Home Remedies for Common Ailments in Toddlers

Winters have arrived and from a toddlers perspective the season of common diseases, such as cold, fever and stomach upset, has also arrived. Toddlers are most vulnerable to catch such common diseases as there immune system is not fully developed. Plus the air pollution only worsens the situation. Cold is the most common infection that a baby catches which tends to happen twice or thrice a year. Antibiotics are avoided in this age unless there is an emergency. So the question arises how to cure these diseases without the use of antibiotics?

Nomination - An Ignored but Significant Parameter

Whenever we invest money in a new avenue such as a bank account, mutual fund, insurance, etc, there is a tendency in most of us to quickly complete the paperwork and while doing so, we sometime forget to appoint a nominee for our investments. Sometimes we are not sure whom to appoint a nominee and we postpone to update this feature. Unless there is a mandate to appoint a nominee for a particular investment, even advisors/agents skip this important parameter. Result is the kin of the investor has to bear the consequence incase of an uncertain event.

My Scandinavian Odyssey (2015) - Part 1

When I hear about Scandinavia, the first thing that pops up in my mind is Northern Lights - one of the nature's most beautiful and majestic display of natural light in the sky. Such a phenomenon occurs in selected places of this planet and it surely has been in my wish list. So when I and my husband were planning for our summer vacation in 2015, we both agreed for Scandinavia, despite the fact that we would be missing Northern Lights as it occurs only in winters. So recollecting my memories of this unforgettable journey in this post.

Parenting Mistakes to Avoid with Toddlers

As a mother of a 2 year old I can confidently say Parenting is one of the toughest job I have experienced in my life. The journey so far has been a roller coastar ride where there has been a mix of exquisite and gratifying moments. Obviously there were many unforgettable memories with my daughter that I am going to cherish for a long time, but she has also tested my patience level on a consistent basis.

Mother Toddler Programs - Fun, Learning & Interactive Sessions

Overview

A couple of months ago one of my friend enrolled her one year old in a play school. I was quite surprised as the child was too young to go to a school. On checking with her I came to know about the Mother Toddler Programs that many play schools have started. I was fascinated and curious on hearing about them. After doing some research I found that these programs are short duration exercises organised by play schools which is attended by mother/parents and toddler together.

My Travelogue of Bhutan

Last year I and my family decided to visit Bhutan - The Land of Thunder Dragon -  for our vacation. Nestled in the Himalayas, Bhutan is a land of ancient monasteries, scenic landscapes, historic monuments and takes a lot of pride in preserving its traditions and culture dating back to centuries. I was both excited and nervous as this was first trip with my 9 month old daughter outside India.

A Guide to Voluntary Provident Fund

Fixed income investors always look for products that offer better return, exempted from tax and are less risky in nature. Consider Bank FD's which offer assured return but the interest is taxable and post tax return is much lower than expected (depending on the tax slab you fall in). Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) is one such instrument, available only to salaried individuals, that offers attractive rate of interest in comparison to other instruments falling in the same category and is tax friendly at the same time.

Things to do When Expecting

Being pregnant is an amazing and joyous experience in my opinion. For some, there is a lot of excitement as one gets that extra attention, while some feel nervous and anxious on how things will turn up in the next 9 months. Well, whatever kind of emotions one is experiencing, one should not let go those 9 months and try to make the best use of this time period. So I am writing this article on what things to do when you are expecting and how can you make these 9 months fruitful.

Short Day Trips with Toddlers within Delhi

A few days back were Dusshera holidays and I and my husband did not miss the opportunity to visit some of Delhi's attractions with our daughter. Also, since winter is approaching and the air quality might deteriorate, we found this was the best time to enjoy these places.

Demystifying the Food Myths

India is a land of diversity and being a home to such diverse cultures also attracts a lot of myths. Since my childhood I have been told a lot of things with respect to food items and how they have an impact on our body. For me, things that have been told and passed since ages doesn't mean they are always right. Hence I am writing this article on common food myths which are still revolving in our society.

(source: t2conline)

Winter is Coming: Shield your Kids from Smog & Air Pollution

As the season is changing and temperature is dipping, the air quality of Delhi NCR has started to deteriorate as well. Gone are the days when people used to enjoy winters by being outdoor during afternoon time and enjoying the warmth of the sun. For the past few years the air quality has worsen during this time and health experts advise to stay indoors.

(Image Source: The Washington Post)

Peek-A-Book: To Foster Your Toddler's Development

Have you ever considered introducing books to an infant? Well, I did when my daughter turned 9 months. Many people advised me to spare the child and let her enjoy her childhood, since books shall become an integral part once she starts her school. However, inculcating early reading habits in toddlers helps in the development of a child in the long run. There is a direct correlation between how many words a baby listen on a daily basis to how quickly they develop their language skills.

Saving Money via Sharing

When I was a kid, I still remember my elders teaching me the importance of sharing. Nowadays, I am continuing this phenomena with my daughter as well. However, the only difference in today's sharing is that there are numerous opportunities to save money via sharing. Lately I have come across various articles in the newspapers hearing this new term called 'Sharing Economy'.

Weaning - A Child's Transition from Mother's Milk to Other Food Items

Weaning means transition of your little one from mother's milk to solid food diet. It is the stage where the baby acquires its nutrition from sources other than mother's milk. Doctors usually recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and then gradually introducing solid meals afterwards. However, breastfeeding can still be continued post introducing solid diet as long as both mother and toddler are comfortable.

Self-Care: Redefining our Lifestyles

"Love Yourself first and everything else falls into line"

Are you too busy to take care of yourself? Does the famous line 'I don't have time' works in your case too where you are not able to do things that you personally enjoy and is good for your health? If Yes, then start preaching the above quote on a daily basis as for me Self-Care is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Initial Hitches After a Baby is Born

Post delivering, my daughter caught up with some general issues which I would like to share in this article. These are very common issues and can be taken care of by following your doctor's advice.

Salzkammergut Region - Hidden Gem of Austria

After spending 5 days in the historic and scenic Croatia, we now headed to one of the Central Europe’s delight - Austria. Due to limited time and our preference to see scenic places, we chose to visit only Salzkammergut and nearby regions in Austria. Salzkammergut is not a city but an area shared between Salzburg and Upper Austria. It has become a popular tourist getaway owing to its green landscapes, picturesque villages, mountain peaks and many lakes.

Playing Smart with Life Insurance and Investment

I am writing this article as I am still seeing few cases where people are opting for life insurance products with a return element attached to it. For them insurance means tax benefit first and return second. For me Insurance and Investment are 2 separate wheels of a car and should not be mixed with one another. Life Insurance Correlates to Protection Cover whereas Investment Correlates to Return.

(Image Courtesy: StableInvestor)

How to keep Toddlers away from Gadgets

What the hand does, the mind remembers. ~Maria Montessori

Mostly parents complain about their toddlers being addicted to mobile phones and televisions. One hears parents saying that my kid can access all apps on a mobile, fingers work on the phones so smoothly etc etc. But does one realises who gave the first access to these gadgets to the kids? In 95% cases I have seen, We the parents are the ones who gave these gadgets to the children.

Besides normal toys, I have been thinking of various activities for my 2 year daughter to keep her engaged and her mind diverted from Mobile and TV. I have been doing this for a quite a long time and to a certain extent have succeeded in diverting her mind as she is quite fond of nursery rhyme videos on Youtube.

Croatia Diaries - 2018 - Part-2

In Part-1 (https://www.mysecondinnings.in/2018/08/croatia-diaries-2018.html), I had mentioned about my first 3 days in Croatia. Here is continuing the Croatian journey forward with Part-2

Day – 4 – Day trip from Split to Hvar

We embarked on our day trip to Hvar today, also known as the sunniest town of Croatia. However, it was mostly cloudy, with drizzling at times, when we reached Hvar. It took us 1 hour to reach Hvar from Split by Krilo Catamaran (a ferry for short duration trips). While the town boasts of rich historical heritage on one side, it has a fabulous beach to relax on the other.

Croatia Diaries - 2018 - Part 1

This summer we decided to visit Croatia for our vacation. Few years ago, this was a place very few people visited from India, while some were even unaware about this place. Thanks to Game Of Thrones and the recently held Fifa World Cup, Croatia has now gained a lot of popularity. So I am recollecting my memories and writing this blog to share my travel journey.

Indoor Play Areas are becoming popular among Kids

As per Albert Einstein "Play is the highest form of research".

Due to the weather conditions, pollution and mosquitoes, many indoor play areas have come up in Delhi for young children. Earlier I use to see such places in the malls only where 1 section was separated for the kids. However, standalone indoor play areas are gaining popularity in Delhi. 

Pulse Polio - 5th Aug 2018

Further information on below link:
http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/bf560400467bda3cb77cbf264798d198/Pulse+Polio.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=-319159376

Colouring - A Stress-Buster Therapy

For me Colouring is not only for kids, even adults enjoy it. Some people may say it is a therapy to influence a person's mood and energy. Well, it certainly did mine and I use it as a stress-buster and try to enhance my patience level (you require a lot of patience when you have a toddler). The above image is a floral design pattern which took me 30 minutes to complete

Benefits of Colouring:

• Besides being a stress-buster, colouring helps in calming your mind and removes any anxiety
• Helps in focusing on a particular task and keeping the mind away from other insignificant things
• Builds creativity as you have to decide what colours shall make the design look good

Places to Go and Eat with Toddlers in Delhi

After becoming a mother, in the initial few months, it is quite difficult to go out for dinner with a baby. In my case, I went out for dinner with my baby after 4 months. In my opinion, mothers should take their baby along with them so that the baby gets used to different atmosphere and is not restricted to indoors.

Open Sukanya Samridhi Account if you have a Girl Child

When my baby girl was born, one of my friends suggested me to open Sukanya Samridhi Account. My husband and I were unaware of what this account is and how to open it. We studied about this product and found it better than FD's and instantly opened it. So I am writing this blog for those who still don’t have knowledge of this fairly new product.

Pregnancy - 9 months of courtship with your baby

When I first checked my pregnancy test it was positive, I was so happy to see the result and in that happiness I again did the test to confirm. After waking up my husband with this news, he was very excited. The news spread in the house very quickly and that day I realized how everyone was waiting to hear it.

Cherish your Relationships

This one word revolves around everybody's lives. It means everything for few and nothing for few.
Relations helps a person in attaining a confident personality which in turn makes him more happy and satisfied with himself. A person with better relations, with people around him, makes him more confident and he's encouraged to carry his relationships in a positive and healthy manner.

Story of a Girl Child

When a girl is born to a family different people have different reactions. Some people welcome the fairy with open hands while in some places we still see people don't see the face of the baby girl and within few seconds the smile from the fairy fades away. What was the fault of that small life who was not even aware about the rules of the society. She was not in the position to question anyone, but few are the lucky ones who are given a chance to blossom and spread happiness all around.

Mother - The face of God

Mother is a gift sent by god

Mother, friend, guide, mentor etc she's the one without whom your present life would not have been so happy and easy. The one who's always besides you, who listens to you, understands you, gives you advice, embraces during tough times and many more qualities which can not be measured.