More For Babies In Your Care

I shared some of the basic tips we need to keep in mind and follow if we wish to keep our baby's skin soft and safe in my previous blog For The Child In Your Care.

Continuing on, I have few more tips for other areas of child care which need to be monitored well for the wellness of our little Angel.

• NOURISHMENT.

It is a universal fact that humans get a major portion of their nourishment and energy from food. Also, none can defy that for the first six months from birth, mother's milk is best for the baby.

So, it is vital not just for the mother's health, but also for the baby's proper nutrition and growth that the mother's diet is rich in proteins, calcium, minerals and vitamins.

Make sure the mother drinks enough water, has creamy milk and eats a well balanced meal to ensure that the baby's skin is nourished from within too.

In cases where breastfeeding is not an option, special and strict diets have to be formulated with the help of the physician.

• CLOTHING.

Another major source of our protection are the clothes we wear. No doubt we adapt our clothing to comply with the changes in weather and our health. Same goes for the baby too.

Their skin is ultra soft and sensitive. So a layer of soft, clean and mold-free cotton must always be given as the base, as this material is the safest and most comfortable for their skin.
Avoid synthetic material at least until the baby is nearly a year old, and make sure the wool, fleece or whichever extra layer of clothing you choose for the baby is soft, clean, fresh and mold-free.

• SUNLIGHT.

Yes, a child has to be protected from the harmful rays of the sun and harsh climatic changes. But some exposure is also important to ensure their also get some natural vitamin A from sunlight and adapt to the climate too.

Few minutes in the warm  morning rays after the dew is lifted is considered safe and vital for the newborns. And when the baby starts walking, allow it a few moments in sun at different hours of the day (after giving them proper protection) under good supervision so they adapt, and their skin builds natural resistance too.

• EXERCISE.

Yes, exercise is important. And not just for adults. It flushes out waste from our body, strengthens our defenses, ensure proper use of nutrition, improves blood circulation and gives our skin a healthy and natural glow. Same facts apply for children too.

Newborns must be given some space to move their muscles when awake. Give them light gentle exercises when massaging them.

When the baby starts weaning and moving around on its own allow them at least fifteen to twenty minutes around meals to flex their body. As the child grows increase their play time but also make sure they don't over-exert them self.

• SLEEP.

Our body repairs itself amazingly while we sleep. Sleep not only relaxes our senses, and repairs our body, but it revitalises our energy sources, clears our mind, and detoxes our skin.

Same facts again applies to babies. Plus, sleep is favoured to help the child grow up healthy and active. So, make sure newborns get at least 20 hours of sleep in a day, weaning babies get at least 18 hours, and so on. Keep the mark of toddlers up to 3years must get at least 12 hours of divided sleep in a day.

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° All facts stated here are compiled from third-person experience, survey and research.

° Blog written in answer to the prompt # SoftestForBabySkin initiated by Pampers India.

° “Pampers brings you the softest ever Pampers Premium Care Pants. Its cotton-like softness is #SoftestForBabySkin and allows it to breathe, thus keeping baby’s skin soft and healthy, and your baby happy. ”

For Babies In Your Care.

A life so gentle, the first time we take them in our arms our heart surely skips a beat or two.

Their touch so pure and trusting, it is sure to melt even the most brutal of hearts.

Their smile so warm and magical, it makes us forget every woe of our existence.

And their skin so soft and delicate, we actually wish to protect them from all harms.

Babies indeed are a miracle of nature, the most precious gift of the Almighty, and once entrusted in our care the most valuable and serious responsibility.

It becomes our duty to protect, nurture, and strengthen them. Bring them up in the most loving and gentle manner, and make them worthy of being called humans. And this is not just the obligation of their parents, but also every adult in their circle.

I still remember the day my nephew was born and I took him in my arms for the first time. He seemed so delicate, and the way he nestled in my arms... It was a whole new definition of love for me. That day I became one of his protectors and the feeling will remain onto my death.

So, with the winter setting in and another harsh onslaught of weather just round the corner that is not mild even to us adults, the question of protecting the little ones becomes all the more important and trying. The blog prompt by Pampers to share 5 tips to keep babies skin safe was just the thing we needed.

Keeping up with its excellence, and commitment to child care, Pampers brings you the softest ever Pampers Premium Care Pants. Its cotton-like softness is #SoftestForBabySkin and allows it to breathe, thus keeping baby’s skin soft and healthy, and your baby happy.

And I, being a blogger who cannot let such a wonderful prompt go unanswered, have compiled my own set of tips (from experience, survey and research) to help adults in need to ward their young ones in the best possible manner.

* Remember, a baby's skin up to 3 years of age is most delicate and sensitive to its surrounding. The changes in weather and the products we use are are new to them, and it takes time and right amount of exposure to adapt for them. Also, they are completely helpless in protecting themselves, and their natural defences too are rather fragile.

So, The Big Five tips you need to care for your baby are:

• SHELTER.

Keep your child protected from direct sunlight, and blisters of winter,  especially for the first six months from their birth. The UV rays, heat of sun (especially from 10 a.m- 4 p.m) and winter chills are too harsh on their skin and may leave a lasting damage. So, keep them indoors as much as possible, and bundle them up tightly when you need to take them outdoor.

• MOISTURISE.

Babies' skin tend to dry and chap easily. So, ward them regularly with baby lotions and oils, especially soon after giving them a bath, and when taking them outdoor.

• GO NATURAL.

Artificial chemicals and synthetic products are harsh on their delicate skin, and may cause severe itching, irritation and rashes for your baby. So, use natural ingredients, and herbal baby-care products as far as you can help them.

• BATH TIME.

We love to bathe our child every day. It is a good habit as long as the weather is not too chilly and the water is warm enough. But REMEMBER THIS, keep the bath always quick and efficient. There is no scope of trial-and-error here, and there are multitude if other ways to bond with your child. Long exposure to water is not favourable to the child's delicate skin and may again cause severe irritation, rashes and dryness to the child. Keep the bath time for less than five minutes, and dry them off immediately.

• MASSAGE.

We all have heard of the benefits of good oil massage for the babies, and we all agree to them too. I too subscribe to this thought. Regular massage and proper technique not only aids in muscle growth and building immunity, but also ensures their skin remain moisturised, soft and well protected. Remember to choose your oil wisely- most preferably Coconut oil or Almond oil in general conditions and as base; Olive oil, Mustard oil, or Sesame oil for cold seasons; and Castor oil, Calendula oil, Chamomile oil or Tea Tree oil for hot or dry seasons. Remember to dilute the essential oils with a base oil mentioned above and be quantity wise too.

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But these are not all. I have more tips to share. Keep tuned in for my next instalment of For Babies In Your Care.

My Inspiration- Judy Yaron

When I first read about the Tata motors blog prompt #madeofgreat, the first person I thought of was my dear friend and mentor Judy Yaron. She fits the slot perfectly, and so I knew I have to write this one in her honour. 

 A loving grandmother from Israel in her mid 60's and an earnest blogger, young at heart Dr. Judy Yaron has a Ph.D inShared Leadership. She is a Pedagogical Advisor (though she prefers to call herself as a Pedagogical Artist), a teacher, an A1 class content strategist, and proprietor of the website for writing solutions-www.cutthecrapsolutions.com.

 

She is also the founding member of the Facebook group Granny's Girls' GYM,which is dedicated to helping she-preneurs create quality content for learning materials, websites and opt-ins as well as to explore and utilise their Gifts and Geniuses, find their rhythm and get their ideas working. She also regularly contributes to several other such forums, and held a senior position in the Yachad Accelerated Learning Project (YALP), an independent not-for-profit educational organisation based on a partnership between Australia and Israel. She has traveled around the globe training teachers to improve the learning of children in need, plan their curriculum and develop learning programs and materials.

 

Born to a highly respected US Navy officer, Zionist and author Haim Gershoni, and a beautiful, talented painting artist Marilyn Gershoni Jung, who immigrated to Israel, Judy takes after her parents amazingly.

A passion to serve, the courage to face any odds, love for everyone, boundless creativity, and a golden heart above all are what makes her so special, and a person #madeofgreat.

She has seen life in all its colours, welcomed every hardship that came her way, and conquered all her problems with a smile, sensibility, self confidence and strength. As straightforward and honest as she is in her opinion, she is never discouraging. She may tell you directly, when she feels that there is room for improvement, but she always treats everyone as equal, with fairness, compassion and respect.

I met Judy a little over a year ago on Facebook via a blogger's forum Ultimate Blog Challenge.  Our friendship was instantaneous.

Having spent years trying to find my space in the world of writing and failing one too many times by then, I was ready to give up everything, accept failure and lose myself in oblivion. But on Judy's insistence I decided to give the forum's month long Daily Blog Challenge a try. And her first comment on my first blog under the Challenge proved to be my anchor against my inner storm and a leverage to keep trying onto the end.

In consequence, I completed a very successful Challenge, improved my writing skills by degrees, reached international readers, and made some truly precious friends from around the world. Judy has always been by my side ever since providing me the much needed moral support, advice, counselling and career guidance. She has helped me find new avenues and learn from every new experience.

 

Judy Yaron for me is the definition of true friendship, perseverance, and wisdom. A woman #madeofgreat, made for great, and someone I will always admire and look up to from the bottom of my heart.
 

* To read an exclusive guest blog post of Judy Yaron on my blog site written earlier this year and have a glimpse of her visit the post "To Become an Ultra Orthodox"

* To understand better how special Judy truly is read one of her latest blogs- Don't you just hate it hate it hate it when people take take take?

 

* To know more about Tata motors campaign #madeofgreat with the amazing footballer Lionel Messi visit  http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/

 

* You can know more about the YALP organization from their website. www.yalp.org.au/

 

* And here's a chance for my readers to win big. Amazon Voucher worth Rs.750 to be won for the best comment on this blog post which answers the question "What do you think of Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi?".

My Inspiration- Judy Yaron

When I first read about the Tata motors blog prompt #madeofgreat, the first person I thought of was my dear mentor and friend Judy Yaron. She fit the slot perfectly and I knew I have to write this one in her honour.

A loving grandmother from Israel in her mid 60's and an earnest blogger, young at heart Dr. Judy Yaron has a Ph.d in Shared Leadership. She is a pedagogical Advisor (though she prefers to call herself as a Pedagogical Artist), a teacher, an A1 class content strategist, and proprietor of the website for writing solutions- www.cutthecrapsolutions.com.

She is also the founding member of the Facebook group Granny's girls' GYM which is dedicated to help she-preneurs create opt-ins, explore and utilise their Gifts and Geniuses, find their rhythm and get their idea working. She also leads several other such forums, and is a member of the Yachad Accelerated Learning Project (YALP), an independent not-for-profit educational organisation based on partnerships between Australia and Israel. She travels around the globe teaching special courses to children, helps schools plan their curriculum, and helps anyone in need.

Born to a highly respected American military officer, reformist and author Haim Gershoni, and a beautiful, talented painting artist Marilyn Gershoni Jung, who migrated to Israel when Judy was six years old, Judy takes after her parents amazingly.

A passion to serve, the courage to face any odds, love for everyone, boundless creativity, and a golden heart above all are what makes her so special, and a person #madeofgreat.

She has seen life in all its colours, welcomed every hardship that came her way, and conquered all her problems with a smile, sensibility, self confidence and strength. As Straightforward and honest she is in her opinion, she is never discouraging. She may tell you directly when you are at wrong, but she always treats everyone as equal, with fairness, compassion and respect.

I met Judy a little over a year ago on Facebook via a blogger's forum Ultimate Blog Challenge.  Our friendship was instantaneous.

Having spent years trying to find my space in the world of writing and failing one too many times by then, I was ready to give up everything, accept failure and lose myself in oblivion. But on Judy's insistence I decided to give the forum's month long Daily Blog Challenge a try. And her first comment on my first blog under the Challenge proved to be my anchor against my inner storm and a leverage to keep trying onto the end.

In consequence, I completed a very successful Challenge, improved my writing skills by degrees, reached international readers, and made some truly precious friends from around the world. Judy has always been by my side ever since providing me the much needed moral support, advice, counselling and career guidance. She has helped me find new avenues and learn from every new experience.

Judy Yaron for me is the definition of true friendship, perseverance, and wisdom. A woman #madeofgreat, made for great, and someone I will always admire and look up to from the bottom of my heart.

* To understand better how special Judy truly is read one of her latest blogs- Don't you just hate it hate it hate it when people take take take?

* To know more about Tata motors campaign #madeofgreat with the amazing footballer Lionel Messi visit http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/

* You can know more about the YALP organization from their website www.yalp.org.au/

* And here's a chance for my readers to win big. Amazon Voucher worth Rs.750 to be won for the best comment on this blog post which answers the question "What do you think of Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi?".

Brand New Start

Those of my regular visitors who have read my blog onmy twelve most loved novels will recognize Sophie Bowns as the author of Teddy, from the concluding blog - Last but not the least.

An upcoming and promising author from England, Sophie has two charming e-books to her credit- Azure, and Teddy released last year, and her next venture- Defeatist, in progress. You can find her and her works at Amazon. com's author's page:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sophie-Bowns/e/B00NHO75EA

Some of the best things I adore in Sophie Bowns is her sweet and down-to-earth demeanour, her simple and in-depth writing style, her natural charm, and her talent to transform any prose, scene, and occasion to poetry.

She joins us here on my page today on my request, to share with us her thoughts on New Year in her own unique style. Thank you Sophie for making our first New Year together all the more special.

* * * * *

THE GUEST BLOG BY SOPHIE BOWNS ON WHAT NEW YEAR MEANS TO HER:

The end of 2014 was painful to behold, it succeeded in breaking my heart; I welcomed 2015 with open arms, embracing the brand new start. New Years are about moving forwards, but we must not forget the past; I intend to cherish my memories, and dwell on good times passed. Remember to take one day at a time, who knows what tomorrow will bring; Surrounding ourselves with people we love, for happiness comes from within. - Sophie Bowns

Specimen of a Zit

Like every other Indian young lady, even I wage a daily war with pimples. I cannot indulge in some funky make-ups, my favourite desserts- gulab jamun, and cheese cake, stay out in the sun for long, shop in dusty/traffic areas, or skip a beauty routine, and I always need to stick to my diet and regime to keep my face spotless and sparkling.

So forget frequent partying, long drives, trekking into the wild and heights, those tempting make-up trends and all the fun things in the world. In short, I too can never live my life free and dauntless. But one incident that really had me in tears and cost me dear happened very recently.

It was my cousin's wedding last winter and I had a live interview for an airhostess' job just two day's later. I could miss neither as the bride-to-be was my favourite cousin, almost my soul sister; and I had put a lot of effort and dedication to reach this juncture work-wise too. It was only a matter of proper planning and time management and I was an expert in it. But one disaster turned it all topsy-turvy.

We all know how grand and gala big- fat-indian-weddings could get. This wedding was no different. Throughout the whole preparation and arrangements my diet went flying out of the window (though I swear I tried to keep it under check as much as I could). The shopping in heavy traffic, the quick-bits of street-foods, staying up late in the nights, the damp weather, the heavy make-up that went to hide all the stress and tiredness evident on my face, and hardly any time for all the beauty-care I usually pamper my skin with, were only biding their time to unleash their terror on me. Add to them all the oily, masala and irresistable platter of mughlai and indian cuisine on the menu everyday for every ceremony lined back to back. I was rendered defenceless.

When the first Big day arrived, I woke only to be greeted by these tiny tiny pink and proud zits mocking at me in the mirror. I could have screamed but the panic and gloom that hit me only had me eyes welling with tears and me hitting the shower to scrub them out and praying it was only a nightmare.

Half an hour later when I could dare look into the mirror again, I was spic and span like a fairy-tale princess, but with those nasty pimples still rooted strong and prominent to give me my reality-check.

My next prompt plan of action had me attacking each one of the tiny intruders by pinching them out and dabbing the spots with cotton buds dipped in rose-water. I felt I had won my battle and went back to enjoy the wedding for the relief seemed immediate and satisfactory. But it was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. By noon, after my cousin was wed and we all had had our lunch and were preparing for her fare-well, my skin started itching really bad and people had even started for those dark red spots on my face. Those nasty pimples were back with a vengeance. They had now doubled in number, and taken a killer-red hue than the innocent pink that they were in the morning. Now there was nothing I could do, than surrender to become immortally pimple laden in the wedding footages, and earn the title "cousin with those big red pimples" by all the beauty queens and aunts on the groom's side.

I let my mother tackle the problem after that to atleast salvage my interview. The pimples reduced, but refused to disappear completely and those that complied left tell-tale scars behind. Of all my charms, my facial features could not impress the interview committee.

If you have learnt from my mistakes, visit these links below for some really amazing info and tips on zit-management: bit.ly/GPABlogLinkIndiBloggerActivity andbit.ly/GarnierPureActiveNeemWebsite

New Challenges For New Year

In July last year, I did a two-poem take on Being-Friendly Challenge. Those of you who can recall will probably also know my inspiration behind it. Those of you who haven't read them yet, you can easily locate them by clicking on the "being-friendly challenge" link in the labels section under this post.

And it is with great pleasure I present before you all today, the inspiration behind the whole idea- the candid, caring, compassionate, and lovely Cindy Ackley.

A cancer survivor, and a most-dedicated licensed Massage Therapist living in Mesquite, Texas, she shares her life, experiences, and warm thoughts with the world, in her web-page www.lifeisbeautifulandhealthy.com. I love her every post, but if I have to pick my favourites, they are
• Don't Give Up! Dreams Do Come True! (for the sheer joy and magic it imparts).
and
• A Blessing In Disguise (for all the interesting aspects I learnt about life across the globe).

Full of motherly instincts, and love, care, and concern for all, she is one of the most amazing and inspiring personage I was blessed to meet last year. She graces my page today, to share with us what she and 2015 have set out for each other.

Thank you, Cindy for obiging to my request and adding this special touch to our first New Year together.

* * * * *

The guest blog by Cindy Ackley on the new changes and challenges 2015 brings along for her.

New Challenges For New Year

Every year on January 1st, we make resolutions or declare changes that we would like to accomplish. Sometimes these changes are self inflicted things like starting a new diet or healthy habit. More often than not, these changes are good for a few weeks or a couple of months, then we are back to our old ways.

This year my challenge is a bit different. I have found myself with an empty nest after my youngest daughter has decided to move in with a friend from work. My husband travels a lot for work and I am "home alone"! This year I will be discovering how to maintain my healthy eating habits and cooking for one. You may laugh, but this is really a challenge for me. I have always loved cooking and enjoy serving my family healthy dinners. I have always enjoyed the way that they rave about how delicious a meal that it was.

I am learning how to shop for one. I have already thrown out more produce than I actually consumed. Produce stands and Farmers Markets have things prebundled in baskets or bags and there is no way that I can use it all before it goes bad. I suppose I could if I ate the same thing everyday. That is way too boring! It is difficult to find a place that will sell you one handful of green beans, one handful of carrots, one half a bundle of asparagus and the list goes on.

On the other hand, this empty nest syndrome does have some positive advantages. There is much less laundry and house cleaning to do. There is more time for gardening. There is more time for just doing whatever I choose to do. Which may or may not get me into trouble! It could make me lazy or I just might write a novel. Time will tell.......