We just bought this digital thermometer during the recent Guardian Merdeka sale. The retail price is RM189 but after a discount we got it at RM98 only!

Here are a few “signs” that may indicate my baby is ready for solid foods:

• Loss of tongue-thrust reflex (she was eating like a big gal, can swallow, no spitting or thrusting the food with her tounge - so checked!)
• Ability to let you know she is full from a “meal” with signs such as turning away from the bottle or breast. This is important so that baby is able to self-regulate the amount of food being eaten. This helps stop baby from accidentally overeating as parents may continue to feed baby thinking that she is still hungry. (passed this a month ago - so checked!) 
• Ability to sit up and hold head up unassisted   (checked!)
• Interest in your food (she often lick her lips and watch attentively while we’re eating, perhaps thinking why mama didn’t give her some of the yummy stuff, so checked!)
• Doubling of birth weight (checked!) 
• Frequently waking in the middle of the night when a solid sleeping pattern had been established. This may not be the best indicator that your baby is ready for solids! (baby Izzah sleeps like an angel at night, no waking up just tossing and turning her body)

Since most of the signs are checked and the paed also advised to start solid, we gave the little princess the bottled food that hubby bought a few days ago. She likes it so much (the bib and her nose also got a taste of the pumpkin… he..he)

So, now we’re watching out for any sign of allergies. If no allergic reaction, then we can continue giving her pumpkin. And, try another type of food.

* Studies show that babies are highly individual in developing a readiness for solid foods. One baby might seem to be ready for solids at 4 months, while another shows no signs of readiness until around 6 or 7 months.  Just because your friend’s baby may have began eating solid foods at 4 months of age does not mean that your baby should.

I already have two diaper bags, a Chubby Gubby Backpack that I bought before baby Izzah was born. And, a Tenderly diaper bag which is a gift from a friend.

Why bought that backpack diaper bag? First, because I thought I’m gonna have a baby boy (the baby didn’t showed its **tut* during ultrasound). Second, because it has generous compartments and since it’s a backpack, my hubby wouldn’t mind carrying it. And, lastly because I thought the bag looks really cute in lime green…ha..ha..ha.

Since the Chubby Gubby backpack is kind of “boyish”, I want to have another diaper bag that has a feminine touch.

So, I bought this! A Gin & Jacqie diaper bag (Stylish Elaine). And, I really love it so much!

This Gin & Jacqie diaper bag is so stylish that no one will know that it’s a diaper bag.

Made of quality nylon and faux leather, this diaper bag is so light weight and easy to carry.

It has zipper top opening, two exterior pocket with drawstrings, customised printed twill dots for lining (love it!), three interior compartments, interior keychain holder for keys or small pouches, additional interior compartments for handphone and other items, one interior zipper pocket, roll up wipeable change mat that can be cleaned easily (love it!) and two interior hooks to hook bag onto stroller.

Lil’ Izzah was treated in NICU for 10 days, both for jaundice and intestine infection. And, I missed her so very much during the separation.

The infections could have been caused by any of these actions.

1. doctor at the clinic inserted her unsterilised gloved finger into my baby’s mouth
2. doctor at the clinic gave plain water through an unsterilised picagary
3. hubby gave mineral water (might contain bacteria) through bottle as advised by the doctor
4. me gave some fresh goat’s milk (might not be properly pausterised) through bottle as advised by relatives

You see, as new parents, we received lots of different advises for treating jaundice (sakit kuning).

Thank God, we do not follow the advises of bathing the baby with some kind of leaves or some Chinese yellow herbs water. All these could have cause some kind of skin infection!

So, for all new parents out there, please be strong and RESIST all the temptations to follow any non-medical advises for treating your baby’s jaundice. What works for someone else’s baby doesn’t necessarily will work for your baby.

Furthermore, it could just be a coincidence that giving goat’s milk, lots of plain water, expose to morning sunlight and bath with some type of leaves or Chinese yellow herbs water heal a baby’s jaundice. There is no scientific evidence to proof that they works.

The only SAFE treatment for jaundice is the phototheraphy session. Phototheraphy uses the wave-length of the blue spectrum of light to break down bilirubin molecules, thus helping the immature liver to process the bilirubin faster.

While morning sunlight (also contain the blue-spectrum of light) is traditionally used to treat jaundice, the risk of sunburn due to the depletion of the ozone layer, may cause more harm to your baby than good.

So, learn from our mistake. Get the proper medical treatment immediately.

You see, all these non-medical advises could actually complicate the jaundice. And, as in our case, caused infection and days of anxiety too!