Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i Mother & Baby India

If I had to name one single struggle that mums have when raising young ones, undoubtedly, feeding would be among the top five! Many mothers have lost their sleep over their child’s eating habits, whether it is quantity of food, quality of food or simply even an interest in food. Despite experts constantly reminding us that fretting over these things is a bigger problem than the perceived problem itself. And yet, we mums do what we do! This month’s issue of Mother and Baby is dedicated to that worry—and to the objective that it shouldn’t be a worry at all. This issue is dedicated to fixing your feeding fears! We begin from the nutrients you pass on to your baby while you’re pregnant, and then breastfeeding. We also explore ways…

THIS IS US “My husband Rohan and I married each other in January 2012. It was arranged marriage, but there was plenty of love to go around. We both loved kids so having one or two of our own was a no-brainer. Luckily for us, we got pregnant a year later. It truly was the happiest time in our lives. But during our eight-week scan, the doctors told us that the baby wasn’t growing, and we had to terminate the pregnancy. I was gutted. It was the most devastating thing we’ve had to go through. I tried to think of every possible reason to continue the pregnancy, but none of the reasons were viable. I remember being so depressed, and feeling like it was never going to go away. “Once…

There are so many things parents might think about when they begin introducing solid foods. What should I introduce first? Should I go with purées or try baby-led feeding? How do I even get my kid to eat what I offer? While most of these things can be left up to trial and error, personal preference and what works best for your family, the most important thing every family should consider is food safety and how to avoid potential choking hazards when offering new foods. SET THE SCENE Laying a successful foundation for food safety means setting the scene for healthy eating behaviors before food is even offered. When feeding your baby, it is important they are sitting in an upright position with minimal distractions. Eating when in a reclining…

CHICKEN SOUP Chicken broth helps you shake off a cold. The ingredients, including stock, carrot and celery, are thought to have a medicinal effect on the immune system. CHERRY JUICE One glass improves your ability to snooze by increasing the sleep hormone melatonin. In a study, participants who drank it slept longer every night. KALE Popeye missed a trick with this leafy green, as it has more vitamin C than an orange and more iron than spinach. Steam for five mins, then dress with olive oil and balsamic. AIR YOUR HOME “With the heating cranked up, the air in our homes gets stuffy creating a hot house for bacteria,” says Virginia. Let fresh air in to make your home less of a sickness magnet. CUT DOWN ON SUGAR Eating a…

It’s that time of year when schools are reopening and children all over are preparing to get back to school. If you are a parent whose little one is just starting playgroup this year, you naturally harbour some excitement and some apprehensions. All of this is fun but it is a good idea to think about school and nutrition right from the beginning. You may feel that we are discussing this too early. Right now my child just needs to go for a couple of hours, you may so, but habits formed now will help you in the later years, when the child is in a higher grade and nutrition will be a cause for concern. Most young children seem to leave school without breakfast. And yet, all over the…

As our little ones graduate to solid meals, we mums start thinking about how to feed our children vegetables. Some toddlers take to solid meals and vegetables effortlessly, but most give their mums a decent amount of grief over their dietary preferences. Pregnancy, lactation and child nutrition counsellor Sonali Shivlani explains, “Vegetables are important for toddlers due to their natural antioxidants and vitamins which help develop a child’s immunity.” She adds, “A toddler needs food portions which are ¼th the size of an adult portion. For a two year old, two to three tablespoons to ¼ katori vegetable is more than enough for one sitting. With time, portions can be increased.” Coming to the challenging part of how to make toddlers eat vegetables, the following suggestions from experienced mums may…

Nutritionist Priya Kathpal and Kaushani Desai, an Art of Living Ayurvedic cooking expert and author of the very popular Sattva, The Ayurveda Cook Book, share some recipes that feature seasonal ingredients and are sure to satisfy your kids and keep them coming back for more! GET CREATIVE WITH VEGETABLES You are spoilt for choices when it comes to summer vegetables. Take advantage of the season by loading up on the perfect warm-weather vegetables that not only taste amazing but are packed with vitamins and minerals that a baby needs. CUCUMBER: With 96 per cent water content, cucumber can be an excellent way to help your child stay hydrated in the summer. Rich in fibre and low in calories, this humble vegetable perfectly fits the bill of a healthy snack. Reap…

DR KIRAN COELHO A succesful gynaecologist and practicing obgyn for the last 30 years. DR DHERANDRA KUMAR Consultant clinical and child psychologist, he is founder and director of Psyindia, and engaged in direct work with children. DR ANITA MADAN A doctorate in education, she is currently the Curriculum Development head with EuroKids International Pvt Ltd where she promotes a developmentally appropriate curriculum. SONALI SHIVLANI Mumbai-based childbirth educator, certified by Childbirth & Postpartum Professional Association, USA. DR GEETANJALI SHAH Popular Mumbai paediatrician, conducts holistic fitness workshops for pregnant women. ANIKA PURI Childbirth educator, prenatal and postnatal massage therapist, certified counsellor, reflexolgist and a holistic practitioner of women’s health and fertility in Delhi. NUTAN PANDIT Breastfeeding counsellor and natural birth therapist who’s been teaching in New Delhi since 1978. EFFATH YASMIN India’s…

Yesterday I had a worried parent approach me with her five-year old kid. Her grouse was that he had frequent cough and cold because of which, he would miss his classes a lot. I simply asked the mum one question, ‘Does your child eat his vegetables and fruits?’ But I found out would only eat rice and ghee, skipping everything else. This is not a one-off case, most of the toddlers and pre-schoolers I consult hate to eat veggies and would only fill up on carbs. But in reality, their growing body is still hungry for nutrients. INDIAN CHILDREN FALLING SHORT ON VITAMINS AND MINERALS Unfortunately, Indian pre-schoolers are found to be deficient in many micronutrients, most prominently iron, zinc, folate and vitamin A.1 This is particularly concerning because toddlers…

Around three-quarters of women suffer from pregnancy sickness. Although some find it’s worse in the morning, it can strike at any time of the day. Pregnancy nausea usually begins at around six weeks and lasts until around 12 weeks. You don’t need to suffer in silence though – chomp it away! * Try to eat little and often * Choose bland foods high in protein and carbs, like crackers, plain biscuits or yoghurt * Avoid rich, spicy fatty foods * Ginger can help quell queasiness * If ginger turns your stomach, try peppermint tea or sweets * Have a high protein snack (like a boiled chickpeas, a boiled egg or chicken sandwich) before bed and keep a pack of crackers by the bed, so you can eat one before getting…

There’s no better feeling than reaching the end of the rollercoaster that is pregnancy, and hold your tiny, delicate newborn in your tender, loving arms. However, in the run-up to this moment of joy, expectant mums have to change their entire lifestyles—giving up alcohol, raw eggs, and artificial sweeteners to ensure that her mini-me in the womb enters the world in good health. While prenatal diet holds the key to avoiding complications such as anemia (deficiency of oxygen in red blood cells), low birth weight and birth defects, a new mum’s postnatal diet is equally important for the healthy development of her newborn. By the second trimester, expectant mums crave for more calories simply because the baby in the womb demands it from inside. Once a mum takes in her…

Making Pinterest-perfect food with smileys/animal shapes, to get the child excited about food is commendable, but it also is cruel expectation setting for oneself. Remember you have to fix four to five fresh meals a day for your toddler, day after day. Do something which you can sustain. Also, keep in mind the highly likely chance that your toddler doesn’t eat more than a nibble; imagine your frustration after you have put in half an hour’s effort on finishing touches. As much as possible, be creative, but keep it simple.…

Dr Yatri Thacker, is a homeopathic physician, stress counsellor, and a pregnancy to parenting expert who has been practicing in Mumbai since 17 years. She also conducts workshops on parenting, lactation and pregnancy-related information. 1 My tot frequently cries of a pain in her leg, particularly at night. Her pediatrician says it is growing pains. What can I do to ease the pain, because it is heartbreaking to watch her bear it! It’s sometimes heartbreaking for a mum to see her child crying with pain. Leg pain needs to be diagnosed well especially when a toddler suffers from it.There could be various reasons apart from growing pain too, like juvenile idiopathic arthritis, lupus, lyme disease, and leukemia. Growing pain is commonly seen in two to 12 years. It could be…

A CUPPA’ JOY The Beaba Bib’ Expresso is a super convenient 3-in-1 product that allows you to heat water for baby’s feed, re-heat small jars and prepared food bottles as well as sterilise up to three bottles (microwave sterilization). You can also avail of hot water at the touch of a button —it takes just 30 seconds for the water to be heated to a recommended 37 degrees celsius. You can also use it to heat your baby’s food using the Bain Marie (water bath) feature as well as use the detachable compartment to microwave steam and sterilise up to three bottles. Price: ₹10,999 Availability: www.allthingsbaby.com SUN’S OUT! Enriched with Avocado Oil and Vitamin E, this Spray from Brownskin Beauty keeps you sunlit all year long by protecting your skin…

Okay, being pregnant throws your world into chaos, but it’s also one of life’s most thrilling adventures. And one you want to be on form to enjoy. The trouble is, many of us end up feeling the opposite. If you’re succumbing to coughs and colds, it’s because your immune system’s intentionally become more vulnerable to protect your baby. “Your natural immunity is suppressed, so that your partner’s sperm and your growing baby are accepted by your body, rather than being attacked by your immune cells,” says UK-based GP Catti Moss. “These cells lose some of their ability to fight your body’s enemies, making you susceptible to bugs.” And expect to take a second hit when your baby arrives, not just because labour physically takes it out of you, but also…

“I am one of those rare mothers who went into labour on the due date that was given to me. All seemed well till the contractions were minutes apart. None of the preparation I had done for this moment was of any help. I just wanted it to be over with. The doctors offered to allow my mother in, but no sooner than she did, she fainted seeing the pain I was in. It was then that my husband came in and with his constant reassurances I managed to power through. Having him there was the best way to begin our journey as parents,” says a 28-year-old freelance writer who did not wish to be named. Doctors across the country are now opening up to the idea of having the…

1 PROTEINS Proteins serve a number of important functions. Babies use protein to build muscles, to carry nutrients in the blood, and to help fight infections. In addition, protein can also be used as a source of energy. Consuming sufficient amounts of protein is especially important in periods of rapid growth, like infancy. Proteins are composed of substances called amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. An easy way to understand proteins is to think of proteins as chains. The amino acids are the individual links in the chains. The human body can make all but 10 amino acids. Because babies must get these 10 amino acids from their diet and because they are necessary for normal healthy growth, they are called essential amino acids. Breastmilk is…