www.womanthismonth.com 51 August 2013 MUSH Babies love to touch the surfaces of stuffed toys. They will chew or suck them as well, so make sure early choices are designed to be well-loved and washed. Avoid small beads or removable parts. Some babies like squeaky toys. Fur or hair should be short and shouldn’t be easily plucked out. For kids that are two or three years of age, toys should be carefully chosen for durability and safety. Toddlers learn empathy along with language and names. Different stuffed animals help young children recognise familiar words like ‘cat’, ‘dog’, ‘bear’ and ‘cow’ – along with the sound made by each animal. Emotions are tested out on these silent friends. Early parenting skills are practised too. So stuffed animals may be fed, have their diapers changed, get put to bed and be stationed on the potty. By rehearsing these situations, toddlers work through challenges, understand changing expectations and demonstrate their observations. By the time they’re pre-schoolers, children start to engage in more imaginative play. Stuffed animals are not restricted by their appearance; they can be included in active play. Kids often share their feelings with stuffed toys and may conduct elaborate conversations. Like real pets, stuffed animals may even help children become calm. Explore the joyful world of Mush, where you’re certain to find huggable toys and gifts that are not only exquisite, but also made from 100 per cent cotton. Visit Facebook.com/mushonline or call 37 781-868. While adults may only think of stuffed toys as cute and soft, there lies more behind the cuddly playthings. They even offer educational benefits to kids of all age groups. Imaginative Play ROYAL BAHRAIN HOSPITAL One of the most amazing ways that a mother can control the birthing experience is by opting for hypnobirthing, used worldwide and even advocated by celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Demi Moore. This method allows the mother to experience less pain and have a calm, relaxing, unmedicated delivery. It is essentially the use of relaxation techniques, breathing exercises and yoga-inspired moves in order to achieve a smooth birth. Dr Kiran Bijlani, obstetrician and gynaecologist at Royal Bahrain Hospital, has created classes in order to teach mothers this technique. The class runs every Saturday afternoon. “In my years of experience in birthing women I have seen that mothers who use the hypnobirthing techniques during labour find it easier to deliver the baby. From my point of view, there is less screaming, no straining to push, the baby practically slides out,” Dr Kiran says. The main reason that many women suffer during labour is due to fear of pain. They are therefore tenser during labour, making it more painful than necessary, forcing them to resort to medication and in some cases causing harm to the baby. By adopting hypnobirthing techniques, many mothersto-be look forward to labour as they are assured of the results and know that they will not suffer. In fact, the relaxation techniques release chemicals in the mind and make the body feel happy during the birthing experience. “These techniques benefit the baby as well, who will be born in a calm environment without the influence of medications,” she explains. Call 17 246-800. If you are pregnant and waiting for the day when you can finally give birth, then surely you are worried about two things: having a safe delivery and choosing a name. Pain-free Labour Dr Kiran Bijlani showcase
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