Parenting wisdom from real moms

When cleaning a baby's tongue, use a soft, damp muslin cloth to gently wipe the surface. This is effective for the occasional build-up and is safe for infants.

When teaching toddlers to use 'gentle hands,' stay calm and guide them by taking their hands and demonstrating a soft stroke on your face or arm. If they continue hitting, calmly move them off your lap but remain engaged to reinforce the boundary consistently.

If you are struggling with a toddler who hits, keep in mind this is often a normal way for them to figure out cause and effect and express big emotions with people they feel safest with. It is not necessarily a reflection of their feelings toward that person.

It is completely normal to have a higher milk output from one breast than the other. To balance this, try latching your baby onto the side with lower supply first when they are hungriest, or pump more frequently on that side.

To build or maintain breast milk supply when traveling or after a break in pumping, try 'power pumping' once a day at the same time for a week. Additionally, keep a consistent pumping schedule, especially between midnight and 5 a.m. when prolactin levels are naturally highest.

For 6-month-olds, fruit purees like apple can be safely mixed into oats porridge. This is a great way to introduce new flavors while keeping the meal nutrient-dense.

To make edible sensory paint, mix plain or Greek yogurt with fruit/veggie purees or natural food coloring like turmeric or beet juice. It is perfectly safe for toddlers who explore by tasting and is easy to clean.

Create 'Paper Towel Magic' by drawing with washable markers on an inner layer of a paper towel. When placed in a shallow tray of water, the colors bleed through and 'come to life,' encouraging visual tracking and interest in cause-and-effect.

Oobleck is a fun, non-Newtonian sensory material made by mixing 1 cup of cornstarch with 1/2 cup of water. It feels solid when squeezed but flows like a liquid when released.

If your baby is unwell with a cough or cold and refuses solids, do not worry about skipping a few days of meals. Focus primarily on maintaining hydration and breast milk/formula intake until they feel better.

If you are struggling with picky eating, try offering a variety of textures and shapes, such as dosa, idli, or vegetable-filled pancakes, which children can pick up and eat with their hands.

Avoid shirataki products for young children, as they are low in calories and nutrients. Growing infants and toddlers require calorie-dense, nutritious foods to support their development.