May 17 — It’s celebration time in Japan. The Imperial Household Agency confirmed this week that Crown Princess Masako is pregnant with her first child, news reports said. The news of the princess’ pregnancy appears to have stimulated hopes for a change in attitudes in traditional Japanese society. On the one hand, Japanese think-tanks have started pressing for a change in the …

Toys are necessary for a child to play and learn. From about three months, a baby needs stimulation in the form of simple playthings. A mobile suspended above the crib will amuse the baby and provide visual stimulation. Noise-making toys such as bells or rattles are useful as soon as the child learns to hold an object in his hands. …

A baby weighs about three kilograms at birth, and loses 150-200 g in the first three to four days. After that he grows rapidly and gains about 25 to 30 g a day for the first three months and a little less rapidly after that. The widely accepted formula that a baby doubles his birth weight at five months and …

You looked away for what seemed like a minute and your piggy tailed play school going baby has flowered into a young teenager, all gung ho about going out for an evening with a complete stranger! While dating might be a concept Indian families are slowly familiarising with, nothing short of hell breaks lose, when you realise that your daughter …

Taking Care of New Born – The first glimpse of the baby is very exciting time for every parent. If it is your first baby you may not be quiet prepared for what a newborn actually look like. Many mothers like to bring up the child not according to what they are but what they expected him to be. Thus, …

So you’re three months into pregnancy and it’s finally beginning to show. It’s time to step up those changes in your lifestyle that you began when you first came to know. Begin with the clothes. No more tight jeans and figure-hugging churidar kurtas but loose stuff that can accommodate your growing body and give it space to breathe. And no, …

An infant suffering from diabetes? An eight-year-old being injected with insulin? If you think these are far-fetched scenarios, think again. “Juvenile” or “Type 1” diabetes is a harsh reality. According to a report in The Times of India newspaper, junk food, obesity and viral fever are making children increasingly susceptible to the disease. Another key reason for juvenile diabetes: Stress, …

Reeta is proud to experience motherhood for the first time. She started breastfeeding within an hour after delivery, as she was aware of the emotional bonding between the mother and baby. I was surprised when she came after seven days and asked for some medicines to reduce the milk formation. Her problem was common, “When I’m feeding from one side, …

Many of us would waive an article of immunization as irrelevant to us – the educated, fairly affluent members of the world community. And yet, our own personal experience has shown that even educated parents often ignore new vaccines, unaware how critical they can be to their child’s health. In today’s age, when we see a child suffering from polio, …

Heartburn is caused by the uterus pushing against the stomach, forcing acid into the oesophagus. Here are a few points to keep in mind while planning a diet for yourself. Lemonade or ‘nimbu paani’ with honey makes a refreshing drink at any time of the day. Try eating small but frequent meals. Do not be on an empty stomach for …