I rule the roost like a boss!. So I cry people come running, I fall down and Mum’s almost got the ambulance at the doorstep, if I say my parents are not going out tonight, no one goes, all my crying and screaming for Mum gets her all teary eyed and she gets that “How can I leave my baby” look on her face, yeah another adult evening ruined for Just Dad..HA!..and I’ve always got my bodyguards behind me where ever I go, like no one leaves me unattended. Yep I’m the King of this neigbourhood. Big Sister better watch out, any nonsense from her and I might get her sent off to summer camp or something so Mum can just spend her whole day and night lavishly giving me her sole attention. But with any position of power comes great responsibility. I mean I know how these celebrities feel, sometimes you need your space, One Direction boys, Justin Timberlake, Zac Efron I know what you go through, you can’t make a move you’ve got all that paparazzi in your face..well I’ve got something even worse I’ve got Mom-paparazzi. YIKES…that’s the worst kind. I mean with those other fellows you can kinda tell them to get lost, but Mompaparazzi is always breathing down your neck. So what if I took Big Sister’s beaded bracelet apart, those beads looked just like little strawberry sweeties, too yummy..so what if I had a couple in my mouth, there’s no need, Mom-paparazzi, to freak out! I wasn't going to swallow them, there’s no need to get all soap opera dramatic on me, by thinking what could have happened.

Worst is when you think she’s napping and you kinda sneak off from your designated play area, and you get this feeling like you’ve achieved freedom, your life sits before you unexplored…YEAH..what a feeling. So you run quickly into the best place on the earth, Mum and Dad’s room. You run as fast your little legs can take you, the sense of freedom giving you some added speed,  to Mum’s vanity table with a plethora of exciting lipsticks, creams, gadgets and you think “WOAH” I can do a lot of damage with this stash. Then just when you think it's alright and you tip all the earbuds on the floor and you get that juicy red lipstick open ready to graffiti the pristine white wall…the tall shadow looms, the mom paparazzi hand clasps your hand, you are air lifted into the air, your freedom melting like ice-cream on a hot day. You are never alone, the mom-paparazzi has got you. You might think you’re the boss, but she’s always the bigger boss!  

Why does my baby put everything in her mouth?

Until she is about seven months old your baby can't really use her hands and fingers to explore objects. She can grip objects with her hands but she doesn't have the ability to stroke, poke or prod with her fingers yet. However, your baby can control her lips and tongue so she can mouth and gum objects as she pleases. In fact her mouth has more nerve endings per square millimetre than any other part of her body. If she really wants to find out what something feels like, she puts it in her mouth. If you don't want something to go into your baby's mouth, don't leave it where she can get hold of it!

Young babies move their fists, and consequently the toy they are holding, to their mouth and start exploring from there. Be careful about what objects your baby has within reach and be sure that she cannot push something down her throat, or into her eye, accidentally. If an object is small enough to fit into your baby's mouth don't let her have it as it could cause her to choke.

What to do if your baby chokes?

- Infants & Babies

Turn her facedown over your forearm or on your lap if you can't manage the forearm position.

Hold her jaw with one hand to support the head, which should be lower than her chest.

Using the heel of your free hand, deliver five quick slaps between the shoulder blades.

If she still can't breathe, try chest thrusts: While holding your baby, turn her faceup, keeping her head lower than her chest (not pictured here). Place two fingers in the middle of her chest and give five thrusts. Repeat with back blows and chest thrusts until the object is visible and you can remove it.

- If your child is older than 1 year old:

Stand behind her with your arms around her waist.

Make a fist with one hand, placing the thumb side against the child's stomach above the navel, but below the rib cage.

Grasp the fist with your other hand and quickly thrust inward and upward. The Red Cross recommends alternating abdominal thrusts with back slaps to try to dislodge the object.

If your child becomes unresponsive, perform CPR.

- Toddlers & Older Kids

If your child is still making sounds, tell her to cough, which may dislodge the object. (Don't try to remove a foreign object unless you see it, or you could push it farther into the airway.)

Ask "Are you choking?" If she nods yes or can't respond, she needs help.

The above advice mentioned is opinions from doctors and helath professional. If faced in such a dire situation, hospital care should be sought immediately.

By Mayuri Jayasinghe