Hello there dear readers and welcome to another delightful edition of Tiny Tots Corner! This month the boys have certainly risen to the top, with our top 3 winners, all boys. We hope that the proud parents and families enjoy this special moment, as their little stars take their place in the spotlight. To all the parents who submitted entries, thank you for sharing your little cherubs with our readers. Although only 3 entries can be selected, every entrant was very special in our eyes. Please do continue sending us those adorable photographs. Your tiny tot could feature in one of our next editions. Remember to include a recent, clear photograph together with all the required details listed in the Competition Rule Box below. Good luck!
Competition Rules
- The Editor’s decision is final.
- This competition is open to all babies, between the ages of six and 24 months, who live in the Laudium Sun main distribution area.
- Closing date: Wednesday, August 19.
- Entries must include a recent, clear photo of your baby, accompanied by the full name and age of infant, and also parents’ names and addresses…as well as contact numbers.
- All entries must be hand-delivered to the Laudium Sun office in Laudium or e-mailed to: info@laudiumsun.co.za or posted to: PO Box 786, Pretoria, 0001, and are to reach us before the closing date
10 Amazing Facts about babies
1. Your baby has more bones than you.
At birth, your baby has about 300 bones. You have 206 bones. How is that possible? In fact, some of your little one’s bones are still growing together.. Your baby’s bones are therefore not yet fully developed at birth. For example: you’ve probably already heard of the fontanelle. Your baby’s skull is initially made up of several plates, which then grow together by the time they are 1 ½ years old.
2. Babies have a particularly developed brain.
Babies are born with a brain that already has 100 billion nerve cells. These nerve cells are interconnected and enable your little one to process information and learn.
3. Babies can breathe and swallow at the same time.
After birth, your baby’s larynx is positioned higher; it lowers within the first three months of life. This allows your little one to breathe and swallow at the same time. While you are
breastfeeding your baby or giving them the bottle, they can continue to breathe and swallow
at the same time thanks to their higher positioned larynx.
4. Babies have a high number of taste buds.
Your baby has more taste buds on their tongue than you do. This enables him to perceive different flavours more intensely. However, his brain is not yet able to distinguish between the various tastes. For now, there is really only one taste that matters: the taste of breast milk or formula.
5. Babies are as loud as a pneumatic drill
Is hunger coming? Is the nappy full? Is tiredness setting in? Babies can only express that something is wrong by crying. And the cries of your little bundle of joy can reach a volume of up to 120 decibels. That is equivalent to the pounding of a pneumatic drill. At work, your boss would have to provide you with hearing protection at that level of noise (by law, from 85 decibels).
6. Babies cry at first without tears
Your baby’s tear ducts are not yet fully developed after birth. Only after about a month do the first tears begin to flow. Until then, they cry without any tears at all. Sometimes, however, the tear ducts are still a little too narrow even after the first month, which means they can become blocked in some babies. If your little one’s eyes are frequently stuck together, your midwife, pediatrician or doctor can help you.
7. Every baby is different
On average, babies are born weighing between 3,300 and 3,500 grams. However, many babies are born significantly lighter or heavier. The lightest baby in the world, came into the world in Singapore in 2021, via emergency caesarean section. The little girl weighed only 212 grams and was born almost four months prematurely. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest baby ever born and survived, weighed 10.2 kilograms. The boy was born in 1955 in Aversa, near Naples in Italy.
8. Nappies, nappies, nappies
Your baby will need around 5,500 nappies before they start using the potty at the age of 2½.. Some children discover the potty earlier and others later. So don’t worry if your little one only starts using the toilet at the age of three. Every child has their own pace.
9. Your baby the powerhouse
When a baby grabs your finger, it doesn’t just feel strong to you. The innate grasp reflex is so strong that, in theory, a baby could support his entire body weight.
10. Practice, practice, practice
The first steps of your little one’s happiness are something truly special. But as with so many things in life, practice makes perfect here too. Before your baby takes their first independent steps, they fall over an average of 300 times. Luckily, your baby’s bones are still softer than yours and therefore do not break as easily.
If in any doubt, please consult with your healthcare provider.