Mother dearest flounces into the living room…”My gawed!, my playpen literally rattled,  what just happened Mummy did the earth just move or lord forbid  are you hiding from the Aunties and Uncles we saw too much of this Christmas season?”. I take one look at Mum’s, lycra pants, neon pink leotard, matching bandana and then reality hits me like a ton of bricks. She is really taking her New Year resolution of losing weight to task, how long will this one last I wonder. My mother is quite a self –effacing, pro makeover self for the better kinda person. She embraces change for better wholeheartedly. As a family we have gone through many tedious sufferings of this phase. I remember wearing cloth diapers because she had read someone that normal pampers don’t breakdown and might come back to haunt the planet in thirty years time.
But me, wetting the furniture every hour and her pile of cloth diapers growing by the minute, Mum found a loophole and we returned back to the lovely selfabsorbing ones with little yellow stars. I’m still to know what the loophole is but she says its’ fine. Then Just Dad and my innocent self were forced to adopt a raw foods breakfast, which means no pol roti dripping with butter, forget the odd egg hopper glistening with the golden egg or even the age all sugary cereal. Nope it’s all raw foods, like cut fruit and other terrible uncooked foods which I don’t even want to think about. It will cleanse Mum goes. Cleanse something aright I think, my stomach maybe as a I throw it all up. Suddenly Dad’s appointments for the day got scheduled quite early and I’m sure I saw a wrapper of a breakfast burger from one of those fast foods places..EGAD Dad is a traitor.

But not to worry Mum herself can’t say no to a good fry and that phase lasted only till she could get into her slinky black frock for Auntie Dee birthday bash and then it was all forgotten. So I pull up my potty training diaper pull ups and look at Mum with trepidation. The T.V flashes into some manic music of salsa music, loud bassed…the people on the scream move in timed aerobic style..wowzerslook at those splits that lady just did. Mum just about manages to get down on her knees, this is pathetic..watch out Mum..she almost trips over the rug..thatgrapewine move could have been nasty. But Mummy darling is quite eager adrenaline rising, she’s in the mood to exercise. “C’mon baba, she shouts at me, do some squats sweetie. Whilst trying to reach my knees my triple chins touch my chest..oopsie might have eaten too many chocolate Santas the baby fat has peaked!!! Right how do you do those lunges..I’m ready to get ripped!!!!

Cloth versus Disposable Diapers

Health and Comfort: No huge disparity, as long as you change baby’s diaper when it’s full (more often with cloth). Leaving on a soiled diaper increases risk of diaper rash, and isn’t too pleasant for baby. Your baby might prefer the softer feel of cloth diapers. Disposable diapers are more breathable, but their moisturizing, absorbent chemicals irritate some babies.

Convenience: Forget the complicated folds and scary pins your mom had to deal with. Cloth diapers now come with Velcro or snap closures, shapes fitted to baby, waterproof bands around the waist and legs, and removable linings, making the cloth change just as quick and easy as the disposable. Cloth diapers aren’t as absorbent, though, so you’ll have to change them more often.

Price: Disposables will set you back about the same amount as cloth diaper laundering services.

Environment: Not as clear cut as you might think. Yes, disposables use resources like trees and plastics during manufacturing, then collect in landfills (most are 40% biodegradable). But, consider the process of washing cloth diapers -- clean water and energy are used up, and nothing but dirty water is produced.

Should Babies Exercise?

Regular exercise causes the kind of development that may be critical for health in later life. Infancy and the toddler years are the time that the brain is developing pathways and connections to the muscles. Children who do not get enough exercise may miss out on the chance to make the strong kinds of brain-muscle connections that make physical activity easier and more enjoyable. As the child grows and matures, it is that physical competence that makes exercise more likely to become a life-long habit. And that's important for all kids, not just those who will become gifted athletes.

By Mayuri Jayasinghe