Here are 5 things that you should not do or allow anyone to do to your baby

Touching Baby with Unwashed Hands

A lot of mothers leave the hospital a few days after delivery without taking the immunization that would boost baby’s health status and protect them from infections. They may be asked to return later that week to receive this vaccine. This simply means that extra care must be taken pending the time this baby will receive it. Consequently, whenever you have a reason to visit new mothers, you may want to be proactive enough to ask for the tap so you can wash your hands with soap and water. If you are sweating, it is much better to wave at the baby instead of carrying her with a sweaty body. As a mother, you must always wash your hands before handling your baby and you may have to be firm enough to direct everyone to the tap so that they wash their hands as well to avoid stories that touch.

Covering Baby’s Face with Kisses

Love for babies could get you overly excited and the temptation to cover the baby with kisses should not be allowed to find expression. This is due to the health risks involved. There is the story of a baby that had to be admitted to the hospital after she was diagnosed with Herpes. Further investigations revealed that the kisses of the mother’s friend who had herpes exposed this baby to the same virus which became her reality in no time. Babies are very fragile and should be treated carefully. If you or your friends have cold or other ailments, you must exercise caution and avoid facial skin contact with the little one.

Throwing Baby Up and Around

Africans are very physical people and they don’t hesitate to handle a baby physically. Unfortunately, this act of life can be the beginning of a life of avoidable misery. One of the greatest mistakes anyone can make in this age and time is to throw a young baby up repeatedly or carry the baby and shake the baby to the point that their head bobs back and forth. This action can be detrimental to the baby as the brain is still very fragile and has the capacity to move back and forth with every shake thereby leading to brain damage. Studies have shown that this is not a myth or the figment of anybody’s imagination and anyone who has a baby must be careful enough to let people know that such an act is not welcome.

Administering Herbal Concoction

This is a practice that comes up when superstitions are big issues in a family. Many elderly women have a way of looking at a baby and concluding that she has an ailment due to her shape of the head or the size of her body. Most times, these old wives are quick to offer herbal concoctions as the easy way out of this seemingly worrisome predicament. Out of fear and respect, many mothers listen to these old wives’ tales and end up compromising the health of the said child or losing same to death. The only way to get the best form of care for your child is to consult with a trained medical practitioner. If you have love for your little one, you will not give them herbs. In the case of an anomaly, resist any form of self-medication and speak with a certified doctor who will run tests and administer the required medication.

Force-feeding the Little One

When it comes to feeding, many people are passionate about ensuring that the baby eats well. However, on occasions where the baby seems to be uninterested in eating, many people go out of their way to force the baby to feed. This is usually done by locking one’s legs around the child, pinning him down, pinching his nose which would have him open the mouth to breathe. As the mouth becomes open, the food is forced into the mouth. The intention may be good but the downside of this method is the possibility of cutting off the oxygen supply or having the child struggle until the food goes the wrong way. This act has cut short many lives and left many families in pain.

Ignorance is no longer an excuse to expose your angel to danger. Love your little one and care for them so that your future will be a peaceful one. Now that you know, do better and watch tomorrow reward you for your love and care.

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Now you might think Timi is just a little child who makes things up but you are wrong. No matter your age, different demons will show up to scare you especially the ugly one called depression.
Depression is a disorder that happens as a result of different factors and leaves you feeling sad. It can last for a while and leave you feeling dissatisfied with the activities that once gave you joy and fulfilment. There are a lot of factors that can make you depressed like:
• Stress
• Grief
• Anxiety
• Lack
• Change etc.

Depression can affect your feelings, acts and appearance. You might lose interest in doing the things you love and withdraw from the people you love because you need space. If you start feeling terrible and out-of-place (amongst other symptoms), you might be suffering from depression.

Signs like the following should not be pushed aside they can be pointers to a deeper problem:
• Sadness
• Anger
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Inability to concentrate
• Morbid fear and hopelessness
• Weight loss
• Hallucination
• Loss of appetite
• Change in sleep pattern i.e. sleeping too much or Insomnia
• Suicidal feeling

Once you begin to see these signs, it is better to speak up like Timi. Depression is best handled by talking to a psychologist or a friend who has gone through low moments and understands the empty feeling that comes with this phase. A lifestyle change or time off can help you rediscover yourself while making you understand that it is not unusual to feel depressed. Studies have shown that lonely people have a greater tendency to commit suicide. Don’t wait until it gets to that point, speak up and find partners to help you face your demons.

Contrary to popular belief, super stars are more susceptible to depression. The famous Robin Williams was so depressed that it showed. Prior to this time, he made certain statements that showed that he was quickly descending into a state of hopelessness. One of such statements that should have prompted serious concern is-

“I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone”.

He was at the peak of his career but he was so lonely that he did the unthinkable for someone of his ilk; he took his own life.
Fortunately, not all depressed stars commit suicide. Stars like Jim Carey, Nicki Minaj, Ellen DeGeneres among others, battled depression and came out fine. Kanye West suffered from depression at different points in his life and even had a nervous breakdown. Michelle Williams who has suffered from depression most of her life has this to say about depression-

“I believe God-gifted people, physicians, doctors, therapists – that’s your healing. Take advantage of it. Go see a professional so that they can assess you. It’s okay if you’re going through something. Depression is not okay, but it is okay to go get help.”

Depression is a global thing. Nigerians suffer from depression but are usually asked to go pray about it or get over it. The story of the Nigerian doctor who jumped off a bridge has prompted a lot of people to take their mental health seriously. Some have died from drug (soft/hard) overdose and such deaths have been listed as accidental deaths. This is why it is very important to look out for our colleagues and friends. If you notice anything unusual, don’t hesitate to ask questions or help take their minds off their challenges. A note of caution though: Make sure you are sincerely concerned about their state of mind as people can always tell if you are genuinely interested in their issues or just fishing for the next hot topic to gossip about.

Don’t wave aside their challenges as this can make them shut down and do something drastic. Timi defeated his demons by speaking to his understanding mum who was quick to proffer a solution. It is not enough to tell anyone to just pray about it or snap out of it, support and constant attention will help anyone deal with this demon. The major challenge anyone suffering from depression faces is the fear of being misunderstood. Once that fear is conquered and you speak to the right person, healing is certain.

In conclusion, be kind to people. Don’t judge anyone. If you are suffering from depression or you know someone who is experiencing same, speak out and get help today!

 Image Credit: Ana María León via Flickr under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

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