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An Ode to My Breast Pump..
And just like that, my pumping journey has come to a close. I sold off my breast pump last week, and I think that made it real. It is funny, but I felt emotional giving it away. The only thing I asked was that she use it well, and stay committed in her journey to breastfeed. Pumping! Sigh. Yay I don’t have to do it anymore, but yeah, closing a chapter is always bittersweet. This is my tribute! (Am I loony or what?). An Ode to My Breast Pump All those long nights I stayed awake, Your buzzing my only company when everyone slept. Giving me reason and strength To…
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Product Review – Aerosleep AeroMoov Air Layer – From JustKidding
Hot weather is part and parcel of living in GCC. And I have found that the most problem area when we have a baby is keeping him cool in the car seat. While we bought our car before he was born, we ensured that there were ACs at the back. And even then, it just seems like every time we take him out of the car seat, his back is drenched in sweat! And there just seemed o way out. I kept hunting for something that will help, and the answer was found at the newly opened JustKidding store, at the Gate Mall in West Bay. It is also available…
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Fathers Don’t Babysit, they parent!
You know what pisses me off? When people suggest that a woman becomes a mother from the moment the fetus is inside her, but a father becomes a father only after the birth of the child! It absolutely infuriates me! I don’t usually comment on current affairs in my blog, but this one issue is one I cannot keep quiet on. Maneka Gandhi, Indian Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development has said that paternity leave is not required, because men will only use it as a holiday! It makes me immensely angry. Because I have always believed and vehemently advocated for equality in parenting. Both father and mother…
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Bub’s Diary – Trips and Travels..
Dear Diary, Even before I turned five month old, I had been to four countries: Qatar, where I was born, Bahrain, my mommy’s home, and UK to visit aunts and uncles! And yes I saw the Abu Dhabi airport too! Pretty cool eh! I think I love this whole travelling business, because I go with half a suitcase full of my stuff, and come back with atleast one more full suitcase of toys, clothes and whatnot BAHRAIN And everywhere I go, there are all these people who come to see me, and play with me! It really is a lot of fun. When I went to Bahrain, all of momma’s…
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Travelling with an Infant..
My almost six-month old is a seasoned traveller; he’s been on more flights so far than many adults across the world. And well, it hasn’t been as bad as I expected it to be, Alhamdulillah. Here was my experience travelling with an infant. Our first trip was when he was just barely 2months old, off to my home – the beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain – where I was born, and grew up in, and where my parents still live – via British Airways, and I was travelling alone –without the husband. There was a massive confusion at the airport, and we had to wait for ages to get it sorted,…
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Cold and Flu!
It really is heartbreaking when bubba gets a phlegmy nose, and cough and not being able to help him much. Babies fall ill very easily because their immune systems are as yet immature, and still in the developing stages. But infant cold and flu is really upsetting! It definitely is! In the last six months, we have one severe experience and at least one more okay experience with this. When we took him to the pediatrician when it was a bad case, she told us that for babies that young, they would prefer not giving any medications, and to let it run its course – only nasal drops. We were…
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The BCG Vaccination and its aftermath!
The BCG Vaccination and its aftermath can be a scary experience but you really don’t need to worry! The BCG vaccination is the one that fights against tuberculosis, and it usually involves a live TB germ being injected into the layers of the skin on the baby’s shoulder. As scary as it sounds, don’t worry. The live sample has been cultured in a lab in such a way that it will not cause the disease in a healthy person, according to Health Guidelines given by the TB Control Program, Department of Health, Western Australia. The BCG vaccination is usually given to babies in Qatar, before they are discharged from the…
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Talking to a New Baby..
I was one of those who absolutely could not speak to my baby bump. I tried. I had read a lot about how moms-to-be must speak to their babies, and maybe even play music or sing a song. Believe me when I say that, but I just couldn’t do it. It just felt off to me. I was sure that once the baby arrived, I would be able to speak to him. But that did not work out as planned either. Which is funny, because people would pay to shut me up. I am quite the chatterbox. But I just had no success with talking to a new baby. But…
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Gas Troubles!
One of the toughest things as a new parent is to watch your child being in distress, and not be able to do anything to help them. And something that most newborn babies suffer heavily from is gas! I’ve seen my baby struggle to burp or fart and cry because of the discomfort and pain; it was obvious what it was because his stomach would almost be rock solid hard. I think I have tried most of the remedies, till I found something that works well. Here are a few suggestions: BURP REGULARLY: This is easier said than done. I would try and try to pat and make him burp,…
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Product Review – Nose Frida
The Nose-Frida is beyond incredible. I mean, I would sell my soul for this product. Okay, maybe not that much. But this really is an amazing tool to have. We had a normal bulb nasal aspirator and that was not doing anything to get the gunk out of my wee one’s nose. But with the Nose Frida, we were able to clear his nose easily. It is a bit yucky if you think about it, since you are literally sucking the snot out using your mouth. But there is a filter, so you, the parents are safe. It is very easy to use, one end goes at the baby’s nostril,…