Baby Girls Seem to be More Attached to their Dads

I do not know if there is a scientific explanation to this, but I noticed that baby girls are more attached to their dads as baby boys are closer to their moms. This observation holds true until they reach the age of two. After such age they begin to show affection to both parents, or to whomever deserves his or her affection. I am also unsure if I am the only one who notices this, but I am definitely certain of my observations.

But to me, it doesn't matter to whom our baby shows more affection to, what's important is that both me and her mom show her the love and care that she deserves.

On Shifting our Baby from a Hypoallergenic Milk Formula to a Regular Cow's Milk Formula

We have been feeding our nine-month old baby a hypoallergenic formula for a long time already, thus, we've decided to take a risk and shift to a regular cow's milk formula so as to find out if she'd be able to overcome her allergies.

We bought Promil Gold and started her with it yesterday. Fortunately, we haven't noticed any adverse reactions like loose bowels or skin rashes. We hope she had really gotten over her allergies. With a regular milk formula that tastes sweeter, we believe we can make our baby daughter like milk more, and help her gain the weight she needs to gain.

Most Entertaining, Funny and Recommended Episodes in The Backyardigans

I have been watching a lot of Backyardigans lately, thanks to our nine-month old baby. It is just surprising how I find the characters very interesting and funny, considering my lack of interest in musical types of animation. Probably I can attribute this to the unique way the Backyardigans tickle my imagination with the fascinating stories and remarkable music contained in each and every episode.

If I were to pick the top three (3) episodes I would choose to watch over and over again, these would be:
1. Castaways
2. The Yeti
3. Secret Mission

In Castaways, the very shy Austin secretly help the other castaways in the island with everything they need. The bossanova songs in the episode are very easy to memorize, thus encouraging viewers to sing along.

In The Yeti episode, Pablo travels up North to his Yeti home, with his friends following his tracks in order to prove that Yetis do exist (or not). There is not a single dull moment in this episode, and their version of Row, Row, Row your Boat is simple impressive.

In Secret Mission, the gang goes inside a museum, armed with spy gadgets to help them return a missing artefact to its rightful place. The best part of the episode is when they try to “limbo lower down” laser beams in their attempt to pass through the other hall where the missing piece should be returned.

DFA Requirements for Applying Philippine Passport for Baby

We brought our baby with us to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Satellite Office in Clarkfield, Pampanga to submit her application for Philippine Passport as she will be needing this if ever we decide to bring her along on our trip to Singapore next month. She didn’t have to come to DFA though since she’s a minor.

The procedure was relatively easy, especially because we had the complete requirements with us. We know how strict DFA is when it comes to the passport size picture, so we made sure her pictures were top quality. We submitted three pictures, one glued to the application form we secured from the office, and the other two enclosed in a plastic pouch and stapled to the form.

After filling up the form correctly, we were ushered to the waiting area with the other requirements at hand: parent’s Philippine Passport and photocopy; baby’s NSO Birth Certificate, and parent’s Marriage Certificate. We passed through all stations without any problem, and paid 750 pesos to expedite the process. We will be able to claim her passport in two (2) weeks, as opposed to the regular processing period of one (1) month if we paid 500 pesos.

What to Do if Your Baby Fell onto the Floor

My wife and I had a terrible experience a few days ago when our baby daughter fell from our bed face down onto the floor. Her mom tried to catch her but to no avail. The first thing we did was to made sure she was conscious. Afterwards, we tried to pacify her and it took more than ten minutes for her to stop crying, probably because of the pain from her bruised head.

Of course we felt we failed big-time to look after her for such incident to happen, but we both realized it was something bound to happen to teach us a lesson or two: first, to never leave our baby alone even for a split second even if she has tons of pillows around her; and second, to never panic when such cases for alarm take place.

If the same thing happens to your child, immediately have her treated by a doctor. To alleviate her pain on your way to the hospital, have packs of ice ready for cold-compress over bruised area. If her head hit the floor, make sure she doesn't vomit or lose consciousness.

Comparing Cerelac and Gerber Based on Taste, Nutritional Value, and Over-all Nourishment for Babies

We have alternately fed our baby Cerelac and Gerber, both Stage 1, for two months now because she tends to develop allergies with milk-based baby food (like Cerelac), thus the need for non-milk containing products such as Gerber. Due to her allergy to cow’s milk, even her infant formula has to be made of hydrolyzed whey protein and modified cow’s milk.

If her mom and I have a choice, we would probably choose Cerelac as her primary source of solid food. All variants of Cerelac actually taste good and we are satisfied with the nutrients found in every serving. As Nestle puts it, it definitely pays to check the label.

But still, we are very thankful to Gerber for providing our baby’s basic nourishment needs whenever we can’t feed her milk-containing solids due to her allergies, manifested clearly in her mood swings and irritability, not to forget all the rashes that appear on her skin.

Heraclene (Dibencozide) Improved our Baby’s Appetite and Helped her Gain Weight

On our baby’s sixth month, we noticed how she lost her appetite for milk and how she had gone down to four feedings a day from the usual six to seven feedings we were used to. Frequent visits to her paediatrician showed that her weight gain has consequently slowed down.

Upon the recommendation of her paediatrician, we introduced Heraclene (generic name: Dibencozide) to her feedings by combining the contents of the capsule to her milk. We were told it efficiently stimulates appetite and also plays a major factor in protein building. This is probably the reason why the drug is normally prescribed to premature infants and to other similar cases needing such effects.

If you have queries regarding the use of Heraclene, consult first with your paediatrician who would be more than willing to guide you through the use of such drug. Remember to always exercise caution with the use of ALL medicines.

For Dads and Moms to Earn Money from Home through Online Blogging Sites like Twitter

Yes, dads (and moms) who are left at home to look after the kids can still make money from a vast array of tools available online, one of the most popular: Blogging.

There are lots of sites that offer free services and templates to help you jumpstart a career in blogging, like Blogspot and the very popular microblogging site, Twitter. To guide you through the entire process of earning through blogging or “tweeting”, click on the icons found at the top of the screen to your right.

Twitter Cash Formula

Easy Cash Blogging

Ceraklin Gentle Skin Cleanser and Moisturizer for Babies

Ceraklin, as their innovator claims it, is Ceramide.

Ceramides are our skin’s natural lipids. In a way, they serve to protect our skin from harmful and irritating substances.

Ceraklin, being a Ceramide, not only cleanses and moisturizes our skin but also enhances its protective role by replenishing depleted natural lipids. This product from InnoDerm is hypoallergenic, non-comodogenic, and chemical-free, making it safe for babies’ use, especially for those with dry and sensitive skin.

Effective Singing in English, the Montessori Way

My wife and I purchased Singing English: The Montessori Way from a wide variety of musical DVDs to choose from at a local music store. We were convinced by its claim that it will get our child to a really good start in learning English. And right after watching it with our daughter, we were convinced all the more that we made the right choice.

Not only does the CD boast of more than 50 nursery rhymes, old and new, but it also has instructional video clips capable of teaching our daughter such things as the alphabet, numbers, basic colors, and grammar, to name a few. We feel really confident that if we would let her watch this as often as we can, she would be more than prepared to face all the early challenges of school.

The DVD is a 70-minute karaoke-style video with nursery rhymes and songs that feature live action and animation your kids will surely enjoy and learn from.

Bioneem 100% Non-Deet Insect Repellent for Babies

Bioneem is an organic and non-deet insect repellent and moisturizing lotion that offers up to 9 hours of protection against dengue-causing mosquitoes. It is formulated with Neem tree extract and other natural plant extracts that have also been proven to be effective against various skin infections.

We all know that babies' skins differ in sensitivity, but with its proven baby-friendly formulation, Bioneem is a safer, if not better, alternative to other insect repellents available in the market today. So for moms and dads who would like to give their kids the protection they deserve, purchase Bioneem from your pediatricians today.

Bioneem is manufactured by CRD Herbal Products Inc. and exclusively distributed by The GreenCow Company Inc. (Philippines).

Cost of Giving Birth at St. Luke’s Medical Center and University of Santo Tomas Hospital

St. Luke’s and UST continue to remain as the country’s premier hospitals. Expectant moms may consider giving birth in said hospitals to ensure safe delivery of their babies.

To help you become financially ready to welcome the birth of your new baby, you will have to prepare a sufficient amount of money to carry you through the entire process.

For those who want to give birth at St. Luke’s, you will need to prepare PhP 80-110K for normal delivery and PhP 110-160K for Caesarian. In UST, rates are PhP 50-80K for normal and PhP 80-110K for the C-section. Rates are inclusive of doctors’ fees. Total bill may vary depending on your room rate and your doctors’ professional fees.

How to go to Ocean Park Hong Kong from Mong Kok MTR Station

Ocean Park offers a variety of activities for children which may take a whole day to finish. From the Mong Kok station of the MTR, take train (to central) and get off at Admiralty station. Exit at Exit B, then take Bus 629 which stops at Ocean Park.

Before riding the bus to Ocean Park, you may already purchase tickets, which includes the entrance fee and round trip fare to and from Ocean Park. The average cost per person is around HK$ 225.

To return to Mong Kok MTR, take the 629 bus again using your round trip ticket. The bus stops at Admiralty station where you get off, then take the Tsuen Wan line of the MTR and get off at Mong Kok station.

How to go to Disneyland Hong Kong from Mong Kok MTR Station

Disneyland is one of the famed tourist spots in Hong Kong, especially for children. From the Mong Kok station of the MTR, take the train and get off at Lai King station. At Lai King station, you have to transfer to the Tung Chung line of the MTR and get off at Sunny Bay station.

From Sunny Bay station, transfer to the Disneyland Resort train which will bring you to Disneyland. Entrance fee is around HK$ 325.

To return to Mong Kok MTR station, take the Disneyland Resort train again, then get off at the next station which is Sunny Bay. Take train 2 (to Hong Kong/to city line), then get off at Lai King. From Lai King station, transfer to the Tsuen Wan line (to central) and get off at Mong Kok station.

When a Baby Does Not Cry for Milk

Some babies are unlike other ones who always try to get their parents' attention whenever they feel hungry. There are some who wouldn't cry for milk and it would be easy for parents to think that they are not hungry. This is why it is very important for parents and babysitters to watch carefully all the signs that will lead them to acknowledging the need to feed their babies.

Some babies tend to suck their fingers to satisfy their hunger, so be sure to prepare their milk immediately after noticing them doing this. Others show signs of being irritated easily, and a few others may look pale and weak.

Just so you are sure, check the label of your baby's milk formula to see the recommended number of feedings per day. If your baby isn't able to cope up with the recommendation, then consult his or her doctor right away.

What to Bring when Travelling with your Baby

Remember that these essentials should come in handy if you plan to take your baby along with you on a long vacation away from home:

1. Milk and feeding bottles
2. Clothing fit for all weather types
3. Vitamins and basic medicines
4. Anti-diaper rash cream
5. Diapers and baby wipes
6. Baby soap and shampoo
7. Cotton balls and sterile gauze
8. Towels
9. Sterilizer
10. Mattress and pillowcases
11. Mosquito net
12. Distilled drinking water
13. Carrier or stroller
14. Baby’s favourite toy
15. Camera to capture baby’s best shots

Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser for Baby’s Skin

The use of Cetaphil for babies has been gaining popularity among hard to please moms and dads. Some soaps in the market, even baby soaps at that, may tend to be harsh to a baby’s sensitive skin. That is why parents would not stop searching for the one soap that will take good care of their babies.

My wife and I have been using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for our baby since the day she was born. It is approved for all skin types and its soothing, non-irritating formula softens as it cleans. Judging by the way our baby’s skin feels right now, it would be very easy for us to recommend Cetaphil to all picky moms and dads.

Cetaphil is being distributed by Galderma Philippines, Inc.

When Does a Child Have Fever?

Parents sometimes observe an increase in the body temperature of children, which may be attributed to conditions like fever or sudden changes in weather or humidity.

So when does a child really have fever? A temperature of more than 37.8 degrees Celsius may be an indication that a child has fever and has to be brought to the Paediatrician for medical attention.

Opening a Metrobank Account for Baby

When our baby was baptized, most of her guests arrived with cash gifts. The money she received was enough to buy her new things since she can no longer fit in almost all her infant clothes. Her mom did an excellent job getting nice stuff at very reasonable prices. As a result, we were able to save a sufficient amount of money for her bank account.

We went to Metrobank to open an In-Trust-For (ITF) Fun Savers Club account for our little girl. It’s an ITF since she’s only two months old, way below the required age of seven years old for a regular kiddie savings account.

Opening the account for her was such a breeze. My wife just submitted a passport size picture and presented two valid IDs, plus the birth certificate of our child and our marriage certificate. After an hour, we already got her passbook and some nice freebies.

Baby's Christening Reception at Max's

Our baby was baptized when she was exactly two months old. Reception followed at Max's Restaurant for all our guests. Photo above shows the set-up they did for the stage. Generally, we liked how the place was decorated. The space was just the average size, but the tables were positioned strategically, allowing us and our guests to move freely and giving everyone a nice view of the stage.

With the price we paid, we could say that we were satisfied with what we got. The food, the cake, and giveaways were very good. A room for improvement would probably be in the length of time the tables were completely served with food. But overall, we would never hesitate holding our next party again at Max’s.