Thumb sucking and pacifiers

During a baby's first year of life, he will put anything he can lay his hands on into his mouth. This is because he feels things, at this stage, primarily with his mouth and tongue. Later, infants develop thumb sucking or similar habits. These habits develop when they are tired, hungry, bored or frustrated. To solve the problem, feed the child if he is hungry. To relieve boredom and frustration, create a new suitable activity for the child. Talk to the child and play simple games that actively involve him.

If thumb sucking is only at bedtime, do nothing. Do not use thumb guards or apply pungent food or tie a cloth around the thumb. It may result in the baby's acquiring other, perhaps less desirable, habits such as head banging, tongue sucking, removing hair from his own head etc.

Baby’s solid foods

Once your baby has settled into a good breast-feeding, or bottle feeding, routine, thee is no need to introduce him to any solid food till he is four months old. By then, his nutritional needs would have grown and you will find it difficult to sustain him on milk alone. At this stage start him off gradually on solid foods. Being fed solid food is a whole new kind of experience for a baby. It is also a major step towards eventual independence. And you will be filled with a new joy when baby takes his first tiny teaspoonful of kheer or Khichadi.

Try to introduce various tastes to baby because his taste buds are pure (i.e.) unsullied. To the baby salt is saltier and sugar is sweeter. So keep them away, for the eating habits, you are preparing in the early part of baby’s life will stay with him forever.