झाले. पण तरी ही कल्पनाने आपली हिम्मत हारली नाही.घर चालविण्यासह कॉन्व्हेंट शाळेत मुलांचे संगोपन करण्या साठी, मिळेल ते काम करून चारितार्थ चालवावा लागला. मुलगी शिकली आणि इंजीनियर झाली सुद्धा. मुलाला मात्र शिक्षण्या च्या मधेच शाळा सोडावी लागली. घरात मदत करण्याकरिता मुलगा रिक्षा चालवायला शिकला. मुलगा कर्ता झाला म्हणून कल्पना ने त्याला रिक्षा घेऊन दिली. त्या नंतर दोन महीने सर्व ठीक चालले होते, मात्र रिक्षा थांब्यावर नंबर मध्ये काही प्रवाश्याना भाड़े आकारण्याच्या कारणावरून इतर काही रिक्षा चालकांशी वाद झाला, त्या तक्रारीत मुलाचा उजवा हाताचा खूबा निकामी झाला, आणि दैनंदिन गुजराण करण्यासाठी पुनः तिला रिक्षाचा आधार घ्यावा लागला .आजही ती यशस्वी पणे आपल्या कुटुंबाचे सारथ्य करते आहे. वीस वर्षापासून विविध संकटांना सामोरी जाऊन सुद्धा त्या खूपच हिमतीने सर्व काम पार पाडतात आणि ते त्यांच्या आयूष्याला बळ देणार ठरेल.म्हणून आपण म्हणतो कोणतेही काम कधी ही मोठं छोटं नसते, व्यक्तिमधे काम करायची जागरूक इच्छा असली पाहिजे. जीवनामध्ये कोणतेही काम जर मनाने ठरविले, तर ते नक्की पूर्ण होते, हे कल्पना ताईंनी पूर्ण करून दाखविले सुद्धा.आम्हा सर्व महिलांना त्यांचा फारच अभिमान आहे आणि स्त्री शक्तिची एक मिसाल कायम करण्यात आली आहे. तर त्या महान यशस्वी स्त्री शक्तिला वारंवार आमचा नमस्कार आहे.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Helping Toddlers Learn Self-regulation
Self–regulation aids children in generating appropriate responses to the surrounding stimuli. A well–defined environment and structured guidance can bring positive changes in toddlers’ self–regulatory skills.
Self–regulation is an ability which helps children to evaluate the happenings and situations around them, and act after incorporating the knowledge they already have. Self–regulatory skills lay the foundation for suitable child behaviour, social competence, academic success and their overall growth. Hence, sooner the toddlers learn to develop self-control, easier it is for them to exercise restraint over their emotions and give a right direction to their thinking.
When and How does Self–Regulation Develop?
It is believed that children begin to visibly reflect self-regulatory characteristics around the age of 18-24 months, which is also the time they are more socially aware and can communicate with people in their contact. As they mature, they learn to exercise choices, develop tolerance, experience frustrations, understand consequences and think before acting.
However, every toddler is different and they may take their own time to become autonomous learners. Some are inherently calm and controlled, while others have temperamental issues with varying intensity. Similarly, toddlers with special needs, those who lack required parental support or are exposed to inappropriate/stressful upbringing can face delay or show resistance in acquiring self–control ability.
Tips to Develop Self–Regulation
Parents and other supervising adults have to adopt those self–regulation development strategies, which can not only translate experience into information for toddlers, but also doesn’t interfere with their natural curiosity to explore the social environment. Here are some useful self–regulation tips:
Create a supportive, structured environment with predictable routine. This will help the toddlers to know what to expect and what is expected out of them.
Incorporate well-planned activities or games in the daily schedule, which can teach them to focus and practice restraint. For example, they can play ‘become a statue’ game, where they dance to slow and fast music numbers and become motionless like a statue as soon as the music stops.
Encourage them to do role plays or pretend plays, which can assist them to understand their own as well as others’ behaviour.
Parents can demonstrate the right behaviour and be a role model for their children.
Provide hints and cues through words, expressions or gestures to gain children’s attention and sustain their interest in a particular activity for a longer time.
Keep toddlers away from activities or situations that distract them.
Give a set of do’s and don’ts or use day to day situations, explaining their repercussions. For example, “Put your shoes in the rack” or “Don’t ride a bicycle without wearing a helmet, you may get hurt.”
Praise your toddlers whenever they exhibit an appropriate self–regulatory behaviour. This will boost their confidence and encourage them further for self–direction. Let children vent off their frustration or anger by taking them to a quiet corner and gently prompting them to open up with their feelings.
On some occasions, it is okay for parents to show toddlers that you are angry with their improper behaviour. However, it is advisable to take a deep breath and take a few moments before responding.
Is Self-Regulation Necessary?
Yes, self–regulation is as important as academic skills in children. It channelizes their feelings, thoughts and behaviour in the right direction. Children who are in good self–control perform very well in their academics, and have a better ability to exert control over situations or respond appropriately.
Remember, toddlers will master the self–regulation skill gradually only with time, experience, staying in conducive environment and through loving support of their social contacts. Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
5 hours ago
Q. Hlo
I have tailbone pain in the 5th month of pregnancy.. What is the reason for it? What should I do?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. N simple pressure no problem. 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
Expecting Mom due this month
3 hours ago
Q. Hi, my AFI is 6.5...doctor suggested for induction...is it ok or shall I ask to wait for 2 weeks
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. definitely the levels are very less there is need to take proper decision vif there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. how long should I give d3 syrup for babies
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. you can give up to 6 months to one year also ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. I got skin tags during pregnancy, what should I do for that..any cream recommendation...
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
3 hours ago
A. wait a year. see a lot of brands are available to allure you. you should get prescription n adhere to products manuals. avoid too expensive and see to good brands with guarantee ok. for skin lesions avoid rough handling. try to put only medicated ointment. keep up with the doctor who can see and advise. don't miss on any medicine for best results.
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. what is the purpose of giving d3 syrup for babies
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. you have to continue vitamin d3 supplement till you are not able to take the child in sunlight for at least 10 minutes daily.
before 1 year of age : if you are giving 400 units you have to give 1ml everyday and if you're giving 800 units you have to give 0.5 ml everyday.
the thing is that you have to keep the child in sunlight for at least 10 to 15 minutes daily between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for proper vitamin d exposure.
so if you are able to take the child in sunlight you can stop vitamin d supplement.
after 1 year of age vit d drops dosage is 0.7ml once a day from 800units vitamin d drops.
vitamin D is required for many metabolic processes in the child as well as for the growth and development of the bones and development of the tooth
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts first cry
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. you can always ask questions related to the health of child and mother in this section and it cand be either related to diet or food or vaccination or any type of medicine goingd on and given by your doctor.
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