Save your baby from diseases.: immunization for baby

Immunization is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease.

Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert over 2 million deaths each year.

It is one of the most cost-effective health investments, with proven strategies that make it accessible to even the most hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations.
It has clearly defined target groups; it can be delivered effectively through outreach activities; and vaccination does not require any major lifestyle change.

If you think that diseases are only for adults, think again! Babies are prone to a host of diseases and are more susceptible to them than adults. That is why it is very critical for parents to immunize their babies against these diseases at the right time.

Neglecting to do so might make you regret it for a long time to come. It is important for parents to keep a chart in order to track when and what injections should be given. Otherwise it can get quite confusing and you may end up missing out on a particular vaccination.

If you are keen to know more details about these diseases, their symptoms and how to avoid them or cure them, please browse through the links provided for you along the left panel on our site.

So what are the common but dangerous diseases that babies should be protected against? We will go through a few of them in brief just to give you an overview.
Chicken Pox is one of the most common diseases that children get especially between the ages of 3 and 6. It is caused by a virus and though it is not highly dangerous, sufficient care should be taken during the infection period. A child can get this infection just by being in contact with another person who is infected.

Typhoid is quite a serious condition because if it is not treated properly and at the right time, it can lead to various complications. This bacteria is mainly transmitted to humans from contaminated food and water. Fever is the most common symptom of this disease and it can be treated with antibiotics. Vaccinations are also available these days and should be taken every three years.

Tetanus is a fatal disease again cause by bacteria which affects the nervous system in the human body. It is mainly contracted through a wound which comes in contact with soil or grime which contains animal feces. The main symptom is locked jaw. To prevent tetanus, any wound should be cleaned immediately with antiseptic lotion and it is best to get a tetanus shot to be on the safe side.

Polio is another disease that can be prevented in children by giving the vaccinations at the proper time. It is a virus which affects the nervous system and leads to paralysis. From the time a bay is born till the age of six, a child should ideally receive four doses of the Polio vaccine.

Then there are others like Mumps, Measles and Diphtheria for all of which vaccines are available. Small-pox has been eradicated and therefore vaccines are not given these days though it is available.

Parents should ensure that they do not miss the boosters for the vaccinations that the children are taking. They should follow the plan given by the doctors and should not drop it in between. If proper care is taken, many of these diseases can be avoided.
We encourage you to read more of these diseases so as to prevent your children from contracting the same

1month to 12 months baby food and health care

Your smart baby food and health care.
According to most pediatricians, mother's milk is the perfect food for your baby.
Once your baby reaches the age of six months, you may wish to begin introducing
other foods to her diet.
You can avoid those store-bought jarred foods filled with additives and who knows what by preparing baby food in your own kitchen.
Baby Food Equipment

Most of the equipment you will need will probably already be in your kitchen.

• Fork or masher
• Sieve, strainer or ricer
• Steamer
• Food mill, blender, food grinder and/or food processor
Homemade Baby Food Safety
Preparing safe food for your baby, is no different than preparing safe food for your family.

• Begin with clean hands.
• Be sure all parts of kitchen equipment have been thoroughly cleaned of old food particles, and rinsed with very hot water.
• Wash utensils and cutting board between different foods, and especially between cutting raw and cooked foods.
• Do not store ground, prepared foods in the refrigerator or freezer longer than the recommended times.
Never refreeze thawed foods.
• Refrigerate or freeze unused foods immediately.
Do use ice cube trays to freeze puréed foods. Each cube should be about one ounce. Once frozen, pop out the cubes, store in a sealed plastic bag, and use within two months.
• Do discard unfinished meals. Bacteria forms quickly.
• Do introduce new foods at the rate of one per week, so you can pinpoint any allergies.
• Do make sure your child has accepted most vegetables and fruits before trying any meats.
• Do steam or microwave vegetables and fruits to retain as much vitamins and minerals as possible, as opposed to boiling.
• Pureeed meats and eggs should be used within one day, while fruits and vegetables can last three days in the refrigerator.
• Frozen meals should be sealed in airtight containers and used within two months.

When a hero pilot (and hand knits) save the day

I hesitate to even post this. Here am I, the day of the miracle on the Hudson. I spent about six hours outside of a hospital where passengers were transported. I have never, ever, ever been so cold, which I guess is no surprise since it was the coldest night in two years.



What saved me? My love of knits and winter outerwear in general. I had on a cowl, two scarves, a hat and two pairs of gloves (which were store bought, but whatever.) I give serious props to Jess for her Honeycomb Cowl pattern, done up in chunky Malabrigo, perhaps the vermillion colorway? It's as toasty and protective as a ski mask, minus the "crazy bank robber" factor.

not-cropped crop cardigan

The thing about being nearly done with a sweater is that it seems silly to post pictures of your little projects, the finished cowls and Blackberry cozies. (Yes, I've made a few. What can I say, my co-workers like them!)

But the problem is, you can be nearly done with a sweater for a really long time and let your blog grow stale. Now, I'm actually done. Here is my first substantial FO of 2009, the Crochet Crop Cardigan, minus the crop.

This is our fireplace, which we don't use enough

I'd seen some lovely ones on Ravelry, and it reminds me a little of a crochet version of the ever-popular February Lady Sweater. I thought a longer version might be more flattering than a cropped one, so I just kept making the half double-crochet shells until I felt like stopping. Then I stopped.

I'm also patting myself on the back for being thrifty. This is yarn that I got from Virginia at a swap about two years ago -- it's Brooks Farm Acero. The only thing better than Brooks Farm yarn is FREE Brooks Farm yarn. It's rather thin but still worked up pretty quickly and is just slightly variegated, keeping things interesting.



Next up? Harper! And this time, I splurged on the yarn: Dream in Color Classy. Because, you know, I'm classy.