Babies have no sense of time. In fact, for being awake and asleep at all the wrong times they give hamsters a run for their money. The first couple of months of having a baby in the house are stressful enough, and it doesn’t help if neither of you has slept properly in days. No one can survive on no sleep, not even Batman, but there are things you can do so that each of you gets as much kip as you can.

Share the feeding

Mum might be breastfeeding, but she can express milk and store it in the fridge so there are no excuses for you not taking your turn with the occasional 4am feed. Yes, that’s right, 4am! Or if Mum’s doing the 4am feed you can do the midnight feed to let her go to bed early and get some rest.

Go to bed early

You’ll be so tired this won’t be a problem. You want to watch another episode of CSI? What do you think DVD recorders and Sky Plus were invented for? Besides, chances are you’ve seen that one before.

Get a routine

Try to get into a routine as quickly as possible. Human beings are creatures of habit and if we do something regularly our bodies soon get used to it and the lack of sleep will become more bearable.

Relax

Try to relax before bedtime. You’ll never get to sleep if you’re stressed, lying waiting for the baby to wake up. Don’t worry, if it wakes up, you’ll hear it. Have a warm bath and a warm drink (hot whisky doesn’t count).

Lay off the booze

Speaking of which, lay off the booze for a while. You might think that third glass of wine will help you sleep, but you’ll think differently when you get woken up at two in the morning. Newborns and hangovers are not friends.

Eat properly

If you’re back at work make sure you have a healthy lunch every day if possible. Avoid heavy meals that will make it a certainty that by half three in the afternoon you will be slumped over your desk drooling on your keyboard.

Get it where you can

Grab rest and sleep when it’s available. If the baby is asleep, the two of you can have a lie down too. The dishes can get done some other time. Watch out for kipping on the way to work though. Waking up with your head on the shoulder of the bloke next to you on the train is bad enough, even before you realise you’ve missed your stop and are now in France.

Have the night off

Give each other the occasional complete night off from feeding, so you get turns at going to bed early and sleeping through all night.

Get on the sofa

If you’ve got a spare room or a comfy sofa, sleep there for a couple of nights during the week if possible. You need to help her as much as possible, but no one’s going to thank you if you get fired for sleeping on the job. Then you can take over at the weekends.

Take Baby out

Even if it’s just for an hour, take Baby for a walk or to do the shopping and leave Mum to have a lie down in the afternoon. This will earn you extra Brownie points, plus you get some Daddy time.

Get Granny

Get some help with other stuff round the house for the first couple of weeks. This is where your or her parents (or both) can be invaluable, helping with housework and cooking meals to give you both a chance to rest.

Many new fathers think that it’s a mother’s place to nurture a newborn. Or they are not confident handling their babies and feel like they can’t bond with them.

There is no reason for new fathers to feel left out, though. They play an important role in their babies’ lives, starting from those early days at home. Dads can be involved in all aspects of baby’s day-to-day care, from feedings to diaper changes to doctor appointments.

The bonding process starts in infancy, but gets stronger over time.

Feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start? Here are some tips for connecting with your new baby:

• Take off time from work. Try to spend as much time at home as you can after the baby’s birth. Those first days are an emotional time for everyone. Your partner will appreciate your support, as well as help with taking the baby for a checkup or other tasks.
• Be there for feedings. Giving baby a bottle is one way to feel involved. If mom is breast-feeding, dads can still hold baby while mom gets comfortable before a feeding and talk to the baby in a soothing voice during nursing. Dads can burp the baby afterwards, too.
• Entertain and engage. While mothers tend to soothe and comfort babies, dads can balance this by giving them excitement and stimulation. Babies love when their fathers sing, talk, and read to them.
• Make diaper time quality time. Babies will have dozens of diaper changes each day in those first few weeks. Use them as a chance to touch, snuggle, and talk to your little one.
• Give baby a bath. It might be nerve-wracking at first, but bath time is a wonderful chance to get close to your baby. You could make this special time a regular part of baby’s bedtime routine.
• Use a sling or baby carrier. Many moms and dads find that wearing their newborns in a sling or other carrier helps them feel close and connected. You can “wear baby” while you work at a computer, take care of things around the house, or just go for a walk.

Moms may make dads feel insecure if they constantly hover and correct how things are done. Remind your partner that you just do things your own “daddy” way. That’s part of the beauty of having two parents to share the job of caring for a newborn. Each parent has his or her own style, which helps forge a unique bond with the baby.

(Source: MyOptumHealth, July 2011)

1. Remember that babies aren’t really breakable. Don’t be afraid to hold yours! Ask someone who is around to show you some great holds for little ones whether it be a midwife, doctor, nurse, confinement lady, mom, relative, friend, etc.
2. If you are feeling left out talk to your wife about it. Chances are it’s not on purpose.
3. New moms often have emotional ups and downs that are not predictable. Be supportive and offer an ear when possible. Learn the warning signs of postpartum depression and seek help if the situation is heading out of control.
4. Support her with breastfeeding. Tell her that you’re proud of her and protect her from well meaning but negative comments about breastfeeding. Take a breastfeeding class during the prenatal period if possible.
5. Help with the other children or household. Remind mom to let the house go and to focus on her recovery and the new baby.
6. New dads can also experience the blues or postpartum depression. Much in your life has changed and its important to realize this and get help if you need it as well.
7. Remember that the only thing you can’t do is breastfeed. You can change diapers, soothe a crying baby, carry the baby, bath the baby, play with the baby, anything the baby needs done – you can do it also .
8. If you need help ask for it. Know who to call in your area for help and support whether it be a doctor or midwife, a confinement lady, lactation consultant, or the local babysitter.
9. Mom is going to need extra sleep and care while her body recovers. Get up with the baby when you can. Bring the baby to her in the middle of the night if possible. If you must go back to work check in with her during the day. Perhaps surprise her with some healthy take out food or fresh flowers.
10. Remember that adding a new baby to the mix is always going to stir your life up a bit, even if it’s not your first baby. Learning to live with another human being takes time. Give yourself a break if you need it as well.

You will become the expert on your own baby. The most nervous dads are afraid to hold a baby. Do you also feel this way? If someone else baby is put in your arm, do you hold it very stiffly? Don’t worry within five minutes, you will start to relax and find out what a great experience it is to hold a baby and when you hold yours in arm – you will see what a incredible experience parenthood can be.

Be patient and positive.

When it comes to your partner, communication and support are the keys. The most important thing in the early weeks is being patient and taking care of mom.

Remember that your wife has been through the physical trauma of childbirth and her whole life has been turned upside down by the arrival of the new baby.

Help your wife to change the diapers, comfort the baby, put him to sleep – trust your instincts, and in two days, you’ll feel like a natural and your wife will love you more for your help.

Meanwhile, even if you’ve had a hard day at work, it probably sounds like a vacation to her. So do be patient and supportive. Call your wife in the afternoon, when she may be feeling as if the day will never end, and let her know you appreciate what she’s doing.

Chances are you and your family will be spending a bit of time in it daily as you ferry back and forth from home to daycare/babysitter’s house or to grandma’s house and shopping. If you’re planning on taking local holidays, you will be spending even more time in your car. As such, there are a few things you will need to consider for your family’s safety and comfort.

Here are some things that we suggest you consider when buying your family car:

1. What size?

Having a snazzy and cute little hatchback was a nice idea when you were single or when there was just you and your spouse. But you will have to give it up once you start having kids because there won’t be enough space if your car is small.

When the word “family” pops up, think B-I-G.

Will the car you want have enough space for everyone? Are you planning on having two or three children? Do your parents or in-laws stay with you? Do you have a helper? Count everyone and be honest because you don’t want to buy a Honda City for your family of three and then realise you forgot to count your in-laws and the helper.

Remember that children need to be seated in child car seats. If you are planning on having three then your car needs to be able to seat your spouse and the three car seats … or, you will need two cars. An option is to explore better family planning so that one child is a bit bigger and can sit on the booster seat while the other two are in their car seats. Still, you will need one seat belt for each so make sure you have enough for everybody!

2. Boot space

Once you have kids, factor in carrying the stroller in the car boot. If you have more than one small child, that’ll be a double stroller. If you live in an apartment don’t forget you’ll need to store your shopping trolley in there, too. And, if you’re planning on road trips for the next five to 10 years, you’ll need to store your luggage in there, too!

Don’t be surprised if you start eyeing those big MPVs (multi purpose vehicles).

3. Safety features

This is the most important aspect of your car-buying mission. What sort of safety features does the car offer? How many airbags and where (more on this later). Is there an ABS (Anti Lock Braking System) or anti-skid system? How about a child safety lock?

Make sure the car you buy has enough safety features for your family. This is one element that should never be compromised.

4. Airbags

While airbags are great and most people think more airbags are even better, exactly where are the airbags? Find out because the type of child car seat you have or intend to buy can depend on where the airbags are. You don’t want your child in a forward facing car seat if the airbag is going to impact her and wedge her between it and the seat. This can crush your baby!

If you need to, take all your child car seats with you when you’re going for a test drive and make the sales agent install all of them and then explain where the airbags will be and how safe your child will be then. Don’t be embarrassed to ask. They want that sale and so they will do it, no matter how long it takes.

5. Weaknesses

Make sure you do a web search on the car before you buy it. Find out the problem areas that users complain about. There is usually at least one or two weaknesses. If the car you want is cute but has a tendency to overheat … reconsider buying it because you don’t want to be caught on a Saturday afternoon in a traffic jam in Kuala Lumpur with your three children screaming in the car and find your car has overheated and stalled.

6. Service centre

This is not a priority but still could be a factor in the long run. The car is great … but where is the service centre? As parents, you don’t really have the time to drive 20km from your home to go to a service centre that is so far from your home. Also ask other users what the customer service at the service centre is like.

7. Seat material

If you’re getting a car with cloth seat covers, go for a darker colour. The children will spill food and drinks. Your car seats will be stained. There is no way you can train them not to. This is inevitable. Just accept it and get seats with darker covers.

Otherwise opt for leather seats – any spills are easy to clean by just wiping.

8. In-car entertainment

This is entirely up to you. Some parents prefer to have it as it keeps the children occupied for the duration of long trips. Some say it’s okay as long as it’s not above or near the driver. And some just don’t like it. This one is up to you, as long as it’s not too distracting for the driver. Take note of how hidden or exposed the unit is as it would attract thieves. Also take note of whether your children will be able to reach the unit and fiddle with it – higher chance of them breaking off parts or spoiling the unit, etc.

Conclusion

When you decide to go shopping for a car, take the family along. There are things that your small child might notice that you might not. The car might be too high for him to climb into or the back area might be too small.

Talk to other parents, too. Nothing so helpful as the experiences of others who have gone down this path and have tried or are using the car you’re eyeing.

(Source: The Star Online, 18th April 2011)

BaiBoo in cooperation with Playskool provide you with information, tips and age appropriate activities and games that you can play with your child to help him learn and develop as much as possible.

This month we focus on the development of 10 to 12 month old babies and what games you can play with a baby this age.

10^th month: Your baby may be able to walk if you hold both of his hands. Keep in mind that each child is different and don’t force your child to walk, if he is not ready for it. He can perceive depth and if he crawls, he does not attempt to go down steps head first. He responds to one or two commands. Furthermore he begins to anticipate and remember (example: when the refrigerator opens he expects food; when you grab your purse, he will expect you’re going out). When you are singing together he may even know when the surprise happens. He pokes, prods, and explores with his hands. He peeps around corners and loves to play peek-a-boo. He begins to show a preference for the sounds he hears in the language(s) spoken around him. He imitates and tries to copy actions.

Activity:

• Show him how to push a small car or truck along the floor. After a while, he’ll learn to let go so that the car rolls by itself.
• Play “follow the leader”; he’ll love to imitate. Use simple gestures like tapping the table, opening and closing your fist, or putting a hat on your head. Talk about what you’re doing so he can learn the words.
• Talk to him on a real or play phone. He’ll learn the fun of carrying on a conversation.
• Go outside: At this stage, he’ll enjoy putting things into other things. He’ll enjoy putting leaves, twigs or toys in a container/bucket.
• Put a small toy inside a paper bag or box. As he struggles to get it, he’ll increase his understanding of inside and out.
• Reserve a cabinet for his toys; putting them away can be half the fun.
• Help him blow bubbles using a straw in his bathwater. You blow, and see if he’ll imitate you.

Toys: Building blocks, play phones, toys that fit in each other, wheel pals, creativity tables.

11^th month: Your child cruises along the furniture, standing up without your help. He pulls himself up and sits

again with confidence.  He knows that smaller objects fit in larger ones. His babbling begins to have the intonation of language. He responds to one or two commands. He knows the word “no,” but may not be able to cease from trying something anyway.

Activity:

• Chase games are fantastic to play now as it is fun to crawl from Mommy and Daddy, but safe when they catch up.
• Create obstacle courses with pillows. This will challenge the baby’s physical and mental abilities. Your baby will learn to use his body and take risks – this will help him build confidence. You will see how rewarding it is for your Baby and you to have baby conquer a complicated course that can involve going through, under, around and over things like pillows.
• Play hide-and-seek games with objects. You can use stuffed animal or toys and hide them in a place that is easily for your baby to locate. Let your baby take a turn hiding an object from you too.
• Play with flour paint: Spread a thin layer of flour on a clean, smooth surface. Demonstrate how to rub your finger in the floor to make circles, zigzags and slashes.
• Get a laugh: He’s developing a sense of humour and will laugh when something isn’t right, like when you pretend to drink from his bottle or try to put on his shoe. Change the game and let him put on your shoe.
• Push a toy car through a cardboard tunnel. See if he watches for it to come out the other side.
• Roll him a ball and encourage him to roll it back. He’ll get better as you practice.
• Dress a doll or stuffed animal in an outfit with a zipper. Show him how the zipper goes up and down. Before long, he’ll try to pull down the zipper himself.

Toys: Wheel pals, toy cars, walk and ride toys, dolls that can be dressed and undressed.

12^th month: At this age you will see that your baby likes other children but does not play with them. He imitates actions such as talking on the phone, sweeping, pushing a shopping cart, etc. He is able to anticipate your action (example: he may have his arms ready for his t-shirt). Your 1-year-old moves one toy to reach another that was hidden from view. He now makes only the sounds found in the language he hears. He understands much of what is being said. He displays affection in hugs, kisses and smiles.

Activity:

• By the time your baby reaches 1 year of age, he is ready to explore the world. Simple games, obstacle courses and rhyming songs can entertain your baby for many hours and help him to learn while strengthening his body and mind.
• Isolate a particular smaller age appropriate toy or set up a little scene (like a group of toy cars parked or an age appropriate puzzle on the couch, chair or somewhere on the floor. Let your baby crawl to it and discover the toy on an unusual place. You will see that when your baby reaches the toy, it will hold his interest by the very fact that it’s in an unusual place. Put out different toys on varying days to keep your baby curious.
• You can try finger plays and songs, such as the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Twinkle twinkle little star”. Babies love music and they love to imitate others. Soon he’ll be trying to sing along and imitate your moves. Be creative when doing finger plays. You can rock your baby in your lap on the floor as you “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” gently down the stream together. Your baby may surprise you with some extra giggles and smiles as you play and sing.
• Fold a piece of cardboard and make a hill. Show him how to put a toy car on top and let it roll down.
• Stack blocks: Large cardboard nesting alphabet blocks can be used as containers, building blocks and nesting toys.
• Build a tower, and then give him a turn. But don’t be surprised if he would rather knock down yours than build one on his own.
• Play with sand. A soup strainer is a good sandbox toy because it’s easy for him to manipulate, and he can watch the sand pour out from different heights.
• Show him his shadow on a sunny day. Stand in his and let he stand in yours.
• Play with older children: If he doesn’t have older siblings, invite some older kids over to play with. He’ll mimic what they’re doing, and you’ll be surprised at how much he will learn.
• Give him a stroller or shopping cart and send him for a stroll.
• Put a few items, such as a spoon, toy car and cup, in a shoebox. Name each one as he pulls it out of the box. The more you play naming games with him, the more opportunities he has to learn language.

Toys: Walking and riding toys, cars, dolls, strollers, building blocks, interactive books.

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BaiBoo in cooperation with Playskool provide you with information, tips and age appropriate activities and games that you can play with your child to help him learn and develop as much as possible.

This month we focus on the development of 7 to 9 month old babies and what games you can play with a baby this age.

7^th month: At this age your baby should grasp objects by cupping his entire hand around it. When he  lies in his tummy, he creeps forward. He is able to recognize voices and his name and tell tunes apart. He prefers to look at complex objects and changes position to seek a better view of things. If you place him in his hands and knees, he will probably rock. Some babies are already able to pull themselves up and they can stand if they hold onto furniture.

Activity:

• Sitting up is the name of the game this month. Of course sitting up without support also means the beginning of bumps, bruises and boo boos – all a part of the process of crawling and walking. Try not to overreact whenever he loses his balance and topples, because your responses will help determine his. A few simple rules of thumb: Stay within reaching distance, do not sit him on a hardwood floor without cushioning and, if in doubt, use a soft blanket or stacked pillows to surround him so he will have a soft cushion to land on.
• Let your baby help you turn off the light switch while you say “lights out.” After a while he’ll make the connection between the light being switched off and the room getting dark.
• Give your baby toys to play with that can be named easily: cup, telephone, doll, kitten, spoon, dog, block, rattle, banana or clown. Name each toy as he reaches for it.
• Cut out large, colourful pictures from magazines: a telephone, a dog, an airplane, a spoon, a teddy bear. Then paste the pictures into a blank notebook. Sit your baby on your lap and “read” the pictures together.
• Try dropping games. Show him how to drop a hard ball into a large plastic bowl; he’ll be intrigued and want to try it on his own.
• If you have a toy that makes a sound or music, help your baby learn how to locate it by listening. Show him the toy and activate the sound. Then place the toy behind your back and activate the sound again. Repeat this several times to see if he’ll crawl to you to find the toy.

Toys: Toys that stimulate and encourage crawling and standing up, shape sorters, action and reaction toys, interactive story books.

8^th month: Your baby is discovering the world and developing his fine motor skills further. He should be able

tocrawl forward or backward (sometimes even while holding an object). He is developing his small-motor skills such as pincer grasp. You will be amazed about what little things he can find on the floor that went unnoticed by you (like small dust balls). He knows that toys don’t disappear even when they are hidden (they still exist somewhere). He will start to investigate his surroundings. He will also begin to articulate sounds, first vowels than all other sounds made in every language.

Activity:

• Play and activities should be targeted at encouraging your baby to discover and try new things. See if you can encourage your little one to stand up by himself, holding onto a chair or walker.
• Grab the opportunity of explaining a new toy to engage in a ‘conversation’ with your baby. This will help him to develop his language skills.
• Build a tower of blocks and show him how to knock it down. He’ll delight in his ability to produce such an outstanding effect.
• Give him toys that come apart or fit together; he’ll find them particularly interesting at this stage.
• Take turns patting a doll, banging a pot, drinking from a cup or putting a hat on your head. Imitation is one of his primary methods of learning.
• Give your baby his own kitchen cabinet and fill it with containers and small objects. He’ll enjoy taking things out and putting them back. This will also help you keep your baby busy while you are cooking.
• Read to your baby. He’ll love activity books like where he can pet an animal, or uncover hidden figures. Expose him to a variety of books and see how much fun you will have together.

Toys: Your baby is ready for toys that encourage standing, sorting and building toys, activity towers.

9^th month: Your baby should be pulling himself up to stand using furniture and adjusts his posture as he moves. He

sits alone and stretches to reach a toy without toppling over. His hands are more skilled and his movements are more conscious and diverse. He is able to catch a suspended object or a ball rolled directly to him. He passes toys from one

hand to the other. He starts to make signs like lifting his arms to be picked up and banging a spoon to summon food. He may also follow your gaze, to find out what you’re looking at.

Activity:

• Tie several colourful scarves together. Insert one end into a cardboard tube and let him pull them out. See if he’s able to stuff them back inside.
• Place three toys in a box. Name one, and ask him to give it to you. If he gets it wrong, name the toy he gave you. If he gets it right, say, “Yes, that’s a….”
• Give his teddy bear an occasional sip when your baby is learning to use a cup. This is a way to prepare him for the later imaginative play.
• Take time to sit down with your child. He might initiate a game, or you can give him a jump-start by placing a basket of new and interesting items within his reach and see what he will do with them.
• Play back-and-forth games: He’ll hand an object to you, and then you hand it back to him, and so on.
• Turn toys upside down and put them in front of him. Encourage him to turn the toys right side up.
• Put some of his toys in a plastic see-through box. Let him try to take the cover off himself. If he has trouble, help him.

Toys: Your child will love to play with toys that encourage building, sorting, toys that encourage standing and walking, building blocks, popping toys.

This informative article is brought to you by

As parents, we want our kids to grow up happy, healthy and successful in whatever path they choose. We also want to be able to give them the best opportunities that life has to offer. And one of the top concerns of every responsible parent is ensuring that their child has access to the best education so that they can realize their dreams.

However, as cost of living increases, we have to admit that sometimes saving for your child’s education has to take a backseat. This has become a growing concern amongst parents everywhere.

“I don’t need to invest in an education fund; I make enough to send them to a good school”

Even if you’re one of the privileged few who can afford good education for your children, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for any uncertainties – you might lose your job, fall seriously ill, meet with an accident or might not even live long enough to see your child through adulthood. As much as we want to push these unpleasant thoughts away, we still need to face the probability that any of these could either happen to us (or our spouse).

What will happen to your child’s future then, especially if you’re the breadwinner of the family?

Fortunately, there’s now a way of ensuring that your child’s future will not be affected despite any unfortunate circumstances and at the same time having your family protected financially. All this without so much as making a dent in your wallet.

“I realize an education plan is important but it’s still too early”.

Maybe, you think it’s still too early to be thinking about saving for your child’s college or university education especially when they’re not yet even in kindergarten. Or maybe, you think that your child will be fortunate enough to get a scholarship or a study loan. If they do, then good for you, but the cold stark reality is, it’s a competitive world out there. Good results alone nowadays don’t necessarily guarantee a scholarship or a study loan.

It doesn’t hurt to start saving for your child’s education now especially with the confidence that education funds will be available no matter what happens.

If there’s a time to start saving for your child’s future, it is NOW.

After all, the earlier you begin, the more time you allow your money to grow.

“I’m new to this. What should I look for in an education plan?”

When choosing an education plan for your child, consider:

• how much you can put aside every month
• your child’s current age
• your goal for your child’s education

- the place of study (local or abroad?)

- qualification (degree, diploma?)

- field and length of study

- university of choice

• whether the plan can provide financial protection when something unfortunate happens to the parents

“Okay, so if I want an education plan for my child, where do I start?”

BaiBoo understands parents’ needs and has worked together with Etiqa Takaful to provide its members with a savings plan which can help with your child’s educational needs.

Takaful Sarjana is specially designed with your child’s future education in mind. This plan guarantees the availability of funds to help you with your child’s education. Unlike savings account, this plan financially protects both you and your child in case something unfortunate happens to either of you.

Takaful Sarjana offers:

• Guaranteed education funds – Upon maturity, the accumulated amount in the     Participant Account including the Mudharabah* and surplus from the Participant Special Account (if any) will be payable.
• Waiver of Contribution – You don’t have to worry about future contributions should anything unfortunate happen to you as they will be waived.
• Partial withdrawal – This allows you to make a partial withdrawal up to a maximum of  80% of the Participant Account (PA) balance once every year, after the certificate has been inforced for 3 years
• Affordable – Depending on how much you want to save, you have a choice of contributing RM88, RM138 or RM188. This will not increase over time.
• Flexible payment mode – The contribution can be paid annually, semi-annually, quarterly or monthly via auto-debit or credit card
• Tax benefit – You can obtain an annual tax relief of up to RM3,000 for the payment of your contribution.

Other benefits include:

• Education Excellence Awards – As recognition to your child’s academic excellence, we will reward them as follows:

UPSR 5As:                 RM500

PMR 8As:                   RM750

SPM and STPM:         RM1000 on their first attempt

All these benefits can be available to you now! And the good news is there’s no medical check-up. All you need to do is answer a few health questions.

“What is Takaful?”

Takaful is based on the concept of solidarity and joint guarantee. It is the practice whereby individuals in the community jointly guarantee themselves against loss or damage. To put it simply, each member of the group pools resources to help the needy participants in the group. A specified portion of the participants contribution will be donated to the Participant Special Account (PSA) or Tabbaru’ Fund which forms the pool of funds.

This fund will be used for members to help the unfortunate few within that group. At the end of each financial year, any surplus from the Tabarru’ Fund will be shared on an 80:20 basis between he participant and the Takaful Operator. The participant’s share will be accumulated and will be given back to the participant upon maturity of the plan.

“I’m a non-Muslim, how will a Takaful plan benefit me?”

Takaful plans are not only catered for Muslims. While it is based on Shariah principles, the Tabbaru’ concept which is the main core of the Takaful system is beneficial to everyone, regardless of religion.

Let us share with you how you can benefit from the Tabbaru’ concept:

• Profit sharing – As Takaful encompasses the elements of shared responsibility, any surpluses gained will be shared among its members unlike conventional insurance where surpluses belong to the shareholders only
• Transparent – Participants (or policyholders) know up front the formula and mechanism of profit sharing.
• Ethical – Does not make a profit at the cost of others.
• Mutually beneficial – Losses are divided and liabilities spread according to the     community pooling system.

This informative article is brought to you by