My baby gymnast is one year old !!

I cannot believe that all the babies are one year old or will be soon. It seems like only yesterday when they came to the centre. So far, 4 of them are one year old and this is Jeun Yip celebrating his first birthday.




Hey! Are all my friends here?







That's my birthday cake








Mummy helping me to cut my cake

Giving fruits to small children

Almost all the babies are 10 months old so time to introduce fruits. I personally do not like to puree the fruits because, firstly I am too lazy to do this and secondly but most importantly, processing fruits will reduce the nutritional contents of the fruits. I also do not like to extract the juice because the children need the fibre to prevent constipation and some of the vital nutrients are in the fibre so by just giving the juice alone your baby will not have all the nutrients of the fruit
Most of the children have a few front teeth so they can bite through the fruits but they do not know how to properly chew food yet therefore it is important to use the right method to feed them.






Fruits like apples are hard therefore the best way is to scrape them. Cut the fruit into big slices.







Using a teaspoon, scrape the fruit until you get a pulp onto the spoon.







Offer it to the child. Continue scraping and feeding it to the baby until the slice is finished. It is best to start with one big slice and as your child gets used to the fruit you can give more.




If the fruit is soft you can give it slice by slice instead of mashing it up. This will teach your baby to enjoy the real texture of the fruit and it is less messy. I like to use the local ‘pisang emas’ because the texture is smoother and one banana is just nice for small children.







Peel the banana and using a teaspoon, slice off a small piece at a time.








Feed your child one slice at a time.








If you give kiwi fruits, cut it into halves








Use the ‘slicing’ method








Give one slice at a time until it is all gone.








Watermelon should be cut into very small cubes








Use a fork to offer the cut fruits to the child








Jeun Yip showing us that the fruit is good. All children cannot use their thumb to show the “this is good” sign so they use their fore finger.

My baby gymnast started walking!

Remember my baby gymnast? Jeun Yip is now 11 months and he has started walking by himself. Well done!!

Breakfast time

I usually start giving breakfast at the beginning of the 8th month. You can give pre-packed baby breakfast cereals or rusk biscuits.





This is a piece of rusk biscuit








Break it up into small pieces so that it is easier to dissolve








Add sufficient hot water








Mix it into a smooth paste








The twins, Marissa and Mirabelle waiting for their breakfast








Marissa wondering what is in the bowls








The first spoonful for Marissa








Mirabelle:“Hey Sasa, what does it taste like?”








“Oh it's my turn now”








Marissa’s turn again








Now it is back to Belle








“We like it!”





Now it is Jeun Yip’s turn to start having cheese for breakfast





This is a piece of soft cheese which practically melts in the mouth so no chewing required. Also make sure that it is not too salty






Use a spoon to cut it up into very small pieces








“Here we go Jeun Yip”








“Hmm, it tastes different”








“One more piece please”








“I like cheese!!”

We are still here

I know it has been awhile since I updated the blog but it has been a most trying one month. I was two staff short at the daycare centre and after 12 hours of looking after the babies and having to clean and wash up each night I was really too exhausted to think straight. I had forgotten how time consuming housework is. In addition my electricity supply kept tripping every night so cannot use the pc at all. Finally found the culprit which is a burnt out fan upstairs which we only use at night which explains why the tripping only happens at night. I got my domestic help at last and hopefully, things are back to normal now so I have time to write again.

First of all Marie celebrated her 13th birthday in April so she is now officially a teenager and coming out with spots on her face.











Update on Wei Jun and Jeun Yip





Wei Jun actually left the centre in April but came back after 2 weeks because he missed his friends here.





Here he is with his best friend Jeun Yip. Both of them are teething and they compete with each other to produce the most amount of saliva. If you do not see them just follow the trail of saliva and you will find them.




They both love playing with Marissa (one of the twins)







Jeun Yip is shy in showing his affections






Wei Jun loves kissing Marissa even though there are bars between them.

A baby gymnast

Jeun Yip showing off his gymnastic floor routine.

Update on the 3 male mousekeeters

Jeun Yip and Gavin completed their 4 months so time to introduce them to baby rice cereal and get them to practice coordinating having food in the mouth and swallowing






Here I am twiddling my thumbs waiting for this rice cereal that aunty Cecilia mentioned.







Hey!! Why don’t I practice the Gong Xi Fa Cai greeting whilst waiting?







I think my fingers taste better than what they are going to give me







Ok, let’s go for the first spoonful








Hmm, I remember Wei Jun told me the first taste is yucky, but I am not sure what to make of it.






Wait lah! I am still thinking about it.








It is standard practice to push it out, so here goes.








Oops, I forgot that they will scoop it back in.







Sigh!! Guess I have to swallow it after all







Hey!! Watch that spoon eh, I do not want that stuff in my eyes ok?








I will be a good boy and finish it Aunty Cecilia







Yea!! That was the last spoonful and I actually like the stuff. It is Gavin’s turn next he he he!!!



Gavin's turn





My friends Wei Jun and Jeun Yip have told me all about eating baby rice and I am looking forward to it. Every time that I see mummy and daddy eating I want to join them but they said no, so all I can do is watch and drool and smack my lips.





The first spoonful








Actually, I like it but must push it out so I do not spoil Aunty Cecilia’s theory







There you are, they will scoop it back like my friends said.








Yes!! I love this stuff.








Come on, give me some more








Is that all? I want some more please. Aunty Cecilia said wait a few more days before she will add more so I have to drink my milk as I am still hungry.





Update on Wei Jun’s weaning progress.





It is about one month since Wei Jun started eating baby rice. He is now taking 4 teaspoons each day







Now is the time to introduce vegetables, albeit in powder form.








Replace one teaspoon of the plain rice powder with one teaspoon of rice and vegetables. I believe in introducing food slowly to make sure that the baby’s digestive system can take it. If he is ok with it then I will give half plain rice and half rice with vegetables. By then the baby will have completed six months when it is time to start on home cooked porridge.