My baby didn't poo from so many days.....CONSTIPATION!!!

Well let's begin by saying this that it is VERY VERY NORMAL for your baby to have Constipation/ Hard Stools. So DO NOT PANIC!!!

Nevan was a regular poo-er (definition: a baby who poop's minimum 2-3 times a day) and we had gone to stay at nani house. Well in my excitement of being at my mom's place I payed less attention to his every small habit and easily missed upon noticing that he hasn't poop-ed since two days. Suddenly when I realized it, I was in a panic state like every first time mom.

I immediately called his Pediac just to hear; 

          " It's normal if your breast-fed baby is poo-ing Seven times in a day to Once in seven days"

And it's true as breast milk is used up fast due to the high metabolic rate and results in urine only, no poop; so raise an alarm only if the constipation persists for more than a week.

Let's now come to Home Remedies to tackle the constipation in babies (especially babies who have started with some solids):

1. Give adequate amount of water to the baby, preferably luke warm water at regular intervals.
2. Boil / Soak overnight a few raisins in water and strain them out. This water can either be given directly or mixed in baby food for consumption
3. Prunes can be given by mashing them in a little boiled & cooled water 
4. Papaya assists in easing out the stools (only to 6m+ babies)
5. Other fruits like Pear, Peach, Plums are also helpful in constipation/hard stools; they can be used on a regular basis too. Can be served to the baby either in puree form (preferred) or as diluted fruit juices.
6. Adding fiber rich cereals like Oats as a part of baby meal
7. While another thing which I have never tried but heard from a friend's experience is: Add a little sugar or mishri (crystalized sugar lumps) to your baby's boiled & cooled water.

Foods to avoid during Constipation / Hard Stools (The following should be avoided unless suitable to the baby after following the Four-Day Rule):

1. Banana
2. Apple
3. Potato 
4. Ragi

Also avoid giving the baby oils like Castor Oil, Aloe Vera, etc in any form or amount to aid hem/her during constipation.

The above mentioned remedies are only home-remedies; pls contact your Pediatrician in case the above is not effective or the baby persists to have Constipation for more than a week.

Looking forward for any other remedies used by you momma's which I do not know!!!

Applying for the Passport of your new born

Nevan will soon be having a passport now; so his first official document, after his Birth Certificate.... It's not that we are flying out next month but thought it would be better to get the documents ready to have it handy in case of need.


Well to my surprise government has now made everything easy & smooth by putting it online. So no long ques to get the form or getting hold of touts to assist you for a hassle free procedure. It was so simple & hitch-free that I still have my fingers crossed till we receive the passport. ;)

This post is specifically to assist all the new parents with the simple steps to get a passport for their lil ones. Pls read the below carefully

Step 1: Log on to http://www.passportindia.gov.in/

Step 2: Download the e-form for a Fresh Passport from: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/downloadEFormStatic

Step 3: Fill the form & in the end click on 'Validate & Save' option. You will automatically generate the saved form an xml file which would have to be uploaded.

Step 4: Register on the Home Page of the website by clicking on 'Register' under the 'Apply' section.

https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/user/RegistrationBaseAction?request_locale=en

Step 5: Login with the newly generated Login Id

Step 6: Upload the file generated in Step 3 above (xml format & not pdf format) through 'Upload e-Form' along with other supporting documents through the link provided which in case of minors passport are: an address proof, parents passport and annexure H (pdf format with file size not more than 1MB).

Step 7: Re-check your final documents & click on 'Pay & Schedule Appointment' on 'View Saved / Submitted Applications' screen

Online Payment is to be made for getting an appointment. Fees for normal passport is 1000 INR and for tatkal is 3000 INR, We opted for tatkal for which we had to pay 1000 INR online and the balance 2000 INR in cash at passport seva kendra. The online payment can be made through:

• Debit/Credit Card of both Visa & Mastercard
• Internet Banking is avaiable only for State Bank of India, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala & State Bank of Travancore.
• SBI Bank Challan

Step 8:  As you make the payment you will be asked for your choice of location  & an automated date-time of appointment would be scheduled for your visit.

Step 9: Click on 'Print Application Receipt' link to print the receipt with the Application Reference Number (ARN) / Appointment Number

Step 10: Visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) where the appointment has been booked on the dedicated time.

Important documents to carry for the appointment:

• Application Receipt
• Photo (Do carry a passport size photo of your lil one in white background )
• All the documents uploaded in Step 7 along with their self attested photocopies.
• Only one parent is compulsory to accompany with the baby

Hope this post is helpful for obtaining your lil one's passport!!!

Nevan's First BABY SHOW

Sunday was Nevan's first Baby Show.....though we came to know about it the last minute and were a lil upset with the fact that we couldn't do much about the preparation but it was all okay as the Mother's Pride Baby Show is in all just a marketing gimmick with zero preparation at the school for the event.


Nevertheless in the process we learnt about four fancy dress stores in South Delhi  for future reference though none of them had costumes for a child less than one year. It was a great experience all together and was fun to take Nevan in between so many kids. He liked the event and was excited to see so many kids around running, shouting, playing, dancing, etc etc etc. Well we did not win any prize as we did not enroll our child in the Mother's Pride fee structure but the couple of hours were quite amusing for all three of us.

My lil Dumpling!!!

I believe it is very important to make your child 'Social' & the more the child interacts with outsider
s (not family - nuclear or joint) the more skills he develops to open up and independent. I have decided to take him out for more such events & play dates so that he becomes more comfortable with everyone.

As of now he gets very excited by going out, meeting new people and specially kids of all age group, he would even be friendly with adults but the moment someone will pick him up he would start crying and looking around for familiar faces. Hope this improves over time as for me it's a social stigma to have a cry baby......

Starting solids - Don't forget the FOUR-DAY Rule

I started Semi-solids for Nevan a lil before 6 months, was too curious to begin and Nevan was okay with it too. But had read about the Four-Day Rule at a lot of places & it was even suggested by my pedia & other recent mommies. So I highly recommend this to every mom beginning to introduce semi-solids for their lil ones....

According to studies & pediatricians, introduction of food should not happen before 6 months but I believe its a generalized statement and you should read your child's symptoms & requirement for his readiness for semi-solids. I will write a separate blog for that so now let's come to the FOUR-DAY RULE.

Nevan's food introduction: 'Dal ka Pani in Silver Utensils'

Usually lentil soups are the first foods as they are light & easy to go with the baby system. So begin this with a few spoons during the day time (usually before 4pm) and continue it for four-days around the same time to analyse if there are any allergic reactions due to it.

Indicators to note would be as follows:

• Any rashes/red spots developed over a particular part or all over the body
• Vomiting the food consumed : which is different from Reflux
•  Loose Motions 

Please be careful to note for these symptoms as it is very important to keep in check any kind of allergic reactions in your baby as he/she would not be able to speak or tell about their discomfort.

Options for first foods: Lentil Soup ( Moong-Dhuli dal ka pani), Diluted Apple Juice (1:5 ratio to begin with), Barley water

What's in my DIAPER BAG?

As the baby grows, you wanna get back to your life and setting back to schedules. And a Big Big FIRST STEP is going out of the home and moving away from the shackles of being home bound. Now moving around is not as easy as it was before having a baby......So today I will pen down a list of Must Have's for your Diaper Bag.

25 MUST HAVE's in your DIAPER BAG

1. DIAPER's : Maintain at least 3 diaper's in the bag at all times.
2. PLASTIC BAGS: At times you don't have a waste bin at hand so it's easier to wrap the soiled diaper's immediately & dispose off later on. It can also come handy when you have wet/dirty clothes & don't want to mess them with your fresh clothes/food, etc
3. CHANGING MAT / MACINTOSH: They are very important while changing. Also it is not recommended to make your little one lie just anywhere even if it is a feeding station
4. DIAPER RASH CREME: To use post every diaper change
5. BABY CREME / BABY POWDER: Cremes very important in Winter & Powder is very important in summer to avoid sweat to harm the little one in their creases below
6. WET WIPES: An all time essential
7. TISSUE PAPER: Sometimes dry tissues also come handy
8. HAND SANITIZER: Another all time essential
9. BUG SPRAY/ MOSQUITO PATCH: Specially for the spring and rainy season
10. BIB's & BURP CLOTH: Feeding process is a messy process, so bibs are required to avoid clothe's changing getting into the picture & Burp Cloth is for the really lil ones post their every feed to avoid a spill back on your clothes
11. BABY HAND TOWEL's: Soft cotton hand towels come in handy for all the drools all around
12. TEETHER/ TOY: You travel without a teether/toy for once and you will realize this is most essential to keep the baby away and distracted from touching, pulling & eating everything he can get his hands on.
13. MILK POWDER in DISPENSER: For preparing a bottle feed on the go
14. TWO BOTTLES - Cleaned & Sterlized with Bottle Covers: Even if I know I am going to use only one bottle , I still keep two for just in case one gets dirty or falls on the floor I have a back up.
15. WATER SIPPER: For all 6 m+ 
16. BOILED WATER in a FLASK: Hot water is required right from preparing milk to further on preparing a meal, so the flask ensures that it stays warm & you have a supply for home-boiled water
17. BABY FOOD: Ready to eat food, again for all the babies who have started with semi-soli's
18. TRAVEL BOWL + SPOON: For the feeds
19. TWO EXTRA SET of CLOTHES: I carry one set of formal clothes and one of night wear, spl if we are going out and know will be back late night. So post his night feed I change him and put nighwear on so that the whole sleeping & waking cycle doesn't re-occur when we are back home.
20. SOCKS + FOOTWEAR: Important on the go, esp if the baby has tarted to walk
21. CAP: Summer / Winter Cap according to the season
22. COTTON SHEET/ BLANKET: Again to comfort the baby while he is asleep: a cotton sheet or a blanket according to the season. I carry a cotton sheet in peak summer's too as my lo's mostlyin shorts and at times the air conditioning is very strong outside so he feels comfortable with a sheet on
23. FIRST AID KIT - Just the basics - I carry a band aid & crocin drops
24. A FEEDING CLOAK/ DUPATTA / SCARF: For public feeding
25. Your PERSONAL STUFF to avoid carrying two bags: At times it's cumbersome to carry the baby, diaper bag & then your own handbag. So a lot of times I misuse his diaper bag by keeping a lip gloss, keys & mobile in it.

Hope this is useful for you all and in case there is anything I have skipped, I would love to know.

U become Mumma & Papa....only when u r called so

5th June'2013, four days before Nevan is to turn 8 months, he made his parents his 'Mumma & Papa'.

I was trying to inculcate the words Pa-Pa (more) & Ma-Ma from almost a month now. Last night when we came back from a stay at Nani House who too was training him for the same, we got our present. Suddenly during a similar practice session I was continuously saying "pa-pa" and suddenly he also spoke out and said 'papa'. The first time I was a lil hesitant and tried to make him speak the words again. 'Pa-pa' came the words the second time & my husband too heard them. We were in a state of confusion and like a new parent wanted to hear the magic words again and then began an endless flow of numerous "Pa-Pa" for another hour or so......My husband finally became "Papa" from a father.

Well, by night the women instinct in me spruced up and  I was upset that my son did not call me but is repeatedly calling my hubby. Well but the words Papa were more than magical for me too and I slept praising the Lord for his blessings. The next morning as soon Nevan woke up and I was changing him & again preempting him Papa & Mama he called out "Ma". Had never thought that a two letter word meant a world......I did not know how to express my happiness and did not react to it at all and soon after he again said, "Ma-Ma".

That is it........ I feel so complete.....I feel on the top of the World. As if my child has accomplished a big goal, has cleared an entrance exam, gained the top most education, reached the peak on his career.....all of it in one....he has made me his mother......am his 'Ma-Ma'.

Will soon be uploading the video for it.....