Post Natal Massage - Goodness in a Touch

Postnatal massage has become increasingly important to mother, especially when woman is encourage to deliver more babies. After some seemingly long hours of delivery process, much exhaustion and effort, a quality postnatal massage is something to reward the mothers.

Be it a wonderful natural birth or a unexpected Caesarean, mothers should still go for postnatal massage. If the lingering post-delivery discomfort or pain is still there, wait for a while before engaging in the massage. For mothers that went through natural birth, it is advisable to start massaging sessions on the 4th Day after hospital discharge. For caesarean, it would be dependent on the recovery process and condition of the wound.

Benefits of Postnatal Massage:

Restores your body

Massages helps in getting your body ready to go back in shape, just like before pregnancy. The pelvic structure during the massage would also gradually be re-structured and to facilitate healing. Abdominal massages help to tone and flatten the muscles and skin.

Relieving aches and pains

Especially for back pain, joint pain, stiffness, swollen feet.

Caesarean Recovery

Helps to heal the incision, abdominal muscles recovery and scar tissues reduction.

Relaxation

A great time to rejuvenate and pamper yourself, boost your energy level and away from stress and anxiety.

After a good massage, mothers would be able to focus back on your little one with lovingly, tender care.

For Singapore mothers, I have one very good recommendation and have personally tried this masseur before. Her massage techniques really got me back to my pre-pregnancy state.

Details as follow:

No. of sessions: 7 sessions at $400  (please call to confirm the charges) - standard package
Venue: At your home
Duration per session: 1.5 hours

How to book your sessions:
- SMS or call Ms. Zie (details below) and let her know your expected due date.
- when do you intend to start your sessions (start and end date, how many sessions you need, consecutive days or alternate days, etc)
- wait for Ms. Zie's confirmation of her slots, then you can let her know your residential address.

What would be provided:
- wrapping cloth (white bandage cloth and outer Batik cloth), both needs to be returned to the masseur.
- massage oil
- herbal application

What do you need to prepare?
- mattress
- mattress cover or waterproof mat to protect mattress.
- bedroom slippers (foot and sole would be massage with oil too)

Masseur Name: Zie (Ms.)
Mobile: 9008 9114

Hope the above recommendation helps for those who are contemplating which one to engage. Through recommendation is always the preferred. ^_^

Signing off,

Fairy Angel Shop

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Natural Glow Booster During Pregnancy

Lustrous hair, rosy and radiant facial complexion and glowing skin are some of the plus things that every expectant mothers enjoy and wish to have them last forever.

Though these are gifts of pregnancy, we should also give our skin a natural boost of vitamins and minerals. Make it better and last longer, even post pregnancy.

Working mothers on the go face stress, UV-rays of the scorching hot sun outdoors, freezing cold air-con in the office and absorbing the harmful computer radiation. Over time, the skin turns dry, more oil generated, clogging pores, giving rise to acne and all related issues. Hence, it is important to keep the skin's moisture level balance.

A mist in the handbag or at the office is always a good choice. Small and convenient to use, a mist helps to prevent the surface layer of skin moist and dewy.

Personally, I highly recommend the HadaLabo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moist Mist. It is a small sleek bottle of 45ML, easy to carry along everywhere for use at any time of the day.

It is sold at all leading pharmacies such as Watsons and Guardians.

If you are putting on make-up, spray the mist onto the face too. Hold the bottle 15 cm away from your face and spray 2-3 times. Using your fingers, pat gently on your face till the mist is fully absorbed. This helps to hold the make-up in place, as well as to prevent the skin from drying up or irritated.

Give it a try, mothers. ^_^

Signing off,
Fairy Angel Shop

Store: www.fairyangelshop.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/simplyluvbb
We are also listed on Qoo10 (Gmarket)

Broccoli, Pumpkin and Fish Porridge

Preparing a delicious and nutritious meal for a baby 8 months old and above is never difficult.
Simple ingredients, yet big nutrients!

Broccoli, Pumpkin and Fish Porridge

Age: 8 months and above

Nutritional Facts:

Broccoli

This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Thiamin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.

Pumpkin
This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.

Threadfin Fish Fillet
Protein, Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin A, C

Ingredients (serving of 1):
Ikan Bilis (dried Anchovies) - a small handful to give taste
Threadfin Fish Fillet - 1/4 of the slice
Broccoli Florets
Pumpkin - 1 small thin wedge
Rice
Water

How to Cook:
1. Wash rice in a pot and add water.
2. Add ikan bilies to the pot and bring together to boil.

3. Drain and remove the ikan bilis from pot and discard.
4. Leave to boil till rice takes form into porridge for 5-10 minutes.
5. Dice pumpkin into small cubes and chop broccoli florets finely.

6. Steam pumpkin and broccoli florets for 10 minutes.
7. Remove skin of the fish and slice it thinly.

8. Remove steamed pumpkin and broccoli florets from stove and mash lightly. Do not mash them fully. Aim to retain a little crunchiness and texture.
9. Add fish and mashed pumpkin and broccoli florets to porridge. Give a little stir to mix everything together.
10. Simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
11. Turn off the fire.
12. Ready to serve.

Baby Walker - Helping Baby Learn to Walk?

Does a baby walker really helps a baby to walk sooner?

A baby walker is known to many, and it exists as far back as 1870s. It looked like an equipment with a baby sitting within and merely uses his little tiny toes to steer around the floor, with his feet barely touching.

Many parents have used a walker to keep their babies occupied while they carry on doing their chores. To date, this practice prevails, and much believed that their babies would walker sooner or later.

Many babies automatically learn to walk if left on their own, provided if their bodies are ready. Before mastering the technique of walking, babies must first learn to balance on both legs and feet. Of course, their leg muscles must also be able to support the body weight and keep themselves upright.

Walkers are not designed to stimulate and encourage normal walking.

Referring to the above mentioned, a child needs to learn to balance weights over his legs and feet before learning to walk independently. But, when a child is placed in a walker, he almost always learn to walk only with his toes. Walking on toes is not normal and often shortens the Achilles tendon which would mess up the child's balance when he eventually starts to walk.

Besides, actual standing position in a walker does not improve a child's balance. And, teaching the knees to take weight is often disturbed and not developed naturally. Practical observations show that many babies who spend most of their days in a walker struggle to or never crawl. This is especially true if a baby is put in a walker at a very early age. Or spends too much time in a walking ring.


Crawling on the other hand teaches important motor and perceptual skills such as distance, depth... concepts such as in, out, on and under.

Injuries due to Walker

Injuries to your baby's head caused by the walker falling over is probably the single biggest reason to use a baby walker sensibly and under constant supervision.

Should you continue using a walker?

Yes, why not? A child should be limited to spending a relatively short amount of time on a walker. A walker is still a friend especially when parents really have something to do, and keeping a child within a walker would enable them to complete their tasks sooner.

Breastfeeding Myths!

Extracted from an article on Singaporemotherhood. Enjoy reading! ^_^

MYTH: Women with inverted nipples can’t breastfeed.
FACT! Women with inverted nipples can breastfeed if the problem is corrected with a niplette at mid –trimester. A nipple shield, nipple puller or a pump can also be used.

MYTH: Women with small breasts have less milk than those with larger breasts.
FACT! Yes, the volume in certain cases can be affected, but you can still breastfeed.

MYTH: My mother did not breastfeed me, I probably can’t breastfeed my baby either.
FACT! Not true. Early initiation is vital and you should get professional help as soon as possible if needed.

MYTH: My newborn keeps crying and wanting to drink. I don’t have enough milk for her!
FACT! Yes it is possible, but check and do not assume that there is not enough milk. Observe and see if there are any other possible problems.

MYTH: Breastfeeding hurts. It’s normal.
FACT! When a mother first initiates breastfeeding, she may feel some pressure, but it should not be at the level of severe pain. If it hurts, she should first check the latching.

MYTH: I must breastfeed for 20 minutes on one side, then switch to the other side for another 20 minutes.
FACT! There is no fixed timing, but most babies will not able to suck continuously for more than 20 minutes. The baby will tend to nibble and use the mum’s breast as a pacifier for comfort. From previous research, if baby is sucking effectively, the timing per side can be as short as 15 to 20 minutes. However, this is only a guideline to ensure that the baby suckles from both sides.

MYTH: A breastfeeding mother will never know how much her baby is drinking, or whether baby has had enough.
FACT! When the baby has had enough, he will show signs of having drunk enough and generally be satisfied after a full feed. He will rest in between feeds for couple of hours or even longer. He will be gaining weight, and producing at least six wet diapers and three soiled ones per day. 

MYTH: Breastfeeding babies do not get enough iron.
FACT! The recommendation is for babies to have 8 to 10mg or iron per day. However, most babies will not require an iron supplement till they are six months of age. The amount of iron present in breast milk (Colostrum: 0.5 to 0.8 mg/l. Mature milk: 0.2 to 0.3 mg/l) is enough. This does not seem like much, but most iron (70 per cent) in breast milk is absorbed, compared to formula, where only 30 per cent is absorbed.

MYTH: If I am sick and taking medication, I cannot breastfeed.
FACT! It is important to let the doctor know that you are breastfeeding, as this may affect his choice of drugs for you. Don’t worry, there are medications that are compatible with breastfeeding. Most common medication is okay to take unless the mother is allergic to it. But do try to take them only after breastfeeding.

MYTH: If my baby is sick, she needs water, I cannot breastfeed her.
FACT! If baby is sick, breastfeeding is the best way to feed baby as the breast milk contains 87.8 per cent of water.

MYTH: My nipples are bleeding, I cannot breastfeed.
FACT! Correct the problem and continue with breastfeeding. In extreme cases mothers seek advice from a Lactation Consultant. Blood is edible but not easily digested, so it may irritate the baby’s stomach and make him throw up.

MYTH: Breastfeeding mothers must eat more in order to make milk.
FACT! Not true. A well balanced diet will do. The mother should not be dieting.

Step By Step

STEP BY STEP...

As your little one takes her first steps, is she equipped with the right pair of shoes to cross this milestone?

Among the many milestones that many parents wouldn't want to miss, watching their baby take her very first step is listed as one of the most important. By the time she turns one year old, you would already have witnessed that special milestone that would have left you beaming with pride. Babies usually begin to walk at around nine to twelve months old. However, some only begin at sixteen months old, and this is okay.

Baby Steps

Before your little one begins to walk, she would learn to sit, roll over and crawl. When she is around eight months old, she should begin to start pulling herself up to a standing position. Babies that are working on pulling themselves upright learn that there are something in the room, what we call the 'pillars', are things that would not move when pulled. Before this age, they expect that all things would move if pulled.

As the next few weeks pass, she would move on to cruising. She would be holding on to tables and couches to take her where she needs to go. And before you knew it, she may be taking her first step towards independence. Keep in mind that every child develops at their own pace.

And still growing...

Walking around barefooted will help your little one develop tactile functions on top of balance and coordination. Do this at home where it is safe. Walking on grass and sand is also good for development of foot muscles too. Children needs to also be trained on gluteal (butt) muscles too. Activities such as crawling, kicking and swimming are great for strengthening hips, thighs and calves.

Walking Tall

It is important to invest in a good pair of shoes for your little one, though this can be costly, especially when she will outgrow her shoes in just a matter of months. Children's feet grow very rapidly, and is always good to have a professional to measure their feet every two to three months' to ensure that the shoes are of the correct size.

Take care not to buy a size larger than her current feet size, as this would only make her walk more clumsily, or fall and hurt herself. Shoes should not be too tight to cause blisters, corn or in-grown toenails. We do not want that to happen. Say No No to high heels as these would cause calf muscle tightness and reduce the development of a proper arch. Flip flops are also not recommended though they are comfortable to adults, but definitely not for kids. They would tend to claw their toes to grip the flip flops. This cause them to overuse their small muscles in their feet and calf muscles.

Always remember, comfort is the key.

SHOE SHOPPING TIPS

Guidelines to shopping a good pair of shoes for your little one.

- shop later in the day. Your little one's feet would expand to about five per cent at the end of the day so this ensures you get the correct size.
- outline your child's foot on a piece of paper and cut it out. Bring it along during shopping, and insert the cut out into the shoe. You will know that the shoe is too tight if the sides get crumpled up.
- how to check for fitting? Insert your pinky finger between the shoe and her heel. If the width of your thumb can fit between the tip of her toes and the tip of her shoe, that would prevent her toes from bumping against the end of her shoes when she runs.
- It helps to let your little one toddle around the store for a while, then check for any irritable spots to ensure the shoes are comfortable.

Have a fun time shopping with your little one. ^_^

Sign off
Fairy Angel Shop

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Online Resources for the Modern Mothers

As modern mothers, Internet is a powerful and most resourceful tool. Anything and everything we need can basically be found on the web, from getting information, to buying groceries and many other tasks. Whatever you can think of. However, given this tool, mothers need a good range of web sites to save more time and make the most informed decisions.

Below are some useful sites that are good as references. Of course, do comment on this blog if you have some other good ones to share with us.

General - Pregnancy, Baby related

Baby Center

What to Expect

Weaning - A food guide, Do's and Don'ts

Homemade Baby Food Receipes

wholesomebabyfood

First Month Favours

Papa Mama

Sweetest Moments

Toy Rental

Toy Rental World

Toy Rental Club

My GrowingToys

Kidz Loft

Baby Care

Mam Baby

Diapers

Agape Babies

Baby Play

The Little Gym

Baby Jumper Gym

My Gym

Baby SPA

Education

Pelican Publishing

Learning Tech

Baby Concept

Forums

The New Age Parents

Singapore Motherhood Forum

The Asian Parent

Mummy SG


Cord Blood Banking

Cordlife

Stem Cord

Baby Health Therapy

Osteopathy

Post Natal Massages

Jamu Wellness

Babies Bellies


We welcome website contributions to share with mothers out there. Leave us a note if you wish to contribute.

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Fairy Angel Shop

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Abbott Nutrition Parenting Congress 2012

Raising a Little Thinker Parenting Congress 2012
4th August 2012 @ Grand Copthorne Hotel, Singapore

I have recently just attended a parenting congress on the topic of raising a little thinker. Though my daughter is only barely eight months old, I thought it would be good to listen to advice from experience people around.

As it is, nowadays, parents are more concerned, or rather, 'overly' concerned about how to teach their children to be intelligent in order to excel and have an edge over the others in school. Are we really going to direct our children into this path? I reckon not. As parents, we would rather have children that is intellectually intelligent to be able to survive in this society, not academic only.

So, how do we teach our children to be more intelligent? They need both the potential and the right environment in order to meet this goal.

To successfully acquire intelligence, first, children need to accept facts that are presented to them. They need to also be able to remember and store those facts, and retrieve them whenever requested to. Then we need to help them combine these facts, penetrate into their little minds and let them discover, means helping them to think. Lastly, use those learned facts on problem-solving. This few steps can be used on teaching a child to tie his own shoe laces.

However, when is the appropriate age to teach a child all these? The answer is as early as possible. The older a child gets, the harder it is to learn. The golden time is the first six years of a child's life. If you start since the baby's birth, it is even better. Why? Because, babies learn at a superb speed. Always remember, learning is inverse function of age, and parents are the best teachers to their babies. In fact, babies understand their parents more than the parents understand them. Imagine, babies know if they cry, parents would immediately pick them up and cuddle them. When they get bored of something, they would protest and the parents would stop that activity. So, how clever are babies!

Singaporean parents are often than not, very busy on their work and the daily chores at home to spend more time with their children. We need to learn to RELAX. Take deep breath and embrace the surroundings. More time spent with children means more bonding and learning. It is best to catch hold of the morning till before the afternoon nap time to bond with them, as they are the most energetic and most alert. Having said that, we also need to spend quality time too. Find out what the child likes and do more of it with them. I know, most parents would protest and say, "But we are just too busy to even sit down and play with our children. Chores are piling up if we do that." Yes, and how do these parents distract the attention of their kids? By giving them gadets like TV and iPads. Right? Feel guilty.

Advice from the speakers of the Congress recommend that parents should avoid letting children watch TV or iPad at least for the first three years. Children learns through visual and hearing senses. By speaking naturally to them, they listen and absorbs. Some even speaks beautifully when they know how to talk without attending Phoenic classes. In my humble opinion, it is not totally bad to allow children to watch education DVD on TV or on iPad, as long as we limit the amount of time. This is also to prevent putting plenty of strain on their eyes. Isn't it?

So, parents, think about how you would like your children to grow up. You are the key to raising a little thinker!

Signing off,
Fairy Angel Shop

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Understanding Your Baby's Cries

Take a deep breath and embrace your little one. A baby's cries are hard to listen, especially for a new mother. It is just way too much to bear! Do you feel the same? I do. Most people think that leaving a baby to cry is a form of negligence and cruelty. However, think again. If we shut a baby's cries with a soother and expect them to quieten down, we would never be able to understand what they want.

When babies cries, the most common mistake that parents do is to scramble for milk bottles, diapers, soother, etc, without listening to what babies want. Parents just hope either one of the things would be what the baby needs. Well, parents do not need to resort to this every time.

Fear not, we are definitely not recommending that babies should cry and cry for the longest period of time, but instead, allow them to "talk" to us through crying and express what they want. Once their needs are satisfied, they would happily return back to their calm state. ^_^

Here is a list of common head to toe body languages that can help us understand our babies' cries.

Head
- moves from side to side = I am tired
- turns away from an object = I need a scenary change.
- turns to side and cranes neck back = I am hungry. Would you feed me please?

Eyes
- Red, bloodshot = I am tired
- slowly closes and spring open; repeatedly = tired
- "7-mile stare" without blinking = overtired, overstimulated

Mouth/Lips/Tongue
- Yawn = tired
- appearance of a scream but no sound comes out, finally a gasp with a wail = has gas or other pain
- sucks tongue = self-soothing, sometimes mistaken as hunger

Face
- exerting force, face scrunched up = has pain or other pain, or is having a bowel movement
- red; veins at temples may stand out = left to cry too long, caused by holding breath; blood vessels expand

Hands/Arms
- hands brought up to the mouth and trying to suck them = hungry, if baby hasn't been fed in 2.5-3hrs, otherwise, needs to suckle
- playing with fingers = need to change scenary
- failing and uncoordinated = overtired or has gas
- arms shaking, slight tremor = has gas or other pain

Torso
- arches back, looking for breast or bottle = hungry
- squirms, moving bottom from side to side = wet diaper or cold, or gas
- goes rigid = gas or other pain
- shivers = cold

Skin
- sweaty = overheated (maybe left to cry too long)
- tiny goose pimples = too cold

Legs
- strong, uncoordinated kicking = tired
- pulled up to chest = gas or other abdominal pain


Always remember that every baby is unique. It takes some time to interpret the needs of our little one, but as long as we SLOW down our pace, we should be able to comprehend their cries easily. SLOW also stands for "Stop", "Listen", "Observe" and "What's Up".

stop = don't hurry in at the very minute your baby cries. Give a minute or two before you go in.

Listen = Yes, the baby is crying. You need to listen to the type of cries your baby is expressing - high pitched, coughing a few times and cry, whinning, etc.

Observe = look at the hands, legs, face, eyes, and body languages. Is there any thing that the above list touched on?

What's Up = after what you have heard and seen, it is time to picture the scene altogether and figure out what your baby really needs.


We hope that in the time to come, you would be able to interpret your babies' cries more confidently.

With Love from
Simply Love Baby

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Routine, Routine, and Routine

A Routine Is All That Matters
The below article is written by one of the co-founder of Fairy Angel Shop, and is purely based on her sleep training experience of a seven month old baby.

In the older days, babies are raised by baby-led schedules. We are brought up like this, sleep and feed as and when we want to. We call the shots. So, what does a baby-led schedule means?

A baby-led schedule simply means a baby decides themselves, when do they want to sleep, to feed, to play. Parents just need to go according to the baby's cues - put them down onto the bed when they are tired, feed them when they are hungry and play with them when they are wide awake.

A question to ponder - should the new generation babies be raised in this manner too? Is there a need to introduce a schedule?

The answer is "YES"! There is a need to introduce a routine for babies, and starting as early as 6 weeks old, if possible. The earlier, the better and never too late to start! I did not start a routine with my baby until she was nearly five months' old. Before this, she is cranky whenever it comes to nap time and bed time. She would not go to sleep even when she is tired. As she could not sleep well during the day and affecting the night sleep, she would have several night wakings. This is really exhausting for me and my husband to sleep less than 4 hours throughout the entire night. This lasted for more than four months.

Being a new mother, I am pretty much concern about my baby's sleep. I wanted her to nap and sleep well for development and growth. Hence, I decided, one day, to spent a few days and nights, observing her habits, and draft up a routine for her. My routine looks like this:

0630hrs/0700hrs: Wake up
0730hrs: Feed
0745hrs-0845hrs: Activity (read a book, tummy time, a stroll, etc)
0900hrs: Morning nap
1000hrs: Wake up
1000hrs-1100hrs: Activity
1100hrs: Bath time
1130hrs: Feed
1200hrs: Afternoon nap
1430hrs: Wake up
1430hrs-1530hrs: activity
1530hrs-1600hrs: Feed
1630hrs-1730hrs: Evening nap
1730hrs: take a stroll
1900hrs: Feed
1930hrs: Fetch baby home
2000hrs: reach home
2015hrs-2030hrs: wash up, change into pyjamas
2030hrs-2045hrs: read a story
2100hrs: Sleep

Having to make a baby stick to a routine is not an easy task, but all it takes is time and patience. Do the same activity at the same timing everyday would help a baby adapt to the routine. Babies like predictability. They like to know what would happen next instead of having surprises. Having said this, we need to incorporate some flexibility in the routine in order to work best. Cultivate the habit to talk "with" your baby, not "at" your baby everyday, on the things that you want to do with him, even though your baby cannot fully understand what you are saying. For instance, during change of diapers, do speak to your baby ,"We are going to change your diapers, and I am going to hold your legs up."

I have come across some parents who are strong advocates in imposing a very strict routine on their babies, that in my opinion, would cause back-fire. Why do I say this? Think about this - an older baby can be fed once every four hours. Given a routine, a baby would be fed four hours later starting from the previous feeding time. However, babies do get hungry earlier than the scheduled timing at times (adults too!), and the parents strictly only allow them to feed once the clock strikes the 4th hour! What do they get in the end? A resentful, upset, wailing and grouchy baby. So, it is important that parents who introduce a routine for their babies need to be flexible. Going too strict by the scheduled timing sometimes would do more harm than good for the little one. And, they are still little babies!

There are three types of routines - baby-led, parent-baby combination and parent-led. Baby-led schedules are preferred over the options for parents who have a hectic schedule to adhere to a routine. A combination routine allows more space of flexibility to fit and meet both the needs of the parents and baby. Lastly, the parent-led schedule is more of trying to train a baby to fit into the needs of the parent. I prefer the parent-baby combination routine. It works for me and my baby and we are all happy.

Then, where and how should we draft a plan? Do some logs for daily activities, nap time and bed time, for a period of 10 days. Observe how your little one eats, sleeps and play during the day. There has to be some patterns after some observations. From there, you can easily determine the time when your baby usually exhibit cues of sleepiness (i.e. yawns, 7-mile stare, rubbing the eyes). Always remember, activities within thirty minutes to an hour before nap or bed time has to be quiet, calm and relax. Over stimulation would only result in a more wakeful baby. Give a warm bath, read a story and a last milk feed. Repeat this every night. Over time, your baby would know that he has to go to sleep at that hour!

A piece of advice - when your baby yawns for the first time, try to slow things down and put him to bed. Missed the first yawn? Okay! At least the third yawn. There is a window period that a baby tells you that "Hey, I need to sleep." Ignoring or missing this window would make him wail, and perhaps, you need to wait for another hour or two before he is sleepy again. Putting down a baby at the first exhibit of sleepiness also helps him to drift off to sleep and encourages self-soothing.

Still sleep-deprived? Thinking of resorting to the Cry-It-Out method? Okay. Some parents have the mis-understanding of this method that it teaches them to leave the baby to cry to sleep. Wrong! The method refers to letting the baby cry for extended periods of time, but no more than 30 minutes. So how do we do this?

Put your baby down onto his crib after the last feed and diaper change, say goodnight to him, pat him a little, till he slowly drifts off to sleep. Leave the room. If he cries, do not go to him immediately. Wait for 5 minutes and enter the room. Pat him a little to calm him down, say goodnight. Leave the room. If he cries, wait for 7 minutes before you enter the room to calm him down. Repeat this for extended time each round. Slowly, your baby would eventually catch the hint and go to sleep. This needs weeks of training though. Be patient and you WILL see the results.

I shall stop here as the post is pretty long. Do you have any other questions or areas of concern on a baby's sleep? Leave a comment and I would try to answer them.

-----------
Simplyluvbb
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Get Trust on Baby Care Products

Having a newborn soon or already have one? Getting ready all the essential baby care items but confused which brands to choose from? Yes, we feel you and it seems like all the brands are so good! We understand that all mothers want to give the best to their little ones, even before they are born. The author of this blog shares with you, which are some of the trusted brands that mums-to-be can try, so as to help you prepare better. Note that the products posted here have been tried for and currently still used by the author’s baby, and not meant to promote anything.

Bathing

All babies love water, but take care to use the purest, gentlest and mildest lotions, body wash and shampoo.

For hair and body, the author recommends the Johnsons & Johnsons Head-to-Toe Body Wash. Though there have been some articles on this product that it contains a certain ingredient that may cause harm to babies, it is still a rather trusted brand used by many mothers around. This can also help you with some savings without having to buy body and hair wash separately. Loved by many is also the fragrance of this body wash that leaves on baby’s skin. It is non-drying and so mild that it cleanses and at the same time, helps retain the skin’s natural moisture. No rinse required too. For newborn babies, fill the bath tub with quarter full of water with temperature between 36-38 degree Celsius, and enough to cover the bottoms. Give 2 pumps of Johnsons & Johnsons Head-to-Toe Body Wash into the water would be sufficient. As newborn skin is very delicate, it is advisable not to apply the body wash directly onto the skin. Anyway, a baby’s skin is never too dirty.

Johnson's Head-to-Toe Body Wash

Trusted also by the author is Baby Sebamed Baby Bubble Bath. It has a pH level of 5.5, which helps to maintain the skin’s moisture balance. It has a refreshing fragrance, non-drying and no rinse required. As gentle as it can be to baby’s delicate and sensitive skin, this is one of the better choices around. Sebamed can also be used for older babies. Do give older babies who can sit with support some bath toys like rubber duckies. They are sure to enjoy bathing even more!

Sebamed Bubble Bath

After Bath Care

Be sure to wrap your little one with a big, clean towel to prevent him from exposure to cold air. Dry areas with crease thoroughly, as well as groin areas, belly button, underarms, neck, under the chin and behind the ears. The author takes care to clean the ears and nose especially using TollyJoy Cotton Buds. A baby’s ear canal is very short so it is advisable to only clean the outer part of any ear wax or fluids. Cleaning too deeply inside the ears would only cause injuries. For the nose, same rule applies. Clean on the external area only. Any dirt further inside the little nostrils would be flushed out through the baby’s sneezes.

TollyJoy Cotton Buds

Care for the bottoms is also an important part of after bath. Ensuring that the baby’s bottom is clean and dry, lotions/creams may be applied. The author uses California Baby Calendula Cream for daily use, as it is moisturizing and keeps the bottom away from sensitivity. This cream may also be applied on other parts of the body to aid healing of acne or skin issues. Othe milder lotions include Drapolene that can be easily bought off the shelves.	California Baby Calendula Cream
Desitin Rapid Relief is one of the most recommended brands for diaper rash and bottom care in the market. So why the author did chose California Baby over Desitin for daily use? Here is her rationale. A baby’s skin is delicate. Using a cream that is more incline for diaper rash relief on a daily basis though helps prevent rashes, over time, the skin may be used to the stronger ingredients of the product. Should diaper rash occur, an even stronger formula may be required. So, the author starts out with using a milder cream that prevents diaper rash, and leaves Desitin for just-in-case incidences. Well, the author proves that this method works for her daughter.	Desitin (Blue)
A bed time lotion is essential for a good night’s sleep. Johnson’s bedtime lotion definitely helps to soothe and calm tired skins of babies, as well as mothers. It releases Naturalcalm Essences to relax the body, and thus towards a better sleep at night. It leaves the skin feeling refreshed and with a lingering fragrance that both mothers and babies adore.	Johnson's Bedtime Lotion
An optional item to have in the nursery. A massage helps a baby to relax and promotes better blood circulation. Through physical touch, massage enables a mother to bond better with her baby. The author’s daughter has the issue of moving bowels only once in a week. Through massaging the tummy in a clockwise circular motion, it aids in improving her baby’s bowel movement. Johnson’s baby oil is easily absorbed into the baby’s skin and does not leave a greasy feeling.	Johnson's Massage Oil
After a nice warm bath, a baby would also feel cold once he leaves the water. Hence, it is important to keep him warm on the tummy to prevent too much wind from entering and causing upset. Applying Yu Yee Oil is one of the Chinese methods to prevent or relieve tummy upsets in babies. Simply apply a small amount onto your palm and rub them to generate some heat. Then gently press onto the baby’s tummy to pass the heat onto the skin. Repeat this 2 to 3 times on the tummy. This can also be applied on the bottom of the feet before putting socks on. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after application.	Yu Yee Oil

Hygiene and Diapering

Many parents are fearful of trimming their newborn or older babies’ nails. They are often on the highest level of alert when executing this exercise, worrying of cutting the skin of the fingers or toes. Well, the author also shares the same worry. But, her worry disappeared after she used the Pigeon Brand safety nail clipper. It is specially designed for babies and is easy to use and hold. The rounded contour of the cutter fits the baby’s fingernails nicely, and with one or two trims on each finger, you can easily complete this daunting task within minutes.	Pigeon Baby Nail Clipper
The author favors Pigeon Brand’s wet wipes as it contains no irritants, fragrance free and value for money. It comes in pocket size, holder size, and travel size. So, it is very convenient for all occasions. Pigeon wet wipes can be found at any regular supermarkets, usually at a bundle pack at a promotional price. Other recommended brands are Huggies and Johnson's Baby.	Pigeon Baby Wipes
As a new working mother, the author swears by MamyPoko tape diapers for her baby. She has tried several brands of diapers but still prefers MamyPoko. Why? Reasons are simple. Firstly, MamyPoko diapers are super absorbent, dry to the skin and no leakage. The author changes her baby’s diapers once every 3-4 hours and finds the skin still dry and smooth. Even when baby is outside, she does not have to worry about soiled diapers. Besides, the design of the diaper is nicely fitted such that you do not have to worry about loose diapers or too tight. The Disney cartoons on the front also add on to the cuteness. If you do not mind spending the extra dollar, Merries and G.oon are good too!	MamyPolo Extra Dry Diapers
TollyJoy Baby Laundry Detergent has been voted as one of the best laundry detergent by many mothers. A little amount would clean your baby’s clothes thoroughly. The author particularly likes the fragrance it leaves on the clothing after each wash, and not having to worry about any irritants the detergent may irritate her baby’s skin. An advice to all mothers – regardless of which detergent you use, make sure all clothing is rinse at least 2 rounds with hot water to kill any bacteria or germs.	TollyJoy Laundry Detergent
This liquid cleanser is also loved by the author, where it effectively cleans the milk bottles and other baby feeding items. Easily rinsed off, this cleanser is also safe for washing fruits and vegetables. It helps to save money too since a little amount would do a clean job!	TollyJoy Liquid Cleanser
There are just too many fantastic brands of electric sterilizers around in the market today that poses a great challenge to all the mothers out there. What makes the author choose Avent? Avent Sterilizer though huge, it is light, and easy to clean. The round trays – top and bottom are adjustable to suit the size and height of the bottles. It can hold up to 6 bottles at a time (any type of bottles) on the bottom tray, and many teats on the top tray. It sterilizes fast, around 8 minutes.	Philips Avent Electric Sterilizer

We hope you have enjoyed this post and offers you some assurance on off the shelves baby products. Every baby is unique, so pick products that suits your baby best.

Do you have any good recommendations to share? Leave us a message.

Night Time Feeding

You may have heard of babies sleeping through the night from three months onwards,  without having to wake up to feed. When we assume that all babies should do this, many parents get discouraged when their babies are still waking up at least twice at night for feeding.

Many experts and sleep specialists who preach the toughest "Cry It Out" method, couldn't agree more that some children, up to twelve months of age, are truely hungry after sleeping for four hours. So, go up to your children promptly and feed them. There are also children up to eighteen months of age still waking up once or twice for feeds to set aside hunger for the next morning, and that is perfectly okay.

"I was so obsessed with training my baby to sleep when she was 4-5 months old back then, as her night wakings were so frequent that it has become very disruptive to both me and my husband. We became so sleep deprived. Upon 6 month old, my baby's sleep pattern became more settled in, though with once or twice wakings at night. We then realise night feedings are still necessary as we could hear baby's tummy growling when we fed her."                                                                                --- Author of Blog of 7 month old Levanne

Babies and children thrives for growth and development during their first year, particularly during growth spurt where milk intake would increase tremendously. To all mummies and daddies reading this blog, please please do not worry that your little ones would continue to have night wakings forever. As their body's biological clock matures, their sleep spans would be consolidated and lengthened, and would not wake up during the night to feed. It is just a matter of time.

Some parents commented that their babies sleep better with lesser night wakings after their babies' started solids. However, there is actually not much co-relation to longer sleep hours. Moreover, babies who start too early on solids before 4 months tend to develop allergies.

In a nutshell, it stands to reason that a baby that wakes up after sleeping for four hours straight would wake up for a feed as they do appear hungry. Then, they would fall back to sleep for another four hours before waking up, and by the time you realise, it is already morning and wake time.

The author hopes the above article would encourage all parents who are disturbed by night feedings to gradually accept the fact that night wakings are indeed, all right.

Do you have any comments? Share your opinions with us and other readers!

Hush Little Baby, Go to Sleep Now

Basic Sleep Facts

Having sleep problems with your precious little one? Hearing myths about babies sleeping through the night by six months, babies are suppose to drop all their night feeds, babies should be able to self-soothe to sleep? All mothers, regardless whether you are a new mother or an experienced one, have this issue. Many parents are often sleep deprived, especially when the little ones do not fall asleep easily, and have several night wakings. So, have you already figure out, or still wondering if your baby is having some sort of sleep association?

Let us learn some basic sleep facts.

How Do We Sleep?

You must be laughing at this question, and answering to yourself, "of course, we sleep through the night!" Right? Wrong! During the night, we move through a series of sleep cycles, up and down, just like waves. We transit from light sleep to deep sleep to dreaming throughout the night. In between these cycles and in our sleep, we may kick or straighten our blankets, fluff a pillow, or roll over, but generally we fall right back into our sleep.

Our sleep is regulated by our internal body clock, or what we call the 'biological clock'. This clock is set at a 24hr day which we need to continuously reset it, and can be achieved with our sleep-wake routines and exposure to light and darkness. It has specific times of the day when we maintain our wake and sleep time. That is also the main reason of jet lags. If we go against the clock - sleep when it is suppose to be our wake time, and vice versa, our biological clock would be disrupted, and requires reset.

The human biological clock has a natural afternoon drop in alertness, followed by a period of wakefulness that last till the evening. These patterns would change as life stages do. So, a baby's pattern is different from an adult, and an adult different from an elderly.

How Do Babies Sleep?

Babies are not borned with an adult's biological clock. Their sleep-wake cycles are spread throughout the day and night, and slowly settling into a pattern of defined naps and night time sleep.

A baby's biological clock starts maturing at six to nine weeks of age, but would not set in until four to five months. At about nine to ten months, their sleep would be consolidated to wake up and go to sleep at around the same time everyday, so that they go to sleep for a longer span at night.

Babies also have sleep cycles like adults do. The only difference is that, babies spend more time in light sleep, and they have more brief awakenings in between the sleep cycles. So, why then do babies sleep like a baby?

Firstly, for developmental. When babies are sleeping, their brain is actually busy manufacturing brain cells for growth and development. Secondly, is for survival - discomfort, hunger, pain, wetness.

What is a Baby's Sleep Problem?

Do not feel guilty or miserable if your baby does not sleep throughout the night at one year old. This is perfectly normal and is all right. Really! During the first year of life, a baby wakes up frequently during the night. It is your perception of how a baby should be sleeping, and remember, every baby is unique!

How Much Sleep?

Bear in mind, all babies are different. Please do not compare yours with other babies and feel guilty after that. After all, every mother is a good mother. Majority of the babies have similar sleep needs. However, if a baby does not get the amount of sleep he requires, he may be overtired, thus affecting the nap and sleep time. He may also resist sleep, and not realising that sleep is actually what they need.

Here is an average hours of day time naps and sleep time for babies.

1 Month: 3 naps of 6-7 hours, night sleep of 8-10 hours, total 15-16 hours
3 Months: 3 naps of 5-6 hours, night sleep of 10-11 hours, total 15 hours
6 Months: 2 naps of 3-4 hours, night sleep of 10-11 hours, total 14-15 hours
9 Months: 2 naps of 2.5-4 hours, night sleep of 11-12 hours, total 14 hours
12 Months: 1-2 naps of 2-3 hours, night sleep of 11.5-12hours, total 13-14 hours
2 Years: 1 nap of 1-2 hours, night sleep of 11-12 hours, total 13 hours
3 Years: 1 nap of 1-1.5 hours, night sleep of 11 hours, total 12 hours
4 Years: 0 naps, night sleep of 11.5 hours, total 11.5 hours
5 Years: 0 naps, night sleep of 11 hours, total 11 hours

Do you have any comments or articles to share with us? Feel free to leave a message. :)
To be Continued... look out for next posting on Night time Feeding.