The first time I actually felt a proper connection/bond with my son (who is now 2.5) was a month post his birth when he actually started to recognize me and I could sense the immense comfort he felt as soon I went close to him. He became my go-to comfort human. From then on, he gives me so many memories to cherish. The way he giggles, calls me 'Amma', runs to me as soon as I open the door after work, the unlimited kisses he plants on my cheek and so many more. 

Words of courage – Though the pregnancy journey did not exactly go as planned and was a little stressful, I still feel blessed that I can call him mine and he is the best I could have asked for.

Humans of Momly

Let us celebrate International Women's Day by reading the courageous stories of our community mothers. These women overcame the challenges that the universe threw at them and emerged as a beacon of hope and strength.

My son is the best thing happened to me

Swimming is a life skill that should be learnt early on. Babies are born swimmers. They have hands-on experience in swimming as they have swam their way all through the three trimesters until their birth. However, swimming inside a womb and swimming in a pool is way different and if your baby is a first-timer, there are many things to consider before you take a first dip with your baby. If you are planning a vacation and want to have quality family time in the pool with your 6-month-old baby, here are some top picks to help you prep your babies for your ultimate pool time.

How do we identify pool readiness in babies?

Babies are curious about new surroundings. They love to grasp, grab, leap forward and jump when they are put in new surroundings. However, pool readiness involves assessing their physical strength and emotional development. Some of the signs to know pool readiness in babies are:

Babies around 6 months old show maturity and development and are safe to take inside the pool. However, every baby is different. Parents should gauge their development and growth before they decide to give them pool time.

If a baby’s neck is stable and can hold their head up, it means their upper body strength is developing. This could be a healthy sign to take them to the pool.

Ability to follow parents’ gestures and language – 

They can understand parents' instructions like "hold your breath", "move your hands" etc

Babies love playing in water. If you have introduced playtime while bathing or other sensory play activities, then your baby is ready for the pool environment.

Must-have Pool Accessories When Babies Swimming for a First Time:

Sunscreens – Sunscreens are a must to protect your babies from sun exposure. Invest in a baby skin-friendly sunscreen to apply before you take a dip with them. 

Swimwear – A comfortable lightweight swimwear can help babies easily navigate in water. Swimwear should be breathable and should feel like a second skin. More importantly, try buying long-sleeved swim shirts and pants that will cover your baby’s entire skin.

Sun hat – A Sun hat is another remedy to protect your babies from harmful UV rays. Get a cute, trendy hat that goes with your baby’s swimwear. For an extra shield from the sun, invest in a dark or bright-coloured swimsuit and sun hat.

Start shallow – Start in shallow water first. Let the baby get a hand with shallow pools so that they feel secure and comfortable.

Baby float – Float is a protective gear used initially during swimming lessons. Use a baby float to provide support and make their pool time enjoyable.

Swim toys – Playtime becomes more fun when you engage them with different sets of swim toys. Also, babies when starting their pool time would be more at ease when they see their stuff around.

Check with your doctor before considering taking your babies to the pool.

Be alert, focused and within arm’s reach of your baby.

Rinse your baby’s hair before entering the pool to prevent the settling of chlorine. Oil your baby’s hair slightly with coconut oil to slide in the swim cap and prevent drying of hair.

Moisturise your baby’s skin with a good baby-friendly moisturiser with natural oils or you can go for basic coconut oil if your baby’s skin is sensitive.

Carry a set of spare clothes to be free of any worry in case of unexpected wetness.

Always keep a water bottle or sippy cup handy to keep your baby hydrated.

Create a calm atmosphere to ease your baby into the pool.

Avoid too much mental stimulus before pool time.

Give a shower bath to your baby after pool time.

Apply a baby moisturiser to hydrate your baby’s skin and prevent drying.

Shampoo with a neutral pH can remove excess chlorine.

Gargling helps keep the allergies at bay so a lukewarm with salt is best to keep your baby safe from any infection and allergies.

Make sure your baby drinks a lot of water post-swim to avoid dehydration.

Swimming diapers are extremely necessary and one of the key ingredients in your infant pool tool kit. Swimming diapers make your baby easily slide inside the pool, allowing your children to be at ease and enjoy the water play and reducing your worry of pee/poop accidents inside the pool. Swimming diapers come with an absorbing pad that is tied around the waist to keep it steady while swimming. Choose comfort over aesthetics. Go for comfortable swim diapers that ensure high absorbency, ease of use, and free of irritation to avoid developing rashes around the genitals.

Cloth diapers are gentler than disposable diapers.

Made from natural fibres like cotton and bamboo, it doesn’t cause skin irritation and helps absorb moisture more effectively.

Wash with a gentle fabric wash/soap and dry them thoroughly before the next use.

Proper drying will help it stave off any bacterial growth.

Go for good quality cloth diapers for pool time to allow easy movement for babies.

Check care labels to know the wash recommendations for the fabric used in cloth diapers.

Swimming lessons: A Guide for Brisk Navigation in Pool

A swimming lesson is a great investment if your baby is swimming for the first time Especially if the parents are not pool literate. A swimming instructor will help your baby with the right swim strokes and ensure your baby's safety at all times. Enrol your baby on a swimming course exclusively designed for beginners to help them embrace this life skill early on. 

Gauge your baby’s response to the above pool time tips and hacks. Swimming time should be a joyful time. Allow your baby to settle and get comfortable with the pool mechanics. Like any milestone, this also requires your patience and complete support for them to embrace this easily.

Must-Know Pool Hacks For First-Time Swimmers

Swimming is a life skill that should be learnt early on. Babies are born swimmers. They have hands-on experience in swimming as they have swam their way all through the three trimesters until their birth. However, swimming inside a womb and swimming in a pool is way different and if your baby is a first timer, there are many things to consider before you take a first dip with your baby. If you are planning a vacation and want to have quality family time in the pool with your 6-month-old baby, here are some top picks to help you prep your babies for your ultimate pool time. 

Is Your Baby Swimming for the First Time?

Food labels play a significant role in helping one make informed decisions especially when buying packaged foods. Labels Padhega India is a health initiative that has taken social media by storm. Revant Himansingka who goes by the social media handle FoodPharmer, has made companies replace the harmful ingredients in some of their famous foods with healthy food substitutes. Take the example of Lays, a flagship product of Pepsico rewrote its age-old history that was tightly tied with palm oil since its inception and reduced the percentage of it in its make.

Revant’s health movement is an eye-opener for many of us, especially new parents who are buying baby formulas and other health mixes directly from the market. There are reports of high sugar content in health drinks like the most sought-after Horlicks and Bournvita. With this initiative, he urges everyone to read nutrition labels and rally around unhealthy food scams to make healthy food choices with informed purchases.

Navigating through Food Labels: How to be Label-Smart?

Check the ingredients count – Read the ingredient list and opt for the foods which have lower ingredient counts. If the product list is classified into too many ingredients, then it’s safe to consume because of its low additives count and vice-versa. A safe food label will have 2 or 3 wholesome foods in its ingredient list.

Nutritional value – The nutritional value is mentioned against the ingredients to help you assess the total nutritional value of each ingredient in proportion to the serving size. This is one of the important aspects of the food label we look for. The nutrient content will guide you to fill the nutrient gaps if any. You can also assess whether you are meeting your daily needs by checking the daily value per cent. A lot of foods display the daily value per cent in their products.

Serving Size – Serving size is the food/drink you get after the entire preparation. The calorific content and nutritional value are as per the serving size mentioned. For example, 100 calories per serving. Through this, we can exactly calculate the nutrition intake for any product and tweak the servings accordingly. Also serving sizes differ according to food brands. 

Look for Additives and Added Sugars – Additives, artificial colours and preservatives are quite common in processed packaged foods to extend the products’ shelf life. Often, they protect the products from getting rotten and spoilt but they pose risks and harm in the long run. A significant measure of salt and sugar are added to these products. Some of the names in place of added sugars and sweeteners are glucose, fructose, sucrose, aspartame, sucralose, stevia etc. Although Aspartame is used in various sweet foods, it is linked with various side effects like headaches, mood shifts, digestive issues and allergic reactions like rash etc. Another food that appears on many labels is Amylose. Also called cornstarch, it is used as a thickening agent in soups, sauces baked goods and to coat fried foods and is a substitute for flour. However, it can lead to digestive issues, and is not diabetes friendly due to a high glycemic index.

Facts on Fats – High intake of fats varieties like saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol can increase the risk of obesity, hypertension and heart diseases. Select foods which have a lower content of these risky foods. Instead choose foods that are rich in dietary fibre, vitamins and proteins. There are three types of fats – Saturated, Unsaturated and Trans fats. Trans fats come from partially hydrogenated oils. Mostly found in processed foods, they significantly raise LDL cholesterol increasing the risk of heart disease.

Stay away from Allergens – Food Allergens like peanuts, eggs, and soybeans are allergens and many are sensitive to these products resulting in allergic reactions.

Revant’s health movement is a call to action for all of us to read food labels and achieve health outcomes with healthier food options. By prioritising labels over blind purchases, we can bring a food revolution that engages with the right brands and products and creates a healthier version of ourselves.

 to know more about food labels in baby foods. 

Are You Reading Food Labels?

Labels Padhega India is a health initiative that has taken social media by storm. Revant Himansingka who goes by the social media handle FoodPharmer, has made companies replace the harmful ingredients in some of their famous foods with healthy food substitutes. Revant’s health movement is an eye-opener for many of us, especially new parents who are buying baby formulas and other health mixes directly from the market. With this initiative, he urges everyone to read nutrition labels and rally around unhealthy food scams to make healthy food choices with informed purchases. 

Labels Padega India: A Health Revolution in the Making 

Women entrepreneurs are on the rise. An uptick in mom entrepreneurs and women-owned start-ups in recent years has become a story of success in business and economic growth in the country. As per the study, the current business landscape with women-owned enterprises, which comprised only 20% of all businesses a few years ago, is envisioned to reach a substantial 33 % by 2029-2030. Even though the trend looks optimistic, mom entrepreneurs today face tremendous challenges in the work and house front and struggle to juggle family roles and professional demands.

Some of the headwinds that women in business face today:

The proverbial ‘mom guilt’ – Motherhood guilt is one of the major challenges that hinder growth, push women on a downward spiral and set them up for failure in their venture. Societal expectations and feelings of inadequacy experienced by mothers who are made to believe that they are not doing enough for their child become an albatross around their neck and lead to harmful effects on their mental health.

The impossible work-life balance – Striking the right balance between personal life and professional endeavours poses a major challenge for mompreneurs. The unrealistic expectations and pressure from society, the inadequate support system at home and poor awareness of mothers’ struggles at the workplace get overwhelming and cause mothers to rethink their foray into business and further push them to quit their businesses.

The Gender War – Lack of appropriate opportunities for women entrepreneurs, unhealthy societal conventions that dictate mothers prioritizing the household over work pursuits, and limited access to funding for women entrepreneurs act as major setbacks for aspiring mompreneurs to grow and make it big in the male-dominated business world.

Momly’s Moms in Focus: Celebrating Resilience of Mumma Mias

Fostering a safe, happy, and judgement-free climate for moms is the ongoing purpose of Momly and keeping that as a main motto, Momly collaborated with Femtech in Bangalore and Estate Social in Mumbai with a power-packed theme ‘Moms in Focus’ to celebrate -mompreneurs and their wonderful resilience and never-say-die spirit.

Rising above the Odds: Event Takeaways from Key Speakers

Manvi Gandotra, an Indian writer and speaker, spoke about gender stereotypes and biases, and by fostering open dialogue in many forums, is working on creating more awareness and a supportive environment for mothers.

Chaitanya Kenchammana, founder of Maya Medi Spa, champions women’s health and brings attention to the need of the hour topic – maternal health and making it a more inclusive conversation.

Shalini Sarkar, an Indian author, breaks barriers by demonstrating resilience and perseverance in male-dominated fields. Voicing dissent on the gender divides and making space for women to thrive in the business world is what she believes to do with her work.

Bhagyalakshmi Gohokar surmounted the challenges of being the only woman to lead at the age of 66 in a highly male-dominated industry by envisioning a strong goal to reach her customers with authentic food. By saying that age is never a deterrent, she stands as a beacon of hope for aspiring mompreneurs who want to make a name for themselves and turn their dreams into tangible reality.

Rashmee Gajra of Anmol Baby Carriers started a revolution of babywearing and helped new mothers and fathers go hands-free. She claims that her biggest pillar of support is her family. What started as a personal need became a thriving business that makes space for a sprawling network of moms and dads to come and build their connection with their babies by wearing them.

Strength of moms is not built overnight. Lot of dedication, patience and consistency together make the building blocks. And of course, a village of moms to support and nurture each other’s dreams.

Celebrating Mother’s Day at Momly

Women entrepreneurs are on the rise. An uptick in mom entrepreneurs and women-owned start-ups in recent years has become a story of success in business and economic growth in the country. As per the study, the current business landscape with women-owned enterprises, which comprised only 20% of all businesses a few years ago, is envisioned to reach a substantial 33 % by 2029-2030. Even though the trend looks optimistic, mom entrepreneurs today face tremendous challenges in the work and house front and struggle to juggle family roles and professional demands. 

Momprenuers Today: Floating Above the Pitfalls

Strengthening Connections between Parent-Child

Infant Massage is a touch therapy for babies. Also known as massage therapy, it is crucial form of bonding activity in the early childhood that envelops plethora of benefits in its roof for growing babies. Infant Massage is carried out to improve loving touch and create long-lasting bond/connections between parents and their babies.

Touch is the first sense that is developed in babies. It is also how parents express love for their babies. Babies find comfort through touch and a sense of calm pervades in them. However, it is very important that infant massage should not be rushed but it should be practiced on a case to case basis. In other words, it is best to speak to your healthcare provider before starting a massage routine for your babies.

Three weeks is ideal to wait before introducing infant massage to babies. Babies who have been given massage after 3 weeks are much calmer, less fussier and sleep better than the ones whose massage schedule is started way early. The prime reason to wait till 3 weeks is the cord stump falls off by that time and the belly area of babies is healed.

What can I do in this 3 weeks Period: Tips to Prep your Babies for Massage Routine

Before starting the massage, few things could be exercised to make them prepare for the body massage.

Lot of skin to skin contact by both mothers and fathers

Holding, cuddling, swaddling, cradling and rocking

Recommended massage strokes before infant massage could be back rub, head rub, and belly rub.

Start slowly. Schedule Infant massage for 5 to 15 minutes initially. Increase the duration in gradual phases. For 6 to 12 months, massage duration can go up to 30 minutes. 

Unscented oils – Scented oils can come in the way between mothers/fathers fragrance and babies so it would be counter-productive for improving connection.

Vegetable based oils – Since babies do lot of hand to mouth movements in the initial weeks/months, better to avoid unnatural oils.

Olive oil or other flavoured oils can be avoided because of the viscocity, it would need *more washing rituals to completely get rid off the oils.

Always do a patch test before starting off with any massage oils.

Pour oil in small quantities and do not pour the unused oil of katori back to the container.

Warm and quiet room free of any distractions – Babies get distracted with sounds and wouldn’t cooperate. Too much of auditory stimulus can make babies cranky and irritable.

Light music or calming music can be introduced in the massage routine

Massage Strokes – Pressure, Movement and other handy tips

Never wake up a sleeping baby for massage

Avoid massage when babies are too full or hungry. Minimum gap between feeds and massage should be 30 – 45 mins.

Don’t massage when babies are unwell, have wounds/rashes

Bowlegs will resolve on their own. Massage won’t straighten the legs so firm strokes should be avoided.

Milk on babies’ nipples should not be squeezed in the name of massage to squirt out the milk. It will resolve on their own in time.

No need of massage around the genital area and soft spots on their head etc

Don’t force a massage in older babies if they don’t’ want it. Understand baby’s cues and respect them.

Massage is a traditional practice that is followed across cultures. It fosters a climate of connection and positivity in babies, and helps in generating love and warmth in parents. Mothers who are struggling with PPD (Postpartum Depression) when started massaging their babies saw a steady increase in their mood and decline in emotional outbursts.

Are you a new mom who is planning to introduce massage in your baby’s routine? Do you wish to know more about infant massage and know the right strokes from expert? Book a session with our expert and gain invaluable insights on this postpartum practice.

AMA session highlights on infant massage routine for new mums

Infant Massage is a touch therapy for babies. Also known as massage therapy, it is crucial form of bonding activity in the early childhood that envelops plethora of benefits in its roof for growing babies. Infant Massage is carried out to improve loving touch and create long-lasting bond/connections between parents and their babies.



My son is the best thing happened to me

Is Your Baby Swimming for the First Time?

Labels Padega India: A Health Revolution in the Making

Momprenuers Today: Floating Above the Pitfalls

Infant Massage: Significance, Tips and Benefits

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