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Making sure that your baby eats a healthy and balanced diet is one of the most important aspects of being a parent. During the winters, it’s even more necessary to pay special attention to what foods your baby is consuming!

With seasonal changes come a lot of seasonal diseases and ailments, and if your baby’s immune system isn’t fortified against them, it may lead to them falling sick.

Preparing a diet for your baby that is filled with all the nutrients that are required to keep him or her happy and healthy through the cold months is really not as tough as it sounds! Just the addition of a few things in the baby’s diet can have a dramatic effect on how the winters go for them.

So let’s take a look at a list of six foods (either pureed or quartered) that need to be a part of your baby’s diet this winter.

1. Forest Fruits (Berries)

Berries are not only very enticing to the curious babies for how colorful they look, but their sweet taste makes them all the more appealing as well!

Berries are rich in vitamin C and contain enough antioxidants to help your baby’s immune system get stronger and stave off any seasonal illnesses. Always make sure that you cut the berries into pieces before you feed them to your baby for whole berries could present as a choking hazard.

2. Sweet Potatoes

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Often underrated regarding their dietary positives, sweet potatoes are a great source of iron, vitamins A and C and also fiber, which presents just the right kind of nutritional concoction you’d want to give to your baby when he or she is experiencing the winter months (1).

You can mix sweet potatoes in soup or quarter them into pieces and let your baby snack on them separately. There’s no going wrong with this tuberous delicacy, so make sure your baby tries it out!

3. Kale

Kale is a great source of calcium and vitamins A and C. It’s an incredibly healthy and nutritious choice to be included in your baby’s diet considering its impact on immunity.

It has been proven that the consumption of kale by babies can keep conditions such as lead poisoning at bay as well (2). The bitter taste, however, may take a bit getting used to for any child. Mix the kale with sweeter foods (such as the aforementioned sweet potatoes) so that your baby can develop a taste for it!

4. Lentils

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Another great source of iron as well as protein, lentils provide a very solid nutritional profile for growing babies, especially through the winter months.

The vitamin C content found in lentils helps combat seasonal diseases during winter, and the iron helps make the immune system itself a lot stronger (3).

5. Chicken

The importance of iron and protein in the diets of babies has been proven time after time via several studies (4), (5). Because of this, chicken amongst other animal products, is actually a very natural choice that you can opt for in your baby’s diet.

Chicken aids in the physical growth of the baby and the development of his or her bones and muscles. Also the immune-boosting qualities of chicken are world-renowned. Chicken provides vitamins B12 and B6, both play a vital role in regulating and fortifying the baby’s immune system.

During winter, the baby can use all the nutrition possible, and including chicken in the baby’s diet certainly makes hitting all those nutritional goals a LOT easier.

6. Breast Milk!

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Let’s face it, a mother’s breast milk is just about the best food that a baby can have, and it should be the primary source of the baby’s nutrition all the way up to 12 months (6).

Breast milk contains an entire nutritional profile that helps boost the baby’s immunity and fortifies it against the onslaught of seasonal diseases.

Above all, make sure that your baby enjoys whatever he or she eats. We’ve given you plenty of choices here to go through (except the breast-milk, which is necessary regardless). So if your baby doesn’t find one of these suggestions tasty enough, surely, he or she will like another!

A healthy baby is a happy baby, and we hope that both you and your child will sail through the cold months with exemplary wellbeing! We wish you the very best.

The post 6 Essential Food Items Your Baby Must Try This Winter appeared first on MomJunction.

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There are quite a few parents who see drinking as a great way to unwind and relax after a long, hard day at work. It’s understandable too, as drinking in moderation has been shown in some studies as having a positive effect on the reduction of stress (1).

However, the question we are posed with today is whether drinking in front of your kids is okay or not. Some parents, out of sheer habit, never quite stop to think about the visual and psychological impact that their drinking might be having on their very own children, and if a new report is to be believed, the effects can be incredibly negative.

The recent report, which has been conducted by the Institute of Alcohol Studies, UK, took into account the responses of 1000 parents and their children (2). Although parental alcoholism has been linked with a negative impact on children by prior studies, this report has focused more on the “casual” drinkers that exhibit their drinking around their children (3).

Out of the 1000 parents that were a part of the survey, 28.9% (nearly a third) admitted to being drunk in the presence of their child, while a total of 51% confessed that they had been light-headed or tipsy in front of their child.

Additionally, 28.6% of those surveyed were of the opinion that drinking in front of their children wasn’t a big deal as long as it wasn’t repeated very often.

A lot of the parents also made the mistake of assuming that their children didn’t take notice of their drinking. This was proven wrong when the children were asked similar questions about their parents, and in almost all cases, the children were able to remember and describe their parents being drunk accurately.

The conclusions derived on the basis of the questionnaires have thrown up some startling facts about parental drinking correlating with an adverse impact on children. A list of some of the effects is as follows:

1. Stress Or Worrying

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Children that saw their parents drunk or tipsy reported that they got worried or stressed due to their parents’ inebriated state. Children of parents who didn’t drink did not report being worried about their parents in any similar capacity.

2. Embarrassment

After witnessing their parents being drunk or tipsy, a significant number of the children surveyed reported feeling embarrassed as a result of their parents’ actions.

3. Negative Role Model

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Children that had been in the presence of drunk or tipsy parents reported that a direct consequence of the drinking was that it had made the parents a “negative role model” of alcohol consumption for the children.

4. Arguments

Quite a few children of drinkers reported that their parents were more argumentative when they were drunk or tipsy, which lead to unpleasant experiences and memories.

5. Parental Responsibilities

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A significant number of the children surveyed reported that their drinking parents did poorly regarding parental responsibilities such as paying attention, putting them to bed, taking them to school, helping them with homework, attending family meals, etc.

All of these findings by the report should sound alarm bells for parents who drink in front of their children, even in small or moderate amounts, as the survey was specifically focused on people who weren’t alcoholics, to begin with.

The report also mentions that the effects that parental drinking has on children were found to be “lasting,” even with very limited exposure. It can thus be concluded that drinking in front of children, even sporadically, should be avoided by the parents at all costs.

Setting a good example for a growing child is an incredibly important parental responsibility, and even though these children don’t quite understand alcohol completely, they can certainly sense its ills.

So if you’re a parent who drinks in front of your children, the report’s findings should compel you to stop. You don’t have to give up drinking altogether, just avoid exposing your child to the act as well as the after effects of it.

A little bit of care can certainly go a long way!

The post Should You Drink Alcohol In Front Of Your Kids? appeared first on MomJunction.

Kareena Kapoor has been charming the audience with her on-screen performances for years. It was no different when the Bollywood superstar caught the eyes of paparazzi as she once again displayed her typically sensational flair for fashion by posing and flaunting her impressive post-baby body for numerous photo-ops.

In the past few months, the paparazzi have spotted Kareena – who welcomed son Taimur into the world in December last year – working out and exercising on many occasions after her pregnancy, and now she is seen at an outing with her little boy, Taimur Ali Khan.

Quick to lose her post-pregnancy weight, the actress is reaping the rewards of her fruitful fitness regime. While she avoided rushing into a high-octane fitness regimen, the Bollywood star – who put on 18kg during her pregnancy – threw herself into calculated workout routines, which included yoga, Pilates, and walking – all in preparation for her big comeback in the film industry. Besides exercising, healthy eating has been a part of Kareena’s diet even before she was expecting.

Credit: therealkareenakapoor [Instagram]

Exuding an air of 90s fashion, she accentuated her natural look with a swipe of shiny red lipstick and heavily kohled hazel eyes.

Although Kareena has been busy preparing for her Bollywood comeback, the superstar absolutely loves making public appearances with Taimur as the two have been seen hanging out together quite often. As the filming of her upcoming movie ‘Veere Di Wedding’ is reaching its closing stages, it is absolutely clear that she is now making the most of her time with the toddler.

Credit: therealkareenakapoor [Instagram]

As the little one gears up for his first birthday party next month, he has already stolen hearts in the film industry by just being himself. There’s no doubt that he’s made himself a paparazzi favorite and one of Bollywood’s most popular babies.

After taking some time away from acting following her pregnancy, the 37-year-old is currently gearing up to get back in front of the camera, playing a role in Shashanka Ghosh’s ‘Veere Di Wedding.’

She will be acting alongside Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar, and Shikha Talsania. The plot of the ‘Hindi female buddy comedy film’ revolves around Kareena playing a bride-to-be, while her three girlfriends attend her wedding. The movie, which was delayed due to Kareena’s pregnancy, is all set to release in May next year. The movie was mostly shot in New Delhi, with sequences being shot in Bangkok.

In her nearly 17 years in the industry, Kareena has boasted a rare natural ability that not many of her peers can replicate. Kareena rarely has an off day at work and is now set to wow audiences when she makes her Bollywood return.

It has been reported that Kareena is now preparing for a visit to Kenya, where the star will walk the ramp at a fashion event for designer and close friend Manish Malhotra.

Well, we certainly look forward to seeing this effortless beauty rock the ramp soon. If only the adorable Taimur made a special appearance, then our Christmas wishes would be sorted!

The post Winter Style: Kareena Kapoor And Taimur Ali Khan Steal The Show Yet Again! appeared first on MomJunction.

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‘Baby-led weaning’ is a process of introducing solid foods into a baby’s diet after the first six months. Unlike traditional spoon-feeding or assisted feeding, the baby eats by using his or her hands to transfer food to the mouth and then proceeds to chew and swallow, unassisted.

Baby-led weaning rose to prominence 10-15 years ago and has been utilized by several parents ever since as a viable approach to introducing their babies to solid foods. Studies conducted on the method have shown that baby-led weaning is helpful in encouraging healthy food habits and in avoiding childhood weight issues (1).

So, if you’re looking to get your child introduced to baby-led weaning, here are a few dos and don’ts that you should certainly keep in mind!

What To Do:

• Wait until the right time: To make sure that your baby will have absolutely no troubles whatsoever with feeding themselves, it’s important to wait for the right time until you allow them to do so! The baby should be able to sit up on his/her chair without assistance and should be able to chew and swallow food properly.

Although the right time for babies to be weaned off of breast milk/formula and onto other foods is generally considered to be around six months, developmental delays could push it up to as much as nine months (2).

• Breastfeeding should continue: Even though the weaning process might have begun, it is important for mothers to continue breastfeeding their babies at least until the baby’s first birthday. The mother’s breast milk is still supposed to be the baby’s primary source of nutrition (3).

• Eat together and supervise: Even though the baby might be feeding himself/herself now, you must keep an eye out to make sure everything goes smoothly. Eating together during the family mealtime ensures the little one is under supervision. So make sure that the baby eats during the appropriate times of the day with everyone else!

• Prepare the food: Since babies use their hands to feed themselves, the food must not be pureed and should be “graspable” for the baby in a shape that’s easy to hold on to. Cooked potato, pieces of cheese, bread, pasta, soft fruits (bananas, carrots, etc.) are all viable choices when presented in a stick-like shape.

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Cut long and thin slices of food instead of small, thick ones to avoid choking hazards (4). Also, a “squish test” might be useful in determining whether the food is soft enough for your baby. You can do this by only giving those foods to your child that you can easily squish on the roof of your mouth with your tongue (5).

Now that we’re through with the list of things you SHOULD do let’s take a look at some things that you may want to avoid doing. Here we go!

What Not To Do:

• Pick a bad time: As mentioned in the list of dos, it’s important to have the baby be upbeat, full of energy, and cheery during the time of the meal. Try to ensure that the feeding happens during appropriate times instead of odd-hours when the baby might feel grumpy or tired.

• Introduce too many new foods: Your baby will take a while to understand the taste and texture of different foods. Try to space the introduction of new foods out with a few days between them to help them get acquainted in an easier and more convenient manner.

• Rush the meals: When your baby starts feeding himself/herself for the first time, they are certainly going to take their own sweet time to do so. Remain calm and allow them to finish at their own pace instead of rushing to get things done quickly.

• Avoid getting emotional: Do not panic if your baby experiences mild discomfort and gags while feeding. If you’ve taken all the appropriate steps (ensuring that the food is soft, is not a choking hazard, etc.) then there’s likely not much for you to worry about.

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Also, don’t get frustrated if your baby eats slowly or creates a big mess. Take cues from the baby’s behavior and determine a peaceful and calm direction in which to take things forward instead of losing your cool.

If you follow all the advice mentioned herein, we’re sure that not only will you and your baby be able to transition to baby-led weaning successfully, but that it will be an immensely rewarding experience for all involved. All the best!

The post The DOs And DON’Ts Of Baby-Led Weaning appeared first on MomJunction.

Floppy baby syndrome is a condition seen in babies where the body and joints have a reduced amount of resistance towards passive movement due to decreased muscle tone. This condition is also known as the ‘Floppy Infant Syndrome’ (FIS) and could be a symptom of serious underlying disorders, which could lead to developmental problems in the future (1).

The reason why the floppy baby syndrome is referred to as such is due to the ‘floppy’ appearance of the arms, elbows, head position, knees, etc. in a child suffering from it. For instance, when a baby’s arm is flexed, it returns to its normal position quite easily, which signifies normal muscle tone, however, if the baby has the floppy baby syndrome, then the straightening of the arm could take some time as a result of the decreased muscle tone (2).

Following are some other symptoms associated with this condition:

• Baby has trouble keeping head straight; head keeps tilting on one side.

• Milestones such as being able to sit up, stand, walk, and crawl are significantly delayed.

• Frequent joint dislocation in the jaw, hips, etc.

• Soft and underdeveloped muscles.

• Baby can’t be picked up by placing hands under his or her shoulders.

• Baby experiences difficulty coughing and swallowing.

These symptoms can manifest themselves in a baby suffering from the condition between 6-12 months. An accurately conclusive diagnosis, however, requires a doctor to go through a series of physical checks, diagnostic tests, and a cursory study of the child and family’s medical history.

There are several tests that a doctor can typically take to diagnose the condition and to determine the underlying causes, some of them include blood tests, CT Scans, CK (creatine kinase) test, spinal tap analysis, muscle biopsy, MRI test, etc. (3).

The floppy baby syndrome can be caused due to a wide variety of congenital as well as acquired (peripheral) medical conditions (4). Some of the most common causes are as follows:

• Down syndrome.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Myasthenia gravis syndrome.
• Prader-Willi syndrome.
• Cerebellar ataxia.
• Muscular dystrophy.
• Brain injury.

There is no single cure for the floppy baby syndrome, as the treatment for it generally depends on the underlying condition, which it is the symptom of. It is important to ensure that the doctors establish a complete clinical profile of the condition before attempting a treatment, considering the wide range of causes that could be behind it (5).

Physical therapy is sometimes sought in infants with the floppy baby syndrome to stimulate the development of muscle tone (6). The syndrome in itself is a symptom of a host of possible diseases, and the treatment thus largely depends on the diagnosis.

If you suspect that your child has the floppy baby syndrome, it is important to rush to the doctor as early as possible for a complete diagnosis. Even though the syndrome could be a reflection of some very serious medical conditions, early diagnosis and intervention have been proven to be the most effective ways to assist in a complete recovery (7).

If you’re still pregnant and would like to avoid the incidence of floppy baby syndrome in your child, please make sure that any medication that you might be taking is approved by your doctor, keeping the condition in mind. Drugs that affect the central nervous system (CNS), such as benzodiazepines, are said to be correlated with the incidence of floppy baby syndrome (8).

The floppy baby syndrome is often said to be a life-long condition (9). However, with timely intervention, diagnosis, and treatment, it’s possible that babies can eventually recover enough to live fairly normal lives with minimal difficulties (10).

The post Floppy Baby Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms And Treatments appeared first on MomJunction.

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It’s winter! As our planet Earth moves away from the Sun for the colder part of the year, parents, as well as babies, begin to feel the effect of the dropping temperatures.

While some parts of the world experience significantly low temperatures, other parts are warmer. The essentials that you will require for your baby during winters will certainly depend on how cold it gets in your area.

Before we get to the actual shopping list, we recommend that you go ahead and make a list of all the items that you already have in the house. Gifts from well-wishers, hand-me-downs from the baby’s older siblings and relatives, and other things that you may have already purchased, so that you don’t end up buying any extra products unnecessarily.

Here’s our shopping list to keep all the winter babies out there snug and comfy!

1. Nappies And Diapers

During winter times, it’s best to stock up on nappies and diapers as you may end up requiring them for your baby more often than usual! Babies tend to urinate a bit more frequently during the colder months, so it’s best to keep your reserves of diapers and nappies topped up.

2. Clothes And Other Accessories

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• Sleeveless and long-sleeved cotton undershirts (x 4-6).

• Thermal wear sets or woolen shirts (x 4-5).

• Long sleeved tops in varying fabrics (x 4-6).

• Baby pajamas or full-length lowers (x 4-6).

• Onesies, sleeping suits and body suits (x 7-8).

• Woolen caps and other woolen headwear (x 2-4).

• Woolen sweaters (x 2-4).

• Jackets (x 2-4).

• Cotton socks made of thick fabric (x 7-8 pairs).

• Booties (x 2 pairs).

• Mittens (x 2-4 pairs).

• Soft hand/face towels (x 4-6).

• Bibs (x 6-8).

• Bath towels – hooded (x 3-4).

3. Sleeping Gear

• Flannel sheets: for the baby’s cot (x 4-6).

• Light cellular blankets, can also be hand knitted (x 1-2).

• Quilts for the baby (x 2).

• Hooded cellular blankets for travel purposes (x 1-2).

4. Other Essentials

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• Baby massage oil, moisturizing creams, and lotions meant for preventing dry skin in babies. Along with baby sunscreen (in ample quantities).

• First aid kit with winter medications (consult your doctor for this).

When you go shopping for the items above to stock up for winter, here’s some advice that you may want to keep in consideration:

• Buy clothes that are comfortable for the baby and of good quality. Always try buying one size larger, as babies grow very quickly and you’d want these clothes to last the winter!

• Avoid zippers, ribbons, unnecessary accessories and unfinished seams in clothes, as they can make your baby uncomfortable. Also, make sure that you cut off any tags before you put the clothing on your child!

• Put one more layer of clothes on your baby than you have on yourself. This is a general rule of thumb that helps keep your baby as warm as they need to be.

• Always make sure that the baby’s neck is not constricted. Undershirts that come with snaps under the crotch area are good for this purpose.

• Shirts and sweaters that are buttoned in the front are generally preferable, as most babies don’t prefer wearing clothes head-first.

• Buy long socks as they offer more protection and stay on for longer.

• If your baby hasn’t learned to walk yet, avoid complicating things with shoes. Go for booties or socks instead.

• Use bibs to protect your baby’s clothing and use gentle cleaning products for washing purposes, to maintain the softness of the baby’s clothes, particularly the woolen ones.

A warm and comfy baby is a happy baby, and a happy baby, of course, means happy parents.

Take our advice, and we’re sure that not only both you and your baby will be able to make the most out of chilly winters, but you’ll also have a great time going through them! We wish you the best.

The post What Are The Essentials I Need For My Baby In Winter? appeared first on MomJunction.

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One of the most prevalent, common skin conditions that occur across people of all ages, is Dry skin. Dry skin could be unsightly to look at, the person having it might not feel very confident “in their own skin”, and of course, the skin being devoid of moisture for too long could lead to permanent damage as well.

Treating Dry skin is quite a challenge, not because there’s not enough information out there about how to go about doing it, but because there’s just way too much information to sift through, and a lot of it is either useless or outdated.

Now that winters are here, the driest time of the year is upon us all, and with that, the incidences of Dry skin are surely going to be on the rise. Therefore, today we’re going to discuss 5 sure shot ways to treat dry skin, with some product recommendations that will help.

So let’s get right to it!

1. Use A Toxin-Free Cleanser

Cleansers and other beauty/cleaning products that come loaded with Sulphates and other chemicals can do more harm to your skin than good. It is an oft-repeated but less-taken piece of advice that a Toxin-free Natural Cleanser product should be used to avoid the occurrence of Dry Skin.

The meaning of the term “natural” itself is usually distorted when it comes to cleansing products. You need to pick a product that has a natural base.

One of the best products in this range is The Moms Co. Natural Calming Wash. Containing Patchouli and Lavender Essential Oils,  Coconut based cleansers and Pro-Vitamin B5 enrichment, the wash gives a soothing, calming effect, which provides your skin with an incredible cleansing option without exposing it to harmful Toxins!

Highly recommended. http://themoms.co/calmingwash.

2. Maintain Moisture Levels – Inside And Outside!

To avoid Dry skin, it’s important to make sure that neither you nor your skin is parched for moisture. What we mean by this is that you need to make sure that you drink an adequate amount of water during the day, so that your body doesn’t get dehydrated. Dehydration in the body can lead to dry skin and several other health complications, so avoid it at all costs (1).

Secondly, if you’re living in an area that has particularly dry air, it’s probably a good idea for you to get a humidifier (2). A Humidifier helps by maintaining a recommended amount of moisture in the air, which allows your skin to retain its’ own moisture without drying out.

3. Using Natural Skincare Products

The benefits of naturally occurring substances such as coconuts, shea butter etc. on the human skin are far too many to count. Shea butter is a vitamin-C rich ingredient  having properties which are not only antioxidant but also anti-inflammatory (3).

Shea Butter based body lotions also work REALLY well on dry skin! It allows the skin to gain and maintain the moisture levels that it requires. . If  you’re looking to  buy a body lotion for yourself, try to get one rich in Shea Butter or moisturizing oils.

But, of course, things would be a lot better if you could have both, yes? The Moms Co. Natural Body Lotion is one such incredible product.

http://themoms.co/wintercarelotion

The completely natural Body Lotion has  ingredients Shea Butter, Coconut oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Rosehip Oil, Honey Extract and Chamomile Oil. This lotion helps protect, moisturize, soothe and nourish your skin in the most holistic way possible with no side-effects of harmful toxic chemicals and substances!

4. Avoid Warm Showers

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There’s nothing more calming and relaxing than having a nice, long, warm shower at the end of the day. However, warm or hot showers can cause dry skin and can even cause existing skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis to flare up (4).

Staying under warm water for too long can quickly rob your body of its’ natural moisture and can make it very difficult to reinstate the moisture equilibrium, unless you’re using the right bathing products.

If you have to take a hot shower, make sure that your exposure to it is brief and limited. You must also use a bathing product that takes care of your skin’s moisture.

We’ve recommended The Moms’ Co. Natural Calming Wash earlier in this article, which, with its’ Pro Vitamin B5 content, provides an enhanced moisturizing effect. The wash’s coconut-based cleaners also top-up your skin’s moisture levels while cleaning it simultaneously! Whether your baths and showers are hot or cold, using a moisturizing wash such as The Moms’ Co Natural Calming Wash will surely have your skin thanking you later!

5. Give your skin a 24*7 nourishment

As much as we like to think the winters add that pinkish glow to our skin we might be seriously mistaken!.  This is the time of the year when your skin is robbed off its moisture. This is the time when your skin needs the utmost care and nourishment. We are so layered up in clothes that it is easy to skip moisturizing and we only realize it when the skin reaches the point of itchiness.

What do you have to do then? You need a deeply nourishing solution, a heavily moisturizing butter that provides immediate respite to your dry itchy skin.  The Moms Co. Natural Body Butter with ingredients like Cocoa and Shea Butters and Oils like Coconut, Wheat Germ, Sweet Almond Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil,  Sea Buckthorn, Rosehip and added Natural Vitamin E  promises deep nourishment and moisturization for your dry skin.

http://themoms.co/naturalbodybutter

6. Ensure Regular Use

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Always make sure that for best results  you apply an adequate amount of whichever product you’re using on  your skin Many times we tend to not use the product regularly or  apply very little quantities, and expect great results.

When it comes to preventing dry skin, make sure you apply the skincare products adequately, ensuring proper coverage of the skin. Even though top-tier products such as those manufactured by The Moms Co. don’t require a lot of application to be effective,  and what’s even better is that the entire product range is Australian certified toxin free range.

Winters are here, and so is dry skin. We hope that you can make good use of these tips and recommendations, to keep your skin in a happy, healthy and well-moisturized condition throughout these dry, cold months.

Apart from these products The Moms Co. offers an entire range of Certified Toxin Free and Made Safe products for moms and moms to be.

You can check it out here

http://themoms.co/allessentials

Here’s wishing you (and your skin) the best!

The post 6 Sure Shot Ways To Treat Dry Skin appeared first on MomJunction.

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One of the greatest truths of motherhood and parenthood, in general, is the realization that babies poop. Not only do they poop, but they also do it quite often and do “more” of it than an unsuspecting person would otherwise assume.

Being a parent is no easy task; helping your baby through his/her poop cycles through untimely diaper changes, sleepless nights/days, and the entire pile of inconveniences that comes with it is something that every parent has to go through!

The story doesn’t end here though, there is one aspect of your baby relieving himself/herself that can reveal quite a bit of detail about the state of their health, their temperament, and their feelings, and that is their “pooping face.”

In an interview with The Bump, Professor of Psychology and Affiliate Professor of Philosophy at the University of California at Berkeley, Ms. Alison Gopnik has provided some insight into what meanings the various pooping faces of your baby might denote, which we’re going to use to understand this phenomenon a little better.

So, if you’re one of those parents who is trying to “crack the code” of your baby’s emotional poop-face cipher, look no further! Because we’re going to take you through it all today. Let’s begin!

1. Nose Scrunching (With Accompanying Grunting)

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If your baby is scrunching his/her nose, then it’s just a regular old poop face with no specific meanings attached to it, according to Gopnik. However, if the baby is making a grunting sound along with the said scrunched-up nose, then there could be a cause for concern.

The grunting plus nose scrunching combination points towards there being a gas issue in your baby’s belly, which could be making him/her uncomfortable. See if you can get rid of the gas buildup by lightly rubbing the baby’s stomach, or by moving their legs/feet around a little, your baby will be feeling better in no time!

2. Pouty Lips Or Grumpy/Angry Eyebrows

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As per Gopnik, if your baby is making an expression that involves grumpy/angry eyebrows and pouty lips during/before pooping, it means that they’re having a tough time with their bowel movement. The baby, if he/she has this expression, is probably uncomfortable and would like to get out of their poopy predicament as soon as possible.

So before the baby goes into a meltdown, try and help. Move the baby’s feet in an elliptical, “cycling” motion, or you can have them walk around or do some other physical activity until their bowels are working properly again!

3. A Distant Gaze/Thousand Yard Stare

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Another look that I’m sure most of our mommy readers have witnessed on the faces of their babies on more than one occasion.

This expression can be best described as a stern, focused stare into the distance. It almost looks like the baby is racking his/her little brain for existential answers, or matters of a deep scientific nature. The suspense is usually broken by the well identifiable sound of poop in the diaper, and of course, the smell that follows.

Gopnik states that this pooping expression on the baby’s face indicates that the baby is actually trying to concentrate on something that they find intriguing. Babies are curious little beings and find the world around them incredibly fascinating! If they make this face while/before pooping, the poop might be “accidental,” a side effect of focusing too hard, perhaps!

4. Happy/Relieved Expressions

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Isn’t it such a welcome, happy sight to notice your baby gleefully smiling with their mouth wide open, all of a sudden? The priceless expression of a baby’s bliss – probably the most adorable thing in the world until the smell hits you!

This expression actually happens most frequently in the post-poop stage. Babies can feel uncomfortable if they haven’t relieved themselves for a while, and once they’ve finally “let it all out,” the gleeful expression on their faces just says it all!

So, those were some of the “poopy” expressions by babies and the reasons/interpretations of them! We hope that you’re able to understand a little bit more of your baby’s body language now and can help them accordingly when they need it. We wish you and your baby the best!

The post What Your Baby's Pooping Faces Can Tell You appeared first on MomJunction.

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Babies grow up quick, and time flies by when you’re with them. This is a fact that can be verified by any parent! The first year of a baby’s life is filled with so many milestones, significant progress points and changes in their little bodies, that it almost feels as if time is being accelerated.

Since these days will never return, it is best to preserve them. Retaining these moments in some form will always bring back smiles and happy memories whenever you look back at them, and there’s probably no better way to preserve and conserve the memories of the early days of your baby’s life than enshrining them in a photo journal.

So, let’s go ahead and take a look at one such photo journal of a growing baby!

1-3 Months

Credit: Tonya Teran [tonyateranphotography.com]

A 1-3-month-old baby is not someone that you’d expect a lot of activity out of, right? What shenanigans can such a small little thing be up to besides drinking milk, sleeping, and occasionally crying? But when you look at this photo journal, you’ll notice all the little quirks of the growing baby that have been documented by the parent.

This baby enjoys staring out of windows, finds his bouncy seat to be a source of many laughs, interprets bathing time as water-splashing time, and also has a strange affinity for eating his own hands!

4-6 Months

Credit: Tonya Teran [tonyateranphotography.com]

Around this time, the babies tend to become a lot stronger physically, and the weaning process is usually started by the mothers around the 6-month mark as well. It is recommended to continue administering a combination of breast milk, as well as certain finger foods so that the baby can slowly,and comfortable be weaned off in good time!

If you notice the journal, however, there are plenty of other little details that have been documented. The baby’s not only growing very quickly but has become quite ticklish. He enjoys snuggles with his mother and finds his sister to be incredibly funny!

7-9 Months

Credit: Tonya Teran [tonyateranphotography.com]

This is the time when the baby is finally able to sit up without requiring additional support for the same. There’s a lot more verbal expression in terms of crying, laughing, making sounds,etc. The baby also becomes a lot more curious and can be seen crawling around all over the house!

Looking at the journal, we can see that the baby enjoys “puffs” as his preferred choice of finger food.He has also celebrated his first Halloween and has been having fun with his new-found mobility. Just look at those expressions, aren’t they just precious?

10-12 Months

Credit: Tonya Teran [tonyateranphotography.com]

Getting much bigger now physically, the baby’s teeth start to come in, and they’re able to vocalize certain words that they hear around them! The baby’s cognitive skills also pick up,and they’re able to recognize and differentiate between objects and people a lot easier.

As per the journal, it appears that this baby has morphed into a young reader with his interest in books! Furthermore, the baby has started to communicate with sign language and can even say certain words. Perhaps the most significant development is in the last image, where it’s mentioned that the baby can now walk as well. How time flies!

You too can make such a photo journal for your baby and can document all their little quirks, habits, developmental milestones,etc. in it! The journal can be daily, weekly or monthly, depending on how detailed you want to be about it.

With photo editing apps and a camera available on your phone, alongwith photo blogging platforms such as Instagram, Google Photos,andTumblr also at your fingertips, there’s no reason why you can’t do this! Get started, and we can guarantee you that the memories will be cherished by you, your family, and your baby for many, many years to come.

The post Keeping Track Of Your Baby's Growth: An Interesting Photo Journal appeared first on MomJunction.

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Pregnancy is a biological process that has been medically recorded across a wide spectrum of ages, with the oldest pregnancy on record being credited to a British woman, at 59 years of age (1). With an increasing number of celebrities and public figures also experimenting with having babies in the later stages of their lives, a discussion on the benefits and risks of getting pregnant at various ages seems warranted.

As far as teenage pregnancies are concerned, there don’t appear to be any significant benefits associated that would make them a preferable alternative over a pregnancy at any other age. However, there is a whole assortment of risks, negative health issues,and other problems that come bundled with the incidences of teenage pregnancies. Pregnancy at this age is not a good sign by any means.

Research indicates that pregnancies in mothers aged 16-19 or younger can carry major health risks for both the mother (incidence of preeclampsia) as well as the child (low birth weight, perinatal death) (2). It is therefore completely unadvisable for young women to pursue pregnancy and motherhood at such an age, both for the sake of their health and of the health of their unborn children.

Image: Shutterstock

Not only does teenage pregnancy come with a host of health complications, but the social and economic downsides to such a predicament are also aplenty. Teenage pregnancies can severely affect the mother’s education, social activity, professional prospects, etc. (3)

Similarly, studies show that pregnancies in women beyond the age of 40 are more prone to result in obstetric complications as compared to their younger counterparts (4). Issues such as low birth weight, pre-term labor, fetal distress, etc. are also common at this age. Such medical problems become even more pronounced when women cross the age of 50, and pregnancy at such ages is not advisable (5).

Pregnancy at an advanced age can be distressful and complicated for both the mother and the child. This is due to a wide range of health issues and factors that are typical for women in that age. While pregnancy is not advised, strict medical supervision throughout the pregnancy is needed at this age, should a woman in this age range get pregnant.

Image: Shutterstock

This brings us to the discussion about the “ideal age” for pregnancy, which just so happens to be the 20-35 age range (6). Often proclaimed and endorsed as the safest time for a woman to get pregnant and have children, the occurrence of health complications surrounding pregnancies and childbirth between the ages of 20-35 is also much lower as compared to other age ranges (7).

Despite these discussions, there appears to be a statistical inclination in recent times indicating that women now have children later in their lives than they did before.

According to data reported by Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, birth rates for women under the age of 30 actually declined in 2016, while birth rates for women over the age of 30 increased (8).

The reasons for this can be several – prevalence and usage of contraception, societal shifts, focus on their own careers and professions taking precedence over having children, etc. However, the biological window for a safe pregnancy should still be taken into consideration.

Regardless of the age that a person chooses to opt for the beautiful journey to motherhood, the importance of getting appropriate prenatal care cannot be stressed enough. Health complications related to pregnancies and childbearing can happen regardless of age, and the mother should therefore always be aptly prepared with preventive measures to avoid the same (9). We wish you the best of luck!

The post The Benefits And Risks Of Getting Pregnant At Different Ages appeared first on MomJunction.

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Breastfeeding is probably one of the most special experiences of motherhood. Having an intimate connection with your baby, being responsible for his/her nutritional nourishment, feeling the rush of love and adoration while your little one feeds, etc. are all a part of breastfeeding, making it a rewarding and beautiful experience.

However, there is also the troublesome side of being a breastfeeding mother, which has to do with the aspect of the physical discomfort and pain that you, as a mother, might end up facing when you’re breastfeeding your baby.

The levels of discomfort can range from being a slight tingle/itch in your breasts to the nipples getting painfully cracked and chafed. In some instances, the cracking of the nipples could even go on from simply being painful to causing medical conditions such as nipple thrush, which can affect both you and your child.

All that trouble is certainly not going to be on any breastfeeding mom’s radar, which is why we’re going to today talk about nipple and breast care. It’s important to make sure that while taking care of your baby, you don’t forget to take care of yourself as well.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Latch Positioning

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One of the most common culprits of breast/nipple pain is the positioning for the breastfeeding latch. A lot of mothers tend to position the baby in an incorrect manner, where the baby’s head is incorrectly aligned with the breast, resulting in a painful experience during breastfeeding.

Change your baby’s positioning during breastfeeding. Aim the nipple towards his/her nose and make sure that the feeding position is comfortable for both you and your child. Improvement in the latch position, according to a study, managed to fix breast/nipple pain problems in 65% of the women, so it’s definitely worth giving it a try (1)!

2. Blocked Milk Ducts/Mastitis

When a milk duct in the breast gets blocked, it could cause a lot of pain to the breastfeeding mother and can also affect the flow and supply of the milk, causing problems for the baby. It is important to address a blocked milk duct soon, and you can do this by applying a warm, wet washcloth to the affected area in an attempt to drain out the breast.

If the blocked milk duct doesn’t clear itself out after a few days, it could lead to a condition known as mastitis, which can then become a cause for the development of an abscess, thrush or other infections. The treatment of mastitis usually involves changing the mother’s breastfeeding technique, which often involves taking counsel from a lactation expert. Depending on your condition antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor. If the mastitis is left to go untreated, it could result in the formation of an abscess, which would require surgical intervention (2).

3. Treating Cracked Nipples

Getting cracked nipples during breastfeeding is relatively common, but it’s necessary to ensure that the problem doesn’t escalate beyond that point. Treating cracked nipples does not have to be difficult, as there are some very effective products that you can use for the same.

Before you pick the product of your choice to treat your nipple cracks, make sure that it’s safe for both you and your baby. Particles of the product might end up going inside your baby’s mouth, and any toxins or harmful chemicals can end up causing even more problems as a result.

One of the best products to treat cracked nipples is “The Moms Co. Natural Nipple Butter”, a toxin-free, lanolin-free, baby-safe, natural product that helps treat cracked nipples, reduces the possibility of further infections and alleviates pain. With ingredients like Calendula Oil known for its healing and protective ability, Kokum Butter to reduce degeneration of skin cell and restore elasticity, Natural Vitamin E known to prevent skin damage and Wheat Germ Oil to nourish and heal skin, it is a ,  true lifesaver for breastfeeding mothers! The company also houses an entire range of Australian certified toxin-free products  for pregnancy and baby care. You can check out the products here.

4. Thrush Infection

If you and/or your baby have contracted a thrush infection due to breastfeeding, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. Thrush can be seen as “un-wipe-able” white spots on your baby’s mouth and similar white patches on your nipple (3).

The pain caused by thrush is a lot more severe and extreme than regular let-down pain post-breastfeeding and should, therefore, be treated on a top priority basis.

5. Low breastmilk supply

Mother’s milk is nature’s health plan which is not only essential for the baby; but also strengthens the bond between the mother and the child. However, a breastfeeding mom is always concerned whether the milk is sufficient for her baby’s growing needs.

One of the age old remedies for this is consuming fennel seeds in water,  The Moms Co. Tea for Breastfeeding Moms is enriched with the goodness  of traditional herbs like Fennel seeds and Aniseeds known to increase the supply of milk.

Besides these tips, do make sure that you wipe your baby’s mouth, as well as your breasts, properly after a feeding session, as this reduces the chances of infections and other medical issues.

Breastfeeding does not have to be painful. Use the right products to avoid cracked nipples, make sure that your latch position is correct, address any medical problems as early as possible, and you’ll continue to experience the joys of breastfeeding the way they’re meant to be.

The post If You Are A Breastfeeding Mother, This Could Save You A Lot Of Trouble appeared first on MomJunction.

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Pregnancy is a beautiful journey for the expecting mother, right from the beginning to the time of  delivery. An even more important journey begins after that with the start of motherhood. Out of the many things that change post-partum, some are not so pleasing,, and a surge in hair loss is one of them.

According to studies, most women tend to experience post-partum hair loss (1). Losing hair after delivery is a very real and common phenomenon that could leave you worried and clueless!

The added stress and sleepless nights can, of course, cause the loss of even more hair fall.

All hope is not lost, however, as there are certain things that you can do to combat post-delivery hair fall. There are also certain products that you can use to stop your hair loss and to get back that shine and bounce in your hair that you loved so much, in all its’ glory!

So let’s take a look at some of the things that you can do if you’re losing hair after delivery:

1. Use A Natural, Toxin-Free Shampoo

Shampoos that have an abundance of chemicals and harmful toxins can be harsh on your scalp and actually accelerate hair loss after pregnancy. To avoid such a scenario, it’s best to use a shampoo that’s natural and free of toxic chemicals.

The Moms’ Co. Natural Protein Shampoo is one highly recommended product that comes to mind. With its’ hydrolyzed silk and wheat proteins, the voluminous shampoo ensures hair strength and shine. This Australia-certified toxin free shampoo is free completely free of all Sulphates, Parabens, PEGs and other harmful toxins as well.

With all natural ingredients, The Moms’ Co. Natural Protein Shampoo strengthens and adds shine to your hair and  is a product that clearly stands out and does wonders for your post-partum hair woes!

2. Improve Your Diet

Using good products on your hair and scalp is important, but it’s also essential to take care of your dietary choices after delivery. To avoid hair fall, consume foods that have an abundance of vitamin C, such as leafy green vegetables.

Omega-3s are also highly recommended for adequate haircare, so make sure you include them via supplementation (fish Oil, flaxseed oil, etc.) or through the consumption of seafood.

3. Apply A Protein Conditioner

Using a protein shampoo like the Moms’ Co. Natural Protein Shampoo might be enough haircare for some people, but if you want to go the whole nine-yards and leave no stone unturned to ensure volume, strength and shine for your beautiful locks, make sure you use a protein conditioner as well!

Fortunately, The Moms. Co also manufactures an incredible product tailor-made for the requirements of mothers. The Moms. Co Natural Protein Conditioner, which is Australia certified allergy-safe and toxin-free, contains the goodness of  Argan Oil. The healing properties of Argan oil on hair are well-researched and documented.  It is proven to make hair softer, silkier and shinier and treat split ends and tame frizzy hair. It has also been known to curb hair loss.

But the list of highly beneficial natural ingredients in this product doesn’t stop there, the conditioner also has hydrolyzed silk and wheat proteins just like its’ shampoo counterpart, for moisture retention and hair strengthening. The Argan oil, murumuru seed butter and beetroot extract also provide nourishment and prevent hair fall. You simply can’t pass on such an incredible product!

4. Avoid Styling

Image: Shutterstock

Excessively styling your hair when you’re experiencing post-partum hair loss can be incredibly counterproductive. The effect that styling products and procedures have on the scalp and hair can cause hair fall to accelerate and for hair to become weaker in the process.

It is thus necessary to keep styling at a minimum until hair fall returns to normal levels. Avoid using hair products, blow dryers, and any other products that you’d normally use to shape your hair. It’s only for the best!

5. Use Certified And Reputed Products

Image: Shutterstock

A lot of times, mothers don’t realize that their bodies and bodily requirements become very different right at the onset of pregnancy, and that products that are not specifically catered for their needs might not succeed in providing any benefits at all.

Your usual shampoo and conditioner aren’t exactly supposed to understand the requirements of your motherhood, so don’t blame your hair loss on them!

It is therefore important to understand that the assortment of products that you use on your hair needs to be created keeping YOUR needs and requirements in mind! The erstwhile recommended products in this article manufactured by The Moms’ Co. provide exactly that.

The Moms Co. Natural Protein Shampoo & Conditioner are both products that are Clinically  tested and Australia certified  for allergies and are free of all harmful toxins. Full of natural ingredients and made specifically for mothers, these are the products that you should be using.

Taking care of your locks post-partum is your responsibility, and it’s essential that you remain attentive towards it.

We certainly hope that you’ll find a good use for the tips and advice that we’ve provided herein and that your hair fall woes will be a thing of the past. Here’s wishing you and your hair a happy motherhood!

The post Losing Hair After Delivery? Here’s What You Need To Do To Get That Shine & Bounce Back appeared first on MomJunction.

Image: Shutterstock

There’s always a lot of excitement and happiness surrounding the birth of a newborn baby. Parents, grandparents, friends, and relatives are all ecstatic at the induction of a new little member into the family. However, even before the initial excitement can wear off, childcare responsibilities start to take over, in a big way.

Babies are tiny human beings, and their little bodies carry out many of the same functions and processes that adult bodies do, an important one that parents often tend to prepare themselves early for, are the processes of urination and defecation.

Since newborn babies are still a long way from being anywhere close to potty-trained, it’s imperative for parents to come up with preventive measures to ensure that things remain clean, and under control. While some parents use cloth diapers for this purpose, others prefer to use disposable diapers. But which option is better and how? Let’s find out.

1. Skin Benefits

Image: Shutterstock

Fungal infections resulting in diaper rashes can happen in babies whose skin is exposed for a long time to wetness, dampness, etc. caused by wet diapers (1). Cloth is an ineffective device for controlling this wetness. However, a good-quality diaper, such as the ones by Pampers, comes with special gels that allow for fast, effective and complete dryness for the baby. Due to being dry, the baby’s skin is therefore less prone to developing diaper rashes.

Disturbed pH levels in the baby’s skin caused by wetness can also be the cause behind diaper rashes (2). Pampers diapers come with a unique moisturizing lotion that helps neutralize the pH levels of the baby’s skin by providing it with just enough moisture after the diaper dries things out. The protection from rashes that this product provides is incredible!

2. Sleep Benefits

Image: Shutterstock

Disposable diapers tend to absorb any wetness a lot quicker and better than cloth does. While cloth can remain wet and damp for quite some time after a discharge, diapers dry out fast for a much more comfortable and hygienic experience. In fact, studies have shown that disposable diapers actually decrease the incidence of infections in newborns as compared to cloth diapers (3).

Pampers diapers have special gels embedded in them that allow the quickest absorption times, which also avoids leakage onto other clothes – quite a nifty feature! These diapers ensure that even if the baby isn’t changed for some time, they won’t experience any unnecessary discomfort at all.

Also, it has been scientifically proven that lack of proper sleep can lead to diminished learning as well as long-term negative implications on behavior in babies (4). It is therefore important to use a disposable diapers of good quality, such as Pampers, to keep your baby not only comfortable, but also to ensure that he/she gets uninterrupted sleep and develops properly.

3. Technology

Image: Shutterstock

When it comes to technological advancement, it’s a bit silly to expect much from cloth. Disposable diapers, on the other hand, have made strides in terms of technology over the years.

Pampers diapers, for instance, come with the ‘Three-Channel’ technology. The three layers not just allow for faster and better absorption, but the wetness is also distributed evenly and equally between the channels, which prevents leakage! The three-layer technology also makes these diapers incredibly comfortable and soft on the skin of newborn babies.

The amount of variety and choices when it comes to choosing diapers, along with their near universal availability, is certainly a big plus compared to cloth. Not only is cloth not readily available in the kinds of shapes and sizes required for babies of all sizes, one can never really be assured of being able to readily procure the quantities that they require either.

A quick search online on Marketplaces for Pampers diapers shows up hundreds of different results! Different pack quantities, sizes, design variants, etc. are all available as per the exact requirement of the baby. Remarkable!

Based on all the information that we’ve discussed above, it’s not much of a stretch to conclude that Disposable diapers are a lot better than cloth for newborn babies.

Ease of use, comfort, avoiding hygiene issues, preventing skin problems, etc. are more than enough reasons for any responsible parent to opt for the use of proper diapers over cloth. So, use disposable diapers for your baby, get a good brand like Pampers, and your little one will be happier than ever!

The post Cloth vs. Diaper For Newborn Babies appeared first on MomJunction.

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The Japanese encephalitis virus comes from the Flavivirus genus, which also includes viruses such as those that cause dengue, yellow fever, and zika. The Japanese encephalitis virus causes the dreadful Japanese encephalitis infection in humans, which is defined as a brain infection.

Although the Japanese encephalitis infection generally shows mild symptoms and can even be asymptomatic, around one out of every 250 infections can cause serious illness, requiring specialized care and treatment (1).

The two ways in which the Japanese encephalitis virus is spread are as follows:

1. Transmission Via Mosquitoes

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Mosquitoes, particularly those belonging to the ‘Culex’ variant, carry and transmit the Japanese encephalitis virus in humans (2). Most transmissions of the virus happen in this manner.

Humans suffering from Japanese encephalitis don’t have enough viral load for the mosquitoes to get infected from and the mosquitoes, therefore, transmit the virus by feeding on pigs or water birds instead, resulting in what’s known as an ‘enzootic’ cycle (3).

Epidemics and breakouts of Japanese encephalitis transmissions occur commonly during summers and monsoons.

2. Fetal Transmission

Image: Shutterstock

Transmission of the virus from the mother to the child can also happen (4).

The instances of Japanese encephalitis in children can have up to a 25% death rate, while 40% of the survivors go on to develop physical and mental disabilities (5).

Some of the symptoms of Japanese encephalitis can include fever, nausea, vomiting, headaches, etc. The development of brain swelling can also happen, which may result in a coma. Japanese encephalitis is a serious medical problem that can even result in death.

People traveling to tropical regions, or to places with a high instance of Japanese encephalitis infections need to ensure that they take the appropriate preventive measures to avoid the onset of the disease altogether. Once infected, there is no known cure for the disease and with the fatality rates being as high as they are, suffering from Japanese encephalitis is not a situation one would want to find themselves into (6).

Here are some ways through which you can prevent getting infected by the Japanese encephalitis virus:

1. Get Vaccinated

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Vaccination for the Japanese encephalitis virus is safe and effective. Available globally, the vaccination process can be carried out under the supervision of any general practitioner.

The preventive vaccine known as IXIARO is one of the solutions available for protection against Japanese encephalitis virus and is administered in two doses with 28 days between them (7). It is recommended for travelers who are traveling to areas where instances of Japanese encephalitis exist.

2. Use A Mosquito Repellent

The best way of protecting yourself from Japanese encephalitis virus, besides the vaccination, is to protect yourself from the carrier of the virus, the mosquitoes themselves. When indoors use a high-quality, high-performance mosquito repellent such as the Goodknight Activ+ System to keep mosquitoes away altogether.

Goodknight Activ+ System comes with Normal and Activ modes. and one can choose the mode, depending on the number of mosquitoes in the room. Normal mode is used for fewer mosquitoes and the Activ mode is used when there are many mosquitoes.

3. Cover Exposed Skin

Image: Shutterstock

When in an area with a Japanese encephalitis outbreak, try your best to cover as much of your exposed skin as possible. Wear long-sleeved shirts, full trousers, sweatshirts, etc. to reduce the risk of getting bitten by a carrier mosquito to a minimum.

Reducing the exposure of your skin to mosquitoes can be greatly helpful in reducing the instances of mosquito bites, which consequently would also reduce the chances of you getting the virus. Even if you’re vaccinated for the virus, make sure that you still take care of this point.

4. Be protected outdoors

Adding to the previous point, while it is effective to cover up your exposed skin with clothing, it’s even more effective to go one step ahead by using a mosquito repellent on clothes for the absolute maximum protection possible.

A child-safe, natural product by the name of Goodknight Fabric Roll-On does well to serve this exact purpose. Just apply 4 dots on your clothes to keep away the mosquitoes and avoid instances of an infection.

The Goodknight Fabric Roll-On is available in two fragrances and protects for up to eight hours at a stretch. Keep it on you at all times, as you might need to replenish the protection once that time is up!

Japanese encephalitis is a dreadful disease and one must take absolutely every precaution possible to avoid getting infected by it. The points and advice that we’ve mentioned above should have you covered when it comes to preventing the instance of Japanese Encephalitis.

We hope you find the information useful to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy!

The post How Does Japanese Encephalitis Virus Spread & Ways To Prevent It appeared first on MomJunction.

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A preschool is the first actual introduction of a child to the outside world. It’s a place where the child, leaving the comfortable shell of their cozy home behind, takes his/her first steps towards socializing and learning.

The preschool serves a very important role in establishing the foundation of your child’s personality, and it is thus of paramount importance that you ensure that the preschool is perfect for your baby. But, this does beg the question – how does one go about picking a preschool?

There is no single answer to what the perfect preschool for a child might be like because it’s not a single question in the first place. What constitutes a “perfect preschool” might differ from child to child, depending on what their developmental needs and requirements are. Then, of course, are the parental factors such as convenience, accessibility, and affordability, among others.

While these factors could vary, there are still some things that are essential in terms of determining the “perfect” preschool for your little one. And today, we’re going to take a look at six of them!

1. The Preschool’s Reputation

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Before making a shortlist of preschools that you would be interested in getting your baby enrolled in, it’s important to screen them for their reputation. Facebook and Google reviews, as well as third-party endorsements, are a good way of figuring out what other parents are saying about the preschools that you’re looking at!

Online reviews might not be the greatest indicators of the preschool’s actual functioning and curriculum, but they’re still something to keep in mind and give you plenty of perspectives.

2. Ensuring A Wholesome Environment

Since the preschool is your child’s first introduction to the world outside, it’s important to make sure that the preschool’s curriculum, activities, staff atmosphere, etc. present a wholesome, comfortable, and uplifting environment for the child.

For instance, EuroKids, which is a chain of preschools in India, talks about providing a “holistic nurturing environment” for their pupils. This is something that you should certainly take into consideration, as the concept of leaving home and finding a “second home” is an important transition for children.

Children should feel a sense of comfort in the new surroundings of their preschool, and should also feel intrigued and compelled by them, to the point that they embrace it without missing home too much! Friendly staff, hygienic surroundings, quality of care, etc. are all factors to keep in mind.

3. Educational Philosophy

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Quite a few parents seem to look at the glitz and glam of a preschool from the outside and don’t exactly make an effort to understand the underlying educational philosophy of the institution. This can be a big mistake.

The primary purpose of inducting your child into a preschool is to have them learn and grow. The early development of a child’s cognitive skills, social skills, emotional aptitude, linguistic abilities, fine motor skills, etc. depend heavily on your choice of preschool. The educational philosophy plays a big role here.

Through a cursory Google search, we figured that over 90% of preschools didn’t seem to address any of the above factors. There were a few exceptions, however, such as EuroKids, which is a preschool that speaks about having the development of your child’s “executive function skills” at the core of their curriculum.

Such an approach points towards the existence of a progressive and effective educational philosophy of the preschool, so make sure you keep that in mind before you pick the perfect preschool!

4. The Use Of Technology

We’re living in a world where technology is increasingly taking over our lives. It is therefore essential, even for our children, to gain appropriate exposure to technology as early on as possible, so that their cognitive development could be streamlined with all the necessary tech skills that they need to progress and succeed as individuals!

Now, we’re not saying that we’d like the perfect preschool to turn our babies into high-functioning computer engineers overnight, but there should certainly be an adequate introductory exposure to technology.

Look for innovative and creative ways that the preschool is incorporating technology into their learning mediums. The EuroKids  preschool, for instance, has a “motion-based learning” program in their curriculum, where digital media is used for educational purposes.

If your child can take his/her first “baby steps” to interacting with technology through such programs, the foundations of their technological knowledge would certainly be formidable!

5. Supervision

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Letting your child out of the secure confines of his/her familial home is an unnerving experience not only for the child but for you, the parent, as well. It is therefore important that you, as a parent, are provided with some level of access to supervisory facilities by the preschool.

While some may deem the exercise as excessive and a construct of overly-attached parents, the concerns are legitimate. There have been some efforts to address this by preschools. For instance, a mobile application called the “Buddy App” has been developed by the EuroKids preschool, which allows parents to keep an eye on the classroom topics, activities, academic progress, and event calendar of their children at the touch of a button!

So, when you’re picking the perfect preschool for your child, make sure that you can have at least some degree of supervision over what they’re doing. Your parental responsibilities don’t end when you drop your child off at the preschool; following-up is equally important.

6. The Litmus Test!

Once you’re down to your final list of preschools that you think would be great for your child, it’s time for the litmus test! There’s a very wise, all-knowing individual in your family, who will be able to make the most important decision on whether the “perfect playschool” that you’ve picked is indeed perfect or not.

That individual is, of course, your child!

Take your child to the preschools that you’ve picked out, and allow him/her to spend some time there. Observe how the child interacts with the staff, fellow preschoolers, and the facilities in general, and make your decision on that basis. A child’s perspective is very different from a parent’s, and it’s not until the child is put in a preschool that you can figure out whether or not they’d TRULY be comfortable there.

With that, we’ve come to the end of this list. The perfect preschool, as mentioned earlier, could depend on a lot of factors that vary from child to child, but if you follow all the advice mentioned herein, your search would probably get a lot easier.

So, as parents with preschool-age toddlers, how have your experiences of searching for a preschool in India fared so far? What attributes do you feel determine the “perfect” preschool? Share your views with us and other parents in the comments section below!

The post Picking The Perfect Preschool For Your Child: 6 Things To Keep In Mind appeared first on MomJunction.

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A preschool is a child’s first introduction to a systemic process of getting educated. Since it is the first time that the child enters an educational institution, there can be many different factors that can shape how the experience is going to end up.

One of the important ways in which preschools can educate their pupils better is by making learning fun. In fact, one might even go as far as to say that a preschool experience for children should ideally be all about having fun and learning new things simultaneously!

According to studies, making learning fun can be one of the most effective ways to ensure that children not only take a greater interest in studies but also end up learning and retaining more of the knowledge that is given to them (1).

The importance of children having fun in their preschools is further substantiated by several other experiments as well, with almost universally encouraging results (2).

When you decide to pick a best preschool for your child to start his/her educational journey with, it should be a priority to ensure that the preschool has an ideology and educational methods that make learning fun for the children.
A preschool that makes learning fun could make your child want to go there by choice, and as often as possible! Conversely, if learning isn’t fun for the child, then his/her willingness to attend preschool might get affected. The results of the education on the child’s acquisition of knowledge will also be directly correlated with the amount of happiness and satisfaction they derive from the environment at their preschool.

Let’s take a look at a few factors now, which can help determine whether or not a preschool is making learning fun!

1. Educational Philosophy

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To make sure that learning is actually fun at the preschool, take a look at the preschool’s educational philosophy through their prospectus. Does the preschool have a fun-based learning approach? Is the emphasis on making learning more appealing and comfortable for children?

For instance, EuroKids, which is one of the most reputed preschool chains in India, mentions having a “fun-based learning environment” at the very core of their educational philosophy. As long as the approach is in the right direction, that’s one point for the preschool right there!

2. Teaching Methods

Simply having a curricular philosophy towards making education fun is not enough by itself, it’s also important to assess whether the teaching methods at the preschool reflect the ideology.

The usage of games, toys, colorful mascots, etc. to facilitate a comfortable, fun learning environment for children are things you can look out for. Teaching methods themselves could include stories, rhymes, and music, all of which enable the child to have a lot of fun while learning!

A top preschool like EuroKids, to give an example, incorporates all these methods into the day-to-day activities of their pupils (with a mascot to boot!). That’s the kind of approach that helps kids learn much more effectively and is therefore certainly something that you should keep in mind.

3. The Staff

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Regardless of what the teaching methods are like, or what the ideology of the preschool is, if the staff at the institution are not well-trained and qualified enough for the task, it can all go to waste.

A good way to ensure that your child’s preschool has a great staff is to meet them personally. Any good preschool will encourage such interactions between staff and parents before a decision to enroll the child in the preschool is made. You can also check for reviews and feedback about the preschool’s staff online.

It’s also important to know the efforts that the preschool takes to train their children. The EuroKids preschool, for instance, has an online tool called ETAT to train teachers and keep their skills updated. Such an effort does quite a bit to elevate the standards of the preschool, and consequently ensures the best learning experiences for all children!

4. The Interiors And Ambience

The interior design and decorative elements at your child’s preschool can make a big difference in how much fun the child is going to have while learning new things there.

It is scientifically proven that children tend to have positive reactions to bright colors and shapes (3). With that in mind, make sure that the preschool you’re looking to get your child enrolled at has bright, welcoming interiors with cozy and comfortable settings so that your little one would want to keep coming back!

The aspect of having fun while learning in preschools is talked about a lot, but hardly ever given the attention and importance that it truly deserves.

We are confident, however, that after having gone through all these tips and information, you will make the right choice when you choose the best preschool for your child. To ensure the best results, their academic beginnings should not only be solid and comprehensive but also a lot of fun!

Well, that was from an educators perspective! But as parents, there is a lot we can understand and learn from you too. What are your thoughts (or concerns) regarding a perfect preschool? How do you think a preschool adds to the child’s overall development? Let us know in comments below.

The post How A Preschool Experience Is All About Making Learning Fun appeared first on MomJunction.

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When it comes to entrepreneurship, few ways are more reliable than the ever tried-and-tested franchise model. Going by a franchise model for your business not only provides a safety net for your financial investment, but it also has a high rate of assured success compared to other forms of business.

A franchise model of business works marginally better than other business models due to ease of doing business, brand recall value, easier/quicker setup times, able mentorship, etc. being some of the many reasons.

Today, we’re going to discuss specifically why a preschool franchise is a great entrepreneurial venture for anyone looking to start with one.

When you think of a preschool franchise, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? A large space, big financial investments, lots of employees, stress, and screaming babies?

Fortunately, neither of these things will really be a concern if you get your hands on a preschool franchise. On the contrary, there are several positives. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why a preschool franchise can be an incredible entrepreneurial venture for you!

1. Owning A Preschool Franchise Is An Enriching Experience

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Let’s start off with the most obvious pointer, the ever-enriching experience that is owning a preschool franchise.

Think about the last time you met a happy child. The innocent smiles, the gleeful giggles, the rays of happiness radiating from their tiny selves, the list goes on! Now think of that wholesome experience and multiply it by a few dozen times, and you’ve got the experience of having your own preschool!

Being in charge of a preschool franchise, you’re going to be spending a lot of your time with children, where you’ll be actively contributing towards providing them with an environment that helps them learn and grow in the happiest and healthiest way possible. If the sight of a whole array of glowing, happy, tiny faces isn’t rewarding and enriching, we don’t know what is.

2. Low Investment With Amazing Returns!

On the financial side of things, owning and operating a preschool franchise doesn’t cost anywhere close to the amount that a brand in a different sector would. Some of the most reputed pan-Indian preschool franchise chains, such as EuroKids, provide franchises at rates that are affordable and highly profitable!

Picking a highly reputed franchise option for preschools, such as the aforementioned EuroKids, is incredibly important for the aspect of returns. The whole concept of running a franchise can be made or broken simply by the reputation of the organization that you choose to go with. If your neighborhood doesn’t have a great preschool franchise, get one going, and your returns will continue to blossom and grow!

3. Community Credentials

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The importance of owning a Preschool cannot be stressed enough when it comes to the kind of community credentials that it brings for the owner of the franchise. The children that pass through your institution every year will forever think of your preschool as their first alma mater and associate some of their most innocent, early memories with it.

Not only that, if you do a good job at running your preschool, with a franchise that’s worth its mettle, you’re going to develop strong, harmonious relationships with the parents of the said children.

Taking care of another person’s children, helping the kids learn and grow into incredible young people… there are not enough words in the world that will ever express the gratitude that these parents will have for you. There aren’t many ways to amass that kind of community-cred!

4. You Don’t Require A Big Space To Operate

Contrary to what visual representations of preschools might make you believe, you don’t really require a massive space to qualify for a reputable preschool franchise successfully. Some of the best preschool franchises, EuroKids, for instance, are perfectly operable even in mid-sized spaces and don’t necessarily require huge complexes to function.

Preschool students are young, curious children, who don’t require a lot of space. Consequently, the amount of staff and teachers that you’ll have to employ will also be significantly lesser than what you’d have required to run a full-fledged school or even another educational institution.

5. Learn As You Go

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EuroKids, along with some other preschool franchise brands, have compulsory training programs for franchise owners that help them learn and understand the finer nuances of running a preschool. You get to learn a lot of things that wouldn’t ever have crossed your mind!

It’s safe to say that having a comprehensive training program for running a preschool franchise by an organization like EuroKids, with the experience of actually utilizing those skills, will surely serve you incredibly well even outside your preschool duties. Talk about value addition!

6. A Noble Cause

Education is one of the noblest, most humanitarian causes that a person can invest their time and energies into. Helping young students in a preschool environment use their intelligence to learn and grow is not only a wholesome experience but also a very honorable one.

If you start a preschool franchise, you can be rest assured that you’ll be depositing a lot of plus points into the Karma bank! The gratitude from those happy little souls (and their parents!) will certainly serve you well for the years to come.

Owning a preschool franchise comes with a lot of responsibilities, but the positives outweigh those by a lot.

There are very few entrepreneurial ventures that are guaranteed to give you the kind of wholesome happiness that running a preschool franchise can, so if you’re considering getting into this line of work for your next/first entrepreneurial venture, you have the green signal from us!

The post Why A Preschool Franchise Is A Great Entrepreneurial Venture appeared first on MomJunction.

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The Zika virus, which is the cause of an ongoing epidemic in Brazil and parts of other American continents, is a virus of the genus ‘Flavivirus,’ which also includes other viruses such as the dengue virus, the West Nile virus, etc.

Transmission of the Zika virus is primarily carried out by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are active during the day and are known to be carriers of the dengue and yellow fever viruses as well. Other sources of transmission include blood transfusions, unprotected sexual relations and through pregnancy.

Pregnant women affected by the Zika virus can transmit it to their unborn children, who could then consequently suffer from conditions such as microcephaly and brain damage upon birth. A Zika outbreak is a legitimate cause for concern for any country in the world and India is not exactly safe from it either.

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According to the WHO, India has had very few cases, three to be specific, of people being diagnosed as being positive for the Zika virus (1). All three cases happened in 2016 and 2017 and were limited to the state of Gujarat. While this fact by itself may not sound very alarming, other factors need to be taken into consideration with regards to the history of the Zika virus in India.

The Indian population, in general, has long suffered from mosquito-borne diseases. Reports suggest that over 75% of malaria cases from South East Asia originate in India (2). The instances of chikungunya, dengue, etc. also remain high. Can the new disease Zika also join the fray?

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is commonly found in India’s rural and urban population centers. It thrives in the warm Indian climate and can be distinguished due to its white markings and striped legs. The mosquito bites during the day and, as mentioned previously, carries diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, which are already prevalent in the country.

According to a study in 1954, instances of antibodies against the Zika virus were detected among certain residents of Bharuch, Gujarat and Nagpur, Maharashtra (3). Antibodies against the virus were also detected in residents of Pune (Poona) in 1952, which pointed towards the ‘confirmation’ of the presence of Zika. As per a WHO bulletin, the Zika virus has also been detected in Indian mosquitoes between 1969 and 1983.

While the exact reasons behind why these specific antibodies against the Zika virus existed in the subjects of this study and how the virus continued to exist in mosquitoes is unclear, the presence of an older, dormant strain of Zika cannot be ruled out, putting India, most certainly, at risk.

There is no specific cure or vaccine for the Zika virus, and if it affects a pregnant woman, the chances of it spreading to the baby and causing congenital disabilities are fairly high. It is therefore important to ensure that preventive measures are undertaken to keep the disease and the mosquitoes that cause it at bay.

Here’s what you can do to protect yourself against Zika:

• Get A Mosquito Repellent Machine and KEEP IT ON!

The best prevention against the Zika virus is to keep the mosquitoes that cause it far away from your home. One of the best ways of repelling mosquitoes is by using a good quality mosquito repellent system such as the Goodknight Activ+ System. The machine, which comes with the choice of switching between a ‘Normal mode’ and an ‘Activ mode,’ works well against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, as well as other mosquitoes, and provides complete protection for your family.

It is highly important, however, to keep the machine on throughout, even during the daytime. The Aedes aegypti mosquito feeds during daytime and it is thus essential to stay protected against it during that time. This is particularly relevant for houses where there are pregnant women or very young children, as those are at the highest risk of health complications arising from the Zika virus.

• Be Vigilant About Mosquito Breeding Grounds

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The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the Zika virus is a very ‘urban’ mosquito, in the sense that it thrives in artificial surroundings. The mosquito prefers to lay its eggs in containers, boxes, bins, pots, etc. where there’s adequate moisture (4). It is therefore important to be vigilant about potential breeding grounds for mosquito larvae.

Any plastic drums, old tires, pots, buckets, polythene sheets and other containers holding even the slightest quantities of water need to be dealt with and disposed of, as the mosquito might very well be breeding there.

• Apply An Adequate Mosquito Repellent When Going Out

Avoid exposure to mosquitoes as much as possible to reduce your chances of contracting the Zika virus. Before you go out, make sure that you apply 4 dots of the Goodknight Fabric Roll-On on your clothes to keep mosquitoes away.

It made using 100% natural ingredients and is certified safe to be applied on the clothes of babies as well as adults and provides an 8-hour window of protection at a stretch. Make sure you keep the Roll-On with you when you go out even when you’ve applied it, in case you end up staying out for longer than 8 hours!

Prevention is the best method of avoiding the Zika virus altogether, and if you follow the advice given above, it will surely help to keep the disease at bay!

The post The History Of the Zika Virus In India & How One Should Prevent It appeared first on MomJunction.

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Chikungunya is an infection caused due to the instance of the chikungunya virus, which is spread via mosquitoes. The disease can end up causing fever, rashes, debilitating joint pain, etc. It is rarely fatal, however, the absence of adequate medical attention in rare cases can cause severe complications (1).

Mosquitoes responsible for the spread of the chikungunya virus are classified under the Aedes genus and include the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species, both are characterized by their distinct black-and-white striped markings. These mosquitoes are generally urban, as they survive and thrive in the warm climates and artificial breeding grounds, which are a by-product of human civilization (2).

Chikungunya neither has a vaccination nor a treatment (3). Therefore, prevention of the infection, is recommended as the best way to avoid its occurrence.

Chikungunya is rarely an asymptomatic disease and symptoms can be seen in most people, indicating the presence of the infection. Some of the major symptoms of chikungunya are as follows:

1. High Fever

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One of the most common symptoms of chikungunya is the instance of high fever. A temperature reading above 102 degrees Fahrenheit could signal towards the possibility of chikungunya (4). The fever can stay for about a week and most patients feel better afterwards.

2. Severe Joint Pain

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A defining characteristic of the chikungunya infection is the joint pain that follows. The joints most affected by the infection are in the hands and feet. The pain is usually debilitating, and the patient’s mobility is greatly affected.

The instance of severe joint pain in those affected by chikungunya can remain for several weeks. Depending on the severity of the infection, the age of the patient, and other physical factors, the joint pain might even linger on for several months or years (5). Besides the feeling of pain, swelling of the joints may also be observed.

3. Maculopapular Rashes

The term ‘maculopapular rash’ signifies a rash that is flat, reddened and has several small bumps all over it. The instance of such a rash occurs in about half of the patients suffering from a chikungunya infection and can be seen on the trunk, neck, earlobes, etc. (6)

There can be some itching experienced by the patient, depending on the instance and severity of the rash.

4. Muscle Pain and Headaches

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Similar to joint pain, chikungunya sufferers may also experience muscle pain and headaches (7). While these might not be as debilitating as the joint pain, they tend to be constant symptoms and can disrupt your daily life quite significantly.

5. Nausea and Vomiting

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In some rare cases of a chikungunya infection, the sufferer could experience nausea and vomiting. The vomiting is generally for brief periods and isn’t a lingering, on-going issue with the disease.

As mentioned previously, there is no decisive vaccination, cure or treatment for chikungunya. Patients are usually asked to take rest and consume plenty of fluids, and while most eventually recover from the fever within a week or two, severe joint pain could continue for much longer, which is why chikungunya is such a terrible disease and needs to be prevented at all costs.

Living with the joint pain caused by chikungunya can disrupt professions, family life, academic endeavors, athletic activities, and more. It affects not only the patient’s physical well-being but also their mental health due to the debilitating effects (8).

Here are some ways that chikungunya can be prevented:

• Protection Against Mosquitoes

It is of paramount importance, to use a quality solution for keeping these mosquitoes out of your home. Using a high-performing product such as the Goodknight Activ+ System can aid greatly in protecting yourself and your family indoors from such mosquitoes and, by extension, chikungunya itself. It is recommended that the product be used during both day and night times for maximum protection.

• Hygiene and Cleanliness

Maintaining hygiene and cleanliness of your house and its surroundings is one of the best preventive measures for keeping chikungunya and its perpetrators, the mosquitoes, at bay. The Aedes variant of mosquitoes finds breeding grounds in shallow waters, tires, plastic sheets, plastic drums, old containers, flower pots and any other place that could be holding even a small amount of water.

Therefore, keep an eye out for any such spots or items where water could be getting collected and deal with it accordingly. Preventing the mosquitoes from breeding goes a long way in disease prevention for chikungunya, Zika, dengue, malaria and other such diseases.

• Outdoor Protection

Staying inside the house and protecting yourself from mosquitoes by using a product such as Goodknight Activ+ System is one thing, but it’s a different story altogether when you’re out and about.

It is equally important to stay protected even when you’re not within the secure confines of your house, as mosquitoes spreading diseases like chikungunya can be found quite commonly. For such purposes, the Goodknight Fabric Roll-On is a highly recommended product that can help immensely.

This mosquito repellent is made using natural ingredients and therefore can be applied safely over the garments of both adults and children. Just 4 dots of the product can protect against mosquitoes for up to 8 hours!

Remaining vigilant and preventive against the instances of chikungunya are the best ways of dealing with the disease. However, if you think you’re affected by it already, seek the advice of a medical professional and take sufficient rest.

We hope that the tips and information we’ve provided you today will be of good use!

The post Symptoms Of Chikungunya And Its Prevention appeared first on MomJunction.