Child Development

Tom Brown is a locally made meal that is usually used to wean babies in Nigeria. It is a thick powder gotten from a combination of yellow corn, millet,guinea corn (cereals), groundnut (peanuts) and soy beans (legumes).

This healthy powder is highly nutritious and filling, maintaining your baby’s health even after you’ve stopped breastfeeding. It’s one of the popular Nigerian meals used to wean babies.

Although it is majorly prepared for and consumed by babies, Tom Brown also serves as food for adults. This is because it’s easy to prepare (basically under 5 minutes). This helps adults cope with their busy schedules and early breakfasts.

This article is a step by step guide on how to make tom brown.

Ingredients For Making Tom Brown Powder:

• Millet – 500grams
• Guinea corn- 1kilogram
• Yellow corn-1kilogram
• Soybeans- 500grams
• Deshelled Groundnut(pea nuts)- 200grams

Optional Ingredients:

• Crayfish- 1cup
• Ginger- 1 handful
• Dates (sweetener also known as dabino)- 1 handful
• Cloves (kayan kanshi)- 2 tablespoons

In Addition,

Remember to vary the quantity of ingredients if you want your tom brown to come out nicely.

Let me explain….

It’s best when the corn (yellow maize and guinea corn) is more than the other ingredients, and your millet and soybeans are half the measure of your corn. Corn has more starch compared to millet. It helps to bulk up the meal.

The groundnut (peanut) helps to add a pasty texture to the tom brown. However, it has a lot of oil, therefore the quantity of groundnut used should be less than all the other ingredients.

Step-By-Step Preparation of Tom Brown Powder

• Put your grains in separate trays and carefully remove the stones and foreign particles
• After picking out the stones from your grains, wash them separately and spread them out to dry in the sun.
• Pack them in separate bowls once they are completely dry.
• Toast your corn using a wide frying pan. Be careful not to fry too much to a point where is begins to pop like popcorn.
• Also roast your groundnut, millet and soyabeans separately till they become golden brown.
• After toasting, spread your grains and allow them to cool down.
• The next step is to remove the outer shell/ seed coat (also known as chaff ) of the soyabeans. You can do this by grinding it softy with a mortar and pestle.

Next….

• When you are done grinding, sift the chaff away by breezing it out. Then, pour it into a suitable bowl.
• Next thing is to grind your crayfish, ginger and kayan kanshi. You can either use a mortar and pestle for this or you use a blender. Put it inside a bowl after grinding.
• Now, you need to grind your dates (dabino) as well. Break them open and remove and discard the seeds inside first. Then crush the outer fruit with a blender or mortar and pestle.
• Pour all your ingredients in a bowl and mix them well.
• You can blend this mixture with a high power blender at home or you you take it to a local mill to blend. Do not add water while blending.
• After blending, pour your powder on a wide tray and allow it to cool down completely.
• Next thing is to sieve your mixture to remove any residual chaff. This leaves you with a smoother powder.
• Viola! Your tom brown is ready. Just store it inside a sizeable container and prepare it anytime you want.

How To Prepare Tom Brown Before Serving It

Tom brown is a quick and easy meal that you can prepare under 5 minutes.

These are the steps:

1. Measure a quantity of tom brown powder into a bowl. Add water gradually until it becomes a pasty mixture. Be careful not to add too much water.
2. Put some water on the fire and allow it to boil. Pour in your tom brown paste once your water begins to boil very well.
3. Stir continuously until your tom brown attains a custard-like texture.
4. There you have it! Your meal is ready. You can fortify it with milk and fruit purees to make it even more nutritious for your baby.

Health Benefits of Tom Brown

Tom brown has many health benefits for both babies and adults, some of which include:

1. Lowering blood cholesterol levels.
2. Supplying essential antioxidants.
3. Improving vision
4. Control of diabetes.
5. Reducing inflammation or swelling
6. Boosting energy levels.
7. Control of high blood pressure.
8. It is free of unhealthy preservatives

Tom brown is on our list of meals that help babies gain weight ie. this would be awesome for nursing malnourished kids to health

What’s The Difference Between Tom Brown And Pap (Ogi)

As you may have observed above, Tom Brown is made from toasted cereals. Pap , also know as ogi or akanmu is made from fermented cereal. Learn how to make pap from scratch here.

The fermentation process in pap production gives it a distinctive flavour and light texture. In addition it incorporates probiotics into the meal (which increase the ability to produce vitamin B and K from food, improve gut health and immunity) . Finally, fermentation breaks down the nutrients in the grain to small easier to digest units. Other ingredients such as the soy and groundnuts are added after the pap is cooked.
Tom brown on the other hand is from toasted/ roasted cereals. All the ingredients are added and milled together. This makes a denser, more filling, more viscous meal. The fibre content is likely to be higher keeping hunger at bay for lunger. It may not be as rapidly digested as pap.

Finally, we have just one question….

What are you waiting for? Start making your own tom brown baby food today.

Trust us, your baby will thank you for it!

Aminat looked at her nine-month old baby and found it hard to believe that he’d never be able to see again. In fact, she couldn’t believe that the few minutes of emotional imbalance she experienced will cause such irreparable damage to her son.

What exactly happened?

Read on to find out.

Of course, Aminat didn’t know the exact time it happened. However, she was certain of one thing; immediately she started noticing the strange symptoms in her son, she rushed him to the hospital.

After a few tests and observation, the doctors concluded that her son experienced Shaken Baby Syndrome.

What Exactly Is This?

Shaken baby syndrome is also known as shaken impact syndrome, abusive head trauma, whiplash shake syndrome, or inflicted head injury. It is a serious brain injury that results from shaking an infant with force. It is common among children less than 2 years.

It’s important to note that this is different from gently playing with your baby by tossing him/her into the air or bouncing him or her on your knee. It is also very unlikely that your baby will get shaken injuries by falling off the chair, minor falls, rough plays or when you suddenly make a stop in the car.

What Causes It?

Babies struggle to support their heavy heads with their weak neck muscles. Shaking a baby forcefully causes his or her brain to move back and forth inside the skull hitting the inner walls of the skull. This results in swelling, bleeding, and bruising.

When a parent, nanny, babysitter or any other person employed to take care of a baby severely shakes the baby due to anger, frustration or any other reason, shaken syndrome can occur.

Risk factors

The following can make a parent or caregiver to forcefully shake a baby:

• Stress
• Depression
• Unrealistic expectations of babies
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Domestic violence
• Unstable family situations
• A history of mistreatment as a child
• Single or young parenthood

Major Symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome

In mild cases of shaken baby syndrome, a child may appear normal after being shaken, but over time he or she may develop health or behavioural problems. The following are the major symptoms of shaken baby syndrome:

• Breathing problems. The impact of the shake on the baby’s head may affect the respiratory centres in the brain leading to breathing problems.
• Poor appetite or feeding problems. Shaken babies usually don’t have appetite for food.
• Pale or bluish skin. When a baby is shaken with force, the impact reduces the oxygen getting to the brain. This low oxygen supply to the brain results in bluish skin or paleness.
• Tremors or shakes. These are rapid, involuntary movements. They can occur if nerves supplying those muscles have been injured.
• A larger than usual head or forehead. This is due to the accumulation of fluid in the head that occur as a result of the shake.
• Different-sized pupils and inability to focus. Blood may accumulate in one eye from the head. This presents with different size of the pupils. The baby may also not be able to focus due to bleeding in the retina.
• Vomiting. The baby may vomit after being shaken due to the impact of the shake.

Are There Other Symptoms?

These are: irritability or fussiness, coma, paralysis, inability to move a part of the body, inability to stay awake, no smiling or talking, inability to focus, seizures and convulsions.

Babies with shaken baby syndrome may also have invisible symptoms which includes:

• Broken ribs or other bones: The bones of babies are fragile and still developing. Hence, any strong force on the bone can break it.
• Spinal cord or neck injury: Since the shake is occurring around the head and neck, it can affect the neck and spinal cord.
• Bleeding in the brain: Babies have delicate blood vessels. Severely shaking the baby can cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull repeatedly. This can bruise the brain leading to bleeding and swelling.

Complications

• Death
• Lifelong medical care conditions such as partial or total blindness, seizure disorders, cerebral palsy etc.
• Learning disabilities

Tips On Prevention

• Parents, nannies, and other caregivers should be educated on the dangers of shaking babies.
• When your baby is crying and can’t be calmed, you may be tempted to do anything just to make the child stop crying. But it is important to treat your child gently. Don’t shake him or her.

• Don’t leave your baby in the care of anyone you don’t trust completely.
• If your baby is always crying, see a paediatrician. There may be an underlying cause to your baby’s persistent cry.
• Seek help if you are finding it hard to manage and control the emotions of parenthood. A counsellor or mental health provider can help.

But wait!

My mother / mother in law has been giving me angst about the fact that I don’t throw my baby in the air after the traditional bath and massage.

Your baby is going to get scared easily when she grows up” she says with a scoff . “Children of nowadays

Says Every Nigerian Grandma

While we would really like to call those grandma’s out on this one. This practice of throwing babies may not cause shaken baby syndrome.

However, there’s the chance that baby can slip and fall… the way it’s usually done so we don’t endorse this practice. Either way, we don’t think it makes kids brave either. Nigerians are still the first to start running at the sign of any danger… real or perceived.

A final note,

It is important to seek immediate medical help if you suspect that your child has been injured by violent shaking. Get fast medical care may save your baby’s life or prevent serious health problems.

If you do this and stick to the preventive tips above, everything will be fine.

Selecting the best baby formula can be quite overwhelming. Of course, this is due to the wide variety of options available.

We know that ensuring that your baby is getting enough milk is top of mind. Before making a choice, it is advisable to learn about the various types available and its compatibility with your child.

As usual, we are here to guide you through this process.

Baby formula may be powdered, concentrated liquid or in the ready-to-use form. The powdered and concentrated liquid formula must be mixed with water before use.

On the other hand, the ready-to-use formula has been premixed and is ‘ready for feeding baby’

Types of Baby Formula

1. Cow’s Milk-Based Bay Formula

Cow’s milk-based formula makes up about 80% of all formula types available.

Just like the name implies, cow milk is the main ingredient of this formula type. However, some babies are allergic to the protein in cow milk.

Therefore, it is advisable to consider that possibility before making a choice.

2. Soy Based Formula

Soy Formula contains a combination of protein and carbohydrates.

This type of formula is useful for babies who cannot digest lactose. Mothers who prefer a vegetarian diet for their babies consider it to be a viable option.

3. Hydrolyzed Baby Formula

It contains smaller protein units that improve your baby’s digestive process.

The Hydrolyzed Formula is designed for babies who are allergic to cow milk or Soy based. It is also an effective option for infants with protein allergies. Take note, it may smell weird because it’s broken down. So don’t throw the tin away once you discover this.

4. Specialized Baby Formula

This formula is made specifically for premature babies or children with certain medical needs. It should be used based on your doctor’s prescription.

Choosing The Best Formula for Your Baby – What to Consider

• Accessibility and Availability: When choosing a formula for your baby, consider the ease of access to the brand or formula you want. Don’t choose a brand you can’t find in your local store. Ensure that the product is readily available and accessible.

• Cost and Convenience: How much are you willing to spend? Your answer to this question will guide your selection process. Powdered formula is the least expensive of all available types. This is followed by the concentrated formula. The most expensive of all is the ready-to-use formula. You can switch between these formulas depending on your family’s need and convenience per time.

• Go for Quality: Don’t be swayed by the sweet talk of marketers but be guided by it. Do your personal study and select the best formula for your baby. Know what you want and go for it.

• Stick to the Plan: Stick with what works best for your baby. Be consistent with the formula you select. Also, it is advisable to consult your doctor before changing your baby’s formula.

• Usability: This is a very important factor. In fact, it is the most important of all factors. Usability depends on how your baby responds or reacts to the formula you select. If your child reacts to a particular formula, you may need to change it to suit his/her needs.

An Extra Tip

After carefully selecting the best formula for your baby, don’t buy so much at once. Buy a little quantity that would last a week or two and see how your baby responds to it.

If it works well, you can go ahead to buy in bulk.

Finally, remember to read the instructors on the preparation and storage of the formula on the pack. Consult your doctor before changing your baby’s formula at any time.

We are here to help you.

Jennifer was shocked. In fact, she just couldn’t believe what she was seeing; her baby lying motionless on her tummy in her cot.

Yes, we know.

No one wants to lose their baby, especially in such an unexpected manner. Often times, the pain is heartbreaking and absolutely cruel. Like Jennifer, many women have lost their precious ones to the cold hands of SIDS.

In this article, we’d provide reliable info on SIDS; the causes, chances of occurrence and risk factors. In the same vein, we’d supply you with valid tips on how to prevent SIDS.

What Is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

This is the unexpected and sudden death of a child that is less than a year old. Most times, it occurs during sleep and the deaths cannot be affiliated with a particular cause even after extensive examinations.

Essentially, this syndrome claims the life of a seemingly healthy baby while he/she is asleep.

The rate of occurrence is higher in males compared with females and more common during the cold weather.

What Causes SIDS?

The exact cause of SIDS is unknown.

However, some experts suggest that it may be caused by a problem in the part of the brain that controls breathing and waking up.

The Signs & Symptoms

Although there are no obvious symptoms, studies show that the following conditions have a strong relationship with SIDS:

• Breathing problems
• Abnormal hand & leg movements
• Not having enough oxygen in the blood

Close observation from the parents can reveal any of the first two symptoms. If you notice any of these, please consult your doctor immediately.

What Puts A Baby At Risk Of SIDS?

1. Wrong Sleeping Posture

In the first year of life, it is necessary for your little one to get enough sleep. In addition to the right amount, posture is also important. Babies who are made to sleep on their bellies face a higher risk of sudden death while asleep.

The correct sleeping posture for your child is to lie on his/her back.

2. Mums Or Parents Who Smoke

During pregnancy, a lot of substances pass from mother to her baby through the placenta. As a result of this, substances a mum is exposed to can have effects on her baby’s health.

Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy greatly increases the chances of sudden death in the first year of a child’s life. This occurs as a result of the damage cigarette smoke poses to the developing respiratory tract of a baby.

3. Sleeping On An Adult’s Bed

Although most mothers prefer to keep their babies close in the first year of life because it’s easier to breastfeed or cuddle, this may be risky.

Sharing a bed with an adult increases the possibility of suffocation or breathing problems which can result in sudden death.

4. Poor Prenatal Care

It is important for every expectant mother to attend antenatal clinics regularly and get every form of care available to her. At these clinics, pregnant women receive routine checks which maintain their health status all through pregnancy.

When antenatal clinic visits are missed, certain red flags regarding health may be missed as well leading to issues later in life.

5. Passive Smoke

In plain terms, this is second-hand smoking.

When a baby breathes in air that is contaminated with smoke from cigarettes, dangerous fumes or alcohol, the chances of respiratory problems increase.

What Can I Do To Prevent My Baby From Having SIDS?

Thankfully, there are a number of ways to reduce the risk of your baby having SIDS. In addition, these steps can be taken before or after childbirth.

Before childbirth:

1. Get early and regular ante-natal care. Go to the clinic on your days and ensure you don’t skip appointments .
2. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol or taking hard drugs during pregnancy.
3. Take an infant CPR class. Do you know what to do if your baby is found unconscious or choking? All parents should learn how to carry out infant CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). CPR done early can save your baby’s life.

After childbirth:

1. Learn to put your baby to sleep on his/her back. If your child is old enough to roll over, let him/her sleep in a comfortable position.
2. Put your baby to sleep in a crib. Avoid sharing the same bed with your baby. Co- sleeping increases the risk of suffocation.

3. If you have twins or other young children who still sleep in cribs, let them make use of a separate cribs.

4. Use a firm mattress for your baby’s crib. In addition, ensure that there is no gap between the mattress and the side of the crib.

5. While your little one is asleep, make sure that pillows, blankets, toys or other items do not prevent him/her from rolling over. If these items are wrongly placed, they can obstruct breathing and cause suffocation. So please take them out of the crib.

6. We know regular tummy time sessions during the day are a key exercise for your little one. Please supervise every session.

7. Breastfeed your baby as much as possible. Research has shown that breastfed babies are less likely to die from SIDS.

A Final Note

We encourage you to ensure your baby gets all the recommended vaccinations and goes for regular check-ups. In addition to this, remember that smoking is not good for your baby’s health.

Don’t allow your child inhale smoke from cigarettes.

Above all, it is important to note that women like Jennifer still get to have healthy babies who grow to be strong and happy.

As long as you follow the preventive steps listed above and avoid the risk factors, your baby is going to be fine, strong and healthy.