Hokey Pokey Song !

This is a very popular song for toddlers and preschoolers. This song teaches the concept of left and right. In order to perform this song make a circle on the floor using street chalk or just make a imaginary circle and stand outside the circle and do as the lyrics go...

Hokey Pokey Song

You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out;
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out;
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out;
You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

Check here for background music here

7 superfoods in your kids diet

1. Avocado : 

• rich in monounsaturated fats [good]  help in lowering LDL  [bad cholesterol]
• rich in soluble fiber [stabilizes blood sugar]
• Rich in Vitamin E [ quenches free radicals]

2. Blueberries:

• Rich invitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants
• Can help in lowering cholesterol and fight some cancers

3. Oats:

• Removes bad cholesterol from the body 
• Prevents spike in blood sugar

4. Salmon:

• Loaded with omega-3s [help lowering risk to heart disease, improve mood swings and prevent memory loss ]

5. Spinach:

• Rich source of iron, calcium, vitamin A &C, folic acid
• Helps in brain and bone growth

6. Sweet Potatoes

• Richin vitamin B, C and E, potassium, calcium, iron.

7. Yogurt

• Good source of calcium and protein. 
• Aids in digestion

New Baby Checklist : Car seats and Strollers

First thing, you'll need to bring your baby home safely and be ready to get around easily. Be sure to check out buying guides if you need help picking the right car seat or stroller.

How to buy toddler shoes

Why you don't want to rush out to buy shoes right away

• Walking barefoot on grass, sand, carpet is actually good. It helps to develop muscles in lower legs
  
• It helps to develop sense of balance
• Your toddler will only need shoes when she wants to walk in places where she can get injured

Shoe buying guide

• Do not buy an expensive pair of shoes , it is a waste of money
• Look for shoes with flexible rubber sole
• Canvas or soft leather shoes are best for toddlers
• NEVER buy shoes which are couple of sizes bigger. She may have trouble making her balance and may trip
• She should have about half-inch space between toe and the end of the shoe; else the shoe is too hard

Links to Indian Stories

1. http://www.indiaparenting.com/stories/ stories are on Indian personalities, Aesop's fables , Panchantra, Jataka tales, Akbar and Birbal, Arabian nights
2. http://dimdima.com/khazana/storytime.asp click on the right hand side banner to find stories
3. http://www.pitara.com/talespin/
4. http://www.chandamama.com/story/storyIndex.php
5. Mythology Stories
   
6. Indian, American, Korean, Arabian Stories
   
7. Stories for children
8. Stories in video format

Cradle cap/ Seborrhea

Definition

• Yellow scales and crusts attached to the scalp
• the scalp can be greasy or dry
• not itchy or painful
• begins in the first 2 to 6 weeks of life
  
• usually gone by 6 months of age [ have seen till 9 months too]

Cause

• cause is unknown
• not caused by poor hygiene
• cradle cap is not contagious
• if redness occurs behind ears, in body creases [armpit, groin & neck] and in the diaper area then cradle cap is part of seborrheic dermatitis

Expected course

• without treatment can last for months
• with treatment clears in few weeks

Home care

• two or three times a week , massage in dots of baby oil to scalp[olive oil, baby oil]
  
• then brush / comb baby's hair followed by hair wash
  
• you may need to use Neutragena T-Gel shampoo [it hurts eyes]
• for redness, bumps and flakiness on the face , use 0.5% hydrocortisone three times a day
  

Order of introducing solid foods

The least allergenic foods are ordered first. The general order is as follows:

Rice> oatmeal> barley> carrots> yellow squash> sweet potato> peas> green beans> spinach> apples> banana> broccoli> cabbage.


A general rule of thumb: rice cereal> vegetables> fruits> juices

Always seat your baby on a high chair while feeding

When introducing new foods, serve only one new food a week to keep an eye on any allergic reaction. If symptoms of diarrhea and/or rash appear notify to your doctor.
Homemade baby foods should be prepared without salt, sugar and spices at least for a year


Foods to avoid the first year: chocolate, cocoa, orange juice, strawberries, corn, shellfish and eggs