Rants and Raves of a Bum

If you are expecting a new baby, you may be excited to register for your baby shower, especially if you are a first-time parent. However, if you walk into a baby store or start an online search, you are probably overwhelmed with all of the items you could register for. Instead of piling hundreds of items onto your register, focus on the most important ones, such as baby multivitamin drops, to get you started.

Car Seat

An obvious one may be a car seat, but sometimes the excitement over other items causes a parent to forget about this staple. Make sure you register for an infant one as well as multiple bases so you can have one in each of your household's vehicles. 

Bassinet

As the baby gets older, she or he will transition to sleeping in a crib. However, in the first few months to even a year, a bassinet is more practical. It is smaller, which helps cradle the baby, and it can be moved from one room to another. It is also perfect if you plan to have the baby sleep in your room by your bed.

Stroller

A stroller is a lifesaver, especially if you like to travel or take long walks. Look for one that is compatible with your car seat so you can easily attach it. There are also those that transition from a car seat holder to a regular seat once the baby grows.

Baby Carrier

There are times when you do not want to take a stroller or carry around a bulky car seat. A baby carrier is a convenient way to carry the baby around while leaving your hands free. It also allows the baby to be close to you, which increases bonding. 

Health Supplies

No parent wants to think of their baby getting sick, but it is common for infants to suffer from colds and other ailments. The best way to be prepared is to gather supplies beforehand, so you do not have to run out to the store when your baby is sick.

Organic vitamin D for babies is essential, not only for when your baby starts to feel under the weather, but also for prevention. If you breastfeed, there may be times when your levels of vitamin D are low, which means your baby will not get adequate amounts, so supplementing with it keeps him or her healthy. Other healthy, organic products you may want to consider are multivitamins, essential oils, garlic oil for ear pain and teething supplies.

Burp Cloths

A set of birth cloths can serve multiple functions. They catch spit up to keep your clothes clean, they can be used as a washcloth in a pinch and the larger ones can serve as a makeshift feeding cover up.

Baby Wipes

Baby wipes also come in handy, and you will want them everywhere in your house, the diaper bag and your vehicles.

Preparing for a new baby takes a lot of planning. However, if you have the essentials on hand, such as Wellements teething oil, you will be a few steps ahead.

Enjoying the summer during this new normal situation will be a whole different dynamic. Due to travel restrictions, we cannot go to the beach or tour outside the country. But it also means that we can spend these hot days having fun and doing worthwhile things. This is a great opportunity to bond with our family or learn a new hobby.

As we do these things, Sharp Philippines wants to provide us a safe yet convenient experience as we stay inside our house within this hot weather.

With its elegant and functional refrigerators, no need to go out often for your ingredients when preparing a meal. You can stock up your necessities and food items, without worrying about what to cook for the next few days.

Here are some of the state-of-the-art inverter refrigerators from Sharp that can surely maintain the freshness and quality of your meat, veggies, and snacks:

Sharp 5D French door Inverter Refrigerators - There are several valuable advantages to a French door refrigerator, the most obvious of those being its unique layout. Sharp 5 Door Refrigerators 26.8 cubic feet (SJ-FTW27CVP-BK) and 27.1 cubic feet variant (SJ-FTF27CVP-BK) got a special compartment called FREX room. It can be adjusted in 4 temperature settings according to your needs. Meanwhile, the 26.8 cubic feet variant (SJ-FTW27CVP-BK) has hidden water dispenser for easy drinking water access. 

Sharp 4D Glass French door Inverter Refrigerator (SJ-FLG16AVP-BK) - Similar with the model mentioned above, this boasts of spacious storage and shelves. In addition to that, this sophisticated appliance is equipped with Plasmacluster Ion Technology to eliminate mold and bacteria. On the other hand, Plasmacluster Ion Technology makes the food fresh for a longer time. 

Sharp Side-by-side Inverter Refrigerator (SJ-BLS20AVP-SL) - Side-by-side refrigerators are best for kitchens that are narrow since they take advantage of the vertical space. This sleek home appliance from Sharp highlights a LED touch screen panel so you don’t have to open it to adjust settings. Moreover, it came with a handy ice maker that lets you make ice cubes from the tray in just a quick twist.

Sharp 2 door No Frost Inverter Refrigerators (SJ-FTG21CVP-BK/SL) (SJ-FTG18CVP-BK/SL) – This practical yet elegant appliance from Sharp covers basic yet necessary features in a refrigerator. It sports a freezer organizer case so you can store meats properly and also a moisture vegetable case to prevent them from rotting early. The Mega Freezer delivers bigger storage capacity to store more food. 

This 2 door refrigerator comes in two variants in terms of size and color. The 20.1 cubic feet variant is available in black and silver and the same goes with the larger 23.2 cubic feet model.

Meanwhile, we all agree that air conditioners are no longer a luxury with this kind of heat and humidity. For your family’s comfort, Sharp offers a diverse range of inverter air conditioners that are all suitable for long hours of use.

With its J-Tech inverter technology, the company claims that it can lower your electricity consumption by as much as 65 percent. To effectively clean the indoor air from microbes and viruses, they equipped these air conditioners with PCI technology. These home appliances are also built to last for a long time with their self-cleaning function and copper tubes covered in anti-corrosion resin coating.

Below are the two types of feature-packed air conditioners from Sharp that will help you beat the summer heat:

Sharp J-Tech Inverter Standard Split Type Air conditioners – Available in 1.0/1.5/2.0/2.5 hp. Aside from the J-Tech inverter technology, standard air conditioners from Sharp also got amazing functionalities. With its Baby Sleep Mode, this appliance is suitable for sleeping with toddlers or infants since it won’t disturb their slumber. Meanwhile, enabling its strong jet mode can bring a strong blast of chilled air to make the room temperature in just 5 minutes.

Sharp J-Tech Inverter Premium Split Type Air conditioner – Available in 1.0/1.5/2.0/2.5 hp.  For a more luxurious experience for a smart home, Sharp Premium Air Conditioner comes with motion sensor and AIoT. To simply put, the built-in motion sensor adjusts the temperature and airflow settings depending on the number of people it detected. On the other hand, the AIoT makes suggestions on how this appliance should operate, based on its users’ day to day activities.

Both standard and premium series of this inverter air conditioner are available in four variants: 1.0HP, 1.5HP, 2.0HP, and 2.5HP. Before purchase, you should consider the size of the area or room first. This is to make sure the horsepower of the Sharp air conditioner you are buying is enough.

There’s always so much going on when you have a 3+ toddler. As your child grows and develops, they start to learn new skills and experience a new sense of self-awareness—and it’s truly incredible to witness as parents! But unless you’re an expert in early childhood development, 3+ toddlerhood can be quite a tricky phase to navigate, especially when they start being picky with food. How can you be mindful of the food you serve? How do you make sure you’re giving them the right nutrients but at the same time, something they also like and enjoy eating? 

All these questions—and more—were answered by a panel of experts as NIDO® 3+ hosted the ExperTIPS Congress last May 15, 2021. The virtual parenting congress provided a fun and interactive learning experience for all attendees. There were exciting booths to try out, and even an interactive website featuring rooms they can explore. All this while learning helpful and valuable tips on how to make sure they’re providing the right nutrients to their #TodoExplorer during this crucial stage in their development. 

Also present during the event were some celebrity moms like Marian Rivera and Iya Villania who shared their first-hand experiences in 3+ toddler parenthood, and inspired more parents to enjoy little and big moments of parenting. 

In case you missed it, you can still watch, learn, and play through this website https://www.expertipscongress.com/. Also, here are some of the topics and tips shared by expert pediatricians and nutritionists from the event: 

The lack of diversity in a 3+ toddler’s diet 

Based on a global project collaboration between Nestle Research Center and the Philippines’ Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the typical diet of a Filipino toddler has inadequate intakes for many nutrients needed to support their growth and development. 

“Their diet includes a lot of carbohydrates in the form of rice and sweets and less of proteins and fats as seen in low intake of milk, fruits and vegetables and other iron sources. Thus, there is an imbalance of important macronutrients and micronutrients,” said Dr. Edward Santos. These nutrients are important to support physical and cognitive growth and development as well as normal immune function during 3+ toddlerhood. While we all have our favorite homemade food, Dr. Santos reminded parents that they play a key role in shaping their +3 toddlers’ diet and they have to be mindful of the food they introduce at home. 

The Science of Picky Eating 

There are many reasons why kids shun their food but Dr. Katrina Anne Valera said that the earlier we address them, the better for our 3+ toddler’s health and nutrition. Some practical tips she shared include encouraging independent feeding to allow the child to explore and feel in control of what he or she is eating. Another way is to encourage the child to “eat your colors” or eat the food of different colors every day. This way, you can also introduce different nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits. 

How to Improve Food and Beverage Intake of your 3+ Toddler 

3+ Toddlers are drawn to sugary treats that are tasty but not all too nutritious. According to Nutritionist-Dietitian, Ms. Ditas Sagarbarria, parents must avoid giving high calorie milk to their 3+ toddler because it may promote excessive caloric intake or excessive energy intake. Ms. Sagarbarria also shared that parents can improve the nutrient intake of their 3+ toddlers by giving them healthy finger foods like fruits or Vitamin A-rich vegetables such as carrots or squash. “It lessens the fear of trying the new food as they can feel and enjoy the color. Since the amount is very small, they will also welcome it and they will be more open to trying the new food,” she said. Adding small changes in the diet of your kids can make a big difference in the nutrients they get. 

Ms. Sagarbarria also emphasized including age-appropriate milk in your 3+ toddler’s diet to support their growth and development. “Age-appropriate milk is formulated specifically to meet the nutritional needs of young children,” said Ms. Sagarbarria. As parents, we shouldn’t only be mindful of what we feed our 3+ toddlers but also the milk we choose. 

That is why for mommy Marian Rivera, she only trusts NIDO® 3+ for her daughter Zia. “I make sure na nakakainom s'ya ng 2 glasses of NIDO® 3+ a day along with balanced meals, para confident ako na TODO PROTECTED si Ate Zia at maiwasan ang nutrient inadequacy lalong lalo na at big milestones ang 3+ toddlerhood,” shared the celebrity mom. Marian also mentioned how NIDO® 3+ helps her feel assured that Zia is getting all the age-appropriate nutrients and vitamins she needs, to equip and protect her as she explores 3+ toddlerhood years with confidence. 

As the true expert in 3+ toddlerhood, NIDO® 3+ is formulated to be rich in protection nutrients like Vitamins A, C, E, PREBIO3®, Iron, Zinc and other essential minerals; not to mention the only milk with LACTOBACILLUS PROTECTUS® that helps support a child's upper respiratory defenses. NIDO® 3+ is definitely every parent’s ally in 3+toddler nutrition, helping parents keep their Todo Explorers TODO protected and TODO supported during this adventurous time in their development. 

For healthy 3+ toddler years, choose the best and trusted milk drink -- NIDO® 3+. 

Want to learn more about how you can TODO protect your child as he journeys through his healthy 3+ toddler years? Check out www.momandme.nestle.com.ph/nido3. 

For the latest news and updates, visit www.facebook.com/Nido3PH 

For decades, coffee had received a bad reputation. Besides allegedly triggering high blood pressure, insomnia, and hyperacidity, the Filipino habit of adding lots of sugar and cream to one’s cup has been said to aggravate diabetes.

While there’s no denying the Pinoy coffee fan his morning cup, there is concern over the amount of sugar present in commercial 3-in-1 coffee mixes. The leading brand has 14.6 grams of sugar in one 20-gram sachet alone. Imagine how much sugar you’re taking in if you drink an average of three cups of coffee a day.

What About Sugar-Free Coffee?

For health-conscious individuals, especially diabetics, turning to sugar-free coffee mixes seems to be the only option. This meant enduring tasteless cups of coffee just to satisfy their caffeine fix —until Stevia came along.

Stevia is the low calorie, zero sugar sweetener that tastes so much better than artificial sweeteners. 

Stevia is an herb with a sweet-tasting extract that comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It has been enjoyed since pre-Columbian South America where indigenous people used the herb to sweeten their tea and other drinks. 

The plant's taste stems from steviol glycosides, molecules which are 250–300 times sweeter than regular sugar.  

It became popular among health-conscious individuals because stevia has a very low caloric content. This makes it perfect for dieters and people who are trying to lose weight. 

Moreover, Stevia makes coffee and tea taste so much better without adding any calories. 

Aside from beverages, Stevia is also used as an alternative sweetener when cooking or baking.

The Health Advantages of Stevia

Stevia is a safe, healthy sugar substitute that can sweeten up food without the negative health effects of refined sugar. It’s also associated with several impressive benefits such as reduced calorie intake, managed blood sugar levels, and minimized risk of cavities.

Additionally, while other sugar substitutes like Aspartame have been linked with cancer, there's no evidence linking stevia to cancer since it is a natural ingredient.

This means you can add stevia to dishes and drinks without fear that you’re taking too much sugar, or that you’ll get sick a few years down the road.

For coffee lovers, it’s also good to note that locally-made Glorious Blend coffees and instant beverages have Stevia as its natural sweetener. The blend of natural and healthful ingredients make the drink not only refreshing and safe, but also good for one’s overall health.

The Glorious Blend boasts a full line of healthy drinks, including a 7-in-1 healthy coffee mix. This special blend is made with proven medicinal ingredients like Malunggay, Mangosteen, Calcium, Gotu Kola, and sweetened with Sweet & Fit Stevia. What’s even better is that the Glorious Blend 7in1 Coffee is non-acidic and promotes regular bowel movement. 

The Glorious line-up also includes the 3-in-1 coffee mix with Stevia; 7-in-1 choco mix; 4-in-1 coffee with Malunggay; 5-in-1 coffee mix with Brown Rice; and the MaxiTrim coffee. 

All Glorious Blend beverages use Stevia which has no calories, no carbohydrates, and zero glycemic index. All of their instant drinks will keep you alert and energized throughout the day. 

Also, Glorious Blend products are locally sourced and manufactured. Their company supports local farmers, stevia growers, and other agricultural communities.

So if you’ve been cutting back on drinking coffee because of health problems like diabetes or hyper acidity, Glorious Blend coffee mixes are here to help. You can enjoy all the aroma and flavor of freshly made coffee all day —without the guilt!

Now, you can drink coffee for better health! Glorious, isn’t it?

For more information about Glorious Blend coffee mixes, check out https://www.facebook.com/gloriousblend.