Brief Answer:
Advise on baby walker

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.

Your kid is aged just 5 months and I certainly feel there are certain issues with a use of baby walker in an infant (less than 1 year old). In the course of our discussion we will come to a consensus on to use or not to use.

An infant walker, or baby walker, consists of a wheeled base supporting a rigid frame that holds a fabric seat with leg openings and usually a plastic tray. The device is designed to support a pre-ambulatory infant, with feet on the floor, and to allow mobility while the infant is learning to walk. Some walkers are equipped with bouncing mechanisms, activity toys, or locking devices that keep them from moving, and some fold flat for storage.

Issues -
1. Babies learn to do their motor activities partly by watching and understanding how their hands and feet move in response to a brain command. The best example is a baby seeing intently the movement of palm and fingers and enjoying it. In a walker, the infant can't see the movement of the legs.

2. Development should always in a pattern - for example the head control is achieved before a baby roles over - this has been created by nature to prevent injury to neck during rolling over. But, a walker allows baby to move around before they are physically ready for it.

3. The walker provides a baby an unusual height - for example pulling a table cloth with hot food or milk or water and spillage/ electrical plug holes/ speed which the baby will be unaccustomed to at that age.

4. babies who use baby walkers might: Trip and fall over / Roll down stairs / Trap a finger / reach for a dangerous object

5. Adult supervision also cannot be relied on to prevent infant walker-related injuries. Moving at more than 3 feet/sec, an infant can be across the room before an adult has time to react.

I suggest you not to use a baby walker for safety purposes and it has also been scientifically proven that using a walker will not hasten the development of a kid. I personally did not use baby walker for my kid for the above stated reasons.

If you or your family insist on using a walker, these are the tips I suggest for your baby's safety -
1. Keep outside doors locked at all times, even when you are at home.
2. Put corner /edge bumpers on sharp edges of furniture such as tables/ cots.
3. Fasten heavy objects such as TVs, lamps, or stereo equipment to the wall so the baby doesn't accidentally knock them over.
4. Keep plants out of children's reach.
5. Cover unused electrical outlets with plastic caps.
6. Keep wiring or phone cords out of children's reach.
7. Do not use tablecloths that a child can pull down.
8. Store cleaning products and all other poisonous chemicals in a high cupboard out of a child's reach.
9. Keep hot drinks out of reach of your child. When handling hot liquids or foods, check to see where your child is BEFORE you pick up the tea kettle or pan.
10. Put baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs / forbidden rooms or areas.

Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,

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Brief Answer:
Feeding advice

Detailed Answer:
Hi...thanks for your compliment and I am a strong supporter of exclusive breast feeding till 6 months of age and that means nothing else should be given to a healthy baby till 6 months of age, including water. Everything is mother's breast milk only.

To be very specific science says that every mother's milk is - BABY SPECIFIC - that is - by nature it is just made for that particular baby alone.

If you have already started continue Farex, but before any other advice on feeding, I would like o know more about your baby's birth weight and current weight and length.

Your answers and further queries are solicited.

If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below.

www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696

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Brief Answer:
Suggestion on complimentary feeding

Detailed Answer:
Hi... thanks for getting back.

Your kid's birth weight and current weight are absolutely superb. My congratulations for it.

At this age you can start giving Cerelac stage one rice or Nestum rice stage 1 etc. All are same in calories and energy. Only thing is palatability which is subjective for each kid.

Other home made food options will be -
1. Daal and rice well cooked and made into a porridge along with ghee
2. Boiled apple or banana and mashed into a paste.
3. Any made cereal porridge preparation with additional ghee added.

Remember certain principles like -
1. Add one food material / cereal or fruit per week. This will be useful because if he develops vomiting or diarrhoea, we will know what to avoid.
2. Add vegetables and fruits made into a paste surely to avoid constipation.
3. Do not add too much sugar as it may cause diarrhoea.

Your further queries are solicited.

If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below.

www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696

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