The following tips will help you manage your twins/triplets efficiently: <ul><li>Stick to a schedule</li></ul>Maintain a common schedule for the children. If one wakes up from a nap, wake up the other. If one is hungry and wants to eat, feed the other child as well. Scheduling both the children together will keep you sane and help you get proper sleep as well. <ul><li>Feed at the same time</li></ul>It is important to learn to breastfeed both babies at the same time. If you are feeding on the bottles, it is easier to have two spots to seat them. Breastfeed or bottle-feed, prepare ahead of the feed (a breastfeeding pillow, bottles, burp cloths, pumped breastmilk or formula and a snack for yourself). After feeding, burp the babies one by one. By the time the second (or third) baby has been fed, burped, and changed, the first one's often hungry - and the cycle begins all over again. In the beginning, breastfeeding two babies at the same time can be difficult. It is best to consult a lactation nurse on the days when you are still in the hospital. A nurse will help you try different breastfeeding positions so by the time you are home with your kids, you can apply the one that suits you and your child the best. When one of the babies wakes up to be fed in the middle of the night, wake up the other one after you're done with the first baby. It's hard to wake a sleeping baby, but if you don't, you will be constantly tending to babies and not getting any sleep. <ul><li>Bath twice</li></ul>Bathe your babies turn by turn. If you have an infant chair, put one of your babies in the chair beside you while you bathe the other child. When you are done with one baby, switch the places. Bath seats are also available in the market; these seats make the bathing process easier. <ul><li>Know who is who</li></ul>In the early days of twin parenting, it is natural to mix up your babies. You can dab a dot of nail polish on one of your baby's toes or fingers to avoid confusion. You can tie a wristband to one of your babies. See what works the best for you. <ul><li>Crying times two</li></ul>More often than not, both of your babies will cry at the same time. It is difficult to find out what soothes your babies. What works for one might not work for the other. Figure out if cuddling, cradling, singing, caressing works for your babies or not. <ul><li>Share the duties</li></ul>Ask for help; it can be difficult but ask away. It will be for your own peace. Delegate your tasks to your spouse or your other family members. You can hire a caretaker as well for some time till you figure out how to go about twin parenting. Delegating your tasks will give you time to bond with your babies. Communication is the key; if you feel one parent is taking up more responsibilities, talk it out. <ul><li>Preparing your house for your babies</li></ul>Baby proof your house in every possible way. Set up a changing station including diapers, wipes, and extra baby clothes. If you have a house with more levels, make sure to arrange changing stations, baby chairs at all levels. That way you can avoid running up and down the stairs every time one of the babies spits up or needs to be changed. <ul><li>Bond with your Babies</li></ul>It might take you more time to bond with your babies compared to parents of singletons. Most of your time will be eaten up in fulfilling your babies' needs. But the more time you spend with your babies, the more you will know them and connect with them. <ul><li>Celebrate their individuality</li></ul>It's important to treat your babies as individuals so that they begin to see themselves that way too. Refer to them by their names rather than as "the twins," and as they get older, make sure they have their own clothes and special toys. <ul><li>Plan quality time individually</li></ul>Plan quality time separately for your babies. Sit and talk to them, read a book, or play a game with your babies. The goal is to give each child life experiences that are fun and appropriate for them. Twins are very dependent upon each other in the early years. Spending some time apart will help them develop separate identities and help them understand their likes and dislikes. <ul><li>Respect your children</li></ul>Every child has different needs hence it is important to cater to their individual needs than being fair when raising twins. It is okay if you don't buy the same gifts or clothes for your twins or treat them in the same manner. Respecting the similarities and differences of each child fosters a real and healthy sense of self. <ul><li>Consider possessions &amp; twin identity</li></ul>Possessions help children form a sense of identity. Some separate clothes, toys, books, blankets, etc. reinforce separateness and ownership. Each child needs some possessions that do not have to be shared. This can be achieved by giving each child a special cupboard or space on a shelf. <ul><li>Be cautious about making comparisons.</li></ul>The comparison comes naturally to parents, knowingly or unknowingly. With twins, it becomes even more tempting to do so. Every child develops at their own pace hence it is best not to compare twins. Comparisons easily discourage a child or create a situation where (s)he feels less smart, capable, attractive or loved. What to invest in and what to save on?Babies Can Share:<ul><li>Changing table</li><li>Playpen or portable crib</li><li>Baby bathtub</li><li>Nursing pillow</li><li>Breast pump</li><li>Baby monitor</li><li>Double or triple stroller</li><li>Stationary activity centre</li><li>Activity mat</li></ul> Separate Baby Needs:<ul><li>Car seat</li><li>Infant seat</li><li>Bassinet</li><li>Crib</li><li>Swing</li><li>Diaper bag</li><li>High chair</li><li>Front carrier</li></ul>

It can be a little tricky to raise twins or triplets. But with time, you sure will figure out everything. The following tips will help you manage your twins efficiently.

Parenting hacks by experts on raising twins

It can be a little tricky to raise twins or triplets. But with time, you sure will figure out everything.

<ul><li>Protect your child from too much sun. The sun's rays are strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM so avoid taking your child out during these hours.</li><li>If you plan to take your child outside, apply sunscreen to them which provides protection against UV rays. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours and after being in the water or sweating. Use sunscreen on cloudy days too as the sun’s rays pass through the clouds as well. Do not skip sunscreen if you are taking your child out; only skip if your child is wearing clothes that cover his/her entire body.</li><li>If your baby is less than a year old, keep them out of the sun as much as you can. Dress your baby in lightweight, light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and long pants. Make sure to cover their head.</li><li>Select sunglasses for babies and children that provide 100% UV protection.</li><li>When it is too hot and humid, children should not play outside or exercise for more than 30 minutes at a time.</li><li>Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids even if they are not thirsty. Water is best of all. Dehydration can cause fatigue and muscle cramping.</li><li>Keep your child covered at all times when outside or sit in the shade as your child’s sensitive skin can get a sunburn. If your child gets sunburn, the best remedy is to use a cold compress for the affected area. If it’s too much, consult a doctor.</li><li>Never leave your kids unattended in a closed car even for a few minutes and even if the windows are open. The temperature inside a closed car increases too quickly and can be fatal for a child.</li></ul>

Taking the right precautionary steps before the arrival of any season will keep your baby safe and healthy.

Handy Summer Care and Tips For Babies

Taking the right precautionary steps before the arrival of any season will keep your baby safe and healthy.

Summer Precautions for Babies

Are we exhibiting what we want our kids to be? Call it a harsh reality but children rarely learn from what we preach, they learn from our actions. Take this for an example, an anonymous user on the internet confessed that her child would hit her younger sibling while playing. Her explanation in defence was, “We are playing ‘mommy”. We all aspire to become perfect parents for our kids because we want to inculcate values in them that would make them better human beings. But the larger and the more significant question is do we exhibit that kind of discipline in our behaviour? We expect our children to use modern-day gadgets judiciously but do we supervise our use of these products? We want our kids to watch their words and actions when angry but do we manage our anger appropriately? We want our kids to show decorum and discipline with their daily routine but are we exhibiting ourselves as an example to do the same? Dr Haim Ginott, a renowned child psychologist, pointed out, “Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.” If we give the child an environment of hostility he is more likely to learn to fight. An environment of ridicule and shame can lead to the child resulting being shy and guilty. But similarly, if the child had always lived with tolerance, he learns to become more patient. If he has always received praise, he learns the virtue of appreciation. What is important during the child’s growing years is that we model the kind of behaviour we expect our children to be. It is impossible to not be stressed or angry under circumstances. But when the parents manage their stress and anger appropriately, the message is loud and clear to the kids that it is normal to feel negative at times but it is only the positive attitude towards solving these problems that reap good results. Parents should ‘speak’ and ‘do’ what they expect out of their children. Saying statements like. “I love all kinds of food”, “I love playing outdoors”, “Let’s clean up the mess together”, “Let’s help little brother/sister with eating the food”. These kinds of statements bring about assurance in the kids and before indulging in the wrong they are forced to do what think what they have been taught. The brains of children are like sponges. They absorb everything without discriminating information into right or wrong. Let's set ourselves as better examples for our children. Let's exhibit what we want our children to be.

Are we exhibiting what we want our kids to be? Call it a harsh reality but children rarely learn from what we preach, they learn from our actions.

Children See Children Learn - The pillar of parenting

Being a positive role model for your child can help instil the right attitude and habits from an early age for your child to nurture a healthy lifestyle.

Children See Children Learn ~The pillar of parenting

Diwali, the festival of lights, is widely celebrated in our country. With the entire nation glowing brightly with lights and people celebrating the festivities together, it is a wonderful time for everyone.Parents interact with each other, children burst crackers, and there is happiness all around. However, children may get bored after a point, hence you will need something to keep them engaged. So, we have some amazing Diwali activities and games for children to play this Diwali and make it a memorable one.1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quiz Time: If your house is buzzing with relatives and their children, it is a good time to get all the children busy by making them participate in a quiz. Pick certain topics about <a href="https://www.beeparenting.com/s/diwali-gk---qna" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Diwali Quiz</a> and they will enjoy them. You can divide the children into two teams and let each team quiz each other. Make sure you keep prizes for everyone so that nobody is sad about Diwali.2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jewellery Making: Instead of giving your children actual gems and precious items, let them pick some household items such as pasta covers, beads, and other essential things. Ask them to paint these items using and then sprinkle glitter. Allow them to turn those raw items into great jewellery pieces. These jewellery items can go with their festive wear and on other special occasions as well.3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paper Firecrackers: Although crackers are something that children look forward to on Diwali, it is important to make them realize the negative effects of the crackers on the environment. Engage them in craft activities where you help them create rockets and firecrackers out of colourful paper, decorate them, and hang them or stick them on a wall for a festive look.4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rangoli Art: Although rangoli is traditionally done by girls and women, let’s evolve in modern times and include all children to try out their hand at it. Give them some specific designs that they have to make in different areas of the house or provide them with a printable worksheet and ask them to decorate with different craft materials and colour them, which would be supervised by older children. Later on, let them unleash their creative best and come up with some beautiful ways to enhance their creativity.5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Diya Painting: Diwali is a festival of lights and is incomplete if your house is not illuminated with the diyas all around. This Diwali, let those diyas not be bland and allow your children to paint those diyas with colours of their choice. Make use of watercolours, paints, and everything at your disposal to provide the little ones with the tools to deck up those simple diyas.6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Diwali Stories: Narrating the story of Lord Rama’s win over evil and his triumphant return to his people in Ayodhya, can be a good story to play. Let the children showcase their talent during the Diwali celebrations and get over their ‘stage-fright (in case they have any!)7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Musical Chairs: The simplicity of the game might make you feel like a weird addition for a festive occasion such as Diwali, but when you have siblings, relatives, and friends at one place, any game is fun. Let children play separately or mix them up with adults as well. Choose the popular songs of the time and let your children have fun running around and rushing to grab that empty chair.8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Diwali Work Book: Let your child discover India and one of the most fascinating Indian holidays with this <a href="https://www.beeparenting.com/u/z6236k" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Diwali Free PDF printable worksheet</a>. Enhance your child skill by printing the worksheet and using the printable worksheet to learn more about the Diwali Festival of Lights.9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fancy Dress Competition: Use Diwali to create a fun, fancy dress competition, maybe by using the Diwali colours as a theme? You can ask children to dress up in the shades of yellow, orange or red and get creative as they can.10.&nbsp;&nbsp;Making Paper Lanterns: This fun and easy activity will add to your festive decorations. Use these <a href="https://www.beeparenting.com/u/Q86JEG" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lanterns</a> to decorate your home during Diwali and many more festivals, occasions and events. Your kid will feel immense pride when their masterpiece would be displayed in the house.11.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tongue Twister Challenge:&nbsp;Diwali games at home are incomplete without the tongue twister challenge. This game will give you sure-shot, belly-aching laughter like none other. You just need to write down some tongue-twister phrases on chits. Come up with innovative tongue twisters or buy the latest tongue twister book online - your choice! Now allow your guests to pick a chit. Now comes the most fun part! The players need to say whatever is written on the chit again and again without breaks. If they fail, a nasty dare awaits!&nbsp;12.&nbsp;&nbsp;Play Dough Rangoli: Interesting way to add to the festive fun! Give each one of them a play dough kit and ask them to make a rangoli out of it. You may want to show them an example.Let them know they can take the kit to add to their delight. You can give them some sequences/embellishments too to decorate their play dough rangoli.13.&nbsp;Movie Time: Arrange for some popcorn and sandwiches and nimboo pani. Create a movie-like atmosphere in the room with curtains closed and dim lighting. Select a favourite movie and watch it with them.Hope you like the above ideas? Would you try them out for the children? We’d love to know how you plan to celebrate Diwali this time.Wishing you all a happy, safe, and prosperous Diwali!

Here are some interesting activities that your little ones can try this Diwali and have a wonderful time together with your children. Happy and prosperous Diwali.

13 Wonderful Diwali Games and Activities for Children

Diwali is not only a time for celebration, but also for family get-togetherness and activities! Here are some interesting activities that your little ones can try this Diwali and have a wonderful time together.

It's trickier to keep babies safe in monsoons, but taking care of a few important things can make it alright: <ul><li>Make sure that your baby’s clothes are dry and warm. Clothes often remain cold and damp after a wash in the monsoon. Clothes that remain damp can result in your baby catching a fever or cold. It is also best to opt for breathable cotton fabrics and avoid synthetics that may cause rashes.</li><li>Monsoons are always accompanied by several insects and germs like flies, fungus mosquitoes, etc. Hence the chances of babies falling ill also increase during monsoons. To keep your baby free of these, ensure that you and everyone else handling your baby should stay clean. Keep an eye out for nappy rash - change diapers regularly and apply a good diaper rash cream.</li><li>Disinfect your home and surroundings too regularly to keep germs away. Unclean surroundings can harbour many disease-causing insects and pests, as well as bacteria.</li><li>Monsoon brings with it malaria and dengue causing mosquitoes. To prevent your baby from catching these diseases, it is best to use bed nets or mesh windows. You can also use mosquito repellent creams for your baby after consulting with a doctor. There are also liquid, card and coil repellents available that are safe and effective against mosquitoes.</li><li>It is best not to take your baby out during monsoons, especially when it is raining. The humidity and the change in temperatures might lead to your baby catching the flu. If you have to take your baby out, make sure that your baby is covered correctly and completely dry throughout your outing. If you go out, avoid dirty areas with puddles and mud. Ensure that you are not taking your baby to crowded places as it’s easier to get infected with people around. When you take your child outdoors, keep wet wipes handy to ensure your baby stays clean all the time.</li><li>Some infants are allergic to specific pollen and allergens. Make sure your baby is kept away from these during the rains. If you notice any rash, redness or other symptoms, consult your doctor immediately and get it checked.</li><li>Check your house for dampness, leakage before the monsoon arrives. Get them fixed if there is a problem. Check for fungus or moulds around the house. Secure the loose electric wiring, if any. Clean the drains and keep bathrooms hygienic</li><li>Always feed freshly prepared food to your baby in monsoon as food tends to spoil quickly in monsoon.</li><li>Since you can’t always find clean water when you’re outside, make sure you carry a small bottle of sanitiser and use it to clean your hands whenever handling the baby.</li><li>Many doctors recommend getting a flu booster shot when the monsoons are around. Make sure your baby gets all his/her shots before the monsoon.</li><li>Since a baby is primary indoors in monsoon (s), he doesn’t need a daily bath. Two to three times a week, and especially around humid times, can give your baby relief from the heat as well. If your child has been outside, definitely give him a nice warm water bath.</li></ul>

Monsoon Precautions for Babies | Tips & Precautions

Monsoon Tips and Precautions for Babies

Parents express love for the little one. Note that the first two months after a child’s birth are very critical, as any virus can rapidly spread in newborns.

Is it normal for a parent to kiss their child on the lips?

Parents and friends are sure to express love and affection for the little one. However, note that the first two months after a child’s birth are very critical, as any virus can rapidly spread and cause serious illness in newborns. It is best to ask your friends and family to not kiss your baby on the lips, especially for 2 months as their immune system is immature. Kissing a child on the lips is also a cultural choice. You can choose to kiss your child on the lips or not depending on your culture.

is it safe to kiss a child on lips

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