I’ve seen this mistake being repeated over and over again by over-protective parents that I feel I need to speak up now. How many of you immediately rush to your child’s aid whenever they complain about not being able to do something? It could be trying to mount a rocking horse or trying to reach for a toy that is under the bed. Do you find yourself quickly going to help them out of the problem they are facing?

STOP!

Allow me to propose an alternative. Let them try to solve the problem first by themselves! So many times we, as parents step in all too often and solve the problems for them that they hardly have a chance to exercise their own problem-solving skills. What happens if you don’t immediately jump in and give them the solution? They may whine a bit, but if encouraged properly, you will be surprised just how innovative and tactful your children actually can be!

Just the other day, I was at the playground with my 3 year old daughter. After playing at the slides for awhile, she wanted to get on the spring horse (the one where you can rock forwards and backwards). It had several different ways of entry with a few handles and bars. Upon running to the horse, she immediately realized its too high for her to get on. So what do kids do as an immediate response to such obstacles? Cry for help of course. My first reaction is to tell her, ‘Try to get on by yourself?’

She initially complained that she cannot do it. But after she realized that I’m not gonna get up from my comfortable bench without her trying first, she then truly began to attempt getting on the horse by herself. She tried the back and realize that some of the bars were too high for her to reach and pull herself up. More complaining. Then I said, ‘Is there another way?’ She then went to the side of the horse and decided it was equally impossible from there. Then she went to the front and tried. There the bars were lower and after some struggling and wriggling, she made it on the horse by herself! Needless to say, she was quite happy and proud of it.

This is just one experience that I had recently. Imagine what my child would have missed out if I immediately went and carried her onto the horse? She would not have been able to exercise her mind and actually show herself that she can do alot of things by herself if only she tried! And this builds confidence for the child to know that she should always try to solve the problem first by herself, knowing that she can actually do it.

Of course I am not advocating that you should just leave your child in all scenarios. There are some cases where they truly need your help. But in many small cases, like trying to reach for a ball that rolled under the couch, would a small suggestion like ‘Can you use something to help me get the ball out?’ be much more effective and powerful in helping your child learn and think for herself?

So the next time you are tempted to jump at the instant your child asks for help, encourage them to try for themselves first. If necessary, give them some hints and small nudges in the right direction. But ultimately, try to get them to think of the solution themselves. You’ll be amazed at how intelligent they actually can be if just given the proper encouragement and hints.

What is an Allergy?

An allergy is defined as a susceptible reaction to any substance in the atmosphere termed as an allergen.

When an infant with an allergy comes in contact with some allergen by breathing, eating, touching, or getting it injected, his body mistakenly interprets it as some dangerous intruder and releases chemicals like histamines as a resistant response.

The body gets irritated by these chemicals and shows symptoms like running nose, itching, sneezing or coughing. One can show mild or severe symptoms, intermittent (for example – seasonal), or continuous allergy if constantly exposed to the allergen.

Sometimes, allergens can cause a more severe reaction called the anaphylactic-shock. Severe symptoms, such as difficulty in breathing or swelling in any part of the body, are life-threatening and need immediate medical help.

Examples of Different Allergens:

Allergens can be of different types such as dust mites, food, insects, mold, drugs, pollen, and animal dander. Respiratory symptoms, skin allergies like eczema, allergic rhinitis, intestinal problems and nasal allergies are some of the examples of allergies, which can be caused by such allergens.

Causes of Nasal Allergies:

Babies and toddlers are the most vulnerable victims of dust mites. Dust mites are microorganisms which flourish on deteriorated human skin. Out of the total number of allergy sufferers, almost 85% suffer allergy due to dust mites.

• Animal Dander: Furry animals like cats and dogs shed deteriorated, white specks of dead skin and hair called animal dander. Animal dander is also one of the main reasons of skin and nasal allergies.

• Mold: Mold is a type of fungi which is found in damp, wet places like basements, bathrooms.

Woolen blankets, sweaters, and feather pillows can be the reason of allergy in some children. Most of the experts believe that tobacco smoke cannot be allergic to children; however, in reality, it is completely different. It can make their allergy even worse.

How Can I find out if my Baby is Having Simple Cold or Nasal Allergy?

Since the symptoms of nasal allergies are quite similar to those of cold such as running nose, nasal congestion, watery eyes, cough, and sneezing, except few of the minor signs, it is very difficult to tell the difference. However, allergies do have some telltale signs that can solve this confusion for you.

Ask yourself a few questions:

• Does it feel like your baby is always having cold? Generally, cold does not stay for more then a week or ten days while allergies do.
• Do you think your baby’s nose is always running or is always stuffy?
• Is he constantly wiping, wiggling, or pushing it up, if yes, then it is called an allergic salute in medical terms.
• Is the mucus which flows from his nose thin and clear or thick yellow and greenish?
• Does he sneeze continuously?
• Are his eyes red, itchy, and watery?
• What is the color of the skin under his eyes? Does it look a bit dark, blue or purple? Doctors call them allergic shiners.
• Is he breathing through his mouth?
• Is he having dry cough?
• Is his skin around the nose broken out in a red rash?

If your answer is yes to even one of these questions, then most probably your son is allergic to something in the environment. Kids having nasal allergies are likely to get sinus infections, asthma, or even ear infections.

Allergies and Genetics

Most of the times, allergies are inherited but it is not necessary that the child will get the same allergies.

For example, if one of the biological parents of the child is having pet allergy or hay fever, then the chances for the child having the same problem are 40 to 50 percent. If both the biological parents are allergic to something, then the possibility increases to 75 to 80 percent.

Sometimes, members of the same family may even have different types of allergies.

In case My Baby has an Allergy, will I come to know immediately?

Probably, you won’t. Allergy may take some time to develop. An allergen takes some time to reach the personal threshold of an individual before causing a reaction. This time period can stretch up to several months.

So if your baby has an inherited allergy to cat or dog dander, then even while your pet is around, he may not have any trouble for a few months or will not have much reaction. But then suddenly one day, his immune system may not bear it any more, his body will show reactions, and the problem will arise.

Seasonal allergies such as allergies to grass or pollen do not show their stuffy and ugly heads until the child is around 3-4 years old. This is because we get exposed to every individual pollen grain only for some weeks during the whole year.

How can I Find out what Allergy My Baby Has?

A lot of study has been involved and many-a-times, even medical tests have been conducted to find out the exact reason for allergies. Some help can be derived at the point of time when an allergy occurs.

It is difficult to find out a Mold allergy, since it generally occurs in rainy seasons or in damp conditions during which even cold is also frequent. Allergies due to pollen generally occur during summer, fall, or spring. Pet allergies or dust mites play a vital role in causing morning congestions.

Even sending Tommy away for a few days won’t let you know whether your kid is allergic to pets or not. Research done at Johns Hopkins University showed that it takes more than a year to keep your pet away from the allergic people in your house to increase their stamina toward pet allergy.

To know the reason behind the allergy can be quite tricky! For example, if you take your pet on a vacation away from your kid and at the same time your kid seems well, then you may think that he is allergic to pets, but you can never be sure – it may be a coincidence and he may be allergic to something else.

If you feel that you are unable to know the correct reason for the problem, then you must always consult the doctor. He will try to examine your baby by asking him questions. If he judges the root of the problem as an allergy, then he may ask you to take a blood test to know the level of IgE (allergy) antibodies in his blood or he will advise you to take the help of an allergic specialist.

But blood tests are not as accurate as skin tests, especially in case of kids. So, even if the blood test does suggest an allergy, a skin test must be your next step. You will have to consult an allergist for the same.

An allergist, applies allergens in small proportions, that are common in children, on your baby’s skin which causes same sort of reaction similar to the one caused by a mosquito bite. Although the reactions may probably be of lesser intensity in kids than that in older children, the tests are more than useful.

Seattle allergist Frank S. Virant describes “The allergy may change as your baby grows older and he may or may not be allergic to the same things as he was”. It may be a case when the tests are negative and yet your baby is showing allergy symptoms. In this case, you must take the allergic test every 6 to 12 months.

What Precautions should I take for My Baby against Allergens?

Following are some of the ways which may help you in protecting your baby from common allergies:

Dust Mites:

Dust mites are almost everywhere, in fabrics, in carpets, and in all rooms of a house. However, the most common place where children may come in their contact is the bedroom, since pillows and mattresses house these dust mites in huge numbers.

You may have to work hard but the following steps will be quite helpful. Virant says, “By following these steps, parents can expect to control their child’s allergies by 60 to 70 percent. And this surely will reduce the dose of medicines required for the problem.”
Some allergy supply stores sell impenetrable covers that are made with stiffly woven material to encase the baby’s mattress. Opposite to vinyl covers, these covers do not wrinkle and make a breathable barrier for the child.

• As far as possible, use only blankets instead of fluffy comforters, since these collect more dust.
• To kill the dust mites, it is necessary to wash the bedding at least once a week.
• Before washing the bedding, remember to make sure that the water is hot enough (up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit) and also warn other members of the family that the water will be hotter than usual.
• Later, turn the water heater again to the normal temperature (about 120 to 125 degrees), so any member of the family would not scald himself by washing his hands or taking a bath in the same water.

To avoid your baby’s contact with dust mites, don’t keep any stuffed animals in his room; these attract dust mites. Wash your baby’s favorite ones in hot water once a week or put them in the freezer to kill them with overnight frost.

Dusting and vacuum cleaning is a must every week or on alternate weeks in the absence of your baby. While cleaning the room, the residual dust particles stir up in the air and to avoid this, wet cleaning with a mop is a better option.

The HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) facility in some vacuum cleaners help in arresting even the microscopic dust particles which ordinary vacuum cleaners cannot, so it is better to invest your money in an HEPA vacuum cleaner.

In cases when the child has severe dust allergy, replace the carpet with a smooth vinyl or hardwood flooring.

In seasons when the air conditioners or furnaces are in use, their monthly cleaning is a must. The heating ducts need to be kept dirt-free so get them cleaned every year.

Animal Dander:

• Animal pollen also causes allergy and if your baby is facing the same problem, then the best solution is to keep your pet away from the baby.
• One can understand that it is not an easy decision to take and you may also consider it as the last option.
• It is very important to wash your pet frequently to stay away from dander. In every pet store, you can get shampoos which help in reducing the dander. Make sure that your pet does not sit on the sofa and also don’t allow it to enter your child’s room.

Mold:

Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier in a warm and wet weather, especially in the basement and other areas of the house where it is wet and is a reason for the growth of molds.

Mostly, bathrooms are factories where molds are produced in bulk. So many disinfectants are available in the market, like bleach etc. which can be removed with water or with oil of a tea tree and are also natural. Spend some money for better ventilation.

Molds can also be found in attics, closets, planters, shower stalls, cellars, refrigerators, under the carpet, and garbage cans. They can be found even in an artificial Christmas tree.

Can Medications be used to Help my Baby?

Yes, but don’t just give any random medicine available in the market for allergies. First consult your doctor.

After a thorough check up, he may prescribe some antihistamines to control the allergy. The latest medicines introduced for allergies cause fewer side-effects than the other products in the market. However, doctors do not approve these medicines for babies who are less than six months of age.

How can My Baby be protected from an Allergy in the First Place?

Lots of parents get confused because of conflicting information about allergies such as which precautions should be taken to prevent or delay allergies by postponing them. If the child is exposed to the potential allergens, then it will mean acceleration of the allergy.

Virant says, “In future, scientists will be able to find out the genetics which will indicate in advance about the allergen the child is going to react to and its preventions. However, at present, no one can predict anything about what will really help.”

The fact is that if you or your partner is allergic to dander, then you will definitely not like having any pet in your house.

The best way to avoid allergies is to keep your home, particularly your child’s room, very clean and free from dust mites and mold, irrespective of the fact whether or not your child is having an allergy.

Introducing solid foods to a baby is so exciting that most of the parents eagerly wait for the lovely time to arrive. Sometimes, it seems as if more than parents, their infants are impatient about getting the new solid diet. Your baby is no more satisfied with your feed or bottle and has started chewing motions with his mouth. Find out when your baby is ready and when is the right time to switch to solid food.

Precautions to be taken before you Start:

Before you get ready to introduce solid food to your baby and start piling baby food or baby spoons, remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests breastfeeding as the only source of nutrition for your child at least for the first six months. Moreover, also take the advice of your pediatrician regarding whether or not you should introduce solid food to your tiny tot. Sit with your pediatrician to discuss your family history (if someone in the family has any allergic problems) and if your little one is prepared for solid food intake before he has completed his six months (some infants are).

The Test of Taste:

After introducing solid foods, some babies develop rashes or get diarrhea. So it is very important to test everything for five to six days constantly to see the reactions. New food should always be introduced during daytime so in case of any complication such as the baby feeling uncomfortable or gassy, you can go to the doctor or handle it yourself both of which are not possible in the middle of a night.

Is your baby ready?

Before introducing solid foods to your baby, look for the following signs to ensure that the child ready to adopt the new diet pattern:

• Your baby should be able to sit without any support and has a good control over his head and neck.
• When you introduce the spoon, your baby should open his mouth voluntarily to show that he likes eating.
• Whatever the foodstuff, your little one should show interest while you are eating.

Food to Be Given:

Most commonly, the very first food introduced is the highly iron-rich rice cereal. The cereal is a mixture of water, formula, and breast milk and is prepared into a paste-like, loose consistency. Mostly, pediatricians suggest that the cereal should be started at around six months. In the beginning, your baby may respond by pushing the spoon or cereal out with the tongue indicating that he didn’t like it. However, this is simply a natural response, and he may probably take some time to get used to this new style of eating.

If your newborn has been gaining weight and doing well, then your pediatrician may recommend you to start pureed fruits and vegetables between 6 and 8 months after which (8 months), pureed meats can be considered.

However, always remember that breastfeeding and formula should remain the primary diet source for your little one for at least a year.

Babies take their own sweet time to get ready for a solid diet. So consider your own natural feelings to determine the right time to start with a solid food intake for your baby. When you feel that he is ready for it, consult your pediatrician about the same.

• Formula and breastmilk
• Cow’s Milk
• Grains and Cereals
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Protein/Meat
• Water
• Helpers that can be added to a Child’s Diet

It is Very easy for an Adult:

Some years back, the USDA had introduced My Pyramid Food Guidelines, before which we had cut-and-dried type of food groups. But the recommendations for toddlers and babies can be very hard to follow. Here are some tips that you can start with your child to feed him when he is through his second birthday.

Below given is the month-by-month nutrition according to the changing needs of your baby which you can download for your convenience. Check this regularly and you can also use our nutrition calendar to find out if your baby is growing accordingly or not.

Formula and Breast Milk:

Formula and breast milk is the cornerstone for the nutrition of your baby in his first year, since it contains calcium, protein, vitamins, fat, and minerals which are extremely essential for the growth of your baby in the first year of his life. In the year two, breast milk is very essential to provide a nutritive safety net to your growing toddler, since it includes bonus calcium, protein, and vitamins A and D.

How much Formula or Breastmilk your Child Needs Everyday:

• 0-4 months: 595g to 680g (6 to 12 feedings, about 56g to 113g each)
• 4-6 months: 680g to 907g (4 to 6 feedings, about 113g to 226g each)
• 6-8 months: 680g to 907g (4 to 5 feedings, about 141g to 226g each)
• 8-10 months: 680g to 907g (3 to 4 feedings, about 170g to 226g each)
• 10-12 months: 567g to 907g (3 to 4 feedings, about 141g to 226g each)
• 12-24 months: 453g to 680g breastmilk if you are still nursing, though there is no need of Formula (1 to 4 breast feedings every day and sometimes the baby may probably need more).

If the mother can breastfeed her child even after his first birthday, then it would be really great. Formula is recommended only in exceptional cases. Always keep in mind that after one year, whole milk is the only liquid source of nutrition for your child.

Cow Milk:

After the child crosses the one year mark, he needs calcium in bulk amounts to fulfill his growing needs and for the foundation of strong bones which are also formed at this stage. This need can be fulfilled by replacing breastfeed with cow milk, since it contains all the required ingredients including vitamins, calcium, and vitamins A and D.

The quantity of cow milk your child may need every day:

• 0-10 months: Nothing
• 10-12 months: 1 serving per day (equal to ¾ gm of cheese or half cup of whole milk-yogurt)
• 12-24 months: 2 to 3 servings (each serving equals to half cup of whole milk, ¾ gm of cheese or half cup of yogurt)

Grains and Cereals:

It is very important to keep your baby’s energy levels intact. Grains and cereals maintain that energy level by providing carbohydrates, minerals like magnesium and zinc, vitamin B complex, and the required fiber for his day-to-day activities like rolling, crawling, and walking.

The quantity of grain your child may need every day:

• 0-4 months: nothing
• 4-6 months: 3 to 4 tbsp (Start with rice which is very rich in iron)
• 6-8 months: 4 or more tbsp (Try giving only iron-rich cereals)
• 8-10 months: 4 or more tbsp (Along with iron-rich food, try finger foods like pasta, crackers, teething biscuits, and puffs)
• 10-12 months: 4 or more tbsp (Along with the food that you have been giving since the last month, try 1or 2 bread slices or pizza crusts)
• 12-24 months: 6 servings or more (each serving equals to half bread slice, 1/3 cup of cooked cereal, quarter cup of dried cereal, half muffin or bagel, 1/3 cup of cooked pasta or rice. You can also start with two servings of infant cereal per day for extra iron.

Vegetables:

As your mother would keep insisting, babies do need vegetables as a source for fiber, protein, vitamins A, B and C, trace minerals etc. which are extremely necessary for their growth. These vitamins and minerals help them grow faster, stronger, taller, and even smarter.

The quantity of vegetables your child needs every day:

• No vegetables for the first six months.
• 6-8 months: Just give 1tsbp per serving, 4 to 5 servings per day (start with stage-one vegetables or choose from strained vegetables)
• 8 to 10 months: 4 tbsp or more (Offer cooked veggie pieces, none bigger than your child’s thumbnail. Shoot for the consistency of canned carrots)
• 10 to 12 months: 4 to 8 tbsp (Split each day’s veggie allotment into one to two types of veggies)
• 12 to 24 months: 3 servings (One serving equals 1/4 -1/2 cup cooked or raw veggies)

Fruits:

Since fruits are nutritious, sweet, and contain lots of fiber and vitamins, they are essential for the overall growth of your child and will also help in keeping his digestive system child healthy.

The quantity of food your child needs per day:

• No fruits needed for the first six months.
• 6-8 months: Just give 1tsbp per serving (4 to 5 servings per day and start with stage-one fruits or strained fruits)
• 8-10 months: 4tsbp per serving (you can give cooked fruit tit-bits, should be very small like the thumbnail of your child. Try serving baked apple regularly)
• 10-12 months: 8-12tsbp per serving (you can give two types of fruits alternately every day)
• 12-24 months: 2 to 4 servings (1/4 cup of canned fruit, 100 ml of fruit juice or half cup of fresh fruit)

Meat/Protein:

Diets rich in proteins help your child in growing bigger and stronger. Along with vitamin B, zinc, and iron, protein helps in building strong muscles.

The quantity of protein your child needs every day:

• No protein required for the first eight months.
• 8-10 months: Start with 1tbsp (serve cheese cubes, egg yolk, pureed meats or tofu)
• 10-12 months: 2 to 4 tbsp (serve pureed, cooked meats, egg yolk, tofu or cheese cubes)
• 12-24 months: 2 to 3 servings (each serving equals 2 tbsp of cooked meat, fish, egg, poultry, ¼ cup of cooked beans, don’t give big quantities and serve 2 to 3 times a day)

Water:

About 70% of your baby’s body is made up of water, so water is the most essential part of your child’s diet. A child takes time to develop the taste of water and hence, it is better to start as early as possible. Water stops the dehydration of the body.

Quantity of water your child requires per day:

• There is no need of water up to four months after which, the quantity can be slowly increased and when your baby reaches two years of age, then 4gm or more water can be offered to him.

Postnatal depression is different from baby blues. Immediately after a woman delivers her baby, the woman experiences baby blues. These make a woman feel depressed and sad. She is not clear why she is depressed and out of mood, whether her baby is making her feel low or whether she is feeling tired and tense herself. The reason this happens is because of change of hormone levels which take place after the delivery. A woman has to deal with baby blues for about 2 to 3 days and then she is back to normal.

When does postnatal depression start?

Baby blues is definitely not as depressing as postnatal depression. A woman suffering from baby blues will be able to get over with it since it is a short lived thing. On the contrary, postnatal depression can become really serious. The woman becomes overly worried and sad. Postnatal depression can start either after a few days, weeks or months and they persist for a long time. The initial feeling of happiness is lost, since the mother gets totally tired looking after the baby day in and day out.

Symptoms of postnatal depression

If you are suffering from the below mentioned symptoms on and off, then you are most probably not suffering from postnatal depression. What we need to understand is that giving birth to another life itself is an emotional and physical rollercoaster. There obviously would be good time and bad times, but if the condition worsens, it obviously means you are not keeping well and it is time to meet up with either your gynecologist or your family physician.

If you feel
- Sad and dejected quite often.
- Condition worsens early in the morning and also in the evening
- Feeling of worthlessness and nothing excites you or makes you happy
- Feeling of guilt and blaming yourself for nothing at all
- Losing temper and feeling of irritation. Rudely speaking to your partner.
- Feeling like crying
- Getting tired and worn out and still unable to sleep peacefully
- Not able to enjoy oneself
- Feeling that you are left out
- Feeling that you are not able to do things quickly, the way you used to do once upon a time.
- Feeling of nervousness and overly concerned about the baby and contacting the doctor to reassure one that everything is okay with the child.
- Not comfortable about your own health.
- Dreaming about something rather irrelevant
- Feeling that the baby is not yours and someone else’s.

Some other symptoms include:
- Low sex drive
- Feeling exhausted and tired
- Not able to remember things very clearly
- Difficult to arrive at decisions
- Bloated feeling
- Not able to sleep peacefully.

Am I likely to get postnatal depression?

Doctors are still not able to analyze why some women are prone to postnatal depression while some are practically normal. Every human is unique and the brain biochemistry of each individual differs. This means some of us are prone to getting irritated and depressed whereas some luckily escape this. But there are some situations which are beyond control and this could accelerate the risk of depression.

- Previous history of depression
- Depression during the trimesters of pregnancy
- Terrible experience during child birth
- Demise of your mother during your birth
- No support from family or spouse
- If the baby has delivered premature or is not healthy
- Monetary problems or other problems faced in the life

How is postnatal depression treated?

Drugs
There are very good medications available which help in fighting postnatal depression. Many women have preconceived notions that these anti depressants are highly addictive. But this is not the case. The mistake which most women make is that they do not follow the medication properly.
Make sure you follow the medication properly and at the times prescribed. Within a few weeks you would start feeling rejuvenated and happy. These medications should not be discontinued immediately. Take advice from your doctor before discontinuing the anti-depressant drugs. Normally, these drugs are advised at least for six months. If you give up on these within a few weeks, you are definitely to going to get another attack of depression.

Gynecologists understand that you need to breastfeed the baby; hence the drugs prescribed would not have any side effects on your baby.

“Talking” therapies
It is important that you talk to someone who listens and understands your problems. This is very effective. You could approach your family doctor who would then refer you to a counselor or any other professional who is a trained counselor. There are trained counselors who help out people suffering from postnatal depression. Even if you are able to cry out your heart to a dear friend or a close relative, it could really be helpful. It may also happen that sometimes they are not able to provide a solution to your problems, but it is okay.

What can friends and family do?

If any of your close relatives like your sister, partner or your daughter is going through postnatal depression, the changes can be glaringly visible. Even people in contact with her would get depressed looking at her sight. It is imperative that you get in touch with your family doctor or a counselor who could help you out and advise you accordingly. Once it is established that this is a real problem and there is someone to help you out, it would be really encouraging. You could also make your friends and relatives understand the emotional turmoil the person is going through, for them to understand you better. Things will get better with time. Just have patience.

If you are closely related to the person suffering from postnatal depression, you could do your bit to help out the person from this physical and emotional turmoil:

- Ensure that the patient has the prescribed medication on time and does not miss the counseling appointments.
- If the patient is disturbed about taking the medication, your family physician could talk to the patient.
- Do not keep giving free lectures to the patient. Instead try and cheer her up.
- Help her in taking care of the baby and also some part of the household tasks. Do not take up all the activities of the baby. This would give her an impression that she is not well.
- Encouraging her that she is going to get alright would help
- If you are her partner, talk to her like a friend. She is your life partner and friend first and then the mother of your baby.

How can I help myself?

Try to have a healthy diet.
If you do not feel hungry, then make sure you eat small but regular meals. This is very important as your body also needs nutrition. It is important that you do not skip your breakfast. Eating carbohydrates is important as it gives energy to the body. Pasta, bananas, rice and cereals contain a lot of carbohydrates and they give energy to the body. Include lot of fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. Chocolate helps in cheering up. You could have your chocolate bar, but do not make it a habit.

Try to get lots of rest.
If you are able to sleep well or at least relax, it could have positive effects on your body. Having a glass of warm milk or any drink before going to bed, listening to soothing music would be soothing and relaxing.

Be kind to yourself.
You need to understand that you are not keeping very good health and you need to give your body time to get back to normal. Do not start taking up tasks which could take a toll on your health. This could tire you further and you might go back into depression once again. Put off tasks which could be done later. Treat yourself to something of your choice so that you feel good.

Will I get postnatal depression again after my next baby?

If you have had a history of depression, it is quite possible that you might suffer from postnatal depression. If there are many women who do not experience postnatal depression during their second delivery. If you plan well on how to cope with your baby after the delivery, things can be managed pretty well. Your gynecologist would be able to help you and advise you on what to do and what not to, so that you are prepared for the worst.

Can I prevent postnatal depression?

This cannot be predicted. But if you have good support systems during pregnancy, it would help you in being physically and mentally strong. By your next delivery, you know what to expect, you would take all the help offered to you and take complete rest, be fit and thereby your stress levels would be definitely lower.
It is thought by some doctors that if a woman takes regular hormone injections after her delivery, it would help her out with postnatal depression. You could always talk it out with your family physician.

Where can I find out more?

Within your local community, you could talk to women who have delivered to get a feel of what to expect.

Let us look at some of the issues that can crop up.

Feeding your baby to sleep – where’s the problem?

Night has fallen. The baby has been cleaned and given a warm water bath. You have made him wear a set of clean night time clothes and are singing a lullaby to make him sleep soundly. You are peacefully feeding your child in the bedroom with lights off. The baby falls asleep immediately you put him on the cot. After three hours he wakes up again, you breastfeed him and then he goes back to slumber once again. This is fulfilling for both of you as well as your baby. But have you ever pondered whether this is the right way? No, of course not and this is likely to cause future problems for both of you as well as your baby.

You might feel that breastfeeding is the most ideal way and is a healthy routine which you are following day in and day out. But this is not true. This technique might sound easy for you since you feel the child sleeps peacefully after you have breastfeed him. But the child might form sleep associations which are not good for the child and this would later develop into a habit.

Most of the babies wake up many times during the night. If you have made it a habit to feed your baby, every time he wakes up, this would become a routine habit and the child would feel that only he has been fed he will be able to sleep soundly. This is obviously not the right way to make the baby sleep peacefully. Whether the child is made to sleep separately on the child cot or whether the child shares your same cot, matters would get worse as you would have to wake up many times at midnight.

Breastfeeding and sleeping – the connection

It has been researched and found that babies who are breastfed before going to sleep form sleep associations and they take longer to adjust to sleeping all by themselves s compared to formula fed babies. Moreover, breast milk is lighter and easier to digest as compared to formula milk. This is the reason why most breastfed babies feel hungry very soon and they wake many times during the night.

Secondly, breastfeeding is both calming and soothing. It is well nourished and complete food. Hence, it is easier to establish a connection between breastfeeding and sleeping. The baby forms sleep associations that only if he is breastfed, he can go back to sleep once he wakes up. Every time he wakes up in the middle of the night, he might need you and your breast a he finds it both soothing and comforting. On the contrary, your neighbor’s child who has adjusted well to the sleep patterns sleeps peacefully on its own without any help.

Try a change of routine

Now what does this mean? Should you not breastfed your baby at all before he goes to sleep? This is not what we are implying. Breastfeeding your baby is definitely a wonderful experience and you should definitely do so but not so regularly. You could do it once in a while at night. Never make bed times as breastfeeding routine. The child would start relating to it and would never become independent. You could breastfeed the child much before he is preparing to sleep. Once the baby is through with his feed, you could sing a lullaby or read out a story.

Help him fall asleep on his own

If your baby already needs your breast and your presence to go to sleep, then obviously he has formed sleep associations. But do not feel dejected. It is never too late to begin a new habit. You could still help him inculcate healthy sleeping habits. Few ways to kick start and help him sleep all by his own are as follows:

Slowly discontinue breastfeeding immediately before he goes to sleep. Slowly reduce the time you spend on feeding the child.

It is ideal to feed the child towards evening and not before he retires to bed.

These changes have to be incorporated only during night times and bed times. Once the baby is able to sleep on its own during nighttime, he would not need you every time at night.

How breastfeeding mums can get more sleep?

It is obvious that breastfeeding moms do not get their quota of sleep at night. It is the duty of both parents to stay awake and not only the mother’s responsibility. Ask your partner to change the nappy of the baby while you could catch up on some sleep. Some other ideal alternatives are:

Express some milk so that the child can be fed if he gets up in the middle of the night. Your partner can prepare a bottle of expressed milk or also make a bottle of milk using formula milk powder. Your partner can feed the child while you can express milk in a separate room. If you and your partner work together in unison, you could definitely get sleep and would not have a problem. Both of you should adjust and work out a system which works best for you, your family and your child.

Breastfeeding the child is a wonderful experience for the mother and the baby. But it could definitely lead to sleep related problems in the future. This is applicable to both you as well as your baby. If you inculcate healthy sleeping habits in your baby, he would become more independent and it would be a great relief to you.

How can you help your child to settle and sleep?

Some of the things which you adhere to so that your baby is able to follow nap times are as follows:

Establish and follow a bedtime routine

When grown ups follow a specific bedtime routine, infants and kids also start following it. They do so wholeheartedly. Following the same routine every night is important so that the baby gets accustomed to it, be it reading a bedtime story, giving the baby a lukewarm water bath. Follow the same order Babies appreciate consistency and they love to follow the routine and by now they would know what to expect. This is very helpful in the long run because the kids start getting signals that it is time to wind up and go so sleep.

Keep your child’s daily routine – including bedtimes and naptimes – consistent

It is beneficial for both the baby and the mother if they follow consistency in bedtimes and naptimes. This does not imply that your baby has to eat at 12.15 sharp in the afternoon. Try and follow the same time everyday (possibly fifteen times here and there) is okay. Sticking to a predictable schedule helps in following the practice in a more disciplined manner. When your child eats and sleeps play a very important role. She would be able to sleep more soundly and peacefully.

Potential pitfalls

It is quite possible that babies who have never faced sleep problems suddenly wake up at midnight. Then, they are not able to get back to sleep. This is possible because babies are worried about getting separated from the mother. This is referred to as separation anxiety. Your child might get up at middle of the night and not find you. She is worried that you might not return.

Sometimes, it could also have a relation to your child’s motor and cognitive development. By this age, your baby would try to crawl, roll and try standing up. These are her list of achievements. The child wants to master her achievement and she tries getting up at midnight, trying to sit or stand depending on what she feels at that time. Sometimes, she might turn so energetic that she might stand up without knowing how to sit down. She might then find it difficult to get back to sleep. You would then have to guide and teach her how to sit down if she does not know once she is in an upright position. Then with a little soothing, you can then put her down on her cot. Once you are through with this, walk out of the room and then after some time, just peep in and see what she is up to.

It has been proved that feeding your child at night may not help her sleep well. Sometimes, the effect may be the opposite. A sleep expert has commented that if your child goes to bed after 8.30 p.m, it is likely that she might get up midnight. If you move the bedtime earlier by half an hour, you would notice that the child sleeps well without getting up at night. She also sleeps soundly and peacefully.

Approaches to Sleep problems

Parents are worried when their baby does not sleep peacefully all by herself. It is high time they learn to do that and settles down to sleep without having to call you every now and then. The child would then find solace either sucking her thumb, cuddling her teddy bear etc. Sometimes, the baby might require you to soothe her or comfort her. Teach her to do so. Doctors advise that babies should be able to soothe themselves without taking the aid of external factors like music, lighting etc because these are the same thing they would look forward to once they get up and they would want as well so as to drop back to sleep. This is of course not a practical solution.

When your baby is about 6 to 9 months old, you need to design techniques for making her sleep all by herself. Select the approach which is best suited for you and your child.

Approach 1

If your baby is able to sleep all on her own, then it is okay if you rock her or sing a lullaby till she goes back to sleep. Babies who follow consistent night times are also less likely to get up during mid nights and waking up at night is likely to vanish within few days. If this is not happening, then you need to adopt a checking routine. If the baby gets cranky and cries go to her room, pat her and reassure her that she is fine and she needs to sleep. Do not pick her up from the baby cot or cuddle her. Make sure you leave the room and allow her to settle down on her own. After some time, you could check back whether she has actually gone back to sleep. This might be a little tedious in the beginning, but in the long run, it helps and you would not have to experience sleepless nights.

Approach 2

When the baby wakes up, she needs to find out ways to settle herself. You need not pick her up every time she wakes up because she would look forward to this every time she wakes up. If you are not following this routine, the baby will not get adjusted to this and she will keep crying and remain cranky for long intervals and take longer to settle down. Do not spend more than two minutes with her in the room. She will understand that she has to sleep and not create a scene. You could reassure her by talking and patting her back. Do not soothe her by giving her a milk bottle because this would become a practice in the long run. She will not be able to independently sleep if she follows this practice.

Approach 3

By this age, your baby should ideally sleep eight hours without getting up in the middle of the night. If for any reason, she gets up in the middle; give her sometime to settle on her own before rushing to her. Still if she is not able to stop crying, talk to her reassuringly but do not pick her up from the bed or feed her, unless you are sure she is feeling hungry

Approach 4

With different developments taking place in the child’s physical and psychological makeup, many children get up in the middle of the night because of their excitement. Teach her self comforting techniques like thumb sucking. Once the baby is slightly older and there is a lesser danger of cot death, you could give her a teddy which is comforting to her. Once she gets up and starts crying, do not rush to her. Give her sometime to settle down on her own.

Approach 5

Flexibility is the keyword. Find out the cause for her crying. Is it her wet nappy or hunger or a stuffy nose? Try and be with her as much during the mornings and you could cuddle her. Get your spouse into taking care of the baby in the night and being a co-comforter.

There is no single way which can be said to be right. You need to design your own techniques and choose the right approach which is ideal for you and your family.

How can you establish good sleep habits?

The child can be taught some good habits, so that she settles down and sleeps peacefully through the night, without getting restless.

Establish set bedtimes and naptimes – and stick to them

Normally, babies pull their ears, rub their eyes and these are tell tale signs for the mother that her baby is feeling sleepy. Now that the baby has grown older, establishing specific bed times are a must. Consistent naptimes are necessary to regulate the baby’s sleep patterns. Timings between 7 and 8.30 p.m. are considered as ideal baby bedtimes. If the child sleeps after this time, it is likely that the baby would get tired and would not be able to sleep well. If the child appears energetic and playful during sleep times, it means she has crossed her bedtime and she wants you to play with her. Setting naptimes are also as important as setting bed times. Depending on what the baby feels and expresses by way of actions, you could set naptimes. Ultimately what you are interested in is that your baby sleeps soundly and peacefully.

Begin to develop a bedtime routine

If you have not thought about setting a bedtime routine, it is high time you do that activity. Your routine could probably be giving the baby a lukewarm water bath, playing with the bay, reciting a lullaby or reading a fairy tale story and lastly kissing her good night. Make sure you follow the same order everyday and follow the same time. Children understand consistency and they would surely abide by this.

Wake your child in the morning to reset her daily clock

It is important that your child gets 10 hours of sleep at night. Now it is time to wake her up for resetting her daily clock. The baby has to follow a consistent sleep/wake pattern so that she is recharged and stays happy through the day. Similarly, taking small naps through the day is important for her to stay energized and playful and not get cranky. Waking up the child at preset times is important so that her sleep schedule remains predictable.

Children who have sleep associations like rocking, breastfeeding are okay when the child is really small. Later, you need to help the child get out of this habit and soothe himself. Three to six months old babies sometimes face sleep problems. If you find that your baby finds it difficult to sleep, ensure that she does not stay awake for a long time. If the baby is overtired, she is likely to make your night miserable. Learn to make the child independent by teaching her to sleep by herself and not take the help of your breast, arms or for that matter any dummy toy.

In spite of all this, if your baby still finds it difficult to sleep, there are some strategies which you could resort to:

The best way to soothe your child to sleep is to calm and cuddle her. Newborns love cuddling whereas a slightly older baby would want a firm goodnight. Opt for a strategy which works best for you, your family and the baby.

Approach 1

Once you have put the child on her child cot in her room, go and check out for yourself if she is sleeping peacefully. If she is crying and getting irritated, go and check her and pat her back. Reassure her that everything is okay and she has to go to sleep. It is important that you do not get carried away by motherly love and pick her up to cuddle her. You need to be gentle but also firm. Leave the room and again make a visit to check her out. Keep repeating this till you find that she is peacefully sleeping.

Approach 2

Check out on the bedtime routine. Put your baby down on her cot while she is awake but preparing to sleep.

Approach 3

If your baby is cranky and you know that she has been fed, is healthy and also dry, do not rush to her room. Wait for five minutes before barging into her room. Babies find reassurance when someone talks to them. This is enough and do not create a scene by putting on the lights or picking her up. It is important to be firm and consistent. This way you can ensure that she develops healthy sleep patterns.

Approach 4

Sleep associations like rocking the baby, breastfeeding her also temporary aids to get her sleep. The child has to settle down and sleep on her own and depend on herself. When the baby is still awake, take her to bed and pat her and then wish goodbye. She would slowly know that it is bedtime and she needs to sleep now.

Approach 5

As a mother, you need to comfort your baby. Lie down with her or rock her till she has slept, be with her. This is reassuring and is very helpful in establishing and sticking to a bedtime routine. Pretending to sleep with her would reassure her that it is bedtime and she needs to sleep.

There is no single way which is right. Settle on one method which is comfortable to both you and your baby.

Learn the signs that mean he’s tired.

During the initial six to eight weeks, the infant would not be able to keep his eyes wide open at a stretch for two hours or so. If you do not put him to bed, he would get cranky and it would take some time for him to get sleepy. Understand the signs sent out by the child when he is sleepy. Different signs like pulling the ears, rubbing the eyes are signs that your child wants to sleep. Faint dark circles under the eyes of your child are also tell tale signs that your child wants to retire to bed. When you notice these signs, put him on the baby’s cot or the Moses basket. A mother slowly gets to understand the child’s patterns and daily routine. By practice, you would understand that the baby wants to sleep or is hungry or is getting cranky.

Begin to teach him the difference between day and night.

The sleep patterns of children differ. Some infants stay wide awake at night. Some of them are easy to handle as they sleep at night and play during the day. This is fine for both the child and the mother. The other category of children who stay awake and play during the night can be quite tiresome for the mother and the family. The initial few days would be really tough and tiresome. But you could slowly start making the child understand the difference between daytime and night time.

When the child is full of vigor and wants to play, make him play during the daytime, so that he gets tired and would compulsorily drift into dreamland during night. This would also give you some rest and of course uninterrupted sleep. Some children sleep while the mother is feeding them. Make the child get up. Similarly, when you feed him at night, do not play with the child and make this a practice. He would start playing and not sleep. This would keep you busy the entire night, which is obviously not want you would want. After feeding the baby, do not keep talking to the child for a long time. This would send out vibes to the child that it is night time and he needs to sleep and let others sleep as well.

Give him a chance to fall asleep on his own.

When the child grows up to eight weeks old, give the child an opportunity to fall asleep on his own. This is simple. Parents who want the child to learn healthy sleeping habits should put down the child on his own cot when the child is feeling sleepy. It is okay if you want to be there till the child sleeps. But then you need to be prepared to remain awake, every time your child wakes up which is not a practical option anyways.

How to induce healthy sleeping habits in your child is important and in this manner, habits get developed. It is important for parents to understand that whatever they do in the initial stages of the infant’s life has a bearing in future as well. If you rock the child or feed the child so that he would fall asleep, this would become a habit and the child would start expecting that. The child will not be able to sleep on its own. If you leave the child to sleep on its own, this would get transformed into a habit and the child would slowly gauge that it is night time and he should catch up with some sleep. It is imperative that you set a pattern and follow it every night. This would also save the child from a lot of confusion.

Potential Pitfalls

The infant’s sleep patterns would not get disrupted too much. When your baby becomes three months old, the baby may be waking up quite often that he needs to. This is how sleep patterns get disturbed and this is not good for the child in the long run.

Newborns wake up at night only if they are hungry or their nappies need to be changed. Sometimes, just your physical presence is enough for the child to get back to sleep peacefully.

Ensure that your child does not form sleep associations like rocking or breastfeeding. When the child starts to feel sleepy, put him on the cot and let him drift to his dreamland all on his own.

Approaches to Sleep problems

It is your responsibility to inculcate healthy sleeping habits in your child, so that the child sleeps peacefully at night. There are many ways to approach this and experts have many opinions on this. Some good approaches are as mentioned below:

Approach 1

Healthy sleeping habits can be taught when the child is merely six weeks old. Follow the bed time patterns consistently and put down your baby on the cot, when he feels sleepy yet he is awake. This means the baby would understand that it is sleep time and he needs to sleep. It is advised to replace sleep associations like rocking the child or breastfeeding him with something different. You could probably keep an attractive blanket which the child would like to see first thing when he gets up.

Approach 2

Every parent wants the child to be healthy and happy and wants to give the best to the child. Helping the child develop healthy sleep patterns is what you can give the child. Your baby does not understand things which are good for him and would cry because he is disappointed and not getting what he wants. Do not get carried away because he is crying. You could console him and then teach him to sleep on his own.

Approach 3

Teach and train the child to sleep on his own. If he wakes up, he should also be taught to comfort himself. This is the best way a child can be taught to distinguish between night times and daytimes. If the child sleeps for a longer time during the day, you need to wake him up so that he does not turn cranky during night. This could probably be used to sleep peacefully and soundly at night time. But when he tries to get up, comfort him so that he feels at peace and is settled.

Approach 4

Train the child to settle down and calm down on his own. Do not jump at his first cry. Hold on and see whether the child is really upset over anything. Then go ahead and reassure the child and make him lie on the baby cot, so that he goes back to sleep. You could pat and soothe him. This is a very good idea and healthy bed time routines like telling a story would really prove beneficial.

Approach 5

It is important that you create a soothing and positive environment, so that your child sleeps peacefully. A comforting environment would help him sleep better and not wake up abruptly at midnight.

There is no hard and fast rule regarding how to teach your child to sleep. You need to experiment various methods and select the one which best suits you, your family and of course your child.

Cases of cot death have been quite common during the initial few months of the newborn’s life. It is advised that parents place the baby’s cot next to their own cot for the initial few months, so that they are able to monitor the child. Some other useful tips are:

• Make your child sleep on his back and not sideways or chest facing downwards.
• Make sure you put the baby with his feet towards the end of the cot, so that he does not keep moving too much and go beneath the blankets. This could prove dangerous to the baby.
• The room temperature should be set to 18 degrees Celsius and neither higher nor lower. This would ensure that the baby sleeps peacefully and without any interruptions.
• The baby’s bedding should be of soft sheet as well as baby cellular blankets. Avoid using a duvet.

When you touch the baby’s tummy, you would get an idea of whether the baby is feeling hot or cold. If the tummy is hot, you need to remove the blanket and if it is cold, it means you need to cover the baby with another blanket. Touching the hands or feet would not help you understand whether the baby is feeling hot or cold.

There are some babies who sleep peacefully during the first eight weeks, whereas some of them are not able to achieve this even when they have completed five or six months. Healthy sleeping habits can be inculcated in the child right in the beginning. This way the child will follow the same sleeping pattern and it would be helpful for the child when he or she grows up.