Baby Shopping List Compliation - Keerthi C.

SNo	Buying Need	Item	Model	Price	Notes
Travel
1	Now	Travel System	Graco Aire3 Click Connect	$223	Travel System should come with stroller, car seat and base
			Graco Fastaction Fold Jogger	$245
		Car Seat, if it needs to be bought separately	Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat
			Baby Trend Expedition Jogger	$171
			chicco bravo trio
2	Not Needed	Swaddle Sleeper		$29	For sleeping outside crib and camping. May not need it depending on thr pack n play
3	After	Baby Carrier	LILLEbaby	$111.99	After baby is born, depending on need
			Infantino	$29
4	Done	Diaper Bag			Search
Sleeping
1	Done	Pack N Play	Graco Pack 'n Play Playard with Reversible Napper and Changer LX	$80	No portable sleeper included so need to buy the swaddle sleeper. May need to buy a mattress.
2			Graco Pack 'n Play Playard with Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat, Rittenhouse	$140
3			Graco Pack 'n Play On The Go Playard	$50-70
5	Not needed for now	Crib			Other option
6	Later- depending on what they give at hospital	Swaddle Blankets	Swaddle Blanket, Adjustable Infant Baby Wrap Set by Ziggy Baby, 3 Pack	$25
Bath
1	Now	Diaper Changing Pad		$14	For changing table
	Now		Splat Mat	$12	For changing diapers in other places
2	Now	Diaper Caddy		$18	Something similar
3	DIY or buy later	Diaper Pail			Optional for now
4	Now	Bath Tub	Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling N Seat Tub, Multi color	$27
				$15-20
5	Now	Towel	Hooded Towel	$14.99	Buy 3 pack
6	Bought @Marshalls	Wash Cloths	24 Pack Wash Cloths	$12	For baths and general cleaning
7	Now	Body Wash	Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo	$8
8	Now	Lotion	Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion,	$7.21
9	Now	Powder	Burts Bees Powder	$8.79
10	From India?	Powder Puff
	Later	Baby oil
11	Now	Nail Clipper		$6-7
				$4.94
12	Now	Hair Brush
13	Later	Nasal Aspirator	NoseFrida The Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator	$14.91
Clothes
1		Body Suits			Buy 10-12
2	Now	Sleep and Play			Buy 6-8
3	Later	Hats			Buy 5
4	Later/optional	Mittens
5	Now	Socks
6	Now	Detergent	Dreft		Check
Nursing
1	Now thru insurance	Breast Pump	Spectra Baby USA - S2 Hospital Grade	$120	Read some more reviews
2	Not needed now	Bottle Sterilizer			Can't decide which one is good
3	Now	Nursing Pads	Lansinoh Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads	$28.48	4 Pack Disposable
			Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads	$13.97	Reusable/Washable
4		Boppy Pillow	Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner	$29.97
5		Bottles	Comotomo Baby Bottle	$18.79	2 Pack, May need 6 bootles?
	Now		Lansinoh mOmma Breastmilk Feeding Bottle	$15.99	3 Pack
6		Bibs			8-10
8		Nipple Shield	Medela Contact Nipple Shield,	$7.35	May not need it
9		Milk Storage Bags			Not sure which brand yet
10		Nursing Bras			Search

Book Suggestions

I am not too much into mythology but I prefer panchatantra, Chandamana subscription, Akbar Birbal, Tenali Rama, Buddha at Bedtime, Amar Chitra Kadha.

 The kid loves Dr. Suess Books, I personally feel they are too intense in spite of the silly language, so I have a big collection of that which I bought here.

 Sudha Murthy - Bird with golden wings, grandmas bag of stories, the magic drum and other stories.

Contemporary reads... http://www.prathambooks.org/

Bhogi Pallu

With Sankranthi round the corner and me in an updating mode, here goes the post

Items Required
************
Regi Pallu (berries, preferably cranberries if not in India)
Sanagalu
Coins
Akshintalu

Mix them all together in a bowl before hand and keep it ready.

Seat the kid in a comfortable position and take a handful of stuff from the mixed bowl and rotate as if you are taking dishti and bless the kid.

Invite the people over and let them do the same.

Uyyaala Paatalu

The other day we were looking for the cradle ceremony of a friend's kid and turned up blank as none of us really knew what goes and finally decided to go for "alara chanchalamaina" keertana..

For future reference..



Alara chanchalamaina aatmanandundani yalavaatu chesenee uyyaala..



Jo Achyutaananda Jojo mukundaa..




Ksheerabdi kanyakaku

are just a few... please feel free to add if you get to know more.

In general, the mangala Harathi for any occasion

The Big Scare - Allergies

Like I mentioned, I am so much out of touch with babies, raising babies that the image of going back to the diaper days seems like a nightmare :).

While that is the least of the concerns, when I see my friends battling with kids and their allergies it is heart-wrenching to see the kids suffer and being so helpless as a parent, not being able to do anything to alleviate that itch, pain :(

there is this wonderful video on Allergies in Ted Talks, felt it worthwhile to share

Happy New Year

I know my blog baby is being neglected as my baby is getting older... but I have become lazy overall to update any of my blogs...

I have realized it has been a year since I posted anything in this blog, yet it is used by people and I keep getting tiny thank you messages out of the blue when some parents finds something useful, it has been more than fulfilling :).

Happy Parenting!!! and a Happy New Year.

Winter Survival for Moms at Home.

A couple of good links to keep the kids engaged.

http://www.mommygyan.com/category/art-and-crafts/activities-with-kids/

http://www.thestay-at-home-momsurvivalguide.com/

Kids and TV/Laptop

Yet another excerpt from the previous discussion is on the screen time and Laptop/ipad/computer - Internet time..

Kids as they grow older, they get to know new things from friends and TV ofcourse good/bad what ever . The curiosity which they have since childhood regarding many things remains the same... They want to know what is it...
 1) kids should never be allowed to use laptops or desktops in their rooms. They should be in the living rooms right from the beginning.
 2) there are many softwares in the market to block those sites and also help with the keyword search.
3) if they are on computers please keep communicating with them all the time making sure they are not diverting and if possible help them by being with them like if they are playing any games be with them encourage them or play with them etc.. If they are studying try to involve yourself with them leaving behind all your work.

Courtesy:  Sailaja C.

Teens and Pre-Teens Concerns

This is the excerpt of a discussion pre-teen and teen behavior and I love what this buddy had to say and agree totally with it.

Here it goes..

The bond what we make with our kids during baby time, toddler age , early school age is different......... if we think we had made an awesome bond and it will work for the whole life , we are fooling ourselves.

Pre teen is one more stage where a parent has to establish a new bond with the kid. I personally feel this is a very important stage for a parent and kid relationship.  We cannot ignore that at this time the uniqueness of that individual also starts forming ... kids start their own thinking patterns forming their own opinions...parent have to find a way where their and kids thoughts meet or if not meet then disagreeing peacefully ... at this a GAP may appear in terms of thoughts.........if care is not taken the GAP widens and the kids start drifting away mentally.

At this time a parent has to again make a palce in their lives... Talk talk talk with the kid as much as possible... and pls dont talk as if u r doing a job , a parent shd enjoy tlaking with the kid.. then only they open up..when we give them trust, we get it back too.

Sex is a very important issue...... we cannot simply say '' adi paapam, adi cheeykoodadu ''.. I have always shown sex as a natural thing to my kid.... we talk openely abt sex...he is free to ask me any Questions on the topic... being a parent we hv to give them proper answers which are close to reality and at the same time appropriate for their age.  At 11 there is nothing which they shldn't know honestly.. my son knows everything .... more than sex its the emotional changes which a parent shld not ignore...they experience the first feeling of love... if ur child comes to u and tlak abt his/ her interest then as a parent, you can pat ur back and think that u hv passed a small test in wining a small amount of trust.

Courtesy:  Sunita M.

Some Summer Activities - 2013

The workshops in Lowe's (2 weekend days as per store calender schedule) and Home Depot (first Saturday every month) are definitely the activities that the kid would look forward to this Summer apart from the routine camps and activities... and to say that it is FREE, too good!!

Micheals, Passport to Imagination is also another good program in progress 7 weeks, Monday, Wednesday Friday 10 to 12 a good 2- hour in class engaging kids... !

Taekwondo/Martial - A few parental concerns/myths

Back in US, life of Desi parents revolves around the number of activities the kid are into, when, where, what, how and all that...  Well, not to say, yours truly has fallen into that trap too.. but here are my 2 cents about the martial arts activities.

A lot of my friends when listen to it say... oh we have our handful already, the kid who hits, pushes, screams, do not want him to get more ideas than he already has, especially from the parents of boy kids and I am really really surprised because martial arts drill discipline, focus, etc. in an individual and it is just not something for self-defense or trophied activity..

The first thing they teach out there is manners, good manners... the courtesy words.
Confidence - Believe in yourself, You can do it.. erasing negativity.
Being bold, raising your voice when needed, precision, confidence to speak up, be punctual, be attentive, yearn for more.
Word of the week, working on how to behave at home, learning about discipline, keeping our things in order, listening to parents, getting it right the first time...

I find it very good, not just the karate moves, the championships, the belts but a complete wholesome well-rounded physical, emotional, and personal development activity much needed for kids today.  So, if your only concern is the screaming and running around with punches, just rest it aside and give it a chance.

Goat Kheema Recipe

Another non-veg recipe, yummy for the tummy...

Been to our cousin's place for a while and there the kid liked it very much, and here is the recipe just in case your kid might too..

Ingredients
 Cloves
Elachi
Shajeera
 Onions
 Green Chillies
 Tomatoes
 Dosakai(optional)

Procedure:
Heat oil in a pressure pan.
Add all the whole spices after they splutter add the onions , green chillies , mint fry for 2 minutes.
Add 2 tbsp fresh ginger garlic paste to the onions.
 Fry for a minute then add Kheema tomatoes,(cucumber), salt, red chilli powder mix well and pressure cook for 3 whistles on medium flame.
 Let the pressure release from the cooker put on flame and then add garam masala put the lid on and cook for minute.
 Add coriander leaves. Yummy Kheema curry ready.

Courtesy:  Vijitha. G

Saadu Bottu

Homemade black paste for using on kid's face.. Doctors these days do not recommend using kaajal, kaatuka, etc on infant's faces for the fear of infections.  In good old days ammammalu used to make it and keep it ready for the new baby's arrival but now, neither do we know the procedure nor we actually feel the need to.  Even in the village I could not get someone to make that bottu for me, so I used to the normal Eyetex kaatuka.. apply a small dot with match-stick and apply powder on it :-p...

Procedure 1
Biyyam ni iron mukudu lo nallaga maada petti, daanni fine powder gaa grind cheyyali.
Thin cloth tho fine powder ni separate chesi, malli grind cheyyandi.
Aa powder ni koncham water lo vesi, thick paste la chesi, malli iron mukudu ki vepandi.
Thick paste laaga avutundi.
Transfer it into a cup and let it cool.

Meeru eppudu vaadalante appudu koncham water vesi, bottu ayye varuku aragadeesi, bottu laaga vaadandi. Idi chemicals unna readymade bottulakante chinna pillala skin ki chaala safe. Dont keep it closed when it is wet, as it might let fungus grow and might lead to infections.

Procedure 2
roast sabudana(normal size,not the nylon sago) on a very low flame in an iron kadhai till it turns dark brown.
then,light a matchstick and put it in the sabudana kadha.then once it becomes one mass(in just about a couple of seconds)
pour a little water into it,just enough so that it becomes a thick paste.because the lighted matchstick has been put in,the whole mass will turn coal black, cut sort of dry,so adding water helps to get the mass together.
then,boil till thick and pour into a steel bowl(old one,which you don't use anymore).
let it dry in the sun,it will shrink.

How to use:
put a few drops of water on the surface of the container and rub with your fingers, the black mass will begin to melt.
gather a small size on your finger, and rub it between your fingers to eliminate excess water,then when you gather the mass on your finger,it should be thick and viscous.immediately just put on the baby's forehead.
Once it dries,it turns hard and shiny.It comes off easily too -just rub it with some water when bathing baby.

Procedure 3
Deep fry saggubiyyam in an iron skillet until it turns black.
Once it is black, pour a little water and keep stirring it without forming lumps or layers at the bottom on medium flame.
Stir it until the consistency of saggubiyyam is very thick, when all the sago is melted and the paste is thick, add some castor oil to it, few drops.
After it cools off put it in a container.

When applying just take a little bit of water and take it out with finger and apply on face, forehead, cheeks wherever.

It is important to note that when making this there will be lot of fumes so keep the doors and windows open and if in US, the fire alarm off!

Courtesy: Indus Ladies

India Shopping for New Moms and Babies

some things moms would like to get from back home with parents visiting for delivery

Black molathadu
Silver items
 Sambrani
Sunnipindi
 Katuka
Baby hair oil
 Bed lo veyataniki silver krishnudu
 Feeding Nighties
 New born traditional Wear
 Gripe Water
 Hinge/Pala Inguva
Saadhu bottu (homemade bottu made by some elders)
dishti poosalu
home made kaatuka (again only few elders remember making it)
Saana (gandham or karakkaaya) aragateeyataaniki

will keep adding as and when something comes up.. and also please feel free to add it up, 'cos it would help others...

Egg and Yellow

Getting us to eat egg yellow must have the toughest task our parents had, well maybe one of the toughest.  Realize this 'cos my little one is like that.. she does not like the yellow sticking on to the tongue and hence the white is over and yellow is left to be eaten for 1 hr. if left unattended or maybe even mostly untouched...

Omlette, scrambled egg is an option but when one of my cooks cousins did this... I just loveddddddd it!!

Boil some water in a bowl, after about 3 minutes break the egg empty the contents being careful not to put in any shells, slightly stir with a spoon and let it boil for 3 to 5 minutes... white and non-sticky yellow are ready... ting tong!  no more messy egg times!

Normal Pregnancy Diet - 2000 Calories

2000-calorie diet plan

Just after waking up

4 biscuits or a banana.

Breakfast -- 3 idlis with sambar/2 dosas with sambar/1 boiled egg with 2 slices of whole wheat bread/1 bowl poha/1 bowl upma.

1 hour gap -- Milk with 8 to 10 soaked almonds (de skinned)

1.2/1 hour gap -- 1 fruit (restrict papaya, pineapple) or a glass of fresh squeezed juice.

 

Lunch

-- 1 bowl salad
1 bowl rice/2 chapatis with 1/2 bowl rice
1 katori dal/sambar/2 pcs of chicken
2 katori veg
1 katori curd

mid meal snack - mix nuts of all types in a bowl, non-roasted badam/pista/walnut/dates/kismis etc.. 5 of each.. or anything you like to eat like carrot/apple/fruit pieces..

Evening Snack -- palak soup/mix veg soup (home made).

1/1.5 hours -- 4 multigrain biscuits/whole wheat biscuits/sprouted moong/anything with besan in it

1 hour later -- fruit..

Dinner -- same as lunch...

Bedtime -- 1 glass milk with honey..

Keep drinking lots of water or fresh fruit juices without adding sugar.  Small quantities at smaller intervals is the key.

Pregnancy Diet - Gestational Diabetes Sample

Sample Diet by a buddy during pregnancy

I see a lot of pregnant ladies checking the blog for the kid.  While it is very important to take care of the tiny entry into the world, it is all the more important to take care of yourself too... so a few tips from good friends.

Gestational Diabetes is common in most of the pregnant ladies these days. But diet differs from person to person.

Morning - BF- 15 gms carbs and 1oz protein 1 whole wheat bread slice with protein either 1 egg white or 1/2 slice of skim cheese/ or 2-3 pieces of paneer or 2 spoons of dal or 1.5tbsp of peanut butter.

Mid-Morn Snack- 30 gms carbs and 1 oz protein 1/4 cup of milk or 1/4 apple or any other fruit with protein or 3 almonds

Lunch- 45 gms of carbs with 2 oz protein.   Rice, oats, raagi jaava, cracked wheat , pulka ilantivi evi naaku help cheyaledu.. Basic rice aithe 4 tbsp'ns of cooked rice with 2 pieces of chiken or paneer or 1/4 cup dal ala thinamani chepparu.. but Pita Bread baaga help chesedi because 1 pita bread lo it has only 8grams of carbs ..so nenu 1 and half pita bread with some chick or dal +vegie.

Mid afternoon snack- Same as mid morning snack

Dinner- Same as Lunch.

Mid Night Snack - 11:30. But 10gms carbs only and protein. So 2 pieces chiken wings thinedani and 1 slice of honey dew or apple.

Urad Dal toti chesina gaarelu or better still aaviri kudumu, made like idly.

You can try alterations of normal rice with basmati rice or rice cooked with a cinnamon stick.

Courtesy:  Sravz

Another sample diet

Morning levagaane 5 soaked almonds and one cup of milk without any sugar (diabetic doctor protein mix edo icchaaru milk lo add cheyataaki).

Breakfast - 2 idly/dosa/puri/bonda or 1 cup broken wheat upma, 11 ki 1 glass of raagi java with buttermilk.

Lunch - rice cooker cup nindaa cooked brown rice with one leafy veg curry and dal/chicken with 1 bowl of curd.

Snack - milk with marie bisc and inko one hr ayaaka any juice (carrot/beetroot/sorakaya with pepper/tomato with pepper).

Dinner - 2 pulkas with curry.

Bedtime one glass of buttermilk.

Courtesy: Keerthi

Bacchon Ki Khaamoshi...

Scary but true.. be aware, watch out, help the kids regain confidence in humanity.. be there!

Transition across continents...

A major concern for me was how the kid would adapt to the life in US, so different from hers in the village, a language altogether different, people a lot more different and the solitary life out here..

Language
The seemingly most toughest barrier of all...  In India, in urban areas, this is surely not a problem but for me a mom raising a kid in rural India with focus on speaking English it is all the more an uphill task.  Be it transitioning across the globe or otherwise, one should speak to the kind in all the languages possible... it is proven that the kids can soak in the information much well and can learn about 3 to 5 languages at a time, so emphasizing on mother tongue, one should certainly use others too and not repeat the mistake that I did.

Watching TV, everyone suggested this to me.

Talking to friends, teachers at school.. this way they learn the more and the quickest.

If you are particular about your kid talking in your mother tongue, then make sure that he/she speaks in the language and replies in the language.  They will have plenty of places to speak and learn English but your language is best spoken by you, so set that rule straight.  watch for the signs like if the kid is understanding what you speak but answering in English, make a conscious effort to get them to talk.

A few friends by experience have told us this and we notice that too, so it is strictly in Telugu at home for the kid and for us as well.. we teach her in English, explain in English at times but it is Telugu that we would like her to speak.

Daycare/Preschool
If you are in the states in the middle of year like me, it is going to be a bit tough... private day cares might still be having positions but affordable ones, in a lesser budget, like the church schools, it depends.  So figure out the distance, time, the ride/car-pool, payment and all and the best thing is to get the kid to the school, not just to learn or anything but to get used to the way things are, understand the concept of sharing, taking turns, learning pleasant manners and most importantly for the kid to be happy.

New Potty Habits
One more thing that was of concern to me is that the kid was new to the concept of wiping herself clean, washing her hands everything on her own, which is expected to be since she was already 3 and turning 4 shortly.  Being from India, it was always water for the bum, cleaning hands and feet afterwards but like everything else, the kids adapt faster to everything and touchwood, get going much faster than we adults.

Play Pattern With Other Kids
Being from the village, pampered to the core by everyone around her, the kid had a tough time sharing the toys, adjusting to the new kids with a different language (Tinglish) and she used to get cranky but once in school, things are a lot more easier.  I have learnt hard way that being aggressive in teaching them to be well mannered turns out counter-productive if we over do it, just go with the flow, make them understand with patience, introduce time-outs, cry-it-out-alone sessions, maybe but only to moderation.

I am still learning a lot of things from her, will put in more as and when time permits.