A note to Parents from a Pediatrician – DR. K. Vanathi Swornam

Usage of synthetic / chemically treated materials/artificial scented wipes for newborn babies carries risk of skin problems. Simple clean cotton clothes, no cosmetics, pure coconut oil, traditional bathing power is all that is needed to take complete care of a new born.

Breast feeding should be the first food given to a baby within 2 hours of birth. No pre-lacteal feeds like sugar water/honey/other milk is needed. Best gift we can give to our Babies is Breast Feeding. No other milk has that kind of complete nutrition. Mothers with difficulty in initiation of Breast Feeding should get help from doctors.

Babies need complementary food from 6 months onwards along with Breast Feeding. These foods, if prepared at home with traditional Millets/Dhal, Jaggery & Ghee are 10 times more healthy and nutritious than any other Tin Foods available in the market. Use naturally grown vegetables & fruits in their diet. Introduce variety of texture base foods like upma / chapati / vadai so that it helps teething of babies. Using artificial teethers carries risk of chemical seepage into the saliva.

Usage of bottles for milk and water has risk of gastro-enteritis, ear infections, skin allergies. Use Paladai for giving water. Avoid cow’s milk till 2 years of age. Can start curds, butter, ghee from 6 months of age as it helps digestion. Use Desi Cow milk only. Continue breast feeding till 2 years. After 2 years start giving only desi cow’s milk / curds / ghee.

Electronic media usage is 100 fold increased in today’s world. Avoid using mobile phones near babies. Increased usages of gadgets have disturbed the growing brain. It impairs cognitive development/increases agitation/ hyperactivity / causes delays in physical development/inhibits social interactions etc.,

Do not use walker for babies. It causes delay in walking as they avoid trying to walk on their own.

Spend more time teachings kids with books / puzzles  /building blocks / beads counting  /crayon works / clay works.

Use wooden toys for playing. They are non toxic. Try to play traditional games like pallanguli, dayam, carrom, paandi, snake and ladder etc.,

Nutrition is important in growing phase of children.

Introduce your traditional foods / different consistency of snacks.

Encourage self-feeding from 1 year.

Expose to variety of taste like salt/sweet/hot/bitter etc.

Give seasonal vegetables and fruits

Protein is essential for growth. So see to it that they get it from nuts / sprouts / dhal / eggs / paneer / curds / fish / mutton every day.

Avoid fast foods/bakery products/street foods.

Cook a different snack everyday for kids with good oil.

Education of children is important but allow time for playing too. Daily 1 hour of playing increases their brain stimulation and growth. Encourage more outdoor games and sports.

Expose them to 3-4 outdoor games so that it helps them to choose and master atleast one game in their life time.

Teach them more skills at home like cleaning, cooking, ironing, washing, cutting vegetables, stitching, gardening etc., That helps them to be independent in life.

Take a break and visit places beaches, zoos, parks, museums, library, exhibitions with children.

Sleep is essential for kids. It lowers risk of obesity/diabetes later in life. Reduces the learning problems and attention issues. Children with consistently good night sleep have better problem-solving abilities.

We are all not Born Parents – We learn each and every day from children.