How Much Television Should Children Watch

I've read long before that AAP recommends not to let children under 2 years old watch television. Not even turning television on, despite the fact no one is watching, as this has been shown to reduce the communication level between parent and children.

And for children above 2 years old, the recommended watching time is 2 - 3 hours per day. This is to encourage children to spend more time playing outside and learning new things.

Nevertheless, it was just late last week I've learned about the new guidelines in the US, stating that children 2 years old should not watch television AT ALL! And for children between 2 - 5 years old, only one hour a day is recommended. This is a part of the federal government campaign to reduce obesity in children.

In my opinion, I think it just depends on how we use the television to benefit from it. I personally prefer my kid to watch educational TV programs, so that she can get the best out of her viewing time.

You may want to read this article about whether watching TV cause damage to children's eyes. And research has shown that watching too much television increases risk of asthma.

All in all, television seems to have more cons than pros. So, keep in check the hours your children spend in front of television

Car Seat Tips and Safety

It has been long overdued, and we have now bought car seat for my baby. Back in Indonesia, there are no regulations whatsoever concerning car seat. And all of the people I know do not buy any car seat for their babies. But in Singapore, there's law requiring all children under 8 years old must use child restrain. Although the authorities exercise some flexibility in this area, we decide better to get one rather than paying the same amount of money or even more for fines due to traveling with baby without car seat.

We bought the car seat during Baby Fair at Takashimaya, Singapore. We chose this "The First Year" American brand. The cushions are made in China, but the assembly and everything else was in America. And at S$249, it is actually a great offer! The car seat can be used until the child is 8 years old, which is just perfect.

We were actually deciding between Combi car seat, made in Japan and made of great, very comfortable cushion. But it is priced at $899, which is a whole lot more expensive for great cushion.

And came the time we tried to put my baby on the car seat. As I've suspected before the car seat purchase, she might not like it. Since we took quite some time traveling without car seat, and she definitely do not like the rear view of the car. She cried so loudly until she vomitted. Goshh

So now I took the car seat off the car and put inside the living room. The goal is to get her used to sitting in the car seat while we can put on some entertainment on television as a distraction. And hopefully she'll get used to the car seat and don't mind being strapped inside the car.

One thing to note though, if your baby is still below 1 year old, you still have to put your baby in rear-facing car seats, until they reach 1 year old mark. The same rule applies even if your little pumpkin already weigh over 20 pounds. The reason is to avoid the risk for serious spine injury.

Hope the above helps for parents whose baby hates the idea of car seat (^-^)

Finding Causes of Baby Vomitting

Today my baby girl vomitted again. She vomitted around 1 time each week. I am not very sure what's the caused of her vomitting. She is my first, and I am kinda blurred as to what's happening.

I've asked her pediatrician previously, what could be the caused of vomitting. But this was when my baby girl was still less than 3 months old. By then, it is quite normal for baby to vomit due to very immature digestion system.

I was advised there were 3 reasons of baby vomitting, and these are:
- baby is sick
- baby is too full
- gulping air during milk feeding

But now that my baby is 8,5 months old, am not sure whether the above still apply. For sure, she is not sick, she doesn't gulp air during milk feeding. Too full? Not sure. It is already 2 hours apart from last milk feeding to when I gave her fruit puree just now. I am thinking of any other possible causes of baby vomitting. Anyone?

Sleeping Baby

There is a saying that if baby girl tends to look more like her daddy, and baby boy tends to look more like mommy. And looking at my friends' babies, I am quite convinced by the saying.

As for my baby girl, she doesn't just look like her daddy, she even sleep like her daddy.

But of course, minus the snoring. Although occassionally I could hear her "mini" snore. Even her snore sounds so irresistably cute.

Baby's Day Out

We went to Upper Seletar Reservoir. It was a great place, very cosy. There were lots of parents bringing their children to play there too. The place has a children playground, park, and of course reservoir. With cool breezing wind, this place is a very relaxing place to go with your children.

There are flowers planted along the side of pathway. And my baby being a baby, she is really curious. She likes to see new things, learn new things, touch new things, even sometimes damage the new things they touch.

I gave her the chance to touch and feel the flower. It is actually very important for babies to explore many different textures with their hands. She started by touching it quickly then pulled her hand away. Then slowly touched the flower and pulled hand away again. After 3 -4 times, she knows it is safe to touch the flower and she started to hold the flower longer. Then she started to squeeze the flowers, and before I knew it, she started plucking off the flowers. Hahaha. I didn't manage to take the plucked flowers fell on the floor, but I surely can tell you, the bunch of flowers on the photo there, they are almost all gone. Hohoho (^-^)

Condolences to Victims of Padang Quake and Samoan Tsunami

My deepest condolences go to the victims of quake in Padang, Indonesia. Also for victims of tsunami in Samoan islands.

The tremor from quake in Padang, Indonesia, which happened on 30 September 2009, could be felt as far as in Singapore and Malaysia. I was inside my apartment on 17th floor, and I felt the building is shaking. It wasn't as bad as reported in some other parts of Singapore where it was so shaky that people escaped from the building.

The quake was 7.9 in magnitude and causing buildings, hospital, shopping malls, houses to collapse. Fire was also broken out in some area.

This quake was only few hours apart from 8 magnitude quake that caused tsunami waves in Samoan islands. This caused at least 113 people dead.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Padang has reached more than 1,100 people and is still rising as of today.

Together let's extend our helping hand to the victims, pray for the victims and families left behind. Let's open our heart and donate for these people in needs.