DHAKA, March 14, 2024  (BSS) - A newborn baby usually brings joy to a family, as many dreams of parents or a family lie behind it.
 
The experts’ guidelines should also be followed accurately in child-rearing to materialize parents’ long-cherished dreams. 
 
Talking to this reporter, child specialists highlighted some ways to look after the children aged up to two years, including feeding (hunger and thirst), cleanliness, nurturing, and sleeping. 
 
“Mother's breast milk is sufficient until the age of six months. There is no need to give even one drop of water. Don’t provide cow like animals’ milk or formula milk available in the market, as those are harmful to children,” Mohammad Tofazzal Hossain Khan, Associate Professor of the Neonatal Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospitali, told BSS recently.
 
He said if the child usually drinks milk 8–10 times and urinates at least six times in 24 hours and the weight increases regularly, it can be understood that the child is getting enough food and drink. 
 
Meanwhile, Child Specialist Prof Dr Iffat Ara Shamsad of DMCH, suggested that mothers must give other foods along with breast milk at six months of age and increase the amount of food gradually. 
 
He said the baby can be given home-made solid (semi-solid) food, mixed with rice, fish, pulses, and vegetables, and fed with fun without using a cell phone or television. Dr Iffat also forbade forcing the child to feed. 
 
“Set everything up nicely, sit beside the baby, and feed them. Feed them one egg and one fruit daily. Eggs must be fried well in oil (if cooking, cook them for enough time). Otherwise, there may be a bacterial infection,” he advised. 

The pediatricians suggested providing water in glasses instead of bottles or feeders, urging mothers not to give them soft drinks, chips, and chanachur. 

 Massaging oil before showering for moisture is not a problem, but not with the mustard oil, so there is no need to apply it to the face and head, and any oil in excess can cause a coating on the scalp. A low-alkaline soap suitable for babies's skin can be used daily, the experts added.
 
Doctors suggested using shampoo suitable for children’s hair for two days in a week and giving baby lotion after baths, but there is no need to give any oil or lotion before the age of 15 days. It is better not to cut off the first hair of the newborn until the toddler is one and a half to two months old. 
 
They said that after six months, the height of the pillow can be increased according to age. At the two-year age of this height, it can be two inches. The baby will sleep next to the mother. But make sure that the blanket, bed sheet, pillow, and even any part of the mother's body do not squeeze the baby's nose, face, or that the baby does not fall from the bed.
 
They gave some directives to ensure the child's development. These include: Keep the baby in the sun for at least 30 minutes every day. Before 9am and after 4pm to get ‘Vitamin D’. 
 
They suggested carrying the baby's head very carefully on the lap until three months, and holding tightly to the back of the neck. 
 
A walker should not be provided to walk. The children will learn to walk automatically.