Parenting Guides

Archive for the ‘Children Health’ Category

As we know, breast milk is ideal for babies and should be avoided as far as possible to give cow’s milk (fresh, evaporated, powdered, lactose-free, calcium plus iron, etc.) Because, although it is a food rather complete a 1 year old, can be harmful for babies up to one year of age. We said that this is mainly due to the large amount of protein in cow’s milk (which is the basis for all evaporated and powdered milk market), which in some cases can not be processed by the baby’s body, causing problems with allergies and intolerances.

Also, the formula, despite containing a smaller amount of protein adapting to the requirements of the baby, there are also cases where inflammatory reactions occur in the baby’s body as having also based in cow’s milk, contains foreign matter that may be rejected by the baby’s body.

An inflammatory reaction can be seen in different ways. It may manifest as an allergy with symptoms of diarrhea, respiratory-like flu and moderate to severe skin symptoms such as noodle, rash, water balls, specks, etc. As intolerance, manifested as diarrhea, stomach upset, constipation, gas, vomiting and malaise.

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Another disease to which children are exposed is typhoid fever, stomach infection caused by a virus transmitted by consuming contaminated food or water, even the children acquire the virus by eating fruit or vegetables without washing or washed in dirty water . It is also spread from person to person.

Symptoms of typhoid fever are high fever of 39 ° C or 40 ° C, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, rash, pink, loss of appetite and malaise. In some cases, constipation may occur.

If your child has these symptoms, you must immediately take him to the doctor because he may be the only one who will give you the proper remedies, usually, typhoid treated with special antibiotics and bacteria in each individual case, and the disease can even last for 2 to 4 weeks.

While we can take the health center, give plenty of homemade solution of water and put cold cloths on his forehead to lower the temperature. But do not forget that if typhoid untreated, can even lead to pneumonia and can make your child prone to keep the bacteria for life in the body.

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Kids love the beach, but today is difficult to spend much time together by the thousands of activities that parents have to do. The holidays are perfect times to be together, but always taking care of children.
The sun’s rays are super strong now, so it is advisable to apply sunscreen, not only us but the babies, who are most likely to suffer burns to their delicate skin. To care for your child on the beach follow these recommendations.

Sunscreen.
The baby skin is very delicate. Buy a sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection to protect you from the sun’s rays. The sun protection factor (SPF) should be over 45 and must be reapplied every 40 minutes or so, and after swimming for your baby or if you sweat a lot. Remember that you only have to throw your baby sunscreen when you have more than 6 months.

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In recent years, obesity has taken place within the area of ??children, making them overweight people are very young, something not seen before. Much is blamed on fast food and junk, but what about the parents? What do we do to remedy this growing problem?

The first thing we have to think about is how we are feeding, if we have good eating habits at home, how many times a week we feed them fast food, among other habits that we acquire along the little time we have to devote to housework.

Another important point to note is that obesity is a disease that can be inherited, if the father or mother, or grandparents, are obese, then it is time to pay much more attention to food at home to care for child and prevent diseases such as diabetes or hypertension in children.

The underlying problem in society can be reversed if we pay a little more attention to what they eat our children. I’ll give you some very healthy tips you can take into account to help combat childhood obesity at home.

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Cleft lip and cleft palate are not the same. On the one hand, cleft lip is a congenital lip baby makes him look like cut in half (sometimes this court reaches the base of the nose), while the palate is said to malformation palate that did not complete its development process and did not close completely, so that the palate can be partially open (just a piece) or completely (to the back of the palate).

A child may not have cleft lip and cleft palate, and vice versa, although it may have both defects, becoming a problem, but that can be fixed. In general, operations to reverse the cleft lip and cleft palate occur during the first year of the baby.

However, until you do the operation, you have to feed your baby and now I’ll give you some ideas you can put into practice so that these defects do not affect your baby’s development.

Baby with cleft lip
Usually, the baby with a cleft lip has no problem sucking breast milk, because you only have the problem on the lip. Anyway it is good to help you with your hand to close a bit his lip and have no difficulty feeding, and not in position your nipple in the mouth.

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The eating habits of the so-called developed countries favor the increase of diabetes in children, whose disease is characterized by predisposition or inherited genetic factors.

Recent studies show that European and American children with diabetes with increasing frequency. In particular, the incidence is higher in the American nation because the child population has high rates of obesity.

Diabetes is a syndrome characterized by excessive accumulation of sugar in the blood due to low production of insulin (produced by the pancreas), a substance that is responsible for transporting the entire body. There are two types: Type 1 diabetes occurs in people where insulin production is low or nonexistent, and most patients with this condition develop it before age 30. In turn, the type 2 occurs when the pancreas still produces insulin but the body becomes resistant to its effects, usually appears after age 30, and one of the major causes is obesity.

The researchers also analyzed genetic factors, environmental elements and various infections, early exposure to cow’s proteins and stress as possible triggers for type 1 diabetes in children. In response, the less effective prevention, because although specified to avoid viral infections from pregnancy, caring for feeding or prolonged breastfeeding during the first months of life of children, have not determined the exact environmental factors that influence in the development of the disease.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, specialists make it clear that you have a defensive position very clear: low-fat healthy diet and exercise.

Thus, although no conclusive results are available, open new lines of research, for example, about the consumption of smoked foods. In countries where this type of food is common, such as Finland, there is an index of 40 diabetic children per 100 thousand.

In Mexico, diabetes has increased so recently that the number of patients is about 10% of the total population. It is very probable that the cause is in the making of the patterns and habits of our neighbors to the north.

Grow healthy and strong should not be limited to the physical health of children. As you worry about feeding them well, sleep well and have what to wear, it is very important to be aware that the mental health of your child (ren) is essential to have a full and happy life.
When we hear the final years of the formation of a human being are the years of childhood, we often incredulous because they might be just an urban myth. Many people mistakenly think that children do not realize if something goes wrong at home, or the cries and fighting, or the behavior of people around him. Even if you have a baby and still can not be expressed through language, rest assured that sees everything around him and those emotions are felt by their emotional world.
Therefore, it is very important to note that the years of childhood are crucial to form emotionally and mentally healthy. It is during childhood that parents and those around children should be more alert to provide them an environment conducive to their mental health, full of positivity and love.
In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of positive, healthy minds in children, the American Pediatric Association sponsored this past May 6, the national day of children’s mental health with the Health Services Administration Behavioral of substances (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). But this should not be just one day but everyday something.
What can you do as a dad or mom to make your child feel good (a)? Here are some ideas:
Play with your child (a), read stories, sing songs with him. Do any activity that is fun and allows them to share.
Recognize when your child (a) is well behaved and proud to tell you (a) of him or her.
Eliminates the combination of television to lunch. Show them the time of dinner, lunch or breakfast is a time to talk and share.
Do not put a television in your child’s room (a). Limit time spent playing video games and do not think that is a solution to turn on the TV and leave the baby sitting seeing anything. Television is not a babysitter.
Promote your son (s) to play with children their same age. Invite them home or make sure that they are always supervised by an adult.
Listen to your child (a) and reason with him or her. For example if you want to do something you should think not, explain why and what the consequences of doing otherwise.
Routines designed to go to bed, and thus promote getting enough sleep.
Encourage them (a) learn from their mistakes.
Do you feel good about himself (a) applauding his achievements and always paying attention to their emotions: happiness, sadness, anger. In the case of anger, teach him to channel these feelings without destructive behavior such as breaking toys or hitting someone.
Give an example. Avoid having arguments and reactions not want your child (ren) copy. Be aware that there is a time to talk or argue among adults and do not do it in front of them if you think you hurt his feelings.

Studies show that consumption of fruits and vegetables in children and adolescents do not meet the required amounts. How can ingest the percentage that allows them to have a balanced diet?

Is known to work and encourage parents to teach good eating habits in children, and make every meal time pleasant and family. However, in recent years there has been a change in the organization of most Mexican households, now both parents work and family meals are limited to weekends.

“It is therefore difficult to monitor and control what their children eat, who can opt for fast food and snacks with empty calories,” says nutritionist Maya Luisa Funes. Indeed, while in the care of someone, often argue that “I ate at school, but do not know what they ate.

Highly nutritious edible
Fruits and vegetables are the primary source of important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fiber. Therefore, their consumption is weak risk factor for the development of various chronic diseases: atherosclerosis (deposits of fat in the bloodstream), irritable bowel syndrome (produces diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain), anemia (low red blood cell production almost always iron deficiency) and constipation, among others.

In this context, note that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is intensifying its efforts to encourage healthy eating habits in Latin America, among which the promotion of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

PAHO recommends consuming 400 grams of fruit and vegetables each day (equivalent to five servings, approximately) as invaluable help to prevent chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes type 2 (high blood sugar levels) and obesity.

Problems and solutions
It is common for children, especially preschoolers, have a special aversion to certain foods, like vegetables. Although food preferences should be respected and considered when planning meals, do not let the child dictate his will.

“In this sense, it is important that the variety of foods that are cooked at home is very wide, in this way, children will have more choices and less likely to reject. In addition, above, also allows them to understand the need and importance of eating all foods, “suggests the specialist.

Keep in mind that eating habits acquired by the child from earliest infancy, marked the habits for the rest of his life. Thus, Maya Funes advice:

Present the dishes in a fun way, with ingredients that provide colorful and attractive, it is a “hook” for children and young people because it draws attention and is palatable.
Seek to start the day eating some fruit, either chopped or juiced; also have the advantage that they can easily be everywhere.
Include in your lunch or lunch a bowl of fruit or vegetables. And if it works, you always have these foods visible at home and reach of children, be aware that if seen, are more likely to eat them.
Always add a side of vegetables or fruit, whether in a salad or mashed, to the dishes prepared with meat.
Use pureed vegetables to thicken soups and add flavor.
Use some seasoning, or lemon and chile powder piquín.
Prepare desserts with vegetables (carrots, squash) and fruits.
Cut food into curious shapes.
Helping children to eat more fruits and vegetables do not have to represent daunting task. In its school breakfast can add different fruit every day of the week, for which we have many options. At meals we make salads with vegetables and colorful fruits, and always keep in mind that creativity before serving will be your best ally.

Unlike in adults has traditionally considered back pain in children was rare and when present should be considered as potentially serious. However, epidemiological studies of the past 15 years have shown that back pain in school children is much more common than was believed until now, even some authors have even suggested that back pain in children is almost as common as in adults and were able to determine which factors risk of back pain.

During the last decade has increased the interest of society for back problems of children and adolescents, as evidenced by the abundance of articles that develop topics such as the type of portfolios that use the school, the weight of backpacks, the positions they take in class or at the computer or television and sports and physical activities they perform.

There are, however, still many controversies on these issues as we believe that the advice and recommendations that can suggest to parents, schoolchildren and educators must be based on scientific evidence.

In our society, children and adolescents can be easily witnessed traumatic events. This reality is experienced in a meaningful way through the media and sometimes children and adolescents may become witnesses of these events. There are times when parents and educators have to intervene to prevent from erroneous interpretations that can facilitate that fear becomes phobia to situations where the child or adolescent tolerates virtually the traumatic event like a video game.

Obviously not the same explanation that the child should be given the fact that lives in situ, that he who knows in other ways. However, the response must be equal regardless of the channel through which comes the stressful experience. A child or adolescent needs help understanding always a traumatic experience.

The aftermath of traumatic life events are known as PTSD. The best way to help these children not to deny the evidence (although it may be the child who denies it) but to provide an answer to seek reassurance. Thus, you can redirect the anxiety before it becomes a fear or phobia.

Thus, the immediate goal is to explain what happened, but without experiencing the situation, but by analyzing the facts to seek a satisfactory description redirect anxiety. It is necessary that the adult does not express the stress. In young children is very useful, but the word, to facilitate the projection of the events through play or drawing. Thus, the child has the opportunity to express their feelings, the perceived stressful event, what it means to him, to define their concerns, which may in turn be answered by the adult … This will help them adapt to normal.

It should give an objective answer, considering the life event as a specific event that occurs at a particular time, and never as a circumstance that may be able to condition their emotions.

In this sense, we must avoid falling into subjective interpretations, and in the immediate defense mechanism of children, that is denial. While passing through this stage, the experience of reality persists in his mind. And finally, it should allow time for assimilation. Early responses include seeking reassurance and anxieties, but it is also necessary, as cold and after a few days, remember and check that the event did not produce any result in the child emotionally.