When Cough Mixture Is Not Working for Your Kid….

Could it be the milk powder which is too sweet or the biscuits that has been causing the phlegm in the kids? I don't give Jewel soft drinks at all not to say Ian but both of them always have alot of phlegm  which makes them cough. And now the cough mixture doesn't seems to take much effect on them.

Recently, Jewel has alot of mucus in her nose and when it reaches night time, the mucus may have flowed backwards to her lungs which caused her to cough and which means the solution is not to find the right cough mixture but to get medications to dissolve her phlegm.

And for unknown reason, at sleeping time, I can hear Ian's airway getting stuck with the phlegm sound.

SO WHAT DID I DO?

Love it when she smiles until like that

Feeling comfortable 

Small and compact

The medicine

The usual cry baby

So relaxing till fell asleep

I bought this nebeulizer to get the phlegm out from their lungs. How is it done? A nebulizer changes liquid medicine into mist and the person has to inhale the mist through the mask. This medicine opens up the airway which is congested with phlegm and the phlegm will drop from the lungs to the intestines and passed out from their poo poo (layman term). Nebulizing actually makes the body comfortable and relax as the airway is loosen up. 

Many parents are worried that the kids might get addicted to the nebeulizer and that oral medications may be immune to them. IT WILL NOT. The medications for the nebulizer have to be prescribed by doctors and cannot be bought over the shelf from the pharmacist so you can be assured by the doctor. Clinics do rent out the machine at around $10/day. I had rented before for 2 weeks for Ian and in the end I went and buy 1 myself as I guess it is more worth it. Cost me less than $200.

I strongly encourage parents to let the kids use the neubulizer if they have alot of phlegm/ congested lungs. Delay in treatment may result them in developing bronchitis. You may check with your family doctor with what I said.

Rise & Shine 2013 - The Next Mega Event

I have not been to Rise & Shine event so I can't comment on how fantastic it is. But it seems to be quite a mega exhibition judging from the marketing materials. As stated, it has ALL the stuff that has got to do with Mommy, Baby and Toddlers. I went to the website download the brochure. Ah ha…..the goodies are in the brochure….Scroll down….

   

Coupons!

For S26 drinkers, you may want to grab some tins.

Interesting to see a facial salon participating in a Kid's exhibition. Anyway, I was comtemplating to try Porcelain Face Spa. Shall check it out when I am there.

I hope I can be the 1st 100 to receive a mystery gift but I doubt I can there so early. However I will try. *Try harder MommyChloe….Yawnzzzz* I might also stock up baby wipes, that is if they are cheaper than NTUC.

Since it is free, let's go for a bone check and see how much calcium is left on us.

Hope the event is as good as it sounds to be. Cya there!

* Pictures of the coupons are not very clear as they are in PDF and I had to snapshot to save as JPG. You can download them at their website.

10 Interesting Myths about Babies

1) Baby's Thigh

Singe fold on both thighs like Jewel means your next child is a boy. 2 folds means your next child is a girl. If one thigh has 1 single fold and the other has 2 folds, like Ian, it means unpredictable. This myth is true on Jewel as my 2nd child is a boy. Whether or not it will be true for Ian, I will not risk it as I do not plan for the 3rd child. Spare me….2 is enough. Probably God knows I do not want a 3rd that is why it is unpredictable.

2) Sucking Their Yummy Foot
It means you will be expecting the next baby very soon! Totally not true la. I found out that 9 out of 10 babies start sucking their foot starting from 4 months onwards.

3) A Prominent Growing Hair Line  

It means the baby has alot of gu1 gu1 (father's sister). Untrue because Hub has no sisters at all! But true for my friend's daughter though.

4) Green Poo & Purple Vein at Nose Bridge
Means your baby had a fright earlier on.


5) Cannot praise the baby saying he/she is chubby and fat.
Baby will start to fall sick and become skinner.


6) Babies with little hair / Not growing
Apply brandy or whisky on their head and it will stimulate better growth.


7) Teething Period
 It is painful during the teething period. Old folks believe that in performing the following ritual at                  baby 4 months old, it will lessen the pain.

Preparation;

1. String 12 Marie Biscuits together and forming a necklace using a red thread and hang on baby's neck.
2. 1 piece of meat to make some stock
3. 2 stalks of Chives

Steps;

1) Use chives to rub on baby's gums and say,"Mommy using chives to rub your gum so that you will not have difficulty time in teething."

2) Starting with the 1st biscuit, rub Marie biscuits on baby's lips and the area around the mouth say," You will not have problem teething and you will not salivate." After rubbing 12 biscuits and say the chant for 12 times, the parent will have to eat the biscuits. Yes….finish the 12 biscuits. This is done so that the parents will help to swallow the saliva during the teething period

• Let baby taste a bit of the meat stock and say, " Let you drink meat soup next time easy to feed with food."

This cute lady is a friend of mine in Facebook. Thanks to her for all the photos!

8) Late in Walking means a good life ahead
The chinese believes that the later the child knows how to walk, the better their future prospect will be. Jewel started walking at 18 months, just when she was about to enter to Pre Nursery. Ian still can't walk yet. I can't comment on this yet. Check with me 30 years later. LOL.


9) Playing with Saliva
Means going to rain soon but which baby doesn't do that??


10) Do not let your baby look at the mirror under 4 months old.
Old folks say if baby under 4 months look at the mirror, they will be good at telling lies when they grow up.



Do contribute if you know of any other myths. It will be interesting to know!

Getting ready for Little One's Arrival - Hospital Checklist

Few weeks ago, at one of my company monthly outing, 2 of my colleagues and I were chatting about our little ones. 1 of them is a mother of 2 , and the other is getting ready for her little girl's arrival. So we talked about what to expect in the delivery ward, epidural or not, confinement nanny, massage lady etc. My 1st question to her was, " Have you packed your hospital bag?"

Being a kiasu Mommy, I packed my hospital bag at week 32 for Jewel. Yes I know it was way too early! What to do…Mommy Chloe was excited and eager to welcome Jewel. As for Ian, I packed it at week 34. I was reading the daily updates in the Mommies forum and 1 of the Mommies back then kindly uploaded an hospital bag checklist. Pretty useful I would say. I remembered some Mommies was so exaggerated that they brought a luggage to the hospital! A luggage?! Is there a need?? What is there to put inside?? Your familiar stinking pillow or teddy bears??

For me, I use a sports bag and off I went!

Hospital Check List;

For Mommy

• Camera/ Video Cam with Tripod - No need for elaboration. 

• Lip Balm -  Scratching your head? I didn't bring it along for my first delivery. I regretted big time! As I didn't take the epidural, my breathing was deep and heavy. The pain was too much for me to bear that I couldn't how I breathed till my lips were dry and cracking! I think I breathed through my mouth. So for my second delivery, I make bloody sure I brought it along. And I brought 2! Haha.

• Newborn clothing's, beanie, mittens, booties and swaddling blanket- You have been buying and buying baby's clothes and commenting, 'Awwww…. look at that??? Such a cute and tiny piece of romper. I want to buy!" At the day of discharge, the nurse will change your baby's clothes for you and put on the beanie. Newborn are afraid of cold so wear something over the head to provide warmth.

• Front buttoned pyjamas - This is for breastfeeding mommy for convenience sake. It will come in useful even when you are back at home.

• Nursing Bra - It should not happen during the first week but some may experience leaking from the other breast when you are breastfeeding your baby. Getting a nursing bra with a breast pad stick on is safer.

• Nipple Cream - High Importance for Breastfeeding Moms.

• Toiletries - You want to smell nice when friends and colleagues come and visit you and not feeling sticky and itchy all over. Forget about not bathing for 30 days. Those are meant for people who stayed in the mountains during winter. As long as you dry yourself thoroughly after showering it is ok. For hygiene purpose for breastfeeding, you have to bathe. Can you imagine having your breakfast, lunch and dinner by the drain?? Smelly and unhygienic. Tsk Tsk.

• A set of clothes for yourself for the discharged- After baby is out, your tummy will not deflate back to your pre-pregnancy size. It will be about probably when you were 5 months pregnant. So bring some suitable dress or maternity shorts/pants during the day of discharge.

• Sanitary Pads - You will have menses for the entire one month and the flow will be heavy during the first week. If you are unable to find maternity sanitary pads, it is fine. Go ahead with normal sanitary pads, but you may want to get longer pads ( for night use) as you will be, and should be laying down all the time.

• Disposable maternity undies - Your undies may get stained. For convenience and hygiene purpose, better to throw away your undies after use.

• Personal documents - NRIC of you and your spouse, Marriage Certificate, Hospital Registration documents

• A Jacket - For those taking epidural, I heard from my friends that one of the side effects is that you will shiver and tremble when the medication starts to take effect.

• Phone / Camera Charger - Bet you will keep snapping your cutie's photo. 

Optional Items;

Breastpump - Honestly, there is no need to bring it along. No need for any stimulation or whatever. 10 out of 10 Mommies who brought it along to the hospital had feedback that there is no need for it. If you are really really worried then go ahead.

Makeup Kit - "Wow, you look so good after delivery!" You feels shiok after seeing this comment in your FB photos right. 

An ultra big bag - Probably that is where your luggage comes in handy now. If you didn't drive, you may have to think how to bring back hampers that was sent to you.

A small note book - To record down the timing of the milk feeds. You can record using your phone though.

Perfume/ Body Spray - For those who don't intend to bathe and expecting lots of visitors.

For Daddy;

A Jacket - There is nothing for you to do except to wait and wait and wait for that moment. Practically there is no movement required from you so you may feel cold while waiting.

Snack - In case the labour is long and it is at midnight. 

Toiletries - While staying over with your amazing wife.

Phone Charger - Snap Snap Snap

Phone list - List of friends and relatives whom you want to announce when your cutie is out!

Take note;

- If you do not intend to breastfeed, check with your hospital if they provide bottled formula milk. If not, you will have to buy milk powder and bring it to the hospital with you.

- Diapers and wet wipes will be provided. ( Will be billing you of course. In case you thought they are free. )

While blogging about all these, it just felt like yesterday that I just packed my hospital bag and waiting anxiously for the cue to admit to the hospital!!

When to Change Milk Bottles?

Milk bottles nowadays are mostly BPA free or should I say most things made of plastic are BPA free. BPA stands for Bisphenol-A. How is BPA harmful to us? It has Estrogenic Acitivity which means it mimics the hormone estrogen in our body. Too profound? Alright, BPA is a chemical found in plastics that can behave the similar way how estrogen and hormones in the human body. It can imitate our own body's hormone in a way which could be hardazous to our body. And it is found that babies and young children are especially sensitive to the effects of BPA.

Some parents, I am one of them, will say," We grew up drinking from bottles that were not BPA free and look, we are still looking good." BPA free bottles will cost a little bit more. My philosophy is, if you can afford, why not? Hub will say," If you can just put off buying another Chanel bag, you can buy tons of whatever baby stuff." Make sense right? But Hub say say only la, he never deprive me before. Muahahah. 

According to a sales promoter who sell milk bottles, she advised changing Non BPA Free milk bottles every 3 months and BPA Free bottles every 6 months.

Tommee Tipee Anti Colic Plus Bottles

Frankly, I am a Pigeon user. Jewel uses Pigeon. From bottles to nail scissor. I had initially prepared Pigeon milk bottles for Ian too. But he refused to drink using that bottle. As mentioned earlier in my post, being a colic baby, I decided to try anti colic bottle. Was comparing Dr Brown with Tommee Tippee. In the end, I chose Tommee Tippee as their slogan says, Closer to Nature. After done a fair bit of research, it was said that their teat mimic the natural flex and movement of Mommy's breast. The teat is designed to be like a breast like shape nipple which allows baby to latch on easily and further support the transition between bottle and breasts. That attracted my attention. Ian likes it and I was glad that there wasn't any confusion between  my breasts and the bottle subsequently.

Look carefully at which bottle you are buying. With a Plus sign, it means it is for sensitive tummy . This range of bottles provide optimum venting during feeding via a unique tube and valve system. They also help provide a continual feeding action via an easy latch on nipple. 

Now at 1 year old, he starts to gulp drink faster so the opening of the teat needs to be bigger. Some may use a toothpick to wider it. I use this.

Bought it at Kiddy Palace. It comes with 3 hole sizes. 

Want to have a Dust Free Mattress for Your Kid?

Any baby sleeps like this too?

Ian at 2 months old

This is Ian at 2 months old. Big baby right? This is the result of feeding at every hour. My friend commented that he looked like the cartoon character, DragonBall. Haha. Anyway, my Mommy placed him in this stomach down position so as to make him sleep longer. It does helps but there must always  be someone beside to look after him.

Sleeping stomach down is actually a preferred position in previous generations like our granny generations. They claimed that baby sleeps better and longer as opposed to stomach facing up as baby tends to have reflex which caused them to have a startled action. The action looks like they got a fright or got electrocuted. That is called a Startle or Moro reflex. This will cause a sleeping baby to get awaken and then having difficulty to go back to sleep, which is the also the reason for swaddling newborns till 3 months old or longer.

Awwwww….adorable max!

Startle or Moro reflex may also cause the baby to fling their arms out, extend their legs or a jerk in their body. All these actions will result in a crying baby. Swaddling keeps the arms and legs all tied up making them feel that they are still in Mommy's womb. Do not worry much, such reflex will go away in about 2 months or less.

Since then, we have been putting him tummy down all the time. He seems to like it. Having said that the mattress must be free of dust, hair and all kinds of dirt. My SIL, being a super neat,tidy and clean freak person, uses a lint roller to clean her mattress and pillows every night before hitting the slumberland. This is what she uses.

IKEA Lint Roller

This IKEA Lint Roller is good stuff! Unlike the other kind of roller that has to use water to wash off the dirt , this one just need to peel it off and there the new one it is.

Clean Roller

Dirt got stuck on it

Just tear it off

What happens when it runs out? Buy another roller? Ikea have the refills too.

He just loves to sleep like this now.

Baby Carrier

This boy got  fascinated with the metal poles of his Yao Lan. It seems like he is doing some pole dancing or sorts. For Ian, I had invested many baby items. Being a colicky baby, he needs to be carried most of the time. During the initial months, he had put on weight at an amazing pace. Getting heavier, Me and my Mommy had problems carrying him for long. Thrifty by nature, I was reluctant to make unnecessary purchases and moreover, our previous house was small to accommodate too much stuff. Imagine I can only put either a Yao Lan or a Baby Cot. I was not very supportive of Yao Lan but Ian couldn't sleep well so my Mommy said perhaps Yao Lan could help a little. It did, only for the first few days.

 

Pole Dancing for the Beginners 

Tak boleh tahan anymore, I went to buy a baby carrier, Combi Magical Compact Carrier. I had refused to get a carrier, I finds it unglam to wear it. Haha. With Ian, I had no choice. Either breaking arms or a crying baby. I want neither. As you can see from below, it has four ways of usage.

Very useful right...The cradling position was the reason I bought it. And you know what? I didn't try that position before. What an irony. Of the four, I only tried the most common one which is the Face-In Cuddle. This carrier indeed relieved us from having sore and tired arms.  As you can see from the picture, this carrier has a sturdy neck and back support. Newborns neck are soft and fragile and they do not have the muscle developed yet to support themselves thus I felt that the neck support of the carrier quite sturdy.

One main reason why I dislike baby carrier besides it being unglam, is the positioning of the legs for the babies.

Can you see where the problems lies? The legs of the picture on the right opened too wide. The other two on the left are fine.I admit that I am a paranoid mommy. But I can't help it being one. Funny thoughts came to my mind. What if their legs are developed like this in the future?

Jewel was never in a carrier before. Honestly, if possible I will not buy a baby carrier. Thankfully Ian doesn't need to be in the carrier now and after several months of training, I have developed well toned arms!! 

 Click here to find out more on Combi Magical Compact carrier

Choosing a Hair Clipper

Thanks for all the compliments for my son. Indeed, it feels assuring and proud whenever a parent gets praises of their children. *Blushing* 

Remember, there is no ugly children, only lazy mommy. 

An example is this;

I bun up Jewel's hair into two and took them off after a couple of hours and this was what it turned out. Look at how auntie looking she is. But just a little styling of her hair…Viola! Transform to her pretty much better looking girl. *trying to be humble*

Alright, back to Ian's haircut. Definitely with a good hairdresser is not enough, you need to be equipped with a good tool, the hair clipper.  Can't possibly use this kind of shaver ya?

Barber Shaver

Many factors came to my mind before deciding which hair clipper to buy. The battery life, suitability for kids, user-friendly, reliability of the brand, maintenance and price. There are many brands in the market that carries electric hair clipper such as, Phillips Hair Clipper, Braun Hair Clipper, Panasonic Hair Clipper etc.

I was confused by the number of models that was displayed in the showcase. Thankfully a nice young sales promoter came up and showed me a few which could address my concerns. He helped me to narrow down between Braun and Philips. 

Braun 

Phillips

In the end Braun triumphed over Phillips for the following factors;

• Shorter charging period

Braun: 1 hour charge for 40 mins usage

Phillips: 8 hours charge for 1 hour usage!!! 

Worst scenaio that could happen;

I can only use Phillips hair clipper once a day, so if Ian is super uncooperative, then he will have to wait till the next day to continue his haircut. *Mommy grasps hair and screams*

• Easy to clean

Braun: The trimmer can be washed under running water

Phillips: Have to use a cleaning brush to sweep the loose hair

The shortest length that Phillips can shave till is to 0.5 mm whereas Braun only up to 1mm. Well, Ian is not going to be a monk so that extra 0.5mm is fine.

One of my best buy

Taka Baby Fair 1 Aug 2013 - 11 Aug 2013

This is the sale that I always look out for every year. Things are really on good deals and discounts. As usual, I am going to trade in Jewel's old/used milk bottles for Pigeon Bottles! Save money and protects the environment. Mommies-to-Be can look out for baby cot, stroller, breast pump and baby car seat. Those items can be of huge mark down. Free delivery for purchase $150 and above. First time parents sure go beyond that. Well, at least it did for me.

I wouldn't buy diapers there as I find that the best discount I can get is from NTUC and Cold Storage. Both kids are using Drypers by the way. 

If possible, try not to go down on weekends. The crowd is too much to handle and with a big bump in front, it is a tad inconvenient  for preggies to move around. Happy Shopping and see you there!

Taka Baby Fair 1 Aug 2013 - 11 Aug 2013

 Source;
The Straits Time