Home Childpoofing Tips

The kitchen, for starters, can become a vastly more dangerous place. Suddenly, those little hands can reach higher than you realised -- for the knobs on the stove, the handle of a frying pan, a percolating coffeepot. To prevent burns, cook on the stove's back burners whenever possible, and keep handles of pots and pans turned away from the counter's edge. Don't set hot food on the table anywhere near your toddler, and store matches and cigarette lighters where he can't possibly reach them.

Many kids this age are mesmerized by the cooking process. If your budding chef wants to see what's simmering, hold him up for a quick peek, but only at a safe distance and not if the food has the potential to spatter hot liquid. Use this opportunity -- and every available one -- to explain that anything on the stove is hot and is never to be touched.

To prevent burns in the bathroom, set your water heater at as low a temperature as possible (120'F or lower), and always test the bath water's temperature carefully before plunking your child into the tub. And don't leave him there unattended even for a second. Drowning is a real risk at this age, and so is the chance that your child will try to turn on the hot water, scalding himself in the process.

Falls are another peril for the 2 year old. Keep furniture, especially beds, safely away from upper story windows. Window guards are an added safety measure; in some cities, apartment buildings are required by law to have them. All looped window blind cords are a strangulation hazard and should be cut into two strands and secured out of kids' reach.

Poisons remain a hazard now as well. Your child's manual dexterity has increased, and so have her problem solving abilities, so some heretofore tricky containers are now a snap to open.

To keep medicines (including vitamins) out of reach, put them in a cabinet with a lock on it. Store household cleaners in a high cabinet, safely out of sight and reach. Never transfer a poisonous substance (such as bleach) into a container that looks as though it might hold something to eat or drink (such as empty milk jug). And remember : Alcoholic beverage can be toxic if ingested by small child, so lock up your liquor, too.

Accidents do happen, even when precautions are taken. Keep a bottle of syrup of ipecac (which includes vomiting) in your medicine cabinet, and have the poison control center's phone number handy. Should your child ingest a harmful substance, don't make him vomit unless instructed to do so by doctor or a poison specialist.

Another menace 2 year old face is choking both on food and small objects, including toy parts and other loose ends. Even though your child may have a full set of baby teeth (or nearly so), continue to monitor his food carefully. Don't give your child this age hard candies or any small, round, firm foods, (such as hot dogs, raw carrots, nuts, grapes) unless well chopped or cooked until soft. Eating while running, playing, jumping or laughing is perilous at any age.

If your child has an older sibling or plays at an older child's house, keep a careful eye on the toys at hand. Playthings for children age 3 and above often have small parts that your toddler may want to put in his mouth. Also, check his own toys from time to time to ensure that no piece are coming loose and becoming hazards.

One common toy that can be deadly is the latex balloon. Before it's inflated and after it burst, this kind of balloon can be difficult to dislodge from a child's throat. Never allow toddlers to blow up balloons; once a balloon bursts or deflates, discard it. Somewhat safer than latex balloons are those made by Mylar. Still, always supervise play with any type of balloon.

Source : parents.com

I Can Do It, TOO!

Skill spotlight

Learning how to put a plush toy in a stroller, how to handle a broom and how to stir with a plastic spoon helps your baby gain a better sense of spatial relations and develops her fine motor skills. Equally important is the opportunity to mimic what the big kids and adults in her world are doing.

At nine months, your baby may already be imitating you by swiping at the floor when you're cleaning or by waving a wooden spoon at a bowl as you cook. Encourage her interest in the adult world by giving her baby-sized versions of adult tools like brooms, mops, toolboxes, toy shopping carts, and strollers. If she's walking, you can show her how to take the stuffed dog for a stroller ride. She may not have great coordinations of what will become pretend-play, a realm that will engage her increasingly in her toddler and preschool years.

Source : Dr Masi, W. S & Dr Leiderman, R. C (2004) Baby Play: 100 Fun-Filled Activities for you & your baby to enjoy, Weldon Owen Publishing Singapore

Beep-Beep

Skill spotlight

Most babies won't figure out how to use their legs alternatively on a riding toy until their second year. But as they move themselves forward and backward with boot feet at once, they build gross motor skill and improve their balance.

Sometimes it's hard to know when to introduce certain toys, because it's hard to know how skills a baby needs to be to use them. But even a baby who isn't yet walking can use a riding toy, as long as her legs are long enough to reach the ground. At first you may have to push her a bit so she understands what this game is all about. But soon she'll be pushing herself along (although, as with crawling, she may go backward at first) and squealing delightedly as she rolls from room to room.

Source : Dr Masi, W. S & Dr Leiderman, R. C (2004), Baby Play: 100 Fun-Filled Activities for you & your baby to enjoy, Weldon Owen Publishing Singapore

Sound Stage

Skill Spotlight

Focused listening build the foundation for your child's language development. It allows him to locate and recognise sounds, and when combined with other experiences and repetition, he begins to form a repertoire of receptive language.

Not all of your time with your baby needs to be spent talking, playing, reading or otherwise stimulating his little mind. Just sitting and observing the obvious can also build sensory and cognitive awareness. One listening exercise, for instance, is as simple as finding sounds. It may be inside, where he can hear the dog's toenail clicking on the kitchen floor, the refrigerator running, the telephone ringing, or car zooming by. Or it may be outside, where he can hear birds singing, leaves rustling, a wind chime jingling, or an airplane overhead. Call his attention to the sounds, point in the right direction, and tell him what they are. You can let him participate in making the sounds by hitting the wind chimes or encourage him to imitate the sounds - the "tweet-tweet" of a bird, for instance, or the "vrooom" of a car driving by the house.

Source : Dr Masi, W. S & Leiderman, R. C (2004) Baby Play : 100 Fun-Filled Activities for you & tiyr baby to enjoy, Weldon Owen Publishing, Singapore

Baby Soccer

Skill Spotlight

Swinging your baby's legs can help strengthen her abdominal and leg muscles. And feeling the ball on her legs and feet gives her greater body awareness. She's also tracking an object while she's in motion, which stands her in good stead when it comes times for her to kick a ball as a toddler.

Your baby won't learn how to kick a ball on the ground until she's in her second year, but even a nine-month old can play a rousing game of baby soccer if you provide the muscle power. Pick her up under her arms and swing her legs at a lightweight, medium sized ball. The position of her body and legs combined with the momentum you provide will make the ball roll across the floor or yard. No need to keep this game all to yourselves. Older siblings can join the action, or you can play with another adult-baby "team". The more, the merrier!

Source : Dr Masi, W. S & Dr Leiderman, R. C (2004) Baby Play: 100 Fun-Filled Activities for you & your baby to enjoy

How Puzzling

Skill Spotlight -

Playing with a puzzle (even getting a piece out) is great exercise for a baby's fine motor and spatial skills. And learning which piece goes where draws on both her visual memory and her elementary understanding of shapes, sizes and colour.


Assembling a jigsaw puzzle is beyond your baby's reach, but she can easily grasp the concept behind the simple wooden puzzles made for older babies and toddlers. Those that features simple shapes and large pieces with knobs are especially easy, as are those that have matching pictures underneath. There's a knack to getting even these big puzzle pieces in their places, however - you will probably need to guide the pieces as she moves them, so she can feel how they slip into places.

Source : Dr Masi, W.S * Dr Leiderman, R. C (2004) Baby Play : 100 Fun-Filled Activities for you & your baby to enjoy, Weldon Owen Publishing Singapore
Picture adapted from funkymoose.co.uk

Fever

What is the normal temperature?

36.5'C to 37'C

What is a fever?

A temperature above 37.5'C

What can cause fever?

* Infection (ear, urine, chest)

* reaction to immunisation

* a serious illness, like meningitis

How to take a temperature?

1. Under the arm

Cradle baby in your lap, place thermometer under the fold of their armpit and hold their arm flat against the side of their body for 3 minutes.

2. On the forehead

Take the backing off the fever strip and press strip firmly against baby's forehead, holding for a minute with a finger at each end. The squares change colour to reveal the degree of heat. Each strip can be used several times.

3. In the ear

This is the method many doctors mow use. Simply place the thermometer tip gently in baby's ear, as instructed, and press a button for an instant result. It's recommended you change the plastic cap after each use, to ensure an accurate reading.

What can I do about fever?

Undress baby and cool them by sponging with luke warm water.

(Don't put baby in a cold bath, as shivering triggers the body to raise its temperature)

Dress baby lightly in a singlet and nappy.

Check their temperature when you have done this. If it's still elevated, give some paracetamol.

Offer small amounts of fluids regularly, and make sure baby drinks at least the same amount as usual. (Don't worry if they don't eat)

Give baby extra attention while they are unwell.

When to contact your doctor:

Check baby's temperature an hour after giving the paracetamol. If the temperature has not lowered, contact your doctor or nearest hospital.

If baby looks pale.

If baby has fewer wet nappies than usual, or they are dark yellow in colour.

If baby only takes less than half his normal amount of fluids.

If baby is sleepier than normal, or more difficult to wake up.

If fever continues for more than 24 hours.

When it is an emergency:

(Take your child to hospital or call an ambulance)

If there is severe vomiting, and baby does not keep down paracetamol or any fluids.

If baby's neck seems stiff or rigid.

If baby is having difficulty breathing.

If baby is screaming, very irritable and unable to be consoled.

If baby is unconscious (you can't wake him up), if he is having fits or convulsions (jerky, uncontrollable movements)

Source : Children's Paradol

Image adapted from IB Spot blog

Describing Things and Grouping Them Develops The Language of Classifying

What we do and why we do it

Mum : Which leaves look the same?

Maria : There are big ones and some with really curly edges.

Jodie : And lots of skinny ones too.

We ask children to describe objects and get them to look for similarities and differences. We help children to develop the language to classify, sort and group things.

They need language for classifying in literacy and numeracy later.

Source : Department of Education, Science and Training, Australia

Image adapted from at: www.saskschools.ca/~pvsdmile/

Playing with Rhymes Helps Children Practise Sounds

We sing rhymes and jingles with children so that they learn to hear and match words that sound the same.

Later, children will begin to match sound to alphabet letters on the page. This will be very important in learning to read, write and spell.

When English is a second language, adults share rhymes in their first language with children.

Source : Department of Education, Science and Training, Australia

Watching and Listening Develops Languages

Mum : "Up you come; is that better? You're happy now."

We use our hands, eyes, face and words to communicate with very young babies, because this shows them how people communicate.

Soon, the baby's babbling noises will sound like adult talk. They begin to take turns and wait for a response.

Later, children will choose the right words and body language to communicate their feeling and needs.

Source : The Department of Education, Science and Training, Australia

When It's Time To Eat

From Birth
Development
* Newborns have a small stomach so they need at least 6 feeds
* Feeding "according to need" means baby feeds when he is hungry
* Frequent sucking at the breast stimulates breast milk production
* Growth spurts occurs at about 6 weeks and 3 months so baby will demand extra feeds
* When breastfeeding is not possible, a suitable infant formula must be used.

Breastfeeding is Best
* At least 6 feeds a day at 3-4 hourly intervals or according to need
* Night feeds are necessary for the first few weeks
* Hold your baby close and make eye contact while you feed

First Foods (around 6 months)

Fruit - slowly increase to 2-4 teaspoons
Vegetables - Slowly increase to 2-4 teaspoons
Iron enriched cereal - gradually increase to 1-2 teaspoons
Breast Milk - feed according to need
Formula - 800ml approximately

Development
* Able to hold head up
* Good head and neck control
* Reached for food
* Extrusion (tongue thrust) reflex disappears
* Iron stores depleting
* Doubles birth weight by 4-5 months

Food Guide
* breast milk or formula approximately 4-6 feeds per day
* Ready for solids around 6 months (not before 4 months)
* Offer solids after the milk feed
* Start with single food first

Introduce

* Iron Enriched Rice Cereal
* Soft vegetables eg. Avocado, potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, zucchini
* Soft fruits eg. apple, apricot, bananas, pear, mango
* Introduce meats after vegetables and fruit

Texture and Taste
* Puree or fine fork mash
* Do not add salt or sugar to baby's food
* Your baby does not need teeth to chew. Move on to fine fork mashed foods as soon as he has a chewing action

Meal Guide
Morning feed :
* Breast milk or formula

Breakfast:
* 1-2 tablespoons rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula

Mid Morning:
* Breast milk or formula

Lunch:
* Breast milk or formula
* Fruit or vegetable

Dinner :
* Breast milk or formula
* Fruit or vegetable

Before sleep:
* Breast milk or formula

7-9 Months
Meat, chicken, fish - 1 tablespoon finely minced
Meat alternatives - mashed legumes, egg yolk

Fruit - 2 to 4 tablespoons
Vegetable - 2 to 4 tablespoons

Bread - 1 slice
Cereals - Iron Enriched Cereal 2-4 tablespoons
Rice, pasta, couscous - small amounts for variety

Breast milk - feed according to need
Formula - 800ml approximately

Development
* Sitting yo unsupported
* Ready for soft lumps
* Chews with gums
* Teeth erupting
* Teeth erupting
* Able to pick up objects
* Can drink from a cup if held

Food Guide
* Breast milk / formula 3-4 feeds per day
* Solids offered before milk feed
* Introduce meats for iron
* Continue Iron enriched baby cereals
* Teething rusks help sooth tender gums

Introduce Variety

* Offer meat, chicken, fish, legumes or lentils each day for iron
* Ensure a variety of colours of fruits and vegetables
* Bread, pasta and rice (fine wholemeal bread is OK)
* Egg yolk well cooked if no family allergy. Offer 1/2 teaspoon at first, wait a couple of days, then offer more
* Infant suitable daily foods e.g yogurt, cheese, custards

Taste and Texture
* Introduce coarse texture - soft lumps, mashed rather than puree
* Finely minced meats, chicken and fish
* Mash beans and lentils
* Avoid adding salt, sugar or hot spices

Meal Guide
Morning feed :
* Breast milk or formula

Breakfast
* 2-4 tablespoons baby cereal mixed with breast milk or formula

Mid morning:
* Fruits or soft cooked mashed fruit

Lunch:
* Meat and two vegetables, custard, breast milk or formula

Mid afternoon :
* Fruit gel or yogurt

Dinner:
* Meat and two vegetables, fruit and yogurt dessert

Before sleep:
* Breast milk or formula

10-15 months

Fat - teaspoon of butter, margarine or oil
Meat, chicken, fish - finely chopped
Meat alternatives - mashed legumes, egg

Fruit - 4 to 6 tablespoons
Vegetables - 4 to 6 tablespoons (select a variety of colours)

Bread - 1 to 2 slices (fine wholemeal)
Cereal - Iron enriched 2 to 4 tablespoons
Rice, pasta, noodles - small amounts for variety

Breast milk - breastfeed according to need
Formula - approx 700ml

Development
* Breast milk / formula reducing in quantity
* Solid foods increasing
* Enjoys self feeding
* Improved co-ordination
* Learns to drink from a cup

Food Guide
* Breast milk / formula 3 feeds per day
* Offer small meals 3 times per day
* Healthy snacks are important
* Encourage self feeding / finger foods
* Introduce food variety

Introduce

* Finger size pieces of cooked vegetables
* Muesli and cereal
* Small sandwiches, toast
* Family dairy foods e.g custard, yogurt, cow's milk on cereal (not yet as a drink)
* Whole egg - gradually introduce well cooked egg white
(delay until after 12 months if there is any family allergy)

Taste and Texture
* Offer chunkier texture to encourage chewing
* Finger foods - cooked or soft foods cut into finger size pieces
* Minced meat, pieces of meat to chew on
* Avoid added salt and sugar
* Rusks still helpful to chew on

Meat Guide
Morning feed :
* Breast milk or formula

Breakfast:
* 2 to 4 tablespoons muesli and cereal with milk and fruit
* 1 slice fine wholemeal toast with butter or margarine

Mid morning :
* Water

Lunch:
* Sandwich 1-2 slices of bread with meat, fish or chicken, breast milk or formula

Mid afternoon:
* Soft cooked veggies and hommus

Dinner:
* Meat and at least 2 vegetables
* Custard and fruit

Before sleep:
* Breast milk or formula

1-3 Years
Fat : 2 teaspoons of butter, margarine or oil

Meat, Chicken, Fish - small pieces finely chopped
Meat alternatives - mashed legumes, lentils, egg

Fruit - 1 to 2 pieces
Vegetables - approx 1 cut total of 4 to 5 veggies (select a variety of colours)

Bread - 1 to 2 slices (fine wholemeal)
Cereals - 1 cup cereal (1 serve of rice, pasta or couscous

Breast milk /cow milk / dairy - 3 serves a day

Development
* Bones lengthen, less baby fat
* Walks alone
* Triples birth weight by 12 months
* Growths rate slows
* Appetite reduces accordingly
* Becomes assertive and likes to say "no"

Food Guide
* Continue breastfeeding if desired
* Cow's milk now suitable as main drink
* Encourage toddler to eat family foods
* 3 small meals and 2 snacks per day
* Offer water for extra fluid

Taste and Texture
* Cut up food into small pieces
* Offer finger foods such as soft cooked vegetables
* Ensure variety - at least 2 fruits and 5 veggies per day
* Avoid high salt / high sugar snack foods

Meal Guide
Breakfast:
* 2 to 4 tablespoons muesli and cereal with milk
* 1 slice fine wholemeal toast with butter or margarine
* milk / water to drink

Lunch:
* 1 to 2 slices of toast with baked beans and grated cheese
* fresh fruit pieces, yogurt and water to drink

Dinner:
* Meat and at least 2 vegetables
* Custard and fruit

Snacks:
* Milk / water to drink
* Bread sticks, muesli fingers
* Cheese, fresh fruit, soft cooked vegetables

Source : Heinz For Baby, Australia & The children hospital of Westmead