Breastfeeding plays a vital role in helping infants and mothers combat obesity
While it’s widely accepted that breastmilk is the best, nutrient-rich food for infants, it’s not as well-known that it plays a vital role in helping infants and mothers combat obesity.
Several studies have warned that childhood obesity in India is […]
By -Dr. Chiranth R, assistant professor of paediatrics and neonatology, CDSIMER, Dayanand Sagar University, Bengaluru
The ancient art of storytelling is a powerful method to nurture language development in children, going beyond mere entertainment, captivating their imagination, enriching vocabulary, and fostering a love of reading and learning
There are several ways and means to develop young children’s language, conversation, and literacy skills
Dr. Mazhar Ali
The early years are critical for developing children’s language and communication skills and building a foundation for academic success and optimal cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Here are some ways and means to develop young children’s language, […]
Beyond the pleasure of being outdoors, nature-based play enables children’s sensory, cognitive and emotional development
Outdoor nature-based play is invaluable for youngest children’s sensory development. Children benefit from direct sensory experiences which cannot be replicated in artificial play areas and spaces. Beyond the pleasure of being outdoors, nature play enables children’s sensory, cognitive […]
Temper tantrums indicate children’s lack of ability to process emotions. They also signify the emergence of autonomy while simultaneously being a cry for parental attention
It’s common for children aged 15 months-four years to exhibit temper tantrums — brief episodes of unpleasant, disruptive behaviour and emotional outbursts. Sometimes, tantrums may be extreme […]
Temper tantrums indicate children’s lack of ability to process emotions. They also signify the emergence of autonomy while simultaneously being a cry for parental attention
It’s common for children aged 15 months-four years to exhibit temper tantrums — brief episodes of unpleasant, disruptive behaviour and emotional outbursts. Sometimes, tantrums may be extreme […]
– Dr. Saurabh Khanna is a neonatologist and paediatrician with over 15 years’ experience, and lead consultant, Pediatrics and Neonatology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram
An oft-repeated complaint of parents is that their toddler tends to fall ill frequently. This could be because of exposure to ailing children in preschool or low immunity […]
Dr. Himanshi Kashyap, a well-known Gurgaon-based paediatrician, busts some myths about milk and health drinks consumption benefits for children
The internet and social media are flooded with (mis)information about health drinks which promise to do wonders to children’s physical growth and well-being. Ditto there are many myths floating about milk consumption and consequential benefits for children. […]
Making and maintaining eye contact is critical to effective inter-personal communication. In early childhood, eye contact is especially important because in the absence of language skills, infants and toddlers communicate visually. A majority of information infants/toddlers receive is processed visually and optimal visual development is imperative for development of language and fine motor skills.
Parents should begin preparing the first-born early for the birth of a sibling. Here are some guidelines Khushboo Nehaal Jashnani
Sibling rivalry begins early, often before birth of the little brother/sister. Children are often cautioned against ‘troubling’ their pregnant mother, and thus seeds of resentment and alienation are sown. The older child is told: “Don’t disturb […]
Nutritional and especially micronutrient deficiencies in children result in poor physical growth, reduced cognitive development, and increased risk of illness Dr. Kumar T.V.
Millions of children worldwide suffer malnutrition in the first five years of their lives. According to a 2020 report of the UNICEF-WHO-WB Joint Child Malnutrition Inter-Agency Group, 149.2 million children under 5 years […]
The first three years of a child’s life are the most important and intensive period for developing speech and language skills. These inherent skills are best learned in an environment rich with sounds, sights, and exposure to speech and language capabilities of adults.
While the majority of children cross early childhood speech development milestones smoothly, some […]
Positive discipline teaches children to control emotions and take responsibility for their actions. It uses positive reinforcement to teach children to respect rules and boundaries
Toddlers entering preschool and kindergarten need to learn to regulate their emotions and behaviour. As they make sense of the world around them, they need to be taught to communicate and […]
It’s critical for parents to understand the importance of sufficient sleep for children’s early physical and brain development, writes Mini P.
Adequate and restful sleep is critical in early childhood as it’s during sleep that children’s bodies grow and develop. It’s during sleep that the body heals and repairs the heart and blood vessels and crucial […]
According to latest neuroscience research, 90 percent of a child’s brain develops by age five. At birth, a newborn’s brain is about one-quarter the size of that of an adult. By age three, it grows to about 80 percent and by five years, it is 90 percent of adult size.
Planned nutrition and diets are important for ensuring balanced foetal development and delivery of a healthy baby. Therefore it’s important for pregnant women to follow nutritious and balanced diets and avoid foods likely to affect foetal health and well-being. Here are foods to avoid during pregnancy, writes Mini P.
There are many natural and organic ways of inducing labour which can be tried by pregnant women in consultation with her obstetrician, writes Mini P.
The last trimester of pregnancy is filled with anxiety as women fret about labour induction and pain. Though most women usually deliver one/two weeks prior to or after their expected due […]
Given that the name defines a child’s identity life-long, every parent wants to choose that perfect, beautiful name, writes Mini P
One among the many difficult decisions expectant parents have to make is to choose a name for their child. Given that the name defines a child’s identity life-long, every parent wants to choose that perfect, […]
Parents need to carefully examine several factors including portability, storage capabilities and safety before purchasing a baby stroller, writes Mini P
For parents of infants, prams and strollers are a boon, making traveling with young children simple and easy. Whether it’s running errands in town, outdoor walks, park visits or inter-city travel, a pram facilitates painless […]
The ordeal of comforting infants crying continuously for no apparent reason can be traumatic and frustrating for parents. Colicky babies tend to cry for two to three hours or more, almost every day, writes Mini P
Colic — frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in an otherwise healthy infant — is every mother’s nightmare. The […]
A growing number of expectant parents are making birth plans – a written plan which communicates parental preferences during childbirth and post-delivery
Mini P.
Childbirth is a physically and emotionally draining experience for all couples, especially women. Many tend to feel out of control and intimidated by several decisions that need to be made during labour […]
Modern day parents are confused about the advisability of co-sleeping with parenting counselors and experts divided on the issue
Aruna Raghuram
“For most of human history, parents slept close to their babies for their safety and protection, as well as for parents’ own ease of breastfeeding and sleeping.” — Dr. James J. McKenna, anthropologist and author […]
It’s common for new moms to struggle with post-delivery pain, postpartum depression, and fatigue. Some recovery guidelines, writes Mini P.
A woman’s body undergoes enormous changes during pregnancy and after delivery. The postpartum period — six-eight weeks — requires new mothers to cope with the strain of physical recovery as well as to prepare emotionally to […]
A well-designed cheerful nursery provides a stimulating environment where infants rest, play and learn – Mini P.
The birth of a child is a special occasion, and many expectant parents begin preparing and designing the nursery room months ahead. Especially because once the infant is born, life becomes a whirlwind of never-ending baby-care chores.
It’s best for parents to introduce infants to nutritious home-cooked foods, free from artificial flavours, preservatives and excess sugar and salt that packaged foods usually contain, writes Anitha Bennet
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children be introduced to foods other than breast milk when they are six months old. But parents are often confused […]
Obstetricians highly recommend pregnant women to include pelvic floor, aka Kegel, exercises in their routines to strengthen pelvic muscles which are highly strained during pregnancy and child birth, writes Anita Bennett
Pregnancy precipitates several bodily changes caused by sudden and dramatic increase in production of estrogen and progesterone hormones. Common symptoms include swelling, fatigue, loosening of […]
Getting this simple yet essential infant care routine is important because a good bath ensures newborns sleep soundly and are clean and energetic, writes Anita Bennet
New moms are flooded with a plethora of advice on infant care and nurturance. Popular on the list of infant do’s and don’ts is the all-important bathing routine. Getting this […]
It’s important for pregnant women to be well-informed about what to expect during progressive nine months of pregnancy, writes Shreya Sanghani
After the initial joy of finding out that they are pregnant, most women are confronted with questions and anxieties about the next nine months experience, and are often overwhelmed with the unexpected bodily changes. Therefore, […]
For parents soothing a sick, irritated and tired infant is frustratingly difficult. Here are some home remedies which provide infants relief from common cold symptoms – Archana N.
Common cold symptoms of fever, nasal congestion and headache are difficult for adults to manage. For infants, suffering a cold infection is even more arduous, making the task […]
Given a flood of information about ways and means to ensure infant care and well-being, new parents are often confused about the benefits and risks of swaddling
-Mini P.
Swaddling is the ancient practice of snugly wrapping a newborn in a thin blanket or sheet,
to help her feel safe and secure as in her mother’s womb. […]
Start early by instilling good dental hygiene habits in your infant – Archana N.
Most new parents can’t wait for their infant’s teething troubles to be over! The process of teeth erupting or breaking through the gums, aka teething, usually happens between 6-24 months of age. And teething symptoms include irritability, tender swollen gums, and infants […]
With online learning not recommended for preschool children, many parents are worried their toddlers have missed important physical, mental, emotional and cognitive development milestones – Archana N. & Mini P.
Almost a year after all education institutions including pre-primaries were ordered to shut down by the Central government to check the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, […]
For most NRI (non-resident Indian) parents, the experience of raising a child in foreign lands is unique, filled with contradictions, and cultural assimilation challenges. Dhanya Parthasarathy, a freelance writer and mother of Anand, who relocated from Chennai to Malaysia, shares her take on the experience of an NRI parent.
The frustration and exasperation of raising a child […]
Parents need to take proactive steps to wean youngest children from digital media and devices by introducing them to stimulating toys that develop fine and motor skills while nurturing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills – Archana N.
It’s no longer startling or shocking to witness tiny tots effortlessly playing games and navigating apps on smart […]
– Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett is an associate professor in early childhood education, Early Start and School of Education, University of Wollongong and Steven Howard is an associate professor, child development, University of Wollongong. (This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license)
With governments around the world asking their citizens to avoid places, […]
Discovering new objects can be a delight for toddlers, but nightmarish for parents because of danger of injury. Therefore it’s important to design safe rooms for youngest children – K.P. Malini
As your child grows out of infanthood and enters the next development stage, life becomes exciting but challenging for parents. Toddlers will want to explore […]
A growing number of child psychologists are recommending parents to use the lockdown as an opportunity to teach and encourage toddlers to play independently – Archana N. and Mini P.
With the Covid-19 pandemic restricting free movement and social interaction including play dates and outdoor group activities, parenting children especially toddlers, is becoming increasingly difficult and […]
(Dr. Ketan Bharadva is a Surat (Gujarat)-based consultant pediatrician and President, Infant & Young Child Feeding Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, and President, Human Milk Banking Association)
There is much debate within the medical fraternity about the impact of the Covid-19 virus on the health and well-being of infected new mothers and possibilities of transmission […]
With Covid-19 infections continually spiking, parents are apprehensive about sending youngest children to school and are increasingly accepting the argument that early childhood care and education is dispensable. This is ill-advised because it has been proven beyond doubt that formal ECCE is the foundation […]
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