In honor of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 – August 7), we asked our amazing community of Moms to share their personal and intimate experiences on breastfeeding. While every experience is unique and special on its own, we hope that their tips/stories are helpful and relatable for a lot of new Moms. Read on to learn about their individual experiences and share your own with us.

1.“Becoming a Mother really changed me – the arrival of a tiny human who was totally dependent on me gave me a new sense of responsibility and I was overwhelmed by a roller coaster of emotions. The first week of breastfeeding was difficult, with so many changes taking place, adjusting to the new pattern, along with postpartum blues and lack of sleep. But soon, things became easier, I started bonding with my baby and truly enjoying motherhood. A positive outlook and attitude can really help get you through the blues. I always tell new Moms to just try and sleep, get enough rest, eat well and simply enjoy every little moment.”
- Dr. Neharika Malhotra.

2.“I never imagined that breastfeeding could be a painful experience. But incorrect latching left me bleeding at times and I would start crying as soon as it was time to feed. Eventually, we both got the hang of it and I am still breastfeeding my 11-month-old baby. My advice to new moms would be to stay positive and to not stress. Stress can adversely affect milk supply.Lots of warm compress and hydration is what really helped!”
- Anchal Narayan

3. “I believe it’s a heart-to-heart connection between a Mumma and baby. It’s when a new Mother truly gives life to her newborn by playing a part in his/her best overall growth and development.”
- Monika Sehdev

4. “My breastfeeding journey has been very beautiful and smooth. My daughter is now 3 years old and I am still breastfeeding her and feel very proud about it. It has helped me create a special bond with my little one ever since she was born. Here’s a few things that really inspired me to breastfeed: (1) Lactation was never a problem so to breastfeed my baby was very easy. (2) I knew that breast milk would strengthen my baby, help her fight infections and make her immune system strong so I was very clear that I would breastfeed for as long as possible. (3) When teething infants refuse to eat anything, breastfeeding can provide complete nutrition for your baby.”
- Shilpa Kamdar

5. “As a breastfeeding mother, I was always concerned about my baby's weight because breastfed babies tend to be petite as compared to formula-fed babies. But after research and experience, I think there is nothing more precious and full of goodness for my baby apart from breast milk.”
- Sneha Tiwari

6. “I learned the true meaning of the phrase "never give up" from my breastfeeding experience with my baby girls. It taught me my first lesson on patience as a mother and how rewarding and overwhelming it is when your baby finally starts latching properly on her own.”
- Noopur Agarwal

7. “When I started breastfeeding, I realized that it wasn’t as easy as it looked. Your get cracked nipples or even knots of milk around the breast due to clogged milk ducts. What I finally realized is that sometimes your body is just not capable of generating enough milk, no matter what solutions you try. Hence, I had to give up breastfeeding after trying several remedies, just one month after my delivery. I do want to make other moms aware of these issues so that they can tackle them and seek help as soon as they get pregnant.”
- Anisha Agarwal

8. “I did a LOT of reading while I was pregnant. Though I totally understand that a lot of women are not able to produce enough milk to breastfeed, I believe that if you can, then breastfeeding should be your first option. There is no substitute for breastmilk. Your baby gets all the required nutrients from breastmilk. I was able to breastfeed my babies for one whole year and would highly recommend it.
- Sheetal Haria

Got a breastfeeding experience you want to share with others? Leave a comment with your stories, tips and valuable suggestions.

“...The earth is warm, the sun's ablaze,
It is a time of carefree days…”

This excerpt from a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander perfectly describes summer for kids.

But the scorching heat can make it hard for your little ones to enjoy the long summer days. In fact, your baby’s sensitive skin needs extra special care and protection during this time.

Here are some tips to help you and your babybeat the summer heat with ease!

1. Avoid Dehydration

Staying hydrated during summer is absolutely vital.But while it’s important to stay hydrated on the inside, it’s equally important to keep a baby’s skin hydrated on the outside. After giving your baby a bath, pat their skin dry gently and then massage their sweet skin with a mild baby moisturizer. Softsens Moisturizing Lotion and Softsens Baby cream are both gentle, hypoallergenic products that are perfect for baby’s skin in the summer!

Until your baby is six months old, he/she doesn’t require any water. Breast milk has enough water and also helps strengthen your baby’s immunity and will help them from getting dehydrated. Formula milk also provides your baby with enough hydration. Don’t forget to check your own water intake as well during this time, to avoid dehydration.

2. Dress Light

Sunny days and cotton clothes go hand in hand. Dress your munchkin in light shades of cotton to help them stay cool and cheerful. Did you know that Organic Cotton is more durable than regular cotton and feels lighter on the skin as well!Explore our 100% GOTS certified organic cotton bodysuits in pastel colours that’ll keep your baby cool and stylish all summer long.

3. Look Out for Skin Allergies

Skin rashes or infections can make your baby cranky and uncomfortable. Consult your pediatrician if you see signs of a skin infection as it can be quite uncomfortable for your baby. However, common diaper rash can be treated at home by using a baby diaper cream. Let your baby’s skin breathe and let them go diaper-free for a short time every day. Dress your baby in organic cotton apparel as it is completely non-toxic and safe on your baby’s delicate skin.

4. Make bath-time shorter

It’s advisable to bathe your toddler in lukewarm water even during summer but try and make baths shorter to avoid drying out of skin. Check the water temperature with the inside of your wrist and give the water a little swirl before you put your baby in.The ideal water temperature is 37 degrees Celsius. It should be warm but not hot.

Continueyour post bath routine with ?calming massage oil. Daily massaging improves your baby’s circulation.

5. Opt for light home-made food

Summers are not for oily or masala-rich foods. Keep meals light. Don’t overload your toddler with too many popsicles, ice creams or fizzy drinks. Try some natural coolants.

For babies below six months, increase the frequency of their milk intake. If you are feeding your baby, you should have enough intake of fluids too for a steady milk flow. These little things will help you and baby remain calm and gleefulall day long.

6. No Nappy makes Baby Happy

Yes, diapers do help to avoid any accidents and mess, making cleaning easier. But it is very essential to induce some no nappy time in your baby’s care routine. You might need to clean the mess, but your baby will be so much happier and more comfortable, walking and rolling on the floor, enjoying this no-nappy time. It also helps their skin breathe, keeping rashes and skin infections away.

7. Prepare for Rain Showers

On some days, one may feel the sizzling heat, and in the very next moment, it may start raining all of a sudden. Mummies, be prepared for such unforeseen scenes and situations as your little one’s immunity is still developing. If you foresee rain/storms, carry an umbrella, an extra pair of clothes for you and your baby, a few carry bags, napkins/towels to stay prepared. After all, you are your baby’s super mommy!

We hope you found these tips helpful! How do you keep your little one cool during the summer?

While some babies take to bath-time like a duck to water, some refuse to be bathed without screaming, crying and resisting all the way through. Of course, this is a new experience and sensation for your baby and hence also requires some getting used to. But in the meantime, here are some tips you can follow to help make bath-time a little more fun and relaxing for your baby.

1. Keep them snug and warm
As this is a fairly new experience, you need to make sure your baby feels safe and secure. Before taking them into the bathroom, undress them and wrap them in a snug towel and hold them close. Once in the bathroom, you can slowly unwrap the towel and lower them into the warm water to help ease the transition.

2. Check if the water is getting cold
In many cases, your baby might not enjoy bath-time simply because they feel too cold. Here’s a couple of ways you can avoid this. Always check the temperature of the water first. It should ideally be around 37 degrees Celsius, i.e. not too hot and not too cold. If you can tell that your baby is visibly cold, then you can adjust the temperature a little. Baby’s skin is extremely sensitive and can easily get scalded with very hot water. Sometimes, if bath-time takes too long, the water tends to become cooler. That’s why it’s important to make bath-time quick when your baby is younger.

3. Keep talking to them in a calm and soothing voice
Your baby can acutely sense your feelings and emotions and they often react accordingly. If you sound hassled or agitated, they can sense it and it may give them reason to get upset too. We know that bath-time can be stressful, but try your best to stay calm and focused throughout. Keep talking to your baby in a soft, soothing voice and stay relaxed. They will slowly begin to mirror your behaviour.

4. Take it one step at a time
Your baby can acutely sense your feelings and emotions and they often react accordingly. If you sound hassled or agitated, they can sense it and it may give them reason to get upset too. We know that bath-time can be stressful, but try your best to stay calm and focused throughout. Keep talking to your baby in a soft, soothing voice and stay relaxed. They will slowly begin to mirror your behaviour.

5. Enlist the help of some toys
For slightly older babies, toys can be a great way to add fun to bath-time. Round up the ducks, boats and other floating toys and let your baby play with them before bath-time for a bit. Then slowly move them to the bathroom and continue play-time there. A lot of babies even like to play with plastic cups in the bath, by filling, emptying and refilling them. Just ensure that they do not drink it by accident.

6. Use a washcloth for their face and scalp
Pouring water directly on your baby’s scalp or face can be uncomfortable for many babies. Instead, clean their face and scalp with a wet washcloth so that your baby doesn’t get startled by the water.

7. Lighten the mood with bath-time music
Look up bath-time songs for your baby and play them on your mobile phone while you bathe your little one. Or simply sing them on your own. Music can be very relaxing and therapeutic for your baby.

8. A‘tear-free’ formula for a tear-free bath
Ensure that your bath-time products have a tear-free formulation that will prevent any irritation to your baby’s eyes and skin. Both Softsens Baby Shampoo and Softsens Baby Bodywash are enriched with an ultra-mild ‘tear-free’ formulation for a safe and happy bath! Moreover, all Softsens baby products are Hypoallergenic, made with natural plant based ingredients and are tested in Europeand on par with international standards of safety, making it perfect for use on babies.

9. If nothing else works, try using a different bath-time support
There are a variety of bathtub seats, pillows and mats available in the market that can make bath-time a lot easier for you and your baby. Figure out what would make your baby most comfortable and try a new tactic..

10. Don’t forget to snuggle after bath-time
Let your baby associate bath-time and the moments after with sweet and happy thoughts. Give them a nice massage with Softsens Baby Lotion after a bath and then spend some time cuddling before putting them to sleep.

How do you get your baby to relax during bath-time? Share your favourite tips below.

For more bath-time tips, check out our other blog article – How to Bathe your Newborn Baby: 101

What do you do when, aside from being excited and overjoyed on your baby’s birth, you are consumed with feelings of loneliness, anxiety or sadness? Postpartum depression or PPD is a condition that affects a lot of new Mothers and is something that certainly needs to be identified and treated and NOT brushed under the rug.

The symptoms and severity of this condition can also differ widely from one Mom to another, making it even more important to speak out and consult somebody if you sense that you are suffering from this condition.

Having studied the symptoms and effects of PPD and having counselled numerous patients herself, new mom Elina Wadia believed that she understood the condition well, UNTIL it happened to her. Find out how she identified and treated her Postpartum depression in this interview with Team Softsens.

Meet Elina Wadia, a nutritionist, doctoral student, blogger, former professor and now mommy to Boo – her sweet 7-month-old daughter. This is her story.

Q. Thank you so much for speaking out honestly on a topic that some may find hard to talk about. Was there any specific moment that made you realize you wanted to share your own experiences to help other new Moms?

Ans. I was flooded with all kinds of advice soon after delivery. Every Tom, Dick and Harry had something to tell me (read: warn me about). Amongst the several unsolicited opinions I received, one was to not share my delivery story with anyone or talk about the pain I went through. I was taken aback, and then understood that there are so many pre-conceived notions and myths associated with motherhood because of which there’s a huge communication gap between the already-mothers and to-be mothers. This is one major reason why new moms face Postpartum depression (PPD) these days - because they’re mentally not prepared for what’s coming. Hence, I decided to write so that in my own small way, I can reach out to moms across the globe and tell them that they’re not alone.

Q. Before you had your baby, had you heard of the term ‘postpartum depression’? If yes, what did you know about it?

Ans. Oh yes, being a medical student, I had read about it zillion times. In fact, I wanted to take up PPD and its association with Gestational Diabetes as my PhD topic. But as they say – you don’t really know something until you face it. No matter how well read you are, and no matter how many patients you’ve counselled, it’s a completely different thing when you’re at the receiving end or on the other side of the spectrum.

Q. What were those early signs/symptoms that you noticed which made you realize something was amiss?

Ans. I was all geared up for motherhood. Excited. Armed. Over the moon. But soon after she arrived and a week passed, I started finding myself crying alone. I started to miss pregnancy. I missed being alone. And ironically, I became ultra-possessive about her. I was drowning in a plethora of emotions. I was unsure of what was going on and most importantly, I was happy but not happy. That’s when I knew that something was definitely wrong.

Q. At what point did you feel that you had to discuss it with somebody and how did you go about it?

Ans. It took me a while to open up. I thought I’d be judged, people would find me crazy for not being happy despite being blessed with a healthy and beautiful girl. I feared that I’d be considered ungrateful. But then I knew, that if I didn’t open up and vent, it would make it worse. That’s when I confided in my mom and I was surprised at how calmly she responded, as if she knew exactly what I was going through!

Q. How did your family and others around you react to your condition? Did you feel supported by those close to you?

Ans. I chose whom to share my feelings with very wisely. Because getting dissentient reactions was the last thing I wanted. It was my mom, husband and my best friend, and all three gave me just the right kind of support I needed.

Q. Once you realized that you were suffering from PPD, what were your next immediate steps?

Ans. First was to share and talk about my feelings - half of my anxieties ended there. Next was to seek help. I made sure to take more breaks for at least 15-20 minutes each and let someone else take care of her. Third was to go out alone with my husband. My mom offered to help and took care of my daughter while my husband took me to restaurants or outings within a month of delivery. There’s a lot we go through - both physically and mentally. Such breaks are quite justified and they help us feel rejuvenated.

Q. What were the different lifestyle changes that you adapted to cure PPD? Were you recommended something specific by your doctor?

Ans. I didn’t consult my doctor about this because I have personally studied a lot in this area. But I would highly urge other Moms to speak to their doctors.
First is to understand your baby’s sleep cycle and make sure to sleep as much you can so that your body gets rest and stays energized.
Second is to practice yoga to calm down the mind and de-stress.
Third, go for walks if possible, with a mom or friend. It helps you connect and makes you realize that you’re not alone. You also learn about motherhood and tips and tricks to make your tasks easier.
Fourth, eat healthy and wholesome. Have plenty of water and stay hydrated. It’ll help in calming down your system.

Q. How long did it take before you started feeling better?

Ans. It lasted for 4-5 weeks maximum. For me, it was mostly about getting accustomed to the newness and change. Once I was adjusted, it slowly settled on its own.

Q. Based on your own experience, can you share some helpful advice for other Moms who are facing a similar situation?

Ans. Sure.

Motherhood is a beautiful and life-changing experience, but it can also be pretty EXHAUSTING! There are times when you feel completely zapped of energy or simply overwhelmed. The good news is that it’s totally normal to feel that way. The great news is that there are small things that you can do every day to stay a bit more energized, positive and calm.

In this fun interview, blogger and awesome Mom, Katerina, shares her best tips on staying recharged, focused and happy, so that you can fully enjoy all the great perks that Motherhood has to offer!

A full-time Mummy with a full-time job AND a successful blog, Katerina juggles all her varied roles effortlessly and with a smile on her face. How does she do it? Find out below.

Q. Thanks so much for talking to us. Firstly, how has life changed after becoming a Mom?

Ans. Thank you so much for having me! The main change in my life was my priorities - once my baby was born, my main focus shifted from career and travel to taking care of this tiny human being. I realized that I would spend the rest of my life making her happy – and that would make me most happy too. Life also became extremely hectic and erratic with changing baby schedules due to sleeping and feeding times. So, finding the right rhythm and routine was the key for me, to balance my family, my career and my interests.

Q. Motherhood is often described as ‘the greatest thing and the hardest thing’. Do you think that’s accurate?

Ans. Absolutely – it is the greatest thing, because it made me a much better human being. I became more empathetic to others, more patient and caring. I learnt to put aside my own interests and needs and still feel good while doing it. And ofcourse it is the hardest thing too – so many responsibilities and so much to learn, every single day.

Q. Personally, what are your greatest challenges as a Mom, and how do you tackle them?

Ans. For me, it is finding the balance to allocate enough time to all the things I am passionate about – development of my baby, reading and researching, sharing my findings online which often means writing long blog posts and taking videos of our games and activities.

I tackle this by making schedules for everything. I have blocks of time allocated each week to work on different development areas for baby Shannon. I make sure I spend time with her outdoors in the morning, do some problem-solving games like puzzles with her in the evening, and always follow our reading routine at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

Q. What are some habits you follow daily to stay positive and energized?

Ans. I have a strong belief that if mommy is happy, everyone in the house is happy too - baby, husband, parents-in-law, helpers, and hey, even our pets! I feel most happy and energized when I wake up very early. It gives me time for a morning walk with Shannon, some exercise, yoga or a run, contrast cold shower, strong coffee and healthy breakfast.When I am winning the morning, the whole day goes smoothly.

I also have some other “secret weapons” - some I learnt, and some I developed myself. For example, I created my own meditative-like exercises that help me get focused and refreshed in approximately 5 minutes. I shared these exercises with my friends who then inspired me to make a structured program around healthy mindful routine. This program has been running for several months now. It’s called “Recharge for Moms”, and has received amazing reviews from participating moms (and also from their happy husbands!) 😊

Q. How did your family and others around you react to your condition? Did you feel supported by those close to you?

Ans. I chose whom to share my feelings with very wisely. Because getting dissentient reactions was the last thing I wanted. It was my mom, husband and my best friend, and all three gave me just the right kind of support I needed.

Q. Can you give us a quick run-through of your daily routine?

Ans. I wake up at 6 AM, most days even without the alarm, and try to get in some quick yoga stretches/warmup on the terrace while baby Shannon is still asleep. She wakes up at 6:30 AM (most days, if I’m lucky ), and we quickly go outside before it gets too hot. I strongly believe that babies need at least 3 hours of outdoor time,so we go for a long walk to our garden and children’s playground, where she climbs, swings, slides and plays in the sandbox. We head home around 8-8:30 to grab breakfast, after which I head to work at 9 AM. This is a recent change - after Shannon was born, I was working only from 11 AM till 5 PM. Nowadays I spend more time in the office. Shannon stays with our trusted nanny and goes to a 2-hour toddler development program twice a week. We also invite her friends for play dates, so she has something interesting to do every day.

I come home from the office at 7 PM and all my focus between 7 and 9 is only on my baby. She wouldn’t allow me otherwise 😊. We play with toys and puzzles, or paint together. We recently allowed her 20-30 minutes of screen time every day to watch nursery rhymes. After dinner together with my husband, we head to the bedroom with 3-4 children’s books. We started this routine when she was 14 months old, and now she loves and expects it. We cuddle under the blanket and flip through our favourites. I tell her the story or read the rhymes, and she points to her favorite characters. Around 9-9:30 PM, she is usually calm and sleepy enough, so I get the last 30-60 minutes of the day to myself to spend time with my husband, or finish my blogging and writing. I prefer to go to sleep before 11 PM, but of course some days I stay up late to finish a blog post or launch another wave of my “Recharge” program.

Q. How do you juggle your career and motherhood successfully? What’s your advice to other Moms working to find a balance?

Ans. I practice single-tasking (and teach it during my recharge program too). Juggling too many things at the same time leaves you frustrated and nervous, and tasks don’t get done either. When I am at home, I focus completely on my baby; when she sleeps, I focus fully on my blogging; and when I am in the office, I focus completely on my main job. So single-tasking is the key for me. Also, try and de-stress and take on Mummyhood with some swag and a smile, without overthinking too much.

Q. Do you manage to get a fair bit of ‘me-time’? If so, what do you like to do during your free time?

Ans. My biggest challenge right now is that I don’t have any time free for reading.When I have “me-time”, it’s always taken up by my blog and other work. There’s no time to read new and interesting books, so my “wish list” is becoming very long. I hope as baby grows older and spends more time reading and painting herself, I will get more time to relax and read.

Q. Can you share your one important mantra for staying ‘recharged’ for all the awesome Mummies reading this?

Ans. Take care of yourself, no cutting corners here. When Mama is happy, everyone is happy. It means, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your husband, nanny or your parents, and find some time to take that bubble bath or do some yoga in the morning.The trick is to find activities which make you feel happy and healthy quickly (tip – watching TV shows late at night when you should have been sleeping might be not the right way to recharge. It will only leave you more tired in the morning). As a part of my program, I help each mom introspect and create a list of healthy activities based own schedule and preferences, to quickly but fully recharge.

Read more about Katerina’s latest program ‘Recharge for Moms’ and her ideas on early childhood development at her blog www.myoneupbaby.com

If babies could talk, we think we know exactly what they’d say. This Women’s Day, we’re celebrating all the wonderful, loving, warm, tough, brave Moms out there, with a love letter from your baby to you!

Dearest Mommy,

I know you don’t understand the things I say just yet.(After all, it’s mostly just cooing and gurgling.) But there’s so much I want to tell you. I want to tell you that I love you, that you’re my best friend and my guardian angel, and I’m so happy that I got you as my Mumma. I heard Nanaji tell someone that you were blessed to have a baby like me, but I think it’s the other way around, Ma.

I’m so lucky that I get to spend most of my day with you. You make everything fun. At first, bath-time used to be scary for me. But you washed away my fears with your soft touch and funny songs. You even know how to turn food into airplanes. You make me laugh so much. Want to know a secret? Falling asleep in your arms is the best feeling ever!

Mom, even though I’m little, I notice everything. I see how you always put everyone else first. Not just me, but Papa, grandpa, grandma and others too. You do everything with a smile on your face, even when I keep you up for most of the night (sorry) and you’re so sleepy! I can tell when you’re tired, and yet you play peek-a-boo with me for the thousandth time just to hear me laugh. I can see when you have a million things on your mind, but you still make me feel like I’m the only thing that matters.

I just want you to know that you’re amazing. Thank you for all that you do! I’m learning so much just by observing you every day. Want to know another secret? When I grow up, I want to be just like you- Strong, fearless, hardworking, kind, gentle and loving.

Everyone looks at me and says I’m growing up so fast. I know that means I won’t be a baby forever. But Mom, I will ALWAYS be your baby and you will always be my #WOWMOM

Love you to the moon and back! XOXO