NEWBORN TO 5 MONTH OLD ACHIEVEMENTS

NEWBORN

Your baby is born, finally, he's here! What an exciting step! Even though he depends entirely on you, he has more skills and abilities than you might think.

ONE MONTH OLD

Newborns begin to express emotions as soon as they are born. Over the next few months, they show their sadness and joy.
At this age:

• he likes and seeks physical contact and touch;
• he adapts his expressions to situations that provoke emotions. For example, he reacts favorably to comfort and well-being while crying when he feels pain or discomfort. 

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• recognize a familiar voice and calm down when he hears it, because it depends on the people taking care of it, especially in stressful situations communicate moods such as anger or joy by crying in different ways.

TWO MONTHS OLD

At 2 months, your baby expresses himself in different ways, depending on his mood and how he feels. Little by little he will find ways to calm himself down, especially by sucking his thumb.At this age

• he manifests primary emotions such as pain, disgust or pleasure;
• he will be able to communicate his feelings by fits of tears or by making different sounds. For example, he manifests his joy by making small raucous sounds;
• he knows how to express his discomforts. For example, it is agitated by the sound of intense noise;
• he can calm down by himself by sucking his finger or sucking;

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• hug and relax 
• show that he is afraid, that he is happy or that he is angry with facial expressions.

THREE MONTHS OLD

Your baby will make many more sounds now that he uses his voice to express himself. He will be able to better communicate his joy, his sadness or his discomfort. By reacting to what he tells you, you will boost his self-esteem.

At this age :

• he begins to relate to others, among other things by smiling and laughing;
• he speaks to you in his own way by producing a succession of small sounds, for example small high-pitched cries;
• he reacts to the presence of familiar people and may start to cry or stop crying depending on who is holding him, especially when it comes to his mother.

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• get angry when he doesn't have what he wants and he can be sullen.

FOUR MONTHS OLD

At this age :

• he is agitated or crying to attract the attention of adults around him or when he loses their attention or a toy;
• yawning and arching your back or turning your head away when there is enough or too much noise;
• he smiles voluntarily at the people around him and is no longer limited to staring at their faces;
• he recognizes the parent who takes primary care of him
• he is interested in his parent when he changes the rhythm of his voice;
• he manifests his impatience or enthusiasm by breathing heavily;
• he is suspicious (stops chirping and smiling) or frightened (agitated), turns away and then snuggles up against his parent when a new person comes in his direction;
• he stops crying at the sound of his parents' or the babysitter's voice.

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• get angry when he doesn't get what he wants;
• using the body to interact with its environment and the people around it
• staring at a person and continuing to look at the door when that person leaves the room.

FIVE MONTHS OLD

At this age :

• he is aware of the presence of people he does not know and can then be suspicious;
• he clings to his parent when he is in his arms;
• he anticipates events little by little. For example, when his mother approaches him, he guesses that it is drinking time;
• he manifests his emotions more markedly;
• he repels someone who does something he doesn't like like blowing his nose.

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• smile, laugh and make small intentional cries when he is happy and sometimes grumble when he is angry.

NOTE: Remember that not all children develop at the same rate in all areas. The information given is in general. If you are concerned about your child's development, it is best to see your doctor.

INSOMNIA PART 2

HOW TO TREAT INSOMNIA???

"Cognitive behavioral therapy" to improve insomnia by yourself.
Treatment of chronic insomnia, which has become chronic, requires treatment because it cannot be expected to be cured by itself. Although medication may be used for treatment.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a treatment for improving sleep habits. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a method to correct sleep beliefs and obsessions, and find a sleep habit that suits each person. Here are three ways you can do it yourself.

① Do not cling to the bed
People who are suffering from insomnia are obsessed with sleeping and unconsciously think that the bed is a painful place, so they are more and more nervous and unable to sleep. So, you do two things: don't fall asleep until you feel sleepy, don't stay asleep without sleeping, and condition your body that "a bed is a place to sleep".

② Sleep efficiency improvement
Sleep efficiency is the ratio of the time actually slept to the time spent in bed (the time actually spent in bed). People with insomnia tend to spend a lot of time sleeping and not sleeping, and sleep efficiency is low, so we aim to raise it to 85-90% eventually. Sleep diary is useful to know your sleep efficiency.

③ Relax
Perform muscle relaxation techniques that perform simple exercises before going to bed or waking up in the middle of the night. In addition to simply relaxing the muscles, the parasympathetic nerves can relax and slow your pulse, affecting your entire body.

Finding your sleep problems Improve sleep efficiency with a'sleep diary '
One of the methods to resolve sleeplessness is the "sleep diary". In the sleep diary, there are 6 such items as "time of going to bed", "time of actually falling asleep", "time of waking up", "time of getting out of bed", "time of waking up on the way and time of taking a nap". Record one time. If you record for a week or two and tabulate it, you can notice problems with your sleeping habits, such as "it's too early to get to bed." If sleep efficiency is low, you can improve sleep efficiency by staying awake for a short time without changing the wake-up time.

The lower of the two figures above is after treatment. The time to go to bed is delayed a little, and the prescribed sleeping pills are taken so that you can sleep at a certain time every day. If you have enough sleepiness, the time from bed to sleep will be stable.

If you don't feel sleepy for about 10 minutes, get out of bed. When the image of "a place where you can't sleep and it's a painful place" is established in your bed, you can't sleep even more. If you are unable to sleep for a while even when you go to bed, or if you wake up in the middle and find it difficult to sleep again, try leaving your bed.

To improve sleep quality

To improve the quality of your sleep, decide when you wake up in the morning and always get out of bed, even if you are sleepy. It is said that the body clock resets when exposed to sunlight. If you stabilize the body clock by keeping the time of exposure to light constant, the sleep time will also stabilize. However, if you wake up too early, avoid long hours of sunshine from early morning. This is because the awakening in the early morning gets worse. It is enough to stay away from bed at the same time and spend time indoors. Also, take a nap within 30 minutes as it can affect night sleep.

If you keep repeating the two times of going to bed at night and waking up in the morning while repeating this for 3 to 4 weeks, you will find out how much sleep time you really need. If you naturally fall asleep and become confident that you are controlling your sleep, your feelings will gradually ease and your sleep will disappear.

INSOMNIA PART 1

DO I HAVE INSOMNIA??? 

Take The Test Prepare yourself with a pen and pencil. If you are insomniac then know yourself. What type of insomnia you have and what are the cause of it. How can you treat yourself?

Symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep at night, unable to maintain sleep, waking up early in the morning, and feeling not fully asleep due to light sleep, daytime sleepiness, distraction, tiredness and various physical conditions.

It is said that about 1 in 5 people in Japan suffer from such insomnia symptoms. Insomnia, which is rare in childhood and adolescence, begins in the 20s and 30s and increases with age, with a rapid increase in middle age and old age.

TYPES OF INSOMNIA

• Difficulty falling asleep: It is hard to fall asleep on the floor (30 minutes to 1 hour or more).

• Awakening: Even for sleep, I wake up many times at night until I wake up the next morning.

• Early morning: I wake up at the desired time, or more than 2 hours before the usual time, and then I can't sleep.

• Deep sleep disorder: I have a light sleep and cannot get a deep sleep feeling for my sleep time.

MAIN CAUSE OF INSOMNIA

• Environmental factors: Places with time difference, pillow changes, heat, noise, brightness etc.

• Physical factor: Age, gender, frequent urination, pain, itch, etc.

• Factor of mind: Worries and frustration, mental stress from extreme tension, attention to sleep, etc.

• Lifestyle factors: Intake of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, side effects of drugs, lack of exercise, etc.

TODDLERS ACTIVITIES

In this quarantine time everyone is sharing activities to keep their child busy but for the children under 3 years (known as toddlers) we don't know much activities. So here I want to share some activities which I am doing with my daughter (who is 19 months old) with that I will also share what kind of toys you should buy for toddlers. Follow my instagram page for videos and steps mention for different craft I did, in my highlights under ACTIVITY. 

FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY: It is the coordination of small muscles, in movements, usually involving the synchronization of hands and finger with the eyes. As children manipulate objects with purpose, they gain experience identifying objects based on their shape, size, and weight. By engaging in hands-on play the child learns that some objects are heavy, requiring more force to move them and that some are small, easily slipping through the fingers; and that other objects come apart and can possibly be put back together again. This type of play is essential for the development of child's fine motor skills.


Here I am sharing how to utilize household object for your child under your supervision.

• Give a bowl of beans to your child and ask them to put all the beans in the bowl. The ways to do it, is by putting 1 bean at a time, or a hand full of beans or at once by just lifting your bowl and turning it into the other bowl or using spoon. Here your Instructions counts alot, what you are asking your child to do and what age your child is. a three year old can transfer by using spoon as well but for a year old child he will use his fingers to pick one and put it in the bowl or may be in his mouth. So knowing what your child should do is very important.

• Using Sand. Sand play promotes physical development. Large muscle skills develop as children dig, pour, sift, scoop, and clean up spills with brush and dustpan. So let your child be messy. Give them their sand tools and let them dig and scoop and fill their toys with it. It will be messy but it will enhance your child's motor skills.

• Water and Sponge Activity. This activity was told to me on my instagram post. I searched about it and found it really helpful. You simply has to give a bowl of water, an empty bowl and a sponge. ask them to soak it and squeeze it in the bowl. The activity is very simple but u can teach the dry and wet, empty and full concept. As it's summer already, cut pieces of sponge and put it in the bucket of water and let your child play and throw on you.

• Play dough or clay. If you don't have one make yours. A 3 year old can easily make dough. give them some flour and water and let them knead, they will gradually learn the consistency concept. For younger ones give them fully prepared dough and let them knead, cut molds and roll. Make rotis with them and fry them their handmade rotis. The happiness of their accomplishment will build their self confidence.

• Paintings. Every child loves to colors. there are many different types of activities using paints. finger painting, ice painting, hand painting, chalk painting etc. (Instructions of how to make chalk painting is shared on my insta page and will share ice painting method too)

• Potato Peeling, give your child boiled potatoes and let them peel. for older kids you can give them raw potato and using a peeler let them peel it. Involving your child in household chores will not only help in their development, it gives opportunity to become active participant in the house. Kids begin to see themselves as important contributors to the family.

I hope it will help you guys Alot. Follow my Instagram page and share it with your friends and family. 

HOW I MANAGE BLOGGING WITH A TODDLER

This is one of the most popular question asked by mothers that "HOW DO I MANAGE WRITING BLOGS WITH A TODDLER". Being a wife and a mother is a full time responsibility. I will not use the word job here as job is payed but this duty of motherhood and giving your best to your husband cannot be payed in any form. Do you agree moms? (Comment down below and Share your favorite time with your family)

So starting with the time when I started blogging, I was pregnant. so most of the time I was free. I was studying Psychology (doing my bachelors). Inspired by my psychology teacher, I started writing blogs on psychology as a subject. Then there was time when I was not able to write any blog due to my pregnancy, delivery and busy schedule. Almost after 1 and a half year, I came back to the blogging world again and Trust me I am working so hard to manage my blogs but I could not. (need some motivation) 

This time there was a lot change in my interest and my priorities. I was done with my bachelors and had entered the world of motherhood. These days were amazing, so much to learn and experience. There I thought to share my life with the world, about what I was experiencing and how I learned. It was very difficult for me to handle everything, but living in a joined family helped me a lot. There were nights where my mother in law use to take my daughter with her during midnights so that I could sleep. My husband use to play with her so that I could rest. It was definitely not easy for us, But WE SUCCEEDED ALHAMDOLILLAH.

Right now it is the most difficult of all, Managing with a toddler and taking out time to think about topics for blogging and then writing it. Being with a toddler you asked: "YES IT IS DAMN TIRING" . Running around the house with her, Cleaning her toys and room,  coming up with different activity to make her busy, Reading books with her, Limiting her Screen time (still working on this). and more. And then,  with that writing blogs is not an easy task. But I like taking Challenges. Right now, I am editing this blog which has been written 2 weeks ago. My daughter is sleeping and a man is fixing my curtains in my room. I am lying on a sofa in my drawing room and doing a final checking of the blog on my phone as I left my laptop in my room. 

So this is how I manage writing. Writing itself is not difficult then taking out some "ME" time for myself. This "ME"  time is what sometimes gives me chance to write and most of the time it is just used as cleaning or organizing my cupboard, or putting toys back. 

"Enjoy your best with your child 'cause that is what they will remember and you will miss".

Share Your Experience with me and I will share it with the world. 

Postpartum Depression

You would have heard about hormonal changes during and after pregnancy, nesting, labor, delivery, postpartum care and other painful stuff but were you ever told about POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION commonly known as PPD. It is one of the painful stage after labor pain and Delivery, or I should say worst than that because those are just physical pains but PPD is mental disturbance which affects our emotions. 

SYMPTOMS:

Mothers with postpartum depression experience feelings of utmost sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion which will make it difficult for them to finish daily care activities for themselves or for others. 

• Feeling sad, hopeless, empty, or overwhelmed
• Crying more often than usual or for no apparent reason
• Worrying or feeling overly anxious
• Feeling moody, irritable, or restless
• Oversleeping, or being unable to sleep even when her baby is asleep
• Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• Experiencing anger or rage
• Losing interest in activities that are usually enjoyable
• Suffering from physical aches and pains, including frequent headaches, stomach problems, and muscle pain
• Eating too little or too much
• Withdrawing from or avoiding friends and family
• Having trouble bonding or forming an emotional attachment together with her baby
• Persistently doubting her ability to worry for her baby
• Thinking about harming herself or her baby.

CAUSES:

After childbirth, the amount of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) during a woman’s body quickly drop. This results in chemical changes in her brain which will trigger mood swings. In addition, many mothers are unable to urge the remainder they have to completely get over parturition . Constant sleep deprivation can cause physical discomfort and exhaustion, which may contribute to the symptoms of postpartum depression.

TREATMENT:

There are effective treatments for postpartum depression. A woman’s health care provider can help her choose the simplest treatment, which can include:

Counseling/Talk Therapy: This treatment involves talking one-on-one with a mental health professional (a counselor, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker). Two sorts of counseling shown to be particularly effective in treating postpartum depression are

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people recognize and alter their negative thoughts and behaviors.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT), which helps people understand and work through problematic personal relationships.

Medication: Antidepressant medications act on the brain chemicals that are involved in mood regulation. Many antidepressants take a few weeks to be most effective. While these medications are generally considered safe to use during breastfeeding, a lady should ask her health care provider about the risks and benefits to both herself and her baby.

In my next blog I will share my story with you guys. How I came to know about PPD. Who told me about PPD. Stay tuned. Share this blog with others so that new mothers could be aware about it. Share Your Experience with me and I will share it with the world.moattarbhojani@gmail.com

Teaching My Baby Sign Language

My journey of Teaching my daughter Sign language was not so difficult but at the same time not so helpful. I faced few problems in this journey but it taught me few things too.

One of the most fundamental human desires is to be understood, research has shown baby sign language can reduce frustration for babies and parents by providing a means for babies to communicate before their vocal cords have developed for speech.

I started teaching my daughter to sign when she was 6 months. I use to tell her words with action which eventually taught her to sign when I say those words. Like, PLEASE;

 the action for please is to move your hand around your chest in a circular motion.

Unlike other parents, When I heard about sign Language, and its benefits, I studied about it and find it unique. I wanted to give it a try. As she was around 6 months I started talking to her with different signs. Like, more, all done, Thank you, sorry and please. I use to sing poems to her with actions.
At 10 months she was signing different words and poems.
But Eventually There were 2 main problem which I faced. First, my society didn't have knowledge about sign language, so introducing sign language was very difficult and then it was getting harder for me to tell my family members what my daughter is signing. Second, it was delaying her speech. She was saying nothing. Other than mama, tata or baba. This is the link where you can see a year old baby saying few words and signing. (that is what inspired me)

WHEN DID I REALIZED THAT IT WAS DELAYING HER SPEECH?
One day, it was evening, I was sitting with my daughter on my bed and I was singing poem to her, baby baby, yes mama, eating sugar, no mama, telling lies, no mama, open your mouth, and she said HAA HAA HAA!!! and I was amazed, WOW she sang her first poem.
I told my mother in law that today she said the end words of her poem. And she said, "yes I taught her". And I was like, she can say, she can talk and here I am teaching her to sign. Then onwards I stop teaching her signs and Now Alhamdolillah she is 14 months old and can tell sounds of different animals and different words like WOW, NO, dedo (give me), mera hai (it is mine), dada and dadi (Grandfather and Grandmother), Kha, Pho and AAni (aunt). baboo baboo (when she has done poopoo) and many other words, which helps her to communicate with us.

Here is the link of my instagram page where I will share my daughter's video in stories, which will be saved in highlights, where she is signing at 10 months and saying words in 14 months. Follow my page, as I will be posting amazing stuff in the next coming weeks.

So in my opinion I think we as a parent we should teach our child in both the ways. It is the child who picks how he/she wants to be taught. Sign Language is very beneficial for the kids who cannot speak or are late Speakers, this language can help them not to frustrate and express their feeling. What are your opinion on this blog? Don not forget to like and Share.

Share Your Experience with me and I will share it with the world. You can ask anything regarding sign language.