Blogs - Page 1

Parentree-editors' blog, Aug 17, 2008 2:06 AM

Sleep is an essential part of a young child's health. In this article, we tell you what are some of the common sleep problems in young Indian children, less than 10 years of age. (preschool...

Featured Articles

When should I go see a doctor if I am not becoming pregnant?Becoming pregnant can take a long time. However, there are times when it may be wise to visit a doctor if you are unsuccessful after a long time. Here are some guidelines that can help. If you...
ColicColic is the name given to the mysterious sustained crying in babies aged between 2 weeks to 12 weeks. Characteristics It is usually characterised by Sustained crying for hours on end ...
Children's activities in Chennai Fun activities and things to do for kids, in and around Chennai Dakshina Chitra - Dakshina Chitra is a museum of South Indian cultural heritage. Kids can visit various stalls set up by...
8 skin care tips for pregnant womenPregnancy is a time when hormonal changes can change your skin significantly - from positive changes like "pregnancy glow" to negative ones like acne. Here are some tips on how you can help your...
Fostering fun, wit and humour (2 to 4 years)From the age of 2, children start developing the ability to talk and verbal humour starts coming into play. Parents will see new avenues where the child detects and expresses humour. By fostering...
In their grandparents "loving laps"It takes a village to bring up a child! Most Indian kids are lucky. They grow up close to their grandparents - their dada/ dadi, nana/nani or their paati/thatha etc. Thanks to our cultural values...
Glucose Screening TestThis is a preliminary test that is given to all pregnant women sometime during the 24th to 28th weeks of pregnancy to check for gestational diabetes. It measures how well your body can process...
Father-daughter bonding - advice for dadsBeing a father to a little baby daughter is often an awkward experience for some fathers. In our culture, men are often brought up be the unemotional stereotype and even if they grew up with...
Breech BabyAs the pregnancy approaches its full term, most babies will move into the typical delivery position with their head down. When this does not happen, the baby will have to be delivered feet first...
Is it safe to take an X-Ray during pregnancy?Short answer: If your doctor decides you need X-rays, it is better to get an X-ray. There are no conclusive studies about whether/or how much the radiation in x-rays can affect your baby. Your...
9 tips that can help your child focus and finish their homeworkHaving trouble getting your child to finish their homework? Is their focus wavering? Are they getting distracted? Here are some tips that can help. Allocate a time for homework If your child...
Project Work - To do or not to doProjects are added to children’s course work in order to develop their faculties other than what would result from just learning lessons and writing exams. Here are some ways to make it a...
Help big kids improve their writing skillsWriting is not just about pushing a pen on paper or about good handwriting. It is about communicating clearly and thoughtfully. It is a very complex activity where a child has to put together a...
Bisphenol-A: Are hard plastic bottles safe for food and water?Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonate plastic is tough and break-resistant and commonly used to make plastic-ware like water bottles, spoons, forks,...
Attachment parenting - a parenting philosophyWhat is the Attachment Parenting? Attachment parenting (AP) is popular parenting philosophy first propounded by the famous American Paediatrician Dr. William Sears and his wife Dr. Martha Sears....
Placental abruptionThis is a condition in which the placenta separates from the uterus, before delivery. Placenta is the organ that connects the mother and the baby. It supplies oxygen and nutrients to the baby and...
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition where the baby is not growing adequately while inside the uterus. Symptoms During a routine check-up, while measuring the uterus, the doctor...
Can I travel during pregnancy? Is it safe?Short answer: Travel is safe for normal pregnancies, except in the last month. As long as there are no big concerns or complications in your pregnancy, it is generally safe to travel during your...
Piano classes for kids - a guideLooking at putting your child in a piano class? But are lost about how to find the right class, what to look for in the class, at what age should your child start learning the piano, what kind of...
Epilepsy in children - Seizures, Causes, What to do, Treatment...Epilepsy is a disorder manifests itself in seizures (fits). What is epilepsy Epilepsy is the occurrence of multiple seizures (fits), but not caused by high fever or recent head/brain injury. ...
Can I use household cleaning products during pregnancy? Is it safe?Exposure to mild cleaning agents is generally safe. But it’s a good idea to stay away from very strong fumes and harsh cleaning agents. For example, if the phenyl or disinfectant used in mopping...
Besant nagar beach - a favourite hauntElliott's beach at Besant Nagar is one of my favourite haunts with my children. My kids love the place and as always, the ocean calms us all down. We love to go on Saturday morning or Sunday...
How much protein do mothers need during pregnancy?During pregnancy, increased protein consumption is very important for Indian mothers. Proteins are an important material used to build the home for the baby including the amnion, yolk sac, and...
7 signs of tension, stress and anxiety in childrenTension, stress and anxiety have become common among parents in India. But did you know that children also feel similar emotions and need your help to overcome it. Here are some signs that your...
Indian foods with high iron contentHere is a list of Indian foods (pulses, beans, nuts, fish, meat, and milk products) with high ironcontent. These have approximately 8mg or more of iron per 100 gms of the food. Local names of many...
Non-stress test (NST)This is not a routine test. A doctor will use this any time after 26-28 weeks for high-risk pregnancies to ensure that the baby is getting enough oxygen and is not in any kind of distress. This...
Should we "let them win all the time"?As parents we often play games and sports with our kids. These require skills, effort or luck for winning. And when the little one runs into trouble, we often contrive to let them win. We let them...
Kegel exercises for pregnant womenKegel exercises (KAY-gul or KEY-gul) can really benefit pregnant women in strengthening pelvic muscles for the arduous feat of childbirth. These muscles also tone up the pelvic area and help...
Stress TestThis is an invasive test so doctors use it only as a last option. The stress test measures how the baby can handle the “stress” of labour and is conducted in late pregnancy. This maybe done if...
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - Information and effect on women, fertility and...What is PCOS? Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder caused due to the imbalance of hormones in the body. It is characterized by abnormal amounts of the male hormone androgen which...
For fans of Thomas the tank engine - a must-see in ChennaiMy kids are huge fans of Thomas the Tank Engine and I must confess, so am I. When we heard about a railway museum in Chennai, we knew we had to go there. A web search brought up a website with...
Musings on wild life for kids & Kabini tripWe had a bunch of family over and taken them to visit the Kabini River Lodge in the Nagarhole national park in Karnataka. So thought would share the highlights of our trip and also some of my...
My child cries when losing at games or sports. What should I do?Children of all ages find it hard to absorb disappointment, just like us parents and grownups. In particular, many children are very sensitive to losing at games, sports or even in minor...
Natural pain relief during childbirthMost women feel anxious about the pain of labour and delivery. Many women prepare for this arduous process of labour and delivery beforehand. But childbirth is different for everyone and however...
ThumbsuckingSucking of the thumb is a common sight among young children. During pregnancy, even babies in a mother's womb suck their thumb. However, thumb sucking is a children's habit that produces a strong...
Learn to talk - Children (2 to 4 years)Learning to talk and express themselves is one of the most critical skills that children will develop. As parents we can help them develop this critical skill. Here are some tips on what we can...
How will my baby look at birth?Your baby will not be at her prettiest when she arrives. She has been inside you for nine months, and then went through the twists and turns of coming out. Expect to see some of the following...
Bringing up content kids in today's materialistic worldDo you get tired of hearing “I want, I want, I want...” from your brats all the time? Wonder why despite giving them everything and more, they still want more all the time? Do you ever wonder what...
Our trip to Auroville and PondyWe had a good time over the last weekend as we drove down to Pondicherry. Besides the usual list of places to see or explore there, we discovered a few more that I wanted to share with the group,...
My toddler (1 to 2 year child) does not listen to me. What do I do?Indian parents often say "my child does not listen to me". This remark is heard irrespective of the age of the child and particularly when the child ignores the parent who is saying "No, no" and...
How to calm a child down - 7 stepsAs parents we often have to calm a child who is either angry, distraught, crying or screaming. Here are some tips on how to calm a child down. Get down to the child's level (Step 1) If your...
Fine and gross motor skillsWe often hear these terms as it relates to the development of babies, toddlers and preschoolers. In this article, we throw some light on these skills. Gross motor skills Gross motor skills are...
Drinking water during pregnancy - filtering, boiling, safety precautionsShort answer: Filter thee water, then boil it before consuming it during pregnancy. When you are pregnant, you are more aware and discerning about what you eat and drink in general and water is...
Taking care of your baby's teeth and gumsIndian parents can set their child on a lifelong path of good dental health by giving them good dental care even as a baby. Even though most babies start teething only when they are 6 months or...
Swine flu (H1N1) - Babies and Children - Precautions, Symptoms, What to do...Babies and children under the age of five are particularly susceptible to swine flu. Is it dangerous? It is not clear as to whether swine flu is more dangerous in babies and children than any...
Computers, Internet and children (Basic guidelines)Computers and the Internet are changing the way the world does things and are pervasive these days. Here is a guide that will help Indian parents tap the power of the computers and the net for...
Fibroids - Symptoms, Effect on fertility and pregnancyWhat are fibroids? Fibroids are benign (not cancerous) tumors which grow in tufts or groups on the uterine walls of the female reproductive system. Medically known as leiomyoma, fibromyoma and...
Popular preschool philosophies and methodsEver wondered what terms like Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, academic, play based etc. that preschools throw at you really mean? Here are some popular preschool or early childhood education...
Baby carriers - Buying guideResearch has often shown that physical intimacy between parent and child has beneficial effects for both. Baby (or infant) carriers are a great way to achieve this physical intimacy. Babies are...
Teaching children through bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (multiple intelligence) -...Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is how we use various parts of our body or even our whole body to make something, find a solution to a problem or to convey meaning. For a child, who is strong in...
Our trip to Malpe and Ooty - kid friendly vacations!We did Malpe and Ooty this year in south India and both were big hits with my kids. Here is a review. Malpe: Malpe is a sleepy coastal area near Mangalore, which we visited last summer. The...
Medicines for pain relief during childbirthMany times the labour process can be very long, arduous, and complicated. Mothers may experience long and unbearably painful labour or the mother might be too panicky. In these cases, it is best...
Make your child an optimistOptimism is the ability to look at the positive side. Optimism has many benefits including better health and lesser stress. Optimists are also better at social relationships. In fact, an optimist...
Cooking with KidsOf the many activities that can be done with kids, cooking is the easiest, given that every home will have a kitchen! The trick is to make it desirable and fun. The manner in which children are...
Comfortable, stylish and easy-on-the-pocket maternity clothes for Indian mothersDuring pregnancy, you start feeling bloated and dowdy and dressing well can really pep you up. Dressing well during pregnancy helps both working women and women who work at home because all women...
"A child, a parent and the other parent" - managing excessive attachment to one...Young children can sometimes exhibit an excessive attachment to one parent, while shunning the other. No matter what you do as parents, the child always whines to go to only one parent and not ...
Packaged fruit juices and drinks - Juice for thoughtFruits are an important part of eating a balanced meal. However, more and more parents think that packaged fruit juices and drinks are a substitute for fruits. These packaged products are...
Some ideas for toughening 'em (children) upYour little one cannot stand the heat, the dirt and the flies when he goes vegetable shopping with you? She walks just a little bit, and starts huffing and puffing and complains that she is tired....
Children and bitingBiting by children is very shocking to parents. There are many reasons why children bite. Understanding them can help parents put an end to the biting. Experimental biting Children may bite...
8 study tips - help children reach their potentialParents can help foster good study habits early in school going children, right from the 1st standard. Of course, your child learns a lot in school. But you also play a big role in creating a good...
Get your young child to chat about their day at schoolParent: "What happened in school today?" Child: "Nothing" or "Same" or "OK" How many of us have had this conversation once our child comes home from school? How do we get around...
Is your child inattentive, impulsive, or excessively active?Do you find your child inattentive, impulsive or excessively active? Is he fidgety ? Is she unable to concentrate? Read on to find out why it could be due to the foods they eat. For many years...
15 fun ways to help teach your child writeHere are some practical tips that Indian parents can employ to help their preschoolers and little kids start writing. Make sure writing materials are always handy - paper (could be...
Teaching small kidsThese days there is a lot of emphasis on teaching kids as many things as possible and as early as possible at that. Parents begin singing nursery rhymes,alphabets, numbers, shlokas to the baby...
White bread - No nutrition for growing bodies and mindsBread in the form of sandwiches or toast are among the favourite foods of children everywhere. Sandwiches are also a great way of ensuring that our children eat veggies. To get the most out of...
Screaming kids and temper tantrumsWho amongst us has not dealt with screaming kids & temper tantrums? The question we all have is how to deal with them. Here are some tips. Stay calm Easier said than done!! Most of us seem to...
Is it safe to paint the house or the baby's room during pregnancy?Short answer: Stay away from paint fumes during pregnancy. Unfortunately, there are no medical studies that show that house-paint exposure can have adverse effects on pregnant women and their...
AmniocentesisThis is a diagnostic test that is usually done if the maternal serum screening test (or the triple marker or AFP) done earlier, shows abnormal results. It is primarily used to detect Down's...
Tumbling tots - Rough, physical playChildren often indulge in what parents consider to be rough, physical play - tumbling and rolling around, holding each other tight, screaming etc., As parents we often get concerned about whether...
Trying to conceive - a guideNow that you are ready to try for a baby, here are some tips that will help Indian women conceive. Toss out your contraceptives & have frequent sex Start having unprotected sex. Spend quality...

Poll

Will you send your child to a boarding school? ( surveys)

Blog Comments

Blogs - Page 1

Featured Articles

Poll