Baby

Image: Shutterstock Most places have last names that have been present in families for centuries. However, it is not the case with Hawaii. Hawaiian naming traditions have changed over the past few decades. The island’s original inhabitants mostly used first names. But, with an inflow of immigrants to these magnificent islands, the use of surnames

Image: iStock Breastfeeding is a special journey with specific nutritional needs. Your nutrient and calorie requirement is higher as your body needs more calories and nutrients to produce breast milk and facilitate postpartum recovery. Healthy snacking options, such as lactation smoothies, added to your nursing diet could help meet these needs with ease. Lactation smoothies

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Polydactyly, also called supernumerary digit, is a congenital condition where there are extra fingers or toes. The extra digit (finger or toe) can be fully formed or poorly developed. However, in most cases, the extra digit is smaller than other digits and not well-formed. Polydactyly is a fairly common condition

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE The narrowing of the pylorus (stomach’s opening to the intestine) is called pyloric stenosis. It occurs due to thickened pylorus muscles that prevent the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines. This blockage may cause projectile vomiting after feeding and often result in fluid and nutrient deficiencies, leading

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Hypotonia is a condition where the baby has a low muscle tone. In healthy babies, muscles are not fully relaxed. You may notice some amount of stiffness or tension during muscle movement. This muscle resistance is called muscle tone. However, this is not seen in babies with hypotonia. Muscle weakness

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Babies have a dynamic appetite that keeps changing as they grow and develop. Some days they may eat well, while other days, they may refuse to eat. It is called an appetite slump in babies. Although appetite slumps among babies aren’t uncommon, knowing the precise cause ensures that they stay

Image: shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Babies discover several new attributes of their surroundings and bodies. It is not uncommon for babies to pull their ears when they realize those flappy protrusions on the sides of the head can be pulled. While most reasons behind babies pulling ears are benign, it may also be due to

Image: shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Hyperlactation or hypergalactia is a condition that causes a woman’s body to produce excess breast milk. As a result, the milk spurts out with great force or often leaks out from the breasts. Hyperlactation or oversupply of breast milk can cause problems for both the mother and the baby. It

Image: shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Babies may have their first bath 24 hours after their birth. While most babies grow used to bathing and enjoy it, some may consistently dislike it to the point that it becomes difficult to bathe the baby. Switching to sponge baths could be a temporary solution, but you will have

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Plants are nature’s best creation. Most life forms on this planet depend on plants directly or indirectly. Naming your child with this nature’s best gift is inspirational. They have numerous qualities that inspire you to give your baby a plant name. The best part of plant names for babies is

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Water is an essential resource that is also termed a “vital nutrient” for human survival. Just like adults, babies have their water needs which are small yet crucial. Feeding higher amounts of water than what their delicate system can handle can upset their body’s electrolyte balance. Disturbed electrolyte imbalance can

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Did you know that more than 80% of the ocean remains unexplored? (1) Adorned with diverse and vibrant underwater creatures, a sea or ocean defines a fantastic world. It is also home to graceful coral reefs. If you plan to name your baby inspired by this mighty water land and

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of brain damage that could occur in infants due to insufficient oxygen and blood reaching the brain during pregnancy or delivery. The severity of HIE may vary depending on the duration of oxygen deprivation. HIE may result in cerebral palsy, severe cognitive and motor

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Vernix caseosa or vernix is a white waxy, creamy or cheesy substance coating the newborn’s skin. This has protective functions during fetal development and after delivery. Vernix is composed of sebum secretions of the sebaceous glands and the periderm cells (these cover the developing skin cells) that shed around the

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Babylonian empire was one of the most flourishing civilizations of antiquity. Situated on the banks of the river Euphrates, Babylon was known for its art and magnificent architecture. So beautiful was the empire that it is still admired centuries later. The proof of Babylon is found in its ruins in

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Hearing loss, deafness, or hearing impairment is the complete or partial loss of the ability to hear sounds in one or both ears. Hearing loss in babies before developing speech and language skills is called prelingual hearing loss, which may negatively impact the development of auditory centers of the brain.

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is an abnormal opening in the ventricular septum, the tissue or wall that separates the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles). It is one of the most common types of congenital heart defects, accounting for about half of congenital heart disease cases in babies. The ventricular septum prevents

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE Breastfeeding twins means feeding two babies optimally. However, feeding twins optimally without compromising breast milkquality and quantity is a valid concern for a mother. But this should not stop a mother from breastfeeding her twins. Experts believe that most mothers can breastfeed twins successfully with proper guidance and prompt support.

Image: iStock IN THIS ARTICLE Parachute reflex is a primitive, postural reflex where a baby standing in an upright position, when lowered face down towards a flat surface, extends the arms outwards and spreads the fingers wide (just like a parachute) to prevent a fall. For most full-term, healthy babies, this gross motor skill appears

Image: Shutterstock IN THIS ARTICLE If your breast milk smells and tastes off or soapy, it could be due to high lipase activity. Lipase is an enzyme naturally found in breast milk. This enzyme has several benefits, such as hydrolyzing milk fat into easily digestible and absorbable fatty acids. Parents share that babies refuse to