Pacifier Addicted

 Assalamualaikum and salam sejahtera,

 Is it okay to use a pacifier?
Babies are born wanting to suck. Some even suck their thumb or fingers before they are born. This is a natural behaviour that allows them to feed and grow. It is also comforting and helps them settle. A pacifier (or soother) can be used to satisfy a baby need to suck. However, it should never be used instead of feeding, and it should never be used without the extra comfort and cuddling a parent can provide. If your baby seems to want to suck in between feedings, a pacifier can help.

What are the advantages?
Sucking on a pacifier is better than a thumb or finger because it causes fewer problems with future tooth development. A parent can control the use of a pacifier but it’s harder to control thumb sucking. When it’s time to stop using a pacifier, you can throw it away. You can’t throw away a thumb! Also, the latest medical research finds that using a pacifier may decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or crib death.

What are the disadvantages?
Not using a pacifier properly can lead to problems with breastfeeding, teeth (cavities and overbite), and possibly, ear infections. Homemade pacifiers, sweetened pacifiers or pacifiers tied around a baby’s neck are not safe and could lead to injury or death. If you choose to use a pacifier for your baby, use it wisely and safely.

The Do’S and Don’tS of pacifiers
1. Never start using a pacifier until breastfeeding is fully established. Talk to your doctor or lactation specialist if you feel your baby needs to use one at this early stage. An exception is for premature or sick babies in the hospital. They may use one for comfort.
2. Never give your baby a pacifier instead of feeding.
3. Always see if your baby is hungry, tired or bored before giving him the pacifier. Try solving these things first.
4. Always sterilize the pacifier by putting it in boiling water for 5 min before the first use. Make sure it’s completely cooled down before giving it to your baby. Then, keep it clean by washing it with hot, soapy water after each use. Do not attempt to “clean” the pacifier by sucking on it yourself; this may spread germs from you to your child.
5. Always check for cracks or tears before giving a pacifier to your baby. Sometimes, parents give their baby a pacifier right after giving a medicine (like a pain reliever, antibiotics or vitamins); some of these medicines can cause the material in the pacifier to break down. If there are cracks or tears, throw it out. Replace the pacifier every two months, before damage occurs.
6. Never dip the pacifier in sugar or honey. This will damage the teeth. Honey can lead to botulism, which is a type of food poisoning.
7. Never tie a pacifier around a baby’s neck. This can cause strangulation and death. Instead, you can use clips with short ribbons attached to them. These are available where you buy pacifiers and are safe to use.
8. Never make your own pacifier out of bottle nipples, caps or other materials. These can cause choking and death.
9. Never let your older child crawl or walk around with a pacifier all day long. This may interfere with speech development and may cause problems with their teeth.
10. Never let your baby or child chew on a pacifier. It could break down and cause choking and death.

Thumb Suckers

Assalamualaikum and salam sejahtera,

In parenting circles, thumb sucking is a double-edged sword; while comforts your child, it may cause orthodontia problems. This ongoing debate boils down to one question: When should parents take issue with thumb sucking? 

Children suck their thumbs for a variety of reasons. For infants, it is a natural reflex that often begins in the womb. As babies grow, they learn a lot about their bodies and the world around them through sucking. They suck on their fingers, clothing, and toys. From this action they learn what is pleasing and what is uncomfortable. Sucking on an ice cube or cool teething ring feels good when those first teeth are trying to break through, but when the same teething child sucks on a hard plastic toy, she may experience discomfort.  Young children also use sucking to soothe and comfort themselves. Since the action is relaxing, it often induces sleep—which is why parents notice children sucking their thumbs when they are tired. In fact, many thumb suckers fall asleep more easily, are able to put themselves back to sleep quicker, and sleep through the night much earlier than their non-thumb sucking peers.

Why Thumb Sucking Must Stop With all these positives, is there a point when parents should be concerned about thumb sucking? According to the American Dental Association (ADA), after a child’s permanent teeth come in, thumb sucking can cause problems. It can interfere with proper mouth growth, teeth alignment, and cause changes to the roof of the mouth.  One factor that determines whether a child will have dental problems is the intensity with which she sucks. A child who just rests her thumb in her mouth or passively sucks on it is less likely to develop problems than a child who sucks her thumb in earnest. Parents whose children are vigorous thumb suckers should pay attention to any changes in their child’s primary teeth and consult a dentist if any are noted.

When to Kick It As mentioned, the ADA recommends children give up thumb sucking by the time their permanent front teeth start coming in, which is typically around the age of five. But the good news is that the majority of children lose interest in thumb sucking long before this point. If your child is not one of them, you may have to intervene. Studies of older thumb suckers show they have one thing in common: they were all encouraged by their parents, in one way or another, to stop sucking their thumbs at an early age. Here’s how you can get your child on track.

Swimming Class for Rena

Assalamualaikum and salam sejahtera,

Rena has starting attended her baby-swimming class since her 6th mths. Actually, I wished that Rena could freely do so, since I’m only could floating…:sob:sob: . RENA BOLEH!!

Hata Sports Plaza is our choice. Just 5mins by subway, from Kotakemukaihara sta. to Kanamecho sta. , plus 15mins walk. Fuhh… quite a distance to get there. At the beginning, Rena so nervous when she get into the pool. So do I. It’s been for awhile not soaking your body in. The baby-swimming class is held daily, start from 10:30 to 11:30. First 30mins is activity in group; leading by the instructor, having some stretching exercise and to get your baby used to the water. And the 2nd half time is free to play with your infant. I think Rena really having fun.

   

By the time your child is a toddler, she is beginning to have enough coordination to learn how to swim. There are a variety of specific activities that you can do with your toddler to help the process of teaching your toddler to swim. One of the very first things that many swim classes for toddlers teaches in to blow bubbles. To do this, have the child sit down in a shallow area of the pool. Tell them that you are going to use your mouth to make bubbles in the pool. Take a deep breath, and blow the bubbles. Ask your child if they can blow bubbles in the pool. This will help them get comfortable with having their face in the water. Another activity that you can use to teach your toddler to swim is to teach them how to kick. Here again, you will want to sit with them in a shallow area of the pool, or on the steps. Teach them to use their legs to kick, keeping their legs straight and their knees bent slightly. Next, it is time to help your toddler to go underwater. Instruct your toddler to breathe deeply, and then hold his breath. On the count of three, “bounce” him down under the water. Help him to wipe the water out of his eyes, rather than to rub it into his eyes. Toddlers can also learn to float on their backs. Have your child rest her head on your shoulder as a pillow. Support their body with your arm. After a while, you will be able to remove your arm, while still supporting their head. Then, they will be floating! In addition to the time you spend teaching your toddler to swim, many organizations offer swimming classes for toddlers. 

General tips – making water fun
Use bath time to show him how fun being in the water can be. Gently splash water over his body or move him gently through the water on his back. Visit your public swimming pool off-peak, when it is likely to be quiet, as babies can get stressed in noisy, crowded situations. Ask another friend with a baby to come along too. In the pool, make sure you keep your baby’s face close to your own and maintain eye contact. It’s important for them to feel you are close by in an unusual situation. When you are both more confident, gradually move him further away from you, still looking into his eyes, and try swishing him around gently. Blow bubbles in the water. This helps to show babies what they should do with their mouths and breathing in the water, as they can’t inhale water if they are blowing out. If your baby is around six months old, and able to sit unaided, sit her on the side of the pool and sing Humpty Dumpty to her. As you sing ‘Had a great fall’ lift her down into the water with a gentle splash.
 

Entertain A Preschooler

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Trying to keep a preshooler entertained can be tough. The task can be especially daunting when you are dealing with siblings and other day to day chores.
The trick to keeping a preschooler entertained, is to understand what they like to do, and then finding ways to make the most out of those likes and dislikes. With a little bit of effort, there is no limit to what you and your preschooler can learn together.

1. Explore the neighborhood.
   Up until now, he has seen the world through a stroller or baby carrier, but he has had little opportunity to see things at ground level. So strap on your walking shoes and let him be the guide around your neighborhood. He will marvel at all the rocks, trees, bugs and flowers. Pack plenty of snacks and water, and bring along the stroller just in case he wants to hitch a ride on the way back home.
2. Sing to him.
   Kids love music, so start belting out your favorite tune and watch him start to sing and dance to the beat. It doesn’t matter how good your singing is, as long as both of you are having fun together.
3. Let him play in the kitchen.
   There are several opportunities to entertain a preschooler in the kitchen. Let him have his own cabinet full of plastic bowls and lids, in which to play with. Pots and pans and plastic spoons are another hit with this age group. So let him have her fun in the kitchen, while you prepare dinner or do dishes.
4. Let him check himself out.
   If you want to entertain a preschooler for an extended period of time, put him in front of a mirror and let him watch himself at play. He will be amazed at his image, and love making funny faces at himself in the mirror. Play along with him to see who can make the funniest face.

Rena and Sushi

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Last saturday, we went to kaiten zushi-Kappa Sushi Restaurant for dinner. And, it’s the first time for Rena to had sushi in Kappa, dat we’re used to visit regularly while student.

Actually, Rena only had smoked-salmon, tamago=eggs, miso soup and green beans. Else, we’re not serving a raw fish to her, yet. But she’s enjoyed most to watch the plates moving around on the conveyer. Yess.. its a self-service sushi restaurant, which you can just choose your sushi from the ‘display’ and, of course, you could order (tru the intercom) if it’s not around.

Sushi (and seafood in general) may be one of the best sources of nutrition available to us. Packed with protein, dense with nutrients, and often low in fat, sushi is an excellent way to enjoy a meal regardless of one’s dietary lifestyle choice. Sushi is an excellent source of lean protein and contains very little heart clogging saturated fat, unlike meat from terrestrial animals, and what fat is available is mostly in the form of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are not only a nutritional requirement for humans, but also a fat that shows promise in remediating many ailments from which we suffer for lack of this sssential fatty acid in our modern diet, including cardiovascular disease. The seaweed wrap used in rolls (maki), called nori,  is rich with essential vitamins and minerals. Wasabi and ginger both have antibacterial qualities, and ginger is widely regarded as aiding digestion and improving circulation.

Fiction

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

May Allah save us and our children from covert means of destroying faith.

Harry Potter: Facts about Fiction
By Khalid Baig
Posted: 21 Rabi-u-Thani 1424, 21 June 2003

As expected there was much frenzy around the latest Harry Potter book. Bookstores and clubs around the world arranged special midnight parties and other events in celebration of the launching of the long-awaited fifth book in the series. A grandiose countdown was held in Times Square for the coming of the fifth book.

The book was set to break many old records. Online Bookseller Amazon had already received one million pre-orders of the new book, its largest pre-order ever. Scholastic, the American publisher had ordered 8.5 million copies as the largest first printing ever. Worldwide, 13 million copies of the book had rolled off the presses in a massive print run.

The other books in the Harry Potter series have been translated into more than 55 languages, including Urdu, Persian, and Turkish. Nearly 200 million copies of the first four books have been sold in 200 countries.

What is all this craze about? The series chronicles the growing up of a young orphan wizard named Harry Potter who attends a secret magic boarding school called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

AWAS!!

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Last week was sooo hot and sooo tough for me. Ohh my.. Rena had fever, and doc said that she got a pnuemonia (again!!). Very pity… poor her lung easily caught with phlegm.  Yes, mama have to take leave for a week. This week, started back her nursery-day life. Hope she’ll be fine.

Ops, recently.. received an email from a doc-fren.. written of her kind thought. Yeah, she’s a good pediatrician. Let me share it here. Also as a reminder to myself.  So…? Malang Tidak Berbau.

1) please please please …when you’re driving with kids in the car, please try your best to make sure they are in their car seats, or if they’re big enuff, to wear seatbelts, no matter where they’re sitting. soooooooo many MVA s(motor vehicle accidents) that involved kiddies, end up with the kids having worse injuries than the adults involved in the same accident. the kids end up with severe brain injury (cuz their skull bones are still softer than ours, and their brains are more ‘watery’), comatose in the ICU, and later become mentally/physically retarded for the rest of lives. or they die. while the adults walk away with a bit of broken bone or two, minor scrapes and bruises, and oh..maybe a chipped tooth.
 you think this wont happen to you? cuz you drive extra careful, never forget your signals, and never exceed the speed limit, that it’s ok for your kid to practice gymnastics in the car? think again.. there are lots of drivers out there who are not careful, who never signals, and “pantang betul kalau kena drive under 120km/h”… lost control, and there goes YOUR car, with YOUR kids flying out of every smashed window, while the other driver zooms off, still without “langgar pantang” (know what i mean?)

oh… and having a sticker saying yo u have “kids in the car” tells other drivers to please be extra careful when driving around you. NOT give you the right to drive 140km/h on the freeway, zigzagging between lanes at your own free will-kids or no kids in the car!

2) same goes when on a motorbike-helmets please-for the kids too. already in tv-commercial. dah tak terkira dah the cases i’ve seen.. both parents (helmets on)on the bike, toddler in between(cute anakku cap on), mom pregnant. crash (jatuh longkang je).. dad bruised on the chin, mom scraped her knees, baby in belly ok, toddler with the cute cap?–> severe head injury, died 48 hrs later in ICU.

3) LOCK all medicine, minyak tanah, racun rumput, poisonous stuff,etc.. up and away from all kids. I’m sure all of ya are already smart enuff to NOT put the poisons in mineral water bottles kan?

4) Careful with traditional/herbal medications. Stuff that are ok for you to ingest may not be suitable for your kids, esp ‘em really y oung ‘uns. even vitamins or IQ boosters,that are being sold in catalogs and such. look up the ingredients.
and just a general rule la–> dont apply stuff onto your kids that you wouldnt dream of putting on yourself, even with a knife aimed at your throat. i’ve seen babies with severe burns after dear mom/dad coat them with oil, onions, and black pepper cuz they “just cant stop crying”. marinated..roasted, literally. no joke.

5) those cute little beadie bracelets for your little girl (or boy, whatever, metrosexuals can start young ).. they can plug their puny airways with those.

Summer Vacation?

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Still…. summer season. Highest temp recorded yesterday was 37C for Kanto area. Phewwwww!!! very hottttt and humiddddd. No longer fan. It won’t make you feel comfort at home anymore.

Aha!! photos was taken from a kid’s mag. Anyone interested? Tunic style-knit with a diamond shape. See-through colored-inner wear just so nice. Also, suits with the re-make slender denim.

Rena in Her New Child Seat

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Last saturday, we went to Costco in Funabashi with frens for shopping. Well, attempting activity as usual… As planned, we bought for rena a new child seat. Ehemm… of course to fit in our new MPV (Alhamdulillah… we afford to buy our dream).

Rena’s just nice to be seated in her new pinky-disney seat. But for awhile, surprisingly… she’s so nervous!! ha ha.. so cute. She grips her hands at the side-guard of the seat and sit back tightly. Very good gal indeed. But sometimes she start talking and mumbling when abah stopped by at the traffic light. Anyway, its a compulsory to have child car seat for your children in Japan.

Use Child Car Seat for Your Children
To protect your child from the risk of car accident.

When children under six years old ride in automobiles, the law requires parents to restrain them in child car seats. However, the rate of child seat usage remains at a mere 47% (according to a joint study conducted by the National Police Agency and the Japan Automobile Federation between April and May of 2004), and shows a tendency to fall with an increase in age. It is the duty of adults to protect children, as they cannot protect themselves.

Twice

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Lately, Tokyo weather is not sooo calm. Cloudy and raining for a week. Realized that rena had a cough again lastnite.. Mama just afraid if she might troubled with pnuemonia or bronchitis, as previous. Rena has been admitted twice within this two years. 

Found an article said that if your baby frequently coughing only at nite, she/he is probably having an asthma.

1. How to beat asthma
   Asthma partially obstructs the bronchial tubes, making breathing difficult. The cause of asthma is still not known. But if you are an asthma sufferer, you can, through natural means, considerably reduce the number of asthma attacks you get.

2. A placebo study has shown that asthmatics who consume 1 gram of vitamin C per day had 4 times fewer attacks. When they stopped taking vitamin C, the attacks resumed with the same frequency as before (Trop. and Geog. Med., Vol. 32, Mo. 2, 1980).

3. As for magnesium, it also works wonders! Dr. Zack H. Haddad of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southern California conducted a study on thirty children suffering from asthma associated with allergies.

4. Twenty of them drank a daily amount of mineral water rich in magnesium, while the others received no magnesium supplement. After three months, the first group had a higher level of magnesium in their blood, and they were able to breathe more easily.

So taking vitamin C and magnesium is an excellent way to prevent asthma attacks.

But what can you do to breathe more easily during an attack?
Simply drink 2 or 3 cups of strong coffee. By activating blood circulation, it eases espiratory blockage.

In addition, the American Lung Association recommends the following exercise:

l. While standing, contract all your muscles. Keep them contracted for a few seconds.
2. Release the muscles, like letting the air out of a balloon. Relax all your muscles completely until you feel like a limp cloth.
3. Let yourself fall to the floor, and stretch out. Close your eyes and relax your face and your feet.
4. Imagine that you are floating on water. Concentrate on the effect the earth’s gravity has on your muscles and on the pleasant feeling of being completely relaxed.
5. Breathe gently and quietly, as if you were about to fall asleep.
6. Open your eyes. Practising this exercise when you feel an attack coming on, or once it is already started, will help you overcome your asthma condition.

Your Baby Is A Genius ?

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

YESS!! All babies are geniuses! And of course, your baby’s potential depends on YOU! As parent, you have a right to form your child as what you wished to be.

Your baby’s right brain photographic memory can quickly, easily and automatically learn anything that you can present to them with its own unique right brain method. Teach your baby to read and other subjects with hundreds and thousands of pieces of information as “Bits of Intelligence”. These are taught in sets of 10 flashcards shown at high-speed in 15 seconds, 2-3 times daily for 2-5 days. The child will focus intently on the material; when their attention wanes they know the subject and it is time to present new material in brief, zippy, highly organized and enthusiastic sessions.
When to Teach Your Baby to Read

The process of learning to speak is much more complex than learning to read. Speech and language development occur naturally. All babies learn to understand language before they are able to control speech. Once the printed words have been learned, the process of reading involves word recognition, which is an easier process than recalling a sound and attempting to say it. The best time to teach reading is from birth through the pre-verbal, infant and toddler stage when the right-brain photographic memory is the most active.

Please Keep This SECRET

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Eager to share  infos about D~Brain, actually… WHY? its been improved since we bought it for rena. In a month, she’s totally like a different baby. She’s actively moving around and even could perform herself to seat.  Alhamdulillah…..

D~Brain is a Homeopathy remedy that has been formulated by the Homopathy medicine specialist is proven effective and has many benefits to children as follows :

• Helps develop the mind

• Increase memory ability

• Increase creativity

• Adding to the mentality strength

• Invoke a peace and calm mind

• Relieve stress

• Overcome the hyperactive problems

• Child physical development

• Prima growth

Dosages :

Chew/suck 2 tablets  2 or 3 times daily

Notes :

1. Use plastic spoon or the bottle cap.  Do not use hands or a stainless spoon.

2. Keep away from electricity source or electric appliances

3. Do not drink coffee or tea that contains caffeine or any other product that has menthol ingredient within one hour before or after consuming D~Brain

4. D~Brain is also suitable for adults and elderly people

5. Using D~Brain will not arouse side effects because it is made from natural ingredients.

Supplement Needed ?

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Wondering.. how many of you taking a daily supplement as an extra ‘power’ for your health? Be honest, I hate to have a pill. Dunno why…. but I do remember. My mom have to squeeze the panadol for me and put in spoon mixed with any juice. And that bad habit still in me Hopefully, it won’t be inheritated by rena.

My lil rena was born on Aug, 2005. This month, she’s  1 year and 11th. Another a month, she’ll be 2 !!!! How fast the time goes by….  Unfortunately, by now…  as rena supposed to be running around, hide&seek with another kids of her own age… and, supposed to tell mama and abah how she’s enjoyed her daily nursery life… to tell about a game played on the day, to tell her most like dishes on the day…..

Yet dream comes true.

Last 2 months, came accrosed on a website…  and found about D-Brain. Never heard it before and very excited to try it for rena. (well, just refered to the testimony provided from users) Alhamdulillah… thanks GOD, too much improvement she made!! very surprised. Plus…. rena is attending a rehabilitation class. We are hoping for a miracle. Insyaallah…..

 

Tips On Using Medicine

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

This tips might useful for new-mommy and daddy. Please be aware when you are handling a medicine or pills for your kids. 

• Don’t give aspirin to children, it may not be appropriate for them. You may use paracetamol unless otherwise advised by your doctor or pharmacist.

• Write down the names of all medications your child uses in your Child Health Record, especially if you see more than one doctor.

• Make a note if your child reacts badly to a medicine.

• Never give your child medicine prescribed for someone else.

• Always check the use by date of medicines kept at home. Appropriately dispose of those which are out of date.

• Keep all medicines locked away, out of sight and out of reach.

• If your doctor offers you a prescription, but you would rather not give your child medicine, ask if it is really needed, how it will help, and whether there are any alternatives.

• Ask your doctor or chemist about any possible side effects: e.g. drowsiness or irritability.

• Check whether there are any precautions you should take.

• If your child is already taking a medication (even a non-prescription one), check if it’s okay to take both.

• Make sure you understand how much and how often to give the medicine, and follow the directions on the pack carefully.

• When you buy over-the-counter medicines at the chemist (e.g. cough medicine), always say it’s for a child, and tell the chemist the child’s age. Also tell the chemist if the child has any sensitivities or medical conditions and if they are taking any other medicines.

• Always finish a course of medicine.

• If your child is reacting badly to the medicine (e.g. diarrhoea or rash), stop giving it, and tell your doctor.

• If your child is getting worse, despite the medicine, see your doctor immediately.

Season Break

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera,

Hoping everybody are in good health. Insyallah…

Last week, surfing on a site of kids collections…  Already summer, but my lil rena only have her last year-summer clothes. Eventough she still fit the shirts and pants, errm…. mama just thinking to get some…

Fortunately,  catched eyes on this brand of items… of course, now is the SUMMER SALE!!. The quality is good. The price is reasonable. Worth to buy.

Thinking if I could spread it to all mummies out there…

Take a look here..

Tarraaa… here’s the one that I recommend.. look at the models.. how lovely they are..

Anyway, trying to upload much more ‘beauty collections’ for kids in next entry.