My article “How to Choose Safe Toys for Your Baby or Toddler” was published in Today’s Motherhood Apr/May 2011 issue, pages 16-17. You may also grab the tips below…

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Introduction

Last September, there was a massive Fisher Price recall involving more than 10 million toys. My son’s Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders™ Kick & Crawl™ Aquarium was affected. The valve on the inflatable ball could come off and there were three children reported to have begun choking on the valve. Needless to say, I have thrown the ball away.

Since toys are such an integral part of our baby’s or toddler’s playtime, this article shall share with you important tips on choosing safe toys.

Choosing Safe Toys

1. Read packaging label and instructions: Select toys that are of the appropriate age group for your child. Read the instructions carefully, focusing on warning statements. If you are confident that your child is no longer mouthing things, and choose to offer him a toy labelled as unsuitable for age 0 to 3 years old, supervise him closely during play.

2. Check manufacturer’s safety standards and policies: Both large and small brand names may produce toys subject to recall. Take some time to read the manufacturer’s safety policies on its website. Sometimes, you would be able to find safety tests certifications.

3. Use the toilet roll tube test: If the toy can fit into a toilet roll tube, it is too small and poses a choking hazard for young children.

4. Beware of small parts: Ideally, the toy should not have any detachable small parts such as the eyes, nose, buttons of a teddy bear. Stuffed toys should also not contain beans and pellets, which are hazardous when the toy is torn. The wheels of some toy cars may also come off during play, posing a choking risk.

5. Avoid small magnetic parts: U.S. CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) warns that when two small magnets (or a small magnet and a metal item) are swallowed, they can attract each other through the intestinal walls, leading to intestinal damage and even death. For this reason, avoid getting toys with small magnets that could fall out. Any magnets in the house should also be out of young children’s reach. One such hazard is fridge magnets, which are popular in many homes.

6. Avoid toys with cords and strings: Cords and strings pose a strangulation hazard, especially when many children love to wrap them around their necks. For pull-string toys, you may choose to tie a dead-knot to significantly shorten the strings, or cut them off.

7. Avoid toys that produce loud / sharp noises: These could cause permanent hearing damage. A young child may put the noisy toy next to her ears or her peer’s ears, so it is better to steer clear of these toys.

8. Choose toys made of wood or cloth: To avoid potentially harmful chemicals such as PVC, phthalates and BPA, some parents opt for wooden or cloth toys, especially for their children who are still mouthing items. When getting wooden toys, choose those with lead-free paint.

9. Check the quality of the toy: This is a checklist of other areas to watch out for:

• Not easily breakable or chipped, especially thin plastic parts
• No sharp corners
• Nothing to catch small fingers
• No wooden splinters
• No opened seams for soft toys
• No metal rust
• No peeling paint
• Battery case is screwed tight (Without a screw, a child may remove the cover and ingest the battery, which is very dangerous.)

These Toys Aren’t Mine

10. Check hand-me-down toys carefully: When you receive a bag of handed down toys, check every item for its suitability and quality according to the other tips mentioned above. After that, clean and sanitise the toys before giving them to your child. However, there is always the risk of recalled toys that you are unaware of when accepting hand-me-downs.

11. Be extra careful during a play date: This is especially so if your baby is younger than the host’s child and still mouthing things. Scan the toys for small parts and supervise closely. You may politely ask the host to keep potentially dangerous items during the play date.

More Good Practices

12. Check toys regularly for wear and tear: Every week, check existing toys for signs of wear and tear, or accidental damage. If necessary, repair the items or throw them away before danger arises.

13. Check toys before next newborn arrives: The arrival of a new baby means many toys could be considered dangerous again. Keep unsuitable items out of the youngest baby’s reach and educate the older child on items that are unsuitable for baby.

14. Stay updated on toy recalls: When unsure of a toy, you may search the U.S. CPSC website to check it it has been previously recalled. To receive first-hand information on the latest recalls, subscribe to CPSC’s updates via email or RSS feeds. Here are the links:

• via email: https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx
• via RSS feeds: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/rss.html
  

Conclusion

As parents, we can never be too careful, so let us make play time as safe as possible for our precious little ones.

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Sharing time: Do you have any more tips on choosing safe toys? Please share in the comments box.

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P.S. Check out my toy reviews and tips here.

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: How to Choose Safe Toys for Your Baby or Toddler. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

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Here’s to share Vee’s birth story with you, just before he turns 2 years old in 9 days. I’d a natural delivery in a pro-breastfeeding Malaysian hospital, accepting epidural only after 20+ hours of contractions. If you’re expecting a baby (congratulations!), perhaps you can get a little idea of an actual birth experience.

The article “My Baby Valentine — A Birth Story” has been published as the feature story in the latest issue of Today’s Motherhood. Read it below or in the Feb/Mar 2011 issue, pages 12-13.

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Introduction

Two years ago, my son was born around Valentine’s Day. Here is a sharing of my birth story…

How It All Began

After my wedding, I shuttled frequently between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (where my husband was working). Several months later, I was surprised to discover my pregnancy. Suddenly, all-day sleepiness, indigestion and vomiting overwhelmed me, and I rested in Kuala Lumpur.

The expected delivery date (EDD) was 28 Feb 2009. My husband and I decided that if baby were to be born within one week of Valentine’s Day, his name would begin with “V”.

Throughout pregnancy, our baby grew well and we waited eagerly for D-day, hoping for a natural vaginal delivery with minimal medical intervention.

Show-Time

14 Feb 2009: My EDD was still two weeks away and “the show” occurred, right on Valentine’s Day. I went to the hospital for a check by the midwife. She said all was fine and I could rest at home. So no Valentine’s Day baby.

At night, I experienced a 1-minute cramp. Then nothing else. This was probably Braxton Hicks contractions. We were so looking forward to holding Baby Valentine in the next few days!

First Stage Latent Phase

16 Feb 2009, 8.05p.m.: We were watching a Hong Kong drama serial when I felt a minor cramp. One hour later, it happened again – this time slightly stronger. Then the cramps started coming in every 10 to 15 minutes.

My husband went to bed while I couldn’t sleep with the frequent cramps. Bad move as I still had a very long journey ahead!

17 Feb 2009, 3.a.m: For seven hours, I have managed the cramps with deep-breathing techniques learnt at antenatal classes. When the contractions reached about ten in an hour, I dragged my husband out of bed, and wanted to go to the hospital. He thought I was over-enthusiastic, told me to relax, and continued sleeping. I carried on managing the contractions and we finally reached the hospital at 6a.m.

6.40a.m.: The midwife checked me (ouch, that was so painful!) — I was 1.5cm dilated, contractions at 10 minutes interval.

Five hours later, I was STILL 1.5cm dilated! Things were progressing at a snail’s pace, so I was transferred from the labour ward to a normal ward.

Through the day, the contractions built up and lasted longer, up to 70 seconds at about 6 minutes interval. There was hardly any time to think about anything, as I was still managing the contractions with only deep-breathing exercises.

7p.m.: It has been 22 hours since the first contraction, and I was finally 3cm dilated, considered entering first stage active labour.

First Stage Active Phase

17 Feb 2009 11p.m.: Contractions were strong and regular, manageable with deep-breathing techniques. However, I was getting drained from lack of sleep and standing almost the entire day. It certainly didn’t help that I was only 3cm dilated and had seven more centimetres to go. So much effort yet so little progress. We decided to opt for epidural, so that we could catch some rest. It was a reluctant decision.

18 Feb 2009, 1.30a.m.: The epidural anaesthesia was administered. Soon after, I felt the numbness and no more contractions pain. What a relief! I probably dozed off immediately.

7a.m.: I was 5-6cm dilated. The ob-gyn broke my water bag and gave me an oxytocin drip to speed things up a little

Then, I started vomiting, possibly due to the side effects of epidural.

9.25a.m.: Ob-gyn checked me – 7cm dilation but baby was turning towards the back.

10.45a.m.: I vomitted again. Midwife examined me and said I was almost ready. Baby would be out in about 20 minutes. Finally, the time has arrived!

Second Stage

18 Feb 2009, 11.10a.m.: Midwife told me to start pushing and briefly explained how to do so. I gathered my energy and focused on my core abdominal muscles, learnt from Pilates classes. Within 12 minutes and three pushes, my Baby Valentine was delivered! He was born a hefty 3.48kg, considered huge for my petite size. No wonder I experienced severe backache during pregnancy.

After a brief cleaning up, the midwife passed my newborn to me. But just at that moment, I felt like vomiting, so hastily shoved the bundle back to her. What a way to start our bonding time.

During delivery, Vee stretched his arm out and gave me a first degree tear. While the ob-gyn stitched me up, I continued to bleed rather profusely. In the end, I lost about 1000ml of blood and became anaemic – a close shave from blood transfusion.

After Delivery

18 Feb 2009, 11.43a.m.: While the doctor was stitching me up, I tried to latch Vee onto my breasts for the first time and it was a steep learning curve. This was the start of our 18 months breastfeeding journey.

For two days in the hospital, I roomed in with baby as much as possible and breastfed him every 1 to 2 hours. He was colicky and impatient, while I learnt the ropes of cradling and latching him on correctly. Although my nipples became rather sore from the frequent feeds, by our discharge on the third day post-delivery, Vee was nursing happily up to 45 minutes for each feed.

Time flies and my Baby Valentine has grown into Toddler Valentino. I shall always cherish memories of my first labour experience.

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Sharing time: What’s your birth story? Share your blog post link or write it out in the comments box.

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Sharing Vee’s birth story with you. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Baby Jae’s Birth Story

I’ve been battling with Vee’s severe eczema since he was 5+ months old. Recently, we won the battle and I can FINALLY kiss his cheeks again, after almost 1 year!

My article “29 Tips to Fight Baby’s Eczema” has been published on the latest issue of Today’s Motherhood. Grab the tips in the Oct/Nov 2010 issue, pages 10-12 or below.

Sharing time: Anyone with family history of eczema too? Share your tips!

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Introduction

For more than seven months, my son, Vee, had a huge reddish eczema patch covering his cheek and chin. It itched so much that the poor boy rubbed his face against his pillow during sleep and often woke up with a blood-stained pillow. Kissing his face was a luxury I could not enjoy as a mother.

The Tips

After much trial and error, his condition is finally well-managed. Here are the 29 tips to fight your baby’s eczema:

1. Find out the root cause: Although eczema could be inherited, it may also be triggered by external irritants such as soaps, detergents and food. The most common foods which trigger eczema symptoms in some people include: cow’s milk, eggs, soya, wheat, fish and nuts^. (By chance, we realised that Vee’s condition has been triggered by soy.)
2. Eliminate the irritant(s): After finding the irritant, eliminate it from your baby’s environment, wherever possible. (Since I am breastfeeding Vee, I had to stop eating soy too.)
3. Prepare your own baby food: If you suspect that food is causing flare-ups, preparing homemade baby food allows you to control every ingredient. Introduce one new ingredient at a time, especially allergenic foods, to single out any irritant. (During one dinner, Vee’s new food was steamed beancurd. A rash broke out around his mouth almost immediately. That was how we found the root cause.)
4. Read the labels: If you are offering baby processed food (e.g. biscuits, jarred food), scrutinise the label to ensure that it does not contain potential triggers for your baby’s eczema.
5. Clean carpets and change bedsheets & mats often: Some babies have eczema triggered by dust mites. If this is the case, you would need to vacuum the carpets, and change bedsheets and floor mats often. Wash beddings in hot water.
6. Clean soft toys and fabric books often: If dust mite is the trigger, choose soft toys and fabric books that are washable. Alternatively, use a steam cleaner to sanitise the toys and books.
7. Keep skin clean: Perspiration causes eczema flare-ups in some children. Moreover, many babies and toddlers love playing until they are dripping with sweat. If so, wipe her with a smooth and damp handkerchief after she perspires.
8. Use cloth wipes with water: Commercial wet wipes contain chemicals (such as artificial fragrance) that could trigger your baby’s eczema. To be on the safe side, use cloth wipes with water. Otherwise, rinse the wet wipe with water before wiping your baby.
9. Use a gentle bath soap and shampoo with no SLS, fragrance and colouring: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is a common surfactant in commercial bath foams and shampoos, to make them foamy. However, it tends to dry out the skin and worsen some babies’ eczema. Artificial fragrance and colouring are also potential irritants. Read the ingredients label carefully before buying. Consider using a bath oil.
10. Short, brief baths: Limiting bath-time prevents the skin from drying out. If you are using a bath oil instead of soap, then it is fine for baby to stay longer in the bath.
11. Shower after swimming: If chlorinated pool water worsens baby’s eczema, then shower her after a swim.
12. Lukewarm (not too warm) bath water: Water that is too hot could increase the itch, so use lukewarm water instead.
13. Pat skin dry after bath: Avoid rubbing your baby’s skin dry with a towel; pat her dry instead.
14. Choose skincare products carefully: Besides SLS, fragrance and colouring, also avoid skincare products containing a long list of confusing ingredients. This introduces less potential irritants to your baby’s skin and makes it easier to identify triggers for flare-ups.
15. Moisturise skin: Dry skin is more prone to flare-ups, so use a hypoallergenic moisturiser on the dry patches on baby’s skin after patting her dry from a bath.
16. Protect skin: After moisturising, protect her eczema-prone areas with a layer of barrier cream such as sterile paraffin wax. This prevents irritants from causing flare-ups.
17. Dress lightly: When your baby is too warm, she may be more prone to flare-ups. In our year-round tropical climate, dress her in light and breathable clothings.
18. Choose cotton and bamboo fabrics: Cotton and bamboo fabrics are gentle on baby’s skin, so use them for her apparels, bedsheets and blankets.
19. Avoid wool and scratchy fabrics: Scratchy fabrics could rub against baby’s eczema patches. Before buying clothes for baby, check the inside of clothes to make sure it feels smooth. Ideally, caregivers should also avoid wearing scratchy fabrics.
20. Use diapers with no irritants: When using cloth diapers and baby’s skin is sensitive to wetness, choose those with a stay-dry layer or add a stay-dry liner. When using disposable diapers, choose those that do not contain artificial fragrances and potential irritants. (Again, read the packaging label.)
21. Change diaper often: Whether using cloth or disposable diapers, change baby every 2 to 3 hours to keep her diaper area clean and dry.
22. Wash new clothings, cloth diapers and bedsheets before initial use: New apparels may contain chemical additives such as formaldehyde that could trigger eczema in your baby. Therefore, always prewash fabrics before wearing them.
23. Use detergent with no irritants: Additives in detergent such as fabric softener could cause eczema flare-ups, so choose one that suits your baby’s skin. If a particular detergent is suitable for your baby, then caregivers’ clothes should be washed using it too.
24. Rinse laundry thoroughly to remove residue: Build-up of detergent residue could trigger flare-ups, so ensure that laundry is rinsed thoroughly. Clothes should smell clean (not fragrant) after washing.
25. Wear mittens when sleeping: Eczema is well-known for its itch and scratching would worsen it. For a young baby, put mittens on her during bedtime.
26. Trim and file fingernails: Keep baby’s fingernails short and smooth to prevent her from opening up the skin when scratching.
27. Distract baby: For an older baby, distract her when she is trying to scratch. For instance, show her an interesting toy while making exaggerated sounds and movements.
28. Seek professional help: If symptoms persist, consult a paediatrician or paediatric dermatologist for advice as baby may need prescription-based creams and/or medication.
29. Start treatment once flare-up begins: When the first sign of rash begins, start treatment based on doctor’s advice. Don’t wait. The rash may worsen and take even longer to heal.

After our long battle with eczema, I can finally kiss my boy’s beautiful face. May your baby stay beautiful too!

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: 29 Tips to Fight Baby’s Eczema. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

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1. Water Play Tips for Babies and Toddlers (Splish, Splash, Splosh!)
2. Travelling with Baby: Tips and Packing Checklist

My guest article on “Sleep Solutions for My Fussy Baby” for Today’s Motherhood has been published! View the write-up in the Jun/Jul 2010 issue, pages 22-23 or below.

—

Introduction

During pregnancy, I prepared extensively for delivery day and breastfeeding, while missing out on one topic – sleep. What a major mistake! When Vee (the fussy, gassy, clingy light-sleeper arrived), I became nearly obsessed with ways to help him fall asleep and stay asleep. Sleeping problems that we faced initially:

• He demanded to be carried and rocked or bounced to sleep. Otherwise, he would cry forcefully.
• It took up to five hours to help him nap.
• When finally asleep, he fussed every 35 to 45 minutes in the day and every 1 to 1.5 hours at night.
• He refused to fall asleep in the car-seat or stroller, so outdoor trips had to be planned meticulously.

This article shares with you some ways that helped him (and I) sleep longer and better.

1. Tummy Massage

Vee has the reputation of the gassiest baby that my confinement helper has seen. He passed gas so frequently that it even shocked him into tears at times. My nurse taught me to do tummy massage for him and it was amazing how much gas he could pass out during each massage. Relieving the gas for him enabled him to sleep more comfortably.

2. Swaddling and Babywearing

Even as a newborn, Vee did not like to sleep in a cot. His startle reflex which continued for many months also awakened him easily. Swaddling enabled him to sleep more peacefully, and he self-weaned from it at 6.5 months old. We had to specially order two large swaddles from the U.S. to wrap up the 9kg dumpling.

On some days, even carrying did not settle him, so I wore him in a baby sling to calm him down and walked around the house until he fell asleep – a good way to exercise at home.

3. White Noise

This work marvellously and we are using it even today for the 15-month old toddler. When he cried miserably in the early months, turning on the hairdryer for a while would calm him down. Throughout his nap and night-time sleep, rainfall sound would be looped continuously to mask out household noises since he is a very light-sleeper. (Read reviews about products that produce white noise here.)

4. Co-Sleeping

Initially, I resisted co-sleeping. When Vee kept fussing after night-time feeds at four months old, I was spending entire nights trying to get him to sleep in his cot instead of resting. Finally, I gave up and let him sleep with us. Co-sleeping (done in a safe way) enabled me to breastfeed him lying down, tend to him easily and he fussed less. It may not work for everyone but certainly worked for us.

5. Eliminating Night-Time Diaper Changes

He is a heavy-wetter and easily pees through conventional disposable diapers. His sensitive skin also cannot tolerate most diapers for more than six hours. After a diaper change, it could take hours to settle him back to sleep again. Eventually, I found modern cloth diapers that are super-absorbent and breathable to last him up to 12 hours without any leak and rash. This was a big step to help us sleep more peacefully. (Read more about night-time diapering options here.)

6. Appropriate Clothings and Room Temperature

From about six months old, Vee has been suffering from eczema rashes on his face and inner folds of limbs which flare up when he is warm. Therefore, we experimented with the room temperature and found that a cool environment kept his rashes down and eventually enabled him to sleep soundly. He is dressed lightly during day naps and wears a T-Shirt and pants at night. We realised that not every baby needs to wear long sleeves, mittens and socks to bed; do what is most comfortable for your little one.

7. Sleeping at an Angle

Between four and seven months old, Vee regurgitated milk very often and had slight reflux problems which caused him to scream at night. Letting him sleep on a surface raised at 30-degrees eased the reflux and allowed him to sleep much better.

8. Bedtime Routine and Early Bedtime

Adapting a bedtime routine enabled Vee to tune down more easily for bedtime. At night, he gets a sponge bath, feed, bedtime stories, songs, massage and then encouraged to sleep. For naps, he gets the same routine without the sponge bath. He stays very alert when the surrounding is bright, so his sleeping environment must be dimly-lit. Even the walls near the bed have to be free of posters as he gets totally excited seeing them.

He also fell asleep more easily and slept longer when bedtime was brought forward to about 8.30p.m. It was only when he grew older that his bedtime shifted later and we started enjoying evening outings.

Sometimes, I wonder how many gassy, heavy-wetting light-sleepers with reflux and eczema problems are there. If we can get enough sleep, I am sure you can too. Explore to see what works best for you and your baby. Sweet dreams!

—

Read these reviews on some of our favourite sleeping aids:

• Book: The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley
• Sound Oasis Sleep Bear
• Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe

If you are a Mummy-to-be, how are you preparing to sleep well when baby arrives?
If you are an experienced Mummy, how are you helping your baby / toddler to sleep better?

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Sleep Solutions for My Fussy Baby. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Book Review: The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley
2. Review: Sound Oasis Sleep Bear

My guest article on “Breastfeeding: Top 8 Mistakes to Avoid” for Today’s Motherhood has been published! View the write-up below or in the Apr/May 2010 issue, pages 12-13.

Read these reviews on some of our favourite breastfeeding ‘tools’:

• AVENT Washable Breast Pads
• Cabbage Leaves – To Relief Engorgement
• Medela Disposable Baby Cup Feeder

If you are a Mummy-to-be, what are your concerns regarding breastfeeding?
If you are a breastfeeding Mummy, how did you overcome the obstacles to breastfeeding in the early days?

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Introduction

On my son’s first birthday recently, we also celebrated the first anniversary of our breastfeeding relationship. Breastfeeding provides numerous benefits – healthy for mother and baby, saves money, saves time, is convenient during travels and more. Despite these, many mothers end up supplementing their newborn babies’ diet with formula milk or completely give up breastfeeding in the early days post-partum.

From personal observation, below are the top 8 mistakes that prevent mothers from breastfeeding successfully.

Mistake #1: Not Well-Informed

Are you able to answer these:

• What does the perfect latch-on look like?
• What are a baby’s hunger cues?
• How could you to prevent nipple confusion?

If you are clueless about the above, it is time to read up!

During pregnancy, attend a pre-natal class (preferably with your partner) conducted by a qualified lactation consultant. Learn all you can about breastfeeding and practise various breastfeeding positions. Talk to mothers who successfully breastfed and learn from their experiences. You may also join a breastfeeding support group.

Mistake #2: Not Latching On Directly and Pumping Instead

Breastfeeding baby directly provides the best stimulation for milk production, which is especially important in the first 4 to 6 weeks. During this period, it is not necessary to express the milk to see how much you are producing and determining if it is sufficient. The amount expressed is not indicative of the amount of milk that your body is able to produce.

My boy is able to suckle until the breasts are empty and if he needs more milk, he would continue suckling until milk is produced on the spot. The pump has never been able to do that for me.

Mistake #3: Not Feeding on Demand

Feeding on demand is the most important way to ensure that the milk supply is quickly established in the early days. Your newborn baby needs to be breastfed at least 8 to 12 times round the clock. Do not try to schedule her feeds or watch the clock when she is feeding. Simply latch her on once you notice her early hunger cues, and feed her until she is satisfied.

A newborn who is not crying hysterically finds it easier to learn latching on properly and wait for the let-down reflex. It is also easier to learn cradling her in the correct position.

Mistake #4: Buying a Tin of Formula Milk (Just in case)

Having a tin of formula milk on standby means you are more likely to use it upon facing obstacles or discouragement. People around you are also likely to ‘push’ you into supplementing when they see that your milk has yet to come in. Or worse, they could feed your baby supplement milk without your consent!

A full-term baby has body reserves to survive without any supplement in the first few days. In my case, my milk came in on day 4 and my boy survived well on colostrum before that.

Mistake #5: Feeding Water

A full-term newborn does not need water or any other drink unless medically-necessary. Foremilk (the first part of breastmilk) is thirst-quenching and much more nutritious than water. Water fills your newborn baby’s tiny tummy, she suckles at your breasts less and this leads to less stimulation for milk supply.

Mistake #6: Using Artificial Teats

Babies are very smart and know that it is much easier to get milk from a bottle teat than breastfeed directly. Feeding your newborn with expressed breastmilk (EBM) or water using a bottle teat could lead to nipple confusion and rejection of the real nipple. With less suckling at the breasts, there is less stimulation and less milk supply. If necessary, feed your newborn with a cup, spoon or syringe instead.

Mistake #7: Lack Family, Confinement and Professional Support

Delivery is a tiring process and it is important to have sufficient support to breastfeed successfully. You need a supportive partner who is well-informed about the do’s and don’ts of breastfeeding and help you fend off obstacles.

I personally find it important to also have a pro-breastfeeding obstetrician-gynaecologist, confinement helper, paediatrician and deliver in a pro-breastfeeding hospital.

Mistake #8: Lack Confidence and Determination

Without determination, you would find it hard to continue breastfeeding for long and waver easily when others doubt your ability to supply enough milk for your baby. My friends and I who have successfully breastfed stuck to the belief that we could produce sufficient milk and were determined to breastfeed our babies successfully, whatever it takes.

In short, focus on breastfeeding your newborn directly on demand (at least 8-12 times a day) round the clock, ignore discouragement, and seek advice from a lactation consultant if you need help. Enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding!

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Summary: Breastfeeding Success Checklist

1. Read up and be well-informed
2. Latch on directly for the initial days and weeks, until supply is established
3. Feed on demand (at least 8-12 times a day)
4. Believe you can supply enough milk for baby (No need for formula milk as back-up)
5. Breastmilk contains lots of water plus nutrition. Breastfed babies don’t need water, unless medically necessary
6. When feeding supplementary or expressed milk, use spoon, syringe or cup to avoid nipple confusion
7. Get as much family, confinement and professional support as possible
8. Have confidence in yourself

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Breastfeeding: Top 8 Mistakes to Avoid. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Top 7 Reasons Why I Love Breastfeeding
2. Is “Breastmilk” Jaundice Crap?

My guest article on “Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby” to Today’s Motherhood has been published! View the write-up in the Feb/Mar 2010 issue, pages 16-17 or below.

Read these reviews on some of our favourite feeding ‘tools’:

• Fisher-Price Healthy Care™ Deluxe Booster Seat
• Munchkin Stay-Put Bowls
• Combi Mug (Step 4 – Standard Mug)
• Wet bags

Also, join in Giveaway #3 to win a gorgeous bib for your baby.

What problems have you faced on introducing solid foods to your baby?
What tips would you like to share on overcoming these problems?

—

Introduction

During dinner, your baby suddenly stretches out her hand and tries to grab your spoon. Then she starts to wake up more frequently for milk at night. You start to think, “Is it time to start her on solid foods?”

Wait a minute. Before offering her the first spoon of solid food, take note of the following frequently-asked questions as this article shares what I have learnt and some experiences with my 11-month old son.

When to Start Feeding Solid Foods?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and breastfeeding experts worldwide recommend that all babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. This generally means no cereal, juice or any other foods until your baby is about 6 months old. Some signs that your baby is developmentally ready are:

• Loss of tongue-thrust reflex (pushing food out of mouth with her tongue)
• Sitting up without support
• Interested when you are eating

How to Get Started on Feeding?

Creating an interest in and a positive attitude towards taking solid foods is very important for your baby’s long-term development and health. Offer a small amount of food (about 1 tablespoon) and allow baby to participate by holding the spoon or your little finger. My son is very enthusiastic about self-feeding and eats more when he helps to feed himself. Until today, he loves solid foods and enjoys meal-times.

Offering food also means that baby need not eat or finish the food if she is not interested. Keep offering food on a daily basis and encourage her to eat.

Get an appropriate highchair or booster seat so that your baby can sit comfortably during meal-times. Personally, I help my boy to learn what he is having for his meals and minimise distractions (i.e. no toys and no T.V. ) for a more pleasant feeding time and to inculcate healthy eating habits.

What Foods to Feed and How to Prepare Them?

To recognise a food that your baby may be allergic to, these are some points worth noting:

• Introduce one new food at a time
• Introduce it in small amounts (about 1 tablespoon and increase it gradually) for at least 3 to 7 days in a row
• Recognise the possible signs of an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, diarrhoea, gassiness)

I was advised to avoid offering baby the more allergenic foods until he is older. Examples of such foods are: wheat, orange and other citrus foods, dairy, eggs and tomatoes. You should also find out if there is a history of food allergy in your family when planning your baby’s menu.

Some common choices for first foods are baby rice cereal, pears, bananas, apples, avocados and sweet potatoes. I prefer organic produce which are free from artificial fertilisers and pesticides, and always wash the produce well before cooking them.

My post-natal nurse taught me to cook all the foods, including fruits (with the exception for avocados), so that baby is able to digest them more easily. In general, I steam the vegetables or fruits (with skin on) for about 20 minutes until they are soft, then remove the skin (if any), and mash them with a fork and through a sieve until they are fine enough for baby to eat. No seasoning such as sugar or salt is needed.

How Much to Feed?

Solid foods are meant to complement and not replace milk feeds before your baby’s first birthday. About an hour after her late morning milk feed, and when she is well-rested, you may offer her a suitable first food as lunch.

I chose baby rice cereal as the first food and found it easy to introduce my son to it by giving him half the usual milk feed and adding expressed breastmilk (EBM) to the cereal, which he accepted very well. A month later, he started taking dinner, and another month later, he began eating breakfast. In between the meals, he continue to have breastmilk.

Observe your baby to decide how much and how frequent to feed her solid foods. When she turns away, stops opening her mouth or fusses, it may be that she has eaten enough.

What Else Should I Note?

When you are unsure about areas related to introducing solid foods to your baby, always consult a qualified paediatrician. The following are some useful references:

• kellymom, Solid Foods and the Breastfed Baby & Toddler
• World Health Organisation, Guiding Principles for Complementary Feeding of the Breastfed Child
• World Health Organisation, Guiding Principles for Feeding Non-Breastfed Children 6-24 Months of Age (2005)
• AskDrSears.com, Feeding Infants and Toddlers

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No related posts.

To share my love of babywearing with you, I have contributed a guest article entitled ‘Why I Love Babywearing’ to Today’s Motherhood. You may read the article here (January 2010 issue, pages 12-13) or below.

This article is launched in conjunction with Mummy’s Reviews’ first Special Treat for you.

Are you a babywearer?
If so, which is your favourite baby sling or carrier and why?

Cheers,
MieVee

—

Introduction

I love this quote from AskDrSears.com “The womb lasts eighteen months. Nine months inside mother, and nine months outside.” My baby boy has just completed his nine months outside the womb. After spending many hours being carried in a baby sling or carrier, he has grown into a happy, observant and sociable boy. This article aims to share with you the benefits that babywearing has given us.

Benefits

1. Creates a Strong Bond

I often carried my newborn in a baby sling to replicate the womb-like experience that he has been used to for nine months. The close contact with me gave my baby a great sense of security as he could smell, hear and feel me at close proximity. This helped him adjust better to the outside world and enhanced our bond.

As a breastfeeding mother, I was able to respond to my son’s hunger cues quickly and feed him before he started crying (which is a late hunger cue).

2. Calms Baby Down

My boy was bothered by gassiness in the early months and his fussiness peaked at night. Putting him in our sling and walking around in the bedroom was a sure-fire way to calm him down.

My alert baby was also the ultimate nap-resistor after reaching ten weeks old. For his evening nap, I often walked around with him in the sling so that he could take a cosy nap. Whenever he stirred, I would bounce him a little so that he could settle back to sleep again, taking long naps of up to two hours.

At four months old, he suffered from reflux and carrying him in a sling at an inclined or upright angle allowed him to feel more comfortable and not choke on his regurgitated milk.

3. Keeps Mummy’s Hands Free

Another great benefit of babywearing is that I could carry on with the daily household routine and keep the baby contented at the same time. It is easy to wash dishes and prepare the ingredients for his meals when carrying him on my back using a sturdy baby carrier. Many second-time mothers also find it convenient to look after an older child while carrying the younger child in a sling.

4. Enhances Baby’s Learning

My curious baby enjoys observing my actions as I piggy-back him, and he is able to learn from my daily experiences – organising food in the refrigerator, washing vegetables and fruits, operating the washing machine and so on. This gives him an adult perspective to the world besides playing in his crib or play-yard.

5. Convenient Outdoors

There are places where wearing the baby is much more convenient than manoeuvring a stroller, for instance at a crowded night market (pasar malam), and during grocery shopping when hands are needed to push a trolley. For short trips, it is also easy to simply wear the baby and leave the house, with hands free to carry a diaper bag.

6. Keeps Baby Safe

Wearing my baby in a sling or carrier keeps both of us safer as compared to carrying him with my hands. With both hands free, I could hold on to handrails of staircases or escalators, or hold on to somewhere for support should I lose my balance.

Choosing a Suitable Baby Carrier

There is a huge range of baby slings and carriers that can be mind-boggling to the new mother. Some factors to consider are your build, your child’s build and developmental stage, your family’s lifestyle, ergonomics and quality of the carrier, and your budget.

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Why I Love Babywearing. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Review: Moms in Mind Sarong Sling (Baby Carrier)
2. Review: Beco Baby Carrier (Butterfly 2 DUO)

My first guest article to Today’s Motherhood has been published in the December issue and it is also available at the Resources section here. I feel honoured to share the joy of cloth diapering with other parents, helping them (or you) save money and the environment.

Thank you very much for reading Mummy’s Reviews!

Cheers,
MieVee

—
Introduction
Cloth diapering is back with the introduction of modern cloth diapers in recent years. These cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables, machine-washable and attractively-designed. It is now possible to conveniently diaper babies and toddlers in cloth full-time – that includes night-time, when shopping and even travelling abroad. Since a child will be in diapers for a few years, using cloth diapers can bring about significant cost savings and is also environmentally-friendly.

Benefits
1. Save Money
Building a stash of modern cloth diapers is an investment that will save you money in the many months of diapering ahead. Here is an example:

Modern Cloth Diapers: 15 one-size diapers to rotate x S$30 each = S$450 (total)
Disposables: 6 per day x S$0.30 per diaper x 365 days = S$657 (per year!)

If your child is toilet-trained at 3 years old, that means S$1,971 in total or S$1,521 down the rubbish bin, which could have been contributed to his/her education fund instead.

Cloth diapers are gentle on babies’ sensitive skin, which means no more rashes and expensive diaper cream. Good quality cloth diapers can also be handed down to the next one to two children, further lowering the costs. Many mothers also use cloth wipes which complement cloth diapers perfectly for even more savings.

2. Save Mother Earth
Having a child on disposables for three years means adding about 6,570 diapers to the landfill! Compare that with about 15 one-size diapers and the difference is obvious.

For an especially green diapering method, modern cloth diapers can be washed together with the family’s clothes in a full load every one to two days in an energy-efficient washing machine and line-dried. There are also cloth diapers made from natural fibres such as wool, bamboo, unbleached hemp and organic unbleached cotton.

When your children are potty-trained, well-maintained cloth diapers can be sold in the second-hand market (for instance, Diaperswap Forum), given away to relatives and friends or donated to charity.

How to Start
I started with cloth diapering after learning from other mothers who generously shared their experiences in cloth diaper review websites and blogs. You may also seek out relatives or friends who are using modern cloth diapers on their children. It is amazing how enjoyable and addictive modern cloth diapering can be.

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Save Money and Mother Earth by Cloth Diapering. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Revealed: Cloth Diapering Essentials – A Quick Guide
2. Successfully Cloth-Diapering a Newborn
3. Winners of Bummis Cloth Diapering Products (Giveaway #16)