Tibb: THE BEST FOR YOUR BABY!

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. There is something deeper, infinite and more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and laughs because it sees the sun.

Vincent Van Gogh

There is nothing more wondrous than a newborn baby. Babies invoke in us a sense that the future is a blank canvas just waiting to be filled. They leave us with an inherent desire to protect and care. Above all, we learn from the innocence of a baby to love unconditionally.

With the arrival of a little one comes great responsibility. Throughout pregnancy, and from the first breath drawn, we want only the best for this little person that has been given to us as a gift from the Almighty. But what exactly does the best care for your baby mean? And specifically with regards to healthcare, how does one make the most of the first and most important year of one’s baby’s life to ensure a healthy, happy and bright future?

Most parents have an amazing sixth sense when it comes to their children. The best advice, especially for new moms is to believe in yourself and trust your instincts. Of course, sometimes even nature needs a little nurture, and there is a great deal that you can do, simply and practically to make the first year less about sleepless nights, colic and teething, and more about smiles and milestones which abound fruitfully throughout this crucial time of your baby’s life.

Tibb regards infancy as the most important phase in the cycle of life . It is a time of constant development and as such, we need lay the best possible foundation for our children’s future mental, physical and emotional well-being. If you are familiar with our previous articles, you will know that Tibb philosophy deals considerably with the concept of Temperament. Temperament relates to the combination of heat, moisture, dryness or coldness in an individual. With regards to the life cycle, Temperaments is also affected by the different phases of growth and maturity. We start life with an excess of moisture (common sense since we spend nine months surrounded by water), and as we age we slowly become drier, so that in old age most people are predisposed to illnesses with dry qualities.

In her book, ‘Sister Lilian’s Babycare Companion’ , renowned midwife, Sister Lilian, states, “Excess mucous underlies most of the minor and even some serious common childhood complaints that many infants are prone to.” This is in line with Tibb’s view on childhood and temperament. Some of the most common causes of excess mucous at this stage are:

Sensitivity to formula milk. Where possible, remember that breast is best, especially in the first year of life!

Too much dairy and grain products in mom’s diet. Whilst there are no hard and fast rules regarding what you eat, certain foods do tend to aggravate baby’s tender tummy. It is advisable to watch out for telltale signs every time you introduce something new to your diet. Look to the wisdom of mothers, sisters and grandmothers. There are always some truths in old wives tales.

Too much mucous in baby’s system can sometimes result in colic and winds. Try adding a few drops of dill to baby’s bath or in a water/honey mixture. Tibb’s Bonnycare, which contains dill, is fast gaining reputation as one of the best remedies for stomach cramps in babies.

Climate is also important in the first year of life. Babies need to be kept out of extreme weather conditions. Cold, and overly dry environments, in particular, enhance mucous conditions. Winter especially, tends to aggravate blocked, stuffy noses and chest conditions. As such, precautions should be taken. Remember, you are the first line of defense.

Unduly early introduction of baby cereal in an attempt to get baby to sleep better at night. Even though baby may have gained adequate weight, the digestive system takes longer to mature and is often only ready to tolerate solids after five months, so please be patient.

Together with diet and environment, another important aspect of an infant’s physical and emotional growth, is the art of touch. Babies’ love being close and take comfort in being gently rocked. They often sleep best when lying close to mom. A wonderful way in which you can connect with your baby is through massage. Interestingly, though baby massage has recently been gaining popularity in the west, it has actually been a part of Indian culture for hundreds of years.   Be sure to read about massage techniques and the use of Aromatherapy oils for illnesses and health promotion in next month’s article.

Parenting is hard work, but the rewards are well worth it. Remember that a healthy baby is a happy baby…but more than that,     A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.

Source: Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb

CAN TEETHING BE THE CAUSE OF SLEEP PROBLEMS?

Every mom has probably at one time or another blamed a poor night’s sleep on teeth! The question is; is there any truth in this excuse? Ann Richardson looks at when can we blame teeth for night wakings, if ever?

Why is it that just when your baby is able to start sleeping through the night, and may in fact, already have started doing so, that teeth decide to make an appearance! Teething, per se, does not cause a sleeping disorder. Rather accept that when your child is teething, sleep may be disrupted temporarily. Avoid falling into the trap of blaming “teeth” for bad sleeping habits that never seem to go away.

It is important to recognize some important facts about teething, so that you can have a clear understanding of what your child is feeling when he is cutting his precious new teeth.

Teething, by definition, is when the actual tooth cuts through the gum and appears in your baby’s mouth.

This may occur anytime from 3 months of age (very unusual) up to 1 year of age. Early teething (in babies younger than about 7 months) usually follows a family history of early teething. Late teething of the first tooth (after one year of age) is also unusual, and also follows a family history. Check with your parents when you cut your first tooth, and invariably, your child will follow suit.

On average, most babies cut their first tooth at around 7 months of age. However, it is not unusual for your baby to celebrate his first birthday with no sign of teeth!

This actual “cutting” may be preceded by a period of discomfort (may last weeks) as the teeth settle into the gums and prepare to start pushing upwards. This is usually when your baby drools excessively, and loves to chew and bite down on objects. This period is seldom characterized by fever, loss of appetite and other illness such as diarrhea and ear ache.

If your baby is 15 months or older with no sign of teeth, consult your Dentist who may want to X ray his mouth to check that his teeth are present.

Signs that your baby may be ready to cut his first tooth include the following:

• Excessive drooling and biting down on objects
• Loss of appetite, especially sucking on the breast or bottle
• A low grade fever, or periods of intense fever
• A red and spotty rash around his mouth
• Nappy rash – may be severe
• Frequent, loose stools
• A runny nose
• Ear ache

There is a theory that teething may “weaken” your baby’s general immune system and make him more susceptible to illnesses such as otitis media (ear infections), bronchitis (chest infections) and tummy upsets. This, however, has not been scientifically proven. Many parents confuse normal developmental milestones (such as chewing on fingers and hands, and blowing bubbles) with teething.

Remember that at around 3 months of age, your little one will find his hands (Oh joy!) and chew excessively on them, creating plenty of drool and bubbles! Don’t confuse this exciting developmental milestone with teething or hunger!

If your child is feeling unwell whilst teething, please treat him with teething medication that is available from your pharmacy. Do you remember when your wisdom teeth started appearing? This is what your little one is experiencing whilst he is cutting his teeth. He may have a headache, and have a sore mouth, especially with eating.

If your nights are becoming difficult, medicate with the prescribed medication at bedtime, and repeat the dose at prescribed intervals during the night if needs be.

Source: Momsmatter.co.za

The Newborn child – what did the Prophet (SAW) say?

Children are a source of delight and the birth of a child is followed by much excitement. New parents often find themselves overwhelmed with advice on what to do, what not to do and which customs/traditions to follow. The following information was compiled from a discussion on Ummah.com that includes the sources of Hadith/Quranic Ayah relating to the Islamic guidelines regarding the newborn child:

1. Encouragement to have Children

Allah says, “So now have sexual relations with them,, and seek that which Allah has ordained for you.”

And the Prophet (SAW) said, “Marry the loving and fertile because through you, I will compete with the nations for superiority in numbers”(Abu Dawood)

And it is important that the Parents bring up their children upon righteousness, so that the Parents will benefit from them during their lives and after their death. Allaah’s Messenger (SAW) said,

“A servant will have his rank raised and will say, ‘O my Lord how has this come about for me?’ He says, ‘through your sons after you seeking forgiveness for you’”(ibn Maajah)

Know that what has preceded applies equally to both boys and girls, and indeed Islaam has encouraged the bringing up of girls, and Allah condemns those that are distressed at the birth of a girl, and the Messenger (SAW) came elevating the status of this gift from Allah,
“Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood – he and
I will come together on the Day of Resurrection (like this) – and he
interlaced his two fingers”(Muslim)

meaning in Paradise. So can their be a greater honour given to daughters?!

1. Giving the good news of the Birth

The near of kin who are anxiously waiting should be informed so that they can stop worrying and congratulate the parents and supplicate for the baby. Allah mentions this good news being conveyed to a number of His Prophets, from them Zakariyyah of his son Yahya,
“Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in a private room (saying), ‘Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya’”

1. Giving the Adhaan in the ear of the newborn

The first practice to do is to make the adhaan in the ear of the baby, so that the first words that the baby hears is the name of Allah, and the kalima.

It is to be given straight after the birth, or very soon afterwards as he (SAW) did with his grandson al-Husayn, as is related by Abu Raafi’ who said,

“I saw the Prophet give the adhaan for prayer in the ear of al-Husayn ibn Alee when his mother Faatimah gave birth to him,” (Tirmidhee)

It should be given with it’s usual wording in a voice which is audible to the baby, not so loudly that it risks harm to the baby or alarms it.

Only the adhaan is to be given, not the iqaamah as well as there is no authentic evidence to support this. Giving the adhaan only is also the reported practice of the Khaleefah Umar bin Abdul Azeez. This is closer to the sunnah, and Allaah knows best.

The sunnah has not specified as to which ear it should be given, however the Messenger (SAW) used to love to do good actions starting from the right, so it would be more appropriate to give the adhaan in the right ear.

1. The Tahneek

This means to softening a date and then rubbing the palate of the new-born with it just after the birth or soon after. This is done by putting a piece of the softened date on the finger and rubbing it from left to right in the mouth of the baby.

Ibn Hajr said, “if one is not able to find a dry date, then a fresh date should be used, and if that is not available then anything sweet.” (Fath 9/588)

It is not essential to chew the date rather it may be softened in any way. The action of chewing as reported in the sunnah was something specific to the Messenger (SAW) due to the blessings that Allah had placed in his saliva.

It is done by the father or the mother or anyone from the People of Knowledge whose supplication is hoped would be accepted. So he should perform tahneek and supplicate for the child as was the practice of the Companions.

Imaam Nawawee says, “Scholars are agreed upon the recommendation of performing tahneek upon the baby after its birth.” (Sharh Saheeh Muslim 4/122)

Aaishah (ra) reports, “new-born children used to be brought to the Messenger of Allaah and he would supplicate for blessings for them, and rub a chewed date upon their palate.” (Muslim)

1. Naming the child

The baby may be named on the day of its birth or later on the seventh day or past the seventh day, as this is what is clear after study of all the evidences from the sunnah.

It is the father or the mother who chose the name for the baby. If they differ amongst themselves then it is the father who has the choice, he may name it himself or give his wife the right to choose. The fact that this is the right of the father is shown by the principle that the child is ascribed and attributed to the father, as Allah says,

“Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just in the Sight of Allah”

It is also allowed for the parents to allow others to name the child, since our Prophet (SAW) used to name some of the children of his Companions.

The name should carry a good and praiseworthy meaning as the Messenger (SAW) said,
“On the Day of Resurrection, you will be called by your names and
your fathers names, so make your names good.” (Abu Dawood)

It is recommended to call oneself a servant of Allah (Abdullaah) or the servant of any of the names of Allah. Then it is recommended to name a child after a prophet, due to the hadeeth,
“call yourselves by the names of the Prophets” (Abu Dawood)

and the hadeeth,

“a son was born to me this night and I called him after my forefather Ibraaheem” (Muslim)

Then it is recommended to name the child after any pious person in the hope that it will become like him/her. Then it is recommended to name by any name which has good meaning.

It is forbidden to name a child with a name that denote servitude to other than Allah, for example Abd an-Nabi, Abd ar-Rasool etc, just as it is forbidden to name them with names that are particular to the Unbelievers like George, Michael, Susan etc.

The names of tyrants and evil personalities should be avoided such as Fir’awn, Qaroon, Abu Lahab etc.. Likewise it is disliked to name with the names of the Surahs of the Qur’aan like ‘Taa Haa’ or ‘Yaa Seen’ as is reported from Imaam Maalik and others. There is no authentic hadeeth which ascribes the above two as being names of the Prophet (SAW).

1. The Aqeeqah
   

After the seventh day of the arrival of the new-born, as a form of welcome for it and to give thanks to the One who gave the blessings, it is prescribed to slaughter a sheep. The Messenger (SAW) said,

“Every child is in pledge for it’s Aqeeqah which is sacrificed for it on its seventh day, and it is named on it, and its head is shaved” (Abu Dawood)

If the new-born is a boy then two sheep are to be sacrificed, and if it is a girl then one sheep. This is the position of the majority of the scholars and Companions. The Prophet (SAW) said,
“for the boy two equal sheep, and for the girl, a single sheep.” (Ibn
Maajah)

So it is permissible to sacrifice the male or female sheep or goat, and this is best. As for sacrificing other animals then the scholars have differed over this.

The sacrifice should be done by the father or a close relative, for our Prophet (SAW) performed the Aqeeqah for his two grandsons. It is also obligatory to mention the name of Allaah over it while sacrificing, and if a close relative is performing the Aqeeqah then he should add, ‘this aqeeqah is the Aqeeqah of so and so’ mentioning the name of the person on whose behalf he is performing the aqeeqah, as is reported in the hadeeth related by al-Bayhaqee.

The meat of the sacrifice may be distributed cooked or uncooked,, but it is preferred that it should be cooked as this leads to greater blessing as mentioned by a group of the scholars.

1. Shaving the baby’s head
   

On the seventh day after the birth the head of the baby should be shaved. So when al-Hasan was born the Prophet (SAW) told his daughter, Faatima (RA),

“shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver to the
poor” (Ahmad)

The right side of the head should be shaved first, then the left as mentioned in the hadeeth,

“shave, and he indicated to the right side of his head, and then the
left” (Muslim)

It is not permissible to shave a part of the head and leave a part, as this was prohibited by the Messenger (SAW) as reported by al-Bukhaaree. The strongest view seems to be that the head of the boy or the girl should be shaved, as is reported that Faatimah weighed the hair of her daughter (Muwatta) but the scholars differ on this, and Allah knows best.

The shaving should be done after the sacrifice, and our pious predecessors liked to rub some perfume over the baby’s head after the shaving.

Then it is prescribed to give the value of the baby’s weight of hair in silver in charity, and it is recommended to give this charity on the seventh day also, but it is not necessary to do so, and may be delayed.

1. Circumcision

It is prescribed that the boy be circumcised, it is recommended that the circumcision take place on the seventh day, but it is obligatory to circumcise before the boy reaches puberty.