How to burp your baby the right way: A helpful guide

As your baby hungrily gulps down breast milk or formula, they’re also swallowing a lot of air. Since your newborn spends most of their time lying down, that air sits in their oesophagus and results in a gassy, cranky baby and spit up.
Burping
 helps your baby get rid of the air and keeps them comfortable.

When to burp your baby

If you’re breastfeeding, burp your baby when you’re switching breasts and at the end of the feed. If your baby is on formula, stop halfway through to burp your baby and then once again at the end of the feed.

If your baby looks uncomfortable while you’re feeding them or stops feeding and fusses, they might need to be burped more often.

If after a few weeks, your baby isn’t spitting up and cries when you interrupt the feed, then it’s okay to just burp them at the end. Crying will just make them take in more air.

You only need to burp your baby until they’re around 2–3 months old. As your baby spends more time upright, they’ll be able to burp on their own.

Helpful hint #1: Try not to feed your baby when they’re overexcited or wait till your baby is too hungry. They’re more likely to swallow air in those situations.

3 wind-expelling burping positions

Some burping positions work better for some babies, so try them out and see what works best for your baby.

1. The classic over-the-shoulder

Hold your baby upright against your chest, with their head resting on your shoulder. Support their bottom with one hand and gently but firmly rub their back rhythmically.

2. The belly flop

Place your baby on their belly across your lap, with their belly on one leg and their head on the other, turned to one side. This puts gentle pressure on their belly. Throw in a gentle back rub for added encouragement.

3. The seated lean

Sit your baby face forward on your lap. Support them with your palm on their chest and your fingers under their chin. Be careful not to place pressure on your baby’s throat. Lean your baby forward and gently rub their back.

Helpful hint #2: Burping more often than not results in spit up, so remember to always put a towel or burp cloth over yourself or your baby, depending on the burping position, before burping.

No burp? No problem

If your baby doesn’t burp after a few minutes and appears to be comfortable, they might not need to burp. If they seem uncomfortable or fussy, try another position or hand them off to Dad. Fathers are often the better burpers, so let him have a go.

Helpful hint #3: Pulling your baby’s knees up to their chest is another good way to work out gas in their tummy. A gentle tummy massage helps too.

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Family Movie Night? Here Are 4 Family Films Premiering on Fox to Watch Out For!

Family movie nights are a tradition in some households and are great for bonding with your kids. However, movie nights can also serve as a lesson, depending on which movie you tune into and what the message is.

When kids are able to watch others experience a certain emotion or issue, they are more likely to relate the content or form critical thinking skills. However, they might now catch on as fast as us which is why it is important to ask them if they understand the storyline as the movie goes along. Parents can also highlight the positive scenes or offer a different standpoint during a certain scenario.

So, without further ado, here are some new premieres on Fox –  on Astro channel 414 and unifi TV channel 403 – that you can schedule to watch with your family.

1. The Angel in the Clock

The movie follows a girl names Amelia, who is diagnosed with leukaemia and set off on a journey to stop time. During her quest, she meets Malachi, an angel who lives in her cuckoo clock. From here the two take off to a world of clock-castles that guard earth as Amelia dives into the importance of living in the present and how to appreciate time.

2. Beyond Beyond

While his father is away gathering provisions for their ship, young, sea-faring hare Johan the rabbit receives a call about his long lost mother, so he decides to go on an adventure to find her. The story revolvses around aiming for the impossible, through the eyes of a rabbit boy who has yet to understand the real world. During his journey, he discover more about life itself.

Sunday, April 19 @ 8pm on FOX Family Movies (Astro channel 414 / unifi TV channel 403)

3. Driven to Dance

A young ballet dancer prepares for the biggest audition of her life for a renowned ballet company. She must convince herself and her mother – who wants her to go for a more practical career – that she has what it takes to make it in the world of dance.

Premieres Friday, April 24 @ 8pm on FOX Family Movies (Astro channel 414 / unifi TV channel 403)

4. Zathura: A Space Adventure

Two young brothers find themselves transported into the depths of space while playing an old board game, which develop magical powers for their entire family. Here, they encounter robots, angry aliens and other interstellar obstacles as  they try their best to find their way back to Earth.

Sunday, April 26 @ 8pm on FOX Family Movies (Astro channel 414 / unifi TV channel 403)

Read More:

Weekend Movie Night? Here are 9 Kid-friendly Movies to Watch on Netflix

For more information from the theAsianparent Malaysia, you can download our #1 parenting app in Southeast Asia.

Disclaimer:
 You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on theAsianparent Malaysia website.

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Why Mums Need Maternal Milk and Its Influence On Foetal Growth

Mummies become mummies the second they find out they are pregnant. Because it is during this time that their motherly instincts may start to kick in and they already want to give their best to the foetus growing inside their wombs.

One of the first things doctors will suggest is that mummies start taking prenatal vitamins, like folic acid. Another thing mummies-to-be will look out for is maternal milk. New mummies may need some help with how to choose maternal milk.

Is maternal milk necessary? If so, how to choose maternal milk can be important for mummies-to-be.

Firstly, why maternal milk?

Maternal milk is typically chock-full of important nutrients for pregnant and lactating mummies. One of the key ingredients is folic acid, which is crucial in helping with the growth and development of the foetus.

During the first trimester, some mummies also experience morning sickness and have trouble keeping food down. Maternal milk is a great way to supplement their nutritional intake during this period.

There are also other factors to consider to ensure the pregnancy is a smooth-sailing one. Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

1. How much weight is a healthy amount to gain?

Of course, every pregnancy is different. Some mums gain only 5-7kg while others may even gain up to 20kg throughout their pregnancies. So, what is a healthy amount to gain?

The general rule of thumb is that if you are overweight to begin with, your weight gain should be less than that of a person with a normal BMI. A woman who is an average weight to begin with can gain anywhere between 10-15kg, while an overweight woman should aim to only gain 5-7kg.

The idea of “eating for two” is usually what gets mummies into excessive weight gain, but the fact is, you don’t have to stuff yourself with extra food at every meal. Drinking maternal milk can help you meet both your calorie and nutritional intake if you are worried about that.

2. What are the major food groups important for pregnancy?

If you were on any sort of diet before pregnancy, you will have to stop once you are pregnant as your body will need to meet all the nutritional requirements for optimal foetal development.

This means you will have to look at eating food from the five important food groups, namely fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates, dairy, protein and fat. Maternal milk is a good, easily accessible source of dairy that you need during your pregnancy.

Pregnant mummies are recommended to drink two glasses of maternal milk a day.

3. Are you getting the right nutrients for good foetal development?

Folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D – these are just some nutrients that the body needs for good foetal development. Maternal milk typically contains all of these nutrients that a mummy needs plus added magnesium that helps with bone development and tissue formation.

4. Are you drinking enough fluids throughout the day?

As ironic as it sounds, the less fluid intake a pregnant mummy gets, the more she will suffer from water retention. When you keep yourself sufficiently hydrated, your chances of water retention reduces.

Two glasses of maternal milk daily will not only provide the essential nutrients required but also supplement fluid requirements during pregnancy.

5. How does consuming maternal milk affect your foetus?

Multiple studies have been conducted with the same findings that there is a direct correlation between the consumption of maternal milk during pregnancy and birth outcomes in a positive manner.

Instead of buying multiple bottles of vitamins and supplements to ensure you are receiving the nutrients you need for pregnancy, maternal milk is an all-in-one option.

It is important to note that besides being an unnecessary expense, an excessive intake of these supplements can cause toxic effects or interfere with the absorption of other nutrients, according to the World Health Organization.

For many, maternal milk is a good choice as it is easily accessible and affordable to ensure pregnant mums are getting the essential nutrients recommended by Malaysia’s latest RNI (Recommended Nutrition Intake 2017).

How to choose maternal milk while you are at the supermarket? Check the labels first.

How to choose maternal milk

So, once you’ve decided to start drinking maternal milk, then begs the question: “How to choose maternal milk?”

You are walking down the supermarket aisle and you come across so many brands available.

Are they all the same? Don’t they all come from Europe or some Western country, anyways?

Wrong.

They are not all the same and no, not all powdered milk comes from Western countries. In fact, once you start studying labels more carefully, you will find that many milk brands are actually manufactured in Thailand, Singapore or Malaysia.

What does this mean? Is milk made in Asia good or bad? To help mummies make more informed decisions, let’s understand what this truly means.

Most maternal milk manufactured in Southeast Asia is sourced from a farm that they do not own – most likely a farm in Europe, Australia or New Zealand. This means that the cows are reared in farms overseas and the milk extracted from these cows are processed into powder before coming to Southeast Asia.

The various brands then reprocess the powdered milk using their own formulation (which is unique to each brand), putting the powdered milk through multiple heat treatments that could compromise the nutrient qualities. This is what is known as a double manufacturing process.

From grass to glass

How to choose maternal milk: A good indicator is knowing whether the milk is produced using a single or double manufacturing process.

Frisomum Gold is 100% made and imported from Holland and uses a single manufacturing process, with full control over the entire journey of milk production known as “grass to glass”.

This means that all the steps in the milk production process are fully done in Holland itself. From the rearing of cows in the farm to the milk extraction process to the conversion to powder and finally, packaging, Frisomum Gold is in control.

Why is this important?

First of all, it cuts down on the need to rely on third-party providers. Even from the time the cow is reared for milk production, Frisomum Gold is able to monitor the cows daily, ensure the cows are fed a balanced and nutritious diet as well as grow in a healthy and stress-free environment.

The milk also goes through a rigorous checking process to ensure it meets the highest standards, ensuring the milk is of the right colour and scent.

Next, it also means that when the milk is extracted and transported to be processed, it is done so in ideal conditions. The milk is transported fresh under 4 degrees Celsius and is gently processed using mild heat treatment to ensure all the nutrients are properly preserved.

Finally, the milk powder is then packaged neatly into cans with a unique protection lid to guarantee freshness, thus completing the grass to glass journey and making it the only maternal milk in the market to be 100% imported from Holland.

So the next time you’re walking down that supermarket aisle wondering how to choose maternal milk for yourself, check where the milk is manufactured, now that you understand the full benefits of grass to glass.

To read up on more information on Frisomum, visit their website
here
.

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Thriving Postpartum and Beyond with Green SOP

In collaboration with Perfect Fit, exclusively for The Moment Postnatal Care Bangsar, we take a notch higher for mothers’ holistic recovery within the 28 days of Green Sanctuary while preserving The Moment Postnatal Care legacy in Traditional Chinese Medicine practices.

Unlike other postpartum, throughout the 28 days of Green Sanctuary in The Moment, mothers and fathers can rest assured of the dedication and commitment of our Perfect Fit’s 5 pillars of Green SOP quality standardisation.

“If it takes 21 days to build a new habit, imagine what 28 days of Green Sanctuary can do to mothers’ golden period of holistic recovery,”
 Argustin & Renee, Managing Partners of Perfect Fit stated.

5 Pillars of Green SOP quality standardisation

Perfect Fit pioneered the understudy of the Postpartum industry for two years and had carefully crafted the `5 pillars of Green SOP’ quality standardisation to ensure all the postpartum and confinement centres champion and uphold their quality of excellence,

Green Dining

Excellence in food preparation

Creating the healthiest, SAFEST and most nutritious food to ensure the highest quality of breastmilk production

Green Beauty

Excellence in restoration & rejuvenation for mommies & babies

‘9 out of 10 babies are free from common skin rashes & allergies issues’

Green Living

Excellence in creating a SAFE environment

A clean, hygiene, baby-friendly and chemical-free environment for mommies & babies’ golden period recovery

Green Edu

Excellence in Signature Education

By the mothers, for the mothers! To make motherhood an enjoyable journey for the next 28 days

Green Aware

Excellence in PerfectFit Mommies community

A parenthood community of parental resilience, social connections and concrete support of healthy living #perfectfitmommies

“It was an instant ‘Aha-moment’ for me when I heard about the Green SOP. I knew it was exactly what The Moment needed most. While most postpartum focus on packages, I am all in about total experiences and services. I am totally invested in Green SOP and appreciate the support system given by Perfect Fit,”
 said Daniel, Director of The Moment Postnatal Care.

Perfect Fit’s Green SOP quality standardisation is here to stay and to grow with the Postpartum Industry. We are here to give a helping hand to parents embarking on their journey into parenthood with excellent quality holistic care. Parents embracing and practising Green Healthy Living Environment have a greater start in life for their beloved spouses and little ones.

Kickstart your motherhood journey with Perfect Fit’s Green Sanctuary in The Moment Postnatal. Visit www.perfectfitmommies.com for more. Lets get connected with us at +6(012) – 411 1338.
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About Perfect Fit

Perfect Fit is a purpose-driven setup – specialised in collaborating with all qualified postpartum and confinement centres of different tiers in Malaysia. Our signature ‘5 pillars of Green SOP quality standardisation’ assisted many postpartum businesses to navigate and cushion through endemic business threats by scaling their business exponentially while upholding and amplifying the quality of excellence offered in their centre.

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A School Principal’s Guide to Manage Stress

COVID-19 has amplified stress that has always been there for principals, not to mention teachers. While we can’t control the uncertainties happening around us, we can control how we respond to them. Especially as the principal – the leader of the school – it is vital to be able to manage stress, so you won’t mitigate the impact on your teachers.

5 Steps to Manage Stress

The key is to build self-regulation skills. Here are 5 practical strategies that can help break the stress cycle:

1. RECOGNISE the stressors

Outbursts and breakdowns usually reflect cumulative stressors from multiple domains of your life that led up to them.

For instance, anxious about students’ year-end performance results, thinking about your team’s professional development, concerned about a family issue, or even worried about being late for an appointment, could all lead to an overstressed mind.

Recognising what’s causing the stress allows you to make a conscious effort to address them.

2. REDUCE the stressors

Credit: TulsaKids Magazine

Obviously, it’s not realistic to completely eliminate all stress from your life.

The goal is to reduce the stressors that you can control so that you will have more headspace and energy to cope with other stressors. In fact, a little bit of stress can tune up the brain and improve work performance.

3. REFRAME your behaviour and mindset

It’s useful to learn how to see situations from different perspectives. For example, when you see a child misbehave, it is most likely you will respond in a punitive manner.

However, if you learn to read the signs that the child’s “bad” behaviour
could stem from an undiagnosed learning disability
, you will see a child who needs help rather than an oppositional child. The lesson here is: “See a situation differently and you will see a different situation.”

When bombarded by stressors, try to take a moment and ask “why and why now?”.

This can help pull you away from strong reactions and put you in a state where you can think, reason and plan instead. Adopt a growth mindset where you see challenges as possibilities for change and improvement.

4. REFLECT on your actions and thoughts

Credit: Stacker

Finding time for a mindful break to reflect on your experiences, actions and feelings can bring you closer to a state of calm where you can refocus.

5. RESTORE energy

When you feel like you are running on an empty tank, take a break and recharge with activities that energise your mind and body.

Even small ways like gratitude breathing exercises or cuddling with your pet can reignite energy to help you successfully engage with life again.

This effective framework of practices can also be applied to teachers and parents to nurture happier children.

Resource:
Dr. Stuart Shanker’s theory of self-regulation

This article has been republished with permission from
Kiddy123
.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website
.

Read more
:
 8 Ways To Guide Your Child Into Responsible Behaviour

Read more:

 Using Psychology to Shape Behaviour: Punish, Reward or Remove?

Read more:

Can You Tell the Difference Between a Tantrum and a Meltdown? | Ask an Expert

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Risks to your baby if you have Blood Type O

Mums, are you pregnant and have blood type O? If “yes”, you definitely should be aware of O positive blood type and pregnancy problems — such as  hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice) —

that could affect your baby.

Recently, one Indonesian mum — Dorinda Dewanti — learned about O positive blood type and pregnancy problems the hard way.

At first, Ms Dewanti did not know that O positive blood type and pregnancy problems can arise from different maternal and fetus blood types. Dori’s blood type was O, whereas her son, Lantang’s blood type was B positive.

“Initially, I thought that increased billirubin levels in babies was a normal occurrence. However, after a bit of research, I realised that different blood groups between the mother and baby can cause O-blood type pregnancy problems, such as increased billirubin levels in children. This leads to yellow jaundice in newborns. My son suffered from hyperbillirubinemia until he was 14* and had to undergo light therapy for a few days,” Dori told theAsianparent Indonesia.

Fortunately, after several days of light therapy sessions at the hospital, Lantang’s condition began to improve.

O positive blood type and pregnancy problems: What exactly are these issues?

It is well known that blood type O is usually incompatible with other blood types. This is exactly what happens when a woman with blood type O is pregnant.

During pregnancy, mothers with blood type O reject other blood groups. This may lead to antigenic reactions with a fetus whose blood type is not O, which results in an increase in levels of bilirubin in infants. This, in turns, lead to jaundice in newborns.

As written in Unair News
 by Dr. Toto Wisnu Hendrarto, a specialist paediatric doctor, Chairman of the Indonesian Paediatric Society (Work Coordination Unit II), one of the causes of raised billirubin levels in infants is the different blood types between infants and their mothers.

As it turns out, women who have blood type O have a high risk of giving birth to infants with acute-level hyperbilirubinemia.

O positive blood type and pregnancy problems: Babies who have a different blood type to the pregnant mum’s O-blood type can lead to problems such as jaundice. Source: File Photos

O Positive Blood Type And Pregnancy Problems: An Overview of Hyperbilirubinemia

According to Dr Toto, during pregnancy, the maternal blood transfers nutrients and oxygen to the baby via the umbilical cord.

If there is a difference in the blood types between the mother and the fetus, the mother’s blood will form antibodies to neutralise the baby’s blood type, resulting in an antigenic reaction. This condition then destroys the fetal red blood cells.

Without the right treatment,  jaundice in newborns can cause severe complications, the worst being disrupting the brain’s nervous system permanently.

It is for this reason that Dr. Toto recommends that every pregnant woman should be aware of their blood type prior to pregnancy.

In fact, knowing the blood type is a critical step to prevent potential risks. “Once we know that the mother is blood type O, then doctors will be more vigilant about the potential dangers in the future,” says Dr Toto.

Mythbusting: The Do’s & Dont’s of Newborn Jaundice

What NOT to Do:

Here are some common ‘treatments’ are ineffective, according to
NUH Singapore
 (even if your mum tells you otherwise):

Giving water or glucose feeds:
 this will
not
not lower the jaundice, and could even be harmful to your baby’s health.

Exposure to sunlight:
  Sunlight does not effectively reduce jaundice, according to NUH. In fact exposing your newborn’s delicate skin to sunlight could cause sunburn and dehydration.

What to Do Instead

1. Tips to manage jaundice in newborns due to differences in blood type

If a mother with blood type O carries and gives birth to a baby with a different blood type:

Please undergo further examination and do
NOT rush the child back hom
e from the hospital. This is because the jaundice in an infant whose blood type differs with a maternal blood type O usually presents itself around or
after the third day of birth
.

2. C
onsult a doctor IMMEDIATELY if your baby:

develops jaundice during the first two days since birth

suffers from jaundice that spreads quickly towards the lower tummy and legs,

shows signs of jaundice that still persists after day 14 of life.

has difficulties feeding on your breast, does not pass adequate amount of stool and urine, and appears more jaundiced.

has stools that turn cream-beige or chalky-white OR has dark (tea-coloured) urine, and with persistent jaundice after day 14 of life.

Mums, is your blood type O while your child carries a different blood type? Share your experience with us in the comments below!

Re-published with permission from theAsianparent Indonesia. Translated and edited by Kevin Wijaya Oey and further edited by Nalika Unatenne.

References:
NUH
,
Uniair news

Also read:
Newborn jaundice and breastfeeding: What you need to know

*The number 14 here indicates the severity of the disease, measured in 5mg/dL. Normally infants with an initial onset of Jaundice have 5mg/dL of bilirubin, so 14 is severe enough to warrant phototherapy.

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What it Means to Be an Empath?

Has anyone ever told you that you’re a good listener? In fact, do your family and friends often seek advice from you because of this? If your answer is yes then you just might be an empath.

If your answer is no, that answer might change after learning more about the traits of an empath!

Empath Traits

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

Some other traits of an empath would be:

You feel easily overwhelmed in and by public places – for example, everything is fine and dandy but suddenly you enter a crowded elevator and you feel your mood instantly drop

You feel sensitive to the emotional and physical pain of others – for example, you are watching a movie and an on-screen character is suddenly injured so you flinch as if the pain is yours

You feel the need for time alone – for example if you have not had time for just yourself you can feel that you are just not you, that something is somehow off

There are many, many more traits of an empath but fundamentally, being an empath means being able to intuitively understand and connect with others by sensing the emotions of others.

Naturally, this can be unnerving if you are not aware of the fact that you are an empath – for instance, the elevator example may have you feeling like you’re crazy when you are really just highly aware of the emotions around you!

Of course, not every empath internalises the emotions of others but many do. Regardless of what type of an empath you are, there is more you should know.

Empath Definition and Needs

Photo by Ike louie Natividad from Pexels

Dr Judith Orloff authored The Empaths Survival Guide and is the Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA in  the United States. As the leading expert in all things empath related, Orloff understands how empaths are constantly picking up on the experiences of those around them. This can be not only emotionally exhausting but also physically draining.

Orloff believes that when overstimulated, empaths may experience chronic fatigue, panic attacks, depression, and food, drug, or sex binges. If you feel that you are an empath and can relate to any of the aforementioned symptoms then remember to:

Identify the problem
 – did you ever feel drained after meeting with someone? If yes, then spend more time with people that energize you instead of drain you emotionally and energetically; remember, if you cannot take care of yourself, then how can you take care of others?

Set boundaries
 – of course, if the person you thought of is a best friend then just set time limits, conversational boundaries, or any other type of boundary related to your relationship with that person; sometimes hanging out for two hours is fine but three to four hours may be too much so take notice of this

Identify your feelings
 – if you start feeling negatively then take a moment to recognise if what you are feeling is really you or if what you are feeling is you absorbing the emotions of others

Allow time for quiet
 – taking mini-breaks throughout your day to breathe fresh air or to stretch the body. This may help more than you think, especially as these mini-breaks provide interludes from excessive stimulation

Remember that every person is different and thus, experiences being an empath differently; this means your symptoms when overstimulated may differ and so you may need to tackle overstimulation in a way that works best for you.

Logically Speaking

Photo by Sarah Chai from Pexels

That aside, if you are more of a ‘head over heart’ type of person then know that in 1759, the author Adam Smith detailed the phenomenon in his book The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Besides empaths being referenced literally centuries ago, modern-day science also has an opinion on the phenomenon.

Basically, very active mirror neurons equate to high levels of empathy. Imagine you are conversing with a person and during this conversation, you notice subtle changes in expression, body language, or tone of voice – that is your mirror neurons reading non-emotional and emotional cues then using said cues to feel what the other person is feeling.

Not every brain is wired to sense what is brewing underneath the surface but the brains of empaths definitely are!

Taking it even further, the journal NeuroImage published a study that found how empaths have more grey matter in certain regions of their brains. This could explain why empaths are more sensitive to the emotions of others and especially to their own emotions.

If you are still not sold and need a definite answer to if you are an empath then
click this link
for a quiz curated by Dr Judith Orloff.

References:
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053811915004206

This article has been republished with permission from
PurelyB
.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

Read more:
 7 Ways To Take Control Of Your Physical & Spiritual Health

Read more:
These health problems may be linked to your blood type

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Kids— Signs to Watch Out For

Few conditions are as ‘well known’ in popular culture as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). At least when it comes to how frequently the term is thrown around in daily speak. People may use OCD to describe someone who is concerned about cleanliness and being organised. This, however, is
not
correct.

OCD is an actual mental illness which can be diagnosed by a mental health professional.

It can happen to anyone—kids or adults.

What Is OCD?

OCD is an anxiety disorder in which a person has unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

Repetitive thoughts, images, and sensations are called
obsessions
 in those with OCD. They can keep popping up in a person’s mind so often that it overwhelms them.

When a person has obsessive thoughts, he or she feels urged to carry out repetitive behaviours—known as
compulsions
.

These obsessions and compulsions become a cycle that keeps going.

It is important to remember that not all repetitive behaviours or habits are considered compulsions. Some behaviours, like double checking if the door is locked, are normal.

The question is how excessive the double checking can get.

For those who have the condition, they generally spend at least an hour a day preoccupied with their obsessions and compulsions. This means that the disorder can interfere greatly with daily life, bringing about a lot of stress and worry.

How Do Kids with OCD Behave?

Kids from as young as preschool age can be diagnosed with OCD. Here are some common obsessions and compulsions seen in those with the condition:

Examples of obsessions

Worries about contamination, disease or dying

Worries about losing control and hurting self or others

Fear of accidentally blurting out ‘bad things’

Disturbing unwanted thoughts of a sexual nature

Having a need for ‘perfection’ and wanting things ‘just right’

Obsession with morality or right and wrong

Preoccupation with superstition, like lucky numbers

Examples of compulsions

Washing hands excessively

Cleaning things excessively

Checking things over and over (like if lights have been turned off)

Repeating a routine activity excessively (such as opening and closing a door)

Frequently apologising

Repeating something a specific number of times (because it is considered a ‘good’ number)

Hoarding items

Asking the same questions repeatedly

Why Does OCD Happen?

The exact cause for OCD is not known. There have been imaging studies conducted on people with OCD, that show differences in certain parts of the brain. However, the connection between these differences and the disorder is still not apparent.

Nevertheless, there are some known risk factors, such as:

Having an immediate family member with OCD

Experiencing stressful or traumatic events

Having other mental health problems such as anxiety disorders or depression

What Are the Treatments For OCD?

If you are concerned about whether your child has OCD, do bring him or her to a mental health expert for diagnosis and further advice.

Here are a few treatment options a professional may suggest:

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

A type of CBT called
exposure and response prevention (ERP)
 is frequently used for OCD sufferers. In ERP, a mental health professional will guide your child through the process of facing his or her fears without surrendering to compulsions.

2. Family therapy

CBT can affect family life and relations. This therapy allows for better communication, understanding and handling of the CBT diagnosis within families.

3. Medicine

If your therapist thinks your child may benefit from medication, he or she can be referred to a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist may prescribe antidepressant drugs to help with symptom relief.

This article has been republished with permission from
Kiddy123
.

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How To Support Pregnant Employees: What Workplaces Must Know

Finding out that you are pregnant can be quite exciting. But if you spot the pink line in the middle of your appraisal period, there’s probably more on your mind than just joy. The silver lining though is to work for a company that knows how to support pregnant employees. In that case you will probably sail through the nine months, stress-free. And perhaps later when you are ready to rejoin the workforce.

Unfortunately that is still a far-fetched reality for many women.

Even though half of the global workforce today is represented by women, pregnancy discrimination continues to be an issue across the globe.
Studies
 have also proved that not just in SouthEast Asia, but companies in the West also shy away from hiring pregnant women. Expecting women are also denied opportunities such as promotions.

This often forces women to leave their jobs after the child is born.

So what can organisations do to help retain a talented workforce that by virtue of biology is forced out? The answer seems quite straightforward: learn how to support pregnant employees. And some companies do try to help. Independent
research
 proves that this is also happening.

But broadly speaking, there are a few things that most companies can do by first learning how to support pregnant employees, and second, creating an environment of gender-equal growth.

How To Support Pregnant Employees: What Workplaces Can Do To Make The Process Simple

As a company that knows how to support pregnant employees, your human resource executives should be as hands-on as possible. |
Image courtesy: Pixabay

Here are some ways.

1) Setting up an easy benefits process

Instead of opaque paperwork and technical jargon that can stress out your pregnant employees, opt for an easy-to-read benefits process. How about just a ‘I am pregnant?’ page with list of simple instructions on how to initiate a conversation on the topic on your internal website?

The first step should of course include booking time with somebody in human resources. They should take the pregnant employee through the process of what they need to do. This discussion should cover all aspects: from maternity benefits, to maternity leave, to pay and promotion, as well as clauses for rejoining the workplace.

That’s not all though.

As a company that knows how to support pregnant employees, your human resource executives should be as hands-on as possible. Disseminating information in a simple way and reaching out often.

2) Creating a support network

A good way to make sure that your pregnant employees feel comfortable and valued is to create support networks. Whether that is within the human resource team or somebody in the employee’s internal department.

Employees can also benefit from support from existing employees who may be parents themselves. Of course this initiative is more beneficial if taken by the expecting employees. It’s also a good idea to start parenting platforms or channels within your official groups. This will help further enable the expecting employees to privately ask questions.

Some companies even have parenting forums and organise days where parents can bring their kids or share experiences on parenting with each other. The idea should be to create parenting communities where parents-to-be and existing parents can share experiences and seek support as needed.

The breastfeeding room in the office
should be welcoming and comfortable, one that promotes relaxation. |
Image courtesy: Pexels

3) Setting up a mother’s room and normalising breastfeeding in office

More and more workplaces are now open to the idea of establishing mother’s rooms and
breastfeeding rooms
. This allows for new mothers to conveniently and safely ‘express’ milk without having to worry about who is watching them.

As a company the first step would be to identify the area that can be designated as the pumping room. Ideally it should be located near the cafeteria area and should be clean and spacious enough for the new mother to sit comfortably.

It should also have basic amenities such as a table, a task chair with casters, a sink and even a refrigerator to
store breastmilk
.

Also make sure that you have electrical fittings for the pump and microwave to sterilise the equipment. As far as the look and feel of the room is concerned, it should be welcoming and comfortable, one that promotes relaxation.

You can also add wi-fi and adjustable light so if the mother wants to work as well, she has the facility in place.

Finally, show the new room properly to the new mum and even to new employees to tell them about how you are supporting them.
And, normalise pumping at office by talking more openly about it.

4) Educating employees on the ‘are you pregnant’ question

Imagine if somebody walked up to a female colleague and asked her if she was pregnant in the middle of a corporate meeting break. That is not only inappropriate, it is also seemingly unnecessary for a place where work is the primary priority.

It immediately places unwanted attention on the female employee who is probably waiting for a better occasion to make the announcement herself.

However, there are ways to make sure no such questions are popped.

The first step is to educate employees at the onset that pregnancy is not treated as a negative health condition in the company. It is a normal part of life for most and it shouldn’t be looked at otherwise. There is also no reason for anybody other than the expecting employee to ‘out’ her status, unless requested.

Set up policies for employees to check up on their colleagues’
health during pregnancy
 more privately to make sure the latter is comfortable.

5) Providing encouragement and mental support

Pregnancy can be a stressful time. Hormones are often fluctuating and the expecting mother can go through an array of emotional ups and downs. Sometimes
physical symptoms
 make it difficult to sit through an hour-long meeting.

Either way, as a company you should be open and willing to provide both mental and physical support. If you have a medico onboard, inform them about your employees condition and encourage regular communication.

On the other hand, ask your human resource team to check up on the employee from time to time to ensure that she is able to manage the workload. Offer help, where needed.

Check your government policies to ease the process and inform the employee accordingly.|
Image courtesy: Shutterstock

6) Talking about the next step

How to support pregnant employees may not be a manual, but you can make this journey easy for your employee by talking about the current and future plans. As part of your pregnancy policy, you may have guidelines on
delivery
, recovery, and/or timeline to rejoin the workforce.

Be open and share these honestly with her. Most countries have a government sanctioned
maternity leave
 policy in place, and adhere to those regulations. If your employee is unaware, tell them about it as well.

The employee may also have been issued work restrictions during pregnancy, perhaps by her doctor. If that’s the case, discuss her personal plans on coming back or transitioning to a new department, if that’s possible. You should also inform her of any
crèche facilities
 that you may have put in place.

7) Easing the return to workplace process

You must have a return to workplace policy in place. If so, inform your employee about the same well before she goes on parental leave. For instance, the
Ministry of Manpower in Singapore
 allows for “16 weeks of Government-Paid Maternity Leave or 12 weeks of maternity leave.”

Check your government policies to ease the process and inform the employee accordingly.

Finally, make sure to create a positive and encouraging atmosphere in the workplace. If you notice an expecting employee, know that the smallest of positive feedback can go a long way.
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Source:
Ministry of Manpower (SG)

Also read: An open letter to the mother returning from maternity leave

This article has been republished with permission from
theAsianparent Singapore
.

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#TAPReviews: SOCAR Is A Hassle-Free Solution To Meet Your Family Car Needs

One of the most important things as use as parents is our car. We need it to pick our kids up from school, to go and buy groceries for the whole family and not to mention, road trips with the family! We recently got the chance to do a SOCAR review to try out the service and here’s what we found.

While most families have a car of their own, thinking of getting a second car is always on our minds because of the need. But how often does that need arise? Enough for us to justify having two cars we have to maintain and pay for every month? Hence, SOCAR meets that gap for parents when we need a second car for special occasions.

For my own family, the need for the second car comes up when my husband has to go out of town for work or when he has meetings that he needs the car for and I still need a car to get around town in KL. So we decided to give this SOCAR service a try to see if was as convenient as promised.

Booking the car was easy – all we had to do was download the app, input our details as well as run our NRIC through the system for verification. All in all, the process did not take too long and was relatively easy. Then it was time for us to choose a car.

The SOCAR platform has many cars to choose from – from the very functional Perodua Axia to the more luxury options like BMWs or Mini Coopers.

For us parents, the cars that usually come to mind would be MPVs or SUVs. Thankfully, SOCAR had a wide selection of those including Honda HR-Vs and Mazda CX-5s.

We decided to book a Honda HR-V and one of the cool features that SOCAR has, if you are not able to get to a location where the SOCAR is parked, is to pay a small fee to get the car delivered to you instead.

This is very convenient for parents who are not able to go out to collect the car.

So, that’s what we did. We booked for the car to be delivered as well as picked up from our apartment building so there would be no hassle of trying to return the car.

At the stipulated time, the car was downstairs from my apartment building and all I had to do was turn on the bluetooth on my phone, open up the SOCAR app and it was as easy as that! The car was unlocked and ready to be driven.

However, before the car is driven, renters are requested to take a picture of the car from different angles and upload the images onto the app. Make sure the road tax is also valid before hitting the road.

From there, the car is yours to use. When we “returned” the car, we simply parked the car back at the lot it was left in within the apartment premises, then we locked the car and went home.

At the “expiry” time of the car lease, we received a notification saying that the car had been successfully returned.

The experience was easy and convenient. We also liked that there were many options of cars available for us to choose from, which varies from parent to parent and their present needs. The pricing is also reasonable as you only pay for what you use.

If you are considering to get a second car that you aren’t sure will be fully utilised, we would encourage you to try out SOCAR first to lessen the financial burden on your household expenses.

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Is It Wrong That I Give My Baby Cough Syrup As A Sedative While We're Travelling On A Plane?

Now we are not drug pushers (that kind of excitement is beyond us sensible people) but ever so often the thought of slipping some sort of a sedative e.g. cough syrup to our little tyke does creep in doesn’t it? After all, what is wrong with inducing sleep in our little one? Especially when everyone around us in the plane would applaud us for it.

Over the past two years, 1,500 babies and toddlers have wound up in emergency rooms after having a bad reaction to cold medicines, according to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. We, at
 TheAsianParent
, were wondering if any parent has ever intentionally fed cough syrup to his/her child just to get the child to quieten down. We searched and found a mother (no easy feat!) who agreed to share her story (after debating to what extent her identity should be withheld) of giving her little angel some cough syrup to endure a long flight.

While travelling with my 1-year-old, I gave her cough syrup to mellow her out

Kredit: newyorker.com

*Donna Choo lived the desirable single life: jetting off to faraway places in the name of business, had a spending account and a boyfriend who thought the world of her. Finally, settling down into the bliss of marriage, Donna had a baby girl, Isabelle (now 4), after being married for a year. “As my husband is based in Europe every six months, Izzie and I fly constantly to visit him,” says Donna. Traveling constantly on flight 3 years ago would have meant tugging along a one-year-old baby for a flight that would have lasted hours. How did Donna cope?

“Cough syrup” she replies sheepishly. “I mean at first I was totally against giving my child anything as such. But she was such an active little baby and even more as a toddler. So I thought to myself, do I want a screaming child and a plane full of people who hate me for it or a drowsy, peaceful child and fellow passengers who would probably appreciate my action?” Donna started feeding her child with half a tablespoon of cough syrup which would knock little Izzie out for most of the duration of the flight.

 Did her husband know and did he agreed with it?

Kredit: adweek.com

“He didn’t know and still doesn’t. It’s not like I was giving her drugs! I mean firstly I was alone on the flight, trying to appease a fidgety, screaming child. Secondly, I had to smile apologetically at all these people in the flight whom I didn’t even know nor ever would see again. I mean it sounds like I took the easy way out but really when you are a first time mother, travelling alone for such long hours, you just turn to the first safe method you can to get your little one to settle down!” muses Donna.

However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the United States, issued a public advisory warning to parents and caregivers against giving children under the age of 2 over-the-counter cold medicine and cough syrup because of the possibility of “serious and potentially life-threatening” side effects.

Baca juga:

 Traveling with your little one

The advisory cited decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines or cough suppressants. Although the side effects are rare, they are serious, the FDA said. They can include death, convulsions, rapid heart rates, and decreased levels of consciousness. Hence, you are probably wondering how Donna reacted to this.

“I was shocked of course. I mean I did exactly that – started feeding her when she was less that 2. But sometimes I feel God is with me. Isabelle was and still is an active child who enjoys watching Hannah Montana, playing with her dolls, experimenting with paint and singing songs with words she has made up! She is like any four-year-old and I mean it was not a constant thing I did religiously at night or something! It was just perhaps once every month or so” assures Donna.

 And for the inevitable question – Does she still feed Isabelle cough syrup when they travel?

“No, because she has grown accustomed to the taste. Haha. But seriously, being a four-year-old she knows better than to run around screaming. It was only for about two years. Also, it’s universally accepted. I’m sure many parents are still guiltily doing it, even those who are pretending to be shocked while reading this!” smiles Donna.
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 Names have been changed to protect the identity of those mentioned in the above article

Read more
:
7 Things To Do When Traveling With Baby

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Berjaya Sompo Launches "Bantuan Car Seat" Campaign With theAsianparent Malaysia & Crolla

Many families have lost their source of income during the COVID-19 pandemic and to ease their burden, Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad (“Berjaya Sompo”)
launched the
“Bantuan Car Seat”
campaign where 30 child safety seats be given away to 30 families in need.

This Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign is a collaboration with theAsianparent Malaysia and Crolla, aiming to raise awareness on the importance of having a child safety seat and the correct method of installing a child safety seat.

Bantuan Car Seat Campaign

The campaign will span for 3 months from October 1 to December 30, 2021. It will begin with a Facebook Live session that will be hosted by our platform with official partner Crolla to hold a demonstration on proper safety seat installation techniques.

During the session, Berjaya Sompo will be giving away three Ultima Care V3 policies to those who participated in the question-and-answer session aiming to raise awareness on the importance of child safety seats and its installation techniques.

The giveaway would see eligible families receiving the Crolla Alpha child safety seat worth RM499 each. The child car seat is suitable for children from birth up to 25kg, or seven years old.

The Crolla Alpha is also approved by the European Safety Standards ECE R44/04.

How to Enter?

If you are interested to join the campaign, you can submit your
 applications at theAsianparent Malaysia app.

Along with your details, you are required to provide a write-up detailing why you need the child safety seat.

 Qualifying criteria include:

Household income of RM4,000 and below.

Owning a car.

Having at least one child below seven years old.

If you are interested or know any families who need this child car seat, you can join this campaign
here
.

Mr Tan Sek Kee, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Berjaya Sompo said, “Berjaya Sompo is an organisation built on the foundation blocks of ethics, integrity and professionalism, committed to fulfilling the expectations of our stakeholders and contributing to the Malaysian economy and society. Hence, Berjaya Sompo
“Bantuan Car Seat”
 campaign is very dear to our hearts as we seek to make a difference in the lives of those in need.”

“We are aware that there are people who have suffered a loss of income during this COVID-19 pandemic, and we would like to help ease their burden by providing them with a child safety seat to keep their children safe,” Mr Tan added.

Why Should Children Use A Child Safety Seat When They Are in a Car?

Research published by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) Evaluation noted that children transported in private vehicles are the leading group of casualties among children aged 1 to 4 years old (43.8%).

 The research further reported that a correctly installed child seat helps reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for children ages 1 to 4 and reducing the need for hospitalisation by 69% for children ages four and below.

Tips for Getting Your Child Feels Comfortable in Safety Seats

Cultivating a child’s habit of sitting in a safety seat can be a bit challenging at first. However, there are some tips you can try to get the child used to sit without them making a huge fuss.

1# Teach them young

If possible, to ensure that children get used to sitting in car seats, they should be trained from an early age.

Whenever you and your family want to go out, don’t teach your child to sit on your lap. Instead, teach them to sit on their own safety seats so that their safety is always guaranteed.

2# Make them feel comfortable

Like adults, children also want to sit in a soft and comfortable seat especially if they need to sit for a long time in the car.

Make sure you install it the right way and back it up according to the child’s comfort. You can also add extra pads or blankets for extra height as well.

3# Give words of praise and encouragement

Parents need to encourage your child whenever they are sitting in their car seat. Give words of praise like “Wow, how nice of you to sit in this car seat. You’re smart!”
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If they still don’t like to sit down, it’s okay. Let them sit on the regular car seat for a while then persuade them to come back.

Never use harsh words that can scare them or try to force them when they refused, as this can create a sense of resentment towards the car seat.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

Read more:

Mum shares importance of car seat safety on long drives

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14 Reasons why he's in love with other women

Sometimes, even the seemingly strongest of marriages can suffer from a moment of infidelity. And it only takes one to haunt your relationship for a long time. You  may find yourself asking why your husband is in love with other women. You may wonder whether it’s your fault.

The answer to that second question is easy: it’s not.

There is one caveat though: it’s not, unless you’ve talked it through. In some cases, there are underlying problems in your relationship that culminated in your husband being in love with other women.

Your husband will have his reasons, and there’s going to be a lot of them. So let’s walk you through some of the possible reasons why he’s in love with other women.

Image source: dreamstime

Reasons why your husband is in love with other women

1. He wants a(nother) friend

We can’t fill a person’s every need, nor can we find everything all in one person. Sometimes, a man will look for something he’s missing in another woman, especially if he has trouble communicating this concern with his wife.

He may want to find someone who is more emotionally or sexually intimate, someone who listens and understands, or someone with no inhibitions.

2. He’s immature

He needs something carefree and spontaneous, untethered from the daily grind of everyday life. Marriage brings that into the fore because it is often associated with obligation and responsibility.

Your husband may be like this because of a shortage of experience in committed relationships. It could also stem from his not fully understanding the consequences of his actions (just like a child would do something without thinking of how other people could get hurt).

He might think that the commitment to monogamy is something that he can just take on or off depending on his whims.

3. Issues occurring at the same time

His being in love with other women may have coincided with an ongoing issue, like addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling) which affects his decision-making process.

These issues can also lead to regrettable sexual decisions.

He may also have a sexual addiction that he’s trying to satisfy as a way to numb himself or avoid life.

4. He’s insecure

He may feel that he’s not good-looking enough, not rich enough, not smart enough, not strong enough, too old, or too young. It’s that feeling of lacking something that’s hard to fulfill.

It may be a
mid-life crisis
 (an astonishing amount of male infidelity is linked to this). He needs to boost his ego by seeking validation from other women than his spouse.

5. It’s Over, Version 1

He wants to end his current relationship, but instead of telling the other person he’s unhappy, he just cheats.

6. It’s Over, Version 2

He wants to end his current relationship, but he needs to be sure he’s got a backup relationship for when the current one ends.

7. Lack of social support from friends

He may have undervalued his supportive friendships and now expects all his social and emotional needs to be satisfied entirely by his partner. When the partner fails to satisfy his needs, he looks elsewhere.

8. Confusion between infatuation and commitment

He probably misunderstands the difference between infatuation and long-term love. The romantic intensity of infatuation is a neurochemical rush of early romance (in technical terms,
limerence
) which he probably mistook for love.

He also may have failed to understand that healthy, long-term relationships consist of limerence or infatuation being replaced over time with a less intense but ultimately more meaningful form of connection.

9. Child abuse

He may be reacting, reenacting, or responding to unresolved childhood traumas. These could be neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, or sexual abuse.

In such cases, childhood trauma creates attachment or intimacy issues that makes him unable or unwilling to fully commit to one person. It’s also a way for him to relieve or soothe these old traumas.

Image source: istock

10. He’s selfish

As is often the case, it could be that his primary consideration is for himself alone. Because of this, he won’t find it hard to lie and keep secrets without remorse or regret. It’s all about getting what he wants.
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11. He feels he is special

He could feel that he is terminally unique and thus deserving of special circumstances. He thinks that normal rules don’t apply to him. This is a manifestation of his egocentrism.

12. He is impulsive

He may have never thought of cheating before. It just happened because he saw the opportunity and seized it without thinking of the consequences.

13. Unmet (and often unrealistic) expectations

He felt that his spouse should meet his every want and need, 24/7, 365 days a year.

When he thinks this, he fails to understand that he and his wife are two separate persons with agency, their own lives, feelings, and thoughts. Once this need is not fulfilled, he will seek it elsewhere.

14. He’s angry or he wants revenge

It could a way for him to get revenge on his partner. When he’s angry, he wants to hurt his partner as painfully as he can. So he won’t even try to hide it. He wants the spouse to know. It’s all to inflict maximum emotional damage.

Being in love with other women

We can’t stop infidelity from happening when it happens. These “sextracurricular activities” are often symptoms of a deeper problem and must be addressed to avoid any other negative effects that can destroy your marriage or family.

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Why Parents Should Focus So Much On Early Growth In Their Kids

In this day and age of social media, we are always bombarded with so much information online. We see our peers having kids and we watch them post their progress online. Sometimes, we can’t help but to compare our kids with others (even if we don’t want to admit it!).

You might see some of your friends’ kids outgrowing their clothes and shoes at a rapid pace, while your child is in the same clothes they were wearing at the beginning of the year.

Or perhaps you can relate to this: your paediatrician has yet again told you that your child’s progress is slow and they need to catch up. What that means is that your child’s weight and height are not on track.

It can be heartbreaking to hear that your child is experiencing poor growth and parents will start thinking of next steps.

“What should we do?” “What can we do to make sure our child’s physical development improves?”

Firstly, let’s take a look at the long term effects physical developmental delays or poor growth can have on children.

What are physical developmental delays?

Physical growth is crucial in a child’s development, often measured by their weight, height and head circumference.

Though poor weight gain is a common problem in children
1
, it can be overlooked by parents because we see our kids every day.

It is usually when we visit the paediatrician that they will inform us if our child is not growing on track for their age. Doctors will look at your child’s historical data to determine if they are developing well or stagnating or failing to thrive.

According to paediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Kadakkal Radhakrishnan, toddlers can sometimes lose weight as they become more active, however the child can still continue to progress at a normal rate for their age
2
.

It is when there’s a significant drop in weight within a single measurement, that they should be taken to a doctor and re-measured to determine if that drop warrants further action.

Why does this happen?

Children may not be gaining weight or growing physically for many reasons. It could be that they are not consuming enough calories or that the nutrition in their food is not adequate.

Sometimes, when this is the case, a doctor might recommend adding on supplements or formula milk to make up for the gap.

What happens if this problem is not addressed early?

It is absolutely critical that parents address poor physical development as early as possible to avoid long-term effects.

One of the outcomes is that the child will continue to be shorter and lighter than their peers in later life
3
.

Studies conducted have shown that children who fail to thrive may have a lower IQ than their peers in the long run as well as face learning difficulties and behavioural problems. The difference is approximately 3 IQ points on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children
4
.

Thankfully, parents can stay ahead of this by spotting the signs of physical development delays early on.

Developmental milestones in children ages 2-5

Developmental delays are defined as an ongoing major delay in the process of development. This means they are not hitting their developmental milestones at the age that they’re supposed to
5
.

These are some of the developmental milestones for children at 2 years old
6
:

Social and Emotional

Knows how to copy your actions or actions of other kids

Shows more independence in doing daily activities

Shows defiance

Is able to interact with other kids

Language

Points to things and names them

Knows the names of family members (eg. mama, papa, aunty)

Says 2 to 4 word sentences

Follows one or two step instructions

Repeats words as they hear it

Cognitive

Sorts shapes and colours in toys

Is able to play hide and seek

Builds blocks

Physical Development

Can kick and throw a ball

Can run

Can stand on tiptoe

Can climb up furniture unassisted

Can hold a pencil and scribble

These are developmental milestones for children at 3 years old:

Social and Emotional

Knows how to take turns in games

Expresses concern for others

Shows a wide range of emotions

Is able to separate from parents

Language

Is able to say their own name, age and gender

Able to name common items around the house

Can carry a conversation of 2-3 sentences at a time

Can name friends and other people outside the nuclear family

Cognitive

Can draw a circle with a pencil

Is able to do simple puzzles

Can open doors and unscrew lids

Understands numbers

Physical

Can climb well

Can cycle on a tricycle

Can walk up and down stairs unassisted

Runs easily

These are developmental milestones for children at 4-5 years old:

Social and Emotional

Understands and obeys rules

Expresses anger more verbally rather than physically

Understands rules in games

Is more independent in general

Language

Speaks with more complex sentences and vocabulary

Correctly names at least 4-5 colours and shapes

Cognitive

Understands the concept of time well (eg. morning is time for breakfast)

Follows three-part commands or more

Has a longer attention span

Physical

Is able to hop and skip

Is able to stand on one foot for 9 seconds or longer

Is able to properly use a fork and spoon

Is able to brush his or her own teeth

Is able to walk backwards easily

Signs of developmental delays: When to worry?

If your child has no pre-existing conditions, there should be no reason why they are not hitting their developmental milestones at the appropriate times.

Other general signs of developmental delays can include floppy limbs, stiff arms and legs, limited mobility, inability to sit upright, no control over voluntary or involuntary reflexes, inability to speak or form noises or adapt to certain routines.

If your child is experiencing any of the mentioned symptoms or if they are not hitting their developmental milestones on time, then you need to worry.

The first thing to do is to visit a doctor. The sooner you can diagnose it and address it, the better than chances are for recovery.

Keep them on track with their physical development

Sometimes, if a child is lagging behind their peers in weight and height or falling behind on one or two milestones, it could just be that they need to catch up on their sleep or nutrition.

Nutrition is easily addressed by making sure they have the right balance in their daily intake.

ASCENDA™ from WYETH Nutrition is a new nutritionally complete supplement which aims at providing kids with an energy and nutrient-dense formula to support holistic growth.

ASCENDA™ is formulated with BUILD & LEARN™ System, a scientific blend of important nutrients such as high-quality protein, DHA and Sphingomyelin to help support body growth and learning. It is specifically designed to support the increase of height and weight with no added sucrose.

To support your child’s holistic growth and development, request for a free sample
here
.

References

1
Children’s Health Team. (2020, October 05). 10 Possible Reasons Why Your Child Isn’t Growing. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from
health.clevelandclinic.org/10-possible-reasons-why-your-child-is-not-growing/

2
Children’s Health Team. (2020, October 05). 10 Possible Reasons Why Your Child Isn’t Growing. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/10-possible-reasons-why-your-child-is-not-growing/

3
Rudolf, M., & Logan, S. (2005, September 01). What is the long term outcome for children who fail to thrive? A systematic review. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from
adc.bmj.com/content/90/9/925

4
Rudolf, M., & Logan, S. (2005, September 01). What is the long term outcome for children who fail to thrive? A systematic review. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from
adc.bmj.com/content/90/9/925

5
Boyse, K. (2010, February). University of Michigan Health System. Retrieved October 21, 2020, from
www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/devdel.htm

6
Important Milestones: Your Baby By Two Years. (2020, June 09). Retrieved October 21, 2020, from
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-2yr.html

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The Problem With Regular Tampons And Pads And Why You Should Go Organic

Our Health

Most pads and tampons are made from cotton (either regular or organic) and make contact with our most intimate parts, sometimes for 12 or more hours a day – every single month.

Most pads and tampons are made from cotton (either regular or organic) and make contact with our most intimate parts, sometimes for 12 or more hours a day – every single month. Inorganic cotton can contain nasty toxins such as dioxins, which are by-products of the chlorine bleaching process used to make cotton and wood pulp look white and clean. This is extremely dangerous considering
dioxins are known to cause cancer
. Aside from dioxins, sanitary products also contain pesticides, chlorine, rayon and fragrances which could irritate our bodies. In addition to putting our internal systems at risk when we give our bodies a direct exposure to such chemicals, these products also harmfully affects our environment.

Farming And The Environment

A second main reason regular tampons and pads are not  great is because it negatively impacts our environment – the process of farming, manufacturing and production works against our environment. As opposed to natural or organic agriculture, regular farming does not prioritise ecology, health, fairness and care. The production and growing of regular cotton also requires for harmful pesticides, insecticides and herbicides, which bleed into waterways and soil.  In fact, 16% of the world’s insecticides are used in cotton farming, resulting in unnecessary harm for the birds and bees. It has been proven that a major decline in wildlife including species of birds, bees, butterflies as well as other pollinators are a result of such farming practices. Organic cotton farming on the other hand works to ensure that both farms and farmers are protected – from the impacts of the dangerous chemicals used as well as from the practices and processes.

Plastic Pollution

Plastic is a worldwide epidemic. Conventional products these days are loaded with unnecessary plastic and the same goes for a pack of pads and tampons. An average package contains the same amount of plastic as four carrier bags, which is completely unnecessary – four plastic bags are not essential to carry a pack of pads! Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down into small microplastics, which then usually end up in the environment and sea animals. Organic pads and tampons however use materials and packaging that is totally compostable and will disappear over months naturally!

Pricepoint

Organic sanitary products will definitely be more expensive than the conventional range, but contrary to popular belief, the difference is just slightly higher! You can expect to pay a 20%-30% increase; in the grand scheme of things, the extra few coins you pay to protect your body, the environment, wildlife, farmers and future generations is worth it and so well deserved.
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Study: The brain food that will make your kids smarter

If you’re just about to jot down your weekly grocery list, you might want to lessen the meat and add more of this amazing brain food!

A
new study
, published in the Scientific Reports journal, claims that kids who eat fish at least once a week have a higher IQ.

Observing over 500 children in China, the study’s researchers found that fish not only boosted children’s IQ, but also
helped them sleep better
. Based on interviews with the kids’ parents, they noted how kids aged 9 to 11 experienced less sleep issues.

These kids also boasted higher IQ scores by the time they reached the age of 12. Those who reported that they “always” ate fish scored 4.80 points higher than those who only ate fish “sometimes.”

Fish has long been touted as a “brain food,” but this study further cements this claim.

However, it’s also worth noting that
other factors come into play
 when it comes to a child’s IQ. This includes parenting styles, home environment, school activities, and overall diet.

Though further research is needed to back the brain boosting benefits of fish, it’s encouraging to know that mums and dads have the power to boost their kid’s intelligence.

Fish is truly one delicious “brain food” the family can enjoy! (Image source: File photo)

Brain food for kids: Guidelines for parents

Fish is a good source of protein and “healthy” fat.

When choosing fish for kids, keep in mind that, though some are high in good ol’ omega-3s, others can have a high mercury content, which can cause brain and nerve damage in young kids.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against
 feeding young kids shark, swordfish, and tilefish, as these types of predatory fish may have a high mercury content.

Examples of fish that are
low in mercury
 are: canned light tuna, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, salmon, cod, and catfish.

Brain food fish recipes to try!

“Introducing the taste early makes it more palatable,” Jennifer Pinot-Martin, one of the study’s researchers
tells TLC
. “It really has to be a concerted effort.”

Once your baby is six months old, they can be started on solids. This includes mashed fish. But you must first make sure that they don’t have any allergies to certain fish. Also, check the fish very carefully for bones as these can pose a chocking hazard.

Image source: File photo

Salmon eggy fried rice

Image source: Pinterest

This is no doubt a comfort food for adults and kids alike. Not only is it easy to whip up for dinner, it’s super delicious, too. You can find the
full recipe here
!

Fish cake fingers

Image source: Pinterest

Not only is this recipe delicious, you can make preparing it a bonding experience. It’s just perfect for parents and kids. You can find the full recipe
here
.

Easy fish pie

Image source: Pinterest

This potato-fish pie is buttery
and
 cheesy. Best of all it can keep for more than one meal time! Find out how to whip this up
here
.

Hoisin mackerel pancakes

Image source: Pinterest

This sweet and savoury assemble-it-yourself dish is a treat for kids and kids at heart. You can find the full recipe
here
.

Chub and atlantic mackerel are low in mercury, while king mackerel has a high mercury content.

Do you have any go-to fish recipes for the whole family? Share them with us below!

sources:
Forbes.com
,
TLC.com,

Nature.com,

Livestrong.com,

BBC Good Food

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#tApReviews: Growing Up With MAM Bottles

If you’ve been following TAP reviews, you would know that we’re a big fan of MAM bottles and pacifiers. I personally found out about MAM when I was pregnant and I was looking for a brand of bottles and pacifiers for my son. There are so many in the market that it can be quite confusing, but I was specifically looking for one that would be the best anti-colic bottles for babies.

That is how I landed on MAM as all their bottles are anti-colic bottles for babies. So from the day my son was born till now (he is 20+ months), he has been using MAM anti-colic bottles for babies and beyond.

TAPReviews: Best Anti-Colic Bottles For Babies by MAM

My son Jedi has always been bottle-fed because I was unsuccessful in latching, but I continued to express breastmilk and I had feared from the start that he would get colic. I heard about the nightmares parents had to face when their kids were plagued with colic. So it was one of the things I prioritised in ensuring my son would never get colic.

One of the steps in doing so was finding anti-colic bottles. The MAM bottles have a patented vented base that ensures babies can drink at their own pace.

The Easy Start Anti-Colic bottles come with a valve at the base of the bottle that prevents the formation of air bubbles and stops the milk liquid from foaming. This creates a smooth drinking flow and prevents the baby from swallowing any excess air.

I personally noticed this when feeding Jedi and he never got any colic. That was a huge relief for me.

As he’s grown from an infant to a toddler, we have continued to use MAM bottles because we are confident that this bottle is suitable for him. He had also grown really fond of the cute designs on the bottles and looked forward to his milk times.

But what we’ve realised is that recently, there is a new material for the MAM bottles! The new premium PPSU material is made with the highest performing thermoplastic which ultimately leads to better durability overall. Not to mention, with our obsession of sterilising, it is good to note that the heat tolerance from PPSU is better than the usual PP and PES materials!

Not only does it withstand exposure to heat better, but it also has a better capability to absorb impact, which is actually perfect because babies and toddlers are really not known for taking good care of their bottles anyway!

On top of that, PPSU plastic does not absorb odour nor colour, and is naturally BPA free. So this means that we can use the same bottles for a longer period, despite the heavy washing, sterilising and also throwing around by a toddler.

Find out more about the MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic PPSU bottles on their website
here
.

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Coping with Coronavirus | How to Talk to Your Child

The virus is new and there is more news of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) each day, with 18 new infections as we type, bringing the national tally to 117 cases to date. By now, even young children, who might only be 5 or 6 years of age, would have heard about the coronavirus either from social chatter at the school playground or snippets of things they hear from adults. So, what should you tell your child about the coronavirus, and how to talk about it in an age-appropriate way?

First things first, keep calm and make sure you are not panicking when talking about the topic.

Empower Your Child with Age-Appropriate Facts About Coronavirus

Don’t fuel the flame by providing excessive information that can cause unnecessary alarm. The following infocomic is a great one to explain to young children.

What is Coronavirus?

What are the Symptoms?

How is it Spread?

How to Keep Safe?

If you, as the parent, are unsure about the coronavirus, head over to the World Health Organization website for
accurate advice
 and
virus myth busters
.

This article has been republished with permission from
Kiddy123.

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Make Laundry Day Easier…. EVERY DAY!

Let’s be honest. Most of us dread doing the laundry because there’s just so much to do from separating, soaking, sanitising, loading, unloading, and drying to folding and ironing. Don’t we all wish laundry day was a tad bit easier to face?

Furthermore, living in the endemic phase right now requires us to be more vigilant about our personal hygiene in order to keep ourselves and our loved ones protected from any other potential infections and illnesses. So, it is more important than ever that we do the best we can in maintaining a safe and hygienic environment, especially at home. One way to practise this is by doing our laundry thoroughly and hygienically.

Before you start thinking
“Ah, not another step in my laundry routine!”…

Did you know that there is a specific washing machine that can SIMPLIFY your laundry routine? A washing machine that works EFFECTIVELY, EFFORTLESSLY and EASILY. Yes, so easily that you’ll want to do your laundry daily. We repeat, DAILY!

Wash Your Laundry Blues Away With The All New SHARP Pro-Flex Washing Machine

The First and Only 4-in-1 Multi-Function Front Load Washer

We’re all familiar with the Wash, Spin and Dry features, but it’s
SHARP Pro-Flex’s Dry AirWash with Plasmacluster Ions
 feature that makes this washing machine a must-have for every household!

Why we love SHARP Pro-Flex’s Dry AirWash with Plasmacluster Ions:

SHARP’s patented Plasmacluster Ion Technology effectively suppresses bacteria and odour from fabrics.

The Plasmacluster Ion Technology, combined with the waterless Dry AirWash feature cleans your laundry better and removes bacteria that can’t be removed with water. It also helps maintain the cleanliness of the machine drum.

It’s effortless, waterless and cleans in 10 minutes!

Perfect for soft toys and other fabric items that are difficult to wash with water.

SHARP Pro-Flex Dry AirWash feature keeps your little one’s bunnies and teddies clean so they can safely hug them tight every night.

Benefits of Plasmacluster Ions Technology:

Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Odour

Suppresses harmful bacteria and unpleasant odour that lingers on fabrics.

Anti-Allergy

Eliminate allergens such as pollens, animal dander or dust mites to prevent allergy attacks.

Anti-Static

Safely dampens anti-static buildup in your laundry.

Anti-Mould

Eliminates mould buildup that could damage your clothes.

More Reasons To Love SHARP Pro-Flex

Award-Winning Design

SHARP Pro-Flex won the F1 Design Award 2021 for its simple and beautiful ergonomic design. Its control panel is ergonomically tinted at 18°.

User-Friendly

You’ll love how easy it is to use this washing machine with its easy push detergent, guided controls, knobless interface and scent program.

Removes 99.9% Allergens

Its steam function effectively penetrates deep into the fabric to wash away dirt, stains and allergens.

Superior Washing Performance

Don’t stress, choose your preferred presets! Whatever your need may be, choose from the various laundry presets to easily clean, dewater, dry and airwash.

47% Energy-Saving

The state-of-the-art J-Tech Inverter helps you save on energy bills while ensuring a quieter washing experience.

When you start making your daily chores, such as doing the laundry easier and more efficient, you’re able to enjoy more quality time with your family and not to mention, your well-deserved “me time” as well.

Living in the new norm takes getting used to but hygienically speaking, products such as the SHARP Pro-Flex does make a difference in the way you maintain yours and your family’s health and hygiene as well as overall well-being.

Don’t you think the sleek SHARP Pro-Flex makes a great addition to your home? We’ve fallen in love (and can’t wait to enjoy better laundry days ahead!). Have you?

If you wish to get a better look and more info on the SHARP Pro-Flex 4-in-1 Front Load Washer, visit the official website
here.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

Read more:
 5 Ways To Organise Baby’s Clothes

Read more:
 5 Tips to having successful morning routines for working mums

Read more:
Let Your Children Be Bored

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Sleeping on Your Side When You Have Pelvic Girdle Pain

With all the research presented to us with regard to adopting a side-sleeping position as opposed to sleeping on your back or your tummy, it is safe to assume that all pregnant mums will be snoozing on their sides. But some women suffer from chronic pelvic pain during pregnancy – Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) or pelvic girdle pain (PGP) – making it very difficult to get comfortable, and to sleep on their sides in particular.

Sleeping on your side can be life-saving and can lower your risks of experiencing a stillbirth.
According to research,
 women who suffered a stillbirth after 28 weeks gestation were 2.3 times more likely to have slept on their backs than on their sides, the night before the stillbirth occurred.

With such compelling evidence to support
sleeping on your side during pregnancy,
 what can be done to help mothers who are afflicted with pelvic girdle pain? What exactly is this condition and how can you alleviate your pain and make sleeping on your side through the night an easier task?

Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), or pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is an uncomfortable condition affecting some pregnant women. Photo: iStock

Pelvic pain during pregnancy

Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), or pelvic girdle pain (PGP)

SPD is an uncomfortable pregnancy condition that affects 1 in 300 pregnancies. Pregnancy comes with a host of uncomfortable aches and pains, and pelvic pain that involves your symphysis pubis joint, which is located in front of the pubic bone, is a common complaint.

Prior to delivery, your ligaments are supposed to stretch and relax. This is your body’s response in conjunction with getting ready for the birth of your child.

SPD occurs when the ligaments that normally keep your pelvic bone aligned during pregnancy, relaxes and stretches well before your due date, leading to making the pelvic joint, that is the symphysis pubis, unstable. The painful condition causes pain in your pelvis, a sensation that the two sides of your pubic bone are sliding up and down against each other, as well as a few other uncomfortable symptoms that we will read about.

It is estimated that up to 60% of women experience pain
 in their symphysis pubis while pregnant, according to Dr. Sheila Hill, an Ob-Gyn in the hospitalist division of Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. In its most severe form, SPD can lead to an actual separation of the pubic bone, with women experiencing extremely painful pelvic and hip pain in this case. However, Dr. Hill notes that pubic bone separation is uncommon, occurring in less than 1 percent of pregnancies.

Pelvic pain during pregnancy – Symptoms of SPD

SPD is a debilitating condition that affects around 60% of pregnant women. Photo: iStock

SPD pain is characterized as a focused pain on the pubic and groin area, but in some cases it radiates to the upper thighs and perineum.

The most common symptoms are difficulty when walking, and a wrenching pain that feels like your pelvis is tearing apart.

You may also suffer from the following:

Back and/or hip pain, and pain at the back of your pelvis or hip

Pain together with a grinding or clicking sensation in your pubic area

Pain directed at your inner thighs or between your legs

Pain that worsens when you part your legs, walking, perform weight-bearing activities, take the stairs or move around in bed

Pain that worsens at nighttime and disrupts your sleep. The pain sometimes makes going to the bathroom in between sleep, extremely painful

The condition can occur at any time during your pregnancy or after giving birth, and you may notice it for the first time during the second trimester of your pregnancy.

Tips to make side-sleeping easier when you have SPD

There are a few steps you can take to ensure sleeping on your side is a little easier if you suffer from SPD.

Sleep with a pillow in between your knees. This will help keep your pelvis aligned and will take the stretch off your hip and pelvic muscles when lying on your side by slightly elevating your top leg. A regular extra pillow may be used for this purpose, or you may want to invest in a specialized pregnancy pillow, a body pillow or leg spacer.

Prop a pillow under your belly when sleeping to list your stomach and take pressure off your low back and improve your spinal and pelvic alignment

Swap your regular cotton nightwear with silk or satin pajamas as you can slide around in bed, rather than having to pick yourself up to turn over

Wear a belly band, or a pregnancy support band to support the pelvic bones and help maintain correct alignment, thereby reducing pain

Sleeping with a pillow in between your knees will help alleviate SPD. Photo: iStock

However, if none of this works and you are very uncomfortable sleeping on your side, trying sleeping at an incline, or even in a recliner chair or on the couch propped up with pillows.

Talk to your doctor about safe pain relief medication if your pain is too severe. Pregnancy is a long journey that can sometimes be made difficult by conditions such as these. We hope you hang in there mamas, and that our tips help you.

This article has been republished with permission from
theAsianparent Singapore
.

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