Mommying BabyT

Mommy T's adventures; bringing up Baby T

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Kid’s book review – Nonni’s Moon by Julia Inserro

Summer holidays are the time for meeting cousins and family spread across the miles. For children, meeting family, especially grandparents who live on the other side of the world is a joy incomparable to no other. Sadly these moments of joy also turn into heartbreak when its time to say goodbye to loved ones. I witness many such episodes of tearful goodbyes every summer or winter holidays. There is something about face to face conversations while being wrapped in the warm, comforting embrace of a grandparent. But if only it was possible to have that every day.

Julia Inserro and her family who live halfway across the globe from their own families have devised a unique way in which children can now communicate with their dear grandparents. And that is what her book, Nonni’s moon is all about. Continue reading

5 simple ways to enhance nutrition in your child’s meal

National Nutrition Week is celebrated every year from 1st to 7th September. The initiative was conceptualised by the central government in 1982 to talk about the causes, effects, and the solutions to malnutrition. The theme of the program varies every year. This year the theme is ‘Better Child Health’ and focuses on addressing issues related to undernutrition in the first 1000 days of a child’s life. Children’s nutrition is a crucial factor which determines the quality and well being of the adults that they will grow into.

In the first 6 months or 180 days, of a child’s life, the sole nutrition should come from milk. The government and other regulatory & informative bodies have been working hard to propagate the virtue of breastmilk for babies should attain prime importance. In practice, while most are fairly successful in achieving this milestone, they are stumped when it comes to nutrition in the days proceeding the 6 months where other foods are introduced for baby. Even well-meaning & determined caregivers find themselves at a loss when it comes to children’s nutrition . Continue reading

Namma bhashey Kannada – movies not to be missed

The story of how I learnt Kannada is quite interesting. When I was a child my parents would speak in Kannada to each other whenever there was a need to say something which I was not supposed to understand. First I picked up a few words and soon the entire language. No more secrets were shared under my nose. They probably did that when I was away from earshot. Then I spent two years in the state of Karnataka which only sharpened my Kannada. It was here that my interest for Kannada television and movies blossomed. I started with cookery shows, then serials and even some Kannada movies. Since then, I am hooked to Kannada movies.

The Kannada film industry is the fifth largest in India after Hindi, Telugu, Tamil & Malayalam. It churns around 150 Kannada movies every year which is released not only in India but also abroad in countries like USA, UK, Europe, Singapore and the Middle East. Continue reading

0 to 2: the critical years to boost baby’s IQ

Pregnancy is a time when the mother-to-be is encouraged to eat nutritious food for the healthy overall development of the baby. However, it is not just the physical development that is important. Baby IQ development is less focussed on as an objective, but one that is critical too. The time frame between conception to 2 years of age is when the maximum baby brain development happens. Thus it is critical that both the pregnant mother and the infant and toddler receive the best and the right kind of nutrition.

In recent years DHA has found a special place in the health food supplements rack. While DHA is not new to us – a famous brand of cod liver oil was given to most of us in our childhood, it is being seen as crucial nutrition for expectant moms and old people alike. The reason being that DHA has a direct impact on the development of brain power & proper functioning of the brain. Continue reading

When is your Independence Day?

When is your Independence day? The headline jolted me out of my lazy morning on 15th August when I was checking my phone notifications. I had planned to have a regular day but a bit more relaxed because my husband had a holiday and would be taking on the prime parenting role for the day. But this line, that titled one of the many promotional emails I received in my inbox made me think.

Yes, we have been blessed to have been born into a country which saw us living a free life. Free from being ruled by another country, race & people. But I am sure, many of us agree, that we hardly live lives that are truly free & independent.

Between the hustle bustle of earning livelihoods, trying to increase our standards of living, paying high school fees, fighting traffic, functioning in bad work cultures or a judgemental society, where do most of us find the time to follow our passions or even focus on a hobby? Our lives are not our own in many ways and whether we agree to it or not, most of us are slaves to a system that manages our physical and mental lives! Continue reading

A Laque’y experience – Nail Fashion

Have you ever seen videos of nails being shaped & polished & painted? More than makeup or apparel fashion, I love nail fashion. One of the first visual treats I enjoyed when I joined Instagram was poring over accounts which showcased Nail fashion & art. There’s something very therapeutic about watching nails being coloured and painted. Somewhere I harboured a secret wishlist to get my own nails fashioned.

When Laque Nail and Lash Lounge in Mumbai invited my friend Raising Karma & I, for a free trial session I was excited to go. However, I did have my apprehensions because I had never got nail extensions done and I had a toddler around the house to be looked after. When I shared this concern with the team at Laque, they assured me that nail extensions feel very natural and do not hinder the normal course of the day where we are needed to be hands-on moms. Continue reading

A safe solution to baby blocked nose

Did you know that babies are obligatory nose breathers? Even more amazing is that they are equipped to both breathe and suckle milk at the same time. That explains how they never tire of those hour-long breastfeeding sessions, right?  However, babies are not able to breathe very well through their mouths. It’s a skill they pick up as they grow, much like spitting and blowing their noses. The bad news then is that babies with a blocked nose are extremely fussy, irritable and cranky. You would be too if you felt like you were gasping for air.

This brings me to the essence of this post. Baby blocked noses! Continue reading

Draped in the warmth of a Kerala wedding

I just got back from a 4-day break amidst the emerald hills of a small town in Kerala. Our college friend was getting married in her hometown in Kerala. It was a typical jhatt mangni patt byaah kinda scene which had us booking our tickets and leaving for the airport in less than a week. We were excited by the thought of our friend’s wedding which we were waiting for eagerly since the time she announced that she felt ready to get married and settle down. And the idea of going to Kerala was the icing on the cake.

But first I want to share with you the outfits that I wore for the wedding events because I got a lot of compliments for them. And I am pleased to bits because I put the whole outfit together in a  matter of 2 days before I left. But most importantly in a great budget. Continue reading

The magic of Millets – revival of an age-old tradition

The monsoons are a time when I feel a deep craving for my hometown in Karnataka. Lush green landscapes, the chocolate brown earth & cool afternoons where we, a bunch of cousins would clamber up and down the old staircases of our ancestral home. In the evenings as the grown-ups sipped their filter coffee, we kids were handed steel mugs of steaming ragi malt. To a city dweller, this humble drink seemed like a trophy to join in with the adults around the coffee table. Ragi malt was next only to God when it came to healthy food for babies.

When I became a mother and was looking for ideas for healthy foods for babies, I found all pieces of advice directing me to the humble ragi or nachni. In my heart, I did a happy dance, only if to know that my child would eat a food that I so relished in my childhood. Continue reading

No Milk Please! – Milk sensitivities in infants

This last week we had a bitter experience dining out with our son, again!! We asked and gave a million assurances, instructions and warnings that the food we ordered for him should not contain dairy as our son has milk allergies. However, babyT still broke out into hives with the first spoon of his meal. I had to rush back home to administer his emergency medication, soothe him, find ways to decongest his nasal blockage & generally comfort him so that he felt better – physically and emotionally.

I am shocked at how unaware people in the food industry are about food allergies and intolerances. Mainstream dining and food products still contain the major allergen MILK. And that brings me to the topic of discussion today milk allergies in infants.

Continue reading

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