<ul><li>Make sure to get your child fully checked before the winter starts.</li><li>Make sure that all heating appliances like geysers &amp; heaters are in working condition.</li><li>Adequate warm clothing is essential but makes sure to NOT over-dress your baby as it can be extremely uncomfortable for him/her. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Always remember to make them warm boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat. The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.</li><li>Give warm water baths to your child. Make sure that there is a balance between the bathroom and the bedroom temperature so that your child does not get uncomfortable after the bath.</li><li>There should be no gusts of cold winds when you are bathing your baby.</li><li>Give adequate necessary vitamins and nutrients essential for proper growth to your child.</li><li>When riding/travelling in a car, make them wear thin, snug layers rather than thick, bulky coats or snowsuits.</li><li>Use sleep clothing for babies like warm one-piece sleepers or wearable blankets instead of loose bedding like blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, and sheepskins as they are a cause of suffocating deaths.</li><li>If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be thin and tucked under the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby's chest.</li><li>Prevent cold and flu by getting kids to:</li></ul>-Use soap and water: Washing their hands frequently will reduce the spread of germs.-Cover their mouth: Sneezing or coughing into the bend of their elbows also helps prevent the spreading of germs.-Get immunised: Keep vaccinations current, including the flu shot.<ul><li>Include soup in your baby’s diet. A healthy soup in cold weather will keep your baby warm.</li><li>Maintain your own hygiene: Make sure to wash and sanitise your hands before you attend to your baby every time. You need to stay healthy so that your child does not catch any infections because of you.</li><li>Use a Humidifier: When using a heating apparatus during winters it could rob the room of water vapour, making the air dry as well as your child’s skin. Hence, install a humidifier in the room so that the moisture levels are maintained.</li><li>Make use of a moisturiser for your baby as your little one's skin will be extremely sensitive and the harsh atmosphere of the winter can make it dry. Opt for skin creams or moisturisers that are made for the baby’s skin.</li><li>Protect your child from hypothermia. Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to colder temperatures. As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy.&nbsp;Speech may become slurred.</li><li>If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call for an emergency at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him/her in blankets or warm clothes.</li><li>Another thing to keep your baby safe from is frostbite. Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen.&nbsp;This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose.&nbsp;They may become pale, grey and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that his/her skin burns or has become numb.</li><li>If you suspect frostbite, bring the child indoors and place the frostbite parts of his/her body in warm (not hot) water. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten noses, ears and lips. Do not rub the frozen areas. After a few minutes, dry and cover the child with clothing or blankets. Give him/her something warm to drink. If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.</li></ul>

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

Winter Precautions for Babies

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

Precautions for Babies During the Winter Season

“There is no gift a parent can give his child that is better than good manners.”“Respect your children and talk to them with good manners and a likeable method.”"Whoever wishes that his children are safe from disinheritance, he should help them perform good deeds.”“The best gift from parents to their children is education and upbringing.”&nbsp;“Play with them for the first seven years of their life; then teach them for the next seven years; then advise them for the next seven years.”&nbsp;“May Allāh have mercy on the person that helps his child in doing good.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Love children and be kind to them."&nbsp;“Treat your children fairly, treat your children fairly.”&nbsp;&nbsp;"The best thing a father provides to his child is good manners and ethical training.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“May Allah bless the parents who trained their children to behave justly with them."&nbsp;“Kiss your children profusely, because every time you kiss the child, Allah will advance your position in Heaven by one stage."&nbsp;“Maintain justice among your children in gifts, just like you would like them to be just with you in goodness and affection.”&nbsp;“Like your children and treat them with affection and kindness. When you make a promise to them, you must keep it, because children consider you their sustainer.”&nbsp;“Respect your children and give them a good upbringing that Allah blesses you."&nbsp;“Anybody who called a child, saying that he would give him a certain thing, and did not give it, speaks a lie.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Never beat the children if they cry. Fulfil their needs. Because, for the first four months of the life of a child’, its cries are a witness to the Existence and Unity of Allah, Almighty."

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Hadiths On Parent-Child Relationship. The most basic and necessary manners that teach us how to raise a child. 

Prophet Muhammad Hadiths On Parent-Child Relationship Part 1

Parent-child Relationship is one of the things that is the most sacred thing in the world. Hadiths by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) related to this beautiful relationship will tell us its importance.

Prophet Muhammad Hadiths On Parent Child Relationship Part 1

Following are a few tips to keep in mind while you babyproof the house: <ol><li>Keep the bathrooms locked at all times.</li><li>Lock and hasp on doors in rooms and bathrooms should be shifted up (at the height of an adult’s head).</li><li>Keep the cribs at the lowest height because as children advance developmentally, they tend to launch themselves out of the crib.</li><li>Change the positions of electrical boards, keep them high so that they are out of a child’s reach.</li><li>Check the sharp corners and cover them with soft rubber. Stick rubber cover at the corners of kitchen tables, beds, dining tables and TV units.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>If you are living in a double storied house, fix a small door on the staircase. This will ensure the baby doesn't crawl and climb up.</li><li>If the child is using a walker make sure there is no bump or slope on the floor.</li><li>Keep the heavy objects, sharp objects, glass objects and such hazardous objects out of reach of the child.</li><li>Keep the use of rugs at a minimum as children tend to slip because of them. If you do use rugs, put non-slip pads beneath them.</li><li>Unplug all electrical appliances when not in use.</li><li>Put all the sharp objects of the kitchen in cupboards.</li><li>Remove table cloths if any.</li><li>Install safety guards on windows and doors.</li><li>Make sure there's no water spilt anywhere in the house.</li><li>Do not paint or renovate the house immediately after the baby arrives home. The chemicals are harmful to the baby. Wait a few years and then make the required changes.</li></ol>

Children are curious by nature and they will explore everything you have in the house. So it's better to keep a check on all the things you have in the house before the baby arrives.

How to baby proof your house: 15 baby proofing tips 

Children are curious by nature and they will explore everything you have in the house. So it's better to keep a check on all the things you have in the house before the baby arrives.

15 Tips to baby proof your house

The nose is an essential part of our body. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs, and irritants. It warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and tubes that lead to them from drying out. Your nose also contains the nerve cells that help your sense of smell. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. For example, the stuffy nose of the common cold can make it hard for you to breathe, sleep, or get comfortable. Let's be nosy and find out standard childhood nose related issues : Bacterial Nasal Infections - Minor infections at the opening of the nose, may result in pimples at the base of nasal hairs and sometimes crusts around the nostrils. The infection may result from nose picking or excessive nose blowing and causes annoying crusts and bleeding when the crusts slough off.Broken Nose - A broken nose, also called a nasal fracture, is a break or crack in a bone in your nose — often the bone over the bridge of your nose. Common causes of a broken nose include contact sports, physical fights, falls, and motor vehicle accidents that result in facial trauma. A broken nose can cause pain, along with swelling and bruising around your nose and under your eyes. Your nose may look crooked, and you may have trouble breathing. Treatment for a broken nose may include procedures that realign your nose. Surgery usually isn't necessary for a broken nose.Deviated Septum - The bone and cartilage that divides the inside of the nose in half is called the nasal septum. The most common symptom from a badly deviated septum is difficulty breathing through the nose, which is usually worse on one side. In some cases, it may cause sinus drainage or repeated sinus infections.Nosebleeds - A nosebleed is blood loss from the tissue that lines your nose. The most common causes of nosebleeds are dryness (often caused by indoor heat in the winter) and nose picking. These two things work together — nose-picking occurs more often when mucus in the nose is dry and crusty. Colds also can cause nosebleeds.Post-Nasal Drip - Post-nasal drip occurs when your nose and throat produce excess mucus, often causing you to feel it dripping down from your nose into your throat. Symptoms include Feeling of mucus drainage into the throat, Frequent swallowing, Throat clearing, Sore, irritated throat &amp; Feeling a lump in the throat.Rhinitis (Hay Fever) -&nbsp;Allergic rhinitis is the most common childhood ailment caused by allergies. Symptoms include a runny and itchy nose, sneezing, post-nasal drip and nasal congestion (blockage). A child with allergies may also have itchy, watery, red eyes and chronic ear problems.Runny Nose - A stuffy or congested nose occurs when the tissues lining the nose become swollen. The swelling is due to inflamed blood vessels. The problem may also include nasal discharge or "runny nose." If excess mucus runs down the back of your throat, it may cause a cough or sore throat. A runny nose may be annoying and uncomfortable, but it usually clears up on its own. Occasionally, it can be a sign of a more severe problem. A runny nose may be severe in infants. Prevention tipsAlthough it may not be possible to prevent all nosebleeds in children, a person can take steps to help reduce their occurrence. These include:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Treating allergies to prevent inflammation in the nose·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Using saline (saltwater) nasal sprays to keep the child's nose moist·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Running a humidifier or vaporizer in the child's bedroom to prevent the air from drying out·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keeping children's nails trimmed to prevent injuries due to nose picking·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Encouraging children to wear appropriate protective equipment during sports or other activities where injury to the nose is possible RememberIf your child has symptoms of any of the above nose related issues/infections, see your paediatrician. Your paediatrician can properly diagnose and treat the infection and recommend ways to help alleviate the discomfort from some of the symptoms.

The nose is an essential part of our body. It filters the air you breathe & removes dust. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. 

Nose related issues in Children

The nose is an essential part of our body. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer.

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>Normally babies stop wetting beds when they are 2 or 2.5 years old. And if any child is wetting beds even after 2.5 years, the parent can wait till 5 years.</li><li>If bed wetting continues after 5 years, then in the beginning, the doctor will usually give them behavioural treatment and by following that most of the problems get solved.</li><li>But if the child continues to urinate in bed at 6 or 7 years also, then the parent should consult a specialist and do as per doctor’s advice.</li><li>If the family has a history of such a condition, there are more chances for the child to have this problem.</li></ul> As per the behavioural treatment given by the doctor:1. The child should not be given any fluids or liquids after 6 PM including sweet drinks, water, lassi, soda, buttermilk, milk etc.2. The child should be asked to urinate just before bed and even after sleeping, the parent is supposed to take the child to the toilet after 1- 2 hours. <ul><li>Urinating in bed is a combination of both physiological and psychological issue.</li><li>Child should be made mentally strong by counselling and talking to them. They should be asked to wash their undergarments or bed-sheets which they had spoilt. By doing this, they will feel conscious and stay aware about it.</li><li>You can appreciate your child by putting star-marks in the calendar for the nights (s)he didn’t wet the bed. The child can be asked to use the affirmations like “I won’t urinate in bed tonight” for 20 times.</li><li>If the problem continues even after these efforts, the doctors might suggest an alternative treatment.</li></ul>

Urinating in bed can be avoided by not giving fluids before bed but sometimes it has underlying psychological reasons as well.

Urination in bed

Ravina Sewani

When your child suddenly has blood running down from their nose, it can be startling. While nosebleeds in children seem dramatic, they’re not usually serious.&nbsp;Nosebleed is caused by the rupturing of tiny blood vessels inside the nose, known as capillaries. There are a few common culprits behind a child’s bloody nose:<ul><li>Dry air: Dry air irritates and dehydrates nasal membranes.</li><li>Scratching or picking: Irritating the nose by scratching or picking can expose blood vessels that are prone to bleeding.</li><li>Trauma: When a child gets an injury to the nose, it can start a nosebleed. Most aren’t a problem, but you should seek medical care if you’re unable to stop the bleeding after 10 minutes.</li><li>Cold, allergies, or sinus infection: Any illness that includes symptoms of nasal congestion and irritation can cause nosebleeds.</li><li>Bacterial infection: Bacterial infections can cause sore, red areas on the skin inside the nose and in the front of the nostrils. These infections can lead to bleeding.</li><li>In rare cases, frequent nosebleeds are caused by problems relating to blood clotting or abnormal blood vessels. If your child experiences nosebleeds that aren’t related to the causes above, raise your concerns with your child’s doctor.</li></ul> Treatment:Make your child sit on a chair. Follow these steps to stop a nosebleed:<ul><li>Keep them upright and gently tilt their head forward slightly. Leaning their head back could cause blood to run down their throat. It will taste bad, and it can make your child cough, gag, or even vomit.</li><li>Pinch the soft part of the nose below the nasal bridge. Have your child breathe through their mouth while you do this.</li><li>Try to maintain pressure for about 10 minutes.</li><li>You can also apply ice to the bridge of the nose, which may reduce blood flow.</li><li>Make your child rest or play quietly after a nosebleed. Encourage them to avoid blowing their nose or rubbing it too hard. Knowing how to slow and stop a nosebleed is a useful skill for any parent.</li></ul> Treating frequent nosebleeds:While some children will only have one or two nosebleeds over a span of years, others seem to get them much more frequently. This can happen when the lining of the nose becomes overly irritated, exposing blood vessels that bleed at even the smallest instigation. If your child has frequent nosebleeds, make a point to moisturise the lining of the nose. For moisturising the lining of the nose, consult your child’s doctor. You child’s doctor may recommend using:<ul><li>A nasal saline mist sprayed into the nostrils a few times a day</li><li>Rubbing an emollient like Vaseline just inside the nostrils on a cotton bud or finger</li><li>A vaporiser in your child’s bedroom to add moisture to the air</li></ul> Call your doctor if:<ul><li>Your child’s nosebleed is the result of something they inserted into their nose</li><li>They recently started taking new medicine</li><li>They have severe bruising all over their body</li><li>You should also contact your doctor immediately if your child’s nosebleed is still bleeding heavily after two attempts at 10 minutes of continuous pressure. You’ll likely need to seek medical care if your child is complaining of headache, or feeling weak or dizzy.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Since most nosebleeds in kids are caused by nose-picking or irritation from hot dry air, using a few simple tips may help your kids avoid them:</li><li>Keep your child's nails short.</li><li>Keep the inside of your child's nose moist.</li><li>Make sure your kids wear protective gear during sports.</li></ul>

When your child suddenly has blood running down from their nose, it can be startling. While nosebleeds in children seem dramatic, they’re not usually serious.

Nosebleed in children

Palak Vyas

Keep the following things in mind while buying clothes for your child: <ul><li>The first and foremost thing to keep in mind, while choosing clothes for babies is their comfort of wearing and our comfort in changing their clothes easily.</li><li>While buying clothes for your child purchase a size one more than your baby’s actual size as babies tend to grow very fast in the initial few months.</li><li>The other thing to keep in mind is their individual growth and the seasons or the changing weather conditions. If your baby is 6 months old, he would be able to wear sizes till 9 or 12 months. It completely depends on your baby’s growth. The clothes you buy for this summer may not be useful until next summer, so purchase accordingly.</li><li>Try buying a minimum number of clothes in each size as babies grow very fast.</li><li>Consider the price of the product and compare with its quality and value of money. There is no point buying fancy and expensive clothes for babies. Firstly, fancy clothes cannot be used every day and even babies feel uncomfortable in such them. They get cranky if you make them wear fancy outfits. Secondly, babies grow very fast so you won’t be able to use it for longer periods. Invest in good quality and comfortable clothing which is easy on the pockets too.</li><li>Baby outfits must be easy and simple. Not very tight or very loose. There should not be any tight fittings in the sleeves or legs or around the neck. There should be no strings or ribbons around neck, wrists, and ankles. Even elastic bands shouldn't be too tight. See that the zip is in the front of the dress instead of back to help them change easily.</li><li>Ensure that there are no irritating or itchy tags or labels on the garment before using it.</li><li>Choose a good quality fabric that stands excessive washing and wearing.</li><li>Try to know your child’s likes and dislikes regarding their clothing. Buy what they prefer wearing.</li></ul>

Clothes decide the mood of your child. So select the ones your child is most comfortable in.

Guidelines to choose clothes for babies

Dr Aliraza Khunt

Late sleeping habits can be due to many reasons:<ul><li>This situation can arise due to the atmosphere in the house and lifestyle of family members.</li><li>These days parents themselves stay up late watching TV and using phones even after going to bed.</li><li>Studies reveal that if a child sleeps late then there are more chances of the child getting obese.</li><li>Ideally child should not sleep late. To help children sleep early, the parents can dim the lights and maintain silence in the house- the ambience to sleep should be created.</li><li>Even the parents should develop a habit of going early to bed.There is no such medication for sleep which can be given to children.</li><li>Only thing that can be done is following a proper sleep ritual to&nbsp;develop a habit of sleeping early.</li><li>You can make bedtime interesting by planning a different activity with your child before going to bed.</li><li>Few babies have habit of late evening nap. Avoid that to prevent late night sleep.</li></ul> Following the above measures can help you improve your child's sleep cycle.

By following proper measures, the habit of sleeping late can be improved upon.

Late sleeping habit in children

<ul><li>After babies, everything becomes secondary. And by everything, we mean EVERYTHING. Parenting becomes the most important thing for a husband and wife after having a baby. Most of the times, parents are exhausted by looking after the child all day long that their private bedtime takes a backseat.</li><li>The little time that a husband and wife get to spend with each other at night is also interrupted by a child's unannounced show-up. Most parents have been through the awkward situation when their child catches them while the parents are having sex.</li><li>Parents are usually startled when this happens and on the other hand, children are either usually afraid or confused about what they saw. Talk to your child appropriate to their age. Do not over explain yourself.</li><li>The first thing you want to do is to get something to cover yourself - maybe use a bed-sheet or wrap your clothes around yourself and your child to go to their room. Assure them that you will be with them in a minute. This calms the child down and also gives you a time lag to think about how you will talk to your child about the situation.</li></ul> For a child of 3-5 years of age:<ul><li>If your child is very young, say 3-5 years of age, they probably don't understand what they have seen. Instead they are worried about whether one of the parent was hurting the other one. In this case, you can assure your child that both the mother and father are safe&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>There is no need to lie and get all uncomfortable. Maintain your calm and clarify to your child that both the parents are safe. Let them know that they should not have walked in over you but also tell them that it WAS NOT THEIR FAULT.</li><li>Parents can simply tell the kids, "Mommy and Daddy were hugging, because we love each other".</li></ul> For a child of 6-10 years of age:<ul><li>If your child is older say of 6-10 years of age and stumbles upon you while having sex, they might feel ashamed and insecure. That is because kids never imagine their parents as doing anything else apart from 'parenting.'</li><li>To these older children, you can say, "Mommy and Daddy were just having a private time together". Ask them to go their room and be with them when you are dressed up. Calm them down and explain to them that it was not their fault. Tell them that all parents spend some private time.</li></ul> Precautions for next time:<ul><li>Lock the door. Cannot stress this enough but this is the least and the best thing which you can do. If you are worried about your child being alone, you can have your special time when your child is asleep so you can lock the doors with relief.</li><li>Teach your child to knock before entering anyone's room. Be it even their parent's room.</li></ul>

Getting caught in the act is awkward for a child as well as the parents.

Caught-in-the-act!

<ul><li>Stubbornness is a quality that everyone has. We use it as and when required. So when a child is stubborn, the child has their views where (s)he is stuck up firmly. It means they don’t want to listen to others; they have their criteria and want to follow them. They are at an age where they want to try and explore what they feel is correct.</li></ul> <ul><li>Let's take an example of food; food is a topic where most parents find it challenging to handle their child. As a parent, we want them to eat healthy and nutritious food whereas they want to eat junk food like pizza and pasta.</li></ul> <ul><li>One of the methods to deal with stubbornness is negotiation. We can negotiate with them. For example, you can tell them that if they want to eat junk food, they can have it once a week, and the rest of the days, they will have to follow your schedule. But then let them decide which day they want. You don’t dictate the day for them. Give them the liberty to select the day and the kind of junk food they prefer. Let it be homemade, preferably. Once in a while, you can take them to dine out as well. As a parent, we know all the pros and cons of the situation, but they don’t. They learn by trial and error method, and they tend to get distracted as well. You can always have limited control over your choices if you are too distracted.</li></ul> <ul><li>But when it comes to academics, negotiation may not work always. Like a child can come up with, “I don't want to study now”. “I will do this on my time.” “In such cases, we can’t allow them because we know that time is running out. So for this, we can help them create a timetable, where primarily they have to create the timetable, and you have to stay around helping them. Keep in mind that timetable is not a sure shot thing that will be followed thoroughly. It can be a trial and error method. But at least the children know the time boundaries, which will help them.</li></ul> <ul><li>The other important thing is that stubbornness doesn’t come alone; it brings misbehaviour hand in hand. When you know your child is stubborn and misbehaving, you can’t deliberately put them into any awkward condition. Could you not make them feel socially awkward? For example, if there are guests around and you force your child to greet them. The child might react in a way which might be humiliating to you also, by back answering, by disobeying, making a scene in front of the guests. As a mature adult, to avoid this, you can say, “There are guests around if you feel like just greet them.” And then leave it up to them. Don’t make it a compulsion. Could you give them the liberty of choice? At the same time, keep saying that what you would like them to do.</li></ul> <ul><li>Up to a certain extent, this will give them a choice of thought process, which will mellow them down and put them in strata where they will be able to make their choices. Once it might be unhealthy, but at a later stage, they will learn from their mistakes and become a better person compared to their stubborn behaviour.</li></ul> <ul><li>When you talk about stubbornness, it is also a lot about “Ego”. We all have an ego, and with maturity, we learn how to deal with it or overcome it. With children, they don’t have this filter. It is always a question about their ego, so they get stubborn at every point. They don’t know how to control this behaviour. So at times when you start to express stubborn behaviour in terms of commands, rules, or instructions, they feel that this is the only way a person can cope or deal with things. Irrespective of the situation, never behave stubbornly in front of them. Don’t stubbornly put your point. You can explain the reasons behind your instructions to help them understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.</li></ul> <ul><li>Give them options. Of course, they can’t keep doing things they like in their manner, but giving them multiple options and showing possibilities of ways of doing things, will solve the problem to a great extent.</li></ul> <ul><li>By giving multiple options, they will not feel stuck and feel the liberty of choosing their preferences, satisfying their ego, so it becomes easier to work with them.</li></ul>

All humans are stubborn, more or less. That does not mean you cannot teach your child to put their foot down and patiently listen to what the other person has to say.

Dealing with a stubborn child

Few things to keep in mind before you go on that much awaited trip with your baby:<ul><li>Before the trip- Check with your paediatrician for any immunisations or vaccination to eliminate any risk of dreadful diseases and to keep safe from unwanted sickness.</li><li>On the flight- If you are travelling by air, consider a rear facing seat, book a seat that has bassinet.</li><li>At the hotel- Check safety, example: railings and proper locks.</li><li>Keep them entertained.</li><li>Use mosquito repellents or sprays.</li><li>Be prepared with snacks and fluids.</li><li>Take extra clothing and stock of diaper.</li><li>Take your child’s favourite items which your child associates with sleep.</li><li>Take along their favourite toys.</li><li>Try not to take trips that are longer than 6 hours.</li><li>Keep first aid kit handy.</li><li>Try to plan stops along the way that are safe, not isolated and that allow you to walk around.</li><li>Consider scheduling trips around your child’s sleep time.</li></ul>

Travelling with a baby can be pretty tricky and tiring. The key here is to maintain patience all along.

Tips for travelling with a child 

Points to keep in mind while buying and using the stroller: <ol><li>Buy a stroller that is specifically designed for your child’s age, height and weight. Newborn babies should be able to lie down fully in the stroller.</li><li>Five-point harness: Shoulder straps, a strap between the legs and waist belts that connect together.</li><li>If the stroller has a hand-rest at the front of the seat, ensure that the opening between the hand-rest and the seat can be closed when the stroller is used in the reclined position. This means the hand-rest needs to be an adjustable one.</li><li>Check for strollers that have brakes which are easy to use and works as per required.</li><li>Ensure it doesn’t have any parts that pinch your child’s fingers or is some kind of a choking hazard.</li><li>A stroller should be stable. The wheelbase should be wide and the seat should be low in the frame.</li><li>It should not tip backwards while in resting position.</li><li>The leg openings should be appropriately designed so that the child’s legs don’t slip off.</li><li>The handlebars should be at your waist level or maybe lower than that.</li><li>Never leave a child unattended in a stroller.</li><li>Always use the safety harness while using the stroller.</li><li>Ensure to put on brakes when the stroller is not in use.</li></ol>

A stroller is a wheeled vehicle to transport children generally in a sitting up or semi-reclined position by a person pushing on a handle attached to the stroller

Selecting a stroller for your baby

The only way to find your child’s interest is to spend time with your child.<ul><li>Be observant and keep an eye over his/her activities, emotions, feelings and excitement. Listen to them carefully whenever they talk.</li><li>Observe where and how they like to spend their time. What kind of company (s)he likes. What is that excites him/her while (s)he talks?</li><li>Once you have identified a few areas of their interest, you can ask them questions related to it. For example, if your child seems very excited while watching a movie nature, you may conclude (s)he likes something about nature. So then dive deep into their psyche, ask them what they particularly like about nature. If they say they like water or trees or birds, plan their activities around such elements.</li><li>Give your child time to explore, let them have real experiences. Let them have practical experience of more than one hobby or interest. Their regularity and their performance will be able to tell you what interests them and then ask them whether they would love to take it further.</li><li>Sometimes it so happens that a child is interested in something at the beginning but gradually loses interest as time passes by. In this situation, encourage them, praise them and push them. Ask them the reason behind their disinterest. Motivate them to continue but never force them too much. Know the difference between what is that they enjoy and what feels like a burden to them.</li></ul>Eventually, your child will stick to his/her passion if (s)he has your full support.

Knowing the interest of your child will help you guide your child better.

sibling rivalry parenting concerns

Parenting issues are a part of the everyday parenting journey. Following article(s) might help you with your concern(s).

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Late sleeping habit in children

Caught-in-the-act!

Dealing with a stubborn child

Tips for travelling with a child

Selecting a stroller for your baby

Finding out your child’s interests

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