After posting the article on breastfeeding a toddler earlier, I came across this picture and I had a good laugh. So I thought I might as well post it here to warn mothers who breastfeed their toddlers.
Mothers, be warned. This may happen to you if you are breastfeeding your toddler 
My boy is now 19 months old and is still breastfeeding.
He loves the comfort of being held by his mum. Not sure whether there is any more breastmilk at this stage but he seems to be sucking away. While browsing the net to find the answer to my question whether there is still breastmilk supply, I came across this article written by Dr Jack Newman, the breastfeeding expert, which I would like to share with you who may have the same question in mind.Breastfeeding a toddler - why on earth?
Because more and more women are now breastfeeding their babies, more and more are also finding that they enjoy breastfeeding enough to want to continue longer than the usual few months they initially thought they would do it. UNICEF has long encouraged breastfeeding for two years and longer, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is now on record as encouraging mothers to nurse at least one year and as long after as both mother and baby desire. Breastfeeding to 3 and 4 years of age has been common in much of the world until recently, and breastfeeding toddlers is still common in many societies.
Why should breastfeeding continue past six months?
Because mothers and babies often enjoy breastfeeding a lot. Why stop an enjoyable relationship?
But it is said that breastmilk has no value after six months.
Perhaps this is said, but it is wrong. That anyone can say such a thing only shows how ignorant so many people in our society are about breastfeeding. Breastmilk is, after all, milk. Even after six months, it still contains protein, fat, and other nutritionally important and appropriate elements which babies and children need. Breastmilk still contains immunologic factors which help protect the baby. In fact, some immune factors in breastmilk which protect the baby against infection are present in greater amounts in the second year of life than in the first. This is, of course as it should be, since children older than a year are generally exposed to more infection. Breastmilk still contains factors which help the immune system to mature, and which help the brain, gut, and other organs to develop and mature.It has been well shown that children in daycare who are still breastfeeding have far fewer and less severe infections than the children who are not breastfeeding. The mother thus loses less work time if she continues nursing her baby once she is back at her paid work.It is interesting that formula company marketing pushes the use of formula (a rather imperfect copy of the real thing) for a year, yet implies that breastmilk (from which the imperfect copy is copied) is only worthwhile for 6 months. Too many health professionals have taken up the refrain.
I have heard that the immunologic factors prevent the baby from developing his own immunity if I breastfeed past six months.
This is untrue; in fact, this is absurd. It is unbelievable how so many people in our society twist around the advantages of breastfeeding and turn them into disadvantages. We give babies immunizations so that they are able to defend themselves against the real infection. Breastmilk also allows the baby to be fight off infections. When the baby fights off these infections, he becomes immune. Naturally.
But I want my baby to become independent.
And breastfeeding makes the toddler dependent? Don’t believe it. The child who breastfeeds until he weans himself (usually from 2 to 4 years), is generally more independent, and, perhaps more importantly, more secure in his independence. He has received comfort and security from the breast, until he is ready to make the step himself to stop. And when he makes that step himself, he knows he has achieved something, he knows he has moved ahead. It is a milestone in his life.Often we push children to become “independent” too quickly. To sleep alone too soon, to wean from the breast too soon, to do without their parents too soon, to do everything too soon. Don’t push and the child will become independent soon enough. What’s the rush? Soon they will be leaving home. You want them to leave home at 14? Of course, breastfeeding can, in some situations, be used to foster an overdependent relationship. But so can food and toilet training. The problem is not the breastfeeding. This is another issue.
What else?
Possibly the most important aspect of nursing a toddler is not the nutritional or immunologic benefits, important as they are. I believe the most important aspect of nursing a toddler is the special relationship between child and mother. Breastfeeding is a life affirming act of love. This continues when the baby becomes a toddler. Anyone without prejudices, who has ever observed an older baby or toddler nursing can testify that there is something almost magical, something special, something far beyond food going on. A nursing toddler will sometimes spontaneously break into laughter for no obvious reason. His delight in the breast goes far beyond a source of food. And if the mother allows herself, breastfeeding becomes a source of delight for her as well, far beyond the pleasure of providing food. Of course, it’s not always great, but what is? But when it is, it makes it all so worthwhile.And if the child does become ill or does get hurt (and they do as they meet other children and become more daring), what easier way to comfort the child than breastfeeding? I remember nights in the emergency department when mothers would walk their ill, non nursing babies or toddlers up and down the halls trying, often unsuccessfully, to console them, while the nursing mothers were sitting quietly with their comforted, if not necessarily happy, babies at the breast. The mother comforts the sick child with breastfeeding, and the child comforts the mother by breastfeeding.
Many parent especially first time parents are concerned when their baby cries a lot.
My first baby cried the loudest while in the nursery at the hospital. Back at home she cried almost everyday especially in the early evenings when she was about 1 to 2 months old. We have tried many things to soothe her but nothing seems to work. Guess it is due to colic.Research shows that crying follows a developmental pattern, which is also known as the crying curve, during the first few months after they were born. Crying tends to increase at two to three weeks of age, peaks between six and eight weeks, and then slows down after that, usually hits its lowest level by around four months. Babies also cry more often during the late afternoons and early evenings. This is usually because they need to release their tension after a long day.
Parents need not panic when their baby cries a lot. First, check that your baby’s basic needs are met. She could be to warm or too cold, or hungry or maybe needs a diaper change. If she’s comfortable, dry, and fed and she’s still crying, she may be lonely or blowing off steam. Some babies like to be cuddled or rocked. Some prefer to lie down in their crib playing with their soft toys or listening to music.
If your baby cries for hours and be hard to console, she may have colic. Unfortunately researchers and practitioners don’t have any hard-and-fast answers for parents desperate for a solution. In severe cases of colic, some pediatricians may prescribe medication to help calm the infant. Talk to your doctor if you can’t seem to soothe your baby.
My baby was down with throat problem last week.
It started with cough and a visit to the doctor confirmed that his throat was red and that was the reason he coughed because of the throat irritation. I noticed that every time he has throat problem, he tends to do this swallowing sound as if he swallowed a big gulp of water.Doctor prescribed him antibiotic for a week. It was a challenge to feed him the medicine. The first mouthful made him vomit. But subsequently he got used to the taste after a few days of taking the medicine but still put on a little bit struggle though.
Doctor said that sore throat is usually not an emergency unless it is epiglottitis which is very rare nowadays, thanks to the Hib vaccines. An infection of the flap of throat tissue that prevents food and liquids from going down the windpipe, epiglottitis makes it hard to breathe as well as to swallow.
For most viral infections, no treatment is available or necessary. Your baby’s immune system can usually neutralize these invaders within a week. He’ll benefit from plenty of rest and fluids. If your baby’s sore throat is caused by bacteria, the doctor will prescribe antibiotic You must follow strictly to the instruction given by the doctor in giving the antibiotic. Do not slack off. If you stop giving the antibiotic too soon, the bacteria can rally and reemerge quickly in a more severe form. Ensure that you complete the full course of antibiotic prescribed.
Bacteria and viral infection are very contagious. Make sure you observe good hygiene and do not share eating utensils.
As a new parent, you will probably ask yourself, how much does your child need to sleep?
You will probably face some challenges when it comes to putting your child to bed. He may just do anything else other than sleep.My child has his sleeping schedule when he is at his baby sitter. But when it comes to sleep at home over the weekends when we don’t send him to his baby sitter, we have a tough time getting him to take his afternoon nap. He just refused to sleep even though he is tired.
Sleep expert Jodi Mindell, author of Sleeping through the night, says that most children need a lot of sleep. If your child refuses to go to sleep even it is late at night, don’t think that your child does not need lots of sleeps. In actual fact, your child is actually sleep deprived. To see whether your child is actually sleep deprived, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does your child fall asleep every time he is in the car?
2. Do you have to wake up your child every morning?
3. Does your child seem cranky, irritable or overtired during the day?
4. Or on some nights, he falls asleep earlier than what he normally does?
If your answer is “Yes” to any of these questions, your child maybe getting less sleep than he needs.
Below are some general guidelines as to how many hours of sleep the average child requires at various ages. Of course, every child is different - some need up to two hours more or less sleep than others
| Age | Nighttime Sleep | Daytime Sleep * | Total Sleep |
| 1 month | 8 1/2 | 7 (3) | 15 1/2 |
| 3 months | 10 | 5 (3) | 15 |
| 6 months | 11 | 3 1/4 (2) | 14 1/4 |
| 9 months | 11 | 3 (2) | 14 |
| 12 months | 11 1/4 | 2 1/2 (2) | 13 3/4 |
| 18 months | 11 1/4 | 2 1/4 (1) | 13 1/2 |
| 2 years | 11 | 2 (1) | 13 |
| 3 years | 10 1/2 | 1 1/2 (1) | 12 |
| * number of naps in parentheses | |||
I received this joke in my email and I would like to share with all. Once in a while it is good to entertain ourselves with good jokes and have a good laugh. Laughter is still the best medicine.
Take a break from taking care of your little ones. Enjoy it.
A woman and a baby were in the doctor’s examining room, waiting for the doctor to come in for the baby’s first exam. The doctor arrived, and examined the baby, checked his weight, and being a little concerned, asked if the baby was breast-fed or bottle-fed?
“Breast-fed,” she replied.
“Well, strip down to your waist,” the doctor ordered. She did. He pinched her nipples, pressed, kneaded, and rubbed both breasts for a while in a very professional and detailed examination.
Motioning to her to get dressed the doctor said, “No wonder this baby is underweight. You don’t have any milk.”
“I know,” she said, “I’m his Grandma, but I’m glad I came ” .
Boy or girl? That’s what in every parent’s mind when it comes to having a baby.
Our first baby is a girl. We do not really care whether it is a boy or a girl. We just prayed that the baby is healthy. God has blessed us with a beautiful baby girl. After our first baby, my wife had two miscarriages. When my wife conceived again for the fourth time, we prayed that the baby will be healthy and normal. The gender of the baby did not matter anymore after the two miscarriages. This time round, God blessed us with a healthy baby boy who is now almost 15 months old. This blessing is more than what we can ask for. Now we have a boy and a girl. We don’t plan to have another one anymore.My circle of friends have different experiences altogether. My cousin has 2 boys and has given up. My 5 other friends have all girls in the family. All of them have decided to put a stop to their production chain. There was no proven method available then for gender selection. Nowadays there are methods that can help in baby gender selection. I guess my friends would be delighted but it is a little bit too late.
But as it is now, they are happy with the girls or boys that they have. I believe that gender is not that important. As long as the baby is born healthy, it is much more than one can ask for. To have a boy and a girl is an extra blessing. For those of you who are trying to have a mixture of boys and girls, wish you all the best. But if it turns out otherwise, do not be despair. There are still help available in gender selection.
My little prince is now going to be 15 months old and I think it is time for him to be potty trained.
At times he can tell when he wants to pass urine by pointing to his bottom. But at times he will just wet himself. When it comes to doing his big business, we can tell by the expression of his face when he sits still and starts to push. There are occasions when we didn’t notice his expression and he soiled his diapers.
Potty training is not easy and it takes a lot of effort. We have to take note of the time he pass his urine and encourage him to do it again after a few hours not knowing whether he has anything to let go. It can be quite disappointing at times when after taking all the trouble to take off his pants and taking him to his potty, he has nothing to let go. Worst still is when after all the encouragement and his business not done, we decided that it is not the right time yet and put on his pants and immediately he let go and wet his pants.
Well that’s the challenge of potty training each and every parents have to go through I guess. Sometimes we felt so exhausted that we just let him soil his diapers. It is much easier to change his diapers than to potty train him. We know we are not doing any good but making the diapers companies richer. I guess they know it too well and that means a lot more profit for them. Have you ever seen a diaper company advising or encourage you to potty train your child? I guess it is hard to come by. Now that they make the diaper so comfortable and dry, most parents are even lazier to potty train their children. The trend in the western world shows that children are potty trained at the age of 3 or 4 nowadays compared to 2 years old revealed by studies released by Harvard University in 1956.
It looks like more and more toddlers are “diaper dependence” nowadays. This is largely due to more comfortable diapers compared to the old days where cloth diapers were used. The diapers nowadays give you the dry feeling and you don’t feel the wetness and there is no incentive to change them. “Diaper dependence” is not good for the child as it may lead to psychological issues later on and to the parents, it is going to cost more in diaper expenses. To the environment, it is going to be another source of pollution as it contributes to the waste landfill.
So potty train your child today. I am going to do just that.
Our little prince is now 14 months old. Went to his doctor 2 weeks ago and was told that he is underweight.
At 14 months old, he only weighs 7.85kg, up 0.85kg since February 2008. 0.85kg over a period of two months is nothing to shout about. He should be weighing at least 9 to 10kg by now. The doctor is very concern about his weight gain. He is on solid food with cereal for breakfast and porridge for lunch and dinner. We cook the porridge with either meat, potato, carrot or spinach. And he is eating well with a big bowl of porridge per serving. The only thing he does not like is drinking milk. He prefers breast milk as he was fully breastfed since birth, but at this stage there is not enough breast milk to keep him satisfied.The doctor advised us to fry the meat and other ingredients with good cooking oil first before putting them into pot to cook his porridge. This will add more calories and hopefully he will gain weight. If after a month of trying out this method, and he still does not gain weight, he would have to go for medical check up to determine the cause of not gaining weight.
Beside not gaining weight, he is fine and very active. He is a fine little boy and we have a tough time keeping up with his activities. How we wish he grows up faster so that we can have more time for ourselves. But on the other hand, we treasure your baby look and baby talk. You are our joy.
As your baby grows, he will be more adventurous and eager to try more food.
His first reaction when he tries the food for the first time could be quite hilarious. If you have a video camera, you may want to capture it. But in your eagerness to introduce new food to him, do remember that some food are not safe for your child. Some pose as a choking hazard, a few are not suitable for your child’s developing digestive system and others are potential allergens.Food to avoid
Citrus fruit can cause allergic reaction in some children below the age of 1 year old.
Egg white is a rich source of protein but some children may be allergic to them. Introduce egg white only after 1 year old.
Honey may contain spores of Clostridium botulinum which causes botulism (a rare, but serious paralytic illness caused by a toxin, botulin that is produced by Clostridium botulinum) . Unlike an adult’s intestinal tract which can prevent the growth of these spores, the spores can grow in baby and produce toxins which can endanger the life of a baby.
Nuts may cause allergic in some babies. Introduce nuts only after 1 year old. This includes peanut butter. Whole nuts or pieces of nuts can be a choking hazard.
Wheat or wheat products like cereal is okay with most babies at 6 to 8 months of age. But if you think that your child is at risk of allergic reaction, then delay it to 1 year old.
Shellfish is highly allergenic and should not be introduced before the age of 1 year old. For sensitive babies, it is best to postpone it till they are 3 or 4 years old.
Large chunks of food are dangerous as they may get stuck in your child’s throat. Fruit like grapes should be cut into quarters before being served to your child. Soft food like mashmallow or jelly candies may also be a choking hazard.
Warning signs of an allergic reaction.
Signs of an allergic reaction to food include vomiting, diarrhea, rash, swelling, abdominal pain, cough, crankiness, excessive gas, hives, itching, runny nose, shortness of breath, stomach bloating, and wheezing. Symptoms most often show up within a few hours of eating. Call your doctor right away if you think your child may be reacting badly to something he ate.
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