Welcome to my field notes!

Field notes are notes I leave myself as I go through my day to day work. The hope is that other people will also find these notes useful. Note that these notes are unfiltered and unverified.

Parenting FAQs

This is a collection of various questions I’ve asked and answered regarding parenting.

Habits

Screen Time

• When can children have some screen time?
  • Screen time is discouraged by the WHO under 2 years, with exception granted for video calling with relatives

Development

Feeding

• When can children start eating solids?
  • After 6 months, they can start eating purees.
  • No, this doesn’t really replace milk consumption especially at the start.

Baby Gear

• When can the child use a standing Skip Hop 3-stage Activity Center?
  • Pediatrician recommends using this only when the child is able to stand assisted on their own. Doing so before could be detrimental to development.
• What are some unexpectedly useful baby things?
  • A cooling pad for the stroller - it can get warm especially if you live somewhere tropical - a cooling pad is not just good for regulating the baby’s temperature but also easier to replace should there be any accidental spills.
  • Thermometer and hygrometer with history - eliminates all the guesswork about whether the baby’s sleeping environment is at the right temperature.
  • Baby crib cover - in cases where you do not have access to blackout curtains at home or at hotels, this can be super useful in improving nap times.

Sleep Training

• Children need to learn how to sleep on their own, without the help of a parent. Sleep training is a process of teaching them how to do so.

Health

Sickness

• Below 6 months, children shouldn’t be given medicine. Above 6 months, everything must be course through a pediatrician. Some medicine will cause your child to vomit.
• Vomiting is very common in children because of their underdeveloped smooth muscle control. One instance isn’t necessarily a cause of concern.