Pinning the Caplang

No need to wrinkle your eyebrow. It means pulling back stick-out ears (caplang) as what Rafee has. Its medical term is Otoplasty. This is a new issue on him. Well, I just wanna share this and if you wish you can post some comments.
So, last week, I took him to a nearby clinic, just for walk-in visit as it was urgent thing to check his ears. It's a been a week, I notice he kept rubbing his right ear and that night he was so fussy when he slept. I was worried that he may get ear infection. So the doctor checked him. This is my first time to see this doctor. He looks like an experienced doctor. He said that I need not to worry. Rafee is OK. I asked why he keeps rubbing his ear. He answered, possibly he is teething as some babies like to rub ears when teething. OK, I didn't know as he normally bites my nipple when teething. No wonder I didn't know. Then, we had the conversation -

Doc = By the way, your son got stick out ears. You are aware of it, aren't you?
Me = Yes, you have a concern on it, doc?
Doc = Well, I just wanna let you know that if you wanna pin his ears, it's covered by the govt.
Me = What?? pinning?? what's wrong with them?
Doc = well it's a minor surgery to pull back the ears, will not harm the hearing ability. You don't want you son being teased right when he is at school. Children are cruel in there. They love to tease on weird thing on other kids.

In seconds, I was totally shocked hearing what he said. Immediately, I realized too, what he said may be right too. Then I bombed him with questions. Like, is this case common here, how they fix it, when the best time to fix it, what happened if it's not fixed, what the psychological concerns, is it common case here and so on.

I went home with question marks on my head. It's a dilemma. I wanna keep it as is, it's God's a gift. On the other hand I don't want my son get sad because his friends tease him. Overall, it may affect to his personality, his health and also motivation to go to school, and other problems that may come up. If I ignore doctor's advise I may regret later on when the kids really tease him. In the meantime, I try to get second opinions for Rafee's ear. I guess, the best thing is to do as early as possible, so the surgery will not hurt him too much. So what do

you say??

Breastfeed toddler

Thank God, It's been a month - finally- he takes cow milk with sippy cup. It took almost 2 months to make him drink the milk with the cup. I notice he even enjoys drinking from it. He always listens to me whenever I said to him “Rafee drink your milk, please!” He voluntarily follow what I said. I learnt the hint, just put the cup around his playing area so he can easily grab the cup whenever he feels like it. Well, what they said is right most breastfed babies are a lot easier to switch to cup-fed. It's proven!!
However, he still can be away from mommy’s breast!! Maybe he thinks mommy's breasts are too good to be left alone :). And so far, he takes breast milk only 2 - 3 times during the day. But, he can’t sleep without sucking my breasts!! Honestly, I can’t do much for the latter. I have no complaints so far, though I know it may not be a good idea for his teeth. In fact most of the time, I enjoy looking at how his face changes when he looks at my breast, asking for nursing. He is extremely happy. During nursing, It’s like there is an electric connection between, they call it parental attachment.

On the other hand, I realize that I am a lucky mom among other moms who desperately want to breastfeed their babies while their breasts do not really cooperate to produce milk for their babies. Yesss, while my breasts are still productive to provide milk for my boy until now, why I need to wean him from it especially when I have no complaints to do so.

After I read a lot of reading, surfing on breastfeeding issues, I realize now, it's a stupid idea if I disconnect that attachment I have made through my breast. I understand that by giving him my milk which contain incredible healthy nutrients, also brain boosting fat (DHA), I not only feed him to grow as a healthy boy, but actually I also feed his brain to grow to boost his intelligence. Breastfeed toddler also provides security and comfort for them. By continuing to breastfeed my boy until he is ready to wean, it helps ensure that his dependency needs are being met, thus providing my boy with optimal emotional growth.

I summarize here what they say about breastfeeding toddler :

• Parents, and many experts, have noticed that the children whose emotional and dependence needs have met fully during early childhood, tend to be the children who are the most independent and emotionally secure when they are older. Child-led weaning helps build trust between parent and child, allowing the child to develop independence at her own pace.
  Continuing to breastfeed can enhance the relationship between mother and child. Because your nursing toddlers needs are being met, she will feel better about herself and thus tend to accept discipline more easily.
• Nursing eases frustration and smooths over many of the tough transitions that a make up a toddlers life. You may find that your nursing toddler rarely has temper tantrums or, if he does, that they are easily "tamed". This particular benefit depends on the other aspects of your parenting style as well as your toddlers individual temperament.
• Breastfeeding also provides calm, quiet moments that are restorative and de-stressing for both you and your toddler. It can be a wonderful way to maintain your connection to your toddler if you must work.
  

Soo.. yeah.. both of us are enjoying breastfeeding, I am not in too big of a rush to give it up. Even when I start my job, I still can nurse him when I get home.