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Do you know what to do if your baby is sick? Do you have any guidance already?

If you are a first-time parent, you probably will find it hard to decide whether your baby is really sick (needs to be examined immediately by a doctor) or it’s just a mild illness.

Below you will find the situations when your baby really needs to go to an emergency room or to see a doctor:

- Choking (is not able to breathe, face turns red then blue)
- Poisoning
- High fever
- Repeated seizures
- Suddenly becoming lethargic
- Refusing feedings
- Continuous diarrhea for the last 12 hours
- Vomiting over and over again
- Dehydration (the signs include not urinating for 6-8 hours, no tears, and dry lips)

However, it is not wrong if you just follow your instinct. If you feel that your child needs emergency treatment no matter what happen, just call a doctor and ask for his/her advice.

Don’t forget to make a list of emergency numbers. Put it in the place where it’s easy for you and anyone else in the house to see. The list of numbers includes 911, your family doctor’s, your child pediatrician’s, a local hospital, and close family and friends’.

If you are pregnant, you probably already know that walking gives many benefits for your pregnancy. But, how good it is, that’s what you probably do not recognize.

It is recommended that you read the article first, The Benefits of Walking for Pregnant Women. When you are finished, let’s move on to this one.

Things to consider before choosing walking as your exercise:

1. Consult with your obgyn first about the most suitable exercise for your pregnancy. If he agrees with walking, you can ask how you should do the exercise properly and safely.

2. Choose the correct shoes for walking; not too loose or too tight. Don’t forget to wear socks during the exercise.

3. Before starting, have a warming up and stretching to avoid injuries.

4. After you have done the primary activity, always do a cooling down and stretching, too.

5. Beware of dehydration. You should drink as much water as you can.

6. Do not exercise when it’s hot outside.

7. Stop exercising when you experience headache, shortness in breathing, rapid heartbeat, or pain below your tummy and chest. Check it out with your doctor if you have one or some of these symptoms.

Remember that exercise is very good during pregnancy, but you must be careful with your own condition. Always pay attention to your body changes if something happens during the practice and consult it with your doctor for the best of your pregnancy.

Sleeping gives the time for the body to restore. In babies, sleeping time is required to develop their muscles, limbs, and skeletal structures. To be short, sleeping is the time for a baby to stimulate their development. This means your baby needs a good, comfortable sleep, no matter if it is day or night.

If you have a baby who falls asleep easily, then there is nothing to worry about. But, what if your little one gets fussy and does not want to go to sleep? Don’t get stressed! We’re here to help.

Here are some techniques to easily put your baby to bed:

1. Before bed, try to give your baby a warm bath.

2. Massage her by using baby oil for about 15 minutes. Don’t forget to always communicate with her during these activities. You can talk to her about the bathing process (e.g., “The water is warm” or “Do you enjoy the bath, baby?”) or by telling her about her body parts. If you normally get excited during these activities, it’s best for you to reduce the excitement this time.

3. Play a slow/calm music and sing it to her.

4. You can also read a bedtime story. If it works, then you can do this method for her next bedtime routine.

5. Give a loving touch on her tummy, her back, or her head. Sing a lullaby while doing it.

6. Breastfeed her.

Sleep, baby, sleep …

Want to make something easy and healthy for your baby?

Here is one recipe you can add to your list. Potato Puree with Fish and Vegetables.

Potato is a very good source of carbohydrate. Adding vegetables and fish will make it nutritious and delicious. But wait, fish? Is your baby allowed to eat fish?

When can your little one eat fish? Well, it is recommended that your baby eats fish after he reaches one year old. This is due to avoiding the allergy that might occur. However, you can try giving him a little amount of fish when he’s about 6-8 months old.

If he does not show signs of allergy (swollen lips, swollen face, a skin rash, vomiting, diarrhea), it’s alright to give him food with fish. But you still have to make sure that the fish is thoroughly de-boned.

Alright, here is the recipe for two portions:

Ingredients:
500 g potatoes, peel, cut in dice, and boil
1/3 teaspoon of salt
100 ml breast milk or formula
120 g grated cheese
50 g carrots, cut in small dice, boil
50 g string beans, cut in small parts, boil
50 g fillet tuna, cut in dice, boil
** note: you can boil the carrot and string bean together, then add tuna if the first two are almost done.

How to make:
1. Blend the boiled potato with salt.
2. Add breast milk or formula and cheese into it, and then blend again.
3. Pour it into a bowl and mix it with the fish and vegetables.
4. Add some grated cheese over the potato puree.
5. Serve it while still warm.

Easy,right? Enjoy your meal, baby!

All parents of course want to see their baby grows healthy and smart. To be healthy, your baby needs a great quality of nutrition. The first and also the best source of nutrition come from the mother. It is breast milk.

To become smart, your baby not only needs to consume healthy foods but also perfect stimulations.

Below are some easy methods to stimulate your newborn’s senses and development:

1. Develop your baby’s sense of touch by letting her touch fabrics of different textures (smooth, rough, cushiony)

2. Improve her sight by holding up some colorful objects several inches away. When she focuses, move the objects up and down, left and right, and then in circles.

3. Hold your baby’s attention by singing songs for her. Change the pitch of your voice from high to low.

4. Help your baby correlate sound with sight by shaking a rattle before her. Shake it first on left side then on right. Allow your baby time to recognize that the rattle is producing the sound.

5. Enhance the communication between the two of you by making a descriptive talking. It is done by always talking to your baby whenever you are with her. Describe everything to her about all that you are doing to her, for example when you’re bathing her, say ““Are you enjoying your bath?” or “Do you like your new soap?”

And don’t forget to hug your baby, kiss her, smile and laugh with her most of the time. She needs to know that this world is a safe and comfortable place to live in.

How often do you have your exercise during pregnancy? What kind of exercise do you practice? Walking, swimming, yoga, or pilates?

Well, all of the exercises are fine for pregnant women. You know that exercise is really important during pregnancy.

Exercise builds your muscles stronger and improves your energy level. Moreover, it can also lessen physical discomforts which usually occur in pregnant women, such as backache and fatigue.

If you don’t have special time to practice your exercise, why not choose walking? It’s practical and inexpensive. Well, you don’t need to spend some money for walking, right?

Furthermore, you can do it anywhere; while you are going to the office or have it in your house’s frontyard or backyard in the morning.

Why walking? Take a look at the good things of walking:

1. Walking is a simple physical activity with a lot of benefits.
2. Walking improves your blood circulation so it enhances the oxygen and food supply to the baby.
3. It also strengthens your heart and lung.
4. It helps pregnant women to sleep better.
5. It reduces pain during labor.
6. It makes labor process easier.

So, for easy and economical exercise, start walking! Remember that exercise can reduce stress and can enhance the production of endorphine hormones (hormones that can make you feel good and happy).

Enjoy your walking and get healthy!