Traveling Alone With Both My Kids For The First Time: A Few Practical Tips That Helped

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So recently I traveled with my 1 year old and my 7 year old. We have traveled with our baby earlier, but it was always me and my hubby managing both of them. This time it was going to be just me, and I must say I had some reservations initially, but then decided what the heck....it was an airport and a flight and wouldn't be so difficult after all.

I will also add that I traveled during the Diwali holidays and the airport at Mumbai was crazily crowded. Too many people, every one had excess baggage, huge queues at the boarding pass counters and too much noise and crowd. Enough to bug even an adult, and my younger one is anyways not  fond of strangers at all, and is going through a severe separation anxiety case for the past almost 4-5 months now!

So here's a few things I did that did help me and even though it was a little difficult, it was still manageable.

New Age Indian Parenting: The Rules of Discipline And More

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I think we can rightfully call ourselves the new age parents of India, right?

Of course there have been many more parents before us, and every new generation is a new breed of parents on its own.

What I mean here is that, given the tremendous amount of change in attitude and tactics of parenting that has happened in India in the last few years, those of us who are parents at this stage are surely way different than how our parents were.

In most cases that is.

I am not writing this article as a good or bad style of parenting. All styles of parenting are good, as long as the underlying thought is the benefit and well-being of the child. What I am trying to say, however, is that, just as life has changed tremendously from how it was for the past generation, so has our way of parenting.

When I think of myself as a parent today and think back to those times when I was a kid myself, I can instantly see the difference.

Let's begin with some looking back then....

My brother and I grew up in a nuclear family, and ours was a simple middle class family.

5 Easy Ways To Switch Your Baby To Solids

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The first 6 months in your baby's life are the months where nothing but your feed should provide the nutrition. Of course, in those situations where baby is not getting enough for whatever reasons, a discussion with your baby's doctor will tell you which formula milk you can give baby.

Once your baby crosses the important 6 month mark, it's time to move into mushier and messier territory. Yes, introducing your baby to solids is actually as much messy as it's fun. But I'm sure you're gonna love the phase as much as your baby, who will have a lot on her palate now!

Before you move on to introducing your baby to solids, you need to make sure that your baby is ready for the transition.

How Will I Know If My Baby Is Ready For Solids?

Most babies are ready by the 6th month to move on to the grown-up world of food, albeit with baby steps. For some babies, it may be even a little earlier. Here are some common signs that will tell you that your little one is ready to move on to solids:

Stop Breast Feeding...Now?

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I have been working in the parenting related world for quite some years now. While that was not how I started writing my parenting blog, it sure was the way I got to lots of other parenting related forums and sites.

Of course being a parent and loving kids generally is a main reason that got me in this field. And this is also one of the reasons why I have had so many disagreements, even arguments, with so many parents over the years.

Of course every parent has a different approach to bringing up kids. And I truly respect and understand that.

But the underlying thought needs to be the best interest of the child, keeping in mind its health and love and care – right?

Maybe sometimes wrong.

Who Enjoys Those Kids' Sessions - Your Child or You?

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Recently I walked into the Crossword bookstore in the mall next to my home on a weekend. It was just by chance as my daughter was looking for something in stationery that we couldn’t find at Staples (which is a big stationery store, just in case). So there was this nook where about 3-4 kids were sitting on the carpeted floor, surrounding a woman who seemed to be handing out some craft materials.

Of course we had to go and take a look immediately. It turned out there was a weekend activity session for kids that would be conducted each weekend and anyone was free to walk in. That particular day happened to be Harry Potter’s birthday (and if any of you has been on my book blog, you would know that this is one series I really tried reading, but gave up after the first book – I think it is best left to my daughter to read when she grows up a bit). So it was going to be a story telling and interactive session about Harry Potter and there was also going to be a cake cutting. Quite interesting!

I deposited my daughter with the lady and strolled through the aisles with my baby in the stroller. It was then that I heard a young voice protesting – ‘No Mamma!!!!’

I turned to look at the origin of the voice.

Teaching Our Little One The Pocket Money Concept

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Now that my daughter was about to turn a cute 7, I decided it was time to start her pocket money initiation. Of course I didn’t get anything as a kid, and I always make faces at her, telling her she gets so much more than me, to which she always gives me a cute smile, now a toothless smile too!

So coming back to pocket money, I knew I wanted to start her on the concept, but wasn’t sure how to begin. Of late, I realised she was getting smarter about money, and was understanding more about saving and talking money before buying something.

I was already preparing her to understand about simple finances, and what are her needs and wants, which is something she is also learning in her Grade II Business Studies class…hahaha…..business studies at age 7, not bad.

So there were a few things we did to make her understand the concept of money:

10 Things You Can Do While Breastfeeding: Say YES To YOU

 
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Yes so it's the breastfeeding week (NO, it doesn't mean you have to breastfeed your baby this week! It means you have to breastfeed your baby for 6 MONTHS exclusively right from birth!) :)

Last year I talked a lot lot lot about breastfeeding, through the entire week, but this time, I think I will talk a little less and give all you mums out there to do some quiet time and spend it with your baby instead - breastfeeding.

I have been off feeding for the past 2 months now (my younger one stopped at 10 months) and there is no plan to have a 3rd one...so yes, I am off that...

But let me tell you that I am super proud of myself, as I am one of those moms who EXCLUSIVELY fed the kids on myself for the first 6 months of life - not even a drop of water, no matter who says what, including family (yes, some of them can still be quite the cave people when it comes to facts about breastfeeding!)

While I was feeding, unlike what so many people told me, I found time to do a lot of stuff! I started back on my work once my younger one turned 2 months, but as now I have 2 kids at home, I don't want to leave them with a maid, plus managing schedules with work is also a hassle, especially in a city like Mumbai. So I have thankfully managed to get that cushy position where I can do all my work the way I was earlier doing, but can now do it only from home.....Yes, I am really lucky!!!

There was so much to do while my younger one was much younger....and I knew I couldn't afford to not do anything at all for all of those feeding sessions. So, I did do a lot.....

But one thing I would like to remind you again is that though it is easy, having a phone close to your baby is not good, as it creates a lot of radiation. So try and opt for the other options as much as possible!

10 Things I Did While Breastfeeding :)

Are You Giving Your Baby YOU? World Breastfeeding Week 2014

How many times have you asked yourself what is best for your baby? The moment your pregnancy is confirmed, the first thought that comes to your mind is 'I hope this is good for my baby.'

This is one of the biggest truths of motherhood - putting your baby before you, anything that you do posing the question about how it will affect your baby. And once your baby is born, your world is only about getting the BEST for the little one.

As a mother, one of the first BEST that you can give your child, almost soon after your baby is born, is YOU.

Did you know that the best source of nutrition for your baby is breastmilk?


I have always been an advocator of breastfeeding. And so it was that when Johnsons Baby India got in touch with me, I readily wanted to share all the information they gave. This is one brand that has, for ages now, talked about the importance of breastfeeding. And irrespective of whether you use their products or not, this is something that makes me like them that extra bit more :)

You Are An Unfair Mamma! - Balancing The Love Meter

 

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Yes, so this is one aspect of motherhood I was always worried about - how would I love my second baby as much as I love my first born?

Sounds bad? Or unfair?

If you are a second time mommy, I'm guessing you've already been down this road. If you are mommy to a single child, you probably are wondering what's the big deal...unless you plan to have a second one (or get to know that it's on the cards, by accident!) ;)

One of the biggest reasons why I wasn't ready for a second baby was precisely this...I was never sure how I would be able to love another baby as much as I love my first born. My life was absolutely fun and perfect, and being a mother was actually a lot of fun, not something I dreaded or that made me alter my life. In fact, I had started enjoying so much with my daughter, who is more of a friend now than just a daughter, that I was worried the baby would come between us and take up my time.

PDA And Kids: How Much Is Too Much, Or Too Less, Rather!

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When it comes to PDA, there are already various censors going around that do not encourage the same. If you have kid(s) at home, then one of the strongest censor is probably sitting right next to you, right now!

PDA, or the lack of it, is a conversation that hubby and I engage in almost ever so often. It is something that we both are aware of, and no matter how much we tried to include bits of it in our everyday life (or some point in life after having kids!), it just doesn't seem to work out.

Our older daughter is soon going to be 7, but let her see mommy and daddy hold hands and that big drop of tear will trickle down almost instantly, though she will try to hide it and go and be sad in her room. It doesn't help that I know everything she does and every mood she goes through...

So, if my holding hands with hubby makes her sad, it can't immediately make me feel happy, right?

And it's been a constant struggle since we can remember.

I guess in some ways it is to the fact that I was always overly involved with my daughter ever since she was born. But that is what you generally do with a baby, right? I couldn't spend a moment without her being in it, and that remains true, even to this day.

Are We Together Only Because Of The Kids?

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No, I am not thinking of leaving, and neither is my hubby.

I was reading a lovely post today on an American site about how the writer was listening to a divorce account of a man who was about 70, and the reason he gave for the divorce is that now that the kids are grown, the couple have nothing in common.

The author wondered about this and related it to his own marriage (he has 2 kids and 1 is on the way), and of course I could not help myself think of it either.

It is true that in every couple's life, children bring a change that you can never have imagined. And this change is both good, and bad. That's the truth, and there's no sugar coating it.

My hubby and I have known each other for a decade, and have been married for 8 of those years. The first 2 years of knowing each other before we got married was just about us. And we were sure it would always remain like that.

Till we had kids.

Weaning My Little One: Diary of A New Mum

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When I had my first born, weaning was something we had a really really hard time with. Maybe it was because we were first time parents, and there was so much information and advice coming in from so many places that we got confused.

I exclusively fed my baby for the first six months, we no formula or anything. Once she was 6 months, we started giving her solids little by little. I was feeding her till she was 2 years, but then had to suddenly stop as I developed some infection.

That was one really bad time, not so much for me, as for my baby. She was 2 years old, and she needed me a lot for her feeds then, and somehow, she was not able to adjust to the fact that I stopped feeding her. It was a really tough time, with her refusing to take any bottle at all, and only begging for a feed. We had a really difficult time getting her back on track.

So, when I had my second baby, I was pretty sure that I would wean her off earlier, and in a way that would be smooth for her.

10 Ways Of How We Are Active Hands-On Parents To Our 6-Year Old

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As parents, both me and my hubby were very sure from the very beginning that we wanted to be hands-on parents.

While work and other commitments do end up taking a toll on us, especially after the arrival of the new baby, we have made it a point to ensure that though it may not be as much as it was earlier, we still give enough time to our first born, and are there with her for most of her interests and activities.

Things of course change when there is a new baby in the house. The demands and need are different, and your temper and crankiness level, not to mention the tiredness and stress levels, shoot up the roof. But that is really no reason to ignore your elder child, or make them feel as if now they are no longer the special ones, as a baby has arrived.

In fact, just the opposite.

While initial few months were difficult for me to constantly be with my elder daughter, now that the younger one is 10 months old, things are great! In fact, I spend a lot of one on one time with her, and also together with the younger one.

There is so much we do together, or if the baby wants to stay home and not participate, one of us is always with the older one.

My Mommy Highlight of The Day

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So I've been down with fever for some days now.

And while I knew this was coming, both my babies also ended up getting it from me. So it is that it is a house of me and my babies being down with fever and feeling sick the whole day...

Not a good feeling at all :(

My mommy highlight of the day - if you guessed it, I think you've been there too ;)

Yes...... keeping their fever down!

So that was it, my mommy highlight of today.....now back to resting for a bit for me, if the baby let's me that is...phew!!!!

- Debolina Raja Gupta

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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones.... Debolina Raja Gupta

My Mommy Highlight of The Day

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Heya,

Rains are here...and while I absolutely love this weather in Mumbai (winters are originally my fav, but since Mumbai doesn't get them, ever since I shifted here, my new fav is monsoon...)....there are reasons to worry too...the obvious being that my babies may tend to catch the viral or something.

I was just sitting and having my cuppa chai this evening, looking out at the swollen sea and hoping my younger one would sleep for just another 5-10 minutes. I managed to finish my cup without her waking up, and realised how happy that made me!

Well......we do have our small treasures, right?

So this was my mommy highlight of the day today. Of course they may be other highlights to the day, but as a mommy point of view, this was the one today :)

Cheerios !!! (and don't give much of those to kids - not healthy!)

- Debolina Raja Gupta

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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones.... Debolina Raja Gupta

Practice Before You Preach

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 So a few days back me and my daughter were having a conversation about why it is okay for me to do certain things while she is not allowed to do them. Oh yeah, I remember now, the discussion was about using 'bad words.'

 I explained that sometimes, grown ups 'can' do certain things because they were good as kids and didn't use those words then..... I know, one of the lamest reasons I could come up with at that time!

Anyways, my daughter told me that grown ups should teach good things to kids, but should also practice those good things themselves. For, if they ARE good things, we should obviously practice them. And if they ARE bad things, how do they turn when a grown up does them?

Toy Tasting With Yellow Giraffe ! Real Reviews of Toys by Real Moms....A Chat With Richa Dikshit From Yellow Giraffe

So I was quite impressed with the entire concept of the site Yellow Giraffe. It's quite the colourful site that has some really fun and educational toys available online.

This is essentially an online toy store, where you can pick the toys you want for your child and get them home.....

Recently, the team from Yellow Giraffe started an initiative that is all about toy reviews. Called Toy Tasting, it is a toy review channel on YouTube that features real reviews from real moms....

This is something that I feel all parents have been looking for. With retail shifting online, almost all sites have the same review for a product, and most of these are either paid reviews or written quickly by the staff themselves...None of these are real....

So in a quick chat with Richa Dikshit from the site, we talked about how the idea of Toy Tasting came about and what it actually is:

Why was this channel called Toy Tasting created?

The Yes World And The No World: Which One Does Your Child Inhabit?

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Whether you realise this or not, these are the two words you have been using most as a parent. And chances are, the word that you have used most out of these two is the dreaded 'NO.' Yes, right!

The 'No' syndrome hits all us parents almost as soon as the little bundle we brought home only that day starts to understand the world around. From 'No, don't put that in your mouth,' to 'No, don't throw it' to 'No more TV' 'No more playing' 'No we are NOT buying that' and much much much more...... every parent-child combo have their own scenarios, some unique and some extremely common.

I too have been using the NO button a lot with my elder one...And now that the younger one is 8 months old, she is getting her share of the NO too....it just doesn't go off unfortunately.

Johnson's Baby Share The Language of Love: Your Sharing, Their Smiles

It's that time again when you just cannot afford to not share the smiles..... It's the time to share, to bring in some much needed cheer and whoops of joy to those little ones out there who deserve every bit of it, but sadly, don't get much of it most of the time!

What is Johnson's Baby Share The Language of Love?

Share The Language of Love is an initiative by Johnson's Baby. It is an initiative that inspires moms and dads across various cities to come forward and share their child's used or even unused to an underpriviledged child, who would really need it. This is an extension Johnson's Baby's core philosophy of 'care.' To make the campaign a success like earlier, they have come together with Goonj, a well known NGO that does a lot in making sure the right thing reaches the right child or person. I have personally arranged a few contributions for Goonj in the past and know for sure that they are genuine (I do not generally associate with NGOs.)

The idea behind The Joy of Sharing

The entire idea is to create such a platform where children, no matter underprivileged, are given a chance to experience the joys of childhood, the joys of being a child. The campaign aims at sharing the articles that have been chosen by other parents with love, and will be able to bring a smile and a genuine happiness in the life of another child, to help them brighten up their lives from the everyday struggles. It will also help create a positive effect on the children who finally share their things with those who may not have a chance of owning it otherwise.

How did the campaign do in the past?

• The campaign first started in the year 2012 and in 2013, the articles received were double of what was originally received in the first year. 
• Johnson's had a 'Share The Language of Love' bus that travelled through 5 cities in 21 days. 
• Many retailers happily gave space to set up collection areas
• More than 250 collection centres were set up over 3 weekends across 12 cities

The campaign this year

• The collection centres are being set up in 14 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Cuttack, Pune and more
• Collection drives will also begin in 170 residential societies in 5 cities

 How to locate your nearest collection centre

•  Give a missed call on 1800 267 6767 or 1800 267 2222- this will guide you to the nearest out of the 300 collection centres set up

 What happens to the items once you share them at the collection points?

3 Month Old Baby - What Your Baby's Doing Now: Diary Of A New Mum

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That little bundle you brought home is now officially an infant! Somebody is growing up with lots of love for sure :-)

You are already quite the adept mamma by now, but there are some things that may or may not be known, especially if you are a first time mum.

Also, with constant 'free advice' from family and friends and even strangers, there are a lot of doubts about what baby can and cannot do at this age.

A few milestones are out there for you to notice this month, but remember that all babies reach their milestone at their own pace, so unless your baby is reallllllllyyyyyyyyy taking a long time, there is not even a speck of worry that you should have. In any case, baby will have a monthly checkup so the doctor will be there to discuss with as well!

What your 3 month old baby will be doing:

The Richest and The Poorest

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Last night my elder daughter and me were chatting just before going to bed....we were both lying down together, our arms intertwined, and her little head on my heart, snuggled in my arms...

And then, she said something that made me look at her once again and kiss her with all my love....

She said..

'Mamma, a person may have lots and lots of money, but if they don't know how to love others and share, they are very poor. And a person who has very less money but has lots of love and knows how to share is the richest person on the earth...'

And I am the luckiest :-)

- Debolina Raja Gupta


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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in Save it for our children' - MJ Happy Parenting!!!! Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones.... Debolina Raja Gupta

25 Rules For Mothers of Daughters: Your Daughter And You

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It is undoubtedly the most amazing bond in the world...nothing beats it.....and I am lucky that I have it twice over! 

I came across these amazing lines online and had to had to share them here....so perfect they are, just how a mother daughter bond should be!!!!!

1. Paint her nails. Then let her scratch it off and dirty them up. Teach her to care about her appearance, and then quickly remind her that living and having fun is most important.

2. Let her put on your makeup, even if it means bright-red-smudged lips and streaked-blue eyes. Let her experiment in her attempts to be like you…then let her be herself.

3. Let her be wild. She may want to stay home and read books on the couch, or she may want to hop on the back of a motorcycle-gasp. She may be a homebody or a traveler. She may fall in love with the wrong boy, or meet mr. right at age 5. Try to remember that you were her age once. Everyone makes mistakes, let her make her own.

4. Be present. Be there for her at her Kindergarten performances, her dance recitals, her soccer games…her everyday-little-moments. When she looks through the crowds of people, she will be looking for your smile and pride. Show it to her as often as possible.

What Not To Buy For Your Kids: 10 Things That Are Purely Marketing Gimmicks: Diary Of A New Mum

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The TV ads and the mega shopping sales and the many alerts from the countless shopping sites have only one agenda – to get you to buy!!!!!

As a new mom, and admit it, it has nothing to be a first time or new mom, and even those with more than one kid do this all the time (read, me, as well as you, yourself), we always end up getting sucked into these crazy marketing gimmicks that end up manipulating our brains. They tell us what is really really important for your babies and kids and you end up believing them, heart and mind and soul!

Recently, I even saw something on a baby site that told parents ‘to not be their baby’s toy themselves but to buy them some interesting toys for real.’ Okay, that was really marketing gone overboard and in your face.

With so much peer pressure and so much pressure from so many different quarters, it is very difficult indeed to figure out what your baby or growing child really needs and what can easily be ignored. As a parent, you do not want to leave out anything for your kid, you want to give them all there is that is the best, that will help them in achieving their milestones and help them in motor development and education and learning and stimulating their senses and what not.

Agreed.

But who says that buying all that there is out there will do that?

The ones who are selling it say, who else?

Most often than not, your instinct is the best guide to buying for your baby. Forget about what all the sites and stores are saying. If you think your baby needs it, go and get it right away. If you have the slightest of doubt, hold on.

Here are the 10 most commonly advertised or bought items that are actually not needed for your baby at all!

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8 Things That Being A Mommy Teaches You (Sometimes By Force I Admit)!: Diary of A New Mom

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Of course I am....don't judge me when I say this, and in the very same sentence, also say that sometimes, my daughters do driver me nuts alllllll through the day and night (the little one is in that stage where she has learned to roll on her tummy, so of course she has to do it in her sleep to and wake up and want to play and then cry!) how sweet :-)

So, coming back to the title of the post, this is something that we all learn, and if you are a mommy (dads, I won't say this is true for you, coz you just do it in your own sweet time and way, no matter if the baby is crying or fussy or what!), then you will relate to each one of the points I mention here...

Read on, and tell me if you actually feel this is true or not ;-)

1. Sleeping without sleeping

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Yes daddies, this mommy is actually sleeping!!! This is pretty much how we sleep the first one or one n half years of baby's arrival. A mother is timed in such a way that even before her baby actually wakes up, she will wake up and be ready as a samurai, to take on the challenge of the diaper, or the feed or just the rocking comfort...A mommy can do it all folks!

Teaching Your Child About The Importance of Time

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Telling your children about the importance of time is something that probably all parents face at one time or the other. All said and done, as parents or even as grown ups, we too probably are not able to always utilise time in the best possible ways.

The war against time usually begins right in the morning, when you start waking them up for school. From then its a constant battle that goes on the most part of the day.

Learning to adjust your schedule according to time is one of the most important things you need to teach your child as a parent. It is something that will help them lead a disciplined life and help them be more effective with their studies and activities. It will also be good for them in the long run. Adjusting and working within time will help them through their adult years as well.

Helping Your Child Become Self Reliant

 

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One of the biggest debates among parents and various parenting channels has been the confusion about parents learning when to get in and when to back off.

We all know about parents who are always hovering over their kids, deciding their every move, telling them what they should or shouldn't do, setting up rules and routines that have no flexibility, forcing young children to participate and excel in activities they have no interest in, but should purely be a part of as, according to the parent(s), 'it is good for their own development and future.'

We have all seen such parents, such parents do exist. And then again, there are parents who are constantly bullied by their own children, giving in to those instant tears, falling down on their knees, adhering to their child's every whim and fancy.

As a parent, one of your first priority, if you really want to do what is best for your child, is to understand how to help your child become self-reliant. A self-reliant child not only understands situations and surroundings much better than a child who is spoon-fed, but will also be able to take smarter and more mature decisions and be practical and calm in situations that require mental strength.

2 Month Old Baby - What Your Baby's Doing Now: Diary Of A New Mum

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Someone has grown up from the newborn phase and is all set to rock the infant stage...right?

With a lot of love and patience and practice and trial and error, you, mum n dad, have finally managed to successfully complete the newborn stage of your little one's life...

As before, baby will still mostly be in the regular cycle of feeding, diaper change, sleep, crying, feeding.....you know it now....

With the start of the second month, there's so much interesting that is in store for you!

What your 2 month old baby will be doing:

Communication:

• Keep an ear out for the many different and new sounds that your baby will start to make around this age
• If you are lucky, you may catch the very infant hints of a smile!
• Keep talking to your baby as much as you can. This will help set the first basis of communication for baby.

Positioning:

• Baby's head positioning will grow better now, but remember to keep a hand around the back of the head at all times

Developments:

• Baby will keep sucking at almost everything, from fist to bib to anything they can reach. It's one of the most comforting things for a baby to be suckling on something, so don't take it as a sign of hunger each time
• At two months, your baby can understand and observe colours and things. Hold toys or objects with bright colours in front of baby. This will aid in their visual stimulation.
• Talk to your baby as much as you can. Your baby will be able to understand different voices now.
• Baby will start grasping things

Crying:

• Of course baby will be crying, but not all crying is out of hunger. Check baby's crying signals to understand what baby wants.

Sleep:

• Make sure your baby is sleeping on the back and not on the tummy. Most cases of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) take place with babies who are sleeping on their tummy.
• While you may see a pattern emerging, most babies will not sleep through the night this early in life.
• Baby will need to be fed every 2 hours, or 2-3 hours, in the middle of the night, depending on baby's hunger.
• A 2 month baby will have some movement, so make sure the crib is empty. Remove pillows, blankets, toys and anything else.

 Do remember that each baby is special and each milestone is reached at baby's own sweet pace...so no comparisons please!!


- Debolina Raja Gupta
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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!! Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones.... Debolina Raja Gupta

Managing The Older Sibling: Diary of A New Mum

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One of the most important things that having a second baby taught us was that it was a wrong decision on our part earlier to not want to give our daughter a sibling. You see, we, and especially me, were so in love with her and so involved and complete, that we didn't feel the need to get another baby home.

Our daughter too feels that we are the best people in the world for her (I can't wait to see how long that remains)! :-) It's such a lovely feeling, right?

But yes, she did begin asking for a baby sis, and thankfully, that is what she got.

A lot changed once the baby was born, of course there was some amount of change in the way I get to spend time with her on a one-to-one basis. Earlier I would give her my time 24*7, now of course that's a bit divided. I can't take her in my lap all the time like I did and like we both loved to. I can't go out with her whenever I want, or I can't put her to sleep every night (daddy takes care of that most nights as I have to be with the baby.)

But one change, that has not come from us, and instead, we see in most of those outside our immediate

Letting Off Steam: Diary of A New Mum

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You have just had a baby, and everything is rosy and pink and soft blue and cuddly cute! True? Well, if you want the truth, the answer is - not always.

While giving birth and bringing home a little bundle of joy is surely one of the best things that can ever happen, it is also one of those experiences in life that end up making you feel angry, depressed, frustrated and totally up the wall....

The feeling of helplessness that new parents, especially new mothers feel, is a difficult truth that is faced by moms all across the globe. While almost all mommies will experience this emotion, there are some who simply cannot take it anymore. For others, it is a constant struggle and help is sought from family and friends, while some will still try and do everything on their own.

If you have been feeling any of the following symptoms lately, it is a warning sign from your body and mind that you need a break:

Wisha Wozzariter by Payal Kapadia: Review

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(*I received a complimentary reading copy of the book courtesy the PR team for the Crossword Book Awards. I have not been paid for the review and all opinions are my own)

Okay, so that part sorted (that the views shared here are my own and not paid for) I shall tell you all about this book that won the Crossword Award for the Best Book in Children's Books category.

A few weeks back, my daughter took the book with her to the Kahaani Karnival held in Mumbai and got it signed by the author. One happy kid! :-)

What really got me interested in Wisha Wozzariter by Payal Kapadia was the premise. It was a very 'realistic' setting, especially as my daughter is a voracious reader herself and reads day in and day out, including most part of the night when she is awake. Also the fact that she wants to be a writer when she grows up and is already writing her own little stories.

If you don't know what the book is about, here is a look:

10 year old Wisha loves to read day in and day out. She feels that reading is the best thing that could ever

Daddy, May I?

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(*I came across these lines online and had to share them - so so true!)

SON: "Daddy, may I ask you a question?"
 
DAD: "Yeah sure, what is it?"
 
SON: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"
 
DAD: "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?"

Kahaani Karnival Mumbai Jan 2014: The Children Story Fest

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If this is a common sight at your home, it's time to take your child out and into the lovely children story fest that is just about the corner in Mumbai right now...

The first edition of Kahaani Karnival will make its debut this 25th of January, Saturday, at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Fort, timing 10:15 am till 7pm for kids aged 2-12 years. This will be at the Coomaraswamy Hall in the building.

Baby Boy Names With B

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Here are a few interesting baby boy names beginning with B that I found online:

1. Ben
2. Bobby
3. Balbeer
4. Bunty
5. Bodhisatwa
6. Benny
7. Bhoj
8. Bikram
9. Bikramaditya
10. Bitaan
11. Bidhan
12. Biswajeet
13. Bijeet
14. Brad
15. Bartholomew
16. Brian
17. Brendan
18. Badal
19. Barun
20. Bappa

Putting Your Infant To Sleep: Diary of A New Mum: Diary of A New Mum

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Okay, it's true...sleeping babies are cute, very cute...provided when they SLEEP!

As a second time mom, I was very hopeful that I won't have the same issues with putting my newborn to sleep as I had with my first-born...yes, there's something called wishful thinking, so I too am entitled to think this way...

Of course it didn't happen...of course it remained just a wish...of course my baby DOESN'T SLEEP!

And I am really yet to come across a new parent who has told me happily that yes, their babies sleep really easily and they are not at all hassled and crazily exhausted and trying to read up what to do....

Everyone goes through this and you and I are not alone...

Baby Girl Names With 'B'

Hi Mommies and Daddies,

Here are some lovely baby girl names beginning with the letter B that I found online...Have a look:

1. Bani
2. Bebe
3. Bela
4. Baha
5. Babli
6. Babita
7. Bess
8. Beth
9. Bhumika
10. Benu

8 Ways to feed your picky eaters

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(*this post is in association with Yellow Giraffe, a cute online store for kids' toys. If you haven't dropped by yet, do check them out at Yellow Giraffe)

Are you one of the many parents facing a mealtime struggle? Well, help is on the way. Here are 8 ways to tame and feed your picky eaters.

1. Do not force the need: It’s time to stop the feed if your little one turns his/her head away from the spoon. That’s a tell-tale sign that he/she’s full for the time being so what if the quantity might have been little. Toddlers will eat exactly according to need and force feeding will lead to the building up of tension and discomfort in the little one. This will only cause the child to be more of a fussy eater.

5 Week Old Baby - What Your Baby's Doing Now: Diary of A New Mum

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So you've now stepped into practically the 2nd month!!! Wow...some achievement moms n dads!

There's so much going on now and you just don't have eyes for anything else other than that cute bundle, right? Great....This is just what your baby needs right now, and for months to come - your attention and love and cuddles and time....

What your 5-week baby will be doing:

Communication:

• Get ready to have some of the best fun moments with your baby now as your little one showers you with those newly learned smiles!

Losing Weight While Breastfeeding: Diary of A New Mum

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You've already heard everyone say this - from your doctor to baby's pediatrician to your mum to maybe your mum-in-law to your friends and relatives to the media and the books - almost everyone will tell you that breastfeeding a baby helps the mother lose major calories, thus lose weight.

I wouldn't be so sure.

Maybe, breastfeeding does help burn the calories, but the thing is, while you are breastfeeding, you are constantly hungry, which is good, don't get me wrong. Also, since you are hungry, you should of course eat (the last thing a breastfeeding mom should think of is going on a diet that makes her starve, be deprived of good healthy nutritious food or stay hungry for longer periods of time).

If you are here for something like this, then I suggest you head on somewhere else, as this is not the right place.

My Daughter and Her World of Books

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My 06-year old princess is forever reading (and I am sure the just-turned 05-month old is going to follow the 2 book worms in the family - obviously!) ;-)

While I am constantly wondering where I will stack up my books in the near future, I am crazily running out of space, and even after giving away more than 50% of my books recently (sad sad), I have some 300+ books that shall always remain, and add more to the family.

So, it's not a surprise that my elder one has a penchant for books. She has already finished reading various Enid Blyton series, the Amelia Janes, Horrid Henry's, Enid Blyton story book collections, Noddy was done ages ago, Roald Dahl she loves and so many more authors that she is regularly discovering and loving and adding to her collection.

I absolutely love this being a book lover myself. 

Baby Boy Names With 'A'

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Some interesting names beginning with 'A' for your little prince:

1. Aadarsh
2. Aadesh
3. Aadi
4. Aditya
5. Anvesh
6. Anoop
7. Ambar
8. Aman
9. Amanpreet
10. Aveek
11. Abhijeet
12. Arijit
13. Arnab
14. Ali
15. Aran
16. Aron
17. Alok
18. Aarav
19. Amal
20. Anmol

Baby Girl Names With A

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Some lovely names beginning with 'A' for your little princess:

1. Avanthika
2. Ananya
3. Anaswara
4. Ayra
5. Aayushi
6. Aanya (means grace and splendour)
7. Arushi
8. Anwesha
9. Astha
10. Aashima
11. Aashika
12. Aarna
13. Aadya
14. Aashna
15. Anukriti
16. Aahana
17. Aleeza
18. Aisha
19. Anushka
20. Aarabhi