Baby Talk May2019

Our Experts
Developmental Education & Learning Consultant
Rosh Vettiveloo
Expert in learning support, concentration, memory, dyslexia, dyspraxia, hyperlexia, general reading
acquisition difficulties, AD/HD, homeschooling learners with learning difficulties in Malaysia and early
intervention procedures in multilingual environments. Trained in mild to moderate learning difficulties
and qualified Specialist in Teaching Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (UK) and Educational
Assessor (UK). 20 years practical experience in the field of special education.
Holistic Care & Wellbeing Gaia Chinniah
Gaia is a Malaysian born entrepreneur who has lived in New Zealand for over 30 years. She is the
CEO of Ruby Face Sdn Bhd who exclusively distributes ethical products including World Organics
from New Zealand. She holds a Master in Management Studies and a career of over 10 years in
Marketing of big brands and as a Television presenter. Gaia has a passion for empowering people
and some of her hobbies are pastel art, reiki, yoga and staying healthy. More about Gaia can be read
here: www.worldorganics.com.my & www.rubyface.com.
Fertility & Conception Dr Agilan Arjunan
Dr Agilan Arjunan, a Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, graduated from University of Malaya
and obtained his specialist degree from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, London.
Armed with his passion for laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, he pursues his dream in helping couples
to conceive and build their families through the latest technology of reproductive techniques. He is
also passionate in disseminating knowledge in the field of fertility and hopes readers can differentiate
facts from myths.
CONSULTANT PAEDIATRICIAN AND NEONATOLOGIST Dr. Khoo Boo Aik
Dr Khoo is a consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Sunway Medical Centre. He completed his
medical degree from National University of Malaysia (MD-UKM) in 1997. He obtained his paediatric
postgraduate membership from royal college of paediatric and child health (MRCPCH) in Glasgow,
UK in 2003. He continued his neonatal subspecialty fellowship training in 2005 at Liverpool Hospital
and the Royal Hospital for Women (RHW), Sydney, NSW, Australia. In 2009, he was accredited as
consultant paediatrician and neonatologist under the National Specialist Register (NSR), Malaysia.
Currently, he also holds a part time lecturer post at Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health
Sciences, Monash University, Sunway Campus. He is a father of 3 energetic boys aged 13, 11 and 7.
Early Childhood Education Daisy Ng
Daisy is a mother of two and Founder of Trinity Kids Malaysia. A dedicated practitioner in early
childhood education, she has been featured on BFM, The Edge, NTV7, The Star and given talks
on related topics. As a certified Dr Sears Health Coach in children/family nutrition and ante-natal
wellness, Daisy actively promotes a wholesome and non-processed diet in Malaysia’s schools. An avid
reader and writer from a young age, she now writes about topics in early childhood education, child
development and nutrition.
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist Dr Herbert Low
Dr Herbert Low graduated from University of West Indies (MBBS) and University Malaya (Master
O&G), and is a Council Member of Obstetrical & Gynecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM). He is
also a member of the National Specialist Registry and specialises in General Gynae and Obstetrics;
Breast Feeding; Women Wellness & Screening Including Pre-invasive Disease Management; Fetal
Maternal and 3-4D Scan as well as Minimal Invasive Surgery at Columbia Asia Hospital-Setapak.
Consultant Pediatrician Dr Margaret Kannimmel
Dr Margaret is a graduate of University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia and MRCP (United
Kingdom). She is a subspecialists in Oncology & hematology. Dr Margaret is a member of the
Malaysia Pediatric Association amd has 26 years of experience as a Medical Doctor and 21 years as a
Pediatrician. She currently serves at Columbia Asia Hospital-Setapak
BabyTalk March/April 2019 1

Hello again!
Editor’s Note
As joyful as motherhood is, the sacrifices are great for every loving, giving mom. Not a single
day, or hour goes by without a mother thinking about her offspring, always wanting the best for
them. Everything a mother does for her child is borne of love, for a mother only knows how to
love her children first before anyone else.
Here at BabyTalk, it’s practically all about moms. From way before she gets pregnant, all through
her nine months, throughout her postpartum period and along the way through her role as
parent - we have been helping Malaysian moms navigate their ways around the bumpy roads of
early parenting since late 2011, and we’re happy to be able to carry on doing this.
If you’re new to BabyTalk, we welcome you to join us in this journey as we present loads of
useful, helpful topics on pregnancy, postnatal care, as well as baby care and early child
development. This month’s issue is loaded with these and more… so enjoy!
We leave you for now, with this beautiful piece by Joanne Bailey Baxter:
For she had fulfilled his prophecy
Spreading love, honor, and hope
She instilled in those she left behind
The ability to understand and cope.
Happy Mother’s Day and much love
Cindy
Regulars
02 Cute Snaps:
Cute Snaps: Smile baby, you’re our star!
03 BT Buzz:
Pregnancy and baby health news
06 Ask Our Experts:
This month, check out what needed
answering
Bump to Birth
07 Fertility & conception:
7 ways to improve your fertility health
09 Prenatal Nutrition:
Eat your way out of constipation
11 9 months
Diarrhea & Pregnancy - When things
get serious
13 Postnatal Support:
Natural remedies for after birth
swellings
BT Guide
16 Baby @ Home: What you need to
keep your baby safe
Baby & Toddler
20 Health & Medical Diary:
Complementary therapies for babies
contents MAY 2019
23 Nursing moms
Night feeds: The pros and cons of
nursing baby to sleep
25 Love for life:
Sing me a lullaby, mommy!
26 Wonders of Childhood:
No more battles during changing time
Bright Kids
27 Growing up:
How to communicate better with your
little one
Life & Style
29 FEATURE:
Deciding on a family pediatrician
32 Savvy Choices:
Diaper Wars: Cloth or disposable
36 Mother’s Day Special:
Mother’s Day: Get Creative with your
Gifts
40 Mother’s Day Special:
Connect well with your child: Moms
share their precious thoughts
44 Out & About:
The latest buzz about town
Published by:
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Email: info@acepremier.com
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John Lim
Editor
Cindy Antoinette Fernandez
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With thanks to
Gaia Chinniah, Dr Herbet Low, Dr Margaret
Kannimmel, Rosh Vettiveloo, Daisy Ng, and
Dr Agilan Arjunan.
Articles and photographs are welcome, but we
cannot be responsible for their safe return.
BABYTALK encourages its readers’ feedback.
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Disclaimer
Editorial material herein is provided for information
only. Reader are cautioned not to use this information
as a substitute for regular professional health care
and consultation. Although great care has been taken
in compiling and checking the information given in
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agents shall not be responsible or in any way liable for
continued currency of the information or for any errors,
omissions or inaccuracies in this publication whether
arising from negligence or otherwise howsoever, or for
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Advertisements are subject to editorial acceptance and
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the publishers, authors, advisors and agents do not
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For all business and partnership matters please contact
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or +603 6203 2522.
All Rights Reserved
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Available at

Cute Snaps
little
Stars
Fam Ern Yi,
3 months Selangor
Winner
Do you have a little star
aged between 1 month to 36
months who would light up
this page? Send your photo to
babytalkmalaysia@gmail.com
with name, location and age.
Please state email subject as
“Cute Snaps – Little Stars”.
Hugo Yap
12 months Selangor
Emir Amsyar
11 months Selangor
Hanna Cempaka binti Iskandar
12 months Selangor
Dhiran a/l Jeyabalan
24 months Selangor
Jerald Cheah,
26 months
Snap & Win
A surprise gift!
2 BabyTalk | May 2019

BT Buzz
Breastfeeding minimises eczema risks?
Children who were breastfed exclusively in their first few months of life
were less likely to develop eczema, a new study finds. For the study,
researchers analyzed data on the health, development and dietary
patterns of 1,520 children in the United States who were followed from
birth as part of the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, led by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S> Food and
Drug Administration. By the time they were 6, about 300 of the children
had been diagnosed with eczema at some point in their lives. Nearly
six in 10 of those kids had the inflammatory skin disease at age 6, the
findings showed.
Children in wealthier families and those with a family history of food
allergies were more likely to have been diagnosed with eczema by age 6,
the investigators found. But the researchers said that children who were
exclusively breastfed for at least three months were only 48 percent as
likely to have continued eczema at age 6, compared with those who were never
breastfed or who were breastfed for less than three months.
Intestinal bacteria growth in
pregnant women
Researchers found that progesterone regulates the
microbial composition during pregnancy in a way that
may facilitate appropriate transmission of beneficial
species to the newborn. These bacteria “sense”
pregnancy and “understand” the need to move
to the next generation in order to assist babies in
breaking down the sugar in mother’s milk. Gestation is
accompanied by alterations in the microbiome -- bacteria
that live inside and on our body and weigh over four
pounds of our body weight and
are important in health and in
fighting disease. Previous research
that focused on changes in the
microbiome showed that during
pregnancy it is partially responsible
for weight gain and for essential
inflammatory response. However,
the mechanisms driving these
changes are unknown.
Better way to treat severe
epileptic seizures in children
Emergency medicine doctors now have a better
way to treat severe epileptic seizures in children,
thanks to a New Zealand-Australian study. Prolonged
epileptic seizures are the most common neurological
emergency in children seen by hospitals. The seizures
are potentially fatal: up to five percent of affected
children die, and a third suffer long-term complications
from brain damage. Crucially, the longer the seizure,
the greater the chance of long-term complications.
The study - which will change management of this
condition internationally - was published in the
prestigious medical journal The Lancet in April.
It was led by Professor Stuart Dalziel from the
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the
University of Auckland and Starship Children’s
Hospital, and the senior author was Professor
Franz Babl at Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s
Research Institute.
BabyTalk | May 2019 3

From 25 May – 9 June, Sunway Lagoon, together with everyone’s favourite Nickelodeon characters will be celebrating
Raya and the school holidays in an extravagant way with the ‘Nickelodeon Raya’ campaign!
Get ready for lots of Nickelodeon-themed activities for you and your little ones! We suggest you begin with the Explorer’s
Campsite, where we’ll challenge you to a test of knowledge with a collection of fun and educational Dora and Boots
Puzzle Games. After that, revel in the merriment of bubbles with SpongeBob SquarePants at the SpongeBob’s
Bubbleblowing Playtime and see who can catch the biggest bubbles. Next, enjoy a true ninja experience with Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) Shuriken Kids Challenge. By the way, Shuriken, also known as throwing stars, are some
of the most important weapons in a ninja’s arsenal.
To add to the excitement, Sunway Lagoon is giving away up to 150 Call for Celebration Fun Passes where 30 lucky
children will be selected daily from 5 to 9 June to participate in the Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon’s Call for Celebration
Parade for a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Check out Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon’s Insta-stops located throughout the park to capture the moment and stand a chance
to win the Sunway Lagoon’s 4-To-Go package! Throughout all the cheer and excitement, be sure also to keep an eye out
for SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Dora the Explorer, Boots and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who will make
appearances to mix and mingle with visitors.
To add on the fun, we will let you in on a little secret. These favourite Nickelodeon characters will also be exploring
hotspots around Kuala Lumpur from 4 – 17 May. Fans will not only be able to meet and greet these characters, but also
have the opportunity to take pictures with them and participate in Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon’s “Spot! Snap! Post!”
contest to win some admission tickets.
Join the fun and extraordinary celebration happening at Sunway Lagoon with the special school holiday packages of
either FAMFun (2 Adults 2 Child) at RM 502 or 4-To-Go (4 Adults) at RM552. For more information, please visit www.
sunwaylagoon.com or connect to www.facebook.com/SunwayLagoonMalaysia.
Contest!
Do you long for a day of fun with your family at Sunway Lagoon? Here’s your chance to win
five free tickets each!
We have six sets of five tickets each to give away! Are you feeling lucky?
Just follow these easy steps:
1. Like & follow the BabyTalk Malaysia page on Facebook. (Kindly screenshot your action as proof).
2. Like & follow (and screenshot your action) the Sunway Lagoon page on Facebook. (Kindly screenshot your action as proof).
3. Answer the following question: Name one activity to enjoy at Sunway Lagoon during the Nickelodeon Raya Campaign.
4. Complete the following sentence in 25 words or less: “Sunway Lagoon is the best spot for my kids’ school holidays
because……..”
5. Lastly, send all your personal particulars below together with a snapshot of yourself with this issue of BabyTalk to:
babytalkmalaysia@gmail.com before the 31st of May 2019.
Personal details: Name; Age, Gender, Address, Tel NO.

BT Buzz
No wires,
more cuddles
An interdisciplinary
Northwestern University
team has developed
a pair of soft, flexible
wireless sensors that replace the
tangle of wire-based sensors that currently monitor
babies in hospitals’ neonatal intensive care units
(NICU) and pose a barrier to parent-baby cuddling
and physical bonding. The study, involving materials
scientists, engineers, dermatologists and pediatricians
will be published March 1 in the journal Science. The
study includes initial data from more than 20 babies
who wore the wireless sensors alongside traditional
monitoring systems, so Northwestern researchers
could do a side-by-side, quantitative comparison.
Since then, the team has conducted successful tests
with more than 70 babies in the NICU. “We know
that skin-to-skin contact is so important for newborns
-- especially those who are sick or premature,” said
Paller, a pediatric dermatologist at Lurie Children’s.
“It’s been shown to decrease the risk of pulmonary
complications, liver issues and infections. Yet, when
you have wires everywhere and the baby is tethered to
a bed, it’s really hard to make skin-to-skin contact.”
Early solid food for less risks
of allergies
New parents worry about a lot of things, but the
American Academy of Pediatrics says one thing they
can cross off that list is concern about giving highallergy
foods too early in life. In fact, the pediatric
group says it’s likely better to introduce foods like
peanut butter when kids are around 6 months of age.
“There’s no reason to restrict early introduction to
allergenic foods,” said a co-author of a new clinical
report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),
Dr. Frank Greer. He’s a professor emeritus of pediatrics
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although
experts had advised parents in the past to avoid highly
allergenic foods early in life,
more recent research has
suggested that early exposure
to these foods might be a
better option. In addition to
freeing up parents to let their
youngsters try peanut butter
or ground peanut products at
an early age, the report also
said that moms don’t need to
restrict their diets during pregnancy and breastfeeding
to try to prevent allergies.
Sudoku
2 4 1 3
7 4
1 9 2 8 4 7
4 6 3 1 8 9
5
8 3 4 7 6 2
4 2 1 5 3 6
9 3
3 5 9 8
Solutions:
2 7 4 5 6 9 1 8 3
6 3 8 7 1 4 2 5 9
1 5 9 2 3 8 4 6 7
7 4 6 3 2 1 8 9 5
9 2 1 8 5 6 7 3 4
5 8 3 4 9 7 6 2 1
4 9 2 1 8 5 3 7 6
8 6 7 9 4 3 5 1 2
3 1 5 6 7 2 9 4 8
BabyTalk | May 2019 5

Ask Our Experts
Gaia Chinniah
Holistic Care & Wellbeing
}
I've heard of serious skin issues in children and
adults, such as eczema or psoriasis being cured by
switching to high quality organic skincare. How does
this work? ~
Skin conditions of any kind can be very distressing,
uncomfortable and embarrassing for the person who has
them and often we will use anything that will keep the
condition under control without considering the long -term
effects. We often wouldn’t consider what the ingredient
make up is of the product just as long as it works and takes
away our discomfort. I have been in this situation myself!
Eczema and psoriasis are both very common skin conditions
and the causes of these conditions can vary from person to
person but there will be a root to the cause.
Eczema for example can start at birth or sometimes flare
up at certain times in a person’s life. When a skin condition
lies dormant for most of your life and suddenly appears,
there is usually a trigger that will cause it. For example there
have been cases of synthetic fragrances in products causing
severe skin conditions and once that has been eliminated
the skin slowly goes back to normal. Acute symptoms,
however, are rarely the case when it comes to conditions
like eczema and psoriasis, with the cause usually linking to
an internal imbalance in the body and external triggers. Skin
conditions such as these are often the cause of a sensitive
skin barrier as well.
There are many topical treatments such as steroids which are
often used to treat symptoms and they can be very effective.
However, the dilemma with conventional treatments can be
the lack of understanding to the long term negative impacts
to the body. Quick fixes often mask symptoms but it’s
finding the root of the cause and what the triggers the skin
to flare up which will be the key to keeping the condition
under control.
Developing a good skin care routine with a high quality
organic skin product can be helpful to a lot of sufferers but
it doesn’t guarantee that your skin condition will be cured.
What a certified organic skin care routine could offer you
is treatment, hydration and nourishment without the harsh
ingredients or synthetic fragrance and pesticides. Developing
a skin care routine like this when you have a skin condition
can be helpful in maintaining the PH balance of your skin
and promoting the renewal of new healthy skin. It could
also provide the nutrition that your skin may be lacking as
well as prevent the absorption of ingredients that the body
can’t process properly. You’d be surprised at how many plant
derived extracts can be healing for skin conditions.
Trying organic skin care as an option would be a good idea
as it is best to eliminate toxic chemical exposure wherever
possible and assist the skin to heal naturally. In many cases
skin conditions can be managed by recognizing the triggers,
keeping a healthy skin care routine and being flexible with
it. That may make a difference in itself. Keep a note of the
conditions that worsen your condition like certain foods,
allergens, irritants, etc. Stress too, can bring on skin symptoms.
Children can often suffer from skin conditions as well and
their skin is a lot more sensitive and delicate than adults’.
Therefore children are more susceptible to the absorption of
the products used on their skin. Some certified organic brands
will have baby balms and treatments that could be gentle and
effective but again the severity of the skin condition must be
considered for effectiveness. Like all health issues it can be
trial and error to find a routine that suits you and your unique
skin however if your skin condition is severe you should seek
professional advice from your healthcare practitioner.
6 BabyTalk | May 2019

Bump to Birth
Fertility & Conception
7
Ways To
Increase Your
Fertility Health
Why do many couples fail to conceive after long periods of unprotected sex? If a
medical issue is the reason, then addressing it with appropriate treatments should
do the trick. However, in many cases, no medical issues are detected and there
seem to be no reason for the failure to conceive.
If this concerns you, your lifestyle is probably getting in the way of a pregnancy.
This means, a few changes in your everyday life may increase your chances of
conceiving! Take a look at the following changes you can make to improve your
chances of conceiving.
BabyTalk | May 2019 7

Bump to Birth
Fertility & Conception
Don’t rely too heavily on ‘the right time’
1 When you’re trying to conceive, you may fall into
the habit of obsessing about ‘the right time to
do it’. Putting too much emphasize into one’s fertile time
not only takes the fun out of sex, but it also stresses you
out. How about just having sex whenever you want, and
as often as possible?
Women in general are able to get pregnant even
in the preovulatory phase, so just spread the time
for your bedroom actions a little wider. Besides,
if couples are only trying to conceive following the
luteinising hormone surge (LH surge), they many find
it difficult to get pregnant. Having sexual intercourse
several days before and after the LH surge could
significantly improve their chances.
Eat better food
2 Yogurt, eggs, avocados, fresh
salmon and beef, lean
poultry, fresh fruits and vegetables,
as well as seeds and nuts - These
are the kinds of food your body
needs to be baby-ready! So,
throw out the junk and fill up
your fridge with the good stuff.
It is believed that fresh organic
food will help you absorb key
antioxidants and nutrients that are
beneficial when trying to conceive.
Organic foods also lets you reduce
the intake of pesticides, which have a
negative impact of fertility.
Smoking? Stump ‘em out!
4 Smokers generally have more fertility problems
than non-smokers. The heavier
of a smoker you are, the
bigger the risk of having fertility issues.
When you smoke, more than 7,000
chemicals spread through your body and
regardless if you’re trying to conceive or
not! Smoking damage eggs and even
hinders ovulation. Hoping to hear the
pitter patter of little feet in your home?
Stop smoking now!
5
Maintain an ideal body weight
Being over or underweight can compromise
fertility. A body mass index of 30 or over or
less than 19 can mean taking longer to
conceive. Reducing a high BMI by
10% will have a huge effect on your
chances of becoming pregnant, as
well as improving the effectiveness
of fertility treatments if you were
to need them.
A healthy,
balanced diet
together with
regular exercise
should help you
get to your ideal
weight and in turn
increase your chances
of conceiving!
Abstain, if you can, from alcohol consumption
3 While a glass of wine may help get you in the
mood, do keep in mind that alcohol can have a
negative effect on the reproductive system and damage
one’s fertility. Even small amounts can affect the menstrual
cycle and reduce the chance of conceiving. If you choose
to drink, have no more than 1-2 units
once or twice a week (two units equals
a 175ml glass of wine).
Drinking also lowers testosterone
levels and sperm quality and
quantity in men. Men trying for
children should stay within a
reasonable limit (3-4 units a day – a
pint and a half of beer).
You’ve got to keep well-hydrated
6 Water is the elixir of our life. It is the basis of
our blood, which in turn feeds every part of
our bodies. A dehydrated body will be of no
help if you’re trying to conceive. As well as helping our
reproductive system to work, water helps to increase
cervical mucus, which helps sperm swim freely through
the cervix to the egg.
Manage your stress
7 In times of stress, fertility can temporarily shut
down, according to studies on fertility and why
some women fail to get pregnant. Stress is
capable of ceasing ovulation and disrupting hormone
levels. Try deep breathing, yoga, meditation, massage or
regular walks. Fact: Many people struggle with fertility
suddenly conceived while on vacation. This speaks
something, doesn’t it?
8 BabyTalk | May 2019

Bump to Birth
Prenatal Nutrition
Eat Your
Way out Of
Constipation
Constipation can be a major issue among
pregnant women and can be quite
uncomfortable to endure too. It can happen
due to a number of reasons including lack of
exercise, improper diet, dehydration, etc.
During pregnancy, one other culprit for constipation could
be an increase in the hormone progesterone, which relaxes
smooth muscles throughout the body, including the digestive
tract. This causes movements in the intestines to become
sluggish.
While there are a few reasons why a pregnant women could
get constipated, there are also a number of different ways to
beat the problem and these include:
• Keeping active and exercising regularly. Safe exercises such
as walking, swimming, and certain yoga moves can all
help ease constipation. Exercising also helps you feel more
energised and rejuvenated!
• Avoid holding back from passing motion when you feel
the urge.
• Some pregnant women experience constipation as the
result of consuming multivitamins with a high content of
iron in them. If you feel this is the case with you, consult
your doctor about switching to a supplement with less iron
in it.
• Drink plenty of water and fruit juices. Some women find
that a glass of warm water or beverage help to get things
moving in the morning.
• Switch to a high-fiber diet. Foods such as whole-grain
cereals and breads, brown rice, beans, and fresh fruits and
vegetables every day.
Eat your way out of constipation!
Foods such as beans, sweet potatoes, kiwi fruit, plums,
apples, nuts and seeds are all known to naturally aid in
relieving constipation.
Here are some recipes to try.
BabyTalk | May 2019 9

Bump to Birth
Prenatal Nutrition
Sweet Potato, Carrot & Ginger
Soup
Ingredients:
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1/2 cup chopped shallots
• 3 cups (1/2-inch) cubed peeled sweet potato
• 1 1/2 cups (1/4-inch) sliced peeled carrots
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
Method:
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add shallots; sauté 3 minutes or until tender.
3. Add potato, carrots, ginger, and curry; cook 2
minutes.
4. Add broth; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and
simmer 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender; stir
in salt.
5. Pour half of soup in a food processor; pulse until
smooth. Repeat procedure with remaining soup.
Kiwi Fruit Salsa
Ingredients:
• 3-4 ripe kiwifruit, peeled, carefully chopped
• 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1/2 ripe avocado flesh, peeled and chopped
• 1 heaping tablespoon thinly sliced green onion
• 1 tablespoon (adjust to taste) of chopped fresh bell
pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
Method
1. Place the kiwifruit, pomegranate seeds, avocado,
green onion and olive oil in a medium sized bowl.
2. Starting with just a teaspoon of chopped bell peppers,
gently fold in and add more to your desired level of
heat.
3. Add cilantro, salt and pepper to taste.
4. Serve on the side with roasts, or as a dip.
Baked Apples
Ingredients:
• 6 apples, cored
• 2 tbsp muscovado sugar
• A handful of raisins
• A slab of butter (about the size of a match-box)
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tsp demerara sugar
4. Using your fingers, push some of the muscovado
mixture into the apples, using it up among the apples
5. Add a blob of butter
on top of each apple
and sprinkle with
demerara sugar
6. Bake for 20 minutes
7. Let cool and enjoy!
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 22 degrees Celsius
2. Combine the cinnamon, muscovado sugar and raisins in
a bowl
3. Stand apples up side by side on a baking dish
10 BabyTalk | May 2019

Bump to Birth
9 Months
Diarrhea &
Pregnancy:
When things get serious
Persistent diarrhea can lead to dehydration and malnutrition. During pregnancy, this can
harm the woman and the fetus. Diarrhea during pregnancy can also result from a bowel
infection or underlying bowel disorder. Read on.
BabyTalk | May 2019 11

Bump to Birth
9 Months
If you experience three or more watery bowel movements in a day, chances are you may be having diarrhea. If you’re
pregnant, it could be due to hormonal changes, which can also cause other digestive issues such as constipation and gas.
It may also be caused by a bowel infection or underlying bowel disorder.
Hormonal changes that may cause diarrhea
During pregnancy, the spike in prostaglandin levels may cause diarrhea. Prostaglandins are hormones that help stimulate
contractions in the uterus but can also increase movement along the digestive tract. It may result in stools passing too
swiftly through the bowels, which in turn causes diarrhea. This rise in prostaglandin levels is also the reason why some
women experience loose stools during their menstrual cycle.
Infectious Diarrhea: Bowel infections
are a common cause of diarrhea. In
addition to loose, watery stools, people
with infectious diarrhea may also
experience the following symptoms:
• Bloody stools
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
Some organisms that can cause
infectious diarrhea:
• Bacteria, such as Escherichia coli,
Campylobacter, Salmonella, or
Shigella genera
• Viruses, including norovirus and
rotavirus
• Parasites, such as Giardia lamblia and
Cryptosporidium enteritis
A person can become infected with
these harmful organisms by consuming
contaminated food or water. Infectious
diarrhea can be a risk when traveling to
certain countries.
Bowel disorders: Diarrhea can be
a symptom of an underlying bowel
disorder, such as:
• Inflammatory bowel diseases,
including Crohn's disease and
ulcerative colitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Celiac disease
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Symptoms Of Persistent Diarrhea
diarrhea can be a symptom of an
underlying bowel disorder, such as:
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Gas and bloating
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin and joint problems
• Anemia
During pregnancy, all of these can have
dire consequences. If symptoms persists,
see a doctor at once.
12 BabyTalk | May 2019

Bump to Birth
Postnatal Support
Natural Ways To
Deal With
Postnatal
Swellings
Most new moms are surprised to find that parts of their body still look the same
as when they were pregnant. Postnatal swellings are completely normal and it
may take some time before they go down completely. There are ways to improve
this and we’re about to share them with you.
BabyTalk | May 2019 13

Bump to Birth
Postnatal Support
During pregnancy, your body produces 50% more blood and
body fluids to sustain your baby and you. Quite a bit of this
is retained after birth and the body will take its own sweet
time to eliminate all of the extras from your system. For many
women, all this extra fluids show up as swellings in several
parts of the body such as the face, feet, etc, and it can even
be uncomfortable to endure at times.
Here are some DIY, natural ways to deal with postpartum
swellings.
Put those feet up
Not only do you deserve the rest ever so often after giving
birth, but elevating your feet can also help to reduce
swelling in the legs and improve circulation. So, spend some
time with the legs elevated above the level of the heart and
encourage water to flow throughout the body. It actually
does help to temporarily reduce the swelling on your feet.
Avoid sitting with your legs crossed for now, for it restricts
blood flow to your feet.
Move about
Light exercises can reduce postpartum swelling and related
symptoms. Moving around helps blood and water to
circulate and prevents it from pooling. Word of caution
though: Listen to your body and avoid movements that
cause pain. Some known safe exercise for postpartum
bodies include walking, yoga if you have been practicing
yoga before this), and swimming.
Compression
stockings may help
A study in 2017 found that wearing
compression stockings helped to
reduce swelling in the 24-hour period
after giving birth, although they did
conclude that further research was
necessary. In the meantime, compression
stockings do help to increase blood flow by
reducing the size of blood vessels in the legs
- its part of their purpose anyway. This in turn
encourages the vessels to circulate more blood
in a shorter amount of time. You can get them
in pharmacies.
No tight-fitting clothes
Tight-fitting clothing can cut off circulation to various
parts of the body. This can stop the body from shedding
water weight and encourage the fluid to pool in certain
areas - and there you’ll have it, uncomfortable, unsightly
swellings. So, for now, put on the most comfy, loosefitting
clothings you have till your body has overcome this
phase of postpartum swellings. After which, you can be as
fashionable as you want!
Refrain from adding salt in your
food
Our bodies need a good
balance of sodium (salt)
and water. Too much of the
former and our bodies will
retain more water, making
things worse in the case
of postpartum swelling.
Other than table salt,
try to keep away from
processed foods (they use
lots of salt to make them
tasty). Always check the
sodium contents on food
packaging - this will help
you keep your sodium intake in check and ultimately, avoid
unnecessary swellings.
14 BabyTalk | May 2019

Bump to Birth
Postnatal Support
Eat bananas
Too much sodium causes water
retention. Bananas and other
potassium-rich foods can help to
lower the amount of sodium in the body,
balancing it out so that it works in sync with the sodium
in your body. Other than in bananas, other foods rich in
potassium include apricots, peanut butter, avocados, yogurt
and spinach.
Cut off the coffee and/
or tea for now
Caffeinated drinks such as
coffee, tea, etc cause our bodies
to lose water. As a survival
mechanism, a postnatal body
may react to this by retaining as
much water as it can to avoid
dehydration. To avoid this, cut off
all caffeinated drinks for now and
replace them with safe herbal teas
such as rooibos, for instance and
plain water. Or if you prefer, try
sparkling mineral water. The aim
is to stay hydrated and keep the
swellings at a minimum.
Get a foam roller
Foam rollers, when used correctly, can help in improving
circulation and reducing the buildup of water in the body. Use
it on your legs to help hasten your blood flow by encouraging
the blood to move through the veins more quickly. You can
get a foam roller from most sports stores and even online
stores. Or, you can ask your doctor to recommend one.
Try a postpartum massage
Massaging can promote circulation, thus it may help with
the swellings too, by helping to eliminate the excess fluids
trapped in the body. Do ensure though that you pick a
trained massage therapist or one who is familiar with treating
postpartum clients. In the Malay culture, most bidans are
trained in these kind of massages.
When to consult with your
doctor:
• When you notice a sudden swelling
that wasn’t there before
• When you press down on a swollen
area and it leaves an indentation in the
skin
• If there is pain, redness, irritation, or
increased swelling in one leg, for it may
be signs of a blood clot
BabyTalk | May 2019 15

Baby @ Home:
Baby What you @ Home: need to
keep your baby safe
What you need
to keep your
baby safe
If you have a baby or toddler at home,
it changes everything, especially in
the safety department. Little ones are
known to be explorers and they are
rarely afraid of anything. This means,
you’ll have to take steps to ensure that
your home (every inch of it!), is safe
for your inquisitive little one to live in.
We hope this special guide will help
you with ideas on home safety and
what you need.
16 BabyTalk | May 2019

Baby @ Home:
What you need to
keep your baby safe
Popular child safety
gate variants
Your newborn infant will not remain
immobile for long. In fact, as soon as
your baby begins to crawl, he’ll be
curious to move about as much as
he can. Which is why baby proofing
your home is something you’d want
to think about (and get done) even
before baby arrives.
There are a few important aspects of
baby proofing a space, and the most
important part is what you’ll need for
this. So, here we go.
Child-proof safety
gates
Here’s an item that’s directly related to
baby proofing - one that we cannot
escape from if we’re talking about the
subject. Most homes will need more
than one of these gates, to stop little
ones from entering certain rooms in the
house. Areas that typically need these
child safety gates include the kitchen (if
it does not have a door), at the bottom
and top of staircases, home offices,
etc. A child-proof safety gate can also
be placed at a spot where you’d like to
keep the door open, yet do not want
your baby or toddler wandering into it.
You’ll find these gates in a variety of
styles, height, and mechanism options.
So, before you go looking for one (or
more), be certain of:
• Where you need to set them up
• The kind of closing/opening
mechanism you’d prefer
• The width of the gate
• The best gate height for your needs
Most of these safety gates are made
from durable plastic, but you can also
find some made from wood or even
metal. These days, you can probably
find a gate to fit even the most
awkward nook or even to cordon off a
wider than usual space.
Installation options
Child safety gates are installed either
by pressure or with hardware. Pressure
mounted gates fit between two walls
and hold in place by pressure, or
tension. To be safe, avoid installing
this type of gate at the top of a
staircase, as a child's body weight
could easily dislodge the gate, resulting
in potentially dangerous accidents.
Hardware mounted safety gates are
sturdier, but they may require more
work to install. Always remember, while
baby gates substantially reduce the risk
of injury, accidents can still happen,
especially if it involves staircases. So, it’s
always best to keep a close watch on
your little one at all times.
High safety gates:
The best kind of gate that prevents
little ones from scaling the gate to get
over it.
Retractable safety gates:
Expandable and retractable to close
off big or small space alike.
BabyTalk | May 2019 17

Baby @ Home:
What you need to
keep your baby safe
Easy-open swing gate:
This makes it easier for adults to
pass in and out, especially at hightraffic
places in a home.
Cover and guard
Now, let’s take a look at power sockets, for it’s another area of concern when it
comes to safety at home, together with sharp and/or hard edges and corners.
Look around your home, in each room, (on all fours if you can, to have an idea of
what your baby sees), and find all of these power sockets and seal off those not in
use. Cover the rest with outlet covers whenever not in use.
Next up, you’ll have to deal with table ends and other protruding edges and
corners. You can do this by attaching cushioned corner guards to these places to
prevent injuries from knocking or falling on them.
Extra wide safety gates:
Great for homes with an open floor
plan, for it covers a bigger area.
Decorative safety gates:
These gates look good but at the
same time, they serve their purpose
to prevent a child from entering a
restricted area.
18 BabyTalk | May 2019

Baby @ Home:
What you need to
keep your baby safe
Drawers and
windows: No opening
these, child!
Babies and toddlers are fascinated
with things that can be opened and
closed, such as cabinets, drawers
and doors. Install safety latches on
all drawers and cabinets, and finger
pinch guards on all door hinges to
protect your baby's tiny hands from
painful injuries. Look bathroom doors
to avoid accidental drowning.
Under-sink cabinets are a typical place
to store cleaning products, but with
a baby in your residence, you need to
move them out of reach. If they must
stay in low cabinets, invest in latches
and locks to always keep the cabinet
doors securely shut.
If you don't have an out-of-reach place
to store medicines and supplements,
invest in a lockable medicine safe.
Window safety
This is a crucial part of baby proofing
a home, especially if you live in a
condominium or apartment. Fix
window locks and window guards
to prevent fatal falls or other nasty
accidents. Do you have blinds with
cords or strings? Replace them with
safer window coverings, such as
cordless options. When it comes to
baby proofing your home, you’ll find
that you’ll never run out of uses for
safety gadgets, so check out all baby
proofing sets and kits for sale by
reputable brands and start making your
home a safe haven for your little one.
Baby monitors
Parents with loads of things to do have
found comfort in using baby monitors.
These nifty devices are akin to having
an extra set of eyes - that can look
and hear what’s happening in another
room of the house! There are many
options though: either audio or audio
and video, and within those types,
you'll find both digital and analog
versions. While an audio-only baby
monitor may be sufficient for some
parents, others feel more confident
with the convenience of an audio
and video monitor that offer both
sound and image display. Other things
to consider when buying a monitor
include the frequency band, battery
life, sound and light options, volume
control, temperature sensors, motion
and sound sensors, night vision, and
2-way talking capabilities. Chose one
that fits your needs.
There are even app-controlled models
and these can be used from anywhere
to monitor temperature, humidity, and
noise, while also providing soothing
lullabies and night lights. It’s probably
best to choose a model that has
multiple units and can be powered by
both battery and an A/C adapter. This
will help ensure that you’ll always be
able to check on your baby. You could
also consider purchasing a monitor
that comes with a waistband clip to
free your hands, as well as audio and
video models that can display split
screens for when you have more than
one monitor running - these will be
ideal for families with a few little ones
to keep an eye on.
BabyTalk | May 2019 19

Baby & Toddler
Health & Medical Diary
Complementary
therapies for
babies
There may be times when your baby’s health issues don’t seem to let up no matter
how many visits you make to the doctor’s office. If or when that happens, you’d
probably want to look into alternative therapies or treatments. How do these differ
from mainstream medical practices? Find out now.
20 BabyTalk | May 2019

Baby & Toddler
Health & Medical Diary
How do they differ from the
mainstream?
The main difference with complementary medicine and
conventional medicine lies in its philosophical approach.
Alternative and/or complementary therapies place a high
priority on health promotion and illness prevention. The
various healing practices that fit within the classification of
complementary therapies share common beliefs, such as:
The terms ‘complementary therapy’ and ‘alternative therapy’
are used to refer to any healing practice that does not fall
within the realm of conventional medicine. They may also be
referred to as traditional, natural, holistic or complementary
medicine. Complementary therapies are used with
conventional medicine, whereas alternative therapies are used
in place of conventional medicine.
Why parents seek treatment for
their babies
Be it conventional medical treatment or an alternative one,
parents usually seek help for their babies for the following:
Digestion issues
Pain
Unexplained fussiness
Restlessness
Fevers
Colds
Weak immune system
Complementary and/or alternative therapies have the
potential to resolve many physical ailments and may reduce
the risk of future problems developing. However, parent do
need to realise that the benefits they offer are not always
immediately identifiable.
• Disease and disorders are manifestations of an imbalance
in the body’s natural homeostatic processes.
• The human body has an inherent ability to cure itself given
the right conditions.
• Many illnesses and disorders could be prevented if the
body is supported to function at its optimal capacity.
• All body systems are interrelated; therefore, in order to
effectively resolve a problem in one area of the body, it’s
necessary to treat the body as a whole. This is referred to
as a ‘holistic’ approach.
Therapies that may be used to reduce irritability in babies
include:
Chiropractics;
Osteopathy;
Cranio-sacral therapy;
Herbal medicine;
Naturopathy;
Infant massage;
Acupressure;
Reflexology; and
Aromatherapy.
Conventional medicine
Conventional medicine, also known as modern or
mainstream, is the dominant medical/health system in
developed nations. Conventional medicine uses a symptombased
approach to diagnose and treat illnesses, diseases and
disorders after symptoms become apparent.
Treatments recommended to relieve infant irritability may
include:
• Medications;
• Dietary change, i.e. hypoallergenic formula, thickened
feeds;
• Maternal dietary restrictions in the case of breastfed
babies;
• Special infant feeding equipment, including feeding tubes.
BabyTalk | May 2019 21

Baby & Toddler
Health & Medical Diary
What complementary
therapies are all about
Conservative approach: The goal is to
provide the right conditions so that the body
will heal itself.
What conventional
medicine stands for
Active approach: The goal is to provide relief
from physical discomfort.
The primary objective is to identify and
correct the underlying cause of abnormal
symptoms.
The primary objective is to provide relief
from abnormal symptoms.*
Focus on treating the whole body.
Focus on treating the presenting problem.
Relief from abnormal physical signs and
symptoms occur as the body heals, which may
take days or weeks.
Relief from abnormal physical signs and
symptoms may be seen or felt in hours or days
following treatment.
Proactive: Treatment can be provided to
reduce the risk of future ailments.
Reactive: Treatment is initiated once a physical
ailment has already developed.
Surgical intervention will be needed to correct
life threatening problems or problems that
would provide a lifetime burden.
*Medications may mask the symptoms but they don’t cure the underlying cause. Symptoms tend to return once the medication wears off.
What you should know before
deciding
How successful any therapy or treatment is in resolving
a problem depends on the underlying cause. While
complementary therapies provide health benefits they’re
not a cure for ALL problems that trouble developmentally
normal, thriving babies, who happen to cry often or have
trouble sleeping. Healthy, thriving babies commonly display
inconsolable crying, wakefulness and fussy or distressed
behavior due to developmental and behavioral reasons.
Complementary therapies and conventional medicine
will make little or no difference to infant distress due to
developmental or behavioral reasons, because therapy,
medications or dietary changes won’t resolve these types
of problems.
Developmental reasons: In some instances what may be
viewed by parents as problematic infant behavior can be
normal or typical for baby’s stage of development.
Behavioral problems: Physically well babies typically display
troubled behavior in response to the parent or caregiver
in terms of their respective feeding or settling practices.
Behavioral problems that commonly trouble healthy babies
include overfeeding, overtiredness and overstimulation,
among others. These problems cause babies varying degrees
of distress.
22 BabyTalk | May 2019

Baby & Toddler
Nursing Moms
Night feeds:
The pros and cons of
nursing baby to sleep
Its natural for babies to fall asleep while breastfeeding, but “natural” doesn’t mean free
from complications. Here, we discuss the advantages and potential disadvantages linked
to breastfeeding a baby to sleep.
BabyTalk | May 2019 23

Baby & Toddler
Nursing Moms
Is it a good idea to breastfeed a baby
to sleep? Why not, you may wonder,
for what can be more natural than
breastfeeding an infant, even if it’s
before bedtime. However, not everyone
agrees with this, for there have been
claims that nursing a baby to sleep
may cause feeding problems, sleeping
issues, etc.
The fact is, it works for some babies
and may not work out well for others.
Breastfeeding a baby to sleep has
advantages, but there can also be
disadvantages. It’s up to you to decide
what’s best for baby and you.
Advantages
• It is a quick and easy way to get
your baby to fall asleep, provided of
course that the little one is already
sleepy and has gotten used to falling
asleep while on the breast.
• Your baby will fall asleep without
crying or fussing.
• It’s comforting and soothing for a
baby to fall asleep with mommy so
close by.
• You do not need to get up or hold
baby to breastfeed him, especially if
you’re already sleeping.
• It’s easy and convenient - Once your
baby has fallen asleep, you’ll know
for he’ll just stop suckling completely
and your nipple will slide out of the
little one’s mouth.
• Promotes bonding between baby
and mom, even if it’s just till baby
falls asleep.
Note: The digestive hormone called
Cholecystokinin is released when food
from the stomach reaches the first
part of the small intestine. It causes
the sensation of drowsiness in young
babies, regardless if they’re breast or
formula-fed. Hence they have a natural
tendency to fall asleep while feeding.
An inevitable
association
Repeatedly breastfeeding
your baby to sleep will
encourage him to develop
a breastfeeding-sleep
association; regardless
of whether this is your
intention or not. This
means he learns to
psychologically link the
act of falling asleep with
suckling at your breast.
Disadvantages
The following are ways in which
nursing your baby to sleep might
affect your baby’s feeding and sleeping
patterns and behavior.
• Frequent demand for feedings -
beyond what you might expect:
Once your baby associates falling
asleep with suckling at your breast,
he will appear hungry and seek to
breastfeed whenever he’s tired and
ready to sleep in addition to times
of hunger.
• Attempts to ‘stretch out’ the time
between feedings are unlikely to
succeed because he will become
increasingly more upset owing to
tiredness if he’s not offered your
breast. A breastfeeding-sleep
association can also make it hard for
you to tell the difference between
your baby’s hunger and tired cues.
• Prolonged feeds: Your baby may
want to remain firmly attached to
your breast until he’s deeply asleep.
Breastfeeds can appear to be
prolonged, possibly up to an hour
or longer, depending on how long it
takes for him to fall deeply asleep.
• Your baby may not even actively
feed the entire time he’s attached
to your breast; rather he will spend
much of this time comfort sucking
as he drifts off to sleep.
• If you try to remove your baby
before he’s deeply asleep, he
may sense this, wake fully and
immediately search for your
breast again. Note that this is not
necessarily because of unsatisfied
hunger, but rather because he’s not
yet deeply asleep.
• If during light sleep your baby senses
that he’s no longer attached to
your breast, he’s at risk of waking
prematurely… still tired.
• If you don't offer your breast when
your baby is ready to sleep, he’s
likely to remain awake despite being
fatigued. The longer you delay
offering him your breast the greater
the risk of him becoming distressed
owing to overtiredness.
• Excessive night feeds: You might
find that once your baby is 4 months
old he starts to wake more often
during the night, possibly every hour
or two, wanting to be breastfed
back to sleep.
The reason behind
some prolonged night
feeds
Most healthy, thriving babies no longer
require nighttime feedings from around
the age of 6 months. However, a baby
who relies on breastfeeding as a way
to fall asleep is likely to continue to
demand frequent breastfeeds during
the night long after the time that
he reaches the stage where he no
longer requires night feedings. He may
continue to demand frequent feedings
at night for as long as he associates
falling asleep with suckling at his
mother’s breast.
Article adapted from: www.babycareadvice.com
24 BabyTalk | May 2019

Baby & Toddler
Love For Life
Sing me
a lullaby,
Mommy!
A lullaby, is a song that is sung to help lull a
baby to sleep. Although it was invented for
this, it’s also believed to have other purposes
as well, such as to pass down cultural
knowledge to the younger generations from
their infancy. Lullabies are mostly simple
in nature and they have soothing melodies
about them, which makes them perfect as
part of a sleeping time routine for babies.
Here are the lyrics to some popular lullabies
Hush, little baby
Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat won't pull
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Your father tends the sheep
Your mother shakes the dreamland tree
And from it fall sweet dreams for thee
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Twinkle, twinkle, little
star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
All the Pretty Horses
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Black and bays, dapples, grays,
All the pretty little horses.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little baby.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
BabyTalk | May 2019 25

Baby & Toddler
Wonders Of Childhood
No more
battles
during
changing
time!
Babies are such bundles of joy, aren’t they?
That is, until, they start to develop their own
little opinions - one of which being that lying
still while having their diapers or clothes
changes just isn’t their thing anymore. And
so begins the diaper table wars!
Try this!
If you need to, try letting
baby see what it’s like to
be the changer, as opposed
to the change. Letting him see
his favourite soft toy having
a diaper change may help
him be more accepting of
the diaper changing
concept.
When diaper-changing time comes, parents either have an
easy time or they don’t. Many parents have to put up with
a whole lot of fussing and squirming just to put on fresh
diapers for their little one. Things get pretty stressful at times,
not to mention messy. There are however, ways to handle this
without losing your cool, and here are some of them.
Distract!
Distraction works, but you’ll have to know the art of it
before you can keep using this trick. Try keeping a basket of
interesting, colourful toys in a basket nearby the changing
table (Make sure you can access this basket without leaving
your baby unattended at the table. Ensure too that the toys
in here are exclusive in a sense that your baby only gets to
see and touch them during changing times at the table. Basic
things like wooden spoons and empty boxes work just fine
too, as long as they seem to hold his attention. For some
babies, this trick only works with things that don’t seem like
toys — things they don’t usually get to play with. You can
even let baby choose a toy to play with during changing
times. Also, change or rotate the toys in this basket often
enough for baby not to lose interest.
You can even try keeping a bottle of lotion on the table.
Squeeze a drop onto your baby’s hand and let him rub his
hands together - some babies find it entertaining!
Entertain!
Objects aren’t the only things that can be distracting — you
can be too. “Make funny faces, dance, clap, pretend to drop
something and say “oh-oh!” - anything that'll entertain him
should work.
Here’s one trick babies may find entertaining too: Jokingly
‘threaten’ to put a diaper on your head… and do it! It’ll be
hilarious enough to catch his attention and make him stop
flailing.
Make a change in scenery
If the changing table is getting boring, take the changing task
somewhere else, such as the floor or on the bed. Not only will
your baby have a change in scenery, but you’ll also have the
added freedom of being able to change baby anywhere else
and not just at one spot in the house.
Get baby involved
As babies get older and the toys trick stop working their
charm, try getting baby involved by giving him some ‘duties’
during diaper changing times. Let him choose the diaper, or
pull out wipes or hand you items like clothing, etc. In addition
to giving baby something to focus on, it may work as a prep
for potty training.
26 BabyTalk | May 2019

Bright Kids
Growing Up
How to
communicate better
with your little one
Communicating with little children involves a whole lot of listening,
understanding and talking in ways that encourage your child to listen back to
you too. Like any other parenting skill, the more you practice, the better you
get at it. Read on…
BabyTalk | May 2019 27

Bright Kids
Growing Up
Communicating with a
child
No matter how busy you are, as a
parent, you cannot afford to not
communicate well with your child, and
it doesn’t matter if your little one can
speak back to you or not. When there
is a good, comfortable communicating
line between parent and child, the
latter will be able to express his or her
feelings, needs and wants.
Communicating well with a child
entails that you encourage them to talk
to you so they can tell you what they’re
feeling and thinking. In turn, you must
be able to really listen and respond in a
sensitive way to all kinds of things that
they may have in their little developing
minds – not just nice things or good
news, but also anger, embarrassment,
sadness and fear. As parents, you’ll
also have to tune into your child’s body
language and tone as well as words so
you can really understand what your
little one is trying to bring out. When
communicating with a little one, it also
pays to take into consideration your
child’s age and how much can he or
she really comprehend, not to mention
the short attention span you have to
work with.
Not all children are the same though,
and they communicate in different
ways too. Some children need a lot of
encouragement and positive feedback
to express what they’re feeling inside.
Others will be desperate to talk with
a parent when said parent is busy
with household chores, working on
the computer, talking on the phone,
etc. Once again, it pays to realise that
your child’s communication needs
during this tender developing stage
is important, so do try to stop what
you’re doing and…… listen.
Remember, as they grow older, you’ll
need them to listen to you when you
have important things to tell them,
so start modelling this behavior of
listening while your child is still at an
impressionable age. Be intentional in
your efforts to listen (when your child
or spouse is talking) and junior will
learn to do the same.
Keep the flow of
communication open at
all times
It’s important for kids to know and
realise that their parents value their
thoughts and feelings, and are always
there to help them express themselves
too. One good practice is to set aside
time for talking and listening to each
other. Family meals times can make
this happen by default with
clever prompting. Get your
spouse on board with you on
this and change dinner time
into family communicating
time with jokes, laughter,
praises, etc.
With little children, it’s easy to even
just talk about everyday things as you go
through your day together. Remember,
if you keep this up and your child is used
to having lots of communication with
you, it can make it easier to talk when
sensitive or tricky issues come up in your
child’s life later on.
The many facets of communicating with a child
Building up on their
“Feelings vocabulary”
Be open to talking about all kinds
of feelings, including anger, joy,
frustration, fear and anxiety. This
helps your child develop a ‘feelings
vocabulary’. Talking about feeling
angry is different from getting angry,
though. Learning the difference is an
important step for a child learning to
communicate.
Watch for changes in
body language
Tune in to what your child’s body
language is telling you, and try to
respond to non-verbal messages too
– for example, if your child seems
fidgety during dinner, try inquiring:
“Something seems to be troubling you.
Would you like to talk about it?”.
Work together to
resolve things
As children grow and develop their
own interesting characters, it might
get exasperating for some parents
to try and deal with it. For example,
a child may take to changing his
clothes several times a day. Instead of
nagging about it, try instead to remark
positively on his new interest in /
hygiene/fashion and ask him to put
away what he’s no longer wearing, in
its proper place.
Emphasise the
importance of honesty
It’s crucial to encourage and support
your child to tell the truth at all times
and when it happens, offer praise first
before commenting on the situation.
It goes without saying too, that it will
never do for your child to catch you
telling a lie… even if it’s a little one.
Always being available
and willing to listen
This may be tricky, especially if you
have a clingy or needy child to begin
with. This also may make it difficult
to predict when your child will start
talking about something important.
The key point here is to be sensitive to
his body language, voice tone and of
course, what’s he up to at all times.
28 BabyTalk | May 2019

Life & Style
Feature
Deciding on a
family
pediatrician
Your baby’s developing body needs specific health care - the kind that differs from the
needs of adults. It is usually provided by a pediatrician, a doctor who specializes in the
care of babies, children, and also teenagers. Medical doctors complete four years of medical
school, where else to become specialized in the field of pediatrics, three additional years of
training in the field is needed.
BabyTalk | May 2019 29

Life & Style
Feature
Apart from providing routine care, medical attention when
injuries and illnesses occur and also providing immunizations,
pediatricians can also help with issues such as growth and
development, feeding, and in some cases, behavioural
problems too.
A pediatrician may practice alone, or some may work
together in a group practice. In a pediatric doctor’s office,
there will also be nurses, where else the rest of the team may
include a laboratory technician and an administrative staff.
Do you have a family pediatrician?
Your baby need not be born into the world yet for you to
‘shop’ around for an ideal pediatrician for his future health care
needs. In fact, finding one beforehand is an important part of
preparing for a new baby! There are many things to consider
when doing this, such as the pediatrician’s training and
experience, as well as the office location, hours, and routines.
If you’re looking a pediatrician, ideally, begin as soon as
possible. You can ask your obstetrician for names, and talk
with other parents about their pediatrician. It is often a good
idea to meet with two or three prospective pediatricians
before your baby is born, to learn more about the doctors
and staff, and also to ask questions. Note: There may or may
not be a charge for this kind of visit.
30 BabyTalk | May 2019

Life & Style
Feature
Other points to consider:
• What are the office hours?
• Are there weekend and/or evening hours?
• How do you make an appointment?
• How long does it take to get a check-up
appointment?
• How long does it take to get a sick-child
appointment?
• What about payments and billing?
• Is this pediatrician listed as a provider on your
insurance plan? In regards to this, which hospital is
the pediatrician affiliated with? Is this compatible
with your insurance plan?
• How long do you have to wait in the office before
you are seen?
• Is there a separate waiting area for sick children?
• Do the office staff seem friendly and interested in
children?
Points to consider when
deciding on the ideal
pediatrician for your baby
Location: You may want to
find a pediatrician near your
home. Some parents may
prefer to find one near to their
place of work.
How long does it take to get
there? You might have to
consider how long will the
journey be during peak hours
as well.
Parking convenience. Although
you’re not anticipating on
visiting often, the ability to
park nearest as possible to the
doctor’s office will surely matter when
you do visit with your baby.
Does the practice have more
than one office/more than one
doctor? This will be important
if you wish to see the same
pediatrician for each visit.
Things you might want
to know about the
prospective pediatrician/
practice
• The pediatrician’s training and
experience. Does he have a specialty
or area of interest?
• What are his views on
immunization, and use of
medications, particularly
antibiotics and over-the-counter
medications?
• Will he be willing to prescribe
medications over the phone?
• Will he be the only one to see
your child for all visits?
• Who should you call if
your child gets sick during
the night or on weekends?
As you talk with the pediatrician and the office staff,
you’ll soon know whether they have the same train of
thought as you regarding your child’s health care. Before
you decide on anything, you may also want to consider
consulting with other parents to find out their experiences
and recommendations.
BabyTalk | May 2019 31

Life & Style
Savvy Choices
Diaper wars:
Cloth or
disposable?
Diapering one’s child has never been such a topic of debate
as it is today, mainly between parents who use cloth
diapers and disposable diapers. While we do believe
that to each his own, there are still a lot to debate
on. From the topic of convenience to hygiene and
responsibility towards the environment, we can’t
possibly deny that the choice of which kind of
diaper to use on one’s baby really does garner
some interesting thoughts and conclusions.
What
are your
choices based on?
For some parents, their choice
of diapers are based on their
consciousness as well as concern about
the ill-effects of non-biodegradable
material filling up the countless landfills on
earth. For others, it may just be a matter of
which diaper is more convenient to use
and dispose off, while still others may
make their choice based on the brands
they happen to like. How do you
make your choice of diapers
for your little one?
32 BabyTalk | May 2019

Life & Style
Savvy Choices
Modern diapering: What could we possibly mean?
Modern diapering could mean anything from simple cloth
diapering to super-absorbent disposable diapers. The whole
term ‘modern diapering’ itself can be a tad confusing to
explain, because for many, it actually refers to cloth diapering,
which in a way is actually turning back the clock to how
diapering was done many, many decades ago, using reusable
diapers. On the other hand, we have parents who liken the
term ‘modern’ to convenience above all, and nothing beats
the convenience of disposable diapers, no matter where you
go in the world.
So, let’s dissect this issue right now and go into the nitty gritty
of both cloth diapers as well as disposable diapers, before
leaving the choice to you.
Cloth diapers
Are you new to the concept of cloth diapering? Or perhaps
you’re considering using them for your baby? Well here’s
what you can expect in terms of benefits.
Cloth diapering will save you money.
The cost of disposable diapers is approximately RM8,300
from the time your baby is born till he is potty-trained. As
for cloth diapers, you’ll only need about 24 one size fits all
diapers, assuming you’ll be washing them regularly. At the
cost of about RM50 per diaper, you’ll be spending all-in about
RM1,200 for your child’s diapers. Keep in mind too, that you
can reuse these for your next child!
The bonus point here is, you’ll probably buy your cloth
diapers before your baby is born, which means that you could
potentially be eliminating your future diapering expense even
before your baby arrives!
It’s 2019: There are no folding or pins involved!
Contrary to what you may have in mind, modern cloth
diapers are not the same as the ones many of us may have
been diapered in when we were babies. They are, today,
more efficiently designed and more user friendly than they
have ever been. You also do not have to own the skills of an
origami folding artists to use one either, for they’re way past
folding, or pinning in place for that matter.
Prefolds, on the other hand, one of the cheapest options
of cloth diapers, are rectangles of absorbent fabric with
extra bulk in the middle and needs to be fastened with a
pin-less, diaper fastener, such as Snappi, then layered with a
waterproof diaper cover.
BabyTalk | May 2019 33

Life & Style
Savvy Choices
Or, you may prefer pocket diapers, which resemble
disposable diapers with easy
fasteners – buttons or
Velcro. These diapers have
two-layers – a waterproof
outer layer and a stay-dry
inner layer, usually stitched
from absorbent microfleece
or suede cloth materials.
The removable inserts can be
washed and dried to be reused.
Parents have a choice of natural, eco-friendly materials like
organic cotton, hemp and bamboo. The extra special feature
of cloth diapering is that the one-size reusable diapers grow
with your baby from infant to potty-training age.
You’ll have to organise your laundry load well
Or else, you may actually run out of diapers, especially
during times of baby diarrhea, etc. You also can’t afford to
skip laundry too often, for this reason.
Reusable and money-saving in
many ways
Depending on how well you take care of
them, cloth diapers can be used from birth
to potty training, and may even be passed
on from sibling to sibling. If you have friends
who are looking to save money and don’t
mind buying second hand, you can sell them
to recoup some of your initial investment.
The environmentally friendly choice
While no one knows exactly how long it’ll take for a
disposable diaper to completely break down inside our
landfills, one thing’s for sure, every piece of it contributes
to polluting the earth by adding poisons into the ground.
The impact of that number can be truly felt when we
consider that the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has reported that 20 billion disposable
diapers, or 3.5 million tons of waste, are placed in their
landfills every year. Note: That’ll be akin to 3.5 million
great white sharks!
Downsides to CLOTH DIAPERING
So cloth diapers save you money, they’re easy to use, they
have environmental benefits, and the list goes on. Still, even
cloth diapering is not without its own set of challenges.
You’ll need to wash them!
First, you’ll have to dispose of the poop, of course. So, yes,
there’ll be a fair amount of poop-handling going on. Get
used to that, and it’ll be just a matter of organising your
nappy laundry to ensure you have fresh diapers all the time.
No throwing away soiled diapers when you’re out
with baby
Instead, you’ll have to either find a way to dispose of the
poopy content in a toilet or garbage bin, or you’ll have to
bag the whole thing and see to it when you get home.
Disposable diapers
Disposable diapers were first introduced in the late 1950s,
and were extensively used from then on. For moms, it
meant no more slogging away getting soiled nappies
cleaned! Disposable diapers are made from exceptionally
absorbent core material that wicks away moisture from a
baby’s skin, and most modern ones also feature a special
top layer that keeps baby’s skin dry. The outer layer is made
waterproof so that urine and stools stay in the diaper.
Today, dozens of brands of disposable diapers are available
in the market, allowing moms a multitude of choices. They
even come in pull-up pant variants, also known as training
diapers, that are even easier to use.
Convenience
We can’t talk enough of the convenience of disposable diapers
for it really does count when mothers choose disposable
diapers over cloth ones. The main convenience it offers is that
you can dispose of the whole diaper once it’s been soiled.
This means that parents do not have to think about the added
laundry load later on, as with the case of cloth diapers.
Quicker diaper changes
Less time is spent on changing them, which would become
lesser as you get used to doing it. As a result, changing would
become more practical for moms or dads, especially when
they’re on the go.
34 BabyTalk | May 2019

Life & Style
Savvy Choices
The disadvantages
They ultimately cost more
Diapers are very expensive, especially when you consider that
a baby can use up to 8 diapers in a day on average. Also, the
prices of these products can vary according to their types and
qualities, which can cause concern and confusion among
parents. Ask any middle-income earning parent today and
they might tell you that a pretty good portion of their budget
is spent in buying disposable diapers each month - and for
most of them, they run out of them before month’s end!
They’re likely to cause nappy rash
Nappy rashes tend to occur due to the reaction between
a baby’s skin and certain materials used in the making of
disposable diapers. For most parents, this has amounted to
many visits to the doctor’s office or pharmacies, and also,
changing diaper brands to find a suitable one that does not
cause diaper rash.
They slow down toilet training in toddlers
Potty training takes up time and effort - the use of
disposable diapers offer such convenience to parents that
they often dilly dally when it comes to making an effort to
potty train their child.
Little ones also seem quite comfortable in these diapers, a
fact that does not help to push parents to hurry up and toilet
train their kids.
The bottom line is, (pun intended!) the choice is ultimately
yours to make, so choose well!
Easily available.
Well, you can’t expect to walk into a 24-hour convenience
store and buy a set of modern cloth diaper off the shelf, but
you will indeed find several emergency packs of disposable
baby diapers.
They have hypoallergenic variants
If your child happens to have a chemical or allergic reaction
to the materials in standard diapers, you can choose diapers
that are made to be hypoallergenic. It’s crucial though, as
parents, to keep in mind that the term ‘hypoallergenic’ in
diapers does not always carry a controlled definition, and
that some manufacturers would try to make claims that
simply aren’t true.
Sources:
• https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/features/2011/04/20/goinggreen-with-diapers
• https://www.snappibaby.com/
BabyTalk | May 2019 35

Life & Style
Mother’s Day Special
Mother’s Day:
Get Creative with
your Gifts
Every year in the month of May, we pay tribute to mothers on Mother’s day. Each
year too, many of us face the same question of what to gift to that special woman
in our lives. While the traditional flowers, chocolates and special jewelry pieces
will never go out of style, there are many other choices of gifts we can look into to
make mom’s day special. Here, we share some really great ideas and you can get
them in online stores too!
Did you know?
The Mother’s Day we celebrate today was
started by one Anna Jarvis in the early
1900s, when she got the US Congress
to recognize the holiday, founded the
Mother’s Day International Association
and even trademarked the phrase
“Mother’s Day.”
36 BabyTalk | May 2019

Life & Style
Mother’s Day Special
A special locket
There is something about lockets that make them so special to the wearer,
for often times, they hold the photo of a loved one or loved ones, worn
close to the heart. No matter what your budget is, you’ll surely find one
that’s just right. They can be bought online or at department stores, or
even at flea markets. A locket, especially with a meaningful photo inside,
is the perfect gift with sentimental value attached to it.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer - Mother’s Day Gift Edition
RM1699
If your mom is the doll-up type and is proud of her head of hair, you
simply can’t go wrong with this one! It’s a special edition for Mother’s
Day this year. The ultra-modern and stylish hair dryer set comes with
its own complimentary brush set too, making this gift extra special for
mom. Go ahead…let her know how sassy you think she still is!
Nonagon DIY Manual Photo Album
Surprise Gift Box RM73
This scrapbook style gift box is uniquely exquisite,
she might not take her eyes off it! You can
decorate it with precious photos of family
members and watch the twinkle in her eyes as it
‘opens up’ to reveal all those treasured memories
inside. Plus, there is also a gift box in the middle,
for you to place a little extra something for mom.
Strawberry Essential Selection from The
Body Shop
Fresh, aromatic and delicious-smelling! Gift mom
with this set of The Body Shop’s Strawberry
favourites comprising of Strawberry Shower Gel,
Body Scrub, Body Butter and Soap – all enriched
with cold-pressed strawberry seed oil, sourced
from seeds leftover from jam making.
Enriched with Community Trade ingredients from
around the world.
True colors Luxury Gift Set RM448
If tradition is what you’re after, then go ahead and splurge on this gift of flowers in
a lovely vase along with the sweet treat of strawberries in chocolate. There simply
can’t be anything more refreshing than the sight of 18 stalks of fresh tulips on
Mother’s day…while the chocs, which look too good to be eaten, will only sweeten
mom’s day! This gift comes with a complimentary massage card. Deliver is free
within the Klang Valley. You can order it at www.hevagifts.com.my.
BabyTalk | May 2019 37

Life & Style
Mother’s Day Special
Gift vouchers
Everyone loves to shop, so you can’t go wrong
with shopping vouchers. Even if its a RM300
voucher to shop at her favourite grocery store,
trust us, it will make any mom’s day! You can
even go with vouchers for her favourite spa, hair
salon, manicure and pedicure, garden store, etc.
Not only are these gifts quite out of norm yet
practical and considerate, you can be assured too
that they’ll be used for sure.
Personal gift basket
These are a little
different from
hampers as you’re
practically making
it yourself and
it does not need
to contain only
foodstuff or any
specific items for
that matter - you
can mix them
around to suit the recipient’s liking! You’ll need
an attractive basket for this, of course and
some ribbons if you like for simple decorating
purposes. Fill up your basket with anything you
feel the recipient would fancy, provided they
all fit well into the basket, and you’ll have the
perfect Mother’s Day gift!
A MASTERPIECE IN BLACK AND WHITE
Think supersized for this one! Find a special scenery shot of a place your recipient loves, like a special beach
from a trip, a landscape from where they grew up, or any significant scene. Have the photo enlarged and
framed and you’ll have a classy gift that is lovely and evokes fond memories too.
A luxury hotel stay
Book a stay at a luxury hotel complete with room
service and breakfast, and watch your recipient’s
eyes light up with glee! Hint: Hotels that adjoin
to shopping malls, such as One World Hotel
Petaling Jaya which is connected to One Utama
Shopping Mall, are a definite plus, especially
if the recipient has gift vouchers as part of this
exclusive Mother’s day gift!
Strawberries dipped in white chocolate
RM99
This gift set is from hevagifts.com.my and is
a luxurious sweet treat any mom would love!
The strawberries used are fresh and extra large
in size, each of them individually dipped in
decadent Belgium white chocolate. Smooth and
refined, they are presented in an elegant box
for that special woman in everyone’s life. Free
Delivery in KL and PJ.
38 BabyTalk | May 2019

Life & Style
Mother’s Day Special
Healing Solutions Mother’s Day set of essential Oils
RM363
Regardless if mom is an essential oil user or not, she’ll surely be
blown away with this lovely, scentful set from Healing Solutions.
You can purchase them online from 11street.my. The set includes
10mL bottles of the following: Calm Blend, Chamomile (Roman),
Frankincense, French Lavender, Harmony Blend, Head Ease
Blend, Love Blend, Joy Blend, Peppermint, Relaxation Blend,
Rose Geranium, Stress Relief Blend, Tea Tree, and Vetiver, all
arranged to perfection in a lovely gift box.
Happy Mother’s Day Vinyl Record Wall
Clock RM78
Is mom an artsy
soul? Does she love
music? Either way,
she’ll definitely
appreciate this
beautifully crafted
homemade vinyl
art piece from
AliExpress.
com. There are
actually quite a
few variations to choose from, and you can get
similar ones from other online stores as well.
Nigritella Oriental Orchid Fragrance
RM179
Inspired by a dark orchid from the Alps,
Switzerland, this fragrance from The Body Shop
is a luxurious floral fusion of red vanilla orchid
enhanced with an opulent hint of tuberose
and vanilla for fiery sensuality. This oriental
fragrance will instantly transport mom you
to the heights of the Alps where this living
plant blooms. The lovely bottle is crafted
from sustainably recycled glass with a natural
wooden cap.
Home baked goods
The initiative and thought that goes with baking
your own goodies for someone as gifts spell
love! Even if you’re not a good baker, there are
loads of easy-to-follow recipes on the internet
that you can try. These too can be placed into a
gift basket, or, you can arrange them in a fancy
container. Baked goods can be in the form of
muffins, cookies, cakes, buns, scones, etc.
Where to shop:
• https://www.thebodyshop.com.my
• www.lazada.com.my
• www.aliexpress.com
• www.hevagifts.com.my
• www.11street.my
BabyTalk | May 2019 39

Life & Style
Mother’s Day Special
Connect well
with your child:
Moms share their
precious tips
Those heart-warming, close connection
with our children - every parent yearns
it. Precious hugs, loving pecks on the
cheeks, impromptu blurts of “I love you
Mommy” are all that make parenting so
much more worth it. Deep in our hearts,
we can’t help but wonder if they’ll last,
for we’ve all witnessed at some time
or another in our lives, relationships
between children and their parents
undergo pressure and challenges as
little ones grow up and try to fit in with
friends, go up against peer pressure, feel
inclined to impress others, etc. After
all, there is a whole new world outside
their home, and other people besides
their family to get to know and, yes, to
connect with.
40 BabyTalk | May 2019

Life & Style
Mother’s Day Special
Parent-child connection - aim to
make it stronger
We’re constantly reminded by parenting experts that we need
a minimum of five positive interactions to every negative
interaction to keep a healthy and thriving parent-child bond.
Alright, that might seem a bit much for some. To many
parents, it may seem like a difficult feat, since many among
us spend so much time guiding (read: correcting, reminding
and reprimanding them) - So, it’s going to take some effort
to put in five times as much in positive interactions, such
as hugs, praises, kisses, cuddles, playful teasing, joking,
encouragement, etc.
Feeling connected emotionally to our kids, and feeling their
connection towards us are what makes parenting worth
the effort we put in. Children who feel strongly connected
to their parents are often more inclined to cooperate with
them, not because they have to, but because they want
to. We’ll have to keep reminding ourselves though, that
they’re still kids, which means that emotions may still be a
tad overwhelming for them to handle responsibly, especially
during such trying times of parent-child feuds and conflicts.
As long as they trust that we understand them the most, and
are always on their side, they’ll always be more open to let us
lead the way.
….And with such young minds and lives, that’s what we
want. To be able to tenderly lead them towards independence
via the route of kindness, empathy and social skillfulness.
how it must be for a child who knows no other way to
respond to feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, ect, other
than to act out and hope you’ll find some way to help him.
So, summon up all your compassion, don’t let the anger
trigger you, and welcome the tears and fears that always
hide behind the anger. Be grateful too, that you’re there for
him - to help him acknowledge all those feelings and to show
concern for the pain. That creates safety, so he can move
through those emotions and back into the momentarily ‘lost’
connection with you. Afterwards, your growing, developing
child will surely start to feel more relaxed, cooperative, and
closer to you. No one said it was easy, mama!
You’ll need to listen and
empathise, a lot!
Cultivating the habit of seeing things from your child’s
perspective will ensure that you treat your little one with
respect no matter what the situation might be and offer
amiable solutions. It will help you better understand the
reasons behind such a behavior that is driving you nuts.
Keep putting yourself in their shoes and you will soon be
regulating your own emotions - the next time your patience is
challenged, you’ll quickly remember that your child is not an
enemy, but a little human trying to grow up.
Let’s see what some Malaysian moms have to say about
the subject!
Don’t turn away an emotional
outburst
Most of us tend to confuse emotional meltdowns as ‘bad’
behaviour. At times like these, it’s good to keep in mind your
own reactions when something upsets you greatly - not such
a fun feeling, isn’t it? And that’s you as an adult, so imagine
BabyTalk | May 2019 41

Life & Style
Mother’s Day Special
Revathi, 26
Always listen to
what our kids
have to say and
let them express
their emotions.
Children raised
by parents who
are consistently
responsive tend
to have better
emotional
development and mental health outcomes.
Kelly Lai Chui
Yen, 38
Being a parent
can sometimes
be like a
rollercoaster
ride - it can take
you up to the
heights of joy
and then down
to the depths
of despair, all
within the timeframe of a few minutes. But we
will never stop trying for the rewards are great.
Adriana
Noryasmin bt
Mohd Arshad, 30
Show them
unconditional love
and respect. Be
positive and kind.
Most of all, live
your life to the
fullest with them
and always try your
best in everything
you do for them.
Rubina Rafik, 36
Our children are our soul.
I believe it’s important to
hug them everyday for it
helps in building a good
relationship between
parent and child.
Raathiga, 30
Spend quality time
with your child no
matter how busy
your daily schedule
is, because
it’s extremely
important for
their healthy
development.
Stay connected,
show love more,
play together
with them, make
and eat healthy meals with them, plan enjoyable
activities and create beautiful memories.
Dr Felicia
Soong, 39
Guide your little
ones to care and
show kindness to
others by walking
the talk.
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Life & Style
Mother’s Day Special
Nur Hazwani bt Che
Rahim, 30
Always try to listen
and see with your
heart, for children
always have a reason
to behave the way
they do. Keep doing
this and you’ll
cultivate the patience
to go through this and
you’ll soon learn to
love this journey.
Shireen Moong, 42
Bonding is very
important for every
parent and child.
Spend more time
together; it can be a
nap, a meal or even
giving them a shower.
They will be much
happier and will be
much more positive in
their behaviour.
Zanariah
Zakariah, 30
Show love and
patience. Support
and empower
them. Through your
guidance, they’ll be
motivated to learn
more about the
world.
Sydney Mak, 39
Allow your children to be
independent as early as
possible, for it’s the best way
to prepare them for the real
world out there.
Sharon, 40
To be in your
children’s thoughts
and memories
tomorrow, you
need to be in their
lives today.
Evelyn Ng, 38
Respect your child, show
them positive behaviour
and attitude. Have empathy
towards your child’s
emotion, and your child will
follow suit.
Sheena Dominic 32
Your influence as a mother is
powerful. Don’t waste it, little
eyes are watching you.
Joanne Liew, 38
There is no such thing as
loving your child too much,
Loving them cannot spoil
them.
BabyTalk | May 2019 43

Life & Style
Out & About
Keeping
parents up
to date with
their little
ones’ lives
at daycare
The LittleLives app has
just launched their
two-way communications app in Malaysia,
making it easier for parents and teachers to connect over their
children’s activities at school and daycare. This technology aims
to make a vital difference in children’s lives, by keeping their
parents in the loop with their growth and building a stronger
partnership between parents and teachers. The app, which
first began in Singapore and used now by over 1000 schools
in six countries, promotes the importance of home-and-school
partnership to build a more integrated child development.
This is a key tool as Malaysia sees more households in which
both parents are working to support these families, otherwise
known as dual-career families.
White Lodge established in
Kuala Lumpur
Parents of young children will be glad to know that
White Lodge International Preschool (White Lodge), one
of the leading preschools known to be implementing
personalised learning modules in Singapore, has already
been established in Bangsar South and Mont Kiara. The
preschool, one of the very first in Singapore to recognise
the value of creative education to preschool-aged children,
provides flexible two, three or five-day programmes with
childcare options for parents to suit their needs. Jayne
Nadarajoo, Founding Director of White Lodge Education
Group Services, said that she was inspired to establish
White Lodge after realising that childhood education tends
to focus on academic excellence, with little emphasis
on long-term intellectual and emotional growth. White
Lodge Bangsar South and Mont Kiara offer a range of
learning facilities for children aged 18 months to six-anda-half
years old to explore and learn creatively but at their
own pace. Its uniquely-designed educational programme
aims to foster their growth and development into unique
individuals, empowering them to be independent and
responsible for their own learning. For more information on
White Lodge, please visit https://whitelodge.edu.my/
Supporting a Child’s Physical,
Nutritional and Growth Needs
with Dugro
Danone Dumex Malaysia has
introduced two new products
into its Dugro ® range - Dugro ®
Complete and Dugro ® Sure,
to help support Malaysian
children with the right nutrition
for different growth needs.
Elspeth Hindle, the Healthcare
Nutrition Director of Danone Dumex
Malaysia said: “Danone Dumex
is committed to supporting the
health and nutritional needs of
Malaysian children. To that end, we
have introduced two new products,
Dugro ® Complete* and Dugro ®
Sure* – two different milk formulas
to support in various growth needs
of a child, so that each child can
grow to their fullest potential. “The difference between
the two products is that Dugro ® Complete is specially
formulated to help assist children with unsatisfactory
growth and development. Whilst Dugro ® Sure is a milk
formula designed to support optimal physical growth that
allows children to achieve all the appropriate milestones.
Both Dugro ® Complete and Dugro ® Sure are now available
for purchase at leading supermarkets and minimarkets
nationwide. The recommended retail prices of a 600 gram
pack of Dugro ® Complete and Dugro ® Sure are RM40.00
and RM30.66 respectively.
HP reinvents learning for
children with ‘Little Makers’
challenge
HP introduced the HP Little Makers challenge, an opportunity
for children to reinvent immersive learning with the HP
DeskJet Ink Advantage 3700 Printer. Children between
5 – 12 are eligible to participate in challenges for prizes,
while schools stand a chance to win a HP Idea Lab worth
RM20,000. In alignment to The Ministry of Education’s focus
on technology-based learning, the HP Little Makers challenge
incites creativity in an advanced learning environment for
children with technology and play-based learning. To kick
off the challenges, HP partnered with 40 schools nationwide
who will receive a HP DeskJet Ink Advantage and are also
in the running to win a HP Idea Lab. The HP Idea Lab will
feature the HP Pavilion x360 and HP DeskJet Ink Advantage
3700 to enhance learning experiences for the future of
Malaysia. The challenge is also open to anyone between the
age of 5-12 years old. Participating kids and their families
stand a chance to win RM500 worth of HP products.
Five winners are chosen every two weeks in-line with the
“Challenge of the Week”. Online challenges will be updated
bi-weekly on hp.com/my/littlemakers for children, parents or
teachers to complete together.
44 BabyTalk | May 2019

Life & Style
Out & About
143 CHILDREN JOIN HANDS FOR MOTHER NATURE
Ipoh, 18th April 2019 – Putting the United Nations’ (UN) global Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG) into practice, Sunway Lost World of Tambun
(LWOT) has stepped up to achieve Quality Education (Goal #4) and Climate
Action (Goal #13) goals by educating 143 children in Ipoh on the importance
of waste management for a better and healthier environment for the
future generation. To cultivate good daily habits and inculcate conservation
knowledge among children from a young age, LWOT has jointly worked
with Sunway University to conduct educational environmental workshop
sessions at Q-dees centres in Ipoh, Bandar Seri Botani and Meru respectively
to raise awareness on the significance of waste management and conservation. LWOT will be unveiling its new
attraction, Asia’s First two-and-a-half-storey Water-Based Dark Ride estimated to be completed in September 2019.
For more information about Sunway Lost World Of Tambun, log on to www.sunwaylostworldoftambun.com
FIRST REAL-TIME IN-MALL NAVIGATION MOBILE APP IN
MALAYSIA
Navigating through a shopping mall has never been this easy – and rewarding! The newly
launched Sunway Pyramid Mobile app is the very first shopping mall app with real-time
in-mall navigation, set to revolutionise the shopping experience. With over 1,000 exciting
specialty stores available in Sunway Pyramid, making one’s way around the 1.8 million sq
ft of space that spans over four main shopping levels can prove to be quite the challenge.
The Sunway Pyramid Mobile app was created in partnership with Google Maps and uses
indoor map technology to provide customers an easier way to navigate the mall. The
real-time indoor navigation feature uses Google Maps’ indoor technology and WiFi signals to accurately position the user in the
building – shoppers can say goodbye to spending more time searching for a physical counter or directory to get to their desired
location. For more information, go to: http://sunwaypyramid.com/mobile-app.
AN ADVANCED HOME WIFI ROUTER SYSTEM FOR THE WHOLE
FAMILY WITH LINKSYS
Whether it’s downloading, making payments, online gameplay, video calls and other online
engagements, internet users get frustrated when they experience lag or latency issues when
connecting to the internet. Linksys®, a brand that has pioneered wireless connectivity since 1988 with
its leading innovation and engineering strategies, and best-in-class technology, design and customer
service introduces its latest addition to the Linksys family of Velop Whole Home WiFi Mesh Systems
– the new Velop Tri and Dual Band Mesh WiFi System that is now available in Malaysia. The Velop Tri-
Band modular WiFi system can be installed in various mesh configurations providing fast and reliable
WiFi to the edge of a home network, while the new Velop Dual Band Series is a smaller and more affordable WiFi System that is
designed and built as the world’s first mass-market flexible WiFi System. Linksys®, is also the home router pioneer and first to sell
100 million routers globally. The Linksys Velop Tri-Band Mesh WiFi System and the Linksys Velop Dual Band Mesh WiFi System are
(available in 1-pack, 2-pack and 3-pack) and to find out more on Velop Mesh, visit https://www.linksys.com/my/velop/
The Nation’s First 'Promote Healthy Lifestyle,
Fight Diabetes' Roadshow in Klang
The National Diabetes Institute, Malaysia (NADI), supported by Central Sugars Refinery Sdn
Bhd (CSR), kick-started its first ‘Promote Healthy Lifestyle, Fight Diabetes’ Roadshow at
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil in Taman Sri Andalas, Klang on 13 and 14 April 2019.
The two-day programme, which started from 9:00am to 5:00pm was aimed at promoting
a healthy lifestyle among rural and urban Malaysian communities. With participation
from Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Klang (PKD Klang), the roadshow featured free health
screenings, consultations and activities to educate families on the importance of consuming sugar responsibly in accordance to our
lifestyles. The roadshow also educated the public on the effects of diabetes and provided tips for optimal control of diabetes and
other associated conditions. The roadshow will be expanded to five other locations nationwide to benefit more people throughout
the year. The next one will be held in Batu Pahat, Johor between 28-29th April.