Thumb sucking is normal in babies and young children. A natural sucking instinct leads some babies to suck their thumbs during their first few months of life, or even before birth. Babies may also suck their fingers, hands, or items such as pacifiers. They have a natural urge to suck, which usually decreases at the…

1. Place all the dirty clothes in a laundry basket. Encourage your child to help. Sing cleaning hymns, race against a timer or toss clothes into fun laundry baskets like basketball hoop. Set a timer and make a game of putting the items in the appropriate places around the house to make cleaning your child’s…

My baby has refused the bottle                                                                                                   …

Children sometimes daydream in class, may forget to do their homework or even fidget at the dinner table, behaviour which is considered normal. On the other hand, there are children who can’t sit still, who hardly listen and keep blurting out inappropriate comments. Most of the time, they are labelled as trouble- makers and are…

Things have gone sour. The last thing the couple wants is to see is each other’s face. And after all efforts to erase this awful emotion yield no fruit, the couple succumbs to the contemporary way out—divorce. But there is one thing they have in common. Something their hearts respond to in the same stride.…

Although ear infection is common in children, some parents panic when their children are diagnosed with the problem. Ear infection normally occurs when the tube connecting the middle ear and the nose does not effectively drain extra fluid from the middle ear; sometimes due to a swelling in the nose. This causes pain, fever and…

Blend up this wonderful smoothie full of great flavours for your children anytime. Ingredients 1/2 litre container fruit or vanilla- flavoured yoghurt 1/2 cup fresh berries 1 medium banana Directions In a blender, process all the ingredients until well combined and smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 1 serving. END: BL34/13

Safeguarding your baby It is a tragedy of immense proportions that thousands of unborn babies-about 40,000 to 50,000-risk being infected with HIV by their mothers every year, according to the Kenya National Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Programme (NASCOP). The sad thing is that the unborn victims are as innocent as many mothers; most…

After exclusively breastfeeding your child for a period of four to six months, it is important for you to start introducing your baby to other foods, which will ensure that he receives the adequate amount of nutrients that he needs. The first food he can be introduced to is formula milk. There are two ways…