Advantages and Disadvantages of Disposable Diapers

When disposable diapers were introduced in the late 1950s, they were definitely regarded as an important step towards effective emancipation among mothers—no more long hours of washing and bleaching terries! However, just because they have such advantages entirely means that these products are all good, as there are actually some disadvantages in using these products that hold true today. Let us take a look at both sides of the coin regarding disposable diapers.

List of Advantages of Disposable Diapers

1. They offer convenience.
Compared with cloth diapers, disposables are more convenient to use. Aside from being widely available in many specialty stores, they are also already available for online purchase. Another element of convenience is that you can just throw them away to the can after removing them, as opposed to cloth diapers that need to be soaked and washed.

2. They allow for quick changes. 
Another huge benefit of using disposable diapers is the less time you spend on changing them, which would become lesser as you get used to doing it. As a result, changing would become more practical for you.

3. They can come as hypoallergenic, which is safe for babies.
Whether your baby is suffering from a chemical or allergic reaction to the materials in standard diapers, you can choose hypoallergenic diapers that prevent common irritants as your best course of preventive treatment. However, it is important to keep in mind that, similar to cosmetics, hypoallergenic diapers do not have a controlled definition, and that some manufacturers would try to make claims for such products, while the truth is they could still cause a few adverse reactions.

List of Disadvantages of Disposable Diapers

1. They are expensive in the long run. 
Diapers are very expensive, especially when you consider that a baby can use about 7 to 8 diapers in a day on average. Also, the prices of these products can vary according to their types and qualities, which can cause concern and confusion among parents. Many parents even believe that a significant portion of their budget is spent in buying these diapers.

2. They can cause skin rashes. 
Skin rashes are a common condition that occurs due to the prolonged use of wet diapers. As you can see, moisture can be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which are one of the main culprits of this skin condition.

3. They can cause toilet training to be more difficult. 
Basically, toilet training should involve certain signals and sounds between the babies and parents, so that children can easily learn to use the toilet for defecation and urination. However, the use of disposable diapers have increased the period of children to be in diapers for a long time, as babies are feeling quite comfortable in diapers and parents are not pushing them for the toilet training.

Overall, you should wisely weigh down the advantages and disadvantages of disposable diapers before you decide on using them for your baby. By doing so, you will be able to ensure the best for your bottom line and for your baby’s.

Baby Care Tips

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Bringing Baby Home

Bringing your baby home is an extremely exciting feeling. It’s also the time, when as parents, you tend to get a little nervous thinking of the tremendous responsibility.

Being new to the world, your baby’s immune system is still getting developed. Until they begin with their immunizations, they would need all the help they can get to fend off illness and germs. These below mentioned hygiene tips will help them in getting the healthy start they need.

Wash your hands

Germs roam around your house on your hands. It sounds terrifying, but washing your hands with soap and water is one of the easiest ways to stop the spread of bacteria and germs. A liquid hand wash ensures that the germs are not spread.  Handwash protects you from 100 illness causing germs.

You should wash your hands:

• Before breastfeeding or preparing formula milk
• Before and after preparing food
• After going to the toilet or changing a nappy
• After cleaning or touching something filthy (feces, vomit, saliva, urine)
• Whenever you feel your hands are dirty

In case you don’t have access to water, use Baby Wipes to disinfect your hands

Clean surfaces before and after use

As a new mum, you’ll always have your hands full, but by establishing a foolproof hygiene routine at home you can safeguard the whole family from harmful germs. Surfaces that you come in contact with on a regular basis should be cleaned and disinfected. These include:

• Kitchen surfaces before and after you prepare food
• Baby changing mats and nappy bins
• Door handles
• Toilet seats, flushes and taps
• Light switches and bin lids

Once your baby starts utilizing a high chair, it’s imperative that you keep it hygienically clean. Hygiene Liquid will get rid of 99.9% of germs that are present.

Prevent infection from visitors

You can bet money on the fact that the moment you reach home, friends and family will be queuing up to say hello to the newest member of the family. Don’t be hesitant to ask them to wash their hands before and after they touch your baby. Also, ask people who are ill to postpone their visit to meet your baby until they are better.

Immunizations for your baby 

Immunizations – or vaccinations – are a fast, safe and extremely effective method to protect your loved ones from infectious diseases, such as tetanus, diphtheria, polio and whooping cough. Once vaccinated, your baby’s small body will be able to fight diseases in a more efficient manner.

The advised age to start vaccinations for your child is two months. Get in touch with your doctor to plan your vaccination schedule, so that your baby gets the right vaccinations at the perfect time.

Related Topic :

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How to Care for Infants

How to buy baby formula?

Easy Bottle Feeding

10 Tips for Breastfeeding Parents

Common Baby Feeding Problems

All mothers complain of some common problems while feeding their child. This might be due to two reasons. One is, they are too naughty and simply love doing so, and the other is this that they hate eating what you give. But knowing these common problems while feeding a baby will help you beware of the common baby behaviours. Here is a list of some of the most crazy activities that a child does while eating.

Spill Food- 
This is of the most common problems while feeding a baby. Most of the times it is seen that as soon as you feed your baby some food, they spill it out of their mouth. No matter what you give it, baby food or formula milk, they will do the same with everything. This becomes their habit. Get rid of baby problems as such by engaging then in games while you feed them.

Turn Mouth- 
This is another of the worse baby feeding problems that almost all mothers have to face. While feeding your baby you must have many times observed that as soon as you put the food into their mouth they turn it away. To get rid of baby problems as such, place a toy or any such thing that they love to watch in front of them. This way they will keep on looking in the same direction and will not move their head.

Keep In Mouth- 
Many babies have a habit of keeping the food in their mouth for a long while. After feeding your baby you will see that they will not at all chew or swallow the food in their mouth. Feeding problems as such can be dealt in a simple manner. Just take some food for you at the same time and put it in your mouth. Chew the food in front of them so that they copy the same activity

Own Hand- 
Children move around the whole house and keep touching all the stuff. Sometimes when you sit to feed them they will try to do so with their own hands. And in a try to do this they will smear food all over their body. The only way to solve this feeding problem is by training them the right way to have their food.

Run Around-
 Most children have a habit of moving around while you feed them. This is one of the worst baby feeding problems. Along with them you too have to run around. To make them sit in a place give their favourite toys or tell them a story. This will keep their mind engrossed and they will stay at one place.

These are all a few baby feeding problems and their possible solutions. If any other are known to you, do share with us.

Remedies To Correct Shape Of Baby's Head

For those who have a normal baby, the headline might seem like an absurd question. But it is not. You baby's head can sometimes cause you a fair amount of concern. We all have heads that are shaped differently. Some of us have an oval head, others have round head and some people even have a square shaped head. But some babies have heads that are deformed. There are several reasons for a baby to have an ill-formed head. 

Forceps Delivery: 
In this type of delivery becomes necessary when the baby gets stuck in the vaginal tract. The baby's head is held with forceps and pulled out. This gives the baby's head an elongated look. The head might also have tapering marks at the points where the forceps are used.

Pressure In The Birth Canal:
 If the baby gets a little roughed up in the birth canal then the head can get a flattened shape. This usually happens when you have had a long and difficult labour. The repeated thrusts to come out messes up the shape of your baby's head. 

Manhandling:
 Your baby is as soft as a ball of cotton. Any kind of rough handling can change the shape of your baby's head. So if your baby has endured any of the above mentioned situations, you can use these home remedies to correct the shape of your baby's head. 

The Mustard Pillow: 
The oldest way to correct head shape of babies is to lay them on a pillow made of mustard seeds. This is soft but applies pressure at the right spots. This is one of the best home remedies to correct this minor deformity in your baby. 

Change Sleeping Position:
 If your baby lies on the same side through the night, the head might get flattened on one side. To prevent this, keep changing your baby's position from one side to another even while he or she is asleep.

 Stop Your Baby From Looking In One Direction All The Time:
 When the shape of the head is uneven, your baby will try to look at one direction all time. You have to distract the child with tows, sounds or baby talk and make sure that your baby looks around in all directions. These are some simple home remedies that you can try to ensure that your baby's head has a normal shape. If you have tried any other remedy to correct your baby's head shape, then do share with us.

Baby Hair Care

As you’ve discovered, not all newborns are born bald but arrive on the scene with a shock of thick hair. While some of these babies come out with perfectly coiffed locks, the rest look like they’re having a bad hair day, with a punk-style Mohawk, or tufted patches, or the scraggly comb-over of a little Homer Simpson. No one really knows why some babies are born with lots of hair, though experts believe it probably has something to do with maternal hormones and the genetic lottery.

Whatever your baby’s hairstyle du jour, don’t worry too much (or get too attached). Newborn dos are hair today, gone tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know about your newborn’s hair:

Newborn hair loss. If you were surprised by your baby’s massive mane, just wait: All that hair may disappear. Newborns shed like a golden retriever in the first six months (and some can go from luxuriantly coiffed to bald as a cue ball). That’s because all those pregnancy hormones (the ones that may have given you great hair, too!) plummet after birth, so your baby’s hair stops growing. Then a phase called “telogen” kicks in, when lots of the hair falls out altogether.

Newborn hair growth. Luckily, the telogen phase is usually followed rather quickly (or even simultaneously) by new hair growth. But the baby hair that grows in may be nothing like your little one’s newborn locks. Color and texture often change — again, thanks to hormones — so your baby’s thick, dark hair could make its reappearance a lot sparser and lighter. Red can give way to blonde. Curly goes straight. You never know. Eventually your baby’s hair will grow in and she’ll look less like a punk rocker and more like the coiffed baby of your dreams. Exactly when that happens can be anyone’s guess (it’s different for every child). Some get a great new head of hair by six months, some not for two or three years.

Until then, here’s how to take care of whatever hair your baby does have:

• Don’t wash your baby’s hair every day. Particularly with newborns, there’s just no need. Aim for a quick shampoo when you bathe your baby, which doesn’t need to be more often than a couple times a week.
• Be gentle when you massage a tearless baby shampoo into your baby’s scalp. A too-brisk scalp massage can stress hair follicles and speed up hair loss or breakage.
• Comb your baby’s hair with a soft-bristle brush or a wide-toothed comb that won’t snag on tangles or pull your baby’s hair.
• Avoid headbands or ponytails that pull your baby’s hair back too tightly, which can damage it.
• If your baby needs a quick trim later to look presentable, go for it. Just do it when she’s well rested and fed, so she’ll be less cranky, and set her up with some toys to distract her.

For now, Mom, cut off a lock of that soft Mohawk to tuck in the baby book, and enjoy the punk look while it lasts. Your newborn’s hair will look different soon enough.

Baby Care : Staying healthy during weather changes

Weather changes can bring on infections. These can be tough on your baby's developing immune system. You can do a few simple things to keep her safe from infections. 


Breastfeed and immunise 

Experts promote breastfeeding and immunisation. Studies show that these build your baby's immune system. It will help her ward off possible infections and diseases. 

Dress for the weather 

• Dress your baby appropriately, especially when you are planning to be out for a couple of hours.
• Dress your baby in layers when you take her outdoors, especially when the seasons change. You can remove or add layers if there is a sudden change in temperature. This is particularly important in North Indian states during March, late October and early November. In cities like Mumbai, Chennai or Cochin, you might not have to worry too much about seasonal changes. However, the sea breeze can get quite nippy in the evenings when seasons change.
• Avoid bundling up your baby with warm clothes at the slightest temperature dip. Her immunity will strengthen as her body adapts to weather changes.

Bath your baby regularly and establish a routine 

• Get your baby into the habit of bathing at a particular time of the day.
• Close the door and the windows to the bathroom while you are giving her a bath.
• Avoid late evening or night baths. Late morning baths are the best. Even if it is cold outside, your baby will have enough time to warm up during the day.
• After a bath, dry and clothe your baby before turning on the air conditioner. Make sure to dry her hair thoroughly. Also, protect her from the direct blast of cold air. Keep her away from the AC or cooler. Abrupt temperature changes can cause chills.

Give your baby a balanced diet 

• If your baby is already on solids, make sure that she has well-balanced meals. A good diet can give her the vitamins and minerals she needs to help fight infections. It's even more important to make sure your baby gets enough vitamins and minerals if she is a fussy eater or is on a restricted diet like lactose intolerant babies. Little evidence supports mega dosing with certain vitamins and minerals as a preventive measure.

If your baby is younger than six months, all she needs is your breastmilk. Your breastmilk gives her all the nutrients she needs.

Insist on health and hygiene 

• Make sure that people handling your baby are well and maintain personal hygiene. A sick maid or family member is more likely to give your baby an infection, rather than weather changes.
• Ensure that your baby's maid wears clean clothes and washes her hands with an antiseptic soap. She should keep her nails trimmed and her hair tied up whenever she is with your baby. Keep a hand sanitiser for people to use before they touch your baby. This will reduce the risk of infection.

Stay away from crowded places 

• Protect your baby by avoiding crowded areas where she can come into close contact with ill people. She could catch an infection such as conjunctivitis from other children or staff at her daycare centre or playschool.

Use natural remedies to prevent seasonal illnesses 

• If your child is prone to seasonal illnesses, you can try natural remedies or preventive homoeopathic medicine.
• For babies older than one year, ginger juice with honey in winter can help to guard against colds and chest infections.
• Buttermilk, lassi and coconut water are good for the stomach in the hot summer months.
• Crushed cinnamon (dalchini)with Holy basil (tulsi) juice may help to ward off flu. The flu is common during the monsoon season.

Keep your baby well-hydrated 

• Dehydration is common in babies. It can occur at any time of the year. It can sometimes be serious. Give your baby lots of fluids to stop her going thirsty.
• If your baby is younger than six months, all she needs is breastmilk. Make sure to feed her as often as she wants and as long as she wants. If your baby is older than six months, you could give clean filtered water and fresh fruit juices to drink. In winter, soups are one of the healthiest options to keep your baby warm and hydrated.

Your baby is likely to fall ill despite your best efforts. This can be due to weather changes, infections they pick up or anything else. Many doctors say it is important your baby falls ill once in a while. Fighting an infection strengthens her immunity. Babies usually recover quickly from illnesses. 

Learn more about common infections such as the 

• Cough
• Cold
• Natural Remedies

Ayurveda and Babycare

Ayurveda, a 5,000 year old Indian system of medicine, focuses on the concept of holistic healing. CharakaSamhita, one of Ayurveda’s prime texts, offers a comprehensive theory and practice of childcare, which is known as KaumaraBhritya. This branch of medicine deals with health maintenance and treatment of ailments in children from birth to adolescence. KaumaraBhritya occupies the prized second position amongst eight specialty branches of Ayurveda.

The concept of childcare in Ayurveda is ‘complete or ‘all-encompassing’, taking into account all elements that could potentially impact a child’s health. Ayurvedic texts outline health measures starting from pre-conception, antenatal care for the mother and fetus, right through to childbirth, baby’s growth and development until adolescence.

As a primarily botanical healing system, Ayurveda recommends the use of herbs and herbal compositions for various health conditions. For example, the combination of Thyme-Leaved Gatriola (Brahmi), Calamus (Vacha) and Bindweed (Shankhapushpi) with Honey and Ghee improves overall immunity and intelligence in children. Similarly, Celery (Ajamoda) and Cumin (Jeeraka) are potent digestives and are beneficial in the treatment of colic. Indian Gooseberry (Amalaki) relieves respiratory problems, Turmeric (Haridra) and Neem (Nimba) alleviates skin disorders, while Pomegranate (Dadima) and Ginger (Sunthi) are recommended for treating diarrhea and nausea, respectively.

Oil massage plays an important role in baby’s growth. Various benefits of oil massage have been also been recorded in recent times. Ayurvedic texts refer to massage or Abhyanga with oils of herbs like Country Mallow (Bala) and Sesame (Tila) to protect baby’s skin against topical infections. Bathwater should also be disinfected with herbal extracts of Sandal (Chandana) and Banyan Tree (Vata), which are fragrant and possess antimicrobial properties respectively.

Mental development of a child is extremely important in Ayurveda. The concept of Balagraha lists herbal solutions for common mental and psychosomatic disturbances that could affect children. Inclusion of aromatic herbs such as Rasana (Pluchealanceolata) and Spikenard (Jatamansi) are recommended in massage oils and bath water to soothe, relax and calm young children. Tonics orrasayanas like Chyavanaprasha, which contains Thyme-Leaved Gatriola (Brahmi) and Indian Pennywort (Madukaparni) amongst others, enhances a child’s concentration ability and intelligence. In fact, recent research studies have found that Thyme-Leaved Gatriola and Indian Pennywort are indeed beneficial in maintaining cognitive functions, improving memory and learning abilities.

The holistic interpretation of health propagated by Ayurveda ensures that child is healthy, both mentally and physically.

Baby Care : Cough Remedies

Cooler temperatures are upon us and our babies (under 1!) are already suffering through coughs and colds. We don’t use many herbs for babies under one but there are safe, mild, natural remedies to help clear coughs in an infant. We just went through this in our house with Giant Baby who is not even six months yet so I thought I’d post some encouragement and share what we used.

Coughs can be a good thing if they’re clearing congestion. However, let them go too long or be unaware about the kind of cough you’re hearing and coughs can progress into something serious.

By nursing my kids through coughs, I’ve learned that to clear them quickly, it’s best to

• Keep congestion thin and moving (moisturize inside & out)
• Boost the immune system

As I regularly say – natural remedies work best when applied as soon as the onset of symptoms occur. When noses start running and coughs begin, head it off at the pass! The duration of illness is usually shorter and not as severe.

Here’s what we used on Giant Baby. I used all of these steps at once because I don’t mess around with coughs.

1. Steam, Steam, STEAM!
If the coughing isn’t clearing the congestion within minutes and a hacking fit seems imminent, we head straight to the shower. I shut the door, drop a little Eucalyptus oil in the corners of the shower and relax until he’s been cough free for several minutes.

I also shower him before bed to moisten his sinuses & loosen congestion because lying down automatically seems to trigger coughing because it’s harder for congestion to clear in that position. The extra moisture helps! I keep him warm after we get out of the shower.

If he coughs in the night and can’t seem to stop, we head right back into the shower no matter how tired I am. I have learned that it’s worth it. It’s the fastest way to calm the cough. I think we showered about three times a day while he was coughing.

2. Hose the nose.In babies, the nose, throat, ears are so close together and the passages are small. Congestion affects them all. During coughs, congestion or earaches, I “hose my kids’ noses” to loosen congestion so it will clear more easily. Don’t be intimidated by this.

3. Massage the chest.After the shower, using a little coconut oil (NO VICKS for babies this small – it’s just too harsh), we rub that little chest gently but firmly. It seems to help ease the cough and  Giant Baby loves it because we talk with him while we do it.

4. Garlic oil.
Man, this stuff is magic! I use it for my kids (and me!) when our ears are sore and my herbalist also suggested we could safely rub a little on Giant Baby’s feet. I probably used 1/2 t. (maybe less?) and massaged his feet gently. I’m not gonna lie to ya’. It was skunk-a-licious! But, it seemed to calm him and he coughed less afterward.

5. Moisturize the air.
We use either a vaporizer or humidifier in the bedroom to add moisture and keep congestion moving.

6. Eucalyptus oil or Vicks.
I wouldn’t put Eucalyptus oil or Vicks on an infant. But, I DO think it’s ok to use them to scent a room to provide their expectorant powers. I place a little vicks or Eucalyptus oil on an old diaper and wave it around the room (to infuse it into the air) and then lay it near to the bed so we can smell it all night.

***REMINDER!! While Essential oils are wonderfully healing, they are also super concentrated (read: powerful) and should never be left where little hands can reach them. Be safe. Educate your little ones not to touch them & store them out of reach.***

7. Keep the fluids coming.
I would have offered him warm chamomile tea but my little guy wanted to nurse. So, nurse I did. The only caution I’d add with chamomile is that people with known allergies to ragweed should avoid it.

8. Elevate the sleeping position.It’s hard for congestion to clear when a baby is flat on his back. That’s why coughing increases at night. Our baby sleeps with us so it’s easy to elevate him on my arm and keep a close ear on him in the night. I sleep better and so does he.If we used a crib, I’d find a way to safely elevate the mattress slightly (no pillows in a crib!).

9. Garlic.
Again? Yep. Only this is for nursing moms. Since I nurse, my baby gets the benefit of what I eat. I ate sliced fresh garlic on buttered toast to pass on it’s immune system boosting benefits.

10. Echinacea tincture.
Another immune booster for use by the nursing mama. I took a few droppers 3 times a day.

Using these remedies from the very start of his little cold to the end, Giant Baby only coughed for about three days and it was very mild, usually worse at night.

Remember – the key to successful natural remedies is to jump on that cough as soon it projects its loud sound. Don’t wait till it sounds scary.

Natural Remedies For Babies

Safety and common sense are the first things to keep in mind when using home remedies and herbs to treat small children and babies. Kids are not just miniature adults, their still developing bodies are more sensitive making them more apt to experience unintended side effects. Even when using herbs that have a proven safety record, be careful when first giving a new herb, just as you would any new food to test for allergies.

Glycerin based extracts and herbal teas are well tolerated by children and the infirm. A good rule of thumb for children under the age of 13, is to reduce dosages to half that of an adult dose, and continue to reduce by age and weight.

Most children's remedies mentioned here are for common illnesses, diarrhea, tummy aches, teething, colic, colds and bed-wetting. If you intend to treat any long term, or serious condition, consult with a qualified herbalist and/or medical practitioner.

Bedwetting and diarrhea:Agrimony has an astringent action on the bladder and is used for control of bed-wetting in older children, and may help to control incontinence in adults as well. Sip a cup of Agrimony tea slowly before retiring to bed.

Meadowsweet is a specific for diarrhea in children, it's astringent action combined with nutritives makes it safe, mild, and effective. Use a generous amount of sugar or honey else the bitter taste can make it harder to get children to take it.

raspberry tea is an effective and safe remedy for children, and is given to reduce fever and calm diarrhea. A good tonic herb with a rich supply of vitamins and minerals that help build strong bones and general good health. Generally considered safe, with no unwanted side effects.

Colic, gas:Basil in considered a safe and gentle tonic for nursing mothers. Taken as a tea, it helps to expel gas in infants and increases lactation in the mother.

Distilled Caraway water is considered a useful remedy in the flatulent colic of infants, and is an excellent vehicle for children's medicine.

Catnip is good in restlessness, colic, insanity and nervousness, and is used as a mild nervine for children

Dill Water, which is a common domestic remedy for the flatulence of infants is a useful vehicle for children's medicine generally.

Spearmint relieves gas and tummy troubles, much like peppermint, but its effects are less powerful, making it better suited for use in children.

Hot chocolate may actually be a more effective cough medicine than traditional remedies making it a safe nighttime calmer for children. Turmeric and hot milk can also work safely and well.

Baby care : Skills Development

Motor Skill Development

Balancing, grabbing, pinching, waving, clapping, crawling and walking are all examples of the many motor skills you baby will start to develop. In general there is a sequence to how these skills are learnt and there are many things you can do to get your baby moving!

Enhance Your Baby`s Motor Skills

The motor milestones that occur during your baby's first year may seem unrelated to one another, but in fact they happen in sequence. Development usually progresses from head to foot, with skills involving the head and arms developing before those that involve the legs and feet. Motor control also progresses from the center of the body outward, which means that your baby will be able to control her torso before she can manipulate her fingers and toes.

The following are some of the most important milestones from head to toe, and suggestions for enhancing your baby's development.

One of the first things new parents are taught is to support the baby's head because baby can't do it himself until about 3 months of age.

Once his neck muscles strengthen, he'll be able to do "mini push-ups," raising both head and chest off the floor.

By about 7 months of age, your baby will attain full control of his head and will be able to hold it steady for a long time while sitting on your lap or being held upright. To help baby develop head control:

1. Place your baby stomach-down on the floor. Do this several times a day to let him practice.
2. Entice your baby to lift his head. Put an unbreakable mirror or large picture in front of him, or get down on the floor face-to-face with him.

Most infants start waving or batting at objects by 3 months of age, an impulse that quickly becomes more refined.

By 5 or 6 months, your child should master visually directed reaching, which means she's able to see an object and reach for and grasp it with her hand.

By 8 or 9 months, as your baby learns to grasp with her thumb and forefinger, she can pick up surprisingly small objects -- crumbs of food, for example, and, unfortunately, bits of dust and dirt from the floor. You'll have to keep a watchful eye on baby, because she'll be tempted to taste whatever she picks up.

Try these four suggestions to encourage development of baby's hand-eye coordination:

1. Install a crib gym. This allows him to bat at the objects overhead. (To be safe, remove it from the crib as soon as he can sit up.)
2. While your baby lies on his back on the floor, dangle eye-catching objects above him. Shake them three to eight inches above his head, giving him the opportunity to swipe at them.
3. To help your 4-month-old baby practice grasping objects, hand her rattles or other safe items to hold. Things that make noise when she shakes them, or have a nice texture to gum on, may encourage her to keep her grip.
4. Place several toys within reach. Let her grasp for things as she lies on her stomach on the floor.

While gaining control of their unwieldy head is a gradual process, turning over is one milestone that seems to appear out of the blue in babies -- a milestone that parents anxiously await.

At 4 or 5 months, your baby will be able to roll over in one direction only (either back-to-stomach or stomach-to-back). She probably won't be able to flip herself in the opposite direction until 6 or 7 months.

You can encourage rolling by:

1. Providing baby with plenty of space and opportunity to practice. The floor is always great for this.
2. Praise baby. Talk to her and encourage her as she practices rolling.
3. Hold an object of interest, such as a rattle or a baby mirror, next to her. This can catch her attention and entice her to turn her body to see it.

Once a baby can roll over, sitting up isn't far behind. Babies have a whole new view of the world when they learn to sit up. So it's as exciting for them as it is for their parents!

By about 4 months of age, your baby can sit when propped up.

By 6 months your baby may have some success sitting in a high chair, and sometime before 1 year of age, she'll perfect the art of sitting unaided.

To help baby practice sitting skills:

1. Place him in your lap, facing outward, while you sit cross-legged on the floor. Your stomach and legs will provide the necessary support for his back.
2. Prop baby on a standard pillow or a U-shaped pillow. Let him experience the sensation of sitting with your supervision.

Between 8 and 13 months, your child will achieve some form of locomotion. Parents often view crawling and walking as the greatest physical milestones for their babies. While it's very exciting, you should remember that each child develops uniquely and at his own pace. If you have concerns about your baby's development about locomotion, discuss it with his pediatrician. But most babies will follow a recognizable pattern of learning locomotion:

• First he'll likely get himself up on his hands and knees.
• Next he'll rock back and forth in an effort to move forward.
• He'll develop different ways of getting around, such as rocking, swiveling, rolling, and squirming on his tummy.

After about a month of this, you'll see him begin to progress toward a true crawl.

Many babies learn to crawl backward first, but it's not long before they learn to crawl in the right direction.

Not all babies crawl in the same fashion. In fact, some don't crawl at all and instead insist on walking with an adult holding their hands. Others bounce on their bottom, scoot along on their stomach, or do a "bear walk," crawling with arms and legs extended. No matter which style of motion your baby chooses, this stage brings her unprecedented freedom and opportunity to explore.

1. Play crawling "tag." This can be great fun for babies who are learning to locomote. Crawl after your baby, saying, "I'm gonna get you!" Then crawl away, encouraging her to follow. Try hiding behind a piece of furniture and letting her "find" you.
2. Create an obstacle course. Fill the room with things your baby can practice crawling over, under, or around.

Now that your baby is moving around, it's essential that you provide him with safe places to play. Thoroughly babyproof your house and yard; this means protecting your baby from potential danger as well as safeguarding your valuables.

Your baby will begin climbing up stairs and furniture during this period as well. Unfortunately, most babies learn to climb up steps long before they're able to descend. You can try to teach your young one how to crawl down safely (feet first, on her tummy), but she'll still require supervision. Place a gate at the top of staircases, and another on the third or fourth step from the bottom (so your child can safely practice climbing on the bottom few steps). If the slats or spindles on a stair rail or landing are more than three inches apart, install Plexiglas or safety mesh so that baby won't fall through them.

One of the greatest joys a parent experiences is watching the wonder, frustration, and joy as their child moves through the various stages of development. Each stage is unique and wonderful. Enjoy and treasure these moments of discovery with baby!



Learning To Crawl

Along with all the other milestones of infant growth, there is one that puts babies on the move for the first time - crawling. Where once Baby was immobile, content sitting and exploring what was within his reach, suddenly a whole new world opens up: the world of mobility.

Crawling is a precursor to walking, of course, but also primarily a way for infants to begin to explore their environment.

"Crawling helps walking because it allows babies to utilize the muscle groups in their arms, trunk, pelvic girdle and lower legs," says Dr. Ari Brown, pediatrician, mother of two and coauthor of Baby 411 (Windsor Peak, 2006). "Practice builds tone, strength and coordination."

Most babies begin crawling somewhere between 6 and 9 months old. By this time, she will be sitting without support, and her major muscle groups will be strong enough to support her body.

"From sitting, a baby will begin to pivot, rock and go over onto her hands and knees," says Laurie LeComer, author of A Parent's Guide to Developmental Delays: Recognizing and Coping with Missed Milestones in Speech, Movement, Learning and Other Areas (Perigee, 2006) "The strength necessary to crawl can be traced all the way back to the newborn days when she was placed on her tummy and slowly began to strengthen her neck, and then her arms and shoulders, as she pushed up for a better view."

The transition from sitting to crawling may occur gradually over several months. Some of the steps in between include learning to balance on all fours, rocking back and forth on hands and knees and eventually figuring out that pushing off with the knees will give them the forward motion they need to begin to crawl.

Not every baby crawls in the same manner, though. Some crawl forward, as typical, but some have their own methods. Shannon Rosenberg, a mother of twins from Wesley Hills, N.Y., says that one of her twins was slightly late in getting herself moving. "[But] once she did start crawling ... she crawled backwards right under the couch," she says. "Actually, they both crawled backwards first."

Crawling backward is probably the result of uneven muscle tone (arms a little stronger than legs), but that will soon right itself as Baby progresses in developing gross motor skills. They will soon shift from reverse to forward on their own with no intervention from parents. As long as they get moving in some way, they are perfectly normal, no matter which direction they choose to go first.

It can't hurt to give your baby some incentive to crawl. Making things too easy on them (always handing them toys they want, etc.) just encourages them to stay seated. Instead, find ways to encourage them to become active. Parents should place age-appropriate toys slightly beyond their child's reach when baby is in a sitting position, LeComer says. "They can also engage their babies in airplane games, where baby flies through the air and then lands on his hands (supporting some weight from his body)," she says. "Or parents can use games and songs that entice baby to come to them in whatever locomotion way possible."

Don't worry too much, though, about pushing your baby to move on your time schedule. Courtney Ramirez of Sanger, Calif., worried a little when her daughter seemed to take too long to crawl. Though still within the normal age range for crawling, she was at the upper end of the range, causing Ramirez some concern. She learned, though, that unless there are specific developmental problems that your doctor has identified, there is nothing wrong with "slow development."

"My best advice to first-time moms is to remember that every baby is different," says Ramirez, who decided that relaxing was the best approach, rather than frustrating herself and her child. "I encouraged her to be more physically active, but didn't try to train her to crawl. I figured that when she was ready, she would." Ramirez's instincts were right on target. "She skipped the scooting stage and just began crawling one day."

Actually, crawling isn't even listed as a major milestone in baby development. Some babies skip crawling and dive right into walking. Carol Wood of Winnetka, Calif., found this to be the case with her second child, Monica. "She never crawled," she says. "Just went from laying prone to walking." Being somewhat concerned, Wood chose to discuss it with her physician. "[My doctor] said, 'If she doesn't want to crawl, she doesn't have to.'"

Both of our experts agree that crawling is not a necessary step in development, as long as Baby has some other way of locomotion. "Some babies skip crawling altogether," LeComer says. "But parents should begin to be vigilant at 10 months if their child has not found a way to get around."

Exploring the environment is very important, whether by "cruising" around holding onto furniture, rolling, scooting, etc. LeComer suggests watching for these warning signs that may signal a need to talk with your pediatrician:

• Not exploring the environment in some way by 10 months of age
• Clearly favoring one side of his body.
• Unable to coordinate her body in some way that allows both sides to work together
• "Bypassing crawling has no other developmental implications and ... has no association with the ability to learn math (this is an old wives tale!)" Dr. Brown says.

Be prepared! Once babies are on the move, there's no stopping them. Here are some suggestions to keep things safe for your newly-crawling tot:

• Get on the floor and look at things from your baby's perspective.
• Remove any small objects from the floor (dropped coins under furniture, etc).
• Remove anything your baby might be able to pull, like phone cords, electrical cords or drape pulls.
• A small area rug on un-carpeted floors will protect Baby's hands and knees.
• Safety-proof the entire house (cabinets, wall outlets, toilets).
• Use gates in front of stairs at the top and bottom.
• Now that Baby is mobile, he may (and probably will at some point) end up where you don't want him to be. Be safe and safety-proof everything. And never leave a baby unattended.

 Pinching And Pulling

You've been amazed by each of your baby's big motor milestones. By now, she most likely rolls over and sits up. She might even be scooting on her bottom, crawling, or pulling herself up to a stand as she constantly launches herself into a world that beckons just out of reach.

Between 10 and 12 months, there are equally exciting -- though often overlooked -- motor skill developments involving baby's hands. For example, you're out walking your baby in the stroller when she suddenly points to a dog and squeals. Or your baby's in her high chair when she deliberately picks up her sippy cup and drops it on the floor. These milestones don't get the same play as walking, but they're just as important to her development, indicating that your clever baby is now trying to master the world in a whole new way: with her tiny fingers.

The motor areas of a baby's brain mature in a head-to-toe sequence, with brain areas that control the head and neck muscles maturing before those that take charge of controlling trunk, arm, and hand muscles. The areas of the brain controlling the legs are the last to develop. Why is this? Put simply, it's probably because a baby needs to know how to suck and feed himself before he needs to walk. When your baby was born, he held his arms and hands tucked close to his body, a position called "flexion." Over the past months, his hand and arm motions have become less reflexive and random; by 6 months he can grasp a toy -- but only using his whole hand. To understand how limiting this is, watch a 6-month-old holding his pacifier. He has little control of his hands -- he may fling his arm around, hit himself in the head by accident, and mistakenly drop it -- then look frantically around wondering what happened to it. Or he may want to let go of it, but be unable to release his fingers, banging the pacifier on the floor in frustration.

Fast-forward a few months, and your baby is on the verge of mastering a crucial milestone: Between 10 and 12 months, she develops the "pincer grasp," the ability to use the thumb and forefinger together to grasp and manipulate objects, or pick up a pea or a Cheerio. Pointing or poking at toys is a precursor to this all-important event, indicating that she has the ability to move her index finger separately from the rest of her hand. "Eventually, your baby's fine motor skills will allow her to program a computer or play the flute, but this period of development is just as amazing," promises Barry Solomon, MD, an assistant professor of general pediatrics and adolescent medicine at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. "This is an exciting time for babies, because fine motor skills let them analyze and learn about the world in different ways," he explains.

For instance, once your baby can use the pincer grasp to pick up an object between her thumb and first digit and then drop it deliberately in favor of a more appealing object, she'll start running a host of experiments. She might throw her dish or cup off the high chair again and again to explore cause and effect. Will the dish always make the same noise when it hits the floor? Will the same sticky stuff cover my tray and clothes? Will the dog come into the kitchen if it hears the dish? Will Mom laugh, or will she say "no"? Indeed, the world opens up in all kinds of new ways -- cabinet doors that were previously off-limits when closed can now be opened. Toys that could only be shaken or batted at before can now be rotated, poked, and probed. Toddlers also love any toys with holes that they can put things through, things with lids or doors that open and close, or toys that spin.

By 12 months, with fingers and thumb working together, baby should be able to build a two-block tower (then knock it down), and nest smaller objects inside larger ones and take them out again, says Dr. Solomon. Filling and dumping (especially dumping) are also new favorites. These activities spur cognitive leaps, as your baby learns concepts like big and little, and full and empty.

In the right mood, your baby might even "help" you dress or undress him by raising his arms and curling his hands into fists deliberately. He'll clap when he's happy and wave bye-bye more, too, now that he knows this gesture goes with that phrase.

"This is the age of imitation," notes Sybil Hart, PhD, associate dean of research for Texas Tech University's College of Human Sciences. "Your baby will want to do everything you do."

Scientists have measured the hormone cortisol in infant saliva to show that infants as young as 4 months can feel frustrated, and you'll probably see signs of this as your baby grows. Here's what's going on, from baby's point of view.

• "I'm not getting my way!" Better motor skills put her in situations where she's thwarted. Just as your baby manages to pull herself up to the coffee table, you swoop down and move her to the playpen. Or she manages to get her hands on a really interesting glittery thing (your necklace) and then you pry it out of her hands.
• "Why don't you understand me?" Your baby may also feel frustrated because you can't figure out what he's saying. He may point to the fridge, saying "baba, baba," his word for everything from "baby" to "ball," but not, until now, anything that would be in the fridge. Your string of wrong guesses only enrages him.
• "I want it now! As babies get closer to a year, we expect them to wait a little. For example, whenever your newborn was hungry, you fed him immediately. By 6 months, "you might tell him to hold on for a minute," says Hart. "And by 10 months, you might plop him in a high chair and expect him to play with a couple of toys while you warm up lunch." This is by no means irresponsible parenting: Babies need to be exposed to a little frustration now and then to learn how to become patient, but it's not an easy lesson!

Once your baby turns 1, and has better communication skills, some of her frustration should abate. "When she's crying in her crib and you call to tell her you're coming, she may stop, because she knows that you're on your way," says Hart.

Most babies pull themselves up to a stand between 10 and 12 months; of course, some do it earlier and even walk before their first birthday, and others are a little later. Whenever it happens, pulling to stand is a major milestone for babies, not just physically, but emotionally, says Hart. "Once a baby is upright, he's in a better position to make eye contact and interact socially." Indeed, standing changes the way your baby interacts with his environment, as it "multiplies his opportunities for exploration and bolsters his confidence," explains Lise Eliot, PhD, author of What's Going On in There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life (Bantam, 2000). How exactly? Your baby's vertical stance allows for a new visual perspective, a better reach to grab objects, and a greater sense of equality with other upright humans.

Once your baby can stand, it's difficult to get him to sit. You may just get him settled in his high chair when he'll twist around and try to stand. Standing is your baby's top priority now, as he practices balancing in preparation for taking those first steps.

Month 10

• Rolls a ball
• Feeds himself finger foods
• Points to objects

Month 11

• Starts using pincer grasp
• Can stack blocks and turn pages of a chunky baby book
• Pulls to stand

Month 12

• Cruises furniture or takes first steps alone
• Feeds herself with a spoon
• Holly Robinson lives with her five children outside of Boston.

When Will My Baby Starts Walking ?

Babies develop at their own pace. Typically, they start cruising (holding onto furniture to walk sideways) from 8 - 12 months old, and start walking from 10 - 15 months.

These ranges provide a guideline to baby's development. However, if your baby is delayed in achieving these basic motor milestones, consult your paediatrician or physiotherapist for advice.

Walking is controlled by the two different systems in the brain, known as the motor and sensory systems. They control the leg movements, and maintain the posture and balance in walking respectively.

Your baby's body then awaits basic changes in body proportion - the legs grow longer, shoulders broaden, and the head smaller - making it easier to balance in an upright posture.

Walking depends on practice. Babies must clock many hours of standing, cruis

ing and walking with some type of support before they can develop the strength and balance to walk on their own.

Should My Baby Needs A Walker?
No.

A walker does not help your baby to learn to walk. It is dangerous and potentially fatal. In fact, Canada has already banned the sale of baby walkers.

Baby walkers don't help babies walk earlier. In fact, walkers may even delay your baby's movement skill development or discourage him from learning to walk on his own.

Baby walkers don't help babies walk earlier. In fact, walkers may even delay your baby's movement skill development or discourage him from learning to walk on his own.

Most walkers are designed such that babies are not able to see their feet while walking. This can slow down development of movement as they are unable to make mental connection that it is their legs and feet that are moving the walker.

Walkers make it too easy for babies to move around. Babies who are in walkers tend to explore and satisfy their curiosity without developing their balance or walking skills. This may lead to slower development of balance and walking skills. Studies have shown that babies who spent 2 hours each day in the walker were more delayed in walking than babies who did not use a walker.

The baby's legs are not straight when "walking" in the walker. The hips and knees are bent and he will tend to walk on tiptoe. This causes him to use and develop the wrong leg muscles for walking. Such abnormal walking pattern may be difficult to correct even when he is out of the walker.

Studies have shown that walking pattern of babies worsen with the use of walkers especially if they are already walking in an abnormal way.

Walkers are unsafe. Babies can reach a speed of 1 meter per second in a walker, which is too fast even for an attentive parent to catch should the child speed towards an open door, down the stairs or towards a boiling pot.

• Discard the walker
• Use a playpen or play-centre that is stationary. Alternatively, allow a safe, unrestricted floor space for exploration.
• Help your baby exercise his muscles e.g. supported standing or cruising.
• Provide sensory stimulation e.g. baby massage.
• Provide vestibular stimulation e.g. rocking, bouncing or swing baby.
• Breast-feeding may help to strengthen baby's muscles.

Consult your doctor if you notice that your child is walking on his toes or on the sides of the feet.

My Baby`s First Step

From nine to eleven months, babies are in basic training for walking. They're taking it one step at a time to gain the physical control and balance required to walk. They do it by building the muscles and motor skills that prepare them for those exciting first steps.

Gearing Up For Baby's First Steps

Right around when babies can sit without wobbling and manoeuvre on all fours, they soon discover the stairs. You may find your child wants to spend hours on them. Crawling up is no sweat. The trouble is in crawling down. With a little help from his personal trainer (you!), he'll eventually get the hang of it. But remember; even after he's graduated to "stair master" don't leave your baby alone on or near the stairs. When you can't be there to supervise, always put a safety gate in place!

Soon your baby will be pulling himself up on crib bars, chair legs or anything else that can bring him to a standing position. Once up, he may want to stand all the time even when he's being dressed or changed. He'll learn to find ways of moving himself along… one small step for baby, one giant leap to becoming a full-fledged walker.

Many babies are eager to walk, even though they can't keep their balance on their own. You might see your baby taking sideways steps while holding onto the crib rail or table edge. Many babies also love to practice steps while holding onto your two index fingers. The father of one such enthusiastic "walker" joked, "I'm afraid I'll get stuck in a permanently bent-over position!"

It's not only the so-called "motor movements" like walking that are progressing at this stage. In the next few months, you'll see your baby's motor skills, like eye-hand coordination, improving tremendously. Your baby will soon be picking up small pieces of food-like cereal-with his thumb and forefinger, instead of using the "mitten grip" of earlier months. Babies enjoy putting objects into containers such as empty coffee cans and then dumping them out. Turn these activities into fun games for your baby to encourage these new skills.

Refer :

• 10 Tips For Breastfeeding Parents
• Baby`s Daily Massage
• Bathing Your Baby
• Switching From Breast To Cow Milk
• Baby Sleep Tips
• Breastfeeding FAQs