Natural Ways to sleep coach your Newborn Baby

New-born and young infants are not usually the best sleepers. What with the waking up every few hours to eat and all! That is why the phrase ‘sleeping like a baby’ is so misleading. Parents often become very interested in how to help their new borns sleep pretty soon after delivery. The thing is newborns and young babies are not ready for sleep coaching, that is why it is usually advised that parents should wait on that until the baby is at least 4 months old and have moved past the 4 month sleep regression.

As a parent, don’t let that make you feel hopeless; just because your new-born is too young for sleep coaching does not mean you are destined to endure months of sleeplessness.

There are steps you can take to naturally encourage your new-born to sleep better. These ways include; 

Go for a walk with your baby. Fresh air really does help children sleep better. Once your baby is a few weeks old, you can start incorporating a daily walk, or spend some time sitting outside. This will go a long way in helping your baby to sleep at night and during naps. 

Give infant massage a try. Infant massage is an easy and natural way to help your newborn relax, which in turn can help promote better sleep. Not only that, but infant massage can improve digestion; strengthen the mother-child bond, and even aid growth and development.

Keep days bright and night’s dark. Newborns are not born knowing that days are for playing and nights are for sleeping.  In fact, many newborns have their days and nights mixed up, and sleep for long stretches during the day while being up every hour at night. You can gently and naturally correct this by making sure that your baby is exposed to sunlight during the day (not direct sunlight, but rather filtered sunlight in a bright, sunny room). In addition, work to keep night dark, keep the room dim during diaper changes and feedings. Over time, this will help re-set your newborn’s circadian rhythms and guide him/her towards sleeping long stretches at night and napping during the day.

 

Keep baby close. There are lots of benefits to having your newborn nearby at night; it can make middle of the night feedings more convenient. But research indicates that room sharing is more than convenient; babies who room share and sleep close to mom have actually been shown to sleep better. They tend to cry less and sleep longer. They also tend to have slightly lower rates of sudden infant death syndrome. For these reasons, it is recommended that room-sharing is the best sleeping arrangements for babies. 

Strive for adequate daytime naps. If your newborn or young baby is up every hour, all night long, then you have no choice but to think of the idea of keeping him up more during the day, in the hopes that it will encourage him to sleep better at night. Be wary of this line of thinking. Generally, babies who don’t nap well during the day actually sleep worse at night, because they are overtired.  It’s important that your newborn have some awaking time during the day (this helps correct any newborn day/night confusion). However, your newborn’s awake time should be relatively short (no more than 45-60 minutes, generally), and your newborn should take plenty of naps during the day.

Carry/wear your baby. Nothing is more soothing for baby than being held close to mom or dad. Consequently, most newborns sleep best when they are in mom’s or dad’s arms, or held snugly in a baby sling. This is especially true for colicky babies (babies experiencing abdominal pain). Baby wearing is a great way to soothe colic. Remember that holding your baby, or wearing her around the house, certainly are not permanent sleep solutions. Rather, these are short-term strategies that will help maximize your baby’s and your sleep during those first few months after birth.

So, if you are a new mum and your baby is giving you sleepless nights, try these processes and you will be saying good-bye to sleepless night.

By: Mercy Kukah

Hidden Secret of Quail Eggs

Quail eggs are little eggs around the size of a grape tomato. They have a grey shell with speckles of black and brown, and as their name implies, they are laid by birds called quails. Quail is a small, short-tailed old world game bird resembling a small partridge, typically having brown camouflaged plumage. The males have a distinct voice and appearance while the females bear similar appearance, but of lighter shades. Quail eggs are packed with nutrients that make them a delicious and healthy option for your daily or weekly diet. Regular consumption can help fight against many diseases. They naturally fight against digestive tract disorders, strengthen the immune system, promote memory health, increase brain activity, have carcinogenic elements that prohibit the growth of various types of cancer and stabilize the nervous system. They help with anemia by increasing the level of hemoglobin in the body while removing toxins and heavy metals that could be in the body. This benefit is why it is also recommended for pregnant women since they are at high risk of becoming anemic. Quails eggs are richer in vitamins and minerals compared to chicken eggs. They contain 13% protein and 140% of vitamin B1, while chicken eggs contain 11% of protein and 50% of vitamin B1. Their nutritional value is three to four times greater than chicken eggs, and experts say quail eggs found in the bush are more nutritious than the ones layed at home.

You can enjoy your quail eggs boiled, scrambled, pouched or however you like them, although it is said they are best eaten raw. You can eat them raw without fear of contracting salmonellosis (food poisoning cause by eating under cooked food). Refrigerated quail eggs can last up to 5 to 6 weeks when there is no temperature drop due to power failure, but it is advised you use up your eggs within a month, before the maximum storage limit.

If children eat at least two quail eggs every day, they become healthier and stronger and are less likely to suffer from common infectious diseases. Adults can eat 3 to 5 eggs daily. There is a moderate amount of saturated fat in these eggs, so any consumption should be made in moderation and any major alterations to your diet should be approved by a trained medical professional.

Other benefits of quail eggs;

Reduces terminal illness: Low potassium leads to increased chances of suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer and digestive disorders among other myriads of ailments. If you are deficient of potassium, you can eat quail eggs, or if not locally available, you can obtain supplements in form of capsule.

Good for people allergic to chicken eggs: Chicken eggs are said to contain allergen which cause allergy. Some people eat chicken eggs and immediately start scratching themselves, vomiting or feeling nauseated. This is different with quail eggs, they are not only allergy free, they help to fight allergy in your body. So if you don’t eat chicken eggs, good news is you can try quail eggs.

Balance cholesterol: There is a good amount of beneficial fatty acids found in quail eggs that many people enjoy due to their heart-boosting effects. HDL cholesterol is the good form of cholesterol that our body needs to offset the negative effects of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), and HDL makes up more than 60% of the fat in quail eggs. However, for people with pre-existing cholesterol problems, adding large quantities of these eggs to your diet might not be the best choice, as there is roughly 1.6 grams of saturated fat in each serving.

Beauty and hair care: Because of their ability to improve skin colour and strengthen hair growth, the shell of quail eggs can be dried and ground into powder and mixed with your hair cream for better hair growth and treatment. They can be used in facial treatment by mixing the egg white of quail eggs with powder milk to form a mask; rob the mixture on your face and wait 20 to 30 minutes before bath, repeat the process morning and night. Quail eggs can also be used for other beauty products.

The health benefits of quail eggs cannot be quantified. So, why not reduce, or better still, stop the consumption of chicken eggs and start consuming more of quail eggs? I'm absolutely sure your health will thank you for that choice you made.

By: Mercy Kukah 

Do Fruits Help To Lose Weight?

Once you start including a significant amount of fruit in your normal diet, you will begin to see that your weight is being controlled and your health is improving. However, fruits alone cannot reduce your weight. You also need to exercise regularly.

One example of this is Lychee, a fruit that is a great laxative with a negligible amount of calories, and no saturated fats or cholesterol. It also helps to cut down excess body weight. Except for a few fruits like coconuts, avocados and olives, fruits are usually fat-free.

Fruits in Acne Treatment

Acne is one of the most irritating skin disorders that can affect people of any age. With a good amount of fruit in your diet, you can naturally curb this problem rather than opting for expensive dermatological creams. Acne mostly occurs from skin infections and dermatological issues, but there are other reasons for such eruptions as well. Apples are the best option for treating acne; eat the skin of the apple because it has a high level of pectin that helps with constipation, which can be a trigger for acne. Bananas also help to alleviate acne as they are high in fiber that, again relieves constipation. Berries have excellent cleansing properties and keep you protected from skin disorders. If you eat grapes during the day, it helps to cleanse your skin and body. While papayas rejuvenate your skin and repair minor damage that you may not even notice, lemon juice slowly eliminates the signs and scars from acne spots.

Apart from including fruits in your diet, try to watch your other food habits as well. Reduce caffeine consumption since it increases hormones in your body and thus increases acne. Cut down on red meat and dairy intake as well, since they aggravate your hormonal generation, resulting in acne. You should also keep your skin clean by frequently washing with herbal soaps and mild face wash.

Fruits for Healthy Hair

Just as fruits enhance the radiance of your skin, they also contribute greatly to healthy, long hair. Vitamin A brings luster to your hair and also softens its texture. If you have fruit on an empty stomach, it will prevent hair loss and premature greying. Citrus fruits are excellent hair stimulants. The vitamin C content in citrus fruits also prevents hair loss and keeps your hair shiny and healthy. Fruits like kiwis, strawberries and pineapple are also known for aiding hair growth.

The benefits of fruit for your hair health can also be enjoyed through hair masks. Melon and banana hair masks are recommended by many beauty professionals for healthy hair care at home. You can also make a paste of lemon juice and aloe vera and apply it generously to the hair. Keep the paste on for approximately 45 minutes and then thoroughly wash your hair with mild shampoo. These packs not only improve hair quality, but also eliminate scalp disorders like dandruff and itching. Avocado has an impressive amount of vitamin E, which is widely known to be very good for hair. Avocado hair masks strengthen hair and delay premature greying of your hair. Coconuts are also very good for healthy hair growth. Coconut oil is used extensively throughout the tropical world for hair care.

Juice or Fruit Raw Fruits?

You may wonder which form of fruit gives you more nutrition – whole fruits or fruit juices? It is actually difficult to say which one gives more nutrition. Although eating whole fruit is considered to be the best way of getting the full benefits of fruits, fruit juices are also easy and healthy options. Of course, if the fruit juice is composed of 100% fruit without extra preservatives or additives, then it has the same nutritional value.

Normally, fruit juices are available in two forms, 100% fruits juices and as fruit pulp + water + sugar. In both cases, preservatives and additives are added to increase the shelf life of the juice. Very few brands contain no preservatives. In fact, fruit juices are considered to be the best way of incorporating nutrition into your child’s diet, as they usually love anything that tastes good. Buying and drinking fruit juices is much easier than buying whole fruits, cutting and then eating them. In other words, it’s better to drink the juice than to have no fruit in your diet at all.  Home made fruit juices have the same fiber content as whole fruits, provided you don’t add any artificial flavors and preservatives. However, if bought from the store, these juices may not have the equal fiber content after the vigorous processing. Moreover, when you consume those types of juices, extra sweeteners and additives are added, which is not the case for whole fruits. Thus, with whole fruits, you can keep your weight controlled. When you make fruit juice at home, try to add the edible skin of the fruits to the juice to gain even more nutritional value.

You have probably come across the term “seasonal fruits”, and as a matter of fact, most fruits are considered seasonal. They grow in a particular season depending on their native geography and climate.  You may be able to get these fruits throughout the year, but they have usually been in frozen state for a varying amount of time. Eating seasonal fruits during the season ensures that they are fresh. Furthermore, most seasonal fruits can also ward off the disorders that come with the season. For example, in India, green mangoes are quite useful for dealing with the heat of summer. Including seasonal fruits in your diet is a delicious and natural way to stay healthy!

By: Umaru Maryam Hadejia