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How Soon Can Babies Start Holding Bottle on Their Own
While most mothers find feeding their babies is a good time to bond, there comes a time in every baby’s life when he will want to learn to start holding his bottle on his own. Most often, this happens once he has reached a certain point of development. You can always help your baby along by encouraging him to start becoming more self-sufficient at feeding time.
When Can a Baby Hold a Bottle?
You may be wondering, “When will my baby hold his bottle?” and the answer is: anywhere from four months up to ten months of age. It all depends on when his fine motor skills begin to develop. However, the average age at which a baby starts holding his bottle is when he is six months of age.
Signs Baby is Ready to Hold the Bottle on His Own
Observing your baby carefully will give you clues as to whether or not he is ready to start holding that bottle. Here are some to look out for:
1. Reaching for It
Not only does reaching out for the bottle show that your baby is able to make the connection between his bottle and food, but also that he is interested in it.
2. Sits Up Longer
If your baby is not yet able to sit up, then he cannot hold his bottle yet as it requires him to use his fine motor skills. All of this requires him to sit straight by himself for a period of time.
3. Sits and Gnaws
Your baby is multitasking when he gnaws on something while sitting down. This is something he needs to be able to do as she holds the bottle and drinks from it at the same time.
How to Teach Your Baby to Hold His Bottle?
It can be very helpful if your baby can hold his own bottle, but even if he can’t, you can always help him along by teaching him how. Here are some ways you can teach him:
1. Don’t Rush
Wait for the right time to start teaching your baby to hold the bottle. Your baby needs to be physically developed enough to hold his own bottle and bring it to his mouth, which requires some coordination.
2. Show Your Baby What to Do
Hold your baby’s hands to the bottle as you feed him to show him how it is done. Hold the bottle with one hand and then with your other, place the baby’s hands on the bottle.
3. Watch Your Baby’s Reaction
Observe your baby’s reaction when you feel that he can handle holding the bottle independently. When you remove your hands, he should be able to hold on to it for at least a little while; if not, he will then notice that he is not getting any milk. Reposition the bottle and watch. Soon your baby will make the connection and understand that holding the bottle a certain way lets him get the milk.
4. Hold Your Baby
Always hold your baby in your arms as you normally would while bottle feeding him when you are teaching him how to do it. This will help him retain the sense of security and comfort that he normally has while feeding.
5. Follow Your Baby’s Progress
Be observant towards your baby while you teach him how to feed himself. Initially, you will need to hold your baby’s elbows up so that the bottle is positioned correctly. Soon enough, your baby is going to be holding that bottle all by himself.
Why Should You Stay Away from Bottle Propping
It is not ideal to simply prop the bottle up to the correct angle to feed your baby and leave it at that. This is extremely dangerous as your baby may choke or overeat. Babies are also at risk of tooth decay or ear infections if they fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth.
If a baby is unable to sit straight by himself and hold the bottle, it is a clear indication that he is not ready to hold his bottle on his own in the first place.
Tips to Help Your Infant Hold His Bottle
Here are a few handy tips to help make teaching your baby to hold his bottle flow smoothly:
1. Have Patience
Be patient with your baby as you teach him. Learning to coordinate bringing the bottle to his mouth is hard.
2. Cuddle Time
Babies and mothers both enjoy the bond between them during feeding time, so keep holding your baby while you teach him. Even if your baby can feed on his own, it is still a good idea to cuddle him as he does.
3. Keep Supporting
Though your baby may be able to hold the bottle, keep supporting him in the beginning.
4. Watch Carefully
While your baby learns, you need to keep a careful eye on him to see how well he is doing and if he is able to feed himself properly.
5. Listen Well
A lot of suckling noises from your baby may mean that he is taking in more air than he should be. Help him out here by repositioning the bottle or holding the baby’s head up a little bit.
6. Do Not Force
If your baby is not able to hold the bottle by the average age, do not worry and do not force it on him. He may not yet have developed the required skills needed. This is perfectly normal for a lot of babies.
Precautions to Take Care while Infant Holds the Bottle
While you may think that your baby being able to hold his bottle on his own means you get to do other things during that time, think again. Your baby is still too young to fully understand how to cope with the situations that may arise during feeding. For example, if his bottle is propped wrong, there might be too much milk coming through.
1. Avoid Leaving Your Baby Alone
Just because your little one is capable of holding his own bottle, you should not leave your baby alone. Babies tend to drop things very easily and if your baby drops his bottle and you are not there to help him, he may end up going hungry. Worse, he may try and get the bottle himself, possibly falling down. If he is somewhere high, like in his chair or on a sofa, this can have disastrous circumstances.
2. Do Not Prop the Bottle
Propping the bottle has many disadvantages, as discussed earlier. It leads to overeating and the possibility of choking.
3. Don’t Feed Your Baby Lying Down :
If you keep your baby lying down during feeding time, your baby will develop ear infections. This is because the milk or the formula can flow into the Eustachian tubes of his ears and may remain there, causing an infection.
4. Bond Deprivation
Holding your baby while he feeds provides him with a sense of security and strengthens the bond. This is why you need to continue to hold your child even if he can hold his bottle by himself.
5. Use Appropriate Feeding Gear :
Using the correctly shaped nipples can help with positioning the tongue properly. However, using a nipple that allows too much to get through may cause your baby to have difficulty coping and may cause him to choke.
Is it a Problem if Baby is Not Holding Bottle
Keep in mind that each baby will develop at his own pace. This developmental pace will also determine at what age babies start holding their own bottles. As long as he reaches his developmental milestones and you know there is nothing physically wrong with your baby, it really is not a problem. If your baby is not holding the bottle yet, you can always try giving him a sippy cup as the handles on those are much easier for your baby to hold.
Teaching your baby how to hold his own bottle will require patience from you, but your baby will get it eventually. Some get it really quickly, while others lag behind. It is imperative for your baby to grow and develop well. Continue to bond with your baby by holding him in your arms, whether or not he has mastered holding his bottle, as this time you and your baby share together will help him gain a sense of warmth and security.
Also Read: Bottle Feeding Problems and Solutions Read more
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Things to Take Care of Before Hitting the Maternity Ward
Your nine months will be up soon and it seems like there are a million and one tasks to complete. Here's a list of things to do before the baby arrives to make it a lot easier for you to manage post-delivery.
Your baby’s due in a couple of months or even weeks, and you’ve been wondering whether to prepare for the little one’s arrival sooner instead of later. Rather than leave to-dos to the last minute, why not busy yourself now? You’ll thank your lucky stars for your foresight.
A Checklist of Things to Do Before Baby Arrives
1. Decorate The Nursery
Set up your baby’s nursery at the earliest. Once he or she arrives, you’re not going to have the time or the energy to do it. Open all those cute baby shower gifts and set them up where they need to be. Install necessities like the crib, the baby monitor, and a night light. Make sure you experiment with creative nursery furnishing and lightings; after all, your baby is very, very special!
2. Create Your Baby’s Arrival Announcement
As part of the checklist before your baby is born, choose your birth announcement and save it as a draft along with your contacts. All you’ll need to do later is hit send when your baby arrives. If you’re going to be sending more elaborate announcements such as a note or a card, choose the goodies to send with it. Make a list of the people you want to announce it to along with their addresses.
3. Put Together a Hospital Bag
Tick another thing off your pre-baby checklist when you pack your hospital bag and the baby’s diaper bag. Include things that you’ll require immediately like a warm robe, socks, hairbrush and toiletries. For the baby, pack a blanket, sheets, diapers, mittens, caps, and warm clothes.
4. Prepare a List of Freeze-Friendly Foods to Make
If you don’t have anyone to help at home once your baby comes, it’s a good idea to have a list of foods that can be frozen quickly. A day before D-day, whip them up and pop them in the freezer so you can have easy-to-warm meals when you get home. Between feeding the baby and catching up on your sleep, you definitely won’t have time to step into the kitchen to cook, at least for a while.
5. Make Appointments Early on
Speak to friends and relatives with small children to help you choose your paediatrician, photographer and baby sitter, if needed. Pick someone who comes recommended and who you feel comfortable with. Book appointments with them before the baby arrives so you don’t have to worry about these details later.
6. Rest as Much as Possible
Get as much rest as you can. Once your baby arrives, you’ll have to face many sleepless nights. Relaxation should be your agenda in the last few days before delivery. Pamper yourself by going to the salon. Get a haircut, a wax, a manicure and a pedicure.
With your little bundle of joy due to arrive any time, it’s best to get things done before delivery. You’ll be very busy and stressed out in the first few months, even the first year. Taking care of a few to-do’s early on will help you breathe easier. Read more
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Tips to Feed Your Infants and Toddlers
I would like to share some secret tips that may help you feed your little ones easily. The tips I am sharing with you will help you get your child to eat without him throwing tantrums and being fussy. So here we go.
Your child's breakfast should always be his favourite. As parents, you will know what your child likes the most and make a list of all the food items that he likes and serve 1 item daily. Try to serve his favourite breakfast - this will make your child's mornings happier. For instance, you can include a wide range of fruits, homemade snacks like ragi cookies, wheat namkeen, healthy dairy products, pancakes, biscuits and Greek yoghurt in his breakfast. You can make pancakes with ragi floor and jaggery powder or honey syrup with nuts, different cheela like moong dal cheela with vegetables, different types of dosa like vegetable dosa, cheese dosa, chocolate dosa, etc.
Once your child has his breakfast, make sure that he has his next meal should be as per your choice. This way your child will get into the habit of eating everything (even if he doesn't like it). Also, there should be a gap of 2 to 3 hours between two meals.
Get your child into the habit of eating on his own. Let him eat his favourite food items by himself and feed him only when you want to introduce some specific foods. Let your child try different food items and experience different tastes all varieties of food that you consume. This will help you understand his taste and preferences, which will then help you to understand what kinds of foods he likes and prepare a food chart for him.
For example, if your child likes plain rice, then you can add paneer and little ghee in rice. This will maintain the same taste of plain rice but it will become healthier. At the same time if your child likes dal, sabji, and chawal than you can give onion and garlic tadka to make it tastier and nutritious.
If your child wants to eat plain roti, then you can make stuffed roti (paratha) with grated vegetables, boiled dals, pulses individually or proportionately and spices according to your child's taste. That way your question of feeding veggies, dal and pulses will be solved and your child will also be happy because the taste of roti will not change significantly in this case.
Observe your child's schedule and try to understand when he is extremely hungry. Once you get to know then please maintain that gap of hours between two meals. Let your child feel hungry then offer food. This will make easier to feed your child.
Be flexible with your child's diet and one super-secret is to full your tummy first and then sit with your child to feed him as kids may take a long time to finish meals. Try these tips and feed your child!
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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7 Diabetes Symptoms you Should Watch Out For
Diabetes can be difficult to deal with. This is exactly why it's important to know the early signs of diabetes in women and get it under control. Watch out for symptoms so that you can take the right steps and prevent it from controlling your life!
It’s better to nip problems in the bud before they get out of hand. One such potential problem is diabetes, which is also known as a ‘silent disease’ due to its very mild initial signs. But with proper awareness and alertness, you can deal with diabetes and take charge of your life.
Recognising Symptoms of Diabetes in Women
1. You have unexplained weight loss and gain
You may think that you're losing weight because of a successful crash diet. But what if it's because of dipping glucose levels? If you have type 2 diabetes, your cells aren’t getting enough glucose. Your body is not able to use calories effectively even if you eat a healthy diet. Likewise, sudden weight gain can also be a warning bell.
2. You get morning sickness and vomiting
While this is a common pregnancy symptom, this is also an early type 1 diabetes symptom in women! If you're planning a pregnancy, you need to take special measures to prevent problems such as birth defects. Make an appointment with your gynaecologist and go for a thorough check-up.
3. You pee a bit too much
When your body is unable to make enough insulin, there’s an excess of glucose. The kidneys then react to flush out the glucose through frequent urination. If you have to visit the loo a tad too often, you should get yourself checked to rule out type 2 diabetes.
4. You feel thirstier
This is a type 2 diabetes symptom in women. Since your body is eliminating a lot of fluid, you’re left feeling thirstier. You’re also saddled with a dry mouth and dry skin owing to dehydration.
5.You feel hungry all the time
It’s not just thirst that you contend with. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body can't produce enough insulin to bring glucose to your cells. And when your body can't convert food into glucose, your cells resist insulin, resulting in you feeling hungry and tired.
6.You have blurry vision
When you have high sugar levels, the muscles of your eye lenses work hard to focus. The lenses themselves can also be adversely affected when diabetes is not managed. This is another early sign of diabetes and can be found in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
7.Your wounds heal slower than usual
The connection between women and diabetes extends to the vaginal area too. The build-up of glucose can lead to a multiplication of yeast and bacteria. You might find yourself developing vaginal infections even if you do your best to stay clean. You may also notice slower healing and increased foot problems like fungal infections, calluses and hammertoes.
Diabetes may be scary, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of life as you know it. By keeping a watch on your health and being alert toward your body, you can identify and control it at the outset. Read more
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Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
19 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert currently I am 32 week pregnant.I am having pain in lower abdomen sometime. I am getting normal baby movements.
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
18 mins ago
A. In this here it is very difficult to comment properly until a proper examination or assessmggent is done to find out the exact cause so it is advisable to consult your doctor so that he could examine and evaluate properly and will guide you accordingly for this .
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
18 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert ...pregnant women should wear bra or not
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
17 mins ago
A. s u can 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
POOJA KOTHARI has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
10 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert
is it ok to feel slight baby movements at times and heavy movements at times in 6th month?
pls suggest
POOJA KOTHARI
Mom of a 7 yr 1 m old boy
9 mins ago
A. Early in your pregnancy, you may just feel a few flutters every now and then. But as your baby grows -- usually by the end of the second trimester -- the kicks should grow stronger and more frequent. Studies show that by the third trimester, the baby moves about 30 times each hour.
Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
9 mins ago
Q. I have an pain in my lower abdomen and fell pressure on vaginal region I am 36 week of pregnant is it normal r something worry
Abhaya Rajput
Mom of a 14 yr 4 m old boy
8 mins ago
A. Hello there Mam, please do not worry about it too much. These are common symptoms during the last weeks of pregnancy. But it is difficult to say anything without proper examination. It is advisable to get yourself evaluated by your gynaecologist and follow doctors advice properly.
Thanks and take care
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
8 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert suggest a good strach Mark cream for pregnancy
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 mins ago
A. bio ool. xd. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
7 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert
What are main reason that prolonged pregnancy after having unprotected sex.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 mins ago
A. uhb. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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