Today’s Motherhood

Shaws Little League has added another holiday camp date to their schedules:

• 21 to 24 November
• 12 to 15 December
• 19 to 22 December

Our holiday camps are for children between the ages of four and nine and are a great way for children to learn and play a wide range of sports, meet other children and just have a great time. There are lots of cooking, art and craft activities thrown into the programme as well.

For more information on our holiday camps, please visit www.shawslittleleague.com.

Please also note that our regular weekly classes will continue to run as well.

If you have any questions, or would like to register for the camps, please email us fun@shawslittleleague.com or call us on +65 64409545.

LittleDreamer is proud to be the authorised retailer/distributor for Pika Bubi nursing fashion, Bumboo cloth diaper, PaciGrip, SippiGrip & Splatmat and the lovely Tutu Du Monde Tutu Dresses!

Pika Bubi Nursing Wear offers high quality and elegant nursing wear. Nurse publicly- privately with our nursing wear. Unique design is slimming and comfortable. Made with bamboo, because we realized that baby will be touching it too.

Bumboo Cloth Diaper: Bamboo from viscose+ SILK fitted diapers, POLYESTER FREE, and now with NEW SNAPS!!! It is the softest diaper that will ever touch your baby’s bottom.

PaciGrip: A UNIVERSAL pacifier leash that is compatible with all types of pacifiers.

SippiGrip: No more lost or dirty cups! SippiGrip is an award winning mom-invented product, which prevents your child’s cup, bottle or toy from falling to the floor and getting lost or dirty.

Splatmat: Our unique 52″ round SplatMat is a mat to place under your child’s chair to catch spilled or dropped food. Also great for protecting against art projects.
No more sticky, messy floors!

No Slippy Hair Clippy: Award winning non-slip clips from USA that are designed using only the highest quality materials and featuring the finest craftsmanship.
Guaranteed to stay secure, yet won’t hurt or tangle if your little one tugs on them.

NEW
Secure-a-toy: These simple straps provide a safe attractive method for baby’s favorite toys and teethers close at hand, preventing them from being dropped or misplaced. MADE IN USA. BPA FREE.

We also bring in lovely hair accessories which are guaranteed to stay in place. Each hair clip is wrapped in high-grade velvet, so it’s always soft against her head. It never uncomfortably tugs on even the finest hair. (Made in USA)

Bringing in thoughtful accessories to make life more enjoyable for parents and baby as well is the reason why Littledreamer was started out.

Website: www.littledreamer.me

Facebook: www.facebook.com/littledreamer.me

Email: info@littledreamer.me

Giveaway Week 1 (24th to 30th October 2011):

This Week’s Giveaway – Viking City Small Garage + 5Pcs Mini Chubbies Worth $106.90!

To Celebrate SmartKids Asia coming to Singapore, they are having 30 Weeks of GiveAways to all their Facebook Fans.

Simply be a fan and tag the GiveAway photo here, and you could be one of the lucky winners!

Question: Recently i did a full health screening while pregnant and my tumour/cancer markers profile (alpha-fetoprotein) is 49.1 (normal reference range is 0 to 10). Is this normal and due to pregnancy?

Answer: Alpha fetoprotein (or AFP) is a major protein produced by the yolk sac of the fetus, enters the amniotic fluid and crosses the placenta to appear in the mother’s circulation. Pregnancy is associated with raised AFP levels. As you performed the AFP test during pregnancy, the normal reference range of 0 to 10 does not apply to you. A result of 49.1 during pregnancy cannot be interpreted in isolation to decide normalcy. Maternal serum AFP varies by orders of magnitude during the course of a normal pregnancy. It increases rapidly until about 32 weeks gestation, then decreases gradually.

In pregnancy, the AFP result must be interpreted according to the gestational age. The result is reported in terms of multiples of the median (MoM). A typical normal range is 0.5 to 2.0 or 2.5MoM. Raised levels of maternal serum AFP is often seen in a number of fetal abnormalities including neural tube defects. It can also be associated with tumors in the pregnant women or fetus.

A lowered level on the other hand, can be associated with Down syndrome and Trisomy 18. There are also rare tumors in adults that secrete AFP and cause its elevation (liver cancer, endodermal sinus tumors etc), but levels of AFP are often markedly raised in these circumstances.

Maternal serum AFP testing is often carried out together with other blood tests during second trimester of pregnancy to determine the risk of Down syndrome (triple test / maternal serum screening test). If you are concerned about the test result, do speak with your obstetrician to know more about Down syndrome screening during pregnancy.

Dr Ben Choey
Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
SBCC Women’s Clinic (Clementi)

Dr Ben Choey is a gynaecologic surgeon who has been committed to women’s health for more than 10 years. He obtained his Master of Medicine (O&G) and became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (United Kingdom) in 2007.

Dr Ben was appointed Clinical Tutor in Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. He aims to provide dedicated obstetrics, gynaecologic and medical aesthetic services to his patients in an environment designed with patients’ comfort and privacy in mind.

Practice Address:
SBCC Women’s Clinic (Clementi)
Blk 443
Clementi Ave 3
#01-53
Singapore 120443

SBCC Women’s Clinic, an affiliated obstetrics & gynaecology clinic to SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, is now open at Blk 709 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 #01-2597 Singapore 560709.

Services at the clinic include General Gynaecology, General Obstetrics, Well-women screening packages, antenatal packages and pre-marital screening package.

Call Tel: 6554 7040 to make an appointment.

Website: www.healthwayspecialists.com

View Larger Map

SBCC Women’s Clinic, an affiliated obstetrics & gynaecology clinic to SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, is now open at Blk 443 Clementi Ave 3 #01-53 Singapore 120443 (Near Clementi Mall).

Services at the clinic include General Gynaecology, General Obstetrics, Well-women screening packages, antenatal packages and pre-marital screening package. Medical Aesthetics is also available at the clinic.

Call Tel: 6774 1654 to make an appointment.

Website: www.healthwayspecialists.com

View Larger Map

SBCC Women’s Clinic, an obstetrics and gynaecology medical practice affiliated to SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, was established in 2011.

SBCC Women’s Clinic is dedicated to bring first-class and personalized medical care, catered to the wellness of women of all ages. We provide a comprehensive range of services catered to females of all ages which include general gynaecology services, general obstetrics care, well-women screening packages, antenatal/pregnancy packages and pre-marital screening packages.

Termination of pregnancy is available at SBCC Women’s Clinic (Clementi). We are located in prime residential estates in Clementi and Ang Mo Kio, to deliver premier, holistic care at your convenience. Our team of dedicated specialists and nurses, together with the latest in medical technology, provide the most advanced medical care at reasonable prices.

Medical Aesthetics is also available at SBCC Women’s Clinic (Clementi). Our Obstetrics & Gynaecology Specialist was accredited by the Aesthetics Practice Oversight Committee in aesthetic dermatological procedures and has since performed numerous aesthetic procedures including laser facial rejuvenation, ablative laser scar treatment, injectable fillers for cheek and facial enhancement, Botox® face contouring and Intense Pulse Light Therapy.

Health screening is essential for the early detection of medical conditions that can potentially cause disability and death. The lifestyle and stress of modern living can have an adverse impact on our health by predisposing us to silent killers such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancers. Therefore, health screening is vital as it detects diseases, which do not produce early warning signs. Our health screening packages include screen for general health and gynaecology conditions as well as screens for cardiovascular diseases, menopausal health, ovarian and breast cancers.

SBCC Women’s Clinic is committed to be your trusted Obstetrics and Gynaecology medical provider.

Website: www.healthwayspecialists.com

New Clinics Opening

Ang Mo Kio Branch
Address: Blk 709 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 #01-2597 S560709
Tel: 6554 7040
Visit SBCC Women’s Clinic Ang Mo Kio Branch

Clementi Branch
Address: Blk 443 Clementi Ave 3 #01-53 S120443(Near Clementi Mall)
Tel: 6774 1654
Visit SBCC Women’s Clinic Clementi Branch

Technology is ingrained in our daily lives, even for our little ones. In this third part of our series, we will feature 5 more iPhone applications our mummies suggested on our Facebook page.

1. Tozzle – Toddler’s favorite Puzzle (By nodeflexion.com)

Looking for something entertaining but also educational for your kid? Then Tozzle is the perfect App for you! It keeps your toddler entertained as he or she learns to improve shape recognition and motor activity, with 39 different puzzle pictures with funny and sound effects to choose from! Very user friendly, all your child needs to do to solve the puzzles is to drag and drop. Once a puzzle is solved, your child can play around with the sound effects by simply tapping on the figures. Designed for children from ages 2 and up, you can now look forward to relaxed car rides, and not fret over what to do to entertain your kid child while driving!

Costs: US$1.99 (Search for Tozzle Lite for a free version)

Promotes number and shape recognition

2. SUPER WHY! (By PBS KIDS)

Help your child achieve the power to read with this collection of four SUPER WHY! interactive literacy games. Your child can play along with each of the four main characters from the TV series: Alpha Pig, Princess Presto, Wonder Red, and, of course, Super Why, while practicing the alphabet, rhyming, spelling, writing and reading. A Super Duper App for children indeed!

Costs: US$2.99

Promotes language and literacy

3. Lola’s Magic Cube (By BeiZ Ltd)

Have your children met Lola Panda yet? Lola Panda is back with an all new and fun children’s education puzzle game. Lola’s monkey friend has accidently used Lola’s magic wand and mixed up the magic cube. Now Lola needs your help to solve the puzzles and put the cube back in the correct order. Use the magic wand to solve each magic cube puzzle and progress on to ever more challenging puzzles. Enchant your child on your iPhone with Lola Panda’s magic cube. Fun and easy to play, this app is designed to develop new skills for children aged 3 to 8.

Cost: US$0.99 (Search for Lola’s Magic Cube Lite for a free version)

Promotes concentration, visual and mental skills

4. iStory Books (Infomarvel Business Solutions, Inc)

iStory Books is a collection of 25 free children’s story books with fun pictures, text & audio for your little ones. It comes with interactive stories which include text and audio for every story. The books will even read to your little ones! With a new book published every 2 weeks, your children can enjoy these books on their own or with you, when you can read to them. New books they will appear automatically in the App, and all books we published will be picture books with audio included. Types of books available include: fairy tales, animal story books, folk stories and educational books.

Cost: Free

Promotes language

5. Juno Jr’s The Day The Music Stopped (The Juno Company)

Based on the wildly popular Juno Jr. DVD of the same name which won a gold Parent’s Choice Award, this full length musical eBook features loveable Juno characters, colorful animation, original orchestral music, mini games, unique touch screen interaction and more! Through dazzling pages, videos and games, your child will embark on a journey inside the 3D world of Harmonia Springs, where everything is made of music! Action, adventure, original orchestral music, and breathtaking animation provide a new element of reading entertainment for toddlers and preschoolers. What’s more, you can even create your own melodies, harmonies, and rhythms throughout the book!

Cost: US$2.99

Promotes language and music awareness

Have you downloaded these apps we featured in Part I and Part II as well?

Language Development
There are two main components to language development- understanding what is spoken and expressing ideas. Child development is predictable as milestones occur typically around the same age. However, this maturation depends on the exposure and practice that your child gets from the immediate environment and playing.

Early Language Milestones
From birth to 12 months of age, the important “building blocks” of language develops, such as turn-taking, eye contact, shared attention and copying. Your child should be exploring his voice through cooing, laughing and squealing; and babbling becomes more complex.

When your child reaches 1 year of age, there is an emergence of thoughts and feelings expressed through words. Increasingly, your child responds by pointing and also uses more gibberish talk. Beyond age 2, your child experiences a vocabulary spurt. He begins to combine 2 words together and increasingly more as he builds up his language skills. He asks and answers ‘who, what, where’ questions, and follows your simple instructions.

It is a cause for concern when your child if…
By 18 months
• Does not say one or more words consistently
• Does not engage in play with you
• Does not persist in communicating with you when you do not respond
• Does not try to copy your words

By 24 months
• Has a vocabulary of less than 30 words
• uses frequent tantrums in place of speech
• asks no questions
• uses speech that is difficult to understand

By 36 months
• Has not started to combine words
• Finds it difficult to hold a simple conversation
• Plays alone most of the time

How can you help?
• If you have any concerns about your child’s language development, you should seek support from a speech-language therapist. Early identification and intervention are essential in helping your child develop his communication skills to the best of his ability.

• A child’s work is play. You can make time to play with your child to encourage interactions.

• Allow your child to practice communicating with you by letting him take the first step! He could ask you for help and his favourite food!

• You are a role model for your child. Use words and sentences that your child can learn easily.

What is Speech-Language Therapy?
Speech-Language Therapy focuses on the management of speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties. To help children overcome their difficulties, the Speech & Language Therapist develops appropriate and fun activities for each child to help them reach their fullest potential!

How can Speech-Language Therapy help your child?
In our centre, our Speech & Language Therapists work with infants and children up to 16 years old. Speech-Language Therapy aims to reduce or overcome the communication or swallowing difficulties that your child is having, through a series of gradual and achievable steps within a treatment plan.

Our therapy sessions involve one-to-one therapy, working in small groups, working within a classroom, as well as parental or information counseling. In one-to-one therapy, we use techniques that are well-researched and evident to improve your child’s skills. We also work in close partnership with caregivers, teachers, doctors and other professionals who are working with your child.

Some of the conditions that Speech & Language Therapists work with include:
• Dysphagia
• Feeding Problems (e.g. swallowing, sensitivity to food textures)
• Language Comprehension
• Language Expression
• Speech and Articulation
• Stuttering and Fluency
• Voice Disorder

What happens during Speech-Language Therapy?
During testing, we will assess your child in his/ her overall communicative or swallowing abilities. We encourage the parents/ caregivers’ presence so that they can assist in providing important information about their children, and also to comfort them in an unfamiliar setting. After assessing your child’s skills, recommendations and advice will be given based on his/ her needs.

During an individual session, caregivers are usually invited to observe and participate in the program. The Speech & Language Therapist will demonstrate the use of strategies and teach you how to support your child in a similar way at home. However, it is important to note that some children may focus better when caregivers are absent.

Importance of home program
Home program is tailored to the needs of your child. For a better outcome, it is important to carry over the home program that your Speech & Language Therapist has prescribed to optimize the development of your child. Your child will improve with practice!

By Ms Justina Su
Speech and Language Therapist
The Child Development Centre – Thomson Paediatric Centre (Novena Medical Centre)

This article was first published in Today’s Motherhood Online Magazine Oct/Nov 11 issue Page 14

30 Weeks Of FREE GiveAways!

To Celebrate SmartKids Asia (The World’s LARGEST Educational Kids’ Fair) coming to Singapore, they are having 30 Weeks Of FREE GiveAway Prizes for their Facebook Fans!

All you have to do is be a Fan on their Facebook www.facebook.com/smartkidsasia and you could be one of the lucky winners!