We all know that dolphins are the friendliest and closest to humans in their species.

But they have surpassed us in their parenting abilities.

Watch this video for the amazing parenting skills!

Well..what did I learn from them?

• Parenting is a commitment that I have given to this universe for making this being independent and fit to survive on his own
• That I will do it willingly and happily (yes I could see the dolphin smiling!)
• I know what to do by instincts…so I will follow my heart
• I will show my child what to do and not hold him, force him or make him do what I want !
• All children (human or animals) need us parents to teach certain things but they are born with an inherent intelligence…I will not insult this by showing that I am ‘miss know all’
• I will be besides my child but eventually let her move to her own world (how many baby dolphins have we seen tagging along with their mothers?)
• I will try to be patient with them

I am still awed by this video. Do let us know what have you learnt about parenting from here !!!

Visit our website ‘ourbabysworld.com’ for complete and comprehensive guide to parenting and pregnancy

We have a ritual …..me and my daughter.

 In the everyday ‘s morning hustle and bustle of getting ready for school, in that crazy hour of rushing things up, both of us manage to sneak in 5 minutes off after breakfast. We first lie down on the carpet, stretch ourselves like we do after getting up, and then slump our bodies loose..it is extremely relaxing..then we look at each other, smile and close our eyes for 3 minutes …

then I jump off before she gives in to that irresistible urge to sleep again and then she whines and resists like a naughty doll with a smile.

It is the same, absolutely the same routine, each working day of school.

This envelops her in a feeling of elation, happiness, togetherness and security.

The needs are small, non specific,  non materialistic but imbibes a joy which no money can buy.

 Do we really need to run after money for every kind of joy? Yes, maybe… but certainly not all the pleasures or happiness is dependent on the amount of money we own.

 Maybe all the rituals were made by our ancestors was for this basic purpose..but where is the time to follow any of these old customs and religion in the hectic pace of today! Where is the time to enjoy those teeny-weeny moments of happiness?

Where is the time to make up a kind of ritual for ourselves which will give us happiness? something like having a cup of coffee everyday, without fail at the same time of the day when we really want to sit but cant because of time and work load…

Where is the time to enjoy a sunrise or a sunset except in Matheran or Mahabaleshwar? Where is the time to even let our kids follow their rituals of happiness?
Kids know that happiness is a state of mind.. not dependent on any external factor of time or money..they teach us and want us to be happy? So what is it that hampers us from feeling so?

Practical step: Do something with your kid today which you have not done before. Make it a religion with her/him. This will not cost you any money..will not take much of your time but see for yourself how much of happiness it brings to you.

read our ‘intelligent parenting’ section for more

MEAL PLAN FOR TODDLERS-IDEAL FOR A 2 YEAR OLD

An ideal meal for a child who is 18 months and more is

• One cup each of fruits and veggies
•  Two cups of dairy
•  Three ounces of grains
•  Two ounces of proteins as meat or beans

You may adjust this and make it more or less as per your child’s age

Here is a small meal plan that you may follow

• Breakfast

Half cup oats/cornflakes/mueselli/dahlia with milk
Half cup fruits like strawberries or grapes or a small banana
Three fourth cup juice

Nuts like ‘badam’ etc can be given early morning on an empty stomach

Or

Half banana with half cup milk
One toast or egg

(One or more items like fruits can be given an hour after the breakfast or together as per the liking of your child)

• Lunch

Khichadi (rice and dal) with little oil/ghee with / without vegetables
Half cup salads or carrots sliced if vegetables not included in khichadi
Half grilled cheese whole wheat sandwich
Half cup milk
One small apple slice (fruits are to be added in the diet but it is best to give them before the meals as they get absorbed better)

• Dinner

One to two  roti with ghee
Half cup milk
One fourth of chicken breast
Half cup brown rice and broccoli (if no roti is given)
Salads

You may divide the total milk in take into morning and evening only but remember that you may give milk with meals, but never within 2 hours of proper meal time.

These are the general guidelines but you have to follow with your homemade food keeping the guidelines of food portions the same.

Your child should also have about 4 cups of water in the day. So keep a handy sipper within his reach so as to make it easier for him to take it as he wishes.

If your child refuses to have milk, you may substitute it with milk products like yoghurt and cheese.

If your child is having too much of fats, it is better to substitute the whole milk with toned milk

Juices are good for your child but giving whole fruits is still better to maintain the fiber in the fruits. Also try to give fresh 100%juices diluted with water.

You may also let your child snack in between as long as it is in limits and not too close to the mealtimes.

Remember that in spite of all the guidelines, let your baby decide and choose and make it a fun time for her. She and her body knows best what it needs. So listen to her. Give her the freedom to choose trying to balance the meals at the same time.

Read the other sections of the blog to know more on parenting and visit our website ‘ourbabysworld.com’ for a complete guide on pregnancy and parenting.

CHANGES IN THE BREASTS TISSUES

From the time you conceive, your breasts are given the signal and they start preparing themselves for your baby’s feeding. You will see that conception starts a cycle in your body in which your whole self and all the organs orchestrate and change to make, produce, deliver and support the baby to come…this is nature!

• To start with there is only slight enlargement of the breasts because of more fats deposited; it may be accompanied by tenderness. This is the time to start wearing support bras to avoid tenderness and sagging of the breasts later on.
• The area around the nipple and areola starts showing more pigmentation and darkens (this is irreversible pigmentation).
• After a month or two, you may also notice secretions coming out from the nipple.
• Montgomery’s tubercles, (small bumps protruding out around the nipple), may also be seen, these are all due to increase in the milk ducts and formation of new glands in the breast tissues in preparation for formation, storage and secretion of milk.
• The size too increases progressively with time.( the breasts gain 5-7 kgs in the entire 40 weeks pregnancy)
• Your breasts may also show prominent veins called the spider veins and this too is normal.

I have leaky nipples. Is this normal ? Is it milk ?

Colostrum (the first milk that your breasts secrete) may start from the fourth or the fifth month and it is normal.

You can pad your breasts if it is marking your cloths.

Also visit our site ‘ourbabysworld.com’ for a complete and comprehensive guide to all the aspects of pregnancy and parenting

The most essential aspect of parenthood is completing with your child.

Has this statement provoked some questions, some doubts, some answers or uneasiness in your mind?

Well…what is this completing with your child??

It is nothing but discussing every milestone of the day with your child…both his and yours.

What was it today that had gladdened his heart or made him happy? What was it that he was upset about? What was it that had upset you? What is it that you would like to tell him or he would like to tell you?

How do you complete?

Before that let us see what is the best time to complete?

The best time is anytime when your child is receptive or wants to discuss it. We have seen that the best time usually is the time before your child falls off to sleep. So it would do wonders to your relationship to spend some time with your child at that time.

Now we come to how do you complete with your child.

The best way is to let him communicate first about his day. Be a listener to him and not a parent who just advises. Listen to his woes especially if it involves something that you have said or done.

You are also free to share your problems related, or unrelated to him.

Try to avoid remarks like…’you should be doing…, I do not like being talked to like..,”
Do not label him as uncaring, selfish, or even wrong.

Always, always, always label the action and not your child.
E.g.: today you hit that child. it is wrong to hit , or I love you but I did not like the way you hit the child.

Never ever tell or decide for your child if he is sharing something with you

E.g. dad today m.. hit me in school and they did not want me to play with them

How would you respond to that??

Anger? Pity?  Helplessness?
But the better approach would be..ok tell me more. Fine .so how did you feel dear? In the end you may ask so what do you want to do about it.

It may surprise you to hear that YOUR CHILD IS FINE WITH IT AND MAY NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING.OR HE MAY WANT HIT BACK

Whatever it is, explain the pros and con of both and give him the freedom to deal with it alone. You may interfere and advise but do not lead his life for him.

If there are negative feeling like anger etc at the end of the day, do an act of physically removing it from your body and throwing it out of the window. Make your child do it too.

 It will do wonders for the energy levels of your child and for you too!

Remember that completing with your child for only 10 minutes only everyday is a must and the best aspect of parenthood. You will love it and it will also strengthen the other relationships in your life.

What if your child has slept before you reach home?

You may still hug your child and complete what you want to say to her. She will still respond with a positive frame of mind on the next day.

So go ahead and resolve to make it an everyday affair.

Brush your teeth for the night…

change in to your night cloths…

 and complete with your child.

Read other blog topics or visit our site ‘ourbabysworld.com’ for a complete and comprehensive guide to pregnancy and parenting