Tag Archives: parents magazine

life with a toddler: perseverance

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I have been on hiatus for some time now and it’s not because of some writer’s block or whatever you may call it. On the contrary, I have several drafts on queue (including those which I’ve promised to friends!), all waiting to be posted, but that which I couldn’t because for some reason, I could not post any photos on my mobile WordPress app – the only place I can blog these days since I could only get near our desktop once in a blue moon.

Anyways, I’m posting this now, albeit sans any photo (WordPress, any help, please?) because of the lessons learned we had today as parents.

Even from way before when Yui was just a few months old and she was learning to reach out for things, we’ve been encouraging her to persevere, to work hard and give her best effort. Now that she’s a toddler and is starting working on her own projects and toy buildings and crafts, instilling the virtue of perseverance even when faced with a tough challenge is even more important.

This evening, I read this parenting article on how to teach your child to persevere. Funny timing because just earlier this evening, our daughter taught us a lesson in perseverance.

We were doing puzzles then. After putting together and completing a few shapes, she lost interest and moved to the other end of her play room to get her Lego set – a lidded bucket with the pieces inside and a square mat. The thing was, she was also holding a towel (her security object). With the towel on one hand, she was having difficulty lifting the bucket whilst holding the mat. With only two tiny hands, of course it was difficult! So we were telling her “muri, muri” (Japanese for impossible, impossible) and we told her that she needs three hands to accomplish her feat. But the beautiful thing that unfolded was that our daughter didn’t listen to our discouraging words. She persisted. The bucket fell. She picked it up. The mat fell. She picked it up. Bucket fell again. And before she picked it up, mat also fell (yes, towel didn’t fall at all). I was already about to spring and help her. But I forced myself to stay put and watch. Thankfully Hubs stayed put as well. And so we watched how our daughter re-adjusted her hands so that she can hold all three and carry all three across the room, near Daddy and Mommy, where we could play and build towers.

It was a lessons learned for us. A reminder for us to persevere and to teach our daughter to persevere instead of saying discouraging words. Thank you for the reminder, Anak. You did (and are doing) a good job.

do you still sterilise your baby’s milk bottle?

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Even when I already knew what to do in sterilising milk bottles (I after all had been using Pigeon bottles already), when I bought another brand of bottles (Yui still preferred Pigeon bottles. But I digress), I read their instructions on how to sterilise bottles. It said to sterilise the bottle when using the first time. And then wash with soap and warm water on subsequent use. No sterilisation needed. I ignored this since after all, they sell some steriliser products. And I couldn’t wave away what I’ve been used to doing.

Then my bestfriend in the US mentioned how pediatricians in the US advise the very thing that I read in the bottle washing instructions. She still sterilise anyway. It’s already an engrained practice. Hard to convince yourself otherwise.

And then I read this article in Parents Magazine which tells about the most outdated pieces of baby advice. Yes, bottle sterilising is on the list.

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We’d save on water and gas surely, if we follow this since the water I wash the bottle with is already warm. But I still am not sure if I can force myself to follow this. Will surely ask Yui’s paediatrician the next time we go for our well-baby appointment to hear about the latest on the Japanese paediatrics.
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Asked our paediatrician about Japanese paediatrics’ take on bottle sterilisation in Yui’s recent 6~7 months old well-baby check and they basically concur with that of American paediatrics. As long as bottle is well-scrubbed with nary a spot of milk curd in it, it’s fine not to sterilise the milk bottle. He reminded me as well that of course, you have to make sure that your hands are clean when cleaning the bottles and when preparing milk.
Our warm tap water is set at 39deg C. Coupled with our paediatrician’s advise, using this temperature when washing the bottles, I’m somehow more comfortable with the thought of not sterilising the milk bottles anymore.

old wives’ tales and ways to predict your baby’s gender

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We’re almost 99% sure we’re having a girl. But I still had fun answering Parents Magazine’s collection of old wives tales to predict baby’s gender.

Click here for the fun quiz!

Surprisingly though, the old wives tales were consistent with our OB’s findings! Scored 14 for girl and 7 for boy. Guess I can really splurge now on girly colours. 😀