iPad during the meal time- let's make it a learning time

My 2 year could tell different shapes,  colours,  a-z and 1-10 before she was 18months. But all good things come at a cost , here it was my daughters mealtime in front of ipad :(
So I recommend that instead of making your child watch silly cartoons on TV,  on I-pad make them watch some constructive or informative videos. There are several apps which are useful, very informative and interesting as well. They can keep your child busy for hours. Though I recommend only 1-2 hour in a day which should be reduced eventually. I made sure my child is off this bad habit after she joined school(2+ years).

Here are my best picked apps on any tab and videos on YouTube.

List of videos online :-

CC, By Steve Paine, Flickr.com

1. Busy beavers. They teach colors, numbers and shapes etc really well. Its fun and have loads of interesting educative videos.
2. Chuchu TV. They have all the poems possible and with good teachings as well.Good animation with catchy tunes.
3. Little baby bum. Poems in British accent and very sweet and very soft voice. I love the soft music they play on.

List of best apps(educative) on my iPad :-

1. Phone4kids. This app gives a lot of options freely also. They have a lot interactive options which are educative for your child like drawing, directions, seasons etc.
2. KidloLand. Interactive app where a child can touch for various sounds and animation and along side the learning of nursery rhymes.
3.ABCSong.  Another app for painting, matching  and various other activities through which your child can learn A-Apple and B-Ball etc.

I know many mothers will say how can you let your child watch iPad during the mealtime but I had no option for a fussy eater. My baby takes 1+ hour to finish her meal. So I make sure I give her toys and tell her story when I start the meal and the last 15 minutes of iPad.

Sadly one cant deprive the child with the technology we use everyday. But everything should be given in  moderation.

Happy mommying!!


#NewMom, #newMother, #NouvelleMaman, #IpadDuringMeal, #GoodThingsIpad, #NoIpad, #IpadGoodOrBad, #MakeABadHabitGood

2 minutes microwave chocolate cake

This is an insanely easy and a quick fixture to any chocolate cake craving in just 2 minutes☺.

Recipe

Preparation Time- 15min (collecting to mixing all the ingredients)

Cooking time - 2-3 min

Maida/All purpose Flour    -    3 tbsp

Coco Powder                    -   2 tbsp

Sugar( prefer powdered)    -   3 tbsp 

Salt                                    -   1/8 tsp

Cooking Oil                       -    3 tbsp

Milk                                  -    3 tbsp

Vanilla Essence                  -   1/4 tsp

Baking Soda                      -   1/8 tsp

Method-

Step1. Put Maida, Coco Powder,Sugar and Salt in the cup you want to prepare your cake in.

Step2. Add liquids now:- Oil, Milk and Vanilla Essence and stir till there are no lumps.

          TIP: Do not add liquids at one go, add them slowly one by one.

Step3. Add Baking Soda to the smoothed mixture.

        TIP: Always add soda at the end as its the raising agent in the cake.

Step4. Dash a handful of chocochips if you want it more chocolaty. 

Step5. Put the mug in the microwave for just 2 minutes. Make sure your microwave temperature is not more than 600-700W. As soon as time finishes check the cake with a knife/toothpick. The cake should not stick to the toothpick.( like the middle pic in above collage)

You are DONE!!!

For Garnishing:-
Left pic:- Add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream on the top of the cake, a drop of mixed fruit jam or a cherry, two chocolate biscuits on the side.
Right pic:- Add a scoop of chocolate ice-cream on the top of the cake, add a few slices of freshly cut kiwi or strawberry. YUM!!

ennnnnnnnnjoyyyy :)

Happy mommying!

#2MinuteMicrowaveCake, #EgglessMicrowaveCake, #EgglessChocolateCake, #MicrowaveCOoking, #NewMom, #NewMother, #NouvelleMaman, #CakeInMinutes, 

A solution to Menstrual cramps

Since teenage i have faced this problem : Cramps!! Oh it has always been really painful and I always ended up curling myself up in the corner of the bed. Until few simple home remedies helped me to cope up and I could again feel free from the pain.

One can try anything from the following points and test and see what really helps you.

1. Walking. We all lead and very sedentary lifestyle with hardly any exercise. So a simple walk everyday can actually help you to avoid the pain. So get up and get going girl. I will not say this includes your household chores but a proper 15-20 min walk. 

2. Antacid. I have it in the morning and the whole day goes as if there is nothing different about the day. But please ask your doctor before taking one. 

3. Hot water bottle. Place it where you are having an ache. 

4. Turmeric. Add half a spoon of turmeric to the milk and have the hot/ lukewarm milk. Indians swear it as a solution to any body ache.

Please be active and half of your health problems will be solved. :)

happy mommying!

#GirlProblem, #SolutionToCramps, #MenstrualCyclePain, #PainDuringMenstrualCycle, #HowToAvoidCramps, #NewMom, #NewMother

Anal Fissure/ Piles after delivery

Indians have a very old saying that after delivery the mother should rest for 40 days before getting up and doing the household chores and the mother should eat light food during this time(easy to digest)  like rice and lentil cooked together called khichdi  and broken wheat called daliya.
After my delivery I did not believe in everything what these oldies said and I later I faced the consequences.
My gynaecologist told me that it has been scientifically proven that it takes 40 days for uterus to return back to its normal size so the point one was right.
I always had a healthy life and no bowel problem and after delivery I ate as everyone ate. One the biggest consequence I got anal fissure. It was because of the kind of food I ate. The stool hardens if you eat more of refined flour than the wheat flour and eat less of fibre.  I still get it whenever I eat out and eat things like pizza which has less fibre.

Solution to fissure  I found out after an year of problem  :-
1. Use haemorrhoidal cream with a glove on the affected area. As a glove is smoother than the finger tip it pains less. Use it  everyday till the pain subsides.
2. Use the cream specially at night as most people go for pots early in the morning, cream is at the surface for maximum time to help the cut heal.
3. Take laxative at night.
4. Eat loads of fibre.  Change your diet which comprises more of fruits and veggies than processed food.
5. Exercise, everyday but not during the pain.

Point 4 and 5 also helps in preventing the fissure to occur.

Take care new moms. 

Happy mommying

#NewMom, #NewMother, #NouvelleMaman, #FissureAfterDelivery , #HowToAvoidFissure, #pilesAfterDelivery , #BloodWhenShitting 

Potty training

One of the biggest and and the most important part of upbringing a child also includes her potty training. A child is able to feel and tell about the genital sensations after 18 months- 20 months. So one can totally remove the diaper after that as this is best time to make sure that your baby is toilet trained.

When to start the training?
- once the baby has started walking.
- able to speak
-  summers (the best time as the child will soil less clothes and and does not need to be covered up all the time, unlike winters)

How to start the training?

- Step1: Start by taking your baby after every 2hours to the loo to the wash basin or the pot. Do the ssssssss sound or start the tap to let the water flow, these sounds help in making the baby pee. hold the baby in U-shape and let her do her thing.

- Step 2: Buy a potty chair. Its of right height where any child loves to sit and encourage the baby to sit there whenever she/he wishes to pee.Another advantage is that its mobile, keep it anywhere. You can also give any book to read while sitting there.

-Step3: Toilet seat. initially you have to hold the baby once they are independent to climb up and hold the seat and pee, its easier for the parent as no one needs to clean but rather just flush.

Tips for quicker learning?

- Demonstrate how her/his elders don't wear diapers and go to loo every time they need to pee. Moms can take the child along with her to the loo and just show how its done (without doing the actual thing :)). Or can show how the elder sibling does it.

- NEVER scold the child if she accidentally pees or poops in her pants.

- Avoid travelling for a week while you are potty training.

- Remove the diaper completely during the day only then the child will understand what soiling the pants means and why going to the loo is important.( this should be done when you are at home for minimum 5-6days at home and after a month or so you have start the training.)

- Night wetting goes in later age so even if the child is potty trained you should still use the diaper at night.

- There are various youtube video showing kids/ toys doing it.

Whats the right age?

According to me 18month+ is the right age as the child is able to tell and feel properly and speak her mind too.

PLEASE DON'T stress if your baby has learnt a month later than your friend's baby. Every child is different and learns at her own pace. Be ready to clean your floor a bit as accidents(poop in pants) do happen and never scold the baby for it.

Happy Mommying!

#NewMom, #NewMother, #NouvelleMaman, #माँ , #PottyTraining, #HowToPottyTrain, 

6 signs of having a baby boy

There are many who can predict the baby's  gender really well with the help of different signs/features a preggers has. But I found a better way to predict which is totally on the nature of a husband. Some might don't know that a woman's egg has chromosomes XX whereas male's sperm has both X and Y chromosomes so if X-Y meet, a boy is born and if X-X meet then a girl is born, according to me the X and Y chromosomes ( required to have a baby boy) meet as per the husband's nature.  So your childs gender is dependent on the husband's trait.

CC, By Filter Collective, at Flickr

You need to find these traits in your husband or anyone to predict. My list is:-
1. If the dad is left brained ( meaning your husband is more logical, can easily solve puzzles )
2. If you dictate the husband's wardrobe  (deciding his clothes)
3. In the end you win the arguments even if he is right
4. If husband gets totally engrossed in TV instead of listening to you but also let's you watch your serial when you want.
5. If he spends more time at your parents house than his own
6. Athletic.

In short if your husband listens to you for clothes , shopping, movie etc then you will have a baby boy. You can't change anything because it's his nature.

Please notice these traits amongst yourself and others and please let me know by commenting here.
Thanks

Happy Momying!!


#NewMom, #NewMother, #NouvelleMaman, #FatherAndSon, #BabyBoy, #HowToPredictGender, #GenderPrediction, #BabyBoyOrGirl

A child is father's responsibility too.

I generally see people expect only moms to do everything for a baby.
I went to a wedding recently(destination wedding) so we had our 2 and a half year old all to us as in no grandparents or nanny helping us. So from getting ready myself and my baby ready to reaching the venue on time was pretty hectic for me. And I realised it then that my husband only had to conveniently wear the suit and go while I was all worked up. Phew! And photos come out as disastrous as can be.
Even in the parks I see mostly moms  getting the child for the game or running behind them but very few dads.
And people generally argue that they " dads" are earning the money for the family what else a mom-at-home is doing.

So I want to argue on the behalf of all the mom-at-home if the whole day the husband is working then your wife at home is also cleaning the home, utensils,  cooking,feeding the baby, running after the baby , bathing the baby and handling everybody's clothes and the list goes on..... So if the husband says I am tired after work and can't hold the baby or run after her then please see the list of things your wife "a mom" has done. And then decide who is running the house.

So I request all the dads that only your wife didn't want the baby alone but you too so help her with the in the evenings and please don't give the stupid reason "dear  I have worked all day and I am too tired ". Your involvement with the kid is equally valuable as of a mother.

Happy mommying!

#NewMom,#NewMother, #NouvelleMaman, #GoodFather,  #howToBringUpAChild,  #GoodParenting,

Baby food: On the go

I have always felt the responsibility of making my baby eat before we leave home and pack something extra too for "mini me"- fussy eater. But my luck runs out and my patience too, from getting my baby ready to me getting ready as well as the home cooked food for her makes me go crazy and everything comes out on dear husband  by the end of the party :(
So after various bad nights-out and dinners (with the baby) I have realised one thing that - to keep the baby happy,  one has to give the baby the food she/he loves to eat . nutritional part to be completed at the day time. Here are the options that can make your baby happy and give her full tummy as well. The list is
1. When you Don't need to cook:-
      a. Cheese slice
      b. Biscuits (fortified n healthy)
      c. Peanuts
      d. Dry fruits
      e. Ready cakes/muffins
      f. Fruit cut (favourite)
      g. Yogurt
     
2. Cooked but less messy:-
     a. Sprouts
     b. Corn nibbles  (boiled)
     c. Rice (with favourite veggies)
    
Else you can also buy things like chips and chocolate which are high in calories and keeps the baby happy. I know you will think what kind of a mom am I who is suggesting this junk food for a toddler. But trust me one meal of this wouldn't spoil your outings,  your mood and your baby is also happy. So to be less guilty I am suggesting not the whole junk meal but a combination of balanced meal once in a while . like yogurt and chips(calcium and carbs) or cheese and biscuits( proteins n carbs) etc. So you also need to know what are constituents of the food item that you are giving.

Happy travelling! !

#NewMom,  #NewMother,  #NouvelleMaman, #BabyCare,  #FoodForToddlers, #FoodOnTheGo, #FoodWhileTravelling

Let go

Today my 2year baby taught me about "letting go".
As a mother at home I have always been around my child, always. So whatever is done for her I do for her. I make her sleep, eat , cook  for her and the list goes on.  So eventually it is her mom who is always nagging behind her to eat the nutritious food and not chocolate, to sleep on time, to not scribble on the wall....etc etc :( . And her darling dad comes at night plays with her without fussing around and both of them are happy. 

Things have been like this and nobody was complaining. But tonight like any other night my daughter dint want to sleep even after switching off lights and singing some lullabies...my daughter said "my mom does not love me"!! I felt as if :- Oh my whole world crumbled :(  and on the top of it I asked "whom you want to sleep with then" , she conveniently said "DAD"... like another bullet in the heart. I literally had to stop myself from crying as my husband could not stop smiling.

So I have realised I have to let go certain things and not run after her all the time. I can't take her love for granted as she will eventually be busy in various things and probably we will not be spending so much time together. So I changed myself instead of her and I am trying to be a happy mom n a less nagging mom.

And I also thanked my mom today  for being there and taking good care of me when I was little. Had not understood the value of my mom until I became one.

Happy mommying !!

#NewMom, #NewMother, #NouvelleMaman, #letGo, #MomsLife

How to wean off

One of the biggest task to make your child a bit independent of you can be done by weaning off (no more breastfeeding) the baby. As it sure takes time by the babies who know the difference between mother's breast and a bottle. I would really like to tell all the new moms that exclusive breastfeeding till 6months does help your child in various ways like- security, sense of belonging, immunity and brain development as well.  So don't jump the gun when other moms tell you that you can't have a life if you breastfeed your child but instead all the time that you spend with your child gives him a better future. My point is please wean off only after your baby is 6 months +.

~ start with one food at a time by giving the baby same food for a week and gradually add another item after a week. If the baby does not like it then add some flavours like sugar or salt. Slowly you will understand what is your baby's preference. You can discontinue the food which the baby is not having at all but do try to give it for a week or add some variation or try it again later.
~ start with 3-5 spoons  at a time and then gradually increase it to baby's requirement.
~ start with freshly cooked items only. Avoid microwave cooking.
~ a baby requires vitamin C and iron mostly for the right growth as these are not present in mother' s milk.

Things which can be given:-
1. Mashed potatoes
2. Curd/yogurt
3. Fruit juice like orange, sweet lime.
4. Rice (cooked and well mashed).
5. Watery lentils.
6. Porridge

- one can start anytime between 4-6 months if not breastfeeding exclusively. I am sure all the mom's knows their baby the best.....It's a phase which sure shall pass.



Happy mommying

#NewMom, #NewMother, #NouvelleMaman, #weaningOff, #HowToWeanOff, #WeaningAdvice, #6month+Baby

When to send the baby to PreSchool

i am a 24x7 mom and live in a joint family so my baby is pretty pampered by her grand-parents and other helpers. And being the only child she looked a bit bored after she had turned 18month+. So i had sent her to the pre-school. She did not mingle instantly with kids rather teacher told me that she was more comfortable with elders than children of her age. I was taken aback infact it made me work harder to make my baby go to school and make sure that she talks to kids. But things didnt seem to work my way, she fell sick more often, was quiet in the school and didnt get used to idea of eating by herself or the teacher during her meal time.
After 5-6months later i saw a drastic change when she became 2. She started telling me about her friends in school, atleast making an attempt to eat the lunch box and even started reciting poem and enjoying the school.

I will just say 2+years is the right age to send any kid to the pre-school cos the child is able express herself better, is more confident and is potty trained by then etc. There is nothing right or wrong in sending earlier than this age but it might help the child to be comfortable in the environment other the home. So i will suggest all the moms if you are a working mom, try to take sabbatical leave or do work from home coz with career your child's health and development is equally important. Try it, it will not only relieve you from tensions about your LO in the day care but also helps your child to grow with sense of security. Many will argue that so many working moms are leaving the kid after 6month+ of age only but i will say ask a child or his pediatrician which baby did better health wise. Already there is so much of pollution and unhealthy eating habits, give your child a better start for her/his future.


Happy mommying!

#newMoms, #NouvelleMaman, #RightAgeToPreschool, #WhenToSendTheKidToSchool, #PreSchool, #PreSchoolAdvice

I too need a time out

I am a mother of a 2 year old who is very precious to me and my husband. Every time she laughs we pray that she always smiles like this and we promise to ourselves quietly that we will do anything for her.
But I accept the fact that sometimes even I need a time out from all of this...baby and husband. I don't regret or feel bad being a house wife but sometimes I too feel the need to get out and be myself and what I was before marriage. 
Therfore I have started going out to meet my friends again and enjoy a meal or so . It feels so nice to be back in time and for few hours I don't need to think how and what to feed my baby with. So go out moms and enjoy the time it's your life too. Kids will grow up eventually and out grow you too...then what you will do or engage yourself in. So keep yourself busy with various activities and socialising. My point is its good to be a 24 hour mother but live sometimes for yourself also. It not only helps you to bond with your child more but also you feel less irritated if your child is not listening to you. It gives you a sense of holding back the anger as you had a good time with your friends  :) try it out!!!  But meet the people whom you really like :p

So if you felt the same do share and let me and other moms know how did you feel. And  it is good for you if you leave your child with your husband and go out with your friends. Let them also bond sometime :)

Happy mommying!!

#newMoms , #newMother,  #INeedToGoOut, #TimeOutForMoms, #MotherCare, #LetGo,  #LiveForYourself, #MomCare,  #MeetYourFriends

chicco sterilizer

It is a big sterilizer for 6 bottles by chicço.it sterilises the bottles within 15 min. It has a very simple built and hence easy to manage. It has a small vapouriser at the bottom where sometimes calcium is deposited due to water evaporation and be cleaned easily 

It also has a stand which doesn't let the bottle fall. But stand is not for fat bottles and one remove the stand easily incase one has a variety of bottles.

My take: 9/10 

Easy to handle.I love the product  The only drawback is that you can't take it for travelling incase you have space crunch. 

Happy mommying

#newMom ,#NouvelleMaman ,#chiccoBottleSterilizerReview ,#ChiccoProductReview, #BabyProductReview, #chiccoBottleSterilizer,  #BottleSterlizer

How to clean baby's tongue

To start with the oral hygiene for a baby is as important as for an adult. Luckily a baby doesn't have teeth :) but still we need to maintain their oral hygiene. You will see white deposits on the tongue which has to be cleaned. These are basically milk deposit due to milk suction in initial months.

For a new born - 6 month old infant : One needs to clean the baby's tongue. Take a small soft cloth (muslin or cotton ) wrap it around your finger and clean the tongue in an up and down motion. Make sure that you do it before you feed the baby or after a while after feeding the baby ( coz it can cause the baby to puke right after the feed).Make sure that you use a washed cloth every time you do it. You can clean  every alternate day. 

6/8month and above : a small silicone finger fit brush are available to clean the gums and tongue. or you can continue to use cloth if your baby has not started biting :)

I had used mee mee finger brush. But the bristles are bit hard to clean with,  a baby's tongue. It is totally safe and can be given to the baby to clean her mouth on her own (but only under your supervision not even a care taker ). 

1year and above: there are various brushes available in the market for toothbrush training, choose any as per your convenience ( cost and availability). Make sure you choose a good brand and a BPA free product.

Happy mommying

#NewMom, #NewMother,  #NouvelleMaman, #BabyOralHygiene, #BabyCare ,  #BabyProductReview, #HowToCleanBabyTongue, #MeeMeeProductReview, #FingerBrush 

Reshaping after pregnancy

A maternity belt I had used after the delivery, which was also recommended by the doc and mid-wives. I think this belt is required because the stomach skin becomes so flappy after the delivery that it is important to retain your shape. I dont preach that thin women are better or you should regain your original shape but in my opinion its always better to stay healthy look good [so that your husband does not look around ;) ].

How to use the maternity belt:- One has to put the belt before your meal and not while eating or right after the meal.You can use it while sleeping or sitting . Incase of CS....Use after your stitches have been cut.

I used Farlin, its nice, soft and easy to handle.


Happy mommying

#NewMoms, #NouvelleMaman, #MaternityBelt, #FarlinProduct, #BabyProductReview, #FarlinProductReview, #MotherCare,