What You Should Know About Colds in Newborn Babies!

All babies are born with some immunity to illness. Even so, it takes time for their brand new immune systems to fully mature. This makes babies susceptible to viral infections, which cause colds.

There are over 200 types of virusesTrusted Source that can cause colds. Luckily, most of the colds your baby gets will help increase their immunity. Even so, their very first cold can be scary for parents.

A baby can catch a cold at any age or time of year. In fact, they may get as many as 8 to 10 a year in their first 2 years. If your little one is around older children, their chances of getting colds may increase.

Common colds in newborns aren’t dangerous, but they can quickly escalate into conditions that are, such as pneumonia or croup. Any illness in a baby under 2 or 3 months old is a reason to call their pediatrician, especially if they’re running a fever.

Symptoms of colds in newborns

A stuffed or runny nose may be your first clue that your newborn has caught a cold. Their nasal discharge may start out as thin and clear, but turn thicker and yellowish-green in color over several days. This is normal and doesn’t mean your baby’s cold is getting worse.

Other symptoms include:

• fussiness
• fever
• coughing, especially at night
• sneezing
• reduced appetite
• difficulty breastfeeding or taking a bottle due to nasal congestion
• trouble falling or staying asleep

Colds in newborns have some of the same symptoms as other illnesses, such as the flu, croup, and pneumonia. This can make the diagnosis at home more stressful for parents.

Flu

If your newborn has the flu, they may have chills, vomiting, and diarrhea in addition to common cold symptoms. They may also have symptoms you can’t see and that they can’t tell you about, including headache, muscle or body aches, or sore throat.

Pneumonia

A cold can advance to pneumonia quickly. Symptoms include:

• shakes
• chill
• flushed skin
• sweating
• high fever
• abdominal pain or sensitivity
• worsening cough
• rapid breathing or difficulty breathing

Your baby may also develop a bluish tint to the lips or finger beds. This means your baby isn’t getting enough oxygen and should be taken to a hospital immediately.

Croup

If your baby’s cold escalates to croup, they may have difficulty breathing, hoarseness, and a barking cough. They may also make squeaky breathing sounds that sound like wheezing.

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a serious cause of the respiratory infection that can affect people of all ages. But it is particularly serious for babies because their airways are not fully developed.

Learn more about RSV in babies.

Bronchiolitis

Babies are frequently hospitalized with bronchiolitis, an inflammatory respiratory condition that affects the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). It’s the most common cause of hospitalization in newborns. Viral bronchiolitis is often caused by RSV.

Causes of colds in newborns

Another name for a common cold is a viral, upper respiratory infection. They aren’t caused by bacterial infections and don’t respond to antibiotics.

Your baby’s pediatrician may take a blood test, urine test, or an eye or skin swab to determine if your baby’s illness is viral or bacterial. Bacterial infections sometimes develop as complications from viral infections. They can also cause illnesses, such as:

• pneumonia
• sore throat
• ear infections

Colds in newborns aren’t unusual. The viruses which cause them can live in the air and on hard surfaces for short periods of time. That makes it possible for the transmission to occur with or without direct contact with someone who’s sick.

Babies who are around older children may be more likely to get colds. But even a trip to the pediatrician’s office, a cuddle with a loving adult, or a stroll to the store can expose your baby to germs.

Breastfed babies have more immunity restedSource than babies exclusively fed formula. This is because breastfeeding supplies antibodies, white blood cells, and enzymes to your baby. These agents safeguard them from infection.

Breastfed babies have all, or part, of their mother’s immunity to the illnesses she has had or been exposed to. This doesn’t, however, mean breastfed babies are completely immune from colds.

When to see a doctor

A baby under 2 or 3 months old should be seen by a doctor if they have a cold. This will help safeguard against a more serious condition, and will also put your mind at ease.

Fever is one way your baby’s body works to fight off colds. Even so, a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby who’s under 2 or 3 months old warrants a call to the doctor.

You should also call your doctor if your older baby, between 3 and 6 months, has a fever of 101°F (39°C) or higher.

No matter their age, a fever that persists for more than 5 days warrants a call to the doctor and likely a visit.

Keep an eye on all of your baby’s symptoms. They should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms:

• rash
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• persistent or croupy cough
• odd, unusual-sounding cry
• trouble breathing
• retractions — when the areas below and between the ribs and in the neck sink in with each attempt to inhale
• thick green mucus or bloody mucus from the nose or mouth
• fever for more than 5 to 7 days
• rubbing their ear, or other sign of physical discomfort or pain anywhere in their body
• signs of dehydration, such as not wetting as many diapers as they usually do
• refusal to nurse or take a bottle
• bluish tinge around nail pads or lips

You know your little one best. If they just don’t seem like themselves, call their pediatrician so you can rule out anything more serious than a cold. That’s what the doctor is there for.

Street Food You Can Only Try In Taiwan!

Eat your way through Taiwan

Taiwan is home to spectacular hiking trails, a vibrant metropolitan skyline, some of the world’s friendliest people and of course, a fabulous food haven!

If you only have a couple of days to spare in this food paradise, here are 10 unique street eats to put on your Taiwanese food hitlist!

1. Grandma Lai’s Taro Balls

Taro balls, or 芋圓, are ubiquitous in Taiwan – you can find this traditional dessert in almost every region in the country. Served either over chipped ice or as warm dessert soup, the smooth, chewy taro balls are lightly sweetened with a drizzle of syrup.

Though not invented in Jiufen, some of the best taro balls are made by Grandma Lai’s Taro Balls in Jishan Old Street, which makes every component from scratch. Their rendition is served with soft sweet potato cubes and green mung beans. 

Fresh taro is peeled, steamed, mixed with potato starch and diced into bite-sized pieces. They are then cooked in boiling water to attain its famous “QQ” texture. Available in a variety of flavours such as Original, Green Tea and Sesame, this colourful dessert looks just as good as it tastes! 

2. A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll

Ice-cream spring rolls filled with peanut candy and cilantro?! Sounds like a strange combination – but trust me, this is something you HAVE to try. 

Originating from Yilan, A-Zhu’s Peanut Ice Cream Roll in Jiufen’s Jishan Street sells this unique Taiwan snack. This spring roll lookalike consists of two scoops of taro ice cream, grounded peanut candy (apparently made from the waters of Yilan) and sprigs of fresh cilantro.

The smooth ice cream and sandy, salty peanut candy shavings contrast and balance each other beautifully, with the cilantro adding a herby kick at the end.

3. Tianjing Chong Zhua Pancake

Scallion pancakes, or cong you bing, can be found at streetside stalls and restaurants all over Taipei. But for the best of the best, head to Tianjin Chong Zhua Pancake on the bustling Yongkang Street. 

You can’t miss this place – there’s always a snaking queue in front of the street stall, where you can see crispy Cong you bing being flipped on the hot griddle right in front of you.

Two things take Tianjin's pancakes to the next level: First, the impeccable layers of crisp crust and fluffy, soft dough. Second, the topping options of ham, cheese, eggs and so on – whatever your stomach desires. There’s something special about their pancakes, plain or jazzed up, that warrant several return trips. Plus, for just $1-$2 a pop, what more can you ask out of a street snack? 

4. Grandma’s Iron Egg (Tie Dan)

Iron eggs, or tie dan, originated in the North-eastern town of Danshui and remains a popular snack that is easily available along streets. The best iron eggs can be found at Grandma’s Iron Eggs, a small shop in Zhongzheng Road.

The process of making the chewy tie dan is tedious – the eggs are repeatedly air-dried and boiled in a top-secret broth, to achieve the desired colour and texture. Apparently, each batch of eggs goes through this process 11 times! 

The tie dan is savoury, sweet and slightly spicy, and are quite a popular bar snack amongst the locals. You can get them fresh or vacuum-packed, and they come in a variety of flavours including Garlic, Chilli, Soy Sauce and Original.

Fun Fact: Iron eggs were accidentally invented by a restaurateur who sold snacks at a dock in a seaside town. One rainy day when business was slow, she had to continuously cook the eggs in the pot of broth to keep them warm. This resulted in warm, flavourful tie dan that became a huge hit!

5. Liu Yu Zai Fried Taro Ball

Head to Ningxia Night Market for this interesting street snack, which was awarded the Taipei Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2018!

Liu Yu Zai Fried Taro Ball sells their famous Deep Fried Taro Balls with Salted Egg Yolk fresh in batches, all from their tiny street cart along the narrow Ningxia laneway. Each slightly-sweet taro ball has a thin crisp crust, with the soft taro paste dough wrapped around savoury pork floss and lava-like salted egg yolk. 

Everything is made on the spot, from working the taro paste around the fillings to deep-frying them so they’re fresh and piping hot. Don’t be alarmed by the long queue – once a new batch has been made, the line moves swiftly.

6. Ba-Wan (Taiwanese Meatballs) 

This is not your regular meatball. Taiwan’s 彰化肉圆, or ba-wan, consists of a translucent glutinous dough wrapped around a filling of seasoned pork, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms and shallots.  Usually served either steamed or deep-fried, the “meatball” is served in a pool of starchy gravy with a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce. 

This unique Taiwanese dish originated from the Beitou region, but you can find it all over Taiwan now. Tonghua Bawan is one place that specialised in ba-wan in Taipei. The contrast between the chewy, slightly gooey skin, soft seasoned pork and crunchy bamboo shoots make this dish something to try when you’re in Taiwan. 

7. Aiyu Jelly

Fancy bubble tea might be all the rage now, but don’t skip out on Aiyu Jelly when you’re in Taiwan! This wobbly crystalline jelly is made from the seeds of a variety of creeping fig and is hard to come by outside of Taiwan – authentic ones, at least. 

Typically served with fresh lime or lemon juice and lightly sweetened with honey, this refreshing treat is sold in night markets and stalls around the country. Head to Alishan to find some of the freshest Aiyu Jelly in its origin region of Chiayi – where the fig fruits are handpicked from the treetops by local farmers. 

愛玉伯ㄟ厝 is a famous shop in Alishan that specialises in Aiyu Jelly desserts and drinks. Enjoy a bowl or mug of this delicious dessert alongside the gorgeous view from the Alishan mountains!

8. Tian Bu La

As you might gather, “QQ” is a popular texture in Taiwanese food – think chewy taro balls and tapioca pearls. The right “QQ” texture is one that isn’t too mushy or hard, but instead, just the right balance of slightly firm and springy. 

Tian Bu La is a savoury Taiwanese dish that, when done well, captures this texture to a T.

Directly translated as “sweet not spicy”, think of this assortment of fishcakes as a Taiwanese version of the Japanese model. These fish paste-based pieces come in various shapes and sizes and are first deep-fried before being boiled in broth. Prior to being served, the fishcakes are smothered in a special brown sauce and a side of sweet chilli sauce.

9. Taiwanese Sticky Rice Sausage 

The Taiwanese have taken the basic bun-and-sausage hot dog and transformed it into a street snack like you’ve never seen before. 

大腸包小腸 (Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang) is literally translated into “Small Sausage Wrapped in Big Sausage” – consisting of a barbecued sweet Taiwanese sausage wrapped in a “bun” of glutinous rice, topped with lettuce, salted vegetables and lots of garlic. 

Talk about carb overload. But trust, it’s all worth it. Head over to the Feng Jia Night Market in Taichung for a great rendition of this Taiwanese street snack – you can get it in Spicy and Black Pepper flavours, alongside the Original. 

10. Xian Dou Jiang from Fu Hang Dou Jiang

Arguably one of the most popular breakfast joints in Taipei, Fu Hang Dou Jiang boasts a simple menu of traditional Taiwanese breakfast items and insanely long lines. When late morning comes around, the queue often snakes down the block and around the corner – with waiting time ranging from 15 minutes to almost an hour! 

Tips on How to Take Care of your Newborn Baby in Winter!

During winter, your baby needs extra care and attention to prevent seasonal illness as the cold season is known to make their skin dry that can lead to diaper rash, rough cheeks, flaky skin, and scalp. So, give your little bundle of joy extra care.

Ranjan Pejawar, Bangalore based pediatrician outlines the common skin problems that babies face during winter:

* Diaper Rash: Wearing a diaper of the wrong size and friction generally causes diaper rashes

* Rough, Red Cheeks: Chapped skin is basically dry skin that becomes inflamed due to irritation caused by friction from clothing and runny nose

* Eczema: Babies with eczema have insufficient skin surface for holding moisture. Like regular dry skin, dermatitis tends to erupt during winter

"Baby's skin is naturally hydrated and moist and natural products provide the gentle care required to preserve the softness of the baby's skin," says Prathibha, Ayurveda Expert, R&D, The Himalaya Drug Company.

She suggested a few methods that can protect your baby's skin from the harsh winter:

* Give an oil massage to your baby before a bath to nourish your baby's skin

* Give your baby a massage 2-3 times daily with an oil infused with Winter Cherry to improve skin tone and soothe baby skin.

* During winter, avoid giving baby a head bath every day and use only lukewarm water for the daily bath. Hot water may hurt the protective layer of your baby's skin.

* Choose a moisturizer that contains the goodness of Olive oil and Almond oil which improves skin softness.

* Use a diaper rash cream infused with Almond Oil and Yashada Bhasma to protect your baby's bottom from the irritating rashes.

* Choose a mild and gentle shampoo/soap which is enriched with herbs and is from parabens and alcohol.

* Use a baby bath with ingredients like Chickpea, Fenugreek, and Green Gram to retain the natural oils in the baby's skin.

1. Wash Your Hands Frequently:

Winter is a time of flu and colds. Make sure you wash your hands regularly or use a hand sanitizer before touching your newborn. It will prevent you from passing on any germs to your baby. You should request all visitors to observe this precaution.

2. Breastfeed Your Newborn:

Breastfeeding your newborn is the best way to boost his immunity. It will help him keep the cold and infections at bay. Try to breastfeed your baby for the first six months.

. Follow The Vaccination Schedule:

Make sure your newborn does not skip any vaccination schedule. It will help keep your baby safe from the diseases that strike during the winter season. In case your newborn misses a vaccination, call and check with the doctor about when next he can give the shot to your little one.

4. Keep The Room Warm:

Maintain a warm temperature in your baby’s bedroom throughout the harsh winter season. Close all windows at night to avoid any cold air from entering the nursery. However, ensure adequate ventilation too.

5. Make Your Newborn Wear Comfortable And Warm Clothes:

Make your baby wear warm and comfortable clothes. Remember that the temperature of his room may already be warm, and hence your newborn may not need too many layers of clothing. Put on socks and mittens for your newborn to make him feel cozy and snug.

6. Avoid Heavy Blankets For Your Baby:

You may think that you should tuck your little one in a warm blanket at night, but do not do so. Remove things like blankets, pillows, and such from your newborn’s crib to curb the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

7. Massage Your Newborn To Improve Blood Circulation:

Massage your newborn especially in the winters to help improve the blood flow and immunity levels. You can use olive oil, almond oil or coconut oil to massage your baby. Make sure you close the door and keep the room warm when you are massaging your baby. You can give your newborn a nice massage an hour or two before bath time. Alternatively, you can massage your baby before bedtime to help him calm down and sleep better.

8. Avoid Too Many Baby Products:

The cold and dry weather strips the skin of moisture. Your newborn has sensitive skin. Therefore, avoid over-using products like baby soaps, shampoos, and body washes during winters. Your newborn may develop rashes because of severe dryness. Play safe and give your baby a simple water bath on a regular basis instead. You may choose to use a mild baby soap once a week.

9. Regularly Moisturize Your Baby’s Skin:

Pamper your little one’s delicate skin with a generous dose of milk infant skin cream or lotion. This is one of the best newborn baby care tips in winter. You can check with your baby’s doctor for any special recommendations. You can also go natural and massage your baby‘s skin with milk cream or clarified butter (ghee), to keep it soft and supple.

10. Use A Humidifier:

Winter months may require a heater in your newborn’s room. If you are using one, also use a humidifier. It will maintain the humidity levels in the room and prevent your newborn’s skin from losing moisture.

These ten tips will make sure that your newborn remains safe and healthy through the harsh season. If your newborn develops a cold, do schedule an appointment with the doctor at the earliest.

If you had a winter baby, share with us your tips and advice on how to take care of newborn babies in winter.

Top 10 online shopping tip

I blame online shopping for the suffering of my social life. On many a Friday eve, you'll find me making fantasy online shopping collages while dropping chip seasoning onto my keyboard, a much more attractive option than cover charge and overpriced alcohol. There's no guiltier pleasure than clicking 'Checkout Now' near midnight and few things more satisfying than finding a FedEx box on your front porch.

Going online comes up tops for convenience, variety and cost, but can be overwhelming. With so many options out there, it's hard to know where to start. Just like navigating your way around a multi-storey, spiral-structured shopping centre, you need a plan of attack. Here are some tips for taking the stress out of the situation.

1. Get tips on how-to-wear from different websites. Thinking of buying something but stumped on how to style it? A lot of online stores stock the same items, but pair them with different things in their display photos.  You could wear this shirt like this or this.

2. Actual shopping centres are sooo early '00s. There are now online shopping emporiums like FashioNZ, FarFetch and Polyvore that act like search engines for clothes, allowing you to find exactly what you want based on brand, style, colour and size.

3. You can't always trust virtual catwalks and augmented reality "change rooms" to give you an accurate sense of fit and feel. Cue "showrooming". The sneaky practice of visiting physical stores and trying on their wares, before looking them up and buying them for cheaper online. We're not the only ones, right?  

4. Don't drop an exorbitant amount on 1-2 day shipping. You may be giving patience a slap in the face, but is that slap really worth $32 on top of your already-expensive purchase? There's so much pleasure in getting a shipping number and tracking your package right to your door.

5. Have a read of customer feedback, but be wary of website recommendations (you'll find yourself loading 20 things into your cart if you were to blindly follow Amazon's). Reviews on the other hand offer great pointers in terms of quality and what size to order.

6. Check for promo codes. A lot of websites have free shipping offers, student discounts and savings upon signing up to their newsletter. You just have to do your research.

7. What do you do when you can only find that rare Kawakubo cocoon coat on a Japanese website that doesn't provide an English translation or ship to Australia? Try a proxy service. They'll converse with the retailers on your behalf, bid on items and organise shipment, from wherever your dream item happens to be. Just do your due diligence and check for reviews first.

8. Don't be scared to buy vintage online. According to WWD, online consignment stores are the best place to score designer bargains since flash-sale sites.

9. Psst! Tuesday isn't just cheap pizza and movie day, it's also the day online shops tend to post sales and upload new items.

10. You have your go-to shops in real life so why not have a list online? We've compiled a few of our favourites worthy of a bookmark.

How to Make Bracelets out of Thread!

Making bracelets with threads can be a fun way to spend the day. There are a variety of different designs and knots you can use when making threaded bracelets. The process can be tricky at first, especially if you are a beginner. However, if read instructions carefully and move slowly through the process you'll be able to make a great bracelet.

1

Following a Basic Design

1. 
   1
   Cut 3 equal-sized strands of thread. If you want to make a very basic design, you can use three strands of thread. In this example, we're using violet, pink and blue. You may want to make a more elaborate design later on, but this pattern will teach some of the basics of knotting.

   • Cut out the strands to the length you wish. Keep in mind, as you'll be knotting during the process, the original length of your threads will be shorter than the final product.
   • Lie your threads out side-by-side on a flat surface to start.
2. 
   2
   Tie a knot near the end of the strands. To begin, you'll need to tie a knot near the end of your strands of thread. These will connect the strands together. Tie your knot roughly two centimeters away from the ends of the threads.

   • As you move forward, you'll have to use specialized types of knots. However, at this point that is not necessary. Just use a basic knot, like a knot you'd use when tying your shoes. Just make sure your knot is tight enough. If it comes undone, your bracelet could unravel.
3. 
   3
   Make a forward knot with the outermost strand on the left. Take the outermost strand on the left. In our example, this is the violet thread. Use this thread to make what is known as a forward knot.

   • To make a forward knot, take your violet thread and bend it at roughly a 90-degree angle, laying it over the pink thread. This should look like the number four.^[1]
   • Then, loop the violet thread under the pink thread, moving upward towards the knot connecting all the threads together. Pull upwards. Then, repeat the process. It's very important you knot twice using forward knots. If you don't knot twice, your bracelet will have too much slack.^[2]
4. 
   4
   Make a forward knot around the next string. Continue working with the violet string. Use this string to make a forward knot around the last string in your row. In our example, this is the blue string. Follow the same process you did before, making sure to remember to double knot and tighten the string.
5. 
   5
   Repeat the forward knotting process with the pink string. Once you've made a row with the violet string, repeat this process with the pink string. The pink string will now be the outermost layer of your bracelet, followed by the blue string. Make a forward knot, looping the pink string over the blue string. Then, make a forward knot by looping the pink string over the violet string.
6. 
   6
   Repeat the forward knotting process with the blue string. The blue string will now have taken its place as the outermost string. Make a forward knot around the violet string. Then, make a forward knot around the pink string.
7. 
   7
   Repeat. Now, the violet string will be the outermost string again. Repeat this process, making forward knots with the violet string, followed by the pink string, followed by the blue string.

   • You can continue knotting until your bracelet is as long as you want. This depends on your needs, wrist size, and other factors.
   • A bracelet that is too short may not fit. However, a bracelet that's too long may slip off. Pause on occasion while working to wrap what you have around your wrist. Stop when you reach a point where the bracelet can be slipped on and off easily but remains in place.
8. 
   8
   Tie the ends in place when you finish. When you reach your desired length, tie the remaining loose threads together in a knot. As with the knot you made at the beginning, just use a basic knot to do so. Then, pull the remaining strings through the loop on the other end of the bracelet. Tie the strings around the loop, forming a circular bracelet.