Did you know that your baby can communicate with you even before they utter their first words?

From the time they are born, babies develop a need to express themselves. During the first few months, 90% of communication between parents and babies is non-verbal. They often cry as a way to express hunger or exhaustion. But there are subtle cues that, when paid attention to, can help you get to know your baby more.

Making faces

Each baby is different, but what they have in common is their tendency to make faces, like frowning or wrinkling their forehead, which means they are responding to the world around them. They’re also cute little copycats! That’s why they tend to laugh or copy the wacky faces you make when you’re playing with them.

At about 3 to 6 months, babies start to imitate facial expressions of fear, sadness, or surprise. Always remember that babies are observant and that you should be careful not to look so stressed around them. Relax your muscles and hug them tight while rubbing their backs. They may not understand what upsets you, but they will learn the concept of the comfort of their parent’s touch.

Breaking eye contact

When babies avert their gaze, it may mean they are overwhelmed and need a break.

“From about two months on, babies disconnect if they’re feeling overwhelmed or over stimulated,” author and Psychology professor Linda Acredolo, Ph.D. tells Parenting.com. “Sometimes, the baby will turn his head to the side almost stubbornly, or play with his fingers or toes, or even start crying—anything to break contact with an adult.”

For new parents, Dr. Acredelo’s advise is to allow the baby some downtime and refrain from forcing them to look back by tickling or talking to them. Once they turn back to you, that’s when you can reconnect with them.

Smiling

At about 6 to 8 weeks, your baby starts to smile! This is truly one of the most unforgettable moments for parents. Smiles signal contentment, like a warm towel after a bath, or seeing a familiar face. Parents can encourage more smiles, by saying nice words, smiling back, or laughing.

Arching her back

When your baby does this, they may feel some sort of internal or external discomfort. During breastfeeding, it can also mean she is full. Stopping feeding or changing your baby’s position usually helps remedy this.

Rubbing their eyes or ears

This means that they are tired or feeling something is itchy. They can also pull their ears or rub them, as they are some of the most sensitive parts of their body.

Once you see your baby do this, consider putting them down for a nap. But if your baby has a fever, she may have an ear infection, hence the rubbing. Be sure to take her to the doctor as soon as possible.

Crying because of hunger, pain, or tiredness

There are different reasons why your baby cries. Though they may sound the same at first, you’ll soon be able to differentiate them. For instance, a “hungry cry” is usually short, low-pitched and lasts for a few seconds. If not responded to, it gets more intense. Attending to your baby reassures them and builds trust.

As for the “pain cry,” it’s a cry that doesn’t rise and fall. It’s about twice as long as cries of hunger and it’s usually continuous. Check if your baby’s source of discomfort is a soiled diaper or if she’s too cold or too warm. Inspect her clothing or swaddle, if you can’t seem to calm them, perhaps there is some internal pain that warrants a visit to the doctor immediately.

The “tired cry,” which parents usually note after 3 months, is a softer version of a baby’s “pain cry.” How can you tell? This usually happens when your baby has difficulty sleeping. Try holding and stroking them while rocking them back and forth.

Babbling and laughing

Like we said, babies are cute little copycats and at around 3 months of age, they start to mimic and match their mommy and daddy’s tone of voice. They start to coo and babble and are able to string syllables together. At 6 months and beyond, they begin to learn how to convey emotions through their tone.

Encourage your baby’s language development by babbling back to them. These first conversations will do wonders, not only for their growth, but for your bond as well!

READ: Baby talk: The importance of babbling for baby’s language development

sources: KidsHealth.com, Parenting.com, WebMD, emedicinehealth.com

The post How to decode your baby’s wants and needs based on their body language appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Parents can relate to that exhilarating feeling of seeing their baby take her first steps or hearing her utter her first words. Marking milestones is one of the most rewarding moments of parenthood. But did you know that these milestones aren’t just reminders of your child’s growth, but they are also reassurances of your growing bond?

Here are some milestones that bond you more meaningfully during the first 2 years of your child’s life.

1. Eye Contact

Before a baby even speaks, she begins to communicate. Between 6 to 8 weeks, your fast developing little one already has the ability to make eye contact. This means they’re neurological development is right on track, as is their ability to recognize your loving, familiar face. When held or spoken to, infants spend 90% of the time looking into a person’s eyes, giving meaning to each word spoken to them before they can even respond.

2. Smiling

While babies can grin as early as 3 weeks of age, their social smile, or smiling in response to some stimulation, usually appears at 3 months. This smile can make any parent’s heart flutter, reassuring them that their little one is beginning to communicate their happiness or contentment. This forms a deeper attachment, making you more bonded.

3. Babbling

Parents should encourage baby’s cooing and babbling because this is an essential part of language development. It’s also a way to bond with babies. The conversation may be gibberish, for now, but it’s no less meaningful as talking to them once they’re older.

4. Reaching and grasping

Once your child starts to reach and grab objects, she is exercising her power to act towards the world around her.

“It shows desire, interest, and curiosity, which are all critical for learning,” Claire Lerner, director of parenting resources at a U.S. non-profit organization tells CNN.

At 7 or 8 months, babies develop the pincer frasp, or the ability to use their fingers to pick up objects. It is an important skill that parents can encourage as it will be useful as they learn to become more independent, brushing their teeth or dressing themselves without help. As they learn, however, guiding them can also be a way for you to bond.

5. Standing

When your baby is able to pull herself to a standing position, which happens at around 9 to 10 months, you naturally feel a sense of accomplishment. This is one of the early signs that she’s ready to walk. Make sure to encourage this by helping her spend less time in the stroller or car seat. Hold her hand, but let go when it’s time. Bonding with them also means allowing them to stand on their own.

Before you know it, your little one will soon be running and jumping about!

6. First word

Hearing your little one mouth their first few words and string phrases together can bring unimaginable joy. No longer is she babbling unintelligibly, she is starting to converse in her own little way! This is a great way to form bonds through words, as it helps you get to know your child and be amazed as her personality slowly starts to take shape through her expression of thoughts and feelings.

7. Pretend play

Nurturing your child’s imagination through play is an important part of the bonding process. Starting at about 8 months of age, your little one starts to imitate words, actions, and facial expressions. This is why kids pretend to be like their moms on the phone, copying her tone, even if they’re only babbling. They form symbolic thinking this way and they develop their own little quirks and mannerisms based on those they see around them.

Is your child under the age of 2? Share their adorable milestones in the comments below!

READ: Track your baby’s language development by noting these important milestones!

sources: CNN.com, Livestrong.com, Childresearch.net

The post 7 Adorable milestones that help you bond with your baby before age 2! appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

When will your newborn flash you her very first smile?

After 9 long months, your little one is finally here and you cannot stop grinning from ear to ear as you cuddle and coo with her.

But don’t expect your newborn to immediately gaze into your eyes and give you a toothless smile just yet — this is a milestone which usually comes when your baby is around two months old.

Is it really important to try to get a smile out of your bub, and what can you do to encourage a tiny grin out of her?

Reasons why babies smile

You might think that little grimace could possibly be your newborn’s first smile, but if she’s only a few weeks old, chances are that it is probably just her passing gas!

Other reasons that your baby might look like she’s smiling could actually be because she is:

• Falling asleep
• Feeling content
• Very comfortable
• Urinating
• Pooping

Even if her supposedly grin is due to flatulence or because she is straining to poop, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy that adorable little face and pretend that it is a real smile is just for you.

What this milestone means

You can expect your baby’s first smile to appear when she is about six to eight weeks old, where she will flash you a genuine “social smile”.

During her two-month check up, the doctor might also ask you whether she’s flashed her first smile, as this milestone indicates a few things at this stage such as:

Understanding of human behaviour

Not only is it a sign that she’s growing up, but it also shows that she is starting to figure out human behaviour as she realises that it is normal for humans to smile at one another.

Communication

Instead of just crying, your bub will discover that smiling back at you will get your attention and most likely a positive response.

Brain development

As your baby grows, she will observe the world around her and pick up new skills which is a good sign that her brain development is advancing right on track.

You can help encourage your baby to show you her first smile

How to make your baby smile

If you have been anxiously waiting to see your little one’s sweet first smile, there are a few ways you can help to encourage a gummy grin out of her, like:

• Smile at her
• Cuddle her
• Play with her
• Talk to her as often as you can
• Kiss her
• Hug her

Be patient and just continue to shower your baby with love and affection to help put a smile on her face.

When to worry

Each child is different from the other and develop at their own time and pace, so if your two month old baby has not given you a smile yet, this is no cause for concern.

But if an older baby or toddler does not smile when smiled at, this could possibly be an early sign of autism, which is a spectrum that causes delays in certain basic areas of development, such as learning to talk, playing, and interacting with others.

However, if your baby hasn’t smiled at you but is able to vocalise herself, make eye contact and respond to your verbal and visual cues, then it could just mean that she may not have a smiley personality.

Remember to always voice any concerns to a doctor about your baby’s growth and development.

How old was your baby when she first smiled at you? What did you do to get a smile out of your little one? Share your stories with us below.

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore

The post Your newborn baby’s very first smile appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Paglabas ng unang ngipin ng iyong sanggol, saka mo pa lamang maiisip kung bakit nga ba naging iritable at iyakin siya nung mga nakaraang linggo. Bawat bata ay may kakaibang karanasan at nararamdaman sa tuwing magngingipin. Kailangang alamin ni Nanay at Tatay ang mga hudyat ng bagong karanasan (at milestone na rin) na ito upang malaman kung paano makakatulong na mabigyan ng ginhawa ang pakiramdam ni baby.

May ibang hindi naman nakakaranas ng malaking pagbabago o kahit anong sakit, ngunit may mga bata ding hirap at talaga namang lubhang sakit ang pinagdadaanan. Mabuti na lamang ay maraming maaaring gawin para maintindihan ang sakit na hindi maipaliwanag ng isang sanggol, at maremedyuhan ang kondisyong ito.

Kailan nga ba nagsisimula ang pagngingipin?

Ang mga sintomas ay sadyang nauuna ng halos tatlong buwan kaysa sa paglabas mismo ng ngipin. Karaniwang lumalabas ang ngipin sa ika-6 na buwan, ngunit may mga tabang 3 buwan pa lamang ay may mga nagsisimula nang lumabas. May iba rin na umaabot ng halos isang taon bago pa magkangipin. Madalas na nauuna ang dalawang ngipin sa harap, sa ibaba, kasunod ng dalawang ngipin sa harap din, sa itaas.

Ano ang mga karaniwang sintomas?

Paglalaway

Ito na ang pinakakaraniwang hudyat. Nagsisimula ang labis na paglalaway na ito mula ika-10 linggo hanggang 4 na buwan.

Payo: May mga nabibili na ngayong panyo na hugis tatsulok, para sa mga sanggol at toddlers na naglalaway. Nilalagay ito sa leeg, na para ding bib, upang hindi naman kumalat at mabasa ang suot na damit. Malambot ang tela para hindi masugatan o mairita ang balat ng bata sa bandang baba at leeg dahil sa dalas ng pagpunas dito.

Pag-ubo at pagduduwal

Dahil sa dami ng laway, minsan ay halos nabubulunan na at inuubo ang bata. Karaniwan lang ito at hindi dapat ikabahala.

Nahihilig mangagat

Mapapansin na halos lahat ng mahawakan ng bata ay isinusubo at parang nginangatngat. Dahil nga naglalabasan na ang ngipin, ang natural na aksiyon ng bata ay idiin ang gilagid o “kumagat” sa anumang matigas na bagay.

Payo: Karaniwang teether o pacifier ang nakakatulong dito. Subukang gumamit ng teether na nilalagay sa freezer para malamig kapag kinagat o nginuya ni baby. Kapag malamig kasi, natutulungang mamanhid ang gilagid. May mga nabibili na ring teething mitts o mittens na nilalagay sa kamay ng bata, at mga malalambot na laruan na ligtas kagatin.

Madalas na pag-iyak

Ayon sa aklat na Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 ng American Academy of Pediatrics, may mga batang nahihirapan dahil sa sakit ng pagkamaga ng kanilang gilagid o gums sanhi na nga ng lumalabas na ngipin. Lubhang masakit ito lalo na ang mga unang ngipin at ang mga molar.

Payo: May mga maaaring i-resetang pain reliever ang iyong pediatrician o dentista, kaya’t ikunsulta ito kung labis na ang pag-iyak ni baby. Subukang gamitin ang malinis na daliri sa pagdiin o magaan na pagmasahe sa gilagid ni baby.

Madalas ang paggising sa gabi

Minsan magugulat ka na lang dahil ang iyong anak na dati’y nakakatulog na ng buo sa gabi, ngayon ay gumigising at umiiyak na sa hatinggabi o madaling araw.

Payo: Iwasang pakainin siya sa tuwing mangyayari ito dahil ayaw mong masanay siyang muli sa pagkain sa oras na dapat ay tulog siya. Yakap at halik ni Nanay at Tatay ay pinakamabisang remedyo sa pag-iyak ni baby.

Ayaw kumain

Gustuhin mang kumain o dumede kay Nanay, hirap si baby na gawin ito dahil na nga sa pamamaga ng gilagid. Kaya’t lalong iritable dahil nga gutom na, ay may sakit pang nararamdaman.

Payo: Magtanong sa doktor kung paano matutulungan ang iyong anak na kumain, kung lumagpas na sa isang araw na hindi siya kumakain, mahina ang kain niya ng ilang araw na. Sinasabing ang malalamig na inumin ay nakakatulong na maibsan ang sakit, para sa mga batang anim na buwan pataas. Bigyan si baby ng malamig na tubig (walang yelo) sa bote o baso. Subukan ding pakainin ng malalamig na pagkain tulad ng yogurt, applesauce, pinalamig na saging (mashed).

photo: dreamstime

Sinisinat

Dahil nga namamaga ang gilagid, maaaring magkaron ng sinat o mababang lagnat si baby, na hindi naman dapat ikabahala.

Payo: Kung higit sa 101 degrees at umabot ba ng 3 araw, itawag o ikunsulta na sa pediatrician.

Ang diarrhea o pagtatae ay karaniwang nararanasan ng mga batang nagngingipin. May mga nagsasabing hindi ang pagngingipin ang sanhi ng pagtatae at wala itong kinalaman sa kondisyong ito. Pero ayon kay Joel Vergel De Dios, DMD, maaaring ang pagsubo ng mga iba’t ibang bagay ang nagdadala ng bacteria sa sistema ng bata, kaya’t nagtatae ito. Ngunit hindi ang pagngingipin ang direktang dahilan nito.

Ganoon din ang lagnat. Ayon din sa American Academy of Pediatrics, sa panahong nagngingipin ang bata, bumababa din ang passive immunity na nakuha nito sa antibodies ng ina mula sa sinapupunan, kaya’t mas bukas ang bata sa pagpasok ng mga bactria at virus. Tandaan na kung may lagnat, pagsusuka o pagtatae, maaaring may mas malaking dahilan ito, liban sa pagngingipin. Ikunsulta agad ito sa doktor.

BAWAL! Ayon sa Food and Drug Administration (FDA), huwag bibigyan si baby ng topical numbing agents, tulad ng herbal o homeopathic teething gels at iba pang katulad na medisina.

KUNG ang anak ay wala pa ring ngipin pagdating ng 18 buwan, ikunsulta ito sa iyong pediatrician, na maaaring mag-rekomenda ng pediatric dentist para kay baby. Hindi dapat mabahala kung huli ang paglabas ng ngipin ng anak. Kailangan lang siguraduhing walang ibang komplikasyon ito.

Sources: Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, 6th Edition (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics); Dr Joel Vergel De Dios, DMD, DOCTORS CLINICS and DIALYSIS CENTER of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Ave.

BASAHIN: 6 Importanteng tanong para sa magiging doktor ng iyong anak

The post Nagngingipin na ba si baby? Narito ang mga sintomas at hudyat nito appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

If you are a mum who is about to welcome a bundle of joy around the holidays, you might be worried that your child will grow up with a birthday that’s constantly outshone by Christmas.

But according to studies, you can actually be excited that your baby will be born in December.

Here’s what December-born babies have going for them, according to science:

They are easier to rouse and put to sleep

A study done on Italian and Spanish university students found that December-born babies are easier to wake up and put to sleep than those born in the middle of the year.

They will probably grow up generous, optimistic and funny!

If you are familiar with astrology, then you know that babies born in December are either a Sagittarius or a Capricorn. Sagittarians are described as generous, optimistic, and funny, while Capricorns are viewed as practical, responsible, and self-disciplined.

Of course, the development of these traits are not solely reliant on star signs, but on a parent’s love and guidance.

Why are December babies special? They are born early risers! (photo: shutterstock)

They have an academic advantage

Babies born in December are usually the youngest in their class and studies claim this actually helps them excel in academics in the future because as early as kindergarten, they are exposed to more mature or older kids who they can learn from and grow with.

They will most likely become a dentist one day

Though oddly specific, past research actually claims a child’s birth month can influence what profession she pursues as an adult. For babies born in December, a career in oral medicine is most likely in their future.

They can live to celebrate their 100th birthday!

Babies born in during the Holidays have been known to have a longer life span, according to statistics published in the Journal of Aging Research.

Researchers found that over a 1,000 of their study’s subjects who lived beyond a 100 were born during the last quarter of the year.

Though these are interesting findings, what’s most important is that your baby is born healthy, regardless of when their birthday is!

sources: Motherly, Romper

READ: Learn more about your kid’s personality through their zodiac signs!

The post What makes December babies special? Here’s what science says appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Parenting is a wonderful yet difficult journey. Most parents would agree that raising a baby is definitely not a cakewalk and those initial months after childbirth bring along many things ranging from excitement and curiosity to frustration and stress. However, what makes this entire experience worthwhile is watching your little one grow up before your eyes and soon enough, you both reach an important milestone together, that of starting solids.

Starting solids for your baby: A crucial phase for breastfeeding moms

Image Source:File Photo

Mom, before reaching this stage, you may have exclusively breastfed your little one and now, you may have mixed feelings as for the first time you introduce your baby to something from outside. It is only natural to feel anxious about this new change. However, it is a necessary step to take for the sake of your own child.

So, while you continue to nurture your little one by breastfeeding, introducing other essential foods comes in quite naturally. To make this transition easier for you, here are some important tips:

1. How to know if your baby is ready for starting solids?

Mostly, solids can be started when the baby is between 4 and 6 months of age. Watch out for these important signs in your baby to know whether they are ready for starting solids as yet:

Image Source:File Photo

– Your little one starts sitting up on his or her own.

– They can hold their head up for a long time.

– He or she shows interest in mealtime, that is, they may try to grab food from your plate.

– Despite nursing or bottle feeding your baby continues to be hungry.

– The tongue-thrust-reflex or automatically pushing food out with their tongue is reduced in your baby.

– Your baby opens his or her mouth upon seeing food.

– He or she starts keeping the tongue low to receive the spoon.

2. Why should you wait for your baby to be ready for their first solids?

It is important to ensure your baby’s readiness before starting solids as it can impact your baby staying at a healthy weight.

3. What should you include in your baby’s diet?

Here’s what you must include in your baby’s diet during the age of 4 to 8 months:

Image Source: File Photo

Grains

Starting from the age of 6 months offer 1 or 2 tablespoons of single cereals like rice and barley. Between 6 and 8 months, you can offer 3 to 4 tablespoons of iron-rich cereal or hot cereals, dry toast, small pieces of crackers or dry cereals.

Vegetables

Start with 1 to 2 tablespoons of veggies like squash, peas, green beans, broccoli, carrots or spinach. These can be cooked, strained or pureed. You can gradually increase the quantity to 3 to 4 tablespoons.

Fruits

You can start feeding 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh or cooked banana and applesauce to your baby between the age of 4 and 6 months. After that, till your baby turns 8 months you can increase the quantity to 3 to 4 tablespoons.

Protein-rich foods

You may start with protein rich foods only after the baby turns 6 months old. You can offer them well-cooked, plain, strained or pureed meats or poultry, egg yolk, mashed beans and plain yogurt.

Cerelac

For your 6 month old baby, Cerelac can be the nutritious first solid. Each serving of Cerelac includes BIFIDUS BL Probiotics & DHA, more than 50% of your baby’s iron intake, Omega 3 and other essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. You can choose from the 11 options that has naturally grown ingredients.

4. What drinks can I give my baby?

Mom, you must avoid giving sugary drinks to your baby such as pouched and ready-to-drink juices or sodas. Rely on water in case you want to offer something when feeding them solids. You may give fresh juice in a cup aside from water.

5. How to know if your baby is done eating?

Image Source: File Photo

When feeding your baby, know when they are done:

– If your baby moves his or her face away

– If they keep the lips shut

Mom, when your baby shows you that he or she does not want to eat anymore, don’t force-feed. Your baby is learning to eat at this time and also understanding his or her own cues about feeling hungry and full.

6. Is it important to involve family members?

Yes. Apart from you, other caregivers of your little one must be involved in feeding solids to him or her. While you know everything about your baby, it is essential that even others in the family understand the baby’s hunger and fullness cues. This will help them in feeding your baby at the right time as well as avoid overfeeding in your absence.

7. How you can avoid picky-eating?

Offer a variety of foods to your little one and let them taste one food at least 7 times until they develop a liking for it. Make sure you include different colours, textures and flavors. As much as possible keep the diet varied as it can help avoid picky-eating later on.

8. How to feed the baby?

Image Source: File Photo

Firstly, keep in mind that you will require a lot of patience here. Your baby may take around 10 to 15 times of feeding over several months to get used to a new flavor. Offer only a spoonful to begin with. Don’t start with a bowl-full quantity. It may be too much for the baby.

9. When to introduce a new solid food and finger foods?

Follow these simple tips:

– Offer one new food at a time.

– Hold on for at least seven days before offering a new food.

– Give your baby some time to adjust.

– Keep a check for any allergies related to the new food that you have offered.

Image Source: File Photo

Continue to offer the foods that your baby has previously rejected. It takes your little one a while before they can get used to a new flavor.

10. What changes should you watch out for after starting solids?

Watch out for these important changes after you start feeding solids to your baby:

– Your baby’s poop becomes more solid

– It can have varied colors based on what food they have been eating. For example, green vegetables may turn it to a deep-green while beetroots can make it red. Beetroots can also make the urine red at times.  

– The poop can also have a strong odor.

– It may also have undigested food pieces like hulls of peas and corn, tomato skins and so on. This is quite normal as your little one’s digestive system is not yet fully developed. It will take time to completely process new foods.

– In case of poop being loose, watery or full of mucus, slow down the process of feeding solids. This is an indication that your little one’s digestive tract is irritated. See a doctor if there is no improvement in this.

Parents also need to keep in mind that babies can have intolerance for certain foods and food allergies like nuts. These foods must be avoided.

Mom, with these easy and effective tips, starting solids for your little one won’t be as difficult as you imagined or feared.

You can know more about Cerelac here.

Note: This product is not suitable as a breastmilk substitute. Infants 6 months onwards should be given fresh and indigenous foods in combination with continuous breastfeeding.

The post Starting solids for your baby: A first-time-mom’s guide! appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Do you sometimes wonder what baby thoughts are like?

Conventional wisdom tells us that our capacity for reason is rooted in language. However, a new study published recently in Science suggests that this capacity to reason logically may not just depend on language, at least not entirely. Their findings reveal that babies who are still too young to talk can reason and make rational deductions.

In other words, babies can think logically before they can talk!

The study’s authors studied infants between the ages of 12 and 19 months, a time in an infant’s life when language learning and speech production has begun, but before complex mastery of it has been achieved.

Baby thoughts and logic

During the study, the children inspected distinct objects, like a dinosaur and a flower. Then, the researchers hid the items behind a black wall.

In one set of experiments, an animation would show a cup scooping up the dinosaur. Half of the time, the researchers would remove the barrier to reveal the flower that remained.

In the remaining instances, the wall would disappear to reveal that the dinosaur remained. And the kids were able to deduce that something was wrong, even if they were unable to put into words what was wrong.

Eye-tracking baby thoughts

To discover this, the researchers used a common technique to gauge mental abilities in pre-verbal children (and apes) called “eye-tracking.”

The technique showed infants stared significantly longer at scenes where the new object appeared behind the barrier. This suggests that babies experience confusion when shown unexpected and new information. 

“Our results indicate that the acquisition of logical vocabulary might not be the source of the most fundamental logical building blocks in the mind,” says lead study author Nicoló Cesana-Arlotti. Cesana-Arlotti is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department Psychological and Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

During the study, Cesana-Arlotti and his teammates also reported infants’ pupils dilated when watching animations featuring illogical outcomes. Experts know that it also occurs in adults tasked with logic problems and provides more evidence that babies are aware of the way things “should” be.

“Their approach of using multiple trial types is very strong,” says Johns Hopkins psychologist and reason researcher Justin Halberda. He was not involved in the study but he wrote an accompanying analysis in Science about the new study.

Baby thoughts are mostly just babies talking to themselves

Halberda notes that a major component of human logic relates to thinking about alternative possibilities and eliminating inconsistent ones.

For example, does the dinosaur sit behind the barrier or does the flower? In formal logical terms, it’s basically “A or B.” Not “if A, therefore B.”

“I think many people would say that most of their reasoning happens when they are silently talking to themselves in their heads,” Halberda said. “What this new study reveals is that preverbal infants are also working through this same type of serial reasoning, and doing so before robust language abilities have been mastered.”

Language is still vital in developing brains and baby thoughts

Cesana-Arlotti did acknowledge their findings do not deny the importance of language and symbolic communication to human brain development, especially to our evolutionary backstory.

However, the new study suggests that, perhaps, language is not completely necessary to shape the brain’s logical reasoning capacities.

Cesana-Arlotti plans to continue further in the study. He say he wants to look into how preverbal logic might still differ from post-verbal logic. (That is, reasoning abilities that emerge after babies learn how to talk.)

Why? Because language may open additional reasoning abilities unavailable to the speechless brain.

Baby thoughts and mental development

He also hopes to look further into the mental development of young children.

“Our research aims to investigate the earliest foundations of our ability to reason logically,” he says, “a major basis for learning, creativity and flexibility in the human mind.”

“To our knowledge, nobody has ever directly documented logical reasoning in 12-month-old infants before,” he adds. “The exploration of the initial state of logic in the mind is a very exciting enterprise.”

Source: Scientific American

YOU CAN ALSO READ: How and what you read to baby can impact brain development

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore

The post Babies can think logically before they talk appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

As a new mom, you might wonder: What are newborn reflexes exactly? And what is their purpose? What do newborn reflexes look like? Is it that instinctive adorable thing that they do when their hand curls around your finger? Or the funny stretch that they like to do when unswaddled? What are newborn reflexes and when and why do they happen?

Let’s find out.

What Are Newborn Reflexes? 10 You Must Know About

1. Rooting Reflex

You touch your newborn’s cheek and he turns towards the direction he is being touched with his mouth open. This could mean he is hungry and wants to nurse. However, for many new moms instead of recognizing what are newborn reflexes, they can mistake this as a positive cue for hunger, when actually you’re just stimulating your newborn’s reflex action by stroking his cheek.

2. Sucking Reflex

Rooting actually cues the baby to suck. You can trigger your newborn’s sucking by gently touching the roof of his mouth with a finger, nipple and even with a bottle.

However, this reflex will only fully develop at about 36 weeks. So if you are a mom with a premature baby and are unsure what are newborn reflexes, you may wonder why your little one has weak sucking abilities. Not to worry — the sucking reflex will develop as your baby catches up with that 36-week mark.

Babies also have a hand-to-mouth reflex that goes with rooting and sucking. They may suck on their fingers or hands. Again this can be confused with hunger, but many babies like to “comfort suck” as well as to self-soothe.

3. Moro Reflex (aka Startle Reflex)

When startled by a sudden movement or loud noise, your newborn will throw his head back, with arms and legs extended and start crying.

After that, he will retract his arms and legs into a hugging position as if to protect himself. New moms can minimize this by swaddling their newborns. Swaddling not only helps prevent babies from waking themselves up, but also helps them to feel more secure.

4. Gag Reflex

The “gag reflex” happens when your newborn suddenly swallows way too much milk. This could happen during a really strong letdown or if you are overproducing breastmilk.

Your newborn’s first instinct is to close off his throat, and this, in turn, causes his tongue expel the excess milk out of his mouth.

You might be thinking, “Oh no, is he alright? Did I choke him?” But there’s usually no cause for worry. Just hold your baby upright or into a sitting position and rub his back as if you were burping him and he should be alright.

5. Crawling Reflex

During tummy time and when your newborn is on his stomach, he will usually draw his knees up under his tummy in a fetal position. It might look like he is attempting to crawl but in a really cute way.

If you apply some pressure to his feet, you will see him attempting to push forward with the help of your hand. So never leave your baby unattended on the bed or on something high like a changing table. Small as he may be, he can still be pretty mobile even though he hasn’t started to flip or crawl properly yet.

6. Babinski’s Reflex

If you try stroking firmly the soles of your newborn’s feet from heel to toe, you will notice his feet respond. His big toe will bend back while other toes fan out. Moms will see this reflex up to about two years of age. This reflex helps to prevent falling when your baby is ready to take his first few steps.

7. Walking (or Step) Reflex

This is also known as the dance reflex because your little one might look like he’s trying to moonwalk when you hold them upright, with their feet on a flat surface.

8. Grasp Reflex/Palmar Grasp

Everybody loves this reflex! The grasp reflex is when your baby’s hand closes around your finger every time you press or touch the palm of his hand. Of course the same will happen if say, using an object instead of your finger. But why do that when a tiny hand wrapped around your fingers will give you “the feels!”

For new moms who are not familiar with, or know what are newborn reflexes, you might see your doctor test this reflex by holding both of your baby’s wrists and lifting him forward into a sitting position.

Incidentally, you might see some of the older generations do this as an exercise to “strengthen your baby’s neck muscles.” To check traction response, your baby’s head should first be tilted back, when he is first lifted before straightening and then falling forward.

10. Galant Reflex

Your doctor might actually do this test at your baby’s regular checkup to see if your baby’s spinal nerves are well developed. While holding your baby facing down, your doctor will gently stroke along one side of his back. If all is well, your baby should arch his body and pull his pelvis towards the side he was stroked.

So moms! Out of the 10 listed above, what are the newborn reflexes you’ve tested? Which ones are your favorite? Do share with us in the comment box below.

Source: Stanford Children’s Health

Read also: Why do newborns looks so worried?

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore

The post 10 newborn reflexes every new mom needs to know about appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Nag-iisip ka ba kung kailan magbabago ang oras o tagal ng pag-idlip ng iyong anak? Kapag nag-2 taong gulang ang bata, mapapansin na mababawasan ang oras at dalas ng pag-idlip nito, lalo na sa umaga.

Sa edad na ito, madalas ay sa hapon na lang siya matutulog o iidlip, at mas mahaba na ang oras na gising siya at buhay na buhay ang diwa. May ibang toddler na tumitigil na sa pag-idlip sa maghapon pagdating ng edad na 3 taon, habang may ibang bata na patuloy na natutulog ng isa hanggang dalawang beses hanggang mag-6 na taong gulang.

Pag-idlip ni baby: Lahat ng dapat malaman

May ibang magulang na ikinatutuwa ang maikling “break” na nakukuha kapag umiidlip ang paslit nila sa maghapon. Pero may mga iba na mas gustong gising ang anak nila, at hindi na iidlip, para mas madaling makatulog nang maaga sa gabi.

Lingid marahil sa kaalaman ng iba, maraming benepisyong makukuha sa pag-idlip ng mga bata sa maghapon.

Ang pag-idlip o nap ay kailangan ng mga batang lumalaki. Dito nakakaipon ng lakas muli ang bata at na-rerecharge sila, bukod pa sa nakakatulong sa awareness at concentration nila, at nababawasan ang pagiging “anxious” nila.

Ano ang mga benepisyo ng pag-idlip

Tumutulong ang pag-idlip sa emotional development ng mga toddlers. Ang mga batang hindi nakakapagpahinga sa araw at hindi nakakakumpleto ng sleep cycle nila ay nagkakaroon ng stress at anxiety. Humihina rin daw ang cognitive abilities (problem-solving skills) nila.

May mga pagsasaliksik na nagpapatunay na ang hindi sapat na pagtulog sa pamamagitan ng hindi sapat na pag-idlip ay nakahadlang sa paraan ng paghayag ng kanilang damdamin.

Ang pag-idlip ay naghahanda sa mga bata sa pagkatuto sa eskwela. Isang pag-aaral ng National Institute of Health sa Amerika ang nagsuri ng relasyon ng “naps” at “memory”. Ayon dito, ang mga preschoolers na nakakaidlip sa maghapon ay may mas mahusay na recall at learning abilities.

Ang pag-idlip sa araw ay nakakatulong sa pagtulog sa gabi. Ang mga adults ay hindi nangangailangan ng higit sa 8 o 9 na oras ng tulog, kaya’t nahihirapan tayong matulog sa gabi kapag umidlip tayo sa araw.

Iba ang kaso ng mga toddlers. Kailangan nila ng higit sa 14 oras ng pagtulog. Ang daytime naps ay tumutulong na makumpleto ang sleep cycle nito. Kung hindi sila nakakatulog nang sapat, nagiging iritable sila at balisa kaya’t di kaagad nakakatulog sa gabi.

Ang pag-idlip ay nagbibigay ng “downtime” sa mga bata, o oras ng pahinga. Tulad ng pangangailangan ng mga matatanda ng oras para mag-unwind at mag-relax pagkatapos ng office hours, ang mga bata ay kailangan din ng downtime sa maghapon. Ito ang oras na nagbibigay sa mga bata ng pagkakataon na mag-isip at gamitin ang imahinasyon nila, ma-relax at maging masaya.

Ang pag-idlip ay nakakapigil sa toddler tantrums. Ang batang may sapat na pahinga ay mas masaya at mas “energised” sa maghapon. Nababawasan din ang mga sumpong at pagbubwisit niya.

Bagamat ang pag-idlip ng mga toddler sa maghapon ay nakakatulong sa growth at development ng bata, mayroon ding ilang mga bagay na dapat ikabahala kapag may napansing labis na pag-idlip. Ito marahil ay indikasyon ng problema sa kalusugan. Kung ang iyong anak ay natutulog ng maghapon at labis sa dati niyang oras ng pagtulog, maaaring may dapat ikabahala sa kalusugan niya.

Ano ang negatibong epekto ng pag-idlip ng bata?

Naaantala ang pagtulog sa gabi. Kung natutulog nang mas matagal ang toddler sa maghapon, maaaring maurong ang oras ng pagtulog niya sa gabi. Baka kasi mas gusto niyang maglaro nang mas mahabang oras kaya’t hirap nang makatulog sa gabi.

Kung ganito nang ganito palagi, maaaring paurong nang paurong ang oras ng pagtulog habang tumatagal.

Ang labis na pag-idlip ay maaaring makapagpabagal ng bata.

Kung palaging tulog o mahaba ang tulog, mahihirapan ang batang maging “gising” ang diwa, kaya parang tinatamad at “lethargic”.
Ang labis na pagtulog ay maaaring maging dahilan ng obesity o labis na pagbigat ng timbang ng mga bata. Kailangang mahikayat silang gumalaw at mag-ehersisyo.

Ang madalas na pag-idlip ay maaaring indikasyon ng problema sa kalusugan. Kung napapansin na madalas at matagal ang pag-idlip ng bata sa araw, pagkatapos ay maaga pang natutulog sa gabi, maaaring may health issue din. Kumunsulta agad sa doktor kapag napansin ito sa anak.

Paano naman kung ayaw matulog ng bata sa gabi?

Kailangang gawing handa ang paligid ng isang bata sa pag-idlip sa araw at pagtulog sa gabi.

Ano ang dapat gawin ng mga nanay para mapa-idlip ang mga anak nila?

Kung hindi nakakatulog ang mga bata ng 11 o 12 oras sa gabi, kailangang hikayatin sila na kumpletuhin ang kailangang oras ng tulog.

Sa batang edad, excited ang mga bata na madiskubre ang paligid nila. Ayaw nilang matulog dahil gusto nilang patuloy na makita at malaman kung ano ang mga nasa paligid nila. Hindi makatulog kaya’t labis na napapagod.

Narito ang ilang pwedeng gawin para mapatulog ang mga bata sa araw:

Ang nap time ng bata ay dapat sa parehong oras, parehong lugar para madaling makatulog.

Magtakda ng lugar na tulugan. Subukang patulugin ang bata sa parehong lugar sa bahay, sa araw araw, kung saan din siya natutulog sa gabi. Makikilala niya ang lugar na ito na “tulugan” niya, kaya’t makakasanayan niya ito.

Kung ano ang routine sa buong linggo, gawin din ito sa weekend. Kung pumapasok siya sa preschool at umiidlip siya duon, ipadala ang mga paboritong “sleep toys” o laruan na katabi niya sa pagtulog kung ito ang nakakatulong sa pag-idlip niya.

Ipaliwanag sa bata ang kahalagahan ng pagtulog. Kung ang bata ay 4 na taong gulang pababa, at ayaw matulog sa araw, kausapin siya, basahan ng libro at ipaliwanag ang kabutihan ng pagtulog para sa kalusugan niya, tulad ng makakatulong ito na magkaron siya ng mas maraming energy sa paglalaro.

Magtakda ng routine sa araw na pareho sa gabi. Gayahin ang routine sa gabi para masanay siya. Magbasa ng bedtime story, diliman ang ilaw, maglagay ng madilim na kurtina, at dahan dahang umalis sa kuwarto.

Kung alinman o lahat ng ito ay hindi pa rin epektibo, maaaring oras na para iwaksi ang pag-idlip sa araw. Ang daytime napping ay dapat na kaaya-aya at masayang gawain at bahagi ng routine ng bata. Kung palagi itong pinag-aawayan at nakaka-stress lang, baka dapat nang tanggapin na malaki na ang bata at hindi na kailangan ng daytime nap.

Oras na ba para itigil ang daytime nap?

Narito ang ilang hudyat na pwede nang itigil ang daytime naps.

Matagal nang patulugin ang bata sa araw. Isa itong karaniwang hudyat na handa na ang batang hindi umidlip ang bata sa araw. Mas gusto na niyang maglaro at gumawa ng iba’t ibang bagay sa maghapon kaysa matulog.

Mas matagal na siyang matulog sa gabi. Kung palagi na lang umiiwas sa pag-idlip, mahihirapan din siyang matulog sa gabi. Kung gusto siyang patulugin ng 1:30 ng hapon, at ayaw niya, kaya umaabot ng hanggang alas 3 sa pagpapatulog sa kaniya, natural na huli na rin siyang gigising mula sa pag-idlip. Ang resulta: hindi nakakatulog ng nasa oras sa gabi.

Kung hindi pagod ang bata, huwag na itong piliting umidlip. Kung hindi siya nakakaidlip sa araw, pero masayahin pa din at hindi nagbubuwisit, walang dapat ikabahala. Isa itong hudyat na handa na siya sa transisyon.

Ilang oras ang dapat na tulog ng bata?

Ang toddlers ay dapat na makatulog ng mula 11 hanggang 14 oras sa isang araw., at 1 hanggang 3 oras ng pag-idlip sa araw.

Para sa mga batang 2 taon hanggang 8 taong gulang:
Edad 4 hanggang 5 taon: 10-13 oras ng tulog, na may hanggang 2.5 oras ng pag-idlip sa araw.
Edad 6 hanggang 8 taon: 9-11 oras ng tulog at walang daytime nap.

Kung hindi na umiidlip sa araw ang bata, ihanda ang sarili.

Kailangang suportahan ito at alam kung ano ang dapat gawin.

Tandaan na bawat bata ay may iba-ibang paraan ng transisyon. May biglaan, at may unti-unti.

Respetuhin ang kagustuhan ng mga bata at huwag silang pilitin na umidlip. Kung ayaw niyang umidlip sa araw, patulugin siya sa gabi nang mas maaga para makapagpahinga ng sapat.

Isinalin sa wikang Filipino mula sa orihinal na Ingles ni ANNA SANTOS VILLAR

BASAHIN: Dapat bang mag-alala kapag nauntog ang anak mo?

The post Hanggang kailan dapat umiidlip ang bata ng halos buong maghapon? appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

From the moment of conception, day by day, you nurture your baby inside your womb. If your baby doesn’t have the chance to fully develop inside your womb for 37 to 40 weeks, the risk of brain and other health issues is high.

A premature baby is one who is born earlier than 37 weeks gestation. These tiny babies often battle a wide range of health issues. This due to their under-developed immune system and immature organs such as the brain, lungs and heart.

If proper brain growth in preemies does not happen, then the baby is at an elevated risk for issues around learning, communication, emotional regulation, and social bonding.

Now, there’s some great news in relation to boosting brain development in preemies. According to a recent study, breastmilk boosts preemie’s brain growth. Let’s find out how.

Breastmilk fuels brain growth in preemies!

How Does Breastmilk Boost Brain Growth in Preemies?

Cynthia Rogers is the senior investigator of the study, and an assistant professor of child psychiatry who treats patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in the USA.

She said, “The brains of babies born before their due dates usually are not fully developed, but breast milk has shown to be helpful in other areas of development, so we looked to see what effect it might have on the brain. With MRI scans, we found that babies fed more breastmilk had larger brain volumes. This is important because several other studies have shown a correlation between brain volume and cognitive development.*”

*As per Health of Children, cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood.

The Study: Brain Growth in Preemies and Breastmilk

Seventy-seven preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Louis Children’s Hospital were studied. The goal was “to see whether it was possible to detect the impact of breastmilk on the brain this early in life and whether the benefits appeared quickly or developed over time.”

Researchers checked the amount of breastmilk fed to the babies while they were in the NICU. Then, doctors conducted brain scans.

Results

The researchers discovered an astounding result. Premature babies with daily diets of at least 50 percent breastmilk had more brain tissue and cortical-surface area by their due dates than premature babies who consumed significantly less breastmilk!

Conclusion

Feeding premature babies mostly breastmilk during the first month of life appears to support more robust brain growth, compared with babies given little or no breast milk.

First author Erin Reynolds said, “As the amount of breastmilk increased, so did a baby’s chances of having a larger cortical surface area. The cortex is the part of the brain associated with cognition, so we assume that more cortex will help improve cognition as the babies grow and develop.”

Rogers said further investigation is needed to determine how breastmilk affects the brain. It is also unclear what component in milk promotes brain development.

She explained that because all the babies in the study were born early, it isn’t clear whether breastmilk would provide similar benefits for babies born at full term.

The powers of breastmilk never fail to amaze us, right moms?

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore

The post The amazing way breastmilk helps a premature baby’s brain grow appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Ang mga bagong panganak na sanggol ay hindi naman laging flawless ang balat. Marami rin silang posibleng skin problems, tulad ng dry skin, pamamalat, o acne. Isa rin dito’y Mongolian blue spots, balat o birthmarks, na maaaring nakakabahala para sa mga magulang.

Ang balat o birthmarks ay pangkaraniwan naman. Pero minsan, nag-aalala ang mga magulang dahil dito, lalo na kung kakaiba an itsura at kulay na ito.

Sa article na ito, malalaman niyo ang importanteng impormasiyon tungkol sa birthmark na Mongolian blue spots. 

Balat ng Baby: Ano ang Mongolian Blue Spots?

Tinatawag ding slate gray nevi o dermal melanocystosis, ang Mongolian blue spots ay uri ng pigmented birthmark ng baby. Ang mga ito ay bluish-gray ang kulay, pero maaari ding maging sobrang dark o light gray. Kadalasan ay iisa lamang ang kulang ng buong birthmark. 

Ang Mongolian blue spots ay iba-iba ang laki, pero kadalasan ito ay konting sentimetro lamang. Flat lamang sila at di maumbok. 

Kadalasan, nakikita ang birthmark ng baby na ito sa puwet o lower back. Pero puwede din naman itong mapansin sa braso at binti ni baby. 

Maaaring andyan na ang birthmark ng baby pagkapanganak pero puwede rin naman malipas ang ilang araw pa ito lumabas. 

Ano ang sanhi ng Mongolian Blue Spots?

Habang nasa sinapupunan pa si baby, ang mga cells na bubuo ng kaniyang balat ay umaalsa. Ayon sa mga eksperto, ang tinatawag na dermal melanocyte ay umaangat sa top layer ng balat sa ika-11 o 14th week ng pagbubuntis.  Kadalasa’y nawawala ito sa ika-20 week ng pagbubuntis.

Kapag hindi ito nawawala, nagiging birthmark, o Mongolian blue spots ito. Dahil na-trap sila sa layer ng balat, kaya bluish-gray na ang kulay nito. 

Madalas ang birthmark na ito ay nakikita sa bata mula sa Asia, Middle East, African o kids of Mediterranean descent. Nangyayari ito sa 75% ng babies mula sa ganitong lahi. Bihira naman ito sa mga batang galing sa Europe. Maaari ito mangyari sa babae man o lalaki pero mas madalas daw ito sa mga baby boys, pero hindi pa klaro kung bakit. 

Mga alamat tungkol sa Mongolian Blue Spots

Ayon sa alamat sa Korea, ang Mongolian blue spots daw ay lumalabas kapag ang isang shaman na ispirito ay pinapalo ang baby sa puwet para lumabas na ito sa sinapupunan. Sa China naman, ang balat ng baby na ito ay tinatawa na “taiji” at nangyayari daw kapag pinapalo ng Diyos ang bata bilang panimula sa buhay.

Ang Japan naman ay may sariling paniniwala. Ayon sa alamat nila, ang balat ng baby na ito ay “asshirigaaoi” o “blue bottom” at nangyayari kapag nagtatalki ang mag-asawa habang pinagbubuntis ni mommy ang bata. 

Dapat bang mabahala dahil sa Mongolian Blue Spots? 

Para sa mga ibang magulang, maaaring nag-aalala sila kapag nakikita nila itong balat ng baby dahil mukha silang pasa o kung ano pa mang sintomas. Pero huwag mabahala, mga mommies at daddies, dahil hindi ito hudyat ng malubhang sakit tulad ng kanser o ano pa man. 

Paminsan-minsan, maaaring mapagkamalan pa itong spinal condition na spina bifida occulta. Pero ayon sa Spina Bifid Association, ang mga markang ito ay namumula at hindi tulad ng bluish-gray na Mongolian blue spots. 

Madalas, nawawala rin nang kusa ang Mongolian blue spots kapag five years old na ang bata. Para sa iba, maaaring matagalan pa, minsan kapag teengaer na sila. 

Minsan naman, ang Mongolian blue spots ay maaaring hudyat ng sakit sa metabolismo, pero bihira lamang ito. 

Kumunsulta sa doktor kapag ang iyong baby ay magkaroon nito pagpanganak para makasigurong ito nga ang kondisyon nila. Para na rin malaman ang mga options kung magtagal man ang balat ng baby hanggang sa lumaki na siya. 

Bakit kailangan kunan ng pictures ang balat ng baby?

Gaya ng sinabi kanina, ang Mongolian blue spots ay maaaring mapagkamalang pasa o “spank marks.” Ang mga maalagang teachers o yaya maaaring matakot na sign ito ng abuse kaya mas mabuti nang makasiguro at idokumento ito. 

Itago ang mga larawang ito at ipakita kapag kinakailangan para maiwasan ang misunderstandings. Maaari rin itong maging useful para ma-monitor mo ang anumang pagbabago sa balat ng baby. 

Ipagbigay alam sa doktor if magbago man ang kulay o itsura nitong balat ng baby.

Isinalin sa wikang Filipino mula sa orihinal na Ingles ni Bianchi Mendoza.

sources: Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, MedlinePlus, Healthline, gosh.nhs.uk

Featured image from Stanford Medicine (Janelle Aby)

BASAHIN: Eczema sa mga bata: 10 bagay na dapat malaman tungkol sa sakit sa balat na ito

The post Mongolian blue spots sa sanggol: Mahalagang kaalaman appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Bilang bagong magulang, bawat araw ay napupuno ng maraming natututunan tungkol sa development ng baby mo at ang pagaaruga sa kanilang iba’t ibang pangangailangan. Para sa mga magulang na may baby boys, importanteng marunong silang magalaga ng foreskin o ang tinatawag na harapang balat.

Ayon sa Mayo Clinic, ang foreskin ay ang balat na tumatakip sa ulo ng penis.

Kalaunan, ang foreskin at ang glans na iisang tissue lamang ay maghihiwalay. Karaniwan itong nangyayari kapag two to three years old na ang bata.

Maaari ding mangyari ang paghihiwalay bago man sila ipanganak, pero bihira lamang itong mangyari. Karaniwang mga iilang buwan pa, o sa ibang bata, ilang taon pa, hanggang mga 5 years old. Ngunit, wala naman dapat ikabahala kapag lumagpas na sila sa edad na ito at hindi pa rin nangyayari. 

Isang karaniwang nakakaligtaan ng new moms ay ang paghila sa foreskin kapag nililinisan ito. 

Ngunit, ang foreskin ng baby ay hindi dapat hinihila nang masyadong maaga dahil maaari itong mag-cause ng injury. 

Maliban dito, ang pagpwersa nito ay maaaring masakit para kay baby at hindi ito mapapansin dahil karaniwang umiiyak naman sila talaga kapag pinapalitan ang diaper o pinaliliguan.

Huwag piliting hilain ang foreskin ng baby mo, babala ng American Academy of Pediatrics dahil maaaring ma-injure o masugatan ang bata. Kapag na-force ito, maaaring maging mahirap o masakit na ito kapag lumaki ang bata.

Kapag nililinis ang foreskin ng baby, sapat na ang tubig at sabon

Sa paglilinis ng foreskin ng baby, importanteng umiwas sa matatapang na sabon. | image: shutterstock

Ang pagpapaligo ay sapat na para paniguraduhing malinis ang uncircumcised penis ni baby. Tama lang ang gumamit ng sabon at maligamgam na tubig, sabi ng Mayo Clinic.

Huwag gumamit ng cotton buds o kahit ano pang formulation o panlinis. Kung circumcised o natuli na si baby, puwedeng gumamit ng cotton balls na inilublob sa sabong may tubig. Puwedeng linisin ang scrotum (eskrotum) gamit ang malambot ng face towel.

Kapag three years old na siya, maaari mo nang turuan ang iyong anak ng genital hygiene. Kasama dito ang pagliinis sa ilalim ng foreskin araw araw. 

Kung hindi mahila ang foreskin nila kapag teenager na sila, konsultahin ang kanilang pediatrician para makasiguro na hindi ito sintomas ng ibang kondisyon. 

Huwag magpanic kapag nakakita ng puting buo-buo sa ilalim ng foreskin

Ang puting substance na tila “pearls” sa ilalim ng foreskin ay tinatawag na infant smegma. Ito ay mayroong mga natural secretions at dead cells na unti-unti nabakbak nang kusa habang lumalaki si bbay. 

Para maiwasan dumikit ang foreskin ni baby sa diaper, maaari mong ipahid ang infant-friendly petroleum jelly sa ibabaw ng kaniyang diaper para mabawasan ang friction. 

Pag-aalaga sa genitals ng baby mo

Maliban sa paghuhugas ng genitals ng baby mo gamit ang maligamgam na tubig at sabon, alalahanin ang mga importanteng hygiene habits na ito: 

• Hugasan kaagad ang maselang bahagi ni baby pagka-umihi o tumae sila. Kapag puno ang diaper nila, maaaring maging prone sa bacteria at impeksiyong si baby.
• Siguraduhing palitan ang diapers nila nang madalas. Huwag kalimutang palitan ng madalas ang kanilang maduming diaper araw man o gabi. 
• Iwasan ang mga baby care products na may perfume o alcohol. Siguraduhing huwag gumamit na matatapang na produkto tulad ng scented baby wipes. 
• Kapag tinutuyo ang puwer nila, gumamit ng malambot na towel. Kung masyadong magaspang ang towel, maaaring ma-irritate ang sensitive skin ni baby. 
• Siguraduhing nakababa ang penis ni baby kapag sinusuotan siya ng diaper. Ito ay para maiwasan ang irritation.

Sana natulungan kayo ng article na ito, kung mayroon kayong katanungan, ugaliing kumunsulta sa doktor ni baby. 

Isinalin sa wikang Filipino mula sa orihinal na Ingles ni Bianchi Mendoza.

sources: WebMD, Mayo Clinic, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), MedlinePlus

BASAHIN: Bawal halikan si baby: Mga sakit na puwede niyang makuha

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Bibong-bibo ang 21-month old na anak ni Toni Gonzaga at Direk Paul Soriano na si Baby Seve. Sa isang Facebook video na pinost ng kapatid ni Toni na si Alex Gonzaga, pinakita ng bata ang kaniyang kaalaman sa numbers, letters, colors, at shapes.

Tuwang-tuwa naman ang Tinang (Tita-Ninang) Alex ni Baby Seve tuwing ipapakita nito ang flash cards at mabilis na-identify ng bata ang mga pinapakita nito. Panoorin ang nakakatuwang video dito:

Magdiriwang ang anak ni Toni Gonzaga at Direk Paul na si Baby Seve ng kaniyang ikalawang kaarawan nitong darating na Setyembre.

Bibo din ba ang anak mo? Sa tingin mo ba ay advance siya para sa kaniyang edad? Baka “gifted child” ang anak mo!

Ito ang ilan sa mga *senyales na “gifted” ang bata:

• Madali at mabilis matuto ng mga bagong bagay.
• May malawak at malalim na bokabularyo para sa kaniyang edad.
• May kakaibang reasoning power at logic.
• Kahanga-hanga at matibay ang memory, pero madaling mabagot sa gawaing may memorisation at recitation.
• Hindi gaanong kailangan ng outside control — kayang disiplinahin ang sarili, kahit batang bata pa.
• Metikuloso sa structure, order, at consistency.
• Flexible ang thinking patterns nito. Kaya niyang gumawa ng kakaibang associations kahit parang malalayo ang mga paksa o ideas.
• Malalim ang curiosity at mahilig tumukas ng mga bagay, sitwasyon, o pangyayari. Kayang magtanong ng mga provocative at detalyadong tanong.
• Matataas ang mga marka sa iba’t ibang subjects o asignatura.
• May power of concentration, at may intense attention sa isang aralin o paksa.
• Kayang sumagot ng mabilis at alerto, rapid sa mga mahihirap man na tanong.
• Resourceful, at kayang magbigay ng solusyon sa mga problems gamit ang mga ingenious methods.
• May malalim na interes sa science o literature.
• Orihinal ang mga ideya sa oral at written expression.
• May angking kakayahan sa abstraction, conceptualisation at synthesis.
• Siya ay emotionally secure.
• Madalas ay dominante sa kaniyang mga kaibigan at sa mga sitwasyon.
• Malawak ang paggamit ng common sense.
• Komplikado ang pag-iisip at pagtingin sa mga bagay bagay.
• Perceptually open siya sa kaniyang kapaligiran.

*Mula sa artikulong: “20 Signs na ang iyong anak ay Gifted”

The post 1 year old na anak ni Toni Gonzaga marunong nang magbilang! appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

If you are about to bring your newborn home, or have just done so, your doctor may have explained the importance of placing your little one down on his back to sleep. It’s equally important to ensure that your baby has supervised time lying on his stomach while he is awake. This, in fact, is what tummy time for baby is, according to Dr. Wendy Wallace, a pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Care Network.

Regular tummy time for baby will help prepare your child for important physical milestones such as rolling and crawling. In this image, the baby (around 7 months old), has raised himself on his arms from tummy position and is preparing to crawl.

Tummy time for baby: Why is tummy time important?

Adequate and regular tummy time helps your baby strengthen his neck muscles and upper body, which will, in turn, assist him in reaching important physical milestones such as sitting, crawling and walking in the later months, says rehabilitation trainer Mr Poh Ying Bing.

It’s also very likely that he will hit these physical milestones earlier than babies who don’t spend any time, or little time on their tummies, as suggested by research.

Also, if your baby is always on his back, he may get a flat spot on his head (positional plagiocephaly). This is because an infant’s skull is still soft and is made up of several ‘movable’ plates, explains Dr. Jay Hoeker of Mayo Clinic.

So, if your baby’s head remains in the same position for a long time, then these plates may move and mould together in a way that causes a flat spot.

While this is mostly a cosmetic issue which will eventually go away, the medical experts at WebMD point out that this also means your baby’s head, neck and shoulder muscles aren’t getting adequate exercise.

Another reason tummy time is important is that when your baby is on his belly, he has to look up and to the left and right to see what’s going on around him. This is very good for his eye muscles.

Tummy time for baby: Some health professionals say you can start supervised tummy time the day you bring your baby home.

When should you start tummy time for baby?

Dr Wendy Sinnathamby, a specialist in pediatrics and consultant at Raffles Children’s Centre, says you can start tummy time for baby when he is around six weeks old — ensuring all the while that you watch him very closely.

However, paediatric bodies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggest you can start tummy time for your baby from the day you bring him home.

Either way, it’s best to check with your baby’s pediatrician about the best age for your little one to start tummy time.

The best time to get tummy time for baby started is after a nap or diaper change.

Getting started: Tummy time for baby

Choose a time when your baby is alert and awake. A good time is after a nap or diaper change. Its best to avoid tummy time immediately after a feed, as this may make him feel very uncomfortable.

Keep it simple. Place a mat or clean blanket on the floor and place your baby on his stomach on it. Start with sessions that are just 3-5 minutes long, two to three times a day.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should aim to get at least 20 minutes of tummy time a day for your baby by the time he is three to four months old.

As you start tummy time, you may notice your baby’s head landing in an awkward ‘face-plant’ position more often than not. Don’t worry about this — but be alert as to when this happens so you can quickly encourage him to raise his head.

If he starts to cry after a minute or so, try to encourage him to stay on his tummy for just a few seconds longer by talking and singing to him, or interacting with him in other ways (we describe these on the next page).

But if you feel he’s really had enough, carry him and try again later.

What should you do when your baby dislikes tummy time?

It’s very common for little ones to dislike tummy time immensely at the beginning. But even a few minutes of tummy time initially are better than nothing at all, and will give your little tot the opportunity to strengthen and develop those muscles.

If tummy time is more torture than fun, though, give these tips and tricks a try:

• Change locations and the view he gets while on his tummy:  Try your bedroom in the morning and your living room in the evening. And if you seem to be placing him down with his head pointing in the same direction, turn him the other way so he gets a different ‘view’ of his surroundings.

• Do tummy time together: Lie down next to your sweet baby on your own tummy — either facing him or side-by-side, and coo and smile together.

• Massage: Who doesn’t like a good back rub? While your baby is on his tummy, gently rub his back and legs. You could even try out some baby foot reflexology while you’re at it!

• A new face: Have daddy get involved in tummy time too. Even an older sibling could get down on his/her tummy (of course, while being carefully supervised) and entertain your little one while he is on his tummy.

Try placing your baby’s favourite toys close to him during tummy time, so he is encouraged to raise his neck/head and reach out for them.

• A ring of toys: As your baby gets older, place some toys around him in a small circle. As he reaches for the toys, he’s also working on hand-eye coordination while strengthening his muscles.

• You’re the floor: Lie on your back and place baby on your chest. Coo and sing, which will encourage your baby to try to raise his head to see your face.

• More support: Roll up a thin blanket or towel and make a bolster out of it, which you can prop under your little one’s chest, while stretching his arms forward and over the bolster. Keep his mouth, chin and nose away from the roll.

• Weave it into other baby-related activities: Place your little one on his belly as you dry him after a bath, apply lotion or burp him while placed across your lap.

MUMMY TIP: One mom uses a Lamaze ‘tummy time’ mat to help her newborn get used to staying on her belly. First, this mommy places her little one on her back to help her get used to the mat (middle image). Then, the little one is flipped over on her tummy (image on the right).

Tummy time safety

Keep these safety tips in mind every time your little one has tummy time:

• Never place him on a high surface for tummy time, where he is exposed to the risk or rolling/ falling off. Stick to a low, solid surface instead. Your best option is the floor with your child placed on a mat or blanket.

• Always supervise and monitor closely. When his head drops, immediately try to encourage him to raise it. Otherwise, carry him and then try again. Never leave him with his face down on the ground, as this poses a suffocation risk.

• Never leave your baby alone with older siblings or pets.

• Ensure there are no small objects near him, especially as he grows older and more curious and starts popping things in his mouth.

• If you can see that your little one is getting drowsy, or he actually falls asleep while on his tummy, immediately turn him over on to his back for a nap. Letting a baby sleep on his tummy is strongly discouraged by pediatricians and health experts around the world, because this exposes him to the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

• If your helper, mother, mother-in-law or another carer will be helping to look after your little one, please inform them of the above safety tips, and why it’s so important to follow them carefully.

Watch this video below to learn how to practice tummy time with your newborn

References

The Straits Times

American Academy of Pediatrics

SingHealth

Mayo Clinic

We hope your found our article on tummy time useful, and that you can put our tips and tricks to use on your own baby!

Have you got any tummy time tricks of your own, that we haven’t mentioned in this article? Do share them with us in the comment box below!

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore

The post Tummy time for baby: An comprehensive guide for parents appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Congratulations! Your baby has crossed the initial four-month mark which would have kept you on your toes all the time! And while you must celebrate that your little one is nearing his six-month mark, be prepared for the real adventures as this is the time your 5 month old baby will start babbling, rolling over and, maybe, even start crawling.

So here’s what you can look forward to as your baby enters his fifth month:

Your 5 month old baby is now full of kisses and cuddles!

5 Month Old Baby Development

Physical Development

There are quite a few milestones that you can expect or start to notice in the early stages of the fifth month:

Sitting Upright

Most babies can start sitting upright for a longer period of time in their fifth month, however, with a little support. So throw in a cushion to support your 5 month old baby’s back as you encourage him to sit. Gradually, once you see that your baby is comfortable in his sitting position, you can introduce him to his high chair and help sit with the whole family during meal times.

Rolling Over

If your baby hasn’t started rolling over yet, chances are he will make an attempt at it in his fifth month and should be comfortably rolling over from his back to tummy. This means that you have to be extra careful when leaving him alone. We advise that it would be best for you to keep your baby on the mat when you’re busy doing your household chores to avoid any falls.

Crawling or Scooting

Most 5 month old babies also start crawling and scooting if they haven’t already. Babies also start working up their legs, rocking during the day, holding their legs together, and basically just putting a lot of effort into moving around.

Cognitive Development

Five months is the time when a baby begins to have his own identity and, in a way, give you a glimpse of the type of baby he will be in the months to come — happy, expressive, cranky or emotional. Here’s what you can watch out for:

More Responsive and Expressive

At five months your baby is more expressive and also responsive. He will also try to hold his gaze upon you for a longer period of time, perhaps trying to read your lips and understand what you’re saying. Suddenly you will notice that your baby is trying to make sense of every sound he hears, such as a bird chirping, the snapping of fingers, and a dog barking in the neighbourhood.

Better at Grasping

Another key skill that your baby develops at five months is grasping. You’ll notice that your baby is able to grasp his toys or sippy cup properly as well as transfer objects from one hand to the other, which is a big achievement. Yay!

Sleep Cycles

At five months your baby should have a proper sleep pattern and might be able to sleep through the night if he is well-fed and there’s nothing that is bothering him. This means that you’ll get more time as a new mother to sleep and rest, so enjoy this phase. However, this also means that your baby will not be in any mood to sleep longer during the day and will keep you on your toes.

You can expect to see some very cute behavior from your 5 month old baby!

Social and Emotional Development

While your baby is still not old enough to express his anger, frustration, and joy, at five months he would most probably be more expressive and display love, affection and a distinct sense of humour. He may find humor in every small thing, such as the way you call out his name or when you play peek-a-boo with him.

Mommies, this is the time you’ll hear all those giggles and cackles that you have till now seen in the numerous baby videos that swarm your Facebook timeline day in and day out. Why not make your baby’s own video if you have no problems sharing it on social media!

Speech and Language Development

Your baby’s communication skills will be at an all-time high at this time. And he may also suddenly develop a sense of humor.

You’ll suddenly notice that your baby’s coos have increased and he will also start saying his first “da-da,” “ba-ba,” and “ma-ma.” He will also try to respond when you call out his name or say something peculiar and will perhaps let out a squeal in excitement.

If you haven’t already, this is also the time to start reading to your baby and increase his vocabulary by reading books that are meant for babies. You can also try and repeat a few common words to your baby that you use every day such as “milk,” “paci,” and “sleep.”

Do note that when you speak to your babies, use correct words and not made up ones, such as “mimi” for “milk” or “mam mam” for water, for instance, as your baby would take these as the correct words.

At around five and a half months, your little one may be ready for solids.

Health And Nutrition

Your baby is growing up fast and his hunger has grown substantially from last month as he prepares himself for solids. Be careful and make sure you continue breastfeeding him at five months.

However, once your baby is five-and-a-half months, you can start giving him a taste of certain food such as mashed banana or clear vegetable stock. Make sure it’s just for tasting and never give more than a teaspoon of one food item in a day. It’s also suggested that you consult your baby’s paediatrician before giving any new food item to be safe.

Mosts doctors also advise parents to start giving a little water to their babies as they’re nearing six months. But again consult the doctor before doing that.

Tips for Parents

1. Communicate as much as you can with your baby. Try to introduce him to new words such as the cow says “moo,” and the dog says “bow-wow.” Also, call out his name as often as you can because soon he will start responding to it.
2. Make sure your rolling and crawling munchkin is never out of your site since at five months your baby becomes more active and might hurt himself. Childproofing is something you should be looking at right now to avoid any mishaps.
3. Introduce your baby to people around you and perhaps take him to the mall or a vegetable market as he would likely enjoy it.
4. There also a couple of vaccinations coming up at six months, so make sure you have a checklist given by your pediatrician.

Five months is the time many parents enjoy the most with their baby as it is the time he begins to respond and express himself for the first time. So enjoy this phase to the fullest!

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Next month: Baby development and milestones: Your 6 month old

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Your little munchkin is now a “big” 4 month old and is perhaps in the most beautiful stage of his life. By now he is more expressive, and you will often notice him smiling, cooing, and laughing incessantly. How cute!

Also, don’t be alarmed if he tries to raise his head while laying flat on his tummy. It’s just a way to let you know that your lil’ bub is trying new things and growing up fast.

As a new parent you will also see many new physical changes in him.

By the fourth month, a baby doubles his birth weight and you probably won’t be able to stop yourself from pulling those chubby cheeks.

But this is also a time time when you’ll have to prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster – so much so that that joy and pride he’ll give you will have you reaching for the tissues.

What is going to happen, you ask? Well, here are a few critical changes you will witness in your bub as soon as he hits this month!

Your 4 month old baby is a ball of cuteness!

Your 4 Month Old Baby’s Development

Physical Development

In his fourth month, your baby’s physical development will be faster than you’ve seen so far. He should be double his birth weight, as we mentioned. But not just that.

Steadying the Head

You’ll also notice him trying to keep his head steady, unsupported. If your little explorer is super active, you will also see him trying to push his legs down whenever his feet are on a hard surface.

Twisting and Turning

Since he is just learning to move more frequently by this month, you’ll be running for your video camera to capture the moment he turns from his tummy to his back and vice versa. Right now, you’ll see him trying to bring his hands to his mouth, and even push his elbows up while lying on his tummy.

Tasting and Learning

At this stage, anything that your baby can pick up will likely end up in his mouth. So if you do have a dangling toy or one that makes noise, rattles, or even lights up, your baby will try to hold on to it, shake, fling it, and put it in his mouth. In fact, you might want to be prepared because it could also be your hair!

Remember that when you hold your baby, make sure to remove sharp jewelry pieces from your ears and even necklaces because if they’re shiny. Trust us, he’s going to want to pull it and put it in his mouth. He will do this primarily because he is becoming more dexterous and using more of his hands.  

Heightened Senses

By this time, your baby’s eyes will move together and also be able to focus better on any particular moving or bright object. This is because his vision will now reach 20/40. He’ll also be able to pick up colours and contrast. So if you notice that your baby is still not able to move both his eyes together or seems to be cross-eyed, report it to the pediatrician.

Your little one’s sleep should slowly start getting more stable.

Stable Napping Schedule

And now some good news!

By his fourth month, your tiny munchkin will also adapt a stable napping schedule. This means, you’ll both be able to enjoy a full-night’s sleep. Typically, a baby sleeps for seven to eight hours by this time. And if you factor in one or two naps, you’ll see him sleeping for a minimum of 12 to 13 hours per day.

So congratulations, you can have your sleep back now!

Cognitive Development

While you notice all these physical changes in him, you’ll also be surprised to notice his fast cognitive development during this month.

More Expressive

As soon your little one turns four months and his abilities to express himself will heighten, he will be able to tell you if he is happy or sad more easily.

More Responsive

This also means that he will respond to your affections more often. So when you call out to him he may look at you and smile, in recognition or your affection for him.

Better Hand-Eye Coordination

Also, his hand and eye coordination will have improved by this time. So this means he will spot objects and reach for them more effectively. Since his motor skills have developed further, you will also notice him spotting an object and moving his eyes along with it.

But the best part is the fact that he will be able to recognize those around him. So call out his name because he is listening to you and knows you are talking to him.

Social and Emotional Development

As far as your baby’s emotional and social growth is concerned, you’ll be super happy to notice some new developments this month. Since your baby is now old enough to express and respond to emotions, he’ll smile more frequently now. Now, won’t that just make your day?

But a response to your emotions and a heightened ability to express also come with their fair share of tears.

If you love playing with your baby and suddenly stop, you may upset him. But worry not, this is new to him, too. By this age, he will love to play and may let you know when he wishes to stop or continue.

Also, rest assured, if you make faces at him, don’t be alarmed if he tries to mimic the same. By this cute age, babies tend to imitate what they see. And that includes making faces.

After all, he got it from his mama!

Your 4 month old cutie is getting very expressive! | Image source: Shutterstock

Speech and Language Development

In trying to understand how he may behave or develop, let’s not forget that your little bub is going to pick up everything from you.

So when you call your baby “my little munchkin” in that cutesy sing-song voice, know that your baby will try to copy what he just heard – although not exactly. He will also start babbling by now.

To encourage your baby’s language skills, try to talk to your little one just as you would with an adult. Research has shown that adopting a sing-song voice is good for babies. It helps them learn how to speak faster.

You must also use complete sentences and proper grammar. Throw in phrases such as “please” and “thank you.” Even if your tot doesn’t fully comprehend their meaning, he’ll be able to understand the context and draw parallels between the words and their meaning in the future.

Health and Nutrition

Ideally, doctors advise that a baby be breastfed until six months and start solids only after that. But sometimes bigger babies may not feel satiated with breastmilk or baby formula.

So what do you do in this situation?

Well, if your doctor gives you the go-ahead and your baby is able to hold his head steady and sit, you can start solid foods by the fourth month. But remember that your baby’s first food should ideally include iron and should be mixed with breastmilk or formula.

Our advice is that you should prepare the iron mix in the same consistency as the formula so that your baby gets used to it. Gradually increase the thickness based on your baby’s ability to eat and digest.

Tips for Parents

Your little munchkin has only just begun his explorations. And since he is likely to pick up anything within his reach, try to make that item as safe and baby-friendly as possible.

Give Textures to Play With

Provide your baby with lots of textures to explore such as books and soft toys. There are chances he might ditch that and pick up a spoon instead, so let him have a wooden one instead. Just make sure the item is not too small for him to swallow and not too big that he hurts himself. Most importantly, have him close by you (while playing) at all times.

Sing and Talk to Baby More Often

By this age, your baby will also learn to hold his head steady, so plonk him on your lap and sing, play with him or even read him a book. Trust us, he will love to listen to your soothing voice. By now he is also slowly learning to look at you carefully and shower you with lots of smiles.

Childproof the House

Start preparing for a baby who is ready to move around the house. You can add gates to stairways, lock the cabinets, and keep wires away from the floor.

Other than that, enjoy this beautiful phase in your and your baby’s life and let him be a little explorer.

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It’s the third quarter since you gave birth and it is only three months from now until your baby turns one! Your 9 month old tiny tot is now uttering words that make more sense, and are becoming more adventurous in his activities.

Here are the developments to expect now that your baby is 9 months old:

“Hi Mommy, I’m a big, 9 month old baby now!”

9 Month Old Baby Development: Is Your Baby On Track?

Physical Development

Standing and cruising by holding on to something are just a few of the things your baby might be able to do now that he is 9 months old.

Your 9 month old baby may be able to sit for extended periods of time and pull himself up to stand up from that position. Because his bones and muscles have further developed, he may now be an expert crawler and may even start crawling with only one hand and both knees while holding an object with the other hand.

Because your baby is now more mobile, his weight gain might be noticeably slower compared to the previous months, which is just normal.

Cognitive Development

Your 9 month old is now more observant and curious — their understanding of language is improving as well. Your baby is also becoming a good listener and is now better at understanding body language.

This is the time when your baby might already recognise the meaning of “no” through your actions.

The ninth month will also be the time your baby will start mimicking your actions, copying the sounds you make and becoming a comedic performer who will do anything to make the adults around laugh.

Speech and Language

In between constant babbling, your baby might start to utter real words, phrases and sometimes, sentences.

Note that your baby thinks he is saying something you understand so remember to respond to whatever he says.

Social and Emotional Development

This is also the stage where separation anxiety is becoming an issue as well as the so-called stranger anxiety. Your baby can now easily pick up when you’re about to leave him, and become especially anxious when strangers are around.

Is your 9 month old baby a fussy eater?

Health and Nutrition

By this time, your tiny tot might start to become a picky eater, so it’s important to ensure that you’ve started establishing healthy eating habits to ensure he doesn’t miss out on nutrition.

This is also a good time to introduce new textures, tastes and flavors to your baby’s diet.

Your baby’s sleeping patterns might also change around this time as he begins to enjoy playtime more, be it in the day or at night.

How your baby speaks, acts, learns, and plays offers essential clues about his development. Here are some tips to nurture it:

Motor Skills

Your baby’s motor skills have improved a lot by this time. By now, he may have become an expert in crawling — sometimes even crawling up and down the stairs. He might also be quick in changing positions like sitting back down from crawling or even pivoting. Watch out because your baby might also be able to pull a stand and cruise from one place to the other while holding on to furniture. (So make sure you’ve childproofed your home!)

Fine motor skills have also improved a lot by the ninth month. Your little one will already be able to pick up smaller toys and better coordinate his hand movements.

As your 9 month old is more eager to move, you can encourage this by giving him plenty of space to move.

Language Development

Your baby’s babbling may start to sound more like real words now — meaning you can probably start hearing “dada” and “mama.”

While it is more likely that your baby just babbles constantly, it doesn’t mean he is not picking up on comprehension. At this stage, your little one might still be comprehending more from your tone than the actual words. This means the more you talk to your baby, the better he learns how to communicate.

Careful, though, as this also means whatever you say, he might end up imitating.

Your 9 month old is able to understand what you tell him better through your actions than through your words.

This stage plays an important role in helping your baby understand the difference between emotions as well as the good and the bad.

Through the tone of your voice, your baby can pick up if you are pleased or not. He may now also start to understand the word “no,” however, he may not obey it just yet or at least not all the time. Using the word sparingly can help your baby understand it better. Saying “no” and following up by removing him from the scene or taking away the object you don’t want him touching or sucking while introducing a new object will help him pick up its meaning.

Every Baby Is Unique

While these are common developmental feats that can be observed in 9 month olds, it is important to remember that each baby is unique when it comes to meeting their milestones. This guide is only to help you find out what your baby might be able to achieve at this stage.

If you are concerned about your baby’s development, it is always best to consult the your pediatrician to ensure that you are properly guided.

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Your baby is now a bouncy 11-month-old cherub, and you’re pretty excited about his first birthday! However, just because his first year is a milestone, it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to look forward to at the 11 month old mark. 

Here are some of the important things that you should know about your 11 month old baby’s  development:

Your 11-month-old tot is getting cheekier and more active by the day!

11 Month Old Baby Development: Is He On Track?

Physical Development

By this time, your baby should already be moving around the house, albeit, still holding on to you or the furniture to keep him steady while he explores the world around him.

This is the time when you need to be really careful and keep a close eye on your little one, since he’ll try to check out everything that he can see, and he might even start climbing over his crib!

It’s important to keep your home safe, as your 11-month-old will open drawers, doors and cabinets, etc. Anything that he can see is something new and interesting for him, so keep any dangerous chemicals, as well as any sharp or dangerous objects well away. Make sure to cover electrical sockets!

Your baby will be more independent, so this is a good time to let him explore things on his own, but make sure to teach him the proper boundaries, and which places are off-limits to him.

Cognitive Development

At this age, your little one will start to have his own personality. He knows what he likes, and dislikes, and he can also experience a whole range of emotions that he didn’t experience before.

He might start throwing tantrums if you take away his favourite toy, or if he doesn’t particularly like the food that you’re giving him. He’ll learn to use crying as a way to get what he wants, so it’s important to know how to discipline and handle your little one during this stage.

Speech and Language Development

Chances are, you’ve already discovered the “big word” that your kid learns at this stage. That word – of course – is “no.” You’ll start hearing it a lot, especially since at this time, your 11-month-old may become picky when it comes to food. He’ll also have tantrums if he still wants to play and it’s already nap time.

Your baby will be able to say a few very simple words, so it’s good to start reading to him in order to get his brain ready for learning more words. You can start teaching him different words for objects, and how to use them. Your baby’s memory will also start to improve at this stage, so he’ll understand more words as the months go by.

Social and Emotional Development

At 11 months, your baby will start to become aware of what’s happening in his surroundings. He’ll be observing what the people around him are doing, and sometimes even try to imitate them. He’ll also start to play with other kids around his age, but some kids still prefer to play alone instead of with other children.

Discipline is important during this time, as your baby will now be able to understand simple instructions and commands. Now is a great time to start teaching your baby various social skills, as well as setting some simple rules for him to follow.

Give your 11 month old baby plenty of colourful board books to stimulate his cognitive development.

Health and Nutrition

Your baby should now be able to drink on his own, or with a little assistance. When it comes to food, this is when he starts to become more picky about what he wants to eat, so it’s important to be patient, and try out different types of food for your baby.

Of course, providing your baby proper nutrition is very important, so make sure to feed him healthy fruits and vegetables. Avoid too much sweets, as he might develop a sweet tooth at a young age. Breastfeeding is still highly recommended at this age if possible.

Tips for Parents

Help boost your baby’s development at this stage by exposing him to new things. You can let him touch different textures, objects, and teach him the basic shapes of things so that he can understand these concepts.

Reading is also recommended at this stage since your baby will now be able to relate words with various experiences. Make sure to teach new words and reinforce those words by using them often.

Your baby will be prone to tantrums and misbehavior at this age, so be firm when saying no, and reinforce your authority as a parent. Of course, you don’t need to harshly discipline your baby. A simple no and a stern voice will usually suffice.

Independence is developed at this stage, so embrace your baby’s newfound independence by encouraging him to walk around and explore the world around him. Of course, you should always supervise your baby to make sure that he’s safe and out of harm’s way.

While you might be tempted to give your baby shoes since he’ll start to walk at this stage, it’s still best for him to walk barefoot so that he can get used to walking by himself. Shoes or sandals might make it difficult for your baby to find his balance.

Previous month: Baby development and milestones: your 10-month-old

Next month: Baby development and milestones: Your 12 month old

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore

The post Baby development and milestones: your 11-month-old appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

Nakakagiliw ang iyong newborn baby, hindi ba? Kahit pa parang wala namang masyadong nagagawa kundi dumede, umiyak at matulog, ang totoo ay mabilis ang paglaki at development ng baby sa 1 buwan.

Narito ang mga milestones na dapat hintayin sa unang buwan ng kaniyang mahalagang buhay.

Physical development

Pagkapanganak ng bata, marami na kaagad siyang katuwa-tuwang kakayahan.

Ang newborn na ipinanganak ng walang komplikasyon ay may instinct na huminga, mahigpit na kumapit sa daliri ng matatanda, at kaya pa ngang makilala ang amoy ng kaniyang nanay (at hinahanap-hanap niya ito).

May mga ibang sanggol pa nga na kaya nang isubo ang hinlalaki nito (thumbsuck) kahit nasa sinapupunan pa lamang. Talaga namang nakakabilib, ‘di ba?

Sa unang buwan, halos mahina pa ang kontrol ni baby sa muscles niya, at nakasalalay ang kilos niya sa mga reflex actions, tulad ng sucking, paghikab, pagbahing, at pag-iyak.

Habang lumalaki siya sa bawat araw at linggo, nagsisimula niyang matutunan ang paggalaw at pag-kontrol ng kaniyang buong katawan.

Nadidiskubre niya ang kamay niya at kung ano ang pwede niyang gawin dito! Mas nakaka-excite pa kapag natutunan na niyang gamitin ang mga kamay sa pagpisil o pagkapit sa kamay ni Nanay at Tatay, sa pagsubo ng hinlalaki at iba pang daliri, lalo kapag umiiyak dahil gutom o balisa.

Sensory development

Ang pag-gapang, pagtayo, paglalakad, at pagtakbo ay puwedeng mangyari nang mas mabilis kaysa sa inaakala mo. Bagamat hindi pa ito mangyayari sa unang buwan, ang paghahanda sa mga pag-galaw na ito ay may pundasyon sa unang 4 na linggo ni baby. Kapag natutunan na niyang makilala ang mga bahagi ng katawan niya at madiskubre niya kung paano ito gamitin para mag-interact sa paligid niya.

• Sight o paningin

Ang isang newborn ay kaya nang ibukas ang mga mata niya pagkapanganak pa lamang. Bagamat hindi pa ito nakaka-focus sa mga bagay na malalayo, kaya niyang maaninag ang mukha ng mga magulang at sinomang nasa harap niya na may karga sa kaniya.

Samantalahin ang mga pagkakataon na magkasama kayo at hindi siya umiiyak—tingnan siya sa mata para makilala ka niya at makilala mo din siya ng lubusan. Pagmasdan ang buong mukha niya, ang mga detalye ng ulo, katawan, at bawat sulok ng pisikal niyang anyo. Pupuhin siya ng atensiyon at buhusan siya ng ngiti at tawa.

• Hearing o pandinig

Nakakarinig na ang isang newborn mula ika-28 linggo ng pagbubuntis. Habang nasa loob siya ng sinapupunan, naririnig na niya ang mga sounds sa loob ng katawan ni Nanay at mga ingay din sa labas!

Ayon sa mga pag-aaral, ang mga bagong panganak na baby ay nagre-react sa mataas na tunog ng boses ng isang babae, kaysa sa mababang boses ng mga lalaki.

Ang mga newborn babies ay napapayapa ng boses ni Nanay habang nagsasalita o kumakanta. At higit sa lahat, nagdaramdam din siya kapag nakakarinig ng galit o lungkot sa boses ng kumakausap o nag-uusap sa paligid niya.

Ayon pa sa mga eksperto, marami din daw mga Tatay na natututong itaas ang pitch ng boses nila kapag kausap ang mga baby nila.

• Smell o amoy

Ang pang-amoy ni baby ay sensitibo. Alam niya ang amoy ni Nanay, kaya’t alam niya kapag hindi si Nanay ang may hawak sa kaniya.

Kapareha nito ang well-developed na panlasa ng bata, dahil mas maraming taste buds ang sanggol kaysa sa mga matatanda. Nakatutok din ang panlasa ni baby sa manamis-namis na lasa ng gatas ni mommy o formula milk.

• Touch o pandama

Lahat tayo ay kailangan ng human touch para mapabuti ang pakiramdam at maging masaya. Ang pagmamasahe kay baby ay isang magandang bonding activity ni nanay at baby. Hinahanap hanap din kasi ng bata ang haplos ng ina, na tunay namang nakakapagpakalma at nakakapagpasaya dito. Dagdag pa ang naitutulong nito sa development ng muscles ni baby.

• Reflexes

Ang mga newborn babies ay ipinanganak ng may ilang reflexes, na importante sa survival nito.

Kasama dito ang rooting reflex na dahilan kung bakit nahahanap ng bata ang nipple ni Nanay kapag itinabi pa lang ang pisngi niya sa dede nito. Ang sucking at swallowing reflexes ang tumutulong sa pag-dede ni baby, at ang gagging reflex ay tumutulong na hindi malunod sa liquid ang bata kapag umiinom ng gatas.

Kaya din ng batang umubo at ilabas ang mucus na nasa baga niya sa 9 na buwan sa sinapupunan.

Kapag idinapa ang bata, unti-unti din nitong itataas ang ulo nito, para makahinga. Hindi ito dadapa lang at isusubsob ang mukha sa higaan, at hindi na makakahinga. Ito ang tinatawag na labyrinthine reflex.

Cognitive Development

Ang cognitive development ay pagbuo ng thought processes o pag-iisip, kasama na ang pag-alala, problem solving at paggawa ng desisyon.

Nasa loob pa lang ng sinpupunan, hanggang paglabas nito, nagsisimula na itong mangolekta ng mga impormasyon mula sa paligid niya gamit ang mga senses at utak niya. Walang humpay ang pagkatuto nito, at panunuod sa mga ginagawa ng mga tao sa paligid niya, lalo na si Nanay at Tatay.

Sa murang edad, mahirap masukat ang cognitive development, pero dapat pagtuunan ng mariing pansin ang paningin at pandinig niya.

Halimbawa, kung napapansin na hindi nasusundan ng mata ni baby ang ipinapakita sa kaniya, o hindi kumikibo sa malakas na ingay sa paligid, patingnan si baby sa pediatrician,

Emotional at Social Development

Ang mga baby ay hindi umiiyak ng walang dahilan, o dahil bored ito. Mayro’n itong nararamdaman na kailangang matugunan (gutom, basa ang lampin, pagod, mainit, o nalalamigan, atbp.) Mahalagang bigyan ang bawat iyak ng pansin, at matugunan ang kailangan nito, dahil ang mahabang panahon ng pag-iyak ay hindi mabuti para sa isang bata.

Ang pag-iyak ay paraan ni baby para maparating sa mga magulang at mga taong nag-aalaga sa kaniya, ang nararamdaman niya. Kapag hindi pinansin ang pag-iyak, nakakasama ito sa development ng bata. Kung nahihirapang patahanin si baby, o hindi malaman kung ano ang kailangan nito, basahin ito dito.

Sa edad na ito, madaling maimpluwensiyahan si baby ng mga nag-aalaga sa kaniya. Maaaring maging iyakin, maiksi ang pasensiya, o listo at masayahin—depende ito sa nakikita at nararamdaman mula sa tagapag-alaga. Dapat ay ma-enjoy ni baby ang pakikipag-usap, pakikipaglaro, at maski pagtingin lamang sa ngiti ng Nanay at Tatay niya. Kausapin siya palagi ng masaya at excited, at huwag nang humarap pa o kargahin si baby kapag malungkot ka o pagod, lalo pag galit pa.

Tandaan na nagsisimula nang magpakita ng emosyon ang iyong newborn, kaya’t bawat minuto na kasama o kausap siya ay mahalaga—kapag kalmado at masayahin ang nag-aalaga, magiging kalmado at masayahin din ang bata.

Speech at Language

Ang foundation para sa speech at language development ay nabubuo kapag nagsimula nang makarinig ang bata.

Importanteng mapagmasdan at patuloy na subukin ang pandinig ni baby, at bigyang pansin ang mga problema o sakit sa tenga, tulad ng mga impeksiyon, lalo na kung palaging nangyayari.

Ang unang “baby talk” ay non-verbal o hindi pasalita, at nangyayari pagkapanganak pa lang. Si baby ay ngumingiwi, umiiyak, lumiliyad at nagpapakita ng iba’t ibang emosyon, at mga pisikal na pangangailangan—mula takot at gutom, hanggang pagkainis at sensory overload.

Kailan dapat mabahala

Ang baby development ay depende sa mga iba’t ibang antenatal at postnatal factors tulad ng kalusugan ni Nanay nung nagbubuntis, gestational age ng baby, at paraan ng pagkapanganak o delivery (halimbawa, ang isang baby na ipinanganak ng 38 weeks ay maaaring mas mabagal ang development at growth kaysa sa baby na ipinanganak ng 40 weeks o buong term), mga komplikasyon nung nanganak, sakit o kondisyon nuong early years, at genetics at environmental factors.

Huwag kalimutan na ang impluwensiya ng mga magulang—personalidad, edukasyon, at attitude o pakikitungo sa bata.

Ang batang lumaki sa isang malusog at mapagmahal na kapaligiran ay mas maayos ang pagtingin sa buhay, kaysa batang hindi hindi komportable at hindi mapagmahal ang paligid.

Saan makakahingi ng tulong

Kung ang bata ay hindi naaabot ang minimum na developmental milestones para sa edad niya, at ang progression niya ay delayed o huli, at ikaw mismo ay nag-aalala, huwag mag-atubiling kumunsulta sa duktor tungkol dito. Mas mabuting mapatingnan ang bata, habang maaga. Kung wala mang problema, walang mawawala sa inyo, hindi ba?

Ang importante ay habang lumalaki sa baby, huwag kakalimutan na siya ay mabilis na lumalaki at nagbabago nang mabilis. May mga emosyonal at pisikal na stressors na nararamdaman din ng mga magulang—at napapasa sa bata.

Ang mga bagong Mommies ay madalas na nakakaramdam ng pressure na manatiling attractive, at maging mabuting magulang kaagad. Pero ang totoo, ang pagiging magulang ay katumbas ng pagbabago sa katawan, emosyon at pati takbo ng buhay.

Kung nakakaramdam ng pagkalungkot, o labis na pag-aalala at problema ng may kinalaman sa anak o asawa, maaaring ito ay post-natal depression (PND).

Humingi kaagad ng tulong sa mga espesyalista, o mga kaibigan at kamag-anak na makakatulong sa iyo.

Tandaan na ang development ng baby 1 buwan ay iba-iba para sa bawat bata. Bawat bata ay unique, at ang pagsapit sa mga developmental milestone nang mabilis o mabagal kaysa sa average,  ay hindi garantiya tungkol sa magiging development ni baby sa kinabukasan.

Ang baby na huli sa pagsapit sa milestones ay maaari pa ding lumaking doktor o scientist!

Isinalin sa wikang Filipino ni ANNA SANTOS VILLAR
https://sg.theasianparent.com/baby-development-month-1/

The post Development at paglaki ni baby sa kaniyang unang buwan appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.

As new parents, it might be difficult to get a decent night’s rest when your precious 3 week old baby keeps crying. However, that’s the only way your baby can communicate with you right now. You might feel exhausted and frustrated for now, but remember that your newborn won’t stay small forever. Let’s see what 3 week old baby development milestones are in store for your little one.

3 Week Old Baby Development

Physical Development

By the third week, your baby’s skin should be peeling less and looking more plump, pink and clear. Don’t worry if your baby still has cradle cap – that rough scaly dandruff-like skin on his scalp – because most of the time, it will go away on its own. It might look unsightly and uncomfortable, but it won’t bother your newborn.

As part of 3 week old baby development, his movements might be jerky and uncontrolled, which is normal for a newborn. This is because your baby’s nervous system and muscle control still need time to mature. In time, when his muscles get stronger, his movements will become more and more fluid.

It is likely your baby will still be sleeping most of the time, just make sure to put him down on his back as that is the safest sleeping position. But during the short moments that he is awake, you can put him on his stomach to do some tummy time. This helps strengthen the neck muscles so they can push up to sit, roll over and crawl in the later months.

Cognitive Development

At three weeks, your baby is still trying to adjust to being outside of your womb. Loud noises will still startle him, trigger the waterworks and his Moro reflex. To help him calm down and feel more secure, you can always try swaddling him.

But did you know that you can also comfort your newborn by talking softly to him? Your little one can recognize songs or sounds he heard when he was still in your womb and mum’s voice is one of the sounds he hears the most.

Another way for a baby to soothe themselves is by sucking.  However, if you are nursing, you might want to wait until breastfeeding is well established before offering a pacifier so they can self-soothe. Even if you don’t offer a pacifier, sucking on his own fingers will also help your baby to self-soothe.

Now it might seem as though all your baby does is feed, poop, sleep and repeat. But his brain is actually absorbing a lot of new things during his 3 week old baby development phase.

A good way to help him learn is to put your face in front of him during tummy time. Allow him to study your face and copy your lip movements. It might be very subtle, but if you watch him carefully enough you might actually notice him trying to copy you.

Nutrition and Health

Breastfeeding should be well established by now, and your breasts might be full and heavy with milk. There is no hard and fast rule about when to nurse your baby. At this age, feeding on demand is still best. The best way is to take cues from them and feed whenever they need it, as babies typically know exactly how much food they need.

As long as your baby is latching well, satisfied and gaining weight, then all is well. Check for lip and tongue ties if you have facing breastfeeding problems. You will still be able to breastfeed if your baby has a cleft lip or palate.

Also, remember to let baby drain each breast at each feed so you don’t suffer from blocked ducts or mastitis.

If your baby was already having colic problems before this, then it might probably still be there during his 3 week old development phase. While it might be heartbreaking to see your little one so uncomfortable, this too will also pass. However, if it seems to be getting worse, his pediatrician might be able to offer some relief.

There are a few red flags that you can look out for, and make sure that your baby gets immediate medical attention:

1. Respiratory Distress: If you see rapid breathing, flaring of the nose, grunting while breathing or bluish skin that refuses to fade, your newborn might be having breathing difficulties.
2. Constant vomiting: It is normal for infants to spit up milk after feeds. But frequent vomiting is not. Be sure to mention this to the pediatrician. Your baby might be lactose intolerant or allergic to breast milk.
3. Oral Thrush: When yeast starts manifesting in your baby’s mouth, it might end in oral thrush. Talk to your pediatrician and see if your little one needs a prescription of anti-fungal medication

Newborn Care

Make sure you do not shake your baby especially when they won’t stop crying. Your baby’s neck is still very weak and cannot fully support his head. Shaking can cause your baby’s fragile brain to slide back and forth within his skull, possibly inflicting irreversible brain trauma also known as shaken baby syndrome.

Ensure that the room your newborn is sleeping in is of the right temperature. The ideal room temperature is 24ºC if you are using an air conditioner. At this temperature, their body is not fighting to stay cool or trying to warm up.

Here’s another tip for moms with baby boys: remember that when cool air hits your newborn’s private parts, it might make him pee. So open his diaper slowly and with caution, so that you can catch the stream before it goes everywhere else!

The post Baby development and milestones: your 3 week old appeared first on theAsianparent.com Philippines | Modern Filipino parenting from a cultural and global perspective.