#pinknblu

Breastfeeding - Practical Answers To Make Your Experience Simple And Easy — Pinknblu

Breastfeeding is a natural phenomenon associated with the loving and compassionate journey of motherhood. The benefits of breastfeeding are emphasized at all times until every woman entering the phase knows the importance of the whole process!

But as your parenting support partners, we want to answer some basic questions which every mother comes across at the time of actual beginning or during the breastfeeding journey. These questions come across when you actually start the phase of breastfeeding. 

You will get a lot of advice from everyone about breastfeeding, but as an informed parent ask your pediatrician and trust your instincts about your child.

To solve some of your doubts and make you feel confident about this blissful experience, we have compiled a list here. 

How Often Should you breastfeed?

How many times you should breastfeed varies with the age of the child. Newborn babies might need to nurse 8-12 times a day and must feed during sleep also and the gap should never be more than 4 hours. By the time they are 1-2 months old, their feeding cycle can change to 7-8 times a day, up to six months, or until they exclusively breastfeed. After starting solid food, you should gradually increase food meals and continue feeding 4-5 times a day or whenever the child demands. The number of feeds per day may rise during growth spurts. You should be concerned if the frequency of feeding reduces suddenly when the child is exclusively breastfeeding. Every child is born with the intuition to breastfeed. It is advised to manage the same gap between their feeds so that the child doesn't get too hungry and unconsolable. Everything is absolutely normal as long as the baby is breastfeeding regularly, not vomiting after feeding, and sleeps well. 

How long should you breastfeed?

It is advised that every baby should be breastfed exclusively for up to six months and after the introduction of solids, the babies should be nursed at least up to the age of 1 to 2 years. The colostrum (The first milk that comes from breasts immediately after delivery) is sufficient to produce antibodies in the baby to fight the infections during the initial days after birth. Regular breastfeeding enhances the Passive Immunity of babies and improves it with age. (Read our blog on Immunity and foods)

In some cultures, the children are breastfed up to 4 to 5 years of age, however, doctors recommend an optimal time of 2 years or whenever the mother and baby can positively and comfortably wean off. Once the baby starts eating solid food properly, the breastmilk will only be a source of a complete range of vitamins and nutrients in the form of supplements rather than for satiating hunger. 

Did you know that breastmilk evolves with the age of babies and produces antibodies for fighting off infections causing diarrhea, fever, breathing problems, and improves digestion system? Although, the lower frequency of breastfeeding should be counterbalanced with solid food after six months of age for complete nutrition. 

To Pump Or Not?

Pump, definitely pump, as and when you want, wherever you want! Pumping breastmilk/ Expressed milk has been a norm in the western world for more than four decades, while in our country, it has been only recently accepted and adopted in the last decade itself. There are many taboos around pumping breastmilk, which need to be crossed out big time! Pumping is safe and does not affect the quality of the breastmilk. Not all mothers can direct breastfeed for a year due to various reasons such as work and health issues. This should not be the reason to deprive your baby of the goodness of this process and pumping breastmilk comes to the rescue. Breastpumps are manual or electronic, used as many times as required. It assures constant supply to your child who is exclusively breastfeeding even in your absence, and balance natural immunity boosters in their bloodstream!

How to Store the Breastmilk?

Expressed breastmilk can be stored for up to 1 year in specific temperature requirements. It can be stored in a bottle at room temperature for 4 hours and up to 4 days in the refrigerator and up to 1 year in the freezer. In case you need to keep express milk during traveling, it can be stored in a vacuum or insulated cooler with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours and then be used or refrigerated immediately. There are many sealable breastmilk storage bags available in the market for long-term storage. Store them in glass or in food-grade containers and bottles for daily use. Hygiene is the topmost priority for correct breastmilk storage

Always keep the storage container at the back of the fridge or refrigerator where the temperature is lowest and does not change. Never store in the doors as the temperature on doors changes frequently due to constant opening and closing. Do not store expressed milk in plastic containers or disposable plastic items not suitable for breastmilk.

Is Switching breasts compulsory?

It is not mandatory but advised to balance the production and supply in both breasts. Usually, each breast is sufficient to satiate the baby. However, if the child falls asleep before feeding is complete, or to get relief from over-full breasts (that cause painful engorgement) switching sides is recommended. But if the feedings are very often or in the case of multiples, where the chance of having full-breasts is less, switching sides during every feed is not necessary. Also switching sides pre-maturely (before 10 minutes) can cause fore-milk and hind-milk imbalance and lead to colic. (Read Colic in Babies Blog). Adopt the pattern of breastfeeding from the very beginning before your child gets habituated with one side. 

How often do you need to burp the baby?

Babies should be burped after every feed, while switching breasts or before restarting if your baby falls asleep while feeding and wakes up immediately to feed more.

There is no specific length of time or number of times to do this the right way, the pattern is different for each baby. Hold your baby upright with head supported on your shoulders with the gentlest pat or rub on the back for a minute or two. If the baby doesn't burp for up to 5 minutes, you can still put them down. The burping process time is to be adjusted according to your baby's conditions regarding spitting up, vomiting, and comfort.

When to introduce solids?

You must have heard about starting solids for babies after 6 months of age, but we shall tell you why behind it! The exploration of other foods such as purees, mashed pulses can be started once -

The baby is six months old,

Can hold their head themselves,

Weighs more than 13 pounds or around

Shows attraction and interest in food that you eat in front of them.

All of these above points are a sign that your baby's digestive system is ready to start a form of food other than breastmilk. If not specifically told by the pediatrician, solids should be started after 6 months only.

For much more than just parenting download our app

Covid-19 - Protocols For Isolation With Children And Other Family Members — PinkNBlu

The situation under Covid-19, especially with the second wave, has caused an austere disruption between families and relatives. However, heroic stories from across the country about how people have acted like superheroes and worked relentlessly to help people deal with the Covid-19 crisis motivated all of us to remain hopeful.

Here we shall discuss a very stressful situation and a cause of concern - how to isolate at home, with kids or in a joint family set-up? Having a separate room or area to isolate a single member is not possible in most cases. But, to save the other members from getting infected is the moral responsibility of every person.

With limited space options, or having kids in the family following home isolation or home quarantine protocols and guidelines issued by the governing authorities is not easy.

What Is The Difference Between Quarantine And Isolation

Quarantine 

If a person needs to quarantine or stay home for 1-2 weeks if suspected to be infected or exposed to any condition that makes it likely to contract the Covid-19 virus. The person may or may not have symptoms but needs to take this measure to negate the chances of passing on the infection to others.

Isolation

If a person is covid positive, with or without symptom, isolation from healthy people is required upto 10 days or until the Covid report is negative to break the chain of transmission.

How To Isolate Or Quarantine At Home

1.  With kids and people with existing comorbidities

The member who is covid positive should isolate in a separate room with an attached bathroom. The rest of the members of the household should wear masks all the time.

Only one person should take up the responsibility of attending and taking care of the isolated/sick person. The caregiver should wash hands regularly each time after contact with any surface or things from the quarantined person's room. Especially if you have children who are likely to touch objects around them without precaution.

The optimum measure is to let the isolating person wash their utensils and clothes themselves. But in case they are not well enough to do so, the caregiver and the patient should ensure wearing double masks while exchanging things. Wear hand gloves while washing the utensils and clothes with hot water and disinfectant detergents and give the same back for reuse.

Kids tend to be playful and might not understand the seriousness of the situation. They should be strictly kept away from the isolation room, any surface, or items that may have been touched by the sick person.

Keep the children and elderly or people with existing health conditions in a separate room when/if the sick person has to use any common areas such as bathrooms. The whole place/bathroom/ passageway and surfaces should be sanitized after every use before letting the children and the elderly out of the room.

If more than one person is Covid positive, isolate in the same room with all protocols like masking, sanitizing, washing hands. It is easier to pass the period than being alone.

2. If The Primary Caregiver/ Parent Has Covid-19

The dire situation seems multifold when the parents/primary caregiver is covid positive without any other adults in the household to take care of children.

An older child is the one who is mature enough to take care of oneself and legally allowed to be alone at home. The parent/s should adopt all isolation protocols to prevent the spreading of infection to other members.

Asking help from people outside the home by providing cooked food or running errands is necessary to help the child cope with the responsibilities.

Children who cannot take care of themselves have no option other than to stay with their parents (sick with Covid-19). If at all possible, ask other family members or arrange other caregivers till the parents recover. Otherwise, supervising the child/ren during the recovery period with the highest possible Covid-19 protocols is necessary to keep them safe.

Both the child and parents should wear masks all the time. If the child is too young to wear masks, parents should wear double masks.

Keep a distance of 6 feet from the child or isolate in a separate room, if possible. Wash your hands frequently, especially before touching any common-use surfaces.

Ensure that the house is well-ventilated, do not use air conditioners and keep the windows open with the fan on.

If the sole caregiver is sick, always sanitize/disinfect any item you exchange with your children, except food. If there are other family members, ask them to take complete responsibility for the child and self-isolate yourself in a separate room.

CALL EMERGENCY number or your consulting doctor if your condition worsens, or are unable to take care of the child, or your child shows any symptoms of Covid-19. You should always stay in touch with your extended family outside the household and inform them if you are not in the condition to take care of your children.

3. If the child is Covid Positive

Getting a covid positive report of your child is heartbreaking, an agony that only a parent can comprehend. Keeping the anxiety and panic at bay, you need to be your strongest self to pass through this situation. On a positive note, based on the studies, Covid-19 does not affect children severely. They mostly recover in home isolation and with mild or no symptoms at all. But as they can be carriers of the virus, keeping them isolated till they recover is essential for stopping the chain of transmission.

The child should get immediate medical attention if the symptoms are moderate to severe.

There should be absolutely no contact with others, playdates, or visitors in the house.

The child should be separated from the rest of the household, and ideally, only one person should be responsible for taking care of the sick child, who should also follow all quarantine measures as if they are also at the highest risk of contacting the infection.

As younger children are not easy to isolate and cannot be made to wear masks all day or no mask at all if they are younger than 2 years. So for everyone else's safety, all members should wear masks all the time.

Older children who are capable of managing themselves alone should be isolated separately with home isolation protocols.

Isolate the child in a room that has a bathroom facility if possible. Otherwise, sanitize and disinfect the space every time the child uses one.

The primary caregiver should care for them like normal, with double masks but make them feel loved. Do activities and games with them to keep them entertained. Answering their doubts and questions related to the situation helps them gain confidence to overcome and recover better.

4. If there is no separate space to isolate

Indian Households do not necessarily have separate rooms for each family member. This can become a confusing situation when the need to isolate or quarantine arises. Here are some pointers to adopt while isolating in a house in case of space constraints.

Try to keep the best possible space to separate the sick person/s from the rest of the members, especially the children, the elderly, and people with existing health conditions.

Create partitions with cardboard poster boards, bedspreads, shower curtain if the sick person and the rest of the household has to stay in joined space.

Continous sanitization of shared spaces and ventilation by keeping windows open in the safest way possible is a must.

Create separate beds for the sick person, and if even that is not possible, sleep facing opposite ends of the bed, with masks (N95) on.

If the bathrooms are shared, the isolating person should clean the space with disinfectant after every use. If it is not possible, the caretaker should clean the washrooms after every use by the sick person wearing a mask (N95), disposable gloves. Keep the bathrooms ventilated.

The laundry, linens, clothes, utensils should be washed in the hottest possible water with disposable gloves and mask all the time and should not be touched by any other member other than the caretaker.

There should be absolutely no visitors (except medical help) as all the people staying together at high risk of contracting the virus. Hence, all the members should stay as per the quarantine protocols.

Covid-19 is dangerous, and taking precautions for reducing the risk of transmission is absolutely mandatory.

Timely testing and treatment can save from getting severely ill from Covid-19. Isolating strictly helps in preventing other family members from getting sick and break the chain of transmission.

In case you or any family member has contracted coronavirus, do not self medicate. Always consult a doctor. Keep the patient connected with the family and friends through video calls, as empathy and compassion play an imminent role in their faster recovery and boosting their morale.

Reach out to us if you have any questions or doubts about home isolation or quarantine. We are in this together!

For much more than just parenting download our app

9 Forms Of Food That Boost Immunity In Kids - Great Health For Better Future — PinkNBlu

Keeping up good health and developing a good immune response in one's body is highly imminent for having a healthy life. With evolving lifestyles and poor food habits, we need to do our best to help our kids develop immunity from the very beginning to prepare them for a great & healthy future.

Let's take a basic introduction about the types of immunity that our body can develop!

1. Innate immunity

This type of immunity is the one we are naturally born with and are ready to prevent outside invaders from day one! These include physical barriers such as skin, mucous membranes that exist naturally in our mouth and gut. These act like frontline warriors to save pathogens and micro-organisms from entering our bodies.

2. Adaptive or Acquired Immunity

As we grow, our bodies come across numerous pathogens for the first time. Our immune system works hard to make antibodies to fight the infections off. Our immune system stores the data and keeps the antibodies ready to respond faster when the same pathogen strikes again. This process of developing immunity over time is called adaptive immunity. This is the reason why older children and adults fall sick much lesser than younger kids and babies.

3. Passive Immunity

This is also a type of acquired immunity but from a source. This immunity is passed down to the foetus from the mother through the placenta or from breastmilk. It helps to fight off infections in earlier years. However, this immunity is not lasting and wades off with time, and by then, adaptive immunity kicks in.

4. Vaccinations

Another form of immunity is artificially induced through vaccinations. Hence timely vaccinations are highly significant for fighting various diseases.

Immunity boosting Food Forms

It is more important for parents to understand why these 9 food categories as naturally designed to improve our immune system and need to be included in their children's diet.

Effective immunity comes from a healthy body and mind. These superfoods are the perfect easy way to see your children grow into healthy humans. A child who falls sick too often means low immunity and which in turn leads to poorer health.

Seasonal Fruits

Mother nature is not just a name, and her offspring are made with perfection and balance for all nutrients required by our bodies. Each season and the associated fruits hold the right amount of nutritional value. Eating seasonal fruits helps prevent the pathogens that develop in the particular season from affecting our bodies by providing the right micro-nutrients.

Citrus fruits full of vitamin C help to fight off cold & flu viruses and are usually available all year round.

Fruits like papaya, mango, bananas are rich in fibre, zinc, potassium that aid digestion and maintain good gut health, which is very important for overall immunity. Pomegranate and berries are loaded with anti-bacterial and blood cleansing properties that boost your overall immune system.

Herbs and Spices

What makes Indian food stand apart is the variety of herbs and spices that give world-class flavour and immunity boost to our bodies. Turmeric, fenugreek (methi), mustard seeds (raee), coriander powder (dhaniya powder), cumin seeds (jeera) are some of the common spices found in every Indian household that hold magical properties for healing, preventing and curing a long list of ailments and diseases. The herbs & spices are rich in antioxidant properties, are anti-bacterial, purify the blood and keep toxins out of the body.

Garlic is a botanical vegetable but is used as a herb or a spice and is blessed with cold-curing qualities. Regular infusion of spices in everyday food helps develop a strong immune response and defence mechanism against pathogens.

Seasonal Vegetables

Rich in fibres, antioxidants, micro-minerals and nutrients, eating seasonal vegetables is necessary for the right level of immunity as per the weather. Why does corn come in the rainy season? Why are carrots and spinach available in winters? Each vegetable has a combination of nutrients that help to develop adaptive immunity for the current and upcoming season.

Regular consumption of a balanced diet through vegetables works wonders for cleansing of liver, kidney and guts. When your food canal is clean and toxin-free, the body can use all its energy to be prepared to fight the unwanted invaders. Inculcate a habit of including a sufficient portion of vegetables every day in your child's meals for the long-term benefit in the form of improved physical and mental growth, higher energy levels, lesser chances of obesity.

Nuts and seeds 

Nuts and seeds are not just luxury food items, they are rich in calcium, protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. Low in calories and super energy sources and the unsaturated fats found in them keep a check on cardiac health. Seeds like chia, fennel, flax are great for intestinal health and help to manage over & underweight issues. They are also great snacking options instead of packaged and junk food. The nuts are also a great replacement source for certain micro-nutrients, which are otherwise found only in non-vegetarian food and augment immunity.

A handful of nuts in the morning and evening will keep the kids rightly energized and full for long hours (curb the unhealthy munching of snacks).

Dairy

The prized position of dairy for kids is well-known. Dairy in the form of paneer, milk, curd, buttermilk is usually loved by all kids. Anyone dairy item should atleast be included in children's meal every day! And if your kids love milk, it's a bonus! Dairy is rich in calcium and upto 500gm/ml of total dairy intake (for 2 years old children and above) in a day is sufficient to meet the daily requirements of calcium, protein and phosphorus. Paneer and cheese are high in calcium content and also provide energy! A safe vegetarian source of B12, curd and buttermilk are also superfoods for digestion and gut health.

Egg and meat

Eggs are the humongous source of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin B12, and many other micronutrients that aid the development of the brain, bones and muscles. Lean meats are also a healthy source of B vitamins and selenium that improves immunity, prevents cell damage. Both meats and eggs rich contain so many varieties of nutrients that are essential for proper growth in children, support brain development, cell formation, and healthy fats that promote healthy heart functioning. The saying never goes out of style that - Sunday Ho Ya Monday, Roz Khao Ande!

Whole grains

Rice, Wheat, Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Moong, Pulses, the list is too long! Whole grains in the form of Atta or infused in the plethora of dishes that the Indian kitchens burst of are the food that must be compulsorily included in a child's diet. The complete Indian diet mixes all the food grains as per traditions to provide wholesome goodness of dietary fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins, iron, folate. Most cultures have specific days of the week assigned to eat certain grains so that every grain is included systematically in the diet. Whole grains give long-lasting energy for the simple fact that they are slow to digest (in a good way) and release energy for a longer time! The Easiest Food chain level is the grains and cereals as they are stale food in our country. The stability of eating whole grains around the year helps to keep our body nutritionally balanced and maintain the overall immunity levels.

Plant-based concoctions

Inherited magical potions from ancestors are also perfect for enhancing immune system activity. Plant-based concoctions, including tulsi leaves, pudina, methi, giloi, and seeds like cumin, fenugreek can be added and boiled in water to create a Kadha. These are proven helpful for curing and preventing flu and cold-related sickness. Kadha gained popularity during Covid-19 times but have been in use since the beginning of the time. Infused water by boiling these and many other natural ingredients improves the functioning of the whole digestive tract and also helps to release excess phlegm caused due to any seasonal virus and bacteria attack on the body. 

Immunity is not a single feature of the body. The immune response of the body works best when all your organs and body functions working on point. Hence the list of the above food forms enhances immunity and the upkeep of all the body functions.

We can confidently conclude that acquired immunity is essential for our kids to save them from dangerous infections and preventable diseases. Covid-19 being one more added to the list.

Indian kitchens are said to be the house for natural immunity-boosting ingredients and foods. A healthy lifestyle, exercising, eating well-balanced food helps our immune system to work smarter and faster.

For much more than just parenting download our app

The millennial moms or mom-to-be are super conscious and well-informed about their choices and health!&;

Yet, "trying to conceive" or "being pregnant" builds anxiety and raises millions of questions in the mind of every woman. If you are trying to conceive and wish to bring a healthy baby into this world, we would love to share a few things that can help to thrive through this blissful phase.

Some basic lifestyle and health-related changes are required to assist the mother's body to home a miracle inside her! Your diet, physical and mental strength increases the chances of healthier pregnancy.

TIME FRAME TO ADOPT CHANGES

The time to get pregnant is always right. However, You will not lose anything by making the changes to your lifestyle as early as possible. You can get pregnant on the first try, or it might take some time, but would you want to take a chance when it comes to your baby's health? To be on the safer side, if your are normally active, introducing healthy beginnings into your routine should start atleast six months before you plan to conceive.

1.READJUST THE MEDICINE CABINET

Getting yourself into the right mind frame for starting a family is the first step towards preparing for this ecstatic phase. The next step, to begin with, is ditching your oral contraceptives, as it is deemed to take 2-3 menstrual cycles to get back to ready-to-conceive uterus health. Alongside, you need to commence decluttering your medicine cabinet after consulting with your healthcare provider for any changes to be made in your current medication. It is prudent to not take any medication on your own during the trying-to-conceive period to avoid any side effects hampering your fertility.

As per the healthcare experts, "During the trying-to-conceive period, any form of unprescribed allopathy, homoeopathy or Ayurvedic medication is risky because you might not know that you are already pregnant until it's already past 5-6 weeks. To avoid any pernicious complications, refraining from unprescribed medication is better than jeopardizing the mother's and the baby's health."

2.HEALTHY START

Considering the stressful and exhausting lifestyle in today's world, there are slight chances of keeping up with apt nutrition requirements and a health-managing routine. But once you are ready to extend your family, your good health will be the most valuable asset. Not just through the pregnancy, but after delivery taking care of the little one will need all the physical strength and grit. Appropriate iron levels, active/sedentary lifestyle, work and family stress, immunization, BMI range, thyroid levels, diabetes and many factors contribute towards fertility and conceiving. These factors may not compulsorily affect the fetus’s fertility or health, but prominently contribute towards keeping your health in check and making you ready with the strength required for the miracle of birth and the postpartum period.

Identifying these markers before pregnancy can balance any deficiencies or issues on time rather than administering any treatments during pregnancy.

The baby will exert pressure on your overall body frame, and you need to be in the best possible health to manage the changes your body will go through. Exercise regularly, in a way that suits your body and schedule, cut down the sedentary lifestyle. Discuss the intensity of workouts with your healthcare provider and improvise.

3.CURBING THE VICES

Unhealthy habits are the first thing to give up. Even if you are a rare smoker or drink occasionally, it is a big no-no. It is a perfect opportunity to toss away those vices by the expectant mother and the people around her. It is advised to stop smoking and drinking for atleast a year to six months before trying for your body to heal from the damage that it has already caused.

It will prevent from passing on the effects and the passive harm onto the baby as the counter-effects are directly related to deficiencies, abnormalities and birth complications. There are no studies to confirm what amount of alcohol or smoking is safe, therefore, avoiding it altogether is the best bet. As already discussedd

4.PRENATAL/PRE-CONCEIVING SUPPLEMENTS

The generic idea is to get an assessment done from your gynaecologist before conceiving so that you may know the exact course of action. The gynaecologist might suggest few tests to check some basic parameters and suggest the medication. The Folic Acid and multivitamin supplements are the first to be initiated in all cases. As folic acid levels for pregnancy are difficult to attain through a usual diet, it is supplemented by over the counter (OTC) meds. Appropriate folic acid levels help to provide maximum protection against neural tube defects.

Rohini is a working mother of a four YO boy and an active PinkNBlu member parent who shared her experience with us. "We were planning to try to conceive from May 2018. When I got sick in January 2018, my doctor suggested some tests and found my haemoglobin level was low, and prescribed a three-month medication for iron, which had a folic acid component also. By May, my iron levels were up, and I got pregnant in June. My gynaecologist told us that getting the right iron and folic supplements was a wise choice before conceiving and ensured that my pregnancy is healthy. I was lucky to know my deficiency beforehand, I suggest all preparing-to-be-mothers should get a checkup done and leave nothing to chance".

5.KNOW WHAT YOU EAT

Like any machine, your body is fueled by food. Fooding habits play an active role while conceiving, during pregnancy and post-delivery recovery. Following a healthy diet involves cutting down on excess junk food, caffeinated beverages, deep-fried food, and alongside including healthy options to your food strata like good fats, more fibre and proteins, carbohydrates, for energizing your body and promote healthy weight development of the baby. Avoiding ready-to-eat or packaged food is also advised as they contain added flavours ,preservatives without any salubrious nutrients. As the nutrition source of a developing baby inside the womb is directly proportional to the mother's, the micro and macro nutrients must be well balanced in the mother's body. Decreasing your sugar intake with lesser soda drinks and fruit juices is beneficial for your dental and gut health. A trying-to-conceive healthy diet plan will prepare you for pregnancy food abstinence and increase natural chances of conception and thriving pregnancy.

Miraculously every human body is a different masterpiece. Every human body works and reacts differently, and with the inherent motherly instincts, you would know what suits you and when you are ready to accept the responsibility of motherhood. Your mental health, family structure and financial position is equally significant towards this life-changing decision.

We have compiled the the above points to help you to reach optimum health before you start trying to conceive. You can adopt the self-checks to your lifestyle asap, for other technical and healthcare-related points, a clarification from your doctor or gynaecologist will clear your doubts and boost your confidence on the way to motherhood.

For much more than just parenting download our app

Easy And Healthy Refreshing Food/beverage Ideas To Keep Your Kids Cool In Summer! — pinknblu

Summers in our country with soaring temperatures and intense loo are distress for kids. Keeping the body cool and avoiding dehydration is essential, especially for kids who drain energy rapidly being active 24*7. The loss of nutrients and water through sweat cannot be couped up by water only, hence they need supplemental food/beverage items to keep them cool and energy-balanced.

Offering a variety of foods or beverages that beat the heat and avoid dehydration can be challenging, as the kids always demand variations and do not bend their will to a monotonous menu. Sounds Familiar?

So here’s is a list of simple and delicious treats for kids that look mouthwatering without compromising nutritional benefits! These are easy to procure, store and prepare without needing to wear your Chef hat! You can name them as you want and assign them to each day of the week to keep the kids looking forward, they will gulp them down in a matter of seconds.

1. CURD (DAHI) 

A healthy probiotic -curd has innumerable health benefits known to all Indian households as it is easy to prepare at home or procure from the market. Curd can be consumed in its original form or turned into a variety of beverage or dishes.

Chaas (buttermilk)

Is a traditional palette cleanser for many communities in our country. Mix water and curd to make smooth consistency with a pinch of salt, sugar, chaat masala, and jeera powder for a lip-smacking cooling beverage.

Lassi 

It is a sweet, thickly churned form of curd with the goodness of natural milk cream. It is a perfect cool drink for summer evenings in place of regular milkshakes. It energises and keeps the tummy filled for a long time

Curd Raita

Can be included in every meal using variations like boondi or veggies like cucumber, mint, tomato onions in curd with a pinch of salt and jeera powder. As yummy as it tastes, it is an equally healthy way to incorporate a probiotic in every meal that aids in digestion and maintains body temperature.

Greek Yoghurt 

Ready-to-eat probiotic greek yoghurt is also a great option occasionally. Try to opt for fresh and natural ingredient yoghurts having a shorter shelf-life as they contain less or no preservatives.

2. FRUIT POPSICLES AND ICE CUBES

The excitement for typical mango or orange popsicle is still intact in all kids through generations. While it is not healthy to offer ready-made popsicles due to the uncertainty of the ingredients used, homemade popsicles are a great option.

Fruit popsicles

A popsicle mould and fresh fruits are all you need. To make fruit popsicles, puree the fruits like watermelon, oranges, blueberries, strawberry, kiwi, back grapes, mango, or any other fruit in the grinder, add some water for consistency, put them in a popsicle mould and freeze! Ready to eat popsicles will be gone in minutes with all the nutritional goodness of seasonal fruits intact and no added sugar and preservatives! Try the rainbow popsicle for a fun-filled activity with your kids during summer.

Fruit ice cubes

Prepare the fruit puree as above, put them in moulds of any shape (ice-cube size) and freeze. Ask the kids to add one or two fruit cubes to the regular water every time. It will prompt the kids to drink more water and infuse fruit benefits without you needing to monitor. Mint, lemon or watermelon ice-cubes are more popular among kids.

3. MILK

Can we even mention all the option that we can make out of milk to survive through the scorching summers. Milk is a staple drink for kids when it comes to a quick snack before playtime or school.

Smoothies

Curd, Milk, fruits, nuts, cream and everything healthy can be dropped together into the grinder and made into a delectable cool and creamy drink. Flavour, thick consistency and great colours of smoothies always excite the kids and are an instant and lasting energy source that helps the sweet tooth during summers with compact nutrition. Create new flavours using different fruits and nuts, or replace milk with curd or ice cream to serve a new variety each time. For example, if the kids don't eat the banana, offering a banana smoothie might be an easy way to get their daily quota into their tummies.

Milkshakes/ Flavoured Milk

I don't like milkshakes, said no child ever! When you run out of ideas or fruits, whip up a chocolate or a plain vanilla milkshake or the traditional Kesar, rose, khas flavoured milk made from natural squashed pulps to create instant yummy milk treats. 

Custard

Slow boil milk with custard powder to make thick creamy, and delicious custard milk, then cool it in the fridge and served with lots of fruits in it. The kids will lick it clean, stay full and energised with all the goodness of milk and fruits. Alternatively, you can also freeze the custard milk to use as homemade ice cream and improvise it with cinnamon powder, Kesar, cardamon or any other flavour as per your kids' choice.

4. INDIAN COLD DRINKS 

The credit goes to our Indian heritage that we have so many water drinks ideas passed on from our ancestors that are perfect for summer health. These drinks keep you cool, prevent dehydration, balance micro-nutrients and electrolytes (salts that balance sodium and salt level in the body to prevent dehydration) and are homemade with traditional spices that build up immunity. Most of them can be prepared fresh every day and stored in the fridge, we bet the kids will gulp them down, and you wouldn't even know it!

Aam Panna

The super coolant and cure for extreme heat strokes is a tasty treat made from raw mango, mint leaves and traditional spices and condiments. Easy to prepare and store in the fridge, drinking aam panna before and after a trip in the sun prevents heat strokes and is very prominently used by adults as well.

Aam Ras 

Highly popular mango pulp or aam ras extracted from choicest seasonal mangoes is a mouthwatering delicacy that can be enjoyed with a regular meal of roti sabji or as a post-meal cold desert. Mangoes are densely infused with micronutrients and a rich source of vitamins, magnesium and potassium.

Neebu Pani 

Another great warrior of summer is neebu pani (Lemon water). Squeeze lemon in cold water, add a pinch of salt, jeera powder, rock salt and sugar to prepare an instant energy drink that is suitable to have at any time during the day! Prepare some mint ice cubes as above and serve them in lemon water for a taste change and surprise the kids with a new variety.

Coconut water

This natural drink has innumerable nutritional properties, preventing dehydration is one of them. As tasty and refreshing it is to have, it is naturally formulated with perfect electrolytes required to maintain the sodium and mineral balance of our body that help to keep us hydrated. It is best to use coconut water directly from the coconuts than the ready-made packaged coconut water as they contain preservatives and artificial sugar.

5. FRUIT CHOCOLATES

Lure your kids to eat more fruits with chocolate wrapped fruit bits. Dice small pieces of fruits like strawberry, mango, grapes and dip them in melted dark chocolate (because dark chocolate is healthier) to coat them in a thin layer and then insert 1/3rd portion of a toothpick in each piece. Place them in an ice cube tray or on a plate in the refrigerator to freeze and create fruit chocolates. The cold taste of fruits and chocolate will be a star of options of evening snacks.

Summer means extra fun with extended bath time and not worrying about catching a cold, slurping on tasty liquid treats, ice creams, but summer also needs precise attention to the hydration of kids. As per the experts, with temperatures rising as high as 50 degrees across the country, kids need to be well hydrated even when indoors, because they are always active and dissipate more energy, increasing the chance of dehydration.

It can be a task to keep everything available immediately, offer a variety and monitor nutrition as well! We hope these easy ideas will help to tackle the summers and not letting kids drop their energy!

Training them to drink water more often is a habit that goes a long way to maintaining health not only in summer but during all seasons.

Phew! Let's go, it's time to drink water!

For much more than just parenting download our app

8 Ideas To Make Your Child's Lockdown Birthday Celebration Unique — pinknblu

Most of the parents feel that their kids are missing out on so many things from the earlier normal world! No meeting the friends, no crowded birthday parties, no vacations!

But rest assured, evolution and adaption is the key to the growth of humankind!

To keep our loved ones safe, we need to adapt to changes and still make every celebration as enjoyable as possible. Even if it means celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions indoors during this Covid-19 lockdown!

Not being able to have a birthday party is the worst nightmare for every kid and can dampen their excitement, however, you can still treat our littles ones with surprises and gifts. We have assembled some ideas for celebrating a lockdown birthday that will set everyone in the party mood!

1. ONLINE BIRTHDAY PARTY 

Arranging a full-blown birthday party online can be a good idea for kids for whom celebrating it with their friends or classmates is most important. Each invitee can be sent an online invitation card to join in on zoom for a celebration. Decorate the house like usual, get a birthday cake of kid's choice, cut the cake on the set time while everyone sings happy birthday! Let the virtual invitees dance to the music played at the host's house. The virtual disco dance will be the highlight and the peak of this virtual birthday party. If the kid loves socializing, have a few zoom meet-ups lined up for different social groups such as one for grandparents and family, one for friends one for classmates, so that the little one gets a chance to interact personally with everyone.

You can also send birthday favours online and all the friends can open them together to feel the birthday excitement in real!

2. VIRTUAL ENTERTAINERS

With new innovative ideas coming up each day to adjust to the changing scenarios, virtual professional entertainers are gaining pace for virtual parties. These professional entertainers organize online fun games and shows to entertain their young audience on zoom meets that are enjoyable just like a real in-person party. Magician, clowns, puppet artists, creative art sessions, story sessions and many other entertainment options can be selected as per your child's interest for the virtual birthday party. All friends can join remotely on the zoom call and have a virtual birthday fest!

3. BIRTHDAY MESSAGES FROM FRIENDS

The technology savvy generation Z is all in for communicating over video calls. So ask their close friends, classmates and other family members to record a video with birthday wishes and personal messages for the birthday kid. Combine the videos to make a short film to play for your child after cutting their birthday cake or in the morning at the breakfast table. The heartwarming messages in these times will surely cheer up their birthday spirit! You may choose any way to celebrate the birthday, but a message film from the loved ones wishing happy birthday gives an unmatchable sense of euphoria and will make their hearts long to meet them up as soon as this pandemic is over. It the best possible way to connect emotionally with the near & dear ones while being distant on your child’s birthday.

4. AN IN-HOUSE THEME PARTY 

Create a theme party for your kid. You can choose any character or theme that they love and make the whole birthday around that theme. You can wear theme-based outfits, use the theme for cake, decorations, cupcakes, cutlery and other lists of things that make your child feel closer to their favourite character/theme. Most of the items can be procured online, and therefore there is no need to risk yourself by going out to shop. If the delivery of cakes is available in your area get a customized cake, or even better start baking with millions of cake recipes available online!

If you are good at crafting and DIYs, then design a photo booth on the same theme to click crazy photos to make a memorable album of this unique birthday celebration.

5. PRESENT TREASURE HUNT 

Gifting by way of a treasure hunt is an innovative idea for pre-teenage groups who love surprises. Hide the gifts at different places in the house and share clues after a fixed time gap to keep the little one occupied and super excited till all the surprises are revealed. A treasure hunt can also be organized on a zoom virtual meet. The friends can help to solve the clues, while you will only have to follow your kids with the laptop so the friends can watch their friend chases the treasure. But what it is worth, your child will beam with a smile for being able to play a fun game with friends, and the surprise gifts will be the cherry on the cake!

6. A SIT-DOWN PARTY

For slightly calmer kids who love solitude, a sit-down party or the child who want to do something different in the form of a sober affair than a frivolous birthday party, this can be an inviting idea. Let your child participate in everything from DIY decorations, baking a cake together, following a round of board games, and finally ending the day with their favourite takeaway dinner at home. This would make them feel super special by all the undivided attention they get and having everything happening in the house on that day. You can join their grandparents and other extended families on zoom during dinner, and also order the same food menu at their place so it really feels like an actual birthday dinner!

7. A MOVIE NIGHT

With all ideas successfully executed through the day, end the day with an exciting family movie night to give a perfect finish to a lockdown birthday. Choose a movie of your child's choice to make this birthday memorable and remove all inhibitions about a lockdown birthday. Popcorns and a family group hug position while watching a movie on the birthday night will bring smiles and comfort for everyone in such dire times! If other parents permit, a movie night on zoom is also possible where each kid watches the movie at their home only with a shared screen, they can interact, laugh and talk to each other while watching the movie and feel connected.

8. GAME DAY

Wouldn't it become a special birthday if your child gets a day different from a monotonous routine? Let your child take a break from studies, if possible, and plan an exciting day with loads of fun games based on their age, that they can enjoy at home. If you have a joint family with many kids, the more, the merrier it is! There are loads of game ideas that can be executed at home for a fun-filled energy busting birthday that will leave big smiles on your child's face. Read our blog ......... on ideas for fun games to play at home for your child during the lockdown and create a trail of surprise party games on your child's birthday, with a birthday reward after each game. Your child will miss playing around with friends on his birthday a little lesser than usual.

The most important thing is that with social distancing in place we should try to make the celebration as close to the the normal. Decorate the house, get balloons, order gifts online, and let your child feel special by doing things his way, as that’s the leats we can do to keep their birthday spark alive in the current state.

Click pictures and create albums, because when this is over these memories will remind us how we managed to smile and keep our little ones happy during the pandemic years!

Download our app to use “Moments” feature to store and share your memories with friends and families!

You can also share your ideas about how you celebrated your child’s birthday during the lockdown and show the silver lining to other parents!

For much more than just parenting download our app

Why Bedtime Routine Is Necessary For Kids — PinkNBlu

However active and fit a person might be, sleep still remains an indispensable and probably most important element of a healthy lifestyle.

This inference applies more stringently to kids and children. Sleep is more if not parallelly significant for kids' development among other things that boost their growth. 

An adequate amount of sleep indisputably promotes and improves the mental and physical health of the children.

To enable sound sleep patterns in babies and children, a bedtime routine is imperative. A strategically created regime not only augments Kids' health benefits but is also a must-thing-to-do for parents' sanity and health.

Let us help you with some precise and micro points about why a bedtime routine is necessary for all children! (It maintains your sanity too! You can thank us later)! 

1. Physical Health Benefits

Good sleeping habits help your child fall asleep on time, stay asleep uninterrupted through the night, and eventually wake up rested and refreshed. This chain of events will improve their daytime routine also and keep the child physically active and concentrated in all activities! The kids who sleep well have better energy for daily pursuits!

2. Promotes Mental Growth

Sound sleep increases memory, boost concentration and overall intuitive development in children. A well-rested mind performs stably and learns faster. Well-slept children show signs of natural confidence and emotional strength that is a significant part of life. It isn't a made-up theory but scientifically proven and tested. (Remember how disoriented you felt with sleepless nights during earlier days of parenthood?) - the same thing happens with children too.

3. Discipline

Setting up a bedtime routine is paramount for establishing self-discipline as a natural habit in your child. A fixed routine might sometimes feel mundane for a child, and he might even resist it. However, over time this routine will match their natural Circadian cycle and biological clock. A stable cycle will teach them discipline in all areas of life. A few cheat nights should be allowed as a reward in moderation to promote smooth acceptance of routines.

4. Helps Parents to Structure their Routine

A scheduled nighttime and resulting scheduled daytime with children will help you as parents to fulfil your responsibilities and adhere to a daily schedule with proper time management. You will be able to keep your routine intact with a predictable sleep routine of children. Your children' sleeping routine will help you sleep well and perform better on your daily fronts as well. Working parents will be able to manage well and get better quality time with their little ones with a settled routine.

5. Controlled Behaviour Problems

The parents of children with set sleep discipline and daily routine face lesser behaviour issues and aggressive resistance from their children. Sound sleep rejuvenates the brain and body that makes your child calm and well-behaved. Erratic schedules can be detrimental for brain development in children and lead to many other slower reflexes, reduced concentration, and delayed developmental milestones. 

6. Parents me Time

Most of you think that usually, all parents put their kids to bed at a regular time. Surprisingly most parents don't. After all the day's grind, parents need a break to relax and have their own bedtime routine. To maintain your sanity and get some deserved ME TIME you must develop a sleep routine for your children. 

With all the responsibilities that you are fulfilling and giving your best and to do better and stay motivated to thrive, you must take out some time to revive your energy. 

The crux of all the above points is that to create a healthy and happy lifestyle for your family, a sleep routine for children of all age is necessary. The earlier the bedtime habits are inculcated the smoother the transition to a sound sleep routine will be.All the above benefits fall into a cyclic chain of events that start with setting up a routine and ending with effective and positive fruit bearing perquisites.Timely completed daily tasks, work commitments, well behaved and healthy children, all these things will keep you calm and sane!

Download our PinkNBlu App for the latest blogs on parenthood!Do share your experiences with setting up a sleep routine for your children. Let us know if this was helpful.

Brain Breaks - Concept, Science And Benefits — PinkNBlu

As the name suggests, Brain breaks are the minute-duration of taking-off the mind from the current activity and giving a break to our brain.

During long hours of study or too much play, children become disoriented and lose interest. Handling these inquisitive minds might get overwhelming at times. That's when the Brain break concept comes into play. Brain breaks reset their energy & mental status, make them productive or just calm them down enough to listen to you.

Introduction To Brain Breaks

Our brain is a phenomenal creation. Did you know that various parts of our brain get stimulated by different actions that work as stimulants for that particular part of the brain?

While sleep renders the natural rest to the brain, it also needs power naps (breaks) during the hours that we are awake. These power naps or brain breaks rejuvenate and encourage the brain to perform to the best of its ability. 

The breaks/diversions are called Brain Breaks. 

How often have we adults experienced that non-stop working hours without a break seriously abbreviates the attention and output that our brain is capable of delivering? The children also need mental breaks while studying at school/home, preparing for examinations or competitions, completing homework, playing, sporting etc. The brain breaks enable them to reinstate their attention to their current tasks.

Science Behind Brain Breaks

Our brain works through neurotransmitters that communicate different signals from one cell to another as per the activity in a set route. So when the children over-do anything, the neurotransmitters get tired (Chemically). They respond slow, carry fewer/no signals and render the brain less-capable of grasping new information than it generally does. 

(1) During the Brain breaks, the neurotransmitter signals change the route, and send them to another part of the brain (the part stimulated by the brain break) than the one currently in use. 

(2) This tiny break in neural transmission helps to start afresh with the original activity.

(3) Brain breaks provide intermittent ease to the brain to adapt and secure the learning they have received while performing the original activity. 

(4) Hippocampus is the epicentre of the brain, a part dedicated to learning and memory. The Brain Break increases blood circulation and oxygen to the brain. Brain breaks stimulate cell growth and neural stimuli in Hippocampus, boosting its performance. 

The Brain breaks need not interrupt the flow of the learning schedule or any subject class. It requires a maximum of two to four minutes of short intelligent brain break to help the students refocus and recharge to continue with what they were doing.

Benefits of Brain Breaks

Brain breaks are highly essential to optimise the learning, playing and overall performance of children of all age groups. Strategically designed brain breaks help the children to reset, relax, regain focus on their current activities. 

(1) Brain breaks work great when the children are hyperactive, and you need something interesting to settle their bubbling energy coffers.

(2) They improve behaviour patterns and reception of instructions.

(3) Physical Brain Breaks help to keep a check on the sedentary lifestyle with additional mental health benefits.

(4) Increase efficiency and overall performance in all activities.

(5) Increases their learning capacity along with better retaining of already learned information.

(6) Reduces stress and frustration due to the monotony.

(7) Exercise breaks are good for health, cognitive development and educational success.

(8) Unplanned playtime or physical breaks give an opening to nudge the hidden creativity and imagination in children.

(9) Help to convert the incessable energy into something constructive and beneficial.

(10) Brain breaks help in axiety control and mood enhancement.

The concept of Brain Breaks has been incorporated by many teachers since the time when we (parents) were students. Remember how we all loved the teacher who gave intermittent breaks during the classes or did an exciting activity with us? We looked forward to those periods and listened with more concentration.

Therefore, with the inherent requirements of the competition, curriculum, and academic performance in current times, the inclusion of brain breaks has become more significant. 

There is no rule-book for brain break activities and how you can include them. It only needs observation and technique as per the activity, subject, time and classroom/home setup. 

Read our blog "Best and Easy Brain breaks Activities for Kids" for different ways to incorporate them into the student academic cycle.

It is our collective responsibility to help our little curious minds to discover their best potential. Brain breaks are one of the methods that will help in the said vision.