Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Young Parents

Organic goji custard smoothie; pumpkin, veg and couscous; and New Zealand lamb with carrot and sweet potato – these sound like dishes from a restaurant menu. Except they’re in packaged baby food! Yup, not only can your little one dress like you, but she can now eat like you, too. Every hipster ingredient you can think of, from kale to quinoa, seems to have a mini-me version. Check out what we found on the supermarket shelves, and find out whether these trendy variations are better for Baby (page 46). In this Health Issue, we also highlight the link between eyesight and academic performance (page 84). Your child may have passed the cursory school eye check, but if she’s a slow learner and doesn’t have a learning difficulty, she may have…

Who says all little girls like cutesy characters? If your young one takes her style cues from you, dress her up in the Mini Me range from In Good Company, which offers modern and stylish options for your young lady. With strong graphic details and lines, the capsule collection includes dresses with drapes that flare when she spins, layered tops, and comfortable joggers, bloomers or shorts with 3-D patch pockets. Suitable for girls aged three to eight, they cost $79 to $159. Find them at the brand’s flagship store at #B1-06 Ion Orchard or online at www.ingoodcompany.asia . DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE See more photos from these collections. Visit www.youngparents. com.sg/digital .…

– presented by Young Parents SEMINAR DETAILS WHEN May 7 (Saturday), 10am – 1pm WHERE Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Level 3 Jasmine Junior Ballroom HOW MUCH $20 per person/$25 for two EARLY BIRD $15 per person/$20 for two when you sign up by Feb 24 (Includes tea reception. Strictly no admission for children.) The preschool years are an amazing time. Join our distinguished experts from The Little Skool-House and get insights from celebrity speaker, Edmund Chen, on ways to embrace both English and Chinese languages for your preschooler. Promoting the love of literature in young children (1 hour) Learn fun, everyday ways to help your kid develop a true love of literacy through good old-fashioned play from the experts at The Little Skool-House: • Ong Seok…

Hyland’s Baby Teething Tablets ($19.90) are quick-dissolving tablets that melt instantly in a baby’s mouth upon contact with saliva. Hyland’s Baby Teething Gel ($15.90) is administered directly to the gums for on-the-spot relief of teething pain. Both products contain the same active ingredients: • Calcarea phosphorica, which supports teeth formation. • Chamomilla, for irritability commonly associated with teething pain. • Coffea Cruda, to aid insomnia. Hyland’s products are available at Guardian outlets. For more information, visit www.hylands.com/products. Always check with your pediatrician before using any medication on your child.…

When Tan Kai Hui heads out with her two-year-old, she sometimes carries considerably more luggage than many other parents with young kids. Besides a backpack of baby essentials, she and her husband lug a 3.7kg car seat, which comes with a compatible stroller. Although taxis here are exempt from child-safety seat requirements, they don’t feel safe travelling without one. The 28-year-old pharmacist says: “Before that, we would borrow my parents’ car to take our son to and from the polyclinic for his jaundice. I would carry him in my arms, but it didn’t feel safe.” In cars here, anyone below the height of 1.35m is required to be secured with a child restraint appropriate for a person of that height and weight, or use a booster seat to supplement the…

Fine motor skills will allow him greater independence, as well as lay the foundation for drawing and writing in later years. At this stage, your toddler’s fine motor skills – or hand-eye coordination – are developed enough to let him pick up small toys, carry objects, and even try to hold the spoon as you feed him. These abilities are an important part of your toddler’s development. Not only do they allow him greater independence, but they also lay the foundation for drawing and writing in later years. Give him many opportunities to further improve on his fine motor skills. Here are 10 ways: Undressing and dressing Encourage him to get involved when you’re changing him. For example, suggest that he puts his arms up in anticipation of wearing his…

While certain vision conditions like a crossed or turned eye are easy to recognise, others are less obvious. Telltale signs of learning-related vision problems include: • Frequent headaches or eye strain • Poor depth perception • Double vision • Poor hand-eye coordination • A tendency to cover or close one eye • Avoiding near work (less than 40cm) or other visually demanding tasks • Blurring of vision (both distance and near), particularly after reading or other types of near work • Tilting or turning the head when looking at an object Watch for signs of your child’s binocular vision problems affecting his learning: • Poor reading comprehension • Difficulty judging sizes and shapes • Difficulty copying from one place to another • Able to respond orally, but unable to get…

stop that itch If Junior has dry, sensitive skin, finding a suitable body wash for him can be difficult and frustrating. Try QV Kids – its body wash, moisturising cream and balm are free of soap, fragrance and other common irritants, so they’re suitable even for those with eczema. QV Kids’ balm (100g, $18.20), moisturising cream (100g, $13.60) and wash (350g, $22.50) are available from selected Unity, Guardian and hospital pharmacy stores. Visit www.egopharm.com/ensg. bye bye, boo-boo Have an accident-prone toddler? Fix up those “ouchies” with a quick rub of Hyland’s 4 Kids Bumps’n Bruises with Arnica ointment sticks. Formulated with Arnica montana, the topical medicine soothes pain, swelling, bruising and soreness. The sticks are also free of PABA, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, parabens and dyes. The goofy faces on the…

Programmes: Infant care • Toddler • Nursery • Kindergarten BRIGHTON MONTESSORI E contact@brightonmontessori.com.sg W www.brightonmontessori.com.sg T 6588-3883 @ FORT ROAD 16 Fort Road, Singapore 439077 @ FRANKEL AVE 125 Frankel Avenue, Singapore 458235 @ GREAT WORLD CITY 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #02-41A/42 Great World City, Singapore 237994 @ MOUNTBATTEN 764 Mountbatten Road, Singapore 437764 @ SUNSET WAY 41 Sunset Way, #02-01/02 Clementi Arcade, Singapore 597071 @ THE GRASSROOTS’ CLUB 190 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #02-01 The Grassroots’ Club, Singapore 568046 LEARNING VISION E enquiries@learningvision.com W www.learningvision.com T 6781-0888 @ ALPHA (SCIENCE PARK II) 10 Science Park Road, Singapore Science Park ll, #01-02/03 The Alpha, Singapore 117684 @ BIOPOLIS One North, 11 Biopolis Way Helios, #02-01/03, Singapore 138667 @ CET EAST CAMPUS (PAYA LEBAR) 11 Eunos Road 8,…

A majestic horse welcomes you at the kids’ section of Times Bookstore at Waterway Point. Emirates airline sure knows how to keep young travellers happy and busy onboard. Can’t wait to go home and let Baby try this new Rice & Soya cereal from Nestle Cerelac! The YP team welcomed our newest “member” as senior designer Sze Jin celebrated her baby’s first month. The Gruffalo character from Kids Fest Singapore 2016 visited our office – and gave us an impromptu head massage. Hi Uncle, can we join in for a bite of durian? Can you guess where this laid-back “kampung” is? Hint: Turn to page 96. Follow us and find out what the Young Parents team is up to.…

This is probably the most important question you ask before you book a vacation. So, if you’re heading overseas, check out Changi Recommends’ Overseas Travel Wi-Fi battery-operated router. About the size of a blusher compact, it connects several devices for Wi-Fi on the go. I tried it on a trip to Spain and Turkey last year, and my family loved the convenience it offered. No more searching for Wi-Fi spots and grumbling that the connection speed was too slow. Reserve your unit at least a week in advance during peak holiday seasons. Rates start from $10 a day, depending on your destination. Visit www.changiwifi.com. – STEPHANIE YEO…

Whether it’s a fear of labour pains, a wish to time Baby’s arrival to fit work schedules or to match an auspicious date, it appears more mums-to-be here and around the world are opting for an elective or “patient-choice” Caesarean. “A procedure that once was used in an emergency or for medical reasons... has become more and more of a lifestyle choice.” “The caesarean section is the most commonly performed surgical intervention in the developed world, and increasingly in developing nations,” says associate professor Tan Lay Kok, senior consultant with the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). In SGH, C-sections account for 35 per cent of deliveries, while for private hospitals, the percentage is far higher, he shares in the January/February 2016 issue of Singapore Health.…

NEWBORNS AND INFANTS • Infant car seat Weighing about 4kg, this can be clipped into a compatible stroller, which are often sold together as a “travel system”. Some infant seats, especially the European-made ones, can be installed using just a vehicle’s seat belt. Others, however, may need a locking clip to secure the car seat (refer to the seat’s instruction manual). This is because most seat belts in taxis and cars here do not have the ALR (Automatic Locking Retractor) or child restraint mode, where the user can tighten the seat belt to hold the car seat in the right position. Most seat belts are in the ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) mode, which locks only in an accident. The car seat would not be locked in place at other times. To…

SEND US YOUR CHILD’S BEST PHOTO & WIN! Each child featured on this page wins a Skip Hop Zoo Little Kid Backpack (Fox) worth $37.90. Whimsical details and durable materials make this the perfect pack when your young one’s on the go. It easily holds all the supplies your kid might need for a busy day. Comfy padded straps go easy on little shoulders. To take part, upload a clear JPEG photo of your child (at least 300dpi) to www.youngparents.com.sg/cutie and fill in your details. Terms and conditions apply.…

Avoid constantly criticising her about her poor organisational skills. Arguments about tidying up rarely have a long-term effect and will not result in change. Your kid is now in Primary 2 and yet she still seems to be so disorganised. You have spent hours training her to pack her bag for school every day, but she invariably forgets books, or she just packs every book every day just in case. She doesn’t copy down the homework she needs to do when the teacher writes it on the board and loses water bottles and pencils regularly. You wonder how long it will take before she “wakes up” and gets her act together. At this age, she should be able to pack her school bag properly each morning, take down accurate instructions…

Occasional temper tantrums are a normal growing-up phase for very young children learning to control their emotions. But what if those explosive meltdowns continue well into the tween years? For almost two years, 32-year-old stay-at-home mum Rosmaira Ramli bore the brunt of her 11-year-old daughter’s daily tirades. At her wit’s end, she sought professional help two years ago. “There was a lot of yelling, feet-stamping and door-banging every day. Sometimes she would throw things, too. It was emotionally exhausting to manage her angry outbursts every day,” shares Rosmaira, who has two other children aged 13 and six years old. Increasingly, professionals share that they are seeing an rising number of angry children like Raudah Fatin. To address the growing problem, the Singapore Children’s Society (SCS) set up an anger management…

Want your kid to eat more vegetables? Follow these tips from professor Ruth Chan and dietitian Suey Yeung, both from the department of medicine and therapeutics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong: • Be a good role model by eating vegetables with your children. • Get them involved in shopping, cleaning, peeling or cutting up vegetables to increase their exposure and interest. • Don’t worry if they reject it again and again – you may have to offer it eight to 15 times before they accept a new food item. • Get creative. Cook vegetables in different ways, such as cutting them into different shapes. • Monitor their growth and talk to your paediatrician if you think they need a nutritional supplement.…

Banana Republic www.bananarepublic.sg Cavalier http://cavaliervault.com CH Caroline Herrera www.carolinaherrera.com/en Chateau de Sable www.chateaudesable.com Eclecticism + Lauren Jasmine www.fb.com/LaurenJasmine Elm Tree www.elmtreebooks.com Forever 21 www.forever21.com Gallery & Co. #01-05 City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore Gingersnaps www.fb.com/GingersnapsSG Kidsport www.facebook.com/KidStyleSG Kookies+Milk http://kookiesandmilk.com Lovina 24 Pagoda Street Mdreams www.mdreams.com.sg Metro www.metro.com.sg Monoyono www.monoyono.com Mothercare www.mothercare.com.sg Motherswork www.motherswork.com.sg My Imagination Kingdom www.myimaginationkingdom.com Naiise http://naiise.com Nana & Bird http://shop.nanaandbird.com Ocean Paradise www.oceanparadise.com.sg Open Farm Community www.openfarmcommunity.com Petit Bateau www.petit-bateau.sg Seed Heritage www.fb.com/SeedHeritageAsia The Better Toy Store www.thebettertoystore.com The Farm Store http://thefarmstore.sg Totally Hot Stuff http://totallyhotstuff.com Warehouse www.warehouse.co.uk…

Whether they’re going out, playing or travelling, the children’s range from Uniqlo’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection is designed to let kids be kids. The pieces are easy to put on and take off, and let your active child move about freely and comfortably. Girls’ styles are cute and feminine, like the flare short pants that combine the feminine styling of a skirt with the freedom of pants, while the boys’ range includes trench coats and jogger pants. Prices range from $7.90 to $79.90. Visit www.uniqlo.com/sg.…

The British Council offers English enrichment courses for preschool, primary and secondary school students. These are in line with the Ministry of Education’s English curriculum, delivering the same learning outcomes through its unique teaching methodology. At the core of what it offers is its focus on group work, collaboration, sharing, critical thinking and problem-solving. Free trial classes are available. Visit www.britishcouncil.sg to find out more, or call any of its five centres: Napier Road: 6653-8046 Marsiling: 6653-8049 Tampines: 6653-8040 Toa Payoh: 6653-8059 Katong: 6653-6205…

How does this sound: Organic New Zealand beef, apple, beetroot and pumpkin for the main course, and a strawberry goji custard smoothie for dessert. Even if you’re not a masterchef, these are what you can serve at home – to Baby! Take a walk down the supermarket aisles – you’ll find that packaged baby food now sounds like dishes from a restaurant menu and comes in every hipster ingredient you can think of, from kale to millet. “The world is so much smaller these days, so we get food from everywhere,” paediatrician Janice Wong from Thomson Paediatric Centre observes. What’s “hip” or “exotic” here, such as quinoa, is in fact a staple in African and South American diets; just as rice is to Asians. But which is most nutritious for…

Discuss the procedure with your doctor Find out as much as possible about the medication and anaesthesia that will be used, as well as all possible side affects to you and the baby. Read about the C-section and talk to friends and relatives who have gone through it. There are even preparation courses by midwives and doulas. Have an epidural lower section C-section, if you can, says Dr Ann Tan. “Get to experience the wonder of hearing and seeing your baby at the time of delivery and even take photos with your spouse in the operating theatre with the baby. And you can breastfeed soon after you come out of the theatre, too.” Practise the deep breathing and relaxation methods you learnt in childbirth class. Use these to help calm…

Taking care of your own needs and wants should be viewed as an important aspect of positive parenting. Right now, you’re so immersed in looking after your infant, you feel that you have no time for yourself. Of course you love him and want to be the best mum possible, but you haven’t forgotten your old life. You miss the days when you socialised with your friends, when you and Hubby could catch the latest blockbuster movie at the cinema, and when you had time for spa treatments and manicures. But there is no reason you can’t make them happen again. You shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting to carve out time for yourself. A parent who feels trapped and tired will soon experience burnout – that definitively won’t be in…

When her seven-year-old daughter, Zoe, struggled to keep up with school work, Michelle Clarke scheduled an appointment to have her eyes checked. “Zoe was below average in class and was having a lot of trouble reading and writing. For instance, she would mix up her b’s and d’s. She didn’t like to learn at all. “Her teacher highlighted that she was squinting a lot in class and felt that she had some eye problems that was affecting her learning,” says the 36-year-old stay-at-home mum. Mention poor grades and more often than not, learning disorders like dyslexia and attention deficit disorder come to mind. But what does your little one’s vision have to do with those persistent Band 3 or 4 scores? Plenty, it seems. Vision and learning are closely related.…

You might be tempted to smack or yell at your child for acting out. Don’t. Use these strategies to help Junior cope with his intense emotions instead. MANAGE YOUR OWN EMOTIONS The worst thing a parent can do is to join in the rage. How can you expect your child to handle anger positively when you are modelling negative coping skills? IMH’s Jillian Boon says children often mimic what their parents do. Use a calm but firm voice instead of reacting to your child’s anger emotionally, says Dr Sanveen Kang-Sadhnani of Thomson Paediatric Centre – The Child Development Centre. LISTEN AND TALK IT THROUGH While you should not give in to your kid’s tantrums and demands, it is important for you to learn to listen to what he is trying…

WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE Everton Road Get your dose of nostalgia at Everton Road near Chinatown, where we chanced upon an amah doing her laundry, a barber giving a boy a haircut, and a provision shop that stocks all your favourite childhood snacks. These are worth more than a passing glance - on closer inspection, you'll find details like the old-school tiffin and tray of kueh atop amah's cabinet, the little boy reading the Lao Fu Zi comic, and the painted puddle of water running towards the drain by the roadside. Amah and the barber are at 40 Everton Road, while the provision shop is at 8 Spottiswoode Park Road, at the cross junction of Spottiswoode Park Road, Everton Road and Blair Road. FANCY A CUPPA? A.R.C. Coffee at 29/31…