Mother is born when a child is. We, women, don’t learn in our mother’s womb how to take care of a baby but with time and situation, a new Mother learns it. There are different and yet difficult situations mothers come across from the day a child is born. But, just a tip cherish every moment of pregnancy, eat, sleep well. Do not take unnecessary stress, house politics, do not cry or throw unnecessary tantrums.
Sharing some useful tips and insights on different stages of #kids and how to handle them.
- Stage 1
Whether you are a lactating or non-lactating mother but tired, you can definitely give formula milk starting from as early as newborn. Recommending formula milk powder over fresh milk, since formula milk powder has necessary calcium & vitamins. It does not harm the child but keeps you at peace, discard the leftover milk, and sterilize the bottle immediately. You can definitely use diaper for a newborn baby too. If you plan to breastfeed your baby beyond 6 months try breast pump that would leave you with time in your hand for other chores.
Common ailments like diaper rash, cold, cough you can use a bit of advice from older people, visit a Doctor, or your own common sense. Do not apply talc inside the vagina of a baby girl (I had read an article hence warning you) Do not climb the bandwagon for a fair-skinned baby. Babies are god’s gift, your blood and skin hence do not stigmatize if the skin color of your baby is not fair. Do not apply fairness cream, powder, or bleach.
From six months on you may add in juices and liquid food (mashed fruits & vegetables etc). Water is essential hence boil, cool it, and then feed. The best time to get rid of diaper and feeder is 12 to 18 months. Talking, singing, storytelling is way better than giving them mobiles for the same. Your child is your responsibility, don’t let technology take over. Teething is the most difficult time for the baby as it makes them irritable, cranky, and will also drool. Be extra cautious when the baby starts crawling. Most common injuries are caused while they learn to walk. Use electrical guards and close all the possible plug points, guard your kitchen area, keep cabinets locked. This is the best phase of a mother’s life. Enjoy it the most. Meanwhile keep a log of eating, sleeping, crawling, walking habits. Do not forget the regular immunization.
- Stage 2
Mothers want free time, hence are in a hurry to enroll the child in a nursery or playgroup. Which playgroup or nursery shall you enroll your child in this competitive World. Relax moms, you, yourself are the best teacher for your child. In a playgroup typically kids are taught color names, coloring, scribbling, alphabet, and numbers. If you feel that your child must mingle with other children then just take them out in an open park or garden and let them enjoy Mother Nature. Immunity of kids is not strong until grade 4th. They frequently fall sick with common cold and flu. In case, you are working mother and have to enroll your child then be ready for frequent illnesses too.
- Stage 3
This is a life-changing phase; here motherhood is on test in the eye of your spouse, in-laws, friends, and nosey neighbors. Known as adolescent or pubescent in a simper term I have personally come across women reluctant to talk to their kids and seek help on women’s forums. So let me start by giving you out a few pointers
The onset of puberty at age 8 for girls and boys by 10 is common these days. Before your child resorts to YouTube to understand his or her physical development, educate them in advance. Your daughter may find your body different than hers it’s her curiosity where she should know that soon her body will turn the same by having the formation of breast, pubes, and periods. What are periods and why does a girl get blood and eventually teach her how to fix sanitary pad and maintain self-hygiene, trimming pubes, and even washing her stained panty. This is the time where she will be attracted to boys or men. Sex education and awareness from being prey is a must or this is the moment when a girl child is more susceptible to molestation.
The same applies if you have a boy, as mentioned they do have their puberty which is better known as growth spurts. Boys need to be told that their voice would get heavier, grow taller, get Adam’s apple or known as laryngeal prominence, have erection and nightfall, hair in armpits & pubes. This is a natural phenomenon and Mothers are reluctant to converse these topics with their sons and usually keep this topic on Father’s shoulder.
Here my request to all you mommies,
A) Do not pull the blanket of your son in the morning. B) Teach your children the names of the clothing of both genders including brassiere and panty. C) Boys should know about the hormonal changes in girls so if they encounter any situation in school with a female classmate, they should not make fun of her stained uniform, rather escort her to the school clinic. D) Communication is the key, children these days seek friends within parents, abusing, punishing, and raising hands is not the solution.
Last but not the least, be a strong, proud, learned mother. I am and have raised kids single-handed. Hope you learn the same. Sex, sex education, puberty, periods, growth spurts are a natural phenomenon, go with the flow and raise educated kids, the future of our next generation would be bright. If these 3 phases are right you have definitely risen well-bred generation and you need to relax for a few years until college or their heart-breaks.
