11-12_BT_Nov-Dec 2021

Our Experts

Consultant pediatrician

Dr Livia Chow Huey Ling

With more than 7 years’ experience as a Paediatrician, Dr Livia is adept in management of a wide range

of paediatric diseases as well as paediatric intensive care management. In addition to that, with more

than 2 years’ experience in neonatology, she is proficient in newborn resuscitation, management of

premature babies and its related conditions, newborn intensive care and newborn medical screening.

Her last appointment was as a Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist in Hospital Sultanah

Aminah, Johor Bahru. Now she is practicing at Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh.

Consultant pediatrician Dr Yeoh Tze-Hau

Dr Yeoh Tze-Hau graduated from Manipal University in 2011 and obtained his postgraduate

qualification in Paediatrics from the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health, UK (MRCPCH) in

2017. He has worked in 4 different hospitals in Klang Valley and East Malaysia and has experience

managing children from birth until adolescence. He is certified in Advanced Paediatrics Life Support

(APLS) as well as Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). He will start his service in Tung Shin Hospital

beginning June 2021.

Consultant pediatrician Diana Bt Osman

Doctor Diana Bt Osman completed her undergraduate studies in India in 1988 and obtained her

Post-graduate master in Paediatric from University Malaya at 2010. Doctor Diana has a special interest

in Hemophilia and Thalassaemia and has undergone many short training in both sub. Today, she is a

Consultant Paediatrician who is now practicing in Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre.

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.

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 PEDIATRICIAN Dr. Margaret Kannimmel

Dr. Margaret Kannimmel is a graduate of University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia and MRCP

(United Kingdom). A member of the Malaysia Pediatric Association, Dr. Margaret has over 32 years

of experience as a Medical Doctor and over 27 years as a Pediatrician. Currently she is a Consultant

Pediatrician at Columbia Asia Hospital Setapak.

2 BabyTalk | November/December 2021

Editor’s Note

Hello, December!

What a year it has been, and if you are a new parent, or are currently expecting a child,

our hats off to you for having successfully made it to year’s end with your head held

high despite the challenges the year has thrown at us all. Travel restrictions, isolation,

job issues, health concerns, family matters, etc. Just take a second to think back at all

that you have successfully dealt with, and please, give yourself a pat on the back, for

you deserve it and more!

For the past decade, we at BabyTalk have had the pleasure of accompanying parents

and parents-to-be such as yourself throughout their pregnancy journey as well as their

journey into parenthood, offering them timely advice, info and messages from experts

month after month - and we simply love it! And, just so you know, we do not intend

to slow down - so do look out for new columns and even more goodies coming up

next year! For now, to close off our year, we have an assortment of articles which we

hope you’ll find useful, including one on internet safety for kids, as well as clever,

realistic ways to shape up after childbirth!

So, enjoy our last issue for the year, and till we meet again in 2022…

Much love

Cindy

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06 BT Buzz:

Pregnancy and baby health goings-on

10 Ask Our Experts:

You asked, our experts have

answered, check out their replies

Bump to Birth

contents November/December 2021

12 9 Months:

Healthy, happy pregnancy: Managing

diabetes during pregnancy

BT Guide

16 10 realistic ways to get in shape

after childbirth

Baby & Toddler

24 Nutrition:

The right diet for your child’s

optimal growth

28 Health & Medical Diary:

8 Remedies for your toddler’s cough

& cold at home*

Life & Style

32 feature:

How to support your child (and

yourself) during the Covid-19

pandemic

36 Savvy Parenting:

Internet safety - The best tips to

keep kids safe online

44 Out & About:

The latest happenings around town

Disclaimer

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BT Buzz

Sperm may swim differently to locate egg

A new study reveals how sperm change their swimming patterns to navigate to

the egg, shifting from a symmetrical motion that moves the sperm in a straight

path to an asymmetrical one that promotes more circular swimming. This change

in behavior, called hyperactivation, enables the sperm to sweep the area once in

the egg’s proximity, which improves the sperm’s chances of finding it. For the in

vitro study, the researchers designed microfluidic chips with micron-sized channels

so they could observe bovine sperm with a microscope and a high-speed camera.

By exposing the mechanisms involved, the study not only unravels a mystery of

how the sperm navigates to the egg, but it also has implications for human invitro

fertilization and dairy cow reproduction and provides new information for

engineers to design robotic micro swimmers. Read more about this interesting

fact at the Sciencedaily website.

More on sperm: Are

scientists making

their own?

With global rates of male

infertility continuing to rise, a

new study in spermatogonial

stem cell research led by

researchers at the University of

Georgia provides hope for future

clinical therapies. The study, which

was published recently in Fertility and

Sterility Science, is the first to show that functional sperm

cells can be made in a dish using primate embryonic stem

cells. “This is a major breakthrough towards producing stem

cell-based therapies to treat male infertility in cases where

the men do not produce any viable sperm cells,” said lead

researcher Charles Easley, an associate professor in UGA’s

College of Public Health. Researchers used embryonic stem

cells from rhesus macaque monkeys to generate immature

sperm cells known as round spermatids, which they showed

to be capable of fertilizing a rhesus macaque egg. Scientists

have been able to produce sperm-like cells using mouse stem

cells, said Easley, but rodent sperm production is distinctly

different from humans. Until this work, it wasn’t clear that

this technology could ever work in humans. More about this

too can be read at www.sciencedaily.com.

A contraceptive that stops sperm

in its tracks?

Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

are using the precision targeting of monoclonal antibodies

for a new type of female contraception. Monoclonal

antibodies are known for their ability to fight off invading

germs and are used to treat and prevent everything from

cancer to COVID-19. Scientists are now looking at a new

mission for antibodies: immobilizing sperm before it

can reach an egg. Carolina researchers have engineered

ultra-potent antibodies that, during animal testing,

effectively trapped and blocked more than 99.9% of

human sperm. The promising study results published in

Science Translational Medicine suggest contraceptives

based on antibodies may offer women a non-hormonal

option to prevent pregnancy. “Many women avoid

hormonal contraception because of real

and perceived side effects,” said Samuel

Lai, professor in the Division of

Pharmacoengineering and Molecular

Pharmaceutics at the UNC Eshelman

School of Pharmacy. These effects

can include irregular bleeding,

nausea, depression, weight gain

and migraines. And for some

women estrogen-based hormonal

contraception can be harmful.

Air pollution reduces sperm counts

Researchers have long known that air pollution can increase the risk of disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and fertility, but

they did not know the exact mechanism for how it can lead to these health conditions. Now, University of Maryland School

of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers have shown how air pollution reduces sperm count in mice by causing inflammation in the

brain. Scientists already know that the brain has a direct line to the reproductive organs affecting fertility and sperm count under

stressful conditions. For example, emotional stress can lead to skipped menstrual periods in women. However, this latest study,

published on Sept. 8 in Environmental Health Perspectives, connects the dots on how breathing polluted air can lower fertility.

“Our findings showed that the damage due to air pollution – at least to the sperm count – could be remedied by removing

a single inflammation marker in the brains of mice, suggesting that we may be able to develop therapies that could prevent

or reverse the damaging effects of air pollution on fertility,” said lead study author Zhekang Ying, PhD, Assistant Professor of

Medicine at UMSOM. Source: www.sciencedaily.com.


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BT Buzz

What is high functioning autism?

Autism is a developmental disability. High-functioning autism

generally refers to autistic people who have significantly

developed language and independent living skills. However,

the term is problematic, and it is not a clinical diagnosis. Highfunctioning

autistic people can usually live independently and

have successful careers. However, the use of the term remains

controversial, with many autism advocates asserting it is ableist

and misleading. Learn more about high-functioning autism,

including the causes, symptoms, and diagnosis at www.

medicalnewstoday.com.

A reversible male contraceptive, targeted to the testes with magnets

Women have several choices for long-lasting, reversible contraceptives, but most options for men are either single-use, such as

condoms, or difficult to reverse, like vasectomies. Now, in a step toward a safe, long-lasting and reversible male contraceptive,

researchers reporting in ACS’ Nano Letters have developed magnetic, biodegradable nanomaterials that reduced the likelihood

of mice fathering pups for at least 30 days. Elevated temperatures, which can be caused by wearing too-tight pants or

underwear, can decrease sperm count in men. Some researchers have explored the more intense heating of nanomaterials

injected into the testes as a form of male birth control. However, the injection can be painful, the heating can damage skin,

and most nanomaterials tested so far are not biodegradable. Weihua Ding, Fei Sun and colleagues wanted to develop a safe,

effective magnetic-thermal approach to male contraception that doesn’t need to be injected directly into the testes. Read more

about this at the Sciencedaily website.

Sudoku

9 4 3 6 8

8 7

8 3

8 1 2

5 9 3 7

1 5 9

4 8

2 8

3 7 5 6 1

Solutions:

9 7 4 2 3 6 5 1 8

2 3 5 1 9 8 7 6 4

6 8 1 4 7 5 2 9 3

8 1 9 5 2 7 4 3 6

5 4 6 9 8 3 1 2 7

7 2 3 6 1 4 8 5 9

4 5 7 3 6 1 9 8 2

1 6 2 8 4 9 3 7 5

3 9 8 7 5 2 6 4 1


Ask Our Experts

Dr Livia Chow Huey Ling,

Consultant Paediatrician

& Neonatologist,

Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh

}

Is it normal for my six month old baby to

pass gas almost every hour? He always looks

very uncomfortable and fusses a lot until he

passes gas, and then after a while, it happens

again, many times a day.

~

It’s common for babies to have gas. As the infant grows older

and the intestines get more matured, they will eventually

outgrow it when they are about 6 months old but some

may take even longer. There are a few causes as to why

babies have a lot of gas for example the babies will swallow

air when they are feeding and crying, the digestive tract is

immature or they might be sensitive to certain milk formula. It

might be distressing to see your baby looking uncomfortable

and fussing before he passes gas. If your babies are happy

after passing gas and remain happy in between episodes

there might be nothing to worry about.

There are ways that might be able to help gassy babies:

1. Feeding position may be able to help reduce gas in babies.

Feeding babies at a more upright position can reduce the

amount of air your baby swallows. Make sure the bottle

teat is completely full of milk and there’s no air bubbles

trapped inside the teat.

2. You might want to switch to anti gas feeding bottles with

slower flow nipples

3. Let babies have their tummy time. However, it is very

important to make sure someone watches the baby when

they are on their tummy to reduce the risk of sudden

infant death syndrome. You might also want to wait for

20 to 30 minutes after a feed before putting your baby on

their tummy to prevent your baby from spitting up.

There are certain situations that you might need to be

worried about and bring your child to see the paediatrician

for assessment.

1. Your baby is not gaining weight

2. Your baby refuse to feed

3. Your baby is having fever

4. Your baby develops allergic reaction and exhibit symptoms

such as rashes, vomiting, difficulty breathing, swelling of

the face

5. Your baby has problems passing stools

Please remember to consult with your paediatrician if you

want to give any medications to your baby or change the

type of milk formula.

Will my baby inherit my eczema?

}

My husband and I both have eczema.

Does this mean my child will get it too? I am

three months pregnant now. Will my diet

now have any outcome to my baby's health

when he is born?

~

Eczema is caused by an interplay between genetic and

environmental factors. A child can still get eczema even in a

family without a history of eczema. However, if one parent

has eczema, it increases the risk of your child developing

eczema by two to threefold. If both parents have eczema, it

increases the risk by four to fivefold.

There is no one definite thing that can help to prevent the

development of eczema in your baby but there are some

lifestyle changes that can help to reduce the risk. Breastfeeding

your baby may help in reducing the risk of developing eczema

in your baby. In addition to that, breastfeeding has a lot of

other benefits to the baby. There is no particular diet that has

been proven to prevent eczema. However, pregnant mothers

should maintain a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and

vitamin D that may help reduce the risk of eczema in your

baby. Eliminating certain groups of food believed to cause

eczema from your diet may not reduce the risk of your baby

developing eczema but may be affecting the health of your

baby by depriving them of important nutrients.


Bump to Birth

9 Months

Diabetes during

Pregnancy

By Dr. Prakash M Chandrakanthan, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist,

Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre, Klang

Research states that gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that

develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. Diabetes

can cause problems during pregnancy for women and their developing babies.

Poor control of diabetes during pregnancy increases the chances for birth

defects and other problems for the pregnancy. Proper health care before and

during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects and other health problems.

But the risk can be reduced if the condition is detected early and well managed.

Diabetes Mellitus and Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes

that is first seen in a pregnant woman

who did not have diabetes before she was

pregnant. Gestational diabetes usually

shows up in the middle of pregnancy.

Q: What is diabetes in pregnancy,

also known as gestational diabetes

mellitus (GDM)?

Dr. Prakash: Diabetes that develops during pregnancy

is known as gestational diabetes. It occurs because the

body cannot produce enough insulin which is a hormone

important in controlling blood glucose to meet its extra

needs in pregnancy. This results in high blood glucose levels.

Gestational diabetes usually starts in the middle or towards

the end of pregnancy.

Q: What causes diabetes during

pregnancy, and can it be prevented?

Dr. Prakash: During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes

hormonal changes and physical changes such as weight

gain. Because of these changes, the body’s cells don’t use

insulin well, a condition called insulin resistance. All pregnant

women have some insulin resistance during late pregnancy.

Most pregnant women can produce enough insulin to

overcome insulin resistance, but some cannot. These women

develop gestational diabetes. As for prevention, before

embarking into a pregnancy, if a woman is overweight, losing

weight with regular physical activities may help in preventing

gestational diabetes.


Bump to Birth

9 Months

Q: What are the possible symptoms of

diabetes during pregnancy?

Dr. Prakash: Usually, gestational diabetes has no symptoms.

If a woman does have symptoms, they may be mild, such as

being thirstier than normal or having to urinate more often.

Q: What age group or category of

women can be affected with this type

of diabetes?

Dr. Prakash: A woman is more likely to develop gestational

diabetes if she is overweight with a BMI of 27kg/m2 or

higher, previously have had Gestational diabetes, has a history

of giving birth to a large baby, have a first-degree family

member with diabetes or with the presence of sugars in the

urine test done during routine follow up.

Q: How can pre -existing diabetes be

managed in a pregnant woman?

Dr. Prakash: Assessment of sugar levels in a pregnant

woman with pre-existing diabetes is vital. Women already

on medication, would either be advised to continue current

medication or she may need to start on insulin injections. Low

dose aspirin will also be given in addition to folic acid, calcium

carbonate and vit D3 tablets. Additional blood tests to look at

kidney functions would need to be done. An appointment for

eye assessment by an ophthalmologist will be organized to

look for eye related complications secondary to pre-existing

diabetes. The woman will also be given a consultation with

the dietician for relevant advice in maintaining a healthy diet.

Her pregnancy follow ups would further be under combined

care with the endocrinologist.

Q: Is it necessary for pregnant

women to be screened for GDM?

Dr. Prakash: All pregnant women with risk factors will need

to be screened for GDM. Women at risk of developing GDM

will be advised to screen early in pregnancy. Women aged

25 and above with no risk factors will be advised screening

between 24 to 28 weeks of gestation.

Q: What is the treatment for GDM in

pregnancy, and how is it managed?

Dr. Prakash: In some women, GDM will respond to healthy

diet and exercise. Majority will need oral medication or

insulin. Follow ups with the obstetrician will be on a regular

basis. The woman will be advised to monitor her blood

sugar levels frequently and any abnormal results will require

immediate attention by the obstetrician.

Q: What are the likely complications

of diabetes during pregnancy?

Dr. Prakash: Most women who develop gestational

diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies

but occasionally gestational diabetes can cause serious

problems, especially if it is not recognized or treated. With

gestational diabetes, a woman is more likely to develop a

condition called preeclampsia, which is when you develop

high blood pressure and too much protein in your urine

during the second half of pregnancy. Uncontrolled sugar

levels can also result in a woman having a stillbirth. In terms

of delivery, gestational diabetes may also increase your

chance of having a cesarean section as your baby may be

large. In the long term, the chance of developing type 2

diabetes later in life is also increased.

Q: How will gestational diabetes

impact the baby’s development, and

are there any birth defects?

Dr. Prakash: Most of the developmental anomalies or birth

defects are seen in women with pregestational diabetes

in pregnancy. The anomalies include problems with the

development of the heart, central nervous and skeletal system.

These anomalies are usually a result of poorly controlled

diabetes during preconception up to the first trimester.

Q: How prevalent is diabetes in

pregnancy in Malaysia?

Dr. Prakash: The prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy in

Malaysia is quite common ranging from 18% to 24%.

The global rapid increase of gestational diabetes mellitus is

alarming. Diabetes can be a common endocrine disorder in

pregnancy, which is detected in weeks 24 to 28. In certain

occasions, the condition can develop earlier as well. Being

diagnosed with gestational diabetes can be disturbing

emotionally in pregnancy, but with early screening and

detection the condition can be well managed to avoid any

complications during pregnancy and delivery. The prevalence

of diabetes has been associated with lifestyle changes,

environment and increasing urbanization. Lifestyle and eating

routines play an important role in keeping your blood sugar

levels within a healthy range.


There is

nothing wrong

in trying to shake

off that extra baby

weight, but first,

read this...

Most women who have given birth will tell you that losing their

baby weight was no walk in the park! Think about it - as a new mom,

you’d have to take care of your newborn, your household, as well as

yourself. Eating right might not be the easiest thing to incorporate

into a new mom’s routine, hence shedding off that excess weight can

prove to be quite a challenge to many women. Here, we break it down

to individual steps, with options thrown in too, to help you achieve

your goal of looking and feeling your best after childbirth!


New moms would definitely have a few extra kilos on

them right after childbirth, and we do not recommend

that you try to slim down immediately after giving birth.

Do keep in mind that you’ll need to nurse your baby,

and the extra weight will help, providing the energy to

keep you going for the first few weeks. This is especially

so for new moms who have poor appetite after giving

birth, due to hormonal changes, exhaustion, minor baby

blues, etc.

The extra fat after childbirth is a natural energy reserve,

particularly for breastfeeding. However, more than half of

all pregnant women today tend to put on more than the

recommended weight during pregnancy, resulting in too

much weight gain and of course, too much fat. Hence,

this ‘baby weight’ in many new moms is nothing new.

Here are a number of ways you can shed off the excess

weight, safely, and still be healthy and energetic as a

new mom.

1

Breastfeed your baby!

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises

breastfeeding one’s baby during the first 6 months

of life (or much longer), for it has many benefits

for both mother and her baby. Breastmilk, first and

foremost, provides complete, unmatched nutrition

for a baby, helping him or her to fight off viruses,

bacteria, and many diseases. As a mother, your risk of

high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer,

and ovarian cancer are all automatically lowered if

you breastfeed your baby. Plus, to top it all

off, breastfeeding supports postpartum

weight loss in the best ways possible.

Note: Do not give up if during the first

few (two or three) months, you experience

little or no weight loss, or even end

up putting on some instead. This is

only due to an increase of calories

in your confinement food as well as

your limited movements. Weight loss will

kick in soon enough, and you’ll soon see

favourable results.

2

Get more fibre and healthy

proteins into your diet

If you’re wondering about the link between fibre and

weight loss, don’t worry, many are in the same boat

with you. The fact is, fibre plays a major role in not

just weight loss, but in your overall health as well!

Choosing foods that are high in soluble fiber, such as

sweet potatoes, apricots, oranges, Brussels sprouts,

legumes and grains like oatmeal, will actually help

you conquer belly fat. It also has a way of filling you

up with less, slows down digestion, and prevents you

from overeating. One 2019 study involving almost 350

people revealed that an increase of 4 grams of fiber

over what participants had eaten before the study, for

half a year, resulted in an average additional weight loss

of 3 1/4 pounds!

And now, let’s see what protein has to offer in terms

of postpartum weight loss. First, try replacing most of

your simple carbohydrates, such as white rice, potatoes,

white bread, etc., with some good fats and high quality

protein. Your hunger hormones will be reduced, while

the release of hormones linked to satiety will increase.

With less hunger pangs, you will less likely binge eat or

take in unhealthy food choices.

Here’s what your protein intake should look like:

BabyTalk | November/December 2021 17

3

Snack healthily

When you are breastfeeding, you’ll find that snacking is essential to keep your energy levels up and also

to deal with the inevitable hunger pangs in between meals. Here’s when you should be making better

choices, and these are only possible if you (or anyone who happens to be helping you) take the effort to

do some food prep and keep them ready in your fridge to snack on. Here are some

snack ideas you might want to try: Carrot sticks (or any other cut vegetable) with

hummus; whole grain cereal with yogurt; cut fruits; tuna sandwich; trail mix; cheese

sticks; unsweetened popcorn; miso soup; organic wholegrain crackers, etc.

4

Keep thirst at bay

There really is a correlation

between being well-hydrated

and keeping the pounds off,

especially for breastfeeding

moms! Firstly, drinking

enough fluids is a must for

breastfeeding moms, to

replace the depleted fluids

during milk production and

feeding. From a weight loss

point of view, water is a

natural appetite suppressant

- it fills you up, leaving little

space for anything else, hence, lowers your hunger

pangs. Water may also temporarily increase the body’s

resting energy expenditure, or the number of calories

burned while resting.

If you’re wondering about the differences between

water and other beverages, well, let us take into

account how many calories we may be consuming in

sports drinks, or other beverages.

The fact is, replacing them for water or other no-calorie

beverages each day will result in weight loss, with long

term benefits to boot!

And, if all those are not enough to convince you,

note that taking in appropriate amounts of water

(approximately 8 glasses a day, more if you need to, for

breastfeeding moms), will assist in burning off stored

fat, as well as fat from food and drinks.

5

Be aware of your food’s

calorific value

Here’s when a calorie-counting & tracking app can

come in useful. Apps such as MyNetDiary; Lose It!; Carb

Manager; and ControlMyWeight can make a difference

in the way you choose your food. That way, you’ll be

getting enough calories to be comfortably satiated and

be able to nurse your baby without issues, and yet will

not be overeating to the point of putting on extra kilos

and/or hampering your weight loss efforts.

Other ways you can keep track of your calorie intake

are by keeping a food diary, snapping a photo of

everything you eat (for tracking rather than for

uploading to your social media!); and also, exchanging

notes with a family member or friend who is also

monitoring calories for their weight loss.


6

Get the sleep you need!

Did you know that there

have been studies proving

the fact that prolonged

lack of sleep during the

postpartum period (and

beyond) was linked to

retaining more body weight

after having your baby?

Yes, no one said it was

easy - your baby demands

your attention 24/7, you

have chores to see to, and

probably do not even have

enough time for yourself.

Still, it will do you a world of good to know that getting

enough sleep will benefit you in more ways than one,

and that includes avoiding from retaining more weight

after pregnancy. In fact, some studies found a significant

correlation between short amounts of sleep and obesity!

So, mommies, will you find time to have some muchneeded

snooze, now?

8

Highly processed foods are a

no-no!

Again, referring to Point No:2, making better food

choices matters a lot if you are trying to lose weight

after giving birth. These foods are always in the

category of wholesome, unprocessed foods. These

are the foods with less sugar, and more protein as

well as fibre.

In contrast, what you should not be taking in are all

those highly processed foods which we admit, tend

to be tasty, but are oh, so unhealthy, and very, very

fattening! They include chips, cookies, sweets, instant

meals (including instant noodles), sugary cereals, most

canned foods, and of course fast foods.

If you are serious about shedding off those extra

kilogrammes, then either avoid them, or replace them

with more wholesome food choices which are nutrientdense

and filling.

7

Take up resistance training

(to your particular level of

capability)

It’s a fact that certain exercises, such as weight lifting

for example, will help you shed off excess fat while

helping you retain your muscle mass. Combined with

the advice in (NO:2), resistance training may turn out to

be a relatively effective way to lose that baby weight!

The bigger issue may turn out to be finding the time for

it, but hey, to this, we say: Where there is a will, there is

a way! Remember, you do not necessarily have to enrol

into a gym to make this happen, for there are countless

tutorial videos on YouTube that can help you out!

Remember, exercise need not cost you money at all, yet

its effects are visible!


9 10

Alcohol - what about it?

So far, we have covered everything that nursing

moms should be doing to accelerate their weight loss

efforts. So now, let’s take a look at something that you

should not be doing if you have just given birth and

are looking to lose some of that elusive baby weight -

drinking alcohol.

While some may believe that a glass or two of red wine

will contribute some health benefits, when it really

comes to weight loss, we have to accept the fact that

alcohol comes with some extra calories, and very little

nutrition. They have always been linked to weight gain,

and rightly so, for it encourages the storage of belly fat.

Star Tip: Be realistic with your

weight loss expectations

Forget what you keep seeing on TV, or on social media

about all those celebrities who somehow managed to

lose weight ridiculously quickly, and fitting into their pre

pregnancy clothing as if they had not even given birth

in the first place! Those are what we call unrealistic

expectations, and they are unhealthy examples of

postpartum weight loss. Keep your goals realistic, which

in turn keeps you healthy and energetic.

Crash dieting like the stars will only result in disaster, to

your health, both mental and physical.

Despite what magazines and celebrity stories try to

convince you, losing weight after pregnancy takes time.

After all, it took all of nine months for you to gain that

weight, so why expect to lose it in a few days?

Take heart that a good eating plan and exercise

will help you achieve your goal and you need not

compromise your wellbeing for it!


Baby & Toddler

Nutrition

NUTRIENT-

DENSE FOOD

FOR CHILDREN’S

OPTIMAL GROWTH

Thanks to the advancement of technology in food

production, we have a large array of food types for our daily

consumption. With the variety of food available today,

ensuring the right food selection poses a challenge, as the

practice to consume nutrient-dense food is still relatively

low in Malaysia. According to research on Malaysian’s

dietary intakes in 2019, the Malaysian diet is relatively

energy-dense and nutrient-poor 1 .

Consuming energy-dense food — in

other words, calorie-dense food — has

proven to result in common adverse

effects namely overweight and obesity.

However, research conducted locally

among urban Malaysian children in

2016 found that a high calorie-dense

diet correlates to stunting 2 .

In a typical Malaysian household, it

is very common for a child to be fed

five times a day. Parents may think

that the usual number of servings is

sufficient, in reality, it might not be

the same for the nutrient intake, as

calorie-dense food usually does not

contain the proper amount of essential

nutrients to support growth. Parents

might need to consider swapping

these high-calorie foods with better

choices — for example, fast food

burgers vs. sandwiches, ice-cream vs.

plain yoghurt with cut fruits, sweet

candies vs. fresh fruits, flavoured

milk vs. formulated milk and fried

vegetables vs. steamed vegetables. That

said, nutrient-dense food is pivotal for

children’s growth, as they need the

right fuel to grow, learn and develop.

Lacking the right nutrients, children in

Malaysia are at risk of being stunted,

and unlike gaining weight, stunting

is irreversible.

Nutrient-dense food is defined as

foods that are rich in vitamins,

minerals and other nutrients

important for health and growth,

without an excessive amount of

saturated fat, added sugars and

sodium. Additionally, nutrition

plays a more dominant role which

determines 80% of the children’s

height 3 , therefore, debunking the

common perception that height is

exclusively influenced by genetics.

Though grocery shopping is restricted

due to the lockdown, it is best to

encourage a diet with a nutrient-dense

selection amongst children to ensure

they reach their full potential for

optimal growth.

Making sure the children’s growth is on

track is not just solely on nutrient-dense

food consumption, as active growth

tracking is also crucial to help minimise

risks and identify problems at an early

age. Growth issues detection by

parents usually happens when


Baby & Toddler

Nutrition

By: Miah Chua

Corporate Nutritionist of

DUTCH LADY Malaysia

the children first enter school —

this is when parents get to compare

their children’s height with other

children. The reality is, growth issues

commence at earlier stages, therefore,

it is important to monitor and track

their children’s growth as early and as

frequently as possible.

These key steps — nutrient-dense food

consumption and growth tracking, are

vital to help combat the nationwide

stunting phenomenon in Malaysia. The

National Health and Morbidity Survey

2019 reported that 1 in 5 Malaysian

children under the age of five is

stunted 4 , and the South East Asian

Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS) revealed

that most of the children in Malaysia

fulfilled the Malaysian Recommended

Nutrient Intake (RNI) for energy and

protein, however, 1 out of 2 of them

did not achieve the Recommended

Nutrient Intake (RNI) for Calcium

and Vitamin D 5 .

These findings have proven that

nutrient needs tend to be parallel with

the rate of growth. In order to ensure

sufficient nutrients, a child’s diet must

consist of all food categories including

fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish,

whole grains, dairy, legumes and nuts.

However, by supplementing with

nutrient-dense foods, these deficiencies

can be addressed. Amongst the

vast nutrient-dense food out there,

nutrient-dense milk plays a significant

role to nourish children with proper

nutrition and provide convenience for

parents as a glass of nutrient-dense

milk has more calcium, potassium,

phosphorus and vitamins and all

other nutrients required for a child’s

optimal growth and development.

As parents, it is necessary to put these

practices — nutrient-dense diet and

consistent growth tracking — at an

early stage to establish habits, in the

interest to help their children reach

their full growth potential.

References:

1

Body Weight Status and Dietary Intakes of Urban Malay Primary School Children: Evidence from the Family Diet Study, 2017

https://doi.org/10.3390/children4010005

2

Higher Dietary Energy Density is Associated with Stunting but not Overweight and Obesity in a Sample of Urban Malaysian Children

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03670244.2016.1181065

3

Jelenkovic, A. et al. Genetic and environmental influences on height from infancy to early adulthood: An individual-based pooled

analysis of 45 twin cohorts. Sci. Rep. 6, 28496; doi: 10. 1038/srep28496 (2016)

4

National Morbidity Survey 2019

http://www.iku.gov.my/nhms-2019

5

Nutritional status and dietary intakes of children aged 6 months to 12 years: findings of the Nutrition Survey of Malaysian Children

(SEANUTS Malaysia)

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/05bb/4de1e68096ef84fcac60083a57b5ad6867cb.pdf?_ga=2.115456070.1595186782.1606355175-

1976471054.1606355175


Baby & Toddler

Health & Medical Diary

Safely

Deal with

Your

Toddler’s

Cough &

Cold

at Home

Cough and cold (viral rhinitis) are the

commonest infection in children and can

happen anytime of the year. There are a lot of

circulating viruses that can lead to this such

as influenza virus, coronavirus (non-COVID

strain) and rhinovirus, with the latter being

the commonest cause. While cough and

cold are a self-limiting disease and most will

clear up within a week, the symptoms can

be troublesome and cause distress to both

children and parents.

The commonest symptoms are cough,

runny nose, nose block and mild

ear pain from mucus building up in

the nose and behind the eardrum,

fever, sore throat, and tiredness/body

ache. Sometimes, children may have

vomiting after recurrent bouts of

coughing. Typically, these symptoms

are worse in the first 2 to 3 days, and

slowly subside over the next few days

as our body’s immune system starts to

clear off the virus.

Cough and cold often do not require

any treatment, in particular antibiotics

as they do not kill viruses. During the

peak of the illness, however, supportive

care is necessary to ease the symptoms,

help children to recover and to prevent

them from developing complications

such as dehydration and febrile seizure.

These remedies will help your children

to feel better:

• Stay hydrated. Drinking water,

juices, milk, clear broth or any form

of fluids can prevent dehydration

and loosen congestion. Children

may be experiencing a reduction

in appetite and refuse to drink,

especially if given a large amount.

Encourage them to drink in small

amounts but frequently such as

feeding them using a spoon or

having them to sip slowly from a

cup with a straw. Avoid high sugar

content beverages such as sport

drinks and carbonated soda.

• Provide adequate nutrition.

During illness, our body will need

extra energy and nutrients to

combat infection. Prepare semisolid

food that is easy to eat and

swallow for your children. It will

help with ensuring they receive

the nutrients they need during this

time. Popular beliefs such as giving

vitamin C and zinc supplements

may help to shorten the duration

of symptoms, but there is no strong

scientific evidence to support its use.

Furthermore, overdosing on them


Baby & Toddler

Health & Medical Diary

Dr Yeoh Tze Hau

Consultant Paediatrician,

Tung Shin Hospital.

MBBS (Manipal University) & MRCPCH(UK)

may cause harmful side effects, even

with vitamin C.

• Control fever. Give only

paracetamol to your children.

It not only can bring down the

temperature, but also helps

with relieving body ache. While

paracetamol can be easily obtained

from over-the-counter (OTC)

pharmacies, remember to always

consult your doctor or pharmacist

for the correct dose for your

children’s age and weight. Avoid

giving aspirin to your children

as it has been linked to serious

complications in children.

• Relieving stuffiness. Runny

nose and nose block is by far the

most distressing symptoms to both

children and parents. Children

will appear to be uneasy or throw

tantrums as they struggle to breath

and this in turn leads to increased

anxiety in parents. Over-the-counter

saline drops and sprays can help to

loosen secretion followed by clearing

it using bulb syringe or nasal

aspirator. Doing this can provide

children with temporary relief and

allows them to rest and sleep.

• Rest. Our body works very hard

trying to fight off infections. Hence,

getting adequate rest is important

to allow our body to heal. By

applying the above-mentioned

remedies, it gives our children an

opportunity to sleep and rest.

The followings are things that parents

SHOULD NOT be doing at home:

• Giving cough and cold

medications from OTC pharmacy.

These medications include

decongestants, antihistamines and

cough remedies. While these are

commonly used in bigger children

and adults, they pose a safety risk

to younger children such as allergic

reactions, breathing and sleeping

problems as well as causing them

to hear and see things that are

not really there (hallucinations).

These medications should only be

prescribed by the doctor after careful

evaluation and consideration.

• Giving your children cough

sweets or lozenges. While these

remedies help with soothing sore

or itchy throat that causes cough,

they are also a potential hazard for

choking in young children.

While most coughs and colds recover

without complications, sometimes

a more serious disease can develop

from what seemed to be a mild viral

infection initially. For example, a chest/

lung infection (pneumonia), a middle

ear infection (otitis media) and even

a brain infection (meningitis). The

following are the red flags symptoms

that parents need to look out for in an

unwell child:

• Breathing difficulties or

noisy breathing

• Unable to swallow or drooling

of saliva

• Drowsiness/change in behaviour in a

bigger child

• Unusual irritability or persistent

crying in a baby

• Persistent high fever (> 38°C)

• A rash

• Intense headache, ear pain,

ear discharge

• Swollen glands

• Seizure

• Any symptoms that you cannot

explain

• Any recent contact with individuals

with suspected or confirmed

COVID-19 infection

As mild as a cough and cold can be,

the experience is traumatizing to

children as well as the parents. In order

to prevent catching and spreading of

the virus, it is always wise to avoid

crowded places and people who are or

appear sick, wear a mask if you need

to go to crowded areas. Frequent and

proper hand washing especially after

touching objects and surfaces is also

recommended. Last but not least, get

your children and yourselves vaccinated

against diseases that have a vaccine, for

instance a yearly seasonal flu vaccine to

protect against influenza virus.


Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn. Bhd. Registration No: 197301001746 (14578-T)

Life & Style

Feature

Keeping a routine

Making a schedule daily is helpful for

children especially when they have to

be at home the whole day. It doesn’t

have to be strict but at least the

schedule makes sure the children wake

up and go to bed about the same time

everyday. In the schedule, there should

be allocated time for exercise, playtime,

studies and other family activities or

games. Maintaining a schedule can be

calming as the children know what will

happen and when it will happen. There

should also be a time limit for usage

of smart gadgets such as smartphones

and tablets to avoid addiction.

Maintain physical

activity

Children are not able to go to the park

or playground for exercise during the

lockdown period. Thus, it is crucial that

parents make sure they incorporate

some exercise in their children’s daily

routine. Parents need to set an example

by being physically active themselves.

It’s even better to exercise as a family’s

regular routine. Examples of exercises

could be aerobic exercises, dancing

to their favourite songs, walking and

cycling around the housing area.

Supporting

our children

during the

covid-19

pandemic

During MCO 3.0, children are always at home since they

are not going to school and they are not able to meet up

with their friends. There are a few things that parents and

family members can help to make the lockdown period more

bearable but safe for children.

Incorporate new

activities

We can make use of the lockdown

period to spend more quality time with

children. Try to think of more family

activities that can improve bonding

such as treasure hunting, drawing,

baking, puzzle time, board games or

even music activities. Having more of

such activities can also help to reduce

internet-based activities such as gaming

and usage of social media.

Stay socially

connected

Socializing with friends and family is

one of the best ways to regulate our

mood and this applies to children as

well. Unfortunately, the lockdown

period has practically prevented such

socialisation activities from happening.

Fortunately, with technology, it helped

to bring friends and families closer

although they are unable to meet.

Allow children to have video calls with


Life & Style

Feature

Dr Livia Chow Huey Ling

Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist,

Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh

family members such as grandparents,

uncle, aunty, cousins and even friends

and schoolmates. This way, children

feel less lonely and it also helps to

reduce anxiety and stress.

Filtering news from TV

or internet

There is a constant flow of news

regarding Covid 19 situation from the

television and also from the internet.

Children might misinterpret the news

and this causes an increase in fear

and anxiety. Parents should talk to the

children often and explain the facts

of the current situation and answer

whatever questions that they might

have appropriate to their age. For

example, for younger children, parents

don’t need to go into the details of

the disease whereas for an adolescent,

parents can be a bit more open.

Improve ventilation

at home

Bringing fresh air into the house

prevents virus particles accumulating

inside the house. Opening doors and

windows can improve the ventilation

in the house. If it’s unsafe to do so

you can use air filters or switch on the

exhaust fans. It is recommended to

change the air filter every 3 months

or according to the manufacturer’s

recommendation.

Clean regularly

Cleaning the house with a household

cleaner or detergent can help to reduce

germs on surfaces. Cleaning alone is

adequate to remove most of the virus

particles from the surface. We need to

focus more on places or things where

there is a high frequency of touching

such as door knobs, switches, remote

controls, toys etc.

Continue healthcare

follow up and routine

vaccinations

It is strongly recommended that

children continue to follow their routine

healthcare follow up and vaccination

schedule during the pandemic.

During the follow-up, the doctors and

parents can assess the growth and

development of their children and

can discuss any health issues that are

worrying. Vaccination is important to

prevent vaccine preventable diseases

such as measles and whooping cough.

They are contagious and can be severe

in babies and younger children.

Emotional changes

in children

With the outbreak of Covid 19

affecting globally, many countries

including Malaysia have implemented


Life & Style

Feature

lockdown. Lockdown causes a sudden

interruption to people’s normal daily

life, relationship, behaviour, habits and

working environment. Children are

not excluded from such changes as

school closes and children are forced to

stay at home. With the constant flow

of news on social media and news of

their loved ones being quarantined or

afflicted with the virus and subsequent

death causes a lot of fear and anxiety

in children. It is crucial that parents

and caregivers look out for potential

behavioural changes that could indicate

psychological stress in children. Not all

children respond to stress in the same

way but common changes to look out

for would be:

• Irritability

• Excessive crying

• Clinging behaviour as they have fear

of losing loved ones

• Unhealthy eating habits or reduced/

increased appetite

• Disturbance in sleep pattern

• Prolonged episodes of anger

• Frequent lashing out at others

• Excessive worry

• Unusual and persistent sadness

• Showing disinterest in activities that

was enjoyed in the past

• Feeling of hopelessness

• Withdrawal from family and friends

What can be done?

Parents and caregivers need to routinely

ask the children how they are feeling.

If they are feeling sad or worried, find

out the reason for these feelings. It is

also important to let them know that

it is understandable for them to feel

that way. Let children open up their

feelings. Parents can help to divert

their attention to healthy activities at

home. Help them focus on things that

they can control. Tell them how to

keep themselves healthy by following

precautions such as wearing masks,

washing hands and maintaining

physical distance. Help children discover

new hobbies such as painting, baking,

crafting or reading. Keeping a routine

for sleeping, waking up, play, study and

exercise is also very important. It keeps

children more calm as they know what

they can expect for the day rather than

living in uncertainty.

BabyTalk | November/December 2021 35

Life & Style

Savvy Parenting

The AI-Cloud solution

for home internet

security and

parental control

The rise in smart device usage in recent years, including among a new generation of

children growing up as digital natives, has brought new concerns about internet safety in

the home. In the last five years, the usage of internet and smart home devices around the

world has increased by 45% and in the wake of the pandemic, this number has increased

even more due to growth in working and learning from home. With the rise in internet

use, the amount of online threats like ransomware, malware and adware have also

increased. This is especially worrying as 40% of smart devices globally do not follow any

standard security protocols , thus becoming easy entry points for hackers to enter home

networks - violating privacy and stealing personal data.


AmericanSchool

For more details and enrollment contact:

+6 (07)509 8750

Inquiry@Raffles-American-School.edu.my

www.raffles-american-school.edu.my

Think. Create. Succeed.

Life & Style

Savvy Parenting

can easily set rules in a few

clicks. Audra is made with

three components - Cloud

AI solution to protect users

seamlessly, Management app

for setting rules and getting

alerts and a 1Gbps Wi-Fi

gateway device to connect

all smart home devices.

With a view to ensure

digital wellness in Malaysia, Audra launched its Home

Internet Security & Parental Control solution in partnership

with retailer AI Home. At the virtual launch event, a panel

discussion on ways to protect the family from gadget

addiction, harmful content and online attacks was held. The

panel featured internet security expert Ola Johannes Lind,

who is Audra’s Business Development Director, with parenting

trainer and educator Phang Chui Kean – better known as

Teacher Kean, serving as the host, plus appearances by TV

personality and entrepreneur Datin Dynas Mokhtar - a mother

of three, and Seven Ching, General Manager of AI Home,

who both spoke from a parent’s perspective.

Beyond an increase in online attacks, gadget addiction and

exposure to harmful content among children is also a pressing

issue. In Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and

Multimedia Commission (MCMC)’s Internet User Survey 2020

found that the number of children aged five to 17 who are

internet users has more than doubled in the past five years,

from 18.4% in 2016 to 47% in 2020, but only 34.4% of

parents use parental controls to safeguard their children on

the internet. In light of this, the MCMC encourages parents

and caregivers to keep abreast of risks and threats and make

use of parental control tools when it comes to children's

activities on the internet, while the MCMC works with other

government bodies and law enforcement to protect children

online from harms like pornography and paedophiles.

In the session, Phang warned that with 90% of Malaysian

households having access to more than one device,

Malaysian children face the same risks as their regional

and international counterparts. Echoing news reports and

At the same time, psychiatrists have reported seeing more

cases of young patients with gadget addiction as well as

manifesting signs of internet gaming addiction (IGA) or

internet gaming disorder, and anxiety disorder comorbid

major depressive disorder (MDD), besides being significantly

exposed to pornography. In addition, spending too much

time on digital devices can also cause physical harms such as

headaches, neck pain and eye strain as well as other harms

associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Empowering parents and simplifying

protection with Audra HomeShield

To help Malaysian parents address this issue, Audra

introduced Audra HomeShield, the 1st-ever DIY Internet

Security and Parental Control solution to solve technologyborne

problems with technology. With Audra, users can

prevent hacking, adware, malware, DDoS and other online

attacks. They can also set schedules and time quotas to

prevent gadget addiction, besides blocking pornography,

gaming, gambling and other categories from their children.

Managing Audra is so simple that a non-tech savvy parent


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At MyGenius, Mandarin is the main medium of instruction. Other than Mandarin subject, math and

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As a result, most MyGenius Kindergarten graduates are able to recognize at least 500 Chinese characters,

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Life & Style

Savvy Parenting

with exposure of our confidential

information and violating our

privacy by infiltrating our smart

home devices,” he said.

findings from government bodies, he said a significant

number of children in Malaysia are experiencing gadget

and internet addiction, being exposed to pornography

and cyberbullying, and experiencing mental health

problems, besides also being at risk of other cybercrimes

like identity theft and fraud – giving examples of cases he

has encountered. “Internet and gadget addiction is very

detrimental to children’s physical and mental health. Kids

look for instant gratification, so when parents try to control

the children, they will test our boundaries,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Lind explained how Audra HomeShield’s easy to

navigate system addresses parents’ concerns on safe internet

use by children, easily blocking popular games like Roblox

and Minecraft by blocking the entire Gaming category, as

well as platforms and services like Discord, Steam, VPNs and

social media, while offering flexibility to limit the blocking

to specific days and times. “Parents also receive detailed

reports enabling them to track their children’s activity online.

This allows them to understand the children’s behaviour

online and have discussions with them, thus improving

communication and trust as a family. At the same time, Audra

HomeShield protects the family from common online threats

and nuisances such as adware, DDoS attacks, ransomware,

phishing and identity theft, which harm us by stealing our

bank data, spying on our online activities, blackmailing us

Rounding up the session, Dynas

and Ching added their personal

experience managing their

children’s internet use. “My kids are

constantly on gadgets. I’m not sure

when they are using gadgets for

online classes and other educational

purposes and when they are doing

something else. I'm in a dilemma

on what to do – give them gadgets

when they're depressed sitting

at home all the time or take it

away to control gadget addiction.

I’m so happy after using Audra

HomeShield. I can control bad

content and gadget addiction in just one click. When my kids

ask for additional hours from me, I can decide whether to

allow it or not. Using Audra HomeShield is as simple as using

my phone,” she commented. For more information on Audra

HomeShield, please visit http://www.audra.io/homeshield.

1

Statista, 10 September 2021, Global digital population as of January 2021

https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/digital-population-worldwide/

2

Digital Information World, 21 April 2021, 40 Percent of Mobile Devices are Prone to Cyber-Attacks, Check Point's New Report Reveals

https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/04/40-percent-of-mobile-devices-are-prone.html

3

The Sun Online, 13 July 2021, Massive rise in use of gadgets, screen time among children worrying - Experts

https://www.thesundaily.my/local/massive-rise-in-use-of-gadgets-screen-time-among-children-worrying-experts-KX8055840

4

Astro Awani Online, 25 August 2021, Beware of cyber predators exploiting pandemic to target children

https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/beware-cyber-predators-exploiting-pandemic-target-children-315938

5

The Sun Online, 13 July 2021, Massive rise in use of gadgets, screen time among children worrying - Experts

https://www.thesundaily.my/local/massive-rise-in-use-of-gadgets-screen-time-among-children-worrying-experts-KX8055840


Babytalk Readers’ Choice Awards

A Celebration Of Triumphant Feats

The 2021 BabyTalk Readers’ Choice Awards ceremony was recently held at the popular Atria Shopping Gallery, Petaling

Jaya. The event, organised each year by BabyTalk magazine, celebrated the outstanding feats of popular brands of

products and services that have won over the hearts of Malaysian consumers, bagging coveted awards in their respective

categories. The brands were from a vast variety of popular products and services within our thriving industry of baby

and parenting products and services. There was a cheerful ambiance at the venue, among colleagues as well as

onlookers, as the winners were presented their trophies and certificates by our editor Esther Choi. The ceremony was

a lively one, with attendees keeping safe by adhering to the standard SOPs of donning face-masks and maintaining

a safe distance from one another. BabyTalk wishes all its winners a hearty congratulation, and that each of them will

carry on to win over consumers’ trust as they take on 2022!

Congrats to all our winners:

Life & Style

Out & About

Unilever donates RM1 Million worth of daily essentials to families

in need

Global FMCG sustainability leader Unilever once again partnered up with Malaysia’s leading eCommerce platform, Lazada, to

activate its Shop2Give Super Brand Day for their fourth consecutive year on 30th of July to lend a helping hand to those who

have been impacted by the prolonged national lockdown such as the B40 households, refugees and the underprivileged. With

uncertain times looming ahead, Unilever Malaysia pledged to donate a care package to a family in need with every purchase

made during their Super Brand Day. Marcos Nakagawa, General Manager Malaysia & Singapore explained that “This campaign

is meant to tackle one of the most critical issues of our time by harnessing the full-scale impact of our brand and protecting one

of the most fundamental needs of a person. We are a company of brands and people with a big purpose – to make sustainable

living commonplace. Hence, we are doing our part in helping the underprivileged, especially those that have been impacted

by the Covid-19 situation through this campaign.” This year, Unilever Malaysia has doubled their contribution through the

collaboration with The Lost Food Project. Care packages were donated to 5,000 families in need around Klang Valley.

Lifebuoy donates RM1.8 million hand sanitizers and bar soaps to

welcome students back to school safely

In conjunction with Global Handwashing Day on the 15th of October 2021, Lifebuoy Malaysia, through the Ministry of Education,

donated RM1.8 million worth of hand hygiene products to support students returning to school after the prolonged National

lockdown. With the country progressively re-opening sectors based on the National Recovery Plan, Lifebuoy Malaysia pledged to

aid students returning to schools by providing hand sanitizers and bar soaps to be distributed to the students. Lenny Chuah, Beauty

Personal Care Marketing Director of Unilever Malaysia-Singapore shared that “For over a decade, Lifebuoy has always championed

hand hygiene by running the world’s largest behaviour-change programme, to advocate for greater emphasis on hand hygiene

education. As a company, Unilever Malaysia believes in the purpose of action. Working with the Ministry of Education for this

donation, we are able to do our part in helping to keep the students venturing back to schools safe, as physical learning has been

allowed. We understand the importance of bringing students back to school to help bring them a sense of normalcy back in their

lives concerning their education. We have and will always prioritise working towards the betterment of our planet and society.

Through this donation, we want to do our part in helping those most impacted by the Covid-19 situation by.

Carrie Bacbuster’s Kids Antibacterial Hair & Body

Wash! 5X gentler than adult shower cream

With the Covid -19 virus growing at a rapid and worrying pace, many parents are growing more

concerned for their children’s hygiene. In addition to that, the changes in consumer lifestyle and

behaviour are evident, especially with parents. In line with this, Carrie is proud to

introduce the launch of Bacbuster, the antibacterial hair & body wash for kids that

parents can count on. Tough on bacteria, but gentle on kids’ skin, the body wash is

found to be 5 times gentler than an adult shower cream. The Bacbuster Hair & Body

Wash is triclosan free, alcohol-free, soap-free, paraben-free, dermatologically tested

and also hypoallergenic! In addition to the Hair & Body Wash, Carrie complements

this range bylaunching the Carrie Bacbuster Anti-Bacterial Hand Sanitizer Spray

which is specially formulated for kids’ skin too. Its formulation is recommended by

WHO with 80% alcohol that can kill 99.99% bacteria. It also contains a skin softener

that ensures kids’ skin remains moisturized! Now, parents can protect their children

AND themselves! The options of Bacbuster will be: 1.Carrie Bacbuster Antibacterial

Hair & Body Wash 280G @ RM9.90 (WM)/ RM10.4 (EM) / BN $3.50 (Brunei); 700G @

RM18.90 (WM) / RM19.80 (EM) / BN $6.75 (Brunei); 600G Refill Pouch @ RM10.90

(WM)/ RM11.40 (EM) / BN $3.90 (Brunei).

They are available in Blasting Blueberry and Smashing Strawberry! Carrie Bacbuster Antibacterial Hand Sanitiser @ RM5.90 (WM)

/RM6.20 (EM) / BN $2.20 (Brunei).


11-12_BT_Nov-Dec 2021

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