An ultrasound scan is done with the help of a sonar device that reveals objects in fluid (amniotic fluid in pregnancy) by using high frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear. An ultrasound scan is a non-invasive, painless procedure and usually lasts for about 15 minutes. You will probably be asked to drink few glasses of water and not …

Learning is a lifelong process which begins from the moment of conception itself. Even within its mother’s womb, the child is constantly learning and developing. In the first 2 years, the child develops through close interaction with family members, in the close, secure and familiar environment of home. By the time a child is two years old, her world starts …

It was on. We were going ahead with the baby. After hearing the ‘good news’, the mom-in-law squealed with delight, while the mom did a jig at the other end of the phone, and we, the post-honeymooners, put on what we thought should be the proud-parents-to-be smile. We called up so many people to let them know that the honeymoon …

When the massage-woman started coming home after the delivery, I was a little taken aback. She was supposed to massage and bathe the baby and, hold your breath, the mother everyday. Though I didn’t mind removing bits and pieces of clothing to get massaged, which was actually quite painful, I did mind being bathed by this woman I had never …

When I’m working with a child, I try to move sensitivity to the emotional place where the child might willingly accept being physically touched by me. I might touch children on the back, shoulders, or top of the head long before I allow myself to give them a spontaneous hug, even though I might feel like it. Children often have …

Often, the grandmother picks up a one-week-old baby, holds him over a pot and makes hissing noises, quite convinced that the baby can be trained to pass urine in the pot! She is convinced that when she brought up her little babies, she never had wet napkins. There is no need to hustle these things and one should wait for …

The debate about nature versus nurture in shaping specific traits of human personality, is an old and gripping one – which behavioural aspects are influenced by genes, which ones by upbringing? What one never hears in this debate is the possibility that there might be a third alternative: the role humans play in controlling their destiny. Recent studies by psychologists …

Malfunctioning of the thyroid gland in women leads to obesity and related problems. Besides consulting a doctor, you have to have a carefully planned diet. Special attention should be paid to a low calorie diet, which is rich in iodine, potassium and fibre. Iodine makes up for thyroxine hormone imbalance, which leads to obesity. This imbalance also affects the menstrual …

My niece Bhawna mumbled while sleeping and I turned around to give her a good night kiss. I found Bhawna sucking her thumb even in deep slumber. Bhawna is three years old and has not been able to get rid of this habit. It worries her parents a lot. They often wonder if it is right for a three-year-old to …

Deciding what’s for dinner (or breakfast, lunch, or snack) has never been more challenging. With childhood obesity, diabetes, and other food-related ailments in the news almost daily, you may wonder what you can feed your kids. The simple truth is, if you stock your pantry and fridge mostly with healthy options, you won’t have to think about it as much …