5 Most commonly asked questions by parents

Parenting is just as difficult as operating a machine without an instruction manual. The first year of parenthood is the most challenging, yet exciting as there is so much going on with the newly arrived baby. The rate at which babies grow in their first year requires parents to be on their toes all the time and ready for new challenges. Here are few commonly asked questions by new parents; as they try hands-on operating their machine called ‘babyversion1.0’

My baby is 2 months old and is up every 2 hours, will I ever get to sleep?

This question comes from the desperate, sleep-deprived mom, which can be nicknamed as a ‘mombie’ who probably hasn’t slept in ages. Babies in their first few weeks of life grow at the fastest rate and hence need to drink round the clock. Their small tummies also can retain only a small amount of milk at a given time, and this awakens them up every 2 hours or so at night. Also, newborns don’t have their biological clocks set up and are confused by day and night. The good news for mamas is; as they age and as their tummies start maturing, the time they spend sleeping increases. In a matter of a few months, they would start sleeping a good stretch of 6-8 hours.

My 15-month-old has started throwing stuff around, how do I discipline him?

It can be very confusing for first-time parents to determine what age is best for disciplining children. You will hear advice of all kinds, like, ‘ Train your kid before it’s too late or ‘ hey! They are just babies, why do you expect them to behave like adults?’. There has to be some middle way and luckily there is! According to child development specialists, early toddlerhood ( age 1-2 years) is the stage when they are learning to use their physical power and challenge authorities. At this age, they are not capable of understanding complicated instructions and/or reward and punishment, but can easily grasp the concept of yes and no. If you find them doing something that is endangering their and everyone else’s safety or something that is not acceptable, a firm ‘no’ with a brief explanation followed by distraction is the best technique.

My one-year-old doesn’t want to eat- Should I be worried?

Welcome to toddlerhood! This is the time when babies ( now toddlers) start experimenting more with the world surrounding them. This also involves going on occasional hunger strikes, as they are too busy exploring the world. If your kid

refuses to eat at a particular mealtime, it is okay to let him go and not force eating, as this can lead to more disrupted mealtime behavior. Also, bribing kids with treats or candies for meals, or offering many different options can develop bad eating habits and make your little one a more picky eater. So, unless skipping meals does not become a habit, it is okay to not worry about it a lot. But if you notice a consistently disrupted eating pattern, or if your little one starts losing weight, then it is time to get some medical consultation.

Traveling on a long-haul flight with my one-year-old- some tips, please?

Hopping on an airplane for a trip or vacation is not going to be the same as before having a baby. It sure involves a lot of work and planning, but also, is not as difficult as it sounds. Follow some tips by experienced mamas, and you’re good to go!
Tip 1: Book a ‘red eye’ flight: so that the flight timings coincide with your baby’s sleep, and you will have a peaceful sleeping baby all through the flight!
Tip 2: Nurse/feed or give your baby something to suck on, during landing and take-off: This will ease pressure in the baby’s ears and prevent any aches and troubles.
Tip 3: Pack non-perishable snacks: Not just for baby, but for you as well, especially if you are a nursing mom.
Tip 4:Book your seat extra early: No soon is too soon, book your flight months in advance, so that you get your preferred seats, with extra legroom. Trust me, you will thank yourself for getting those extra inches around you, as there is so much stuff to juggle with when you have a baby on board.
Tip 5: Don’t overpack: I cannot stress this enough! No, you don’t need 50 more diapers or 10 packs of wipes. Be realistic while packing, Picture your baby’s normal day and just pack a small surplus of his usual supplies.

– Help! My 6-month-old hasn’t pooped in 5 days!

As babies start taking semi-solids, their tiny tummies, who have been only trained to digest milk get surprised and start behaving differently. It is pretty common for babies to develop constipation after starting semi-solids. Some foods that are known to prevent constipation can be introduced into a baby’s diet and given now and then, for example, “The three Ps” namely pears, prunes, peas are best at preventing constipation. In addition to that, adequate breastmilk or formula should be continued. If the problem persists for more than a week, or if the baby seems distressed, it is a good idea to consult the baby’s doctor.