Anita (9) hardly finds the scope to play after school, as her parents don’t allow her to leave their home alone on the pretext of security concerns. She can only visit relatives during holidays. Such restrictions are negatively impacting her mental and emotional health. Neli’s (15) parents always emphasize good grades at school. Participation in creative activities or hanging out with friends is not encouraged by her parents. Neli often feels confined, bored, and lonely. Besides studying, Neli wants to explore new places and take up creative hobbies.  Rita (18) has self-esteem issues over her looks. Negative comments from relatives and neighbors about her appearance are only making it worse.  After completing her master's degree, Zerin (25) wants to focus on her career. But her family wants her to stay home and carry out duties traditionally associated with women. Read More: Brave Women Freedom Fighters of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War These scenarios are not uncommon for girls and women in Bangladesh. Parents often try to limit the liberty and potential of girls due to a range of issues, like insecurity, social prejudice, traditional mindset, etc.  How can we address this situation? “Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less,” according to Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. In the twenty-first century, women are participating and taking on leadership roles in health, science, sports, technology, commerce, business, education, agriculture, politics, law enforcement etc.  What is the secret to raising strong girls who can defeat fears and develop themselves as confident, happy, and independent persons? Set positive examples for your girls Parents should be cautious about their impact on their daughters. Every mother or father who wants to raise a strong daughter should first try to set good examples. When daughters discover great qualities like honesty, kindness, hard work, perseverance, confidence, etc in their parents, they try to emulate those qualities and develop their personalities accordingly. Read More: 10 Greatest Female Scientists of All Time Demonstrate the value of inner beauty In today’s world, many girls and women become prey to the marketing strategies of the beauty industry. Many girls tend to suffer from inferiority complexes due to their skin complexion, height, weight, and many more reasons. They waste time, effort, and money in the race to meet the social standards of beauty.  Parents need to teach their daughters the value of inner beauty instead of focusing on physical beauty. Introducing daughters to successful women of substance can help them in this regard. Read More: Jute Sanitary Napkins: Bangladeshi scientist Farhana Sultana got awarded for eco-friendly innovation Living with disabilities  According to WHO, about 16% of the total population on earth has some kind of disability. In Bangladesh, many parents fail to equip their children born with disabilities — physical or intellectual — the skills needed to live a fulfilling life. If a child has some kind of inability or limitations, like a learning disability or physical disability, the parents should try to accept it and encourage their daughter to overcome the barrier.   Read More: OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award: Bangladesh's Gawsia among top women climate scientists Not limiting her potential  To raise a confident girl, parents should remove the words “that’s for boys” from their vocabulary. Women are exploring careers in diverse sectors that were previously associated with men. If a young girl is told that some professions and tasks are suited only for men, she gets a message of inequality. Such way of thinking can make her emotionally weak and destroy her potential.  When a girl gets mental support for following her dreams, she will never give up. Parents need to encourage their daughters to explore their opportunities. Praising her success will also help her feel unique.  Read More: “Icchedana”: A drama series on girls triumphing over gender stereotypes, social restrictions

When a child is coughing constantly, it is a thing of concern for the parents. Usually, a child's cough is nothing to worry about as it can be caused by a common cold that happens by changes in seasons and weather. However, try to avoid a cough suppressant for your kids without consulting a doctor, as it is not safe for them. Instead, you can try some safe, natural home remedies for cough for children. These tips can help a sick child feel relaxed. 11 Ways to Treat Your Kid’s Cough Naturally Honey According to research honey is better than medicine for relieving coughs. Honey also helps a sick kid sleep better. However, honey is safe and better for children aged 1 and older. Kids also love to take honey as it tastes good. Dark honey like buckwheat works best because it's higher in antioxidants.  But if it becomes difficult to find buckwheat honey, you can take any natural honey. Natural honey is also great for its potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties can go a long way in soothing a sore throat.  Remember, you need to give ½  teaspoon to children who are ages 1 to 5 years and 1 teaspoon to kids ages 6 to 11. If your child won't love to take honey directly, you can add it to warm water, herbal tea, or warm milk. But make sure you avoid this remedy for kids under 1. Read More: Motivating Kids to Study, Do Homework, Get Good Grades: Know Secret Ways Chicken Noodle Soup It is an old folk remedy: Studies have shown that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory elements and its warm temperature can soothe sore throats. Besides,  it acts as a vaporizer and helps to release mucus in the nasal passages which ultimately can relieve a stuffy nose. You will get the magic in the soup that comes from the perfect balance of electrolytes, which help keep your kids hydrated. Moreover, the protein and carbohydrates available in chicken soup are a perfect meal for anyone who feels icky. Your lovely kids can feel like a warm hug with a bowl of chicken soup.  Stay Hydrated Make sure the kid drinks enough water to help prevent dehydration. Warm liquids is an excellent cough remedy for toddler because they thin out mucus and makes it easier to cough up. Besides, liquids pacify a raw throat and keep your little one hydrated and happy. Read More: Teaching Young Kids Household Chores: 10 Easy Steps Researchers at the Common Cold Center at Cardiff University have shown that hot drinks are the most effective at soothing cold and flu symptoms. Hot drinks may relieve symptoms including runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chills, and fatigue. On the contrary, a warm or room temperature drink had fewer benefits they can relieve a runny nose, coughing, and a sore throat temporarily. However, cold drinks are also helpful because they can numb a sore throat while helping to hydrate at the same time. But avoid drinking ice-cold juice as they are highly acidic the acidity increase discomfort in the throat.  Cool-mist humidifier You can keep a cool-mist humidifier in your kid’s room to help unfasten chest and nasal congestion. It is a great remedy for nighttime coughing. USA’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a cool air humidifier is used unitedly with other treatments like rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and consuming honey. Read More: Dyslexia: How to help kids with this learning disability When other properties won't cure the cause, a humidifier will surely help your little one feel a little better, especially at night when coughing may be worse. Salt water gargle One of the most natural and simplest kid’s cough remedies is salt water gargle. Just mix a half teaspoon of salt with eight ounces of water, then give your child to gargle the solution. It eases the throat irritation that often comes with coughing. But this should only be given to older kids.  Salt water helps the tissue in the upper respiratory tract tend to become inflamed from excess mucus and fluids, causing coughing and soreness. 

Experts have said taking preventive measures is crucial during the pregnancy period to reduce the risks of disability. "Parenting education can go a long way to ensure early childhood development," they added. The experts were speaking at the policy dialogue "Reducing disability risk through parenting education" organised by Plan International Bangladesh Thursday at a Dhaka hotel ahead of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities to be held on December 3. Read: Experts for inclusive insurance, risk financing for all Syed Mamunul Alam, director general of the Directorate of Primary Education, said: "Bangladesh is moving towards becoming a developing country. The government alone cannot meet all the criteria. Reducing the risk of disability and promoting parenting education to ensure early childhood development is not anyone's alone job. It's all of our duty." Dr Md Manjur Hossain, programme manager (A&RH) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said: "We have to develop a maternal-friendly environment to ensure safe childbirth." Emphasising the need of prioritising family planning for parents, he said, the government is working to ensure safe maternal health. "Education and the educational sector are crucial to raising awareness among the community people." Read: Experts urge government to turn DSE into public university The speakers at the programme called for policy interventions and widespread awareness-raising initiatives to reach the household levels, engaging parents, and potential parents to learn about parenting education and identifying the risks and signs of disability.

Babies and toddlers enjoy spending time in the water. Nowadays, many parents take their children to swimming pools for recreation and even for learning swimming. However, the safety of children should never be ignored whether they are playing around the pool or swimming in the water. The parents need to be aware of what to watch out for in order to protect the kids. Negligence in a single moment can be life-threatening for a child. Let’s take a look at the swimming pool safety rules for children, especially infants and toddlers. 10 Swimming Pool Safety Guidelines for Parents of Infants and Toddlers Check Body-temperature of the Child Before you bring your child into the pool, you should always take a few seconds to feel the temperature of the water. The ideal range for the temperature of the water is between 85 to 87 degrees of Fahrenheit. This is the case in most situations.  You should never put your baby in a pool that is either excessively cold or too hot, especially if the water temperature is fluctuating wildly. This can trigger a sudden increase or decrease in your infant's temperature, which will ultimately end in either hypothermia or a fever. Read More: 15 Gift Ideas for a Newborn Baby Check Chemicals in Pool Water Before you and your child enter the pool together, the levels of certain chemicals, such as cyanuric acid, should first be tested and adjusted as necessary. Anything with an acid concentration of more than 90 ppm is harmful.  The presence of germs and algae in your pool is a common consequence of having overall chemical levels that are too low. This is dangerous for your baby as well, and it may lead to a variety of health issues for them. When the overall chemical level in the pool is too high, it might irritate the skin of both newborns and adults, which can be uncomfortable. Because they contain fewer chemicals, saltwater pools provide less of a risk of skin irritation and other health complications for babies and toddlers. Read More: How to Clean Baby Bottles Use Floatabale Objects  In the swimming pool water, you can have a fun, cheerful, and relaxed time with your baby. It’s safe to use flotation devices. A floatation device allows motion while the baby sits on it. It gives the baby a sensation of being weightless. Thus, fun activities like floating in the pool water can bestow a toddler or infant with a happy feeling which will help its healthy mental and physical development.  Be Conscious of Sunscreen Sunscreen is beneficial for children, but did you know that you shouldn't apply it to a baby’s skin who is less than six months old? The proportion of a baby's skin's surface area to its body weight is much higher than that of an adult. Because of this, kids are also at a greater risk of absorbing the chemicals that are included in the sunscreen If you are planning to take your infant into the pool, try to do it when the sun is not at its peak, such as early in the morning or after the afternoon. This will help reduce the risk of sunburn. As an alternative to applying sunscreen, you might have your baby wear wide hats while they are floating over the pool water. For your toddler, you can look for swimming suits that are resistant to UV rays. Read More: Safe Toys for Children: Tips to avoid harmful playing objects Use Swim Diapers When swimming with your baby, another important piece of advice is to use swim diapers. You are aware that babies are not yet capable of controlling their bowel and bladder movements.  If you have any reason to believe that your child may have introduced harmful bacteria into the pool, you must immediately remove all of the swimmers from the water. After that, the pool's chlorine concentration should be increased. In this manner, the pool cleans itself of any contaminants.  Put Away Phones Lifeguards see this on a regular basis. Parents arrive at the pool, instruct the children to remain in the shallow end, and then start checking their phones. Unsupervised children are eventually babysat by swimmers or other adults.  Read More: 12 foods that shouldn’t be given to babies and children However, youngsters especially infants and toddlers may quietly submerge and die in the time it takes to upload an Instagram photo. You don't need to leave your cell phone at home; in fact, you should keep it recharged and within reach in the event of a disaster. Learn CPR When an adult or a baby is drowning in the pool water, his/her heart may suddenly stop beating. In such events, fundamental knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can make the difference between life and death, rather than waiting for an ambulance or medical help. If you regularly visit the swimming pool with children, it is safer to learn the process of CPR.  Hire a Water Watcher Don't forget that drowning happens quietly and swiftly. Drowning often occurs without struggling, splashing, or other sounds, and it may occur in less than a minute. Never rely on the ability to hear a drowning to avoid it. Read More: How to entertain an unwell child without screen time When there are several people around and everyone believes that someone else is minding the children, drownings often occur. While you are attaining a pool party with young kids, especially babies and toddlers appoint one or more "water monitor" people. They are supposed to stay aware of the youngsters they are monitoring.  Invest in Life Jacket Many parents purchase water wings or other floating toys, such as rafts for their kids. These objects may not be effective in preventing drowning in every situation and might offer parents a false sense of security.  Especially when kids come close to large swimming pools or natural water bodies, such as a lake or river, they should wear a properly fitting standard life jacket. However, remember that just because your youngster is wearing a life vest does not imply you can ignore their safety. Read More: How to deal with your demanding child? Make the Pool More Secured You can use a kiddie pool or other objects that can contain a safe portion of water. You can also install a self-latching, and four-foot-tall fence around the perimeter of the pool. The fence should be free of holes and should divide the pool from both the home and the yard. Conclusion Your child's safety is as important as its enjoyment in the swimming pool. Children aged between one to nine have the greatest drowning rates. Training your kid to swim does not give complete accident immunity, it can provide an additional layer of safety. So far, we have shared 10 swimming pool safety rules for babies. These suggestions will reduce the risk of drowning and related accidents. 

The arrival of a newborn baby is always special and a joyous occasion. While visiting a newborn baby and its parents, family members, relatives, friends, and other acquaintances often love to take some gifts. Of course, choosing gifts for a newborn baby is confusing. Let’s take a look at 15 practical gift ideas for a newborn baby.  What to Consider When Picking Gifts for Newborns  Before picking a gift for newborns some things need to be considered. Check here some features that your gift should have:  Practical Usage A newborn requires many things and parents will definitely be grateful if you gift them something that they can actually use. This helps parents to cut costs.  Read More: How to Clean Baby Bottles Sentimental Value Another thing you can go in while selecting a gift is the emotional route. You could consider something that helps store memories. So choose the gift that is personalized to the baby and can be kept in the future, and remind them of these months of nervousness, excitement, and happiness. Uniqueness While picking a gift for a newborn consider the uniqueness of the gift. So avoid buying common gift items. But make sure that your unique gift is useful to the newborn or sentimental to its parents.  15 Unique Newborn Gifts Ideas  Baby’s Clothes Clothes are the most suitable gift for a newborn baby. Newborn babies need huge clothes as they waste clothes frequently. Clothing items can be mittens, bibs, vests, caps, and booties.  Read More: 12 foods that shouldn’t be given to babies and children However, you need to be careful about the quality of materials while buying baby clothes. So, buy soft and comfortable cotton clothes. Never choose synthetic fabrics for babies.  Baby Diapers You can never go wrong if you think about gifting diapers. Disposable diapers are available in the market and you can choose from the locally available reputed brands. Nowadays cloth diapers are also available in the market and you can also buy them if you are environment conscious. But always choose and buy the age-appropriate size of diapers that maintain quality. Baby Bath Equipment The new moms often feel worried about bathing their newborns because babies seem very fragile. You can somewhat reduce the anxiety of a new mom by gifting her baby bath equipment. But choose one that will be suitable for the baby’s size. However, buy the portable kind so that baby bathing can be easier and more practical. Read More: How to entertain an unwell child without screen time Baby Photo Album A baby photo album can be another excellent gift that is surely loved by new parents. If you gift a baby photo album, new parents can record all the first-year milestones of their baby. They can store pictures and footprints of their baby. They can also keep records of their personal details; the birth weight of the baby, and the time he/she was born for memory’s sake. Gold or Silver Jewellery or Other Items  Traditionally, people consider gifting gold or silver goods to a newborn baby propitious. Both Gold and Silver metal has many health benefits. You will find gold and/or silver-made bangles, anklets, etc in the local jewelry shops.  Besides jewelry items, silver-made appliances like silver glasses, bowls, spoons, etc are also popular and traditional give items for newborns. Considering your budget you can gift any of these items for to a new baby.  Read More: Safe Toys for Children: Tips to avoid harmful playing objects Musical Toys Huge collections are handy in the market when you think about gifting musical toys for newborn babies. They were available in adorable designs and peppy and soothing also to entertain the baby. However, don’t pick a toy that creates loud noise; otherwise, it will scare the baby. Baby’s Bedding Set As winter approaches, special preparation is needed for newborns. If the baby is staying in a cold region, a linen bedding set can be a nice gift. You can buy standard and comfy sleeping bags with cute motifs. For summer weather, you can gift baby bedding sets that are available in attractive and colorful designs.  Choose a quick dry variety. Make sure, you have chosen a snug bed for the newborn baby. Read More: Best foods for expecting mothers Baby’s Room Decor Go for gifting baby’s room décor items can be a fun idea. You can choose from a wide selection of things, like picture frames, wall stickers, baby room lighting, height charts, rugs and carpets, drapes, etc. Babies love to play with new things.  Play Gym You can go for gifting play gym as a new parent may choose to have a cot mobile or a play gym. This gift can engage their baby and allow them to do some chores. You can select musical kinds in bright colors. Baby Carrier Sling A baby carrier sling is one of the most practical gifts. So you can gift a baby carrier sling to the parents of a newborn baby. Try to choose a quality product that maintains standards. However, make sure you buy one that has extra neck support for smaller babies. Read More: How to comfortably travel with babies Baby Pacifier The baby pacifier is surely the right gift for a baby as it can comfort the baby easily. You will find them in different animal characters. But don’t select the cheap and toxic kinds. Choose something safe and comfortable pacifier for a baby.  Baby Skincare Products Baby needs skincare products all year round and so you can gift a set of baby skincare products, like foam shampoo, baby body lotion, massage oil, baby soap, diaper rash cream, baby wipes, and something like these. But make sure you buy products specially made for babies as babies have sensitive skin. Baby Furniture  Baby furniture for gifting can surely be the perfect gift for a baby and its parents. You can choose furniture items like dressers or changing units, nursery rocking chairs, travel cots, baby carriers, etc. You will find them in different styles and finishes. Read More: How physical punishment affects children and alternative ways to discipline them Baby Teaching Kits A teaching kit for babies is a multi-purpose gift idea. Such kits include diverse teaching things such as first words, body parts, numbers, colors, and so on. Such kits also have finger puppets, soft playing blocks, CD/DVD sets of rhymes, etc.  It is not suitable for a newborn. However, as the baby grows up, parents can utilize these teaching items to introduce the baby to various things. Diaper Bag  A diaper bag is a handy gift item that can accommodate so many things like disposable diapers, tissues or baby wipes, a changing mat, diaper rash cream, and a sanitizer. So, you can gift it to a new mom. Read More: How to deal with your demanding child? Gift Cheque If you don’t have enough time to choose and buy a gift for a new baby, you can offer a gift cheque to the new parents. They can use that money in any way they wish to. Bottom Line Not all gifts are beneficial for the user. Therefore, select a gift that’s practical for the baby and its parents so that it can be useful for a while. So far, we have shared 15 gift handy ideas for a newborn baby and new parents. Make sure that gift maintains quality and won’t take up too much space. 

Many parents choose bottle feeding for their babies. If you don’t compromise your child’s health and safety, it's requisite and important to properly wash and sanitize the baby’s feeding equipment. The process includes cleaning or sterilizing each bottle with the teat, and screw cap after every feed until they are at least 12 months old. Let’s take a look at the proper tips and tricks to n and sterilize baby bottles.  Health risks of babies for using unsanitized feeding bottles Babies under 3 months old are more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria as their immune systems are underdeveloped. The South Australian Women's and Children's Health Network stresses that it is important to sterilize bottles to prevent sickness in infants up to the age of 6 months — or even up to a year. If the bottle is not washed or poorly washed bottles after each feed, it may expose your baby to certain risks, including: Tooth Decay Generally, tooth decay in babies can occur as the result of vulnerability to liquids for a long time like if you allow them to sleep with a bottle that contains juice. When a baby sleeps with keeping juice or liquid like milk in their mouth, this liquid allows acid-producing bacteria to build up in their mouth and cause teeth decay.  Read More: Safe Toys for Children: Tips to avoid harmful playing objects According to the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency, formula milk contains bacteria and they can multiply if a bottle is left at room temperature. Rotavirus Rotavirus is a type of stomach bug that can spread from touching contaminated objects or surfaces. So, it is imperative for you to wash your hands frequently, especially before preparing baby bottles. Cronobacter Infections According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national public health agency of the USA, Cronobacter germs can contaminate dry, powdered foods including infant formula and, subsequently, baby bottles.  Read More: Top 10 Most Expensive Foods in the World This type of bacteria can cause a very rare but life-threatening blood infection called sepsis. Sepsis can happen particularly in infants. Right ways to keep baby bottles & other feeding equipment clean Properly Wash Your Own Hands Many people forget this important and crucial first step. Research has shown that about 97% of people don’t wash their hands properly before preparing baby bottles. For this reason, most of the cross-contamination happens. Therefore, make sure you have thoroughly sanitized your hands before preparing baby bottles.  However, if you are about to feed the baby with a bottle while staying outside the home, try to use sanitizer or find the nearest restroom to wash your own hands thoroughly with soapy water so that you can prevent yourself from transmitting germs onto the bottle or nipple. Read More: 12 foods that shouldn’t be given to babies and children Wash Bottle Parts Separately with Warm Water You need to wash every and each part of the baby bottles. Don’t focus on the type of bottle you're using. Separate every component and wash each part properly. Then, rinse each part of your bottle under running Water. Though you can rinse the baby’s feeding equipment under cold or warm water. It is wise to rinse the bottles and equipment under warm water. Warm water helps to kill germs.  Scrub in Soapy Water When your rinsing the bottle parts under running water is done, fill a separate basin with hot water and soap. You need to use a dedicated brush to scrub each part individually. However, make sure you use this brush to clean the baby bottles only.  Read More: How to entertain an unwell child without screen time You can also use a good dishwasher instead of soap to wash every part of the baby’s feeding equipment.  You can dip the bottle parts under the dishwasher mixed water or soapy water for some time.  When brushing is done, rinse each part of the bottles and other feeding tools under running water again. Dry on a Rack or Clean Space After washing dry every part of the bottle or feeding equipment with a clean paper towel or dish towel, and store them in a dust-free, clean space. Let them air dry but not patting them dry, as patting them dry can transfer germs from the towel to the newly cleaned bottle. Read More: Best foods for expecting mothers Other Ways of Sanitizing Baby Bottles There are several ways you can sterilize, sanitize and clean your baby bottle:  Boiling sterilization  Boiling is the most reliable way of sterilizing baby bottle-feeding equipment. So boil all equipment after every use or within 24 hours of use. First, take the washed bottles, teats, rings, and caps in a large pot and fill the pot with sufficient water so that everything is covered. Make sure all air bubbles are disappeared. Then boil everything for 5-6 minutes. When everything is cool, take them out with tongs or clean hands. Throw off excess water. It is not necessary to dry the bottles. Finally, store them in a clean container in the fridge. Read More: How to deal with your demanding child? Chemical sterilization  This is the way where you can sterilize baby bottles with an antibacterial solution that is available in liquid or tablet form. This is one type of bleach that is mixed easily with water.  Although it is enough strong to kill bacteria, it’s safe for your baby. First, you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to make up the solution the right way. Remember, the solution will work correctly when it’s made at the right strength. Completely drown-washed bottles, especially every part of the bottles including teats, rings, and caps.  Let everything keep in the solution for the recommended time. You can keep the equipment in the solution for the whole day. Remove equipment using tongs. Remove excess solution, but don’t need to dry the equipment. Store everything in a clean container and put the container in the fridge.  Read Top brain foods for studying and exams Steam sterilization  In this system, you heat your equipment to a temperature high enough to kill bacteria. First, keep clean equipment in the unit and add water following the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, on the switch. As it is automated, the unit switches itself off when the work is completed. Store equipment in a clean container and you can follow the manufacturer’s instructions to know the exact time you can store sterilized equipment. Microwave sterilization  Microwave sterilization is like steam sterilization.  First, see the instructions carefully and check the microwave power needed. However, make sure you don’t put anything made of metal inside these sterilizers.  Read More: How physical punishment affects children and alternative ways to discipline them Don't put your equipment straight into the microwave to sterilize it because this won’t work rather your equipment will melt or get damaged. Bottom Line So far we have discussed the simple steps to clean baby bottles efficiently. You can also follow the sterilization methods to get your baby's bottle and other feeding types of equipment sanitized and ready for use to avoid the risks of bacterial infection or contamination. Don’t forget to clean the bottle just after every feeding to prevent any bacterial contamination.

Kids are always happy with their toys. The right and safe toys can provide your child with so many benefits like encouragement to play, stimulation of their senses, support in developing skills, and more. However, some toys are harmful to kids. Let’s take a look at how to choose safe toys for children.  How Toys Can Harm Babies  Toys can harm babies in many ways. For instance, -Babies may feel choked while playing with balloons or toys containing strings and wires. -The heavy large toys can fall upon small kids-Electric toys can give them shocks. -The sharp-edged toys can cause injury to children-Babies can swallow small playing objects like magnets, marbles, jewelry, etc. -Dirty toys can affect the kids with bacteria. -Noisy toys can scare young kids.-Babies may hurt themselves or other kids with shooting toys.-Toys built with harmful materials can cause harm to kids’ health. Read More: 12 foods that shouldn’t be given to babies and children While playing with toys, a child may experience serious injury or even death especially when the toy doesn’t suit the child’s age or includes dangerous elements, or is improperly built or used in the wrong way. Although, toy-injuries are usually minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises parents should be careful.  13 Guidelines to Choose Safe Toys for Babies Age-Appropriate Toys Generally, toys are designed according to the age of the baby. Age is mentioned on the cover of the toy. So, keep in mind the age of your baby whenever you wish to buy a toy. Age-appropriate toys are safe for your child and help in the better development of your child. Size-Appropriate Toys Size is one of the major points you need to consider while buying a toy for your child. Make sure you select the size of the toy according to your child’s age, height, size, nature, and health status. Naturally, babies love to keep their favourite toys close to their bodies, especially their noses and mouths. Read More: How to entertain an unwell child without screen time Parents should avoid choosing too small toys for young babies as such toys can cause choking when taken in the mouth. Small objects like flashing decorations or jewelry can be harmful to young children. On the other hand, too large and heavy toys for your child’s size can be difficult for him or her to handle. There is a risk that during playing the toy may fall on the child and hurt him/her.  Chewing Resistant Naturally, children have the curiosity to put everything in their mouths. This habit can cause bad accidents that can be life-threatening too. So, you have to choose chewing-resistant toys for your child so that they won’t swallow them. Read More: How to deal with your demanding child? Washable Toys Children are not careful about their toys and so they throw their toys here and there while playing. When a kid throw his/her toy in a dirty place, and pick it up again, the toy may carry several bacteria.  Those bacteria may cause bacterial infections as the kids have the habit of putting their toys in their mouths. So, it’s wise to choose toys that are easily washable and you can sanitize from time to time. Avoid Loud Toys The main function of toys is to entertain your child. But too loud or screaming toys can hardly give pleasure to your child rather they can irritate them by causing noise pollution. Most importantly, they can harm the listening power of your child. So, don’t buy toys that are too loud for your little one. Read More: How physical punishment affects children and alternative ways to discipline them No Strings Or Wires Don’t buy toys that have long strings, attached ribbons, or frills. If you have found some, remove such kind of material immediately from those toys as your child may wrap it around him/her neck and feel choked. Besides, it may harm the child’s blood circulation by restricting the flow of the blood through his/her veins. 

It is exciting to introduce new foods to your baby. However, not all kinds of foods are suitable for babies. Some foods may cause a choking hazard to young eaters, while others may pose health risks. Let’s take a look at which foods to avoid feeding babies and young children.  12 Harmful Foods for babies and young kids  Salted foods Babies aged between 7-12 months need 0.37grams of sodium each day. Experts say that naturally healthy and full-term infants can get this requirement from breast milk or formula. So, you don’t need to add salt to your baby’s food. Remember, if a baby consumes extra salt, it exposes them to excess sodium, which is not good at all for their immature kidneys. Make sure you don’t add salt to your baby's food or cooking water and avoid stock cubes or gravy because they are most often high in salt. Read How to Encourage Your Child to Try New Food? Besides these, parents should refrain from feeding readymade, highly processed, high-sodium foods, such as chips, crisps, fries, bacon, and sausages. Accessive amounts of sodium or salt can create hyperosmolarity in the baby which the kidneys of the baby may not handle . Refined sugar/ Sugary foods Research has shown that it is not wise to add sugar to the food of babies under 24 months. Experts also say that babies shouldn’t eat only sugar or as a part of the food. Because sugar adds additional calories to the diet of babies which can cause tooth decay over time.  Many parents tend to add refined sugar to their baby’s milk. Babies who take sugar during the months of infancy and early childhood may develop a preference for sweet foods.  Read Helping Kids with Sharing: How to teach a child to share Babies who prefer sugary foods are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life. Honey Honey is a great natural sweetener; rich in minerals and antioxidants. It is considered a healthy alternative to sugar.  However, babies under 12 months shouldn’t consume honey due to the infant botulism risk created by the spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism in babies under 1 is a serious and rarely fatal illness that can cause constipation, weakened sucking, poor appetite, lethargy, and even potentially pneumonia and dehydration. Read How to entertain an unwell child without screen time Adding to these, honey contains significant amounts of sugar, which poses the same health risks as refined sugar does upon overconsumption.  Therefore, parents shouldn’t feed honey to their babies under 12 months. Cow’s milk Cow’s milk is great for adults. Whole cow milk provides several nutrients, However, it is not suitable for babies under 1 year.  Babies should not consume cow's milk as it can be hard for them to digest.  Read How to deal with your demanding child? Besides, cow's milk doesn't have all the required nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin E that a baby needs to grow and develop during his or her first year. The baby usually develops allergic reactions and as cow’s milk is allergic, you should avoid it for your baby.  Moreover, cow’s milk has heavy proteins and minerals that put undue stress on a baby’s immature kidneys. These proteins can irritate the baby’s digestive system lining, causing occult bleeding, and increasing the risk of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) over time. Read How physical punishment affects children and alternative ways to discipline them Cheese You can feed your babies some types of cheese as it is a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamins.  But babies should not be fed mold-ripened soft cheeses including brie, goat cheese, or blue cheese; because these types of cheeses have a higher risk of carrying listeria (bacteria).  Cheeses that are made from unpasteurized milk carry the extra risk of listeria, and babies and young children should not consume these foods. Read How to comfortably travel with babies Fruit juice Fruit juice contains calories but none of the fat, protein, calcium, zinc, vitamin D, or fiber that babies need. Taking too much juice can cause tooth decay, diarrhea, and other chronic tummy troubles. Whole nuts and peanuts Parents shouldn’t give whole nuts and peanuts to children under 5 years old. These foods are not suitable for the digestion system of young children.  However, you can give crushed, ground, or smooth nut or peanut butter to your baby from around 6 months old. Read Excessive Crying in Infants: Possible Reasons, Tips of Soothing But if your baby has food allergies or other allergies in your family, talk to doctor before introducing nuts and peanuts to your baby’s food menu.  Raw and lightly cooked eggs You can give eggs to your baby from around 6 months. Hen’s egg is suitable for babies and young children. But don’t feed them raw and lightly cooked eggs. Cook the egg as long as both the white and yolk become solid.  Refined grains Nutritionist says that all carbs are not equally nutritious.  Read Breastfed Infant’s Slow Weight Gain: Common symptoms, reasons, solutions Complex carbs provide naturally-occurring nutrients that are stripped during the refining process and ultimately they turn into whole grains white.  Whole grains are also rich in fiber to keep blood sugar steady. So avoid refined grains and opt for 100 percent whole-grain pasta, bread, cereal, rice, and crackers. Raw vegetables and fruits You should avoid giving babies raw vegetables and fruits to eat.  Read Why Self Care of Moms is Important: Tips for busy mothers For example, baby carrots, celery, corn, and green peas may create choking hazards for babies. However, babies can eat these vegetables when they are thoroughly cooked and properly softened.  Babies can eat raw fruits like Berries when they are cut into small pieces.  Sticky foods Babies should avoid sticky foods like raw jelly cubes, chewy fruits, snacks, marshmallows, and a dollop of peanut butter. These foods stick to the mouth, so it is difficult for babies to swallow them. Experts recommend avoiding these foods for young children until they are four years old. Read Common Sleep Problems in Children: Causes, Symptoms, Ways to Help Rice drinks Rice is a common grain that is used as a supportive food for babies. But when it comes to rice drinks like rice milk, experts recommend children under five years of age shouldn’t have rice milk as a substitute for breast milk or infant formula. You need to avoid rice drinks as they may have high amounts of inorganic arsenic, which can affect the cognitive development of babies over time. Bottom Line Breast milk or formula is the mainstay of a baby's diet in the first year of life. Babies who are older than six months need to be exposed to foods from different food groups. Read Motivating Kids to Study, Do Homework, Get Good Grades: Know Secret Ways However, as the digestive systems of babies under one year are still developing, parents need to consult a pediatrician to get a list of safe foods for babies. So far, we have discussed 12 types of foods to avoid giving infants, babies, and young children. Hope it helps!

Every parent knows that kids might get sick occasionally. When a kid gets ill with the flu, pains, injuries, or viral diseases, s/he may miss going to school or playing outdoors with playmates. If the illness continues for several days, it can make the child unhappy, sad and bored. However, not many parents think about how to keep an unwell child cheerful.  Some parents tend to keep ill children busy with gadgets. During ailment, electric gadgets, like phones, tablets, or TVs can be more harmful to children. Now, except for allowing gadgets what can parents do to entertain an ill child at home? Here are some tips. 10 best tips to entertain an ailing child without screen time New Toy Your child could have many toys at any time during their growing time. But, a new toy can bring it joy, especially during sickness. Pick a toy that your kind would love the most to possess. It will make the child happy and give it a feeling of appreciation, which can aid in the recovery process. Besides, the small gift will rekindle your kid’s love for you.  Read Best foods for expecting mothers Crafts Seek out various options to entertain your unwell child. You can engage the kid in various crafts such as drawing origami, skill with clay, and creating crafts to decorate our rooms. It is a good idea to set up a table containing recycled paper, where you and your kid can draw or create origami together.  Such activities will not only help the child stay at home without getting bored; but also develop its imagination power. Thus, your kid can have a lot of fun. It will help the kid to overcome illnesses in a much more relaxing manner.  Indoor Games When your child is sick, it is best to assist them in resting. When they feel bored staying at home for days due to illness, you can play different low-stress, indoor games with them. The types of games can vary depending on the age of your child.  Read How to deal with your demanding child? If your child is below 5, you can play puzzle games with them or engage them in imaginary cooking games with their playing instruments. Children above 5 may like to play ludo or carom and you can accompany them. Besides puzzles, baby cooking games, ludo, or carom, you can play traditional board or table games with your sick child to give him/her companionship and entertainment. You can also create board or table games to have a fun time.  These indoor games can provide an abundance of entertainment for a child who is too ill to go outside for playing with friends. Parents and other family members can also join the ailing child and play games together to enjoy a leisurely afternoon of fun at home. Read Top brain foods for studying and exams Reading When a child is sick, s/he may feel lonely or helpless. To make the kid happy you can engage him/her in a creative task like reading. If your child is unable to read, you can read for him or her. When your child can read, you can lend him/her a book and inspire him/her to read. Reading books helps children to spark their imagination and give the parents a chance to spend quality time with them in a fun way. You can pick colorful story books, a rhyme, or a novel so that your child feels an attraction to read or listen to stories from you. If you enjoy reading, they will be happy and relaxed. However, make sure you choose the books that they would love to read or hear from you.  Practice Language If your child is not much tired and getting better, you can play with them with language. For instance, you can give your school-goer kid a list of phrases and ask them to draw the definition of each word.  Read How physical punishment affects children and alternative ways to discipline them You can ask your under-five kid to sing his/her favorite songs to tell the names of different body parts or to express their favorite foods in English or other different languages. By engaging in these activities, your kids will have a great time without gadgets while staying at home. 

Children that are constantly needing attention can hardly accept "no" for an answer. If your kid is constantly demanding something in a rude way, don’t get stressed out! In the current world, numerous parents are experiencing such issues. Here are 11 effective and respectful strategies for dealing with demanding children. 11 tips to deal with your demanding child Understand their needs Sometimes kids ask for basic things in rude ways. Try to understand what they want. For instance, 'Get me food!' means 'I am hungry; "Go away" means "I need space; "Pick me up" could refer to 'I require a hug or 'I'm not feeling safe.  When a kid is demanding something from you, it is communicating a need. Now, what does the kid need you to do? The easiest thing to do is to identify the kid's needs and simply say you heard it.  Read How physical punishment affects children and alternative ways to discipline them Find the reason for anger Each child is not similar. Like adults, children have different traits and personalities.  The anger of children is likely caused by a different emotion they're unable to communicate. Some kids may get angry about basic needs like food; while some kids may always get restless for new toys in shopping malls. Therefore it's essential to allow your children space to express their feelings.  Take a positive attitude When your child is over-demanding, you may think that kid is rude or insolent. However, the way you perceive children determines how they can think of themselves.  Read How to comfortably travel with babies If you respond to the child with an angry voice and tag the kid’s behaviour as ‘rude’. The kid may bear the same perception about himself or herself, and continue to behave in ways that conform to this judgment. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Therefore, try to stay calm and stay positive in response to a child that has shouted for food or a new toy, or other things. Try responding by saying something such as, "You sound very frustrated about something; what can I do to help?" By responding to the kid’s needs in a polite way, you can let it know that you understand its demand.  Don't take it personally Your unconditional love for your child is unwavering. But still, the kid may act like crazy sometimes! Don’t take such insolence personally. It could feel like it, but these ill-manners or irrational demands aren't about you or indicate how you parent your children. They are just a challenge at times! Read Excessive Crying in Infants: Possible Reasons, Tips of Soothing They're likely feeling overwhelmed and just beginning to learn how to communicate. Relax before responding to your child; remember that your child can influence their future decisions. Help them resolve their needs Sometimes your kids require or want you to take care of things for them; however, most of the time, they need to know more before they are sure of what to do. They're capable and confident and awed by their ability to make decisions themselves. It's your responsibility to help them do this. Honestly, it's not practical, useful, or fun for you to take on everything for them.  After acknowledging their need, should they be capable of helping themselves, a brief, nonjudgmental, and not accusatory statement could assist them in deciding the next steps. Read Breastfed Infant’s Slow Weight Gain: Common symptoms, reasons, solutions Be kind and talk to them with an open mind Sometimes, you have tried all of the above and still hear a resounding demand. It could be that you are wrong regarding the need that is at the root that your children really need is some compassion before they're at a point where they can discern what they're looking for.  Be there for the child, be supportive of them, discuss the issue, and solve it when everyone is relaxed and capable. Achieving a request is not a sign of giving in, but it does mean that you're always there for your child when they are most difficult.  Define what constitutes a demanding behavior Spend the time to sit with your child and discuss the distinction between polite, acceptable behavior and demanding behavior, which won't help them get anywhere. This makes it much easier to discuss their shady actions later. However, don't do it during a tiff, and it's a great discussion to have when both of you are in a relaxed state! Read Learning Disabilities in Children: Types, symptoms, ways to help Model good behavior Now, how to teach your kids to express themselves and communicate their desires in a bit more polite way? The answer is you have to behave politely first before you expect your kid to be well-mannered. Instead of giving them instructions on what to do, make it sound like an appeal: "Can you please wash your hands before dinner" instead of "Go wash your hands". Remember, your kid is always following you! So, when you're with others or in public, demonstrate the manner of conduct you'd like your children to emulate. If you make a mistake and get angry with your kids or other people and then you're not able to control it, be sure to assure them of your apology and also explain the mistake was not yours. Read Motivating Kids to Study, Do Homework, Get Good Grades: Know Secret Ways Salute their manner of conduct If your child is correctly asking for things or acts positively, you must be sure to acknowledge and praise the child for their efforts. You can give them small gifts or incentives like ice cream or their favorite food. Children learn best by reiterating good behavior rather than being admonished for bad behavior. Encourage them to fulfill extra needs with their own saving In the current world, lucrative promotions, branding, and advertising impress adults. Kids become prey to these crazy advertisements on TVs, and in shopping malls. Unlike adults, kids have less patience and judgment power. Sometimes, your kid might be relentlessly demanding a new toy, doll, or shirt.  Read Basic Communication Skills Needed in Business, Career, Relationships So, don’t be upset about your kid’s excessive demands; rather you can set a toy budget or shopping budget for your child.  Try to make them understand the value of money and encourage them to make savings. So that they can buy desired things with their saved money. Take good care of yourself It has never been easy to be a parent. Being a parent and managing the household can be exhausting and stress-inducing. Make sure that you're looking at yourself too. Read Why Self Care of Moms is Important: Tips for busy mothers A good night's sleep, eating well, and taking time to relax with your parents are vital to your well-being. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be to handle your children's demands without becoming frustrated or losing your temper. Bottom Line So far, we have discussed how to deal with a demanding child. Demands are not an emergency; it's not something to be punished for. It's an appeal for assistance, an opportunity for connecting, a child in school, and a need to be acknowledged. Remember that a demanding child provides the parent with the opportunity to impart knowledge. Parents have the chance to address the issue! Many parents treat their children the way they would like to be treated by them. This is extremely strong. If you keep showing affection and a positive attitude, they will begin to learn what it feels and looks like to be treated with kindness. Keep the faith, and then try again. Read Common Sleep Problems in Children: Causes, Symptoms, Ways to Help