Back to Work

Heading back to work after maternity leave can be unnerving for most mommies. I was lucky to have a six months long maternity leave which was followed by another three months of flexible work days due to Covid-19. I know quite a few women who resumed work 1-2 months after delivery, one of them being my mom. My mom had absolutely no help after delivery. She kept me at the babysitter's place as there was no one to look after me at home. 

I am aware that there are a section of women, and men as well, who believe that it's not right for a mother to leave her newborn/toddler with a stranger, be it a baby sitter or a nanny. I feel that decision should be left entirely upto the mother. I support both, mothers who wish to stay at home to look after their little one(s) and mothers who wish to resume work after maternity leave. It takes alot of effort to look after a child, either ways. 

Going back to work wasn't easy for me. There were a lot of fears and uncertainities running through my mind. I didn't have any relative around to look after my little one. I didn't want to suddenly leave my child in the care of a complete stranger either. It was a tough decision to make. But I had to join back for work due to financial commitments. 

During the six months of maternity leave, I had ample of time to decide and plan a smooth transition for the baby. There are certain things that I wish I had done better. But given the circumstances that I was in, I think I did well with my first child and I know I can do a hell lot better if I ever plan on having a second child. 

Here a couple of tips that helped me out while getting back to work.. 

1. Introduce bottle feeds

Introduce bottle feeding atleast a couple of months early from the tentative date of resuming work. I started offering one bottle feed per day from 1.5 - 2 months onwards and gradually increased the frequency. 

Make sure the bottle is offered by a different caretaker as much as possible, preferably your husband, nanny or another family member at home.

 

I didn't have much help around. Naturally, I was the one offering the bottle almost everytime. My husband would help occasionally when I was really busy with another task. This turned out to be a big problem later. My daughter suddenly rejected bottle feeds that were offered by my husband and the new nanny while I was at work. I had to come back home daily for lunch, to feed her milk. I tried everything possible to solve the issue. I have changed bottles/nipples, formula brand/ stages and even offered expressed breast milk in a cup. She was adamant to drink milk directly from my breasts. As a result, she was fed only solids during the day while I was at work which eventually led to constipation. 

I believe separation anxiety and not being familiar to another person offering bottle feeds were the two main reasons why my daughter showed an aversion to bottles.

2. Stick to a pattern

I am not much of a routine person, but when it came to my baby I made sure that I followed a certain routine before joining back for work. 

The frequency of feeds may change occasionally depending on the sleep-wake timings of your baby. 

A typical daily schedule of my child used to be like -

9.00 am - Breakfast

11.00 am - Snacks

1.00 pm - Lunch 

3.30 pm - Snacks

5.30 pm - Snacks

7.00 pm - Bath

8.00 pm - Dinner

10.00 pm - Sleep

3. Weaning the baby

Although it's recommended to wean the child after six months of age, I chose to wean mine at 4.5 months. The reason for this was mainly because I wanted to be the one to introduce different solids to my child. I was skeptical to rely on  a nanny for that. I also wanted the entire weaning process to be slow and not forced onto my baby. By the time my child was six months and it was time for me to join back to work, my little one could eat just about everything and anything. This made it simpler for the nanny as well. 

4. Hiring a Nanny / Baby Sitter

Start looking out for a nanny or a baby sitter atleast two months before joining for work. You will find plenty of people for the job. But not all of them are trustworthy. Try hiring a nanny through a registered agency. If that's not possible, do a proper background check. Always ask for a copy of a valid ID proof and a recent photograph before employing. 

I changed the nannies twice before zeroing down on the current one. The first nanny didn't last beyond a day... She was really suspicious and made alot of enquiries related to our finances and savings. The second one never allowed my little one to play around for the fear that child may get hurt. After every meal/snack, the nanny would invariably put my child to sleep which I found absolutely unnecessary. She also tried force feeding a couple of times. 

You will encounter a couple of wrong nannies before finding the right one. Do not feel disheartened. Never compromise with your child's safety. 

5. Invest in home security solutions

Installing a good CCTV camera is essential if you need peace of mind at your workplace. Recent home security solutions allow you to view activities at home through your mobile phone. My husband and I keep checking on the baby and the nanny while at work. With the number of increasing baby abuse incidents, it's important to keep tabs on what's happening at home while you are away at work. 

Heading back to work after maternity leave is a major event. Plan accordingly to ensure that you and the baby are well content with the arrangements you have made. Discuss with your partner and family members to see if they have better suggestions. 

Even after all these months, my baby still cries occasionally when I leave for work in the mornings. I remember the times when I was small. I would throw a fit when my mom went to work, so much so that I thought my mother was heartless as she never stayed away from work even on days when I cried miserably. I see myself in my child now. She probably thinks I am heartless too. Its a vicious cycle. But life and work must go on. 

The Essentials of Weaning

Weaning is an important event in a child's life. There are various customs that families follow when it comes to introducing the child to food and drinks other than breast milk / formula milk. In India, a ceremony called 'Annaprashan' or 'first rice-eating' is commonly performed, celebrates the transition to solid food.

We never had a ritual as such for weaning. My husband and I decided to wean our child when she was precisely 4 months and 19 days old. One of the reasons why we chose not to wait until 6 months was because my maternity leave was coming to an end in a month and I wanted her to get used to different tastes and textures before joining back for work. I didn't want another person like a nanny to introduce solids to her in my absence, as you never know the level of patience she may have.

The initial process of weaning shouldn't be rushed. You need to give the baby enough space and time to get used to new food. In the beginning, there were days when my daughter used to have just half teaspoon of puree and there were days when she used to reject the same food which she liked earlier. She gradually improved over weeks and can now finish eating whatever is offered to her. 

I started weaning by giving her few sips of rice water once a day. After a week or so, I introduced different cereals like barley, oats and finger millet (ragi) once daily, using the 3 day rule. The porridges I made were runny in the beginning. I gradually increased the consistency by the time she turned 6 months. Once she completed 6 months, the frequency of giving her solids was increased to two times a day. I always made sure that her first meal of the day was always breastmilk and not solids. The frequency of feeding solids gradually increased to three, four and five times a day at 7, 8 and 9 months respectively. At present, I make sure that my little one who is nearing 10 months, consumes frequent small meals in the form of three main meals and two snacks (finger food) a day, in addition to breast milk. 

I began doing my research on weaning when my daughter was around 2 months old. I started collecting a lot of home made baby food recipes from various blogs and Youtube channels. I often spoke to my friends who were already moms and took valuable suggestions from them. It helps to speak to young mothers rather than moms of a different era. 

I have come up with a couple of Q&As that will help new parents to familiarise themselves with weaning. Some of these questions may have crossed your minds and some may have not. 

If you don't have the patience to read through the entire information below, just scroll down and read the 9th Q&A which has important tips concerning weaning.

1. What's Weaning?

Weaning is a process by which a breast-fed / formula-fed infant is gradually introduced to  adult-like diet. 

2. When should an infant be weaned?

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends babies to be exclusively breastfed upto 6 months of age. Ideally, weaning should begin from 6 months onwards. 

However, if the baby shows certains signs that he/she is ready to be weaned, the process of weaning can begin any time between 4-6 months. Its best to consult your pediatrician before going ahead with weaning.

Introducing other foods before 4 months is not only harmful but can also make your baby want to consume less of breast milk, resulting in poor growth.

3. What happens if I choose not to wean my baby at 6 months?

Breastmilk has all the essential calories and nutrients for adequate growth and development upto 6 months. The demand for extra calories and nutrients increases as the child grows. This can be met only if food along with breast milk (or formula milk) is given to the child. 

Choosing not to wean your child can lead to  serious calorie and nutrient deficits. Inadequate weight gain is a common issue. 

4. How do I know if my baby is ready to be weaned? 

You know your child is ready to be weaned if - 

* Your baby is between 4-6 months of age and weighs 6-7 kgs.

* Proper head control is attained.

* Baby can sit with support.

* Your baby shows interest in the food that you and your family eat. For example - focusses on what and how you are eating, smacks lips while watching you eat, tries to grab the food from your plate, etc.

5. How do I wean?

The process of weaning is spread over 3 stages depending on the age of the baby.

Stage 1 : 4 - 6 months

You can offer mashed food and purees once daily, during this stage . Make sure the puree is runny in the beginning and increase the thickness gradually. Add breast milk / formula to make purees. Remember, your baby should mainly get all the nutrients and calories from breast milk / formula.

Stage 2 : 6 - 9 months

Increase the quantity and frequency of meals depending on your child's appetite. Try introducing finger foods. 

Stage 3 : 9 - 12 months

At this stage, you can start offering grainy food and bite sized fruits/ steamed vegetables. Reduce the amount of breastmilk or formula to 1-2 times a day. 

6. What foods should I choose for weaning?

The basic principles to choosing the right food are  -

* The food should provide adequate energy, be nutritious and be easy to chew /swallow.

* It should be easily available to the family.

* It shouldn't be expensive. You can choose to prepare baby food from items that are already available in your kitchen, provided they are appropriate for consumption as per the baby's age.

Here's a list of suitable baby food depending on the stage of weaning.. [Link]

7. What items do I require to prepare baby food?

Most of the items required can be easily found in the kitchen. You can read my post here to find out the Top 5 must haves for baby weaning. 

8. I can't prepare baby food. Can I use commercially available baby food instead? 

The choice is yours. Being a working mom, I chose home made baby food instead. Here are my reasons why -

* There are so many brands available, it was difficult to choose the right one. I was to lazy to do too much ground work.

* After going through several customer reviews, I realised even the best brands had issues with packaging and quality. 

* Some of them were available in combination with milk powder which is of animal origin. I didn't want to introduce animal milk into my child's diet before 1 year. Moreover, animal milk may cause allergies or indigestion. 

* As a baby, I was introduced to Cerelac and a hell lot of readymade purees. I was also not introduced to different foods while growing up, which I feel, has led me to be a picky eater. I don't want my child to be like me. Its a good thing to expose your child to healthy eating at an early age. 

9. What important things to consider while weaning? 

* Do not consider it as a task. Enjoy the time you spend feeding your baby.

* Try not to switch on the television while feeding to avoid distraction. If you need to get your baby in the mood, make funny actions/sounds or play music in the background. 

* Never force feed the baby. If your baby doesn't like a particular food, try feeding the same food after a couple of days or weeks. I have also come across certain people who make sure that not a single ounce of food is left behind in the feeding bowl. Please don't expect and force your child to finish the entire bowl if he/she can't. You will have an idea after a couple of trials of how much your baby can eat. Prepare sufficient quantity just enough for a meal, if you are worried about wasting food. 

* Stick to a pattern while preparing your baby to eat solids. I used to stick to a routine of placing my child on a high chair, buckling her up, tying a bib around her neck and showing her the bowl. 

For more information on weaning, I highly recommend checking out the following links -

1. Baby weaning diet plan and recipes

    Gkk Food Diary

    My Little Moppet

    Indian Healthy Recipes - Baby Food

2. Baby food recipes YouTube videos

    Hebbar's Kitchen - Homemade Cerelac

    Gkk Food Diary

    

3. Articles on Baby Weaning

    CDC - Food and Drinks for 6- 24 months

    WHO - Infant Feeding

    Stages of weaning

References - 

1. WHO document - Weaning : from breast milk to family food, a guide for health and community workers [Link]

2. Philips Avent - Stages of Weaning [Link]

3. Stages of Weaning [Link]

My Private Detective ❤️

 

Around the world in 180 seconds

Go, atleast once a year, to a place you have never been to before... Unfortunately, I couldn't travel anywhere this year. 

My last trip was in October 2018 during the second trimester. From then on, I couldn't travel long distances as my OB advised me not to. My placenta was just close to being on the lower end of the uterus. After delivery, I couldn't travel anywhere as the baby was too small and  SARS-CoV-2 cases were on the rise. 

It's been close to a year since I have been on a "proper" vacation. I have been at home on most days, owing to the maternity leave, numerous lockdowns and staggered duty pattern at the workplace. Some may consider this to be a vacation, for me it's not. My idea of a vacation is to run away from the usual, explore places, try out new cuisines and return home with great memories. 

Lately, I have been dying to go on a vacation so bad. If I didn't have the infant with me, I would have definitely packed my bags and headed out to Thailand inspite of the pandemic. 😂

For now, I will just have to be happy with these vacation photos that I managed to click over the weekend. 

2020 - The year so far...

2020 has been quite an eventful year so far. I didn't even think in my wildest dreams that things would be different this year. I have come to a point where I have stopped making plans  and go along with the flow. 

Covid-19 has gripped the world and how. Raising a kid at this time may be a challenge depending on how old your child is and where you live. 

In India, we have had four major nationwide lockdowns since March 2020 with some relaxations in between. 

I am grateful that I have an infant to look after during these times. Unlike a toddler or an older child, I didn't have to worry much about keeping my little one occupied with activities, monitoring online classes and explaining why he/she can't step out of the house.

I was on maternity leave since February 2020 for six months. The option for a paternity leave was not available. Thanks to the lockdown, my husband was at home on most days and helped around whenever needed. I can't imagine how it would have been if I had absolutely no help. 

We make sure that the little one interacts with her grandparents through video calls. The last time she met them in person was in Feb - March, with the exception of my dad who still hasn't held her in his arms yet. 

Over the last six months, we hardly took our baby outside, for the fear of getting her infected. The only couple of times she has been out were for random strolls on the terrace, vaccinations and short car drives. She doesn't get opportunities to interact much with people. Even if she does, they are usually hidden behind a mask. To most people, this may seem to be in best interest for the child. As a mother, I am concerned if this may take a toll on her social skills and personality. She still has to discover that the world she lives in, is a much bigger and beautiful place. 😊 I can't wait to take her to the park, beach, mall, church and places where she can meet more people. I can't wait to show her how a crow, pigeon, cat or a dog looks like... There are so many things that I want her to see, feel and experience...things that we took for granted before Corona arrived. 

I just hope, like any other person, that the current situation gets better. I am looking forward to the day when we can finally toss the mask away and walk around freely. 

Review : Syga High Chair with Padded Seat

One of the most essential things required to wean your baby is a high chair or booster seat... My husband and I had a couple of prerequisites when we started out hunting for the perfect "throne". We wanted the chair to be easy to maintain, have a cushioned seat, meet safety requirements and fit our budget.  After checking out a couple of reviews and comparing prices of various brands on Flipkart, Amazon and FirstCry, we finally zeroed down on Syga High Chair with Padded Seat from FirstCry. 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

The Syga High Chair is available in different colours. You have different models that you can choose from - with or without cushion and with or without wheels. 

It can be used as a high chair or booster seat, depending on your requirements. 

The features of the chair are as follows -

* Suitable for ages 6+ months to 3 years

* Can bear a maximum weight of 18 kgs

* Adjustable chair height and dinner tray position

* Dinner tray with cup holder is easy to detach and clean

* Seat can be reclined if needed.

* 5 point safety harness

* Cushioned seat that can be removed and cleaned. 

* Footrest

* Can be folded for storage

PRICE : The product was priced at Rs. 6200. We purchased the chair during an offer while it was priced at Rs. 3554.03 on FirstCry.

REVIEW

We ordered the product online and received it in 7 days. The chair arrived as dismantled parts and required assembly. We were provided with an "Instructions" card and a printed paper bearing a link to a YouTube video on how to assemble. The Instructions card is not much of help as it was typed in Chinese. However, we managed to figure out things with the help of the pictures on the card and the YouTube video. It took us 45 minutes to set up the chair. The best part is you don't need any tools to assemble it! 

The quality of the chair is excellent for the amount paid. It comes with a detachable cushioned seat and was extremely comfortable for my baby to seat on. 

The 5 point safety harness and sturdy base makes it absolutely easy and less accident-prone to feed a fidgety baby. Cleaning spills from the detachable dining tray is quite simple. 

Since the chair is suitable for a 6+ months baby, I use cushions on either sides to make sure my 5 month old baby doesn't lean to one side. 

Overall, the chair has been a saving grace. My little one enjoys sitting on it while having her meals, playing with her toys and even watching me while I cook in the kitchen. 😄

LINK 

Syga High Chair with Padded Seat @ FirstCry [LINK]

Weaning Woes

I started weaning my little one about three weeks ago. It's been quite a task getting her to try out new flavors and textures. 

I am currently giving her single fruit / vegetable purees and cereals. She likes apple, pear, rice and barley. Vegetable purees and ragi porridge are a big NO!