When mothers initially feed their babies, they make them lie on their laps, however, the same position may not be safe when the baby is feeding off the bottle.
It is important to feed your baby through the bottle in a semi-upright position and support their head. Do not feed them lying down, as formula or the milk from the bottle can flow into the middle ear, and cause infection. Also, unlike breast and its nipple, the bottle does not have the mechanism to ensure that milk is being overflowed. Also, in order to prevent your little ones from swallowing air as they suck, tilt the bottle so that the formula fills the neck of the bottles and covers the nipple.
While some babies happily drink from any bottle, some are much pickier. Yes, you read it right, babies need different bottles, based on how their bodies react after being fed.
If you have a baby with gas, it is best to try a bottle with a venting system. Now, this allows your baby to avoid air in the milk while feeding. Such bottles mimic the shape and feel of a breast or an actual nipple. Bottles with fewer parts are also easier to clean, which could be great during the middle-of-the-night feedings.
For new moms, it is also a great advice to start with a slow-flow nipple to avoid overwhelming your baby and switch to a faster flow when they seem to hold the bottle themselves and can finish milk in less time.
As per the National Health Scheme (UK), NHS UK, it is important to be prepared to experiment well with the kind of bottles that suits your baby the best. Thee is no evidence that only one type of teat or bottle is better than any other.
It is always best to ensure that you screw the top tightly into the bottle before you feed your baby.
Bottle feeding is more than just feeding and nourishing your baby, it is also an opportunity to bond with your babies. Babies also feel secure when their caregivers are feeding. This is why it is important that even before you start bottle feeding, you first find a comfortable spot to sit with your baby close to you. Look at them and gently hold the and talk as you feed.
Hold your baby in a semi-upright position during bottle feeds, with their head supported. This ensures they can breathe and swallow comfortably. Brush the teat gently against their lips, and when they open their mouth wide, let them draw the teat in.
Take your time—babies feed at their own pace, so be patient and allow them plenty of time to enjoy their meal.
Always supervise your baby during feeding sessions. Do not prop the bottle or leave them alone with it. This can also cause choking hazard, or the milk could pool in their mouth which could increase ear infections.
The bottle's position matters as much as baby's position. When feeding, hold the bottle in a horizontal position, tipping it slightly. This helps the milk flow steadily and reduces the amount of air your baby may swallow. If the teat flattens, gently pull the corner of your baby’s mouth to release the suction. Should the teat become blocked, replace it with a fresh, sterile one.
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Riya and Karan (name changed), both working professionals from Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, often unwind at night by watching reels after putting their 6-year-old son, Aarav, to bed. What began as “just 20 minutes” regularly stretched to 1–2 hours. Over time, Aarav started asking for the phone at dinner. Soon, he insisted on watching reels before sleeping. Tantrums increased when the phone was taken away.
Within months, Aarav’s sleep was delayed by 1–1.5 hours. He woke up cranky and tired for school, and schoolteachers noticed a reduced attention span. He became impatient and easily irritable. His parents realized he was not just watching — he was hooked on fast-paced short videos.
Do you know that our children mirror parental behavior? Fast, high-stimulation reels overstimulate the brain. Night screen exposure disrupted melatonin and sleep cycles. Reduced parent-child interaction impacted emotional regulation. We need to understand that sleep is not a passive state of rest; it is an active biological process that is essential for physical growth, brain development, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. In children, adequate and high-quality sleep is as important as proper nutrition and immunization. Unfortunately, pediatric sleep is often neglected, misunderstood, or sacrificed in modern lifestyles.
Normal sleep varies with age and follows predictable developmental patterns.
Normal sleep is regular, age-appropriate in duration, refreshing, and uninterrupted, allowing the child to wake up alert and active during the day.
Healthy sleep habits, often referred to as sleep hygiene, are the cornerstone of normal pediatric sleep.
Key strategies include:
Simple, non-pharmacological measures at home can significantly improve sleep quality:
Importantly, sleeping pills or sedatives should never be used without medical advice.
Sleep plays a central role in nearly every aspect of child development:
Chronic sleep deprivation disrupts these processes, with long-term consequences.
Pediatric sleep disorders are common and often under-recognized. They include:
There is a strong and well-established link between poor sleep and behavioral issues in children.
Sleep-deprived children may present with:
Future Consequences: Sleep, Aggression, and Crime
The long-term consequences of untreated sleep disorders extend beyond childhood:
Healthy sleep is a foundational pillar of pediatric health, equal in importance to nutrition, education, and emotional security. Promoting normal sleep from early childhood can improve behavior, academic success, mental health, and even societal outcomes in adulthood. Parents, schools, and healthcare providers must work together to recognize sleep as a priority—not a luxury—for every child.
Early investment in healthy sleep is an investment in healthier individuals and a safer society.
(By Dr Tanuj Kumar Verma, Consultant, Pediatric Intervention Pulmonologist and Intensivist at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Indirapuram)
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A new study published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health has revealed an alarming rise in infertility rates among women aged 35 years and older.
The analysis, based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, found that global female infertility could affect nearly 80 million women aged 35–49 by 2036 if current trends continue.
In 2023, an estimated 53.60 million women aged 35–49 were affected by infertility. Nearly 54 million women in this age group sought fertility care, including fertility testing and assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
According to the study, Asia has the highest need for fertility care particularly East Asia reported the highest regional burden, while Australasia has the lowest. At country level, the Central African Republic had the highest reported burden, while Nepal had the lowest.
Although disparities between low- and high-income regions have narrowed, the burden is shifting toward high-income settings, where women are more likely to delay pregnancy and seek fertility testing and treatment.
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The researchers said, "This shift reflects broader social and economic changes, including delayed family planning and greater access to fertility services in some affluent regions".
"Advanced-age female infertility represents a growing global health challenge. Despite improved regional equity, low-SDI countries continue to face significant burdens. This necessitates implementing tailored public health strategies and prioritizing resource allocation to mitigate future burdens," said the researchers from China, Hong Kong, and Singapore in the paper.
To address the rising demand, the authors called for
The World Health Organization defines infertility as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse.
Approximately 8–12 per cent of reproductive-aged couples worldwide experience infertility, with the burden disproportionately affecting women aged 35–49 years.
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The study noted that this higher risk is largely biological, driven by age-related declines in ovarian reserve and oocyte quality, which reduce natural fertility, increase miscarriage risk, and lower the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
As populations age and socioeconomic transitions continue, the number of women exposed to advanced-age infertility risk is increasing, making it an increasingly important public health issue.
The researchers analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study to provide what they describe as the first comprehensive assessment of infertility among women aged 35–49 across 204 countries and territories.
Since 1990, both the age-standardized prevalence rate and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to infertility have risen steadily, by 0.45 per cent and 0.47 per cent every year, respectively.
The study projects that infertility cases in women aged 35–49 will continue to rise, reaching nearly 80 million by 2036 in the absence of targeted interventions.
The researchers also found a 23.10% reduction in the relative disparity in infertility-related DALYs between low- and high-Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions since 1990, indicating progress in equity while highlighting persistent structural gaps in access to care.
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A 20-month-old toddler from West Bengal who suffered from recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) for six months was eventually diagnosed with cystinuria, a rare inherited metabolic disorder that causes recurrent kidney stone formation.
The diagnosis came after the toddler experienced persistent UTIs over a period of six months. After multiple episodes of infection couldn’t be solved despite treatment, the doctors discovered the rare condition.
Initially, the doctors believed that it could be vesicoureteral reflux, a condition in which urine flows backward from the bladder towards the kidneys.
However, more investigations revealed an unusual kidney stone caused by cystinuria, an inherited disorder that leads to excessive amounts of the amino acid cystine in urine.
As cystine dissolves poorly in urine, it can crystallise and form stones, which may block urine flow, trigger recurrent UTIs, and damage the kidneys if left untreated for a long time. Doctors at a Bengaluru hospital treated the child using a minimally invasive procedure to remove the stone.
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Usually, the kidneys reabsorb cystine after filtering blood. In individuals with cystinuria, this process does not work well.
Large amounts of cystine pass into the urine. As cystine does not dissolve in urine, it forms crystals and eventually stones in the kidneys.
The condition is caused when the child inherits one faulty gene from each parent. Parents who carry one altered gene usually have no symptoms themselves.
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Unlike most kidney stones, which are more common in adults, cystinuria presents during childhood or adolescence. Parents must look out for the following symptoms in their children:
Although cystinuria has no cure, effective treatment and management can reduce stone formation and protect kidney function. It includes:
Parents must seek medical attention when the child faces the following:
While most recurrent UTIs are caused by common anatomical or behavioural factors, persistent or unusual infections can occasionally point to rare inherited disorders like cystinuria that warrant medical attention.
Early diagnosis and timely treatment can help prevent permanent kidney damage and significantly reduce the frequency of stone formations.
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