This literally translates as an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and even premature death. Something must be done to prevent a disaster!
What exactly is the reason why we have reached this situation? Is advertising for junk food responsible? Though the effect on children�s choices is rather modest, it is a direct effect, oriented to their preferences, consumption and behaviour.
The truth about the matter is that the intake of calories-rich food can�t bring about obesity if it is not combined with a sedentary lifestyle. Children who practice sports on a regular basis do need a good meal to enable their body to function as required and they keep fit and within limits for a long time if they go on living an active life.
A problem arises with children who do not take enough physical exercise, the young so-called �couch potatoes� who are used to spending a good part of their spare time watching TV and munching different types of junk food for mere pleasure, or because of being left on their own, without proper supervision or guidance from their parents (who work long hours and can�t be there when needed).
Blaming big companies for selling �junk food� is probably not the best thing to do as long as such companies sell salads, natural fruit juice and fresh fruit among chips and burgers. Besides, no junk food is really �junk� if eaten in reasonable quantity and education in schools and family should tackle this subject too.
We should blame ourselves for not paying enough attention to what we give our children to eat and not talking seriously enough to our teenage sons and daughters about health and its proper place among individual and collective priorities.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Yoga for Kids
Some of the advantages of kids doing yoga are -
1. It keeps the kids fit
2. It makes them strong mentally.
3. Yoga from early stages can improve the memory, concentration, and creativity of the kids.
4. It distresses them
5. Improves confidence
With so many benefits, you should take your kids to the yoga classes. Start early to get the maximum benefit and better results.
* Kids can practice yoga in their day-to-day life.
* Yoga for kids may include various postures, movements, breathing practices
* It also includes meditation techniques like Kundalini yoga and Hatha yoga.
* It can be practiced in different times. Your kids may practice it in the lunchtime, after school or in the morning.
* Kids like yoga when it is combined with playing, songs, and movements. This is a better way to attract and keep them in the yoga classes.
* It’s a natural way for health of your kids
* It improves your kids mind and body
* It also helps in curing any problem that kids may have.
* Schools can introduce yoga in their curriculum. Many schools already have it in their courses.
* Check whether your kids’ school has it or not. Before you select a school for your kids, check out whether it has yoga or not. It is always better to go for a school with yoga for kids in their curriculum.
Courses –There are various courses of yoga for kids. You can go for these courses. These courses teach yoga practically. So, they are beneficial for you. Some specific courses are prepared for the kids. These courses are suitable for their mind and body.
Why you need a yoga for kids course?
1. Such a course teaches the correct postures and poses
2. The teachers know it, so learn from them
A few basic yoga postures that kids can try are –
1. Sun salutation- it is good for kids. It is easy to perform and the benefits are many. It helps to improve the physical capacity. It also builds stamina in the kids.
2. Omkar Chanting- This is a old and effective yoga practice. It is related to the mind. This practice increases the mental strength, concentration and memory of the kids. It also removes tiredness of the kids.
3. Yoga Nidra – This is a special posture. It is mainly effective for kids. It reduces stress and helps to refresh the mind. This is beneficial for the kids for their examinations and tests.
1. It keeps the kids fit
2. It makes them strong mentally.
3. Yoga from early stages can improve the memory, concentration, and creativity of the kids.
4. It distresses them
5. Improves confidence
With so many benefits, you should take your kids to the yoga classes. Start early to get the maximum benefit and better results.
* Kids can practice yoga in their day-to-day life.
* Yoga for kids may include various postures, movements, breathing practices
* It also includes meditation techniques like Kundalini yoga and Hatha yoga.
* It can be practiced in different times. Your kids may practice it in the lunchtime, after school or in the morning.
* Kids like yoga when it is combined with playing, songs, and movements. This is a better way to attract and keep them in the yoga classes.
* It’s a natural way for health of your kids
* It improves your kids mind and body
* It also helps in curing any problem that kids may have.
* Schools can introduce yoga in their curriculum. Many schools already have it in their courses.
* Check whether your kids’ school has it or not. Before you select a school for your kids, check out whether it has yoga or not. It is always better to go for a school with yoga for kids in their curriculum.
Courses –There are various courses of yoga for kids. You can go for these courses. These courses teach yoga practically. So, they are beneficial for you. Some specific courses are prepared for the kids. These courses are suitable for their mind and body.
Why you need a yoga for kids course?
1. Such a course teaches the correct postures and poses
2. The teachers know it, so learn from them
A few basic yoga postures that kids can try are –
1. Sun salutation- it is good for kids. It is easy to perform and the benefits are many. It helps to improve the physical capacity. It also builds stamina in the kids.
2. Omkar Chanting- This is a old and effective yoga practice. It is related to the mind. This practice increases the mental strength, concentration and memory of the kids. It also removes tiredness of the kids.
3. Yoga Nidra – This is a special posture. It is mainly effective for kids. It reduces stress and helps to refresh the mind. This is beneficial for the kids for their examinations and tests.
14 ways to get Rid of Child Snoring
In this article I am going to discuss the Changes that female body goes through during pregnancy.
Pregnancy brings lot many changes along with it in female body. During these 9 months many thing change for the pregnant women or say the mother. Your body will change externally and internally. It may cause some problem or discomfort to you, but as it leads a greater gift at the end, so you probably will not min these discomfort.
The changes during pregnancy can be divided into physical change and emotional changes.
Physical changes- Your body will change a lot during pregnancy. Your body parts like breasts, abdomen, skin etc will change a lot during pregnancy.
The changes occur during different time of the pregnancy period. As the pregnancy stage advances, the changes will vary in their features and degrees.
In the 1st Trimester (1-3 months) you will find Morning Sickness and Fatigue.
In the 2nd Trimester (4-6 months) you will experience Fetal Movement and Weight gain. You will better during this time. Tiredness will no be there.
In the 3rd Trimester (7-9 months) you will find Braxton-Hicks contractions and shortness of Breath. You may feel more tired. You will need more energy
If you month wise divide the changes during pregnancy then it would be
-
Month One
In the first month, you may not see many changes. The body is still to show the symptom. You may feel little nausea. Sometimes you may want to sleep more. In some cases, you may feel tenderness or tingling in your breasts. As the time passes by nausea may increase. It is generally felt in the morning or in the evening. Breasts may enlarge and may be tender at the end of the first month.
Month Two
Your weight will increase. Your breasts will become firm again. You may find a bump at the tip. Tired ness is more and likely to be there. Your hormone progesterone and estrogen levels will increase by many times. So, you may find mood swinging as a normal happening. You may feel very hungry at times and at times may feel that you do not want to eat anything.
Month Three
Your energy reduces fast. Your activities will drop and you will become tired soon. Heart beat may be more as the heart will work more and blood volume will be more.
Month Four
Pregnancy can be seen physically. Some other problem like skin problems, joint pain, running nose may arise. Abdominal pain may be there.
Month Five
Your blood circulation will increase many fold. Light headedness may be there. So be patients while moving. Move slowly.
Month Six
You will fin dark ring around you nipples. Breast will grow larger. Sometimes you may leak 'colostrum' from your nipples. Breasts start to get ready for lactation. Blood pressure may increase.
Month Seven
Your lungs, digestive tracts, and liver may be squeezed upward.
Month Eight
You may find back pain. Walking may be little problematic. Sleep may not be sound.
Month Nine
Breast may become heavier and you may find "Braxton Hicks" contractions.
Pregnancy brings lot many changes along with it in female body. During these 9 months many thing change for the pregnant women or say the mother. Your body will change externally and internally. It may cause some problem or discomfort to you, but as it leads a greater gift at the end, so you probably will not min these discomfort.
The changes during pregnancy can be divided into physical change and emotional changes.
Physical changes- Your body will change a lot during pregnancy. Your body parts like breasts, abdomen, skin etc will change a lot during pregnancy.
The changes occur during different time of the pregnancy period. As the pregnancy stage advances, the changes will vary in their features and degrees.
In the 1st Trimester (1-3 months) you will find Morning Sickness and Fatigue.
In the 2nd Trimester (4-6 months) you will experience Fetal Movement and Weight gain. You will better during this time. Tiredness will no be there.
In the 3rd Trimester (7-9 months) you will find Braxton-Hicks contractions and shortness of Breath. You may feel more tired. You will need more energy
If you month wise divide the changes during pregnancy then it would be
-
Month One
In the first month, you may not see many changes. The body is still to show the symptom. You may feel little nausea. Sometimes you may want to sleep more. In some cases, you may feel tenderness or tingling in your breasts. As the time passes by nausea may increase. It is generally felt in the morning or in the evening. Breasts may enlarge and may be tender at the end of the first month.
Month Two
Your weight will increase. Your breasts will become firm again. You may find a bump at the tip. Tired ness is more and likely to be there. Your hormone progesterone and estrogen levels will increase by many times. So, you may find mood swinging as a normal happening. You may feel very hungry at times and at times may feel that you do not want to eat anything.
Month Three
Your energy reduces fast. Your activities will drop and you will become tired soon. Heart beat may be more as the heart will work more and blood volume will be more.
Month Four
Pregnancy can be seen physically. Some other problem like skin problems, joint pain, running nose may arise. Abdominal pain may be there.
Month Five
Your blood circulation will increase many fold. Light headedness may be there. So be patients while moving. Move slowly.
Month Six
You will fin dark ring around you nipples. Breast will grow larger. Sometimes you may leak 'colostrum' from your nipples. Breasts start to get ready for lactation. Blood pressure may increase.
Month Seven
Your lungs, digestive tracts, and liver may be squeezed upward.
Month Eight
You may find back pain. Walking may be little problematic. Sleep may not be sound.
Month Nine
Breast may become heavier and you may find "Braxton Hicks" contractions.
Baby Colic
Bowel pains and the clenching of fists and tucking in of the legs are also common symptoms of baby colic. For first time parents this situation can be very distressful because they just don’t understand why this is happening and what they can do about it.
Understanding baby colic
If you are looking to understand baby colic then medical science will not be able to give you one solid definite answer explaining the causes. What exist are some theories that doctors have formulated analyzing the possible causes of baby folic. The theory that seems most probable is that baby folic is caused when the baby ingests air while being fed milk either from the mother or from a bottle. Gastrointestinal pains caused by the fast consumption of milk causes the baby to become colic. Another theory although possible but seems less probable is related to the consumption of the mother’s food. If the mother has an increased intake of gas producing foods then this is transferred to the baby via the breast milk. Yet another possible and probable theory is that of identifying the baby’s nervous system as immature. This renders it incapable of being able to process all the new stimulations forced onto it by life.
Managing colic babies
Regardless of the causes the parents are more interested in knowing how to handle their babies with colic. This is because they hate to see it crying and also because the constant crying can be a source of great stress for the entire house hold. Rest assured baby colic does not develop because of poor parenting and the problem usually disappears in the first three months of the baby’s life. But because the medical causes have not been identified there is no accurate cure for the problem as yet. There is however certain common sense suggestions which parents are bound to try by instinct.
Most parents will begin to rock their child in their arms or put them in a swing to rock them back and forth. This is a very natural way to put the baby to rest. You can even take your baby for a car ride because that often puts them to sleep. Carriage rides are also a good idea. You can also try using a pacifier or alternatively try and pacify the baby by giving him a nice hot bath.
If you can try and get the baby to burp without causing him too much trouble then that is the best. Medication like simethicone drops can also be used that can help relieve the baby from gas pains. Lastly the mother should be watchful of her diet because it just may be that there is some particular food that is causing this problem in the baby. These are but suggestions which parents can try out in combinations but the most important thing for parents is to be patient and hope for the best.
Understanding baby colic
If you are looking to understand baby colic then medical science will not be able to give you one solid definite answer explaining the causes. What exist are some theories that doctors have formulated analyzing the possible causes of baby folic. The theory that seems most probable is that baby folic is caused when the baby ingests air while being fed milk either from the mother or from a bottle. Gastrointestinal pains caused by the fast consumption of milk causes the baby to become colic. Another theory although possible but seems less probable is related to the consumption of the mother’s food. If the mother has an increased intake of gas producing foods then this is transferred to the baby via the breast milk. Yet another possible and probable theory is that of identifying the baby’s nervous system as immature. This renders it incapable of being able to process all the new stimulations forced onto it by life.
Managing colic babies
Regardless of the causes the parents are more interested in knowing how to handle their babies with colic. This is because they hate to see it crying and also because the constant crying can be a source of great stress for the entire house hold. Rest assured baby colic does not develop because of poor parenting and the problem usually disappears in the first three months of the baby’s life. But because the medical causes have not been identified there is no accurate cure for the problem as yet. There is however certain common sense suggestions which parents are bound to try by instinct.
Most parents will begin to rock their child in their arms or put them in a swing to rock them back and forth. This is a very natural way to put the baby to rest. You can even take your baby for a car ride because that often puts them to sleep. Carriage rides are also a good idea. You can also try using a pacifier or alternatively try and pacify the baby by giving him a nice hot bath.
If you can try and get the baby to burp without causing him too much trouble then that is the best. Medication like simethicone drops can also be used that can help relieve the baby from gas pains. Lastly the mother should be watchful of her diet because it just may be that there is some particular food that is causing this problem in the baby. These are but suggestions which parents can try out in combinations but the most important thing for parents is to be patient and hope for the best.
Treatment for Baby Colic
For a new mother this situation can be quite distressful and she is bound to become overwhelmed by the situation. In fact the entire house hold just doesn’t know what to do when something like this happens to a new born baby.
The condition known as baby colic happens in infants at the very early stages of its life. The good news is that it is a problem that disappears with age. It has been observed that in most cases the problem goes away when the baby passes the age of three months. The problem however is for the parents and how to pass those three months of intense crying, fist clenching and watching their baby suffer from gastrointestinal pain.
Parents desperately seek for ways to give their baby and themselves relief from this nerve testing situation. The problem is further heightened when parents discover that no medical causes have been determined for baby colic. Traditionally it was believed that colic is the result of the baby suffering from abdominal pain due to gases stuck in its digestive tract. With medical advancements being made this theory has gained credibility over time but it is still not determined to be the definite cause of the problem.
Irrespective of the causes of baby folic what the parents are more interested in is the cure. Much to their dismay there is no established medical treatment for the problem simply because there is no established cause. The suggestive approaches taken by medical experts vary greatly in terms of their methodology and effectiveness. The majority of the doctors are however of the opinion that the condition is not treatable and the best idea is to wait it out because the condition is likely to disappear in a few months time.
Some doctors prescribe the use of simethicone which are drops that can help treat the trapped gas. Again the effectiveness of this method has varied results. Yet other doctors have prescribed the use of dicyclomine which is an anti spasmodic drug. But your child is vulnerable to develop certain side effects because of the use of this medicine.
In other cases doctors have made use of herbal medicines that have digestive benefits. Even gripe water has been found to be effective in some cases. The truth of the matter is that there has not been any major medical study to establish the best known treatment for baby folic.
There are a number of other medicines that have been used in certain instances for treating the gas problem but most good doctors will warn you against using drugs that have not been scientifically proven to be safe. So what can parents do when there baby has folic? All they can do is be patient and stick with some traditional soothing measures for the time being!
The condition known as baby colic happens in infants at the very early stages of its life. The good news is that it is a problem that disappears with age. It has been observed that in most cases the problem goes away when the baby passes the age of three months. The problem however is for the parents and how to pass those three months of intense crying, fist clenching and watching their baby suffer from gastrointestinal pain.
Parents desperately seek for ways to give their baby and themselves relief from this nerve testing situation. The problem is further heightened when parents discover that no medical causes have been determined for baby colic. Traditionally it was believed that colic is the result of the baby suffering from abdominal pain due to gases stuck in its digestive tract. With medical advancements being made this theory has gained credibility over time but it is still not determined to be the definite cause of the problem.
Irrespective of the causes of baby folic what the parents are more interested in is the cure. Much to their dismay there is no established medical treatment for the problem simply because there is no established cause. The suggestive approaches taken by medical experts vary greatly in terms of their methodology and effectiveness. The majority of the doctors are however of the opinion that the condition is not treatable and the best idea is to wait it out because the condition is likely to disappear in a few months time.
Some doctors prescribe the use of simethicone which are drops that can help treat the trapped gas. Again the effectiveness of this method has varied results. Yet other doctors have prescribed the use of dicyclomine which is an anti spasmodic drug. But your child is vulnerable to develop certain side effects because of the use of this medicine.
In other cases doctors have made use of herbal medicines that have digestive benefits. Even gripe water has been found to be effective in some cases. The truth of the matter is that there has not been any major medical study to establish the best known treatment for baby folic.
There are a number of other medicines that have been used in certain instances for treating the gas problem but most good doctors will warn you against using drugs that have not been scientifically proven to be safe. So what can parents do when there baby has folic? All they can do is be patient and stick with some traditional soothing measures for the time being!
All You Need To Know About Caregivers
Many people have felt the need for a qualified caregiver at some point of time in our busy lives. Someone qualified and reliable would be an excellent solution to look after possibly a child, new mother or a patient, particularly when we are unable to take care of him or her personally. Hiring a caregiver can be beneficial in many ways. A trustworthy caregiver helps you to relax and focus on your work as your loved one is in safe hands.
There are different types of caregiver services depending on your needs and requirements. The following is the brief description of different caregiver services that can help you to understand better before choosing a service.
• Nanny
A nanny looks after your child or infant and assists with household chores. She or he will come to your home in order to take care of your child at the given point of time in a day or night. Sometimes that individual may overnight if required.
• Babysitter
Unlike a nanny a babysitter typically temporarily cares for your child in evenings, weekends, or for a short-term commitment. A babysitter is very helpful when you are stepping out for a few hours and you need someone to watch a sleeping child or to play games making them and you feel comfortable.
• Night nurse
A night nurse provides evening or overnight care services for newborns and occasionally seniors at your home. This person can either be a registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, certified nursing assistant, home health aide, or simply a care provider that does overnights.
• Senior caregiver
A senior caregiver simply takes care of the elderly who has special requirements and needs. This will include duties such as assisting the senior in his or her daily routine, driving to the hospital, taking care when they are sick etc. based on the terms agreed.
• Pet sitter
A pet sitter takes care of your pet with regular services like dog walking or on special circumstances like pet transportation or hospitalization. You can rely on a pet sitter even when you are on a vacation, where he or she can visit your pet at your home.
• Household assistant
A household assistant will help you in the daily household tasks when you have other priorities work to focus on. This can be a long-term or short-term service based on your requirement.
It is not easy to find a trustworthy caregiver as it is a big responsibility to dole out. It is very important to find a well-qualified and reliable caregiver who makes you feel relaxed and secure while you are busy with other priorities.
There are different types of caregiver services depending on your needs and requirements. The following is the brief description of different caregiver services that can help you to understand better before choosing a service.
• Nanny
A nanny looks after your child or infant and assists with household chores. She or he will come to your home in order to take care of your child at the given point of time in a day or night. Sometimes that individual may overnight if required.
• Babysitter
Unlike a nanny a babysitter typically temporarily cares for your child in evenings, weekends, or for a short-term commitment. A babysitter is very helpful when you are stepping out for a few hours and you need someone to watch a sleeping child or to play games making them and you feel comfortable.
• Night nurse
A night nurse provides evening or overnight care services for newborns and occasionally seniors at your home. This person can either be a registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, certified nursing assistant, home health aide, or simply a care provider that does overnights.
• Senior caregiver
A senior caregiver simply takes care of the elderly who has special requirements and needs. This will include duties such as assisting the senior in his or her daily routine, driving to the hospital, taking care when they are sick etc. based on the terms agreed.
• Pet sitter
A pet sitter takes care of your pet with regular services like dog walking or on special circumstances like pet transportation or hospitalization. You can rely on a pet sitter even when you are on a vacation, where he or she can visit your pet at your home.
• Household assistant
A household assistant will help you in the daily household tasks when you have other priorities work to focus on. This can be a long-term or short-term service based on your requirement.
It is not easy to find a trustworthy caregiver as it is a big responsibility to dole out. It is very important to find a well-qualified and reliable caregiver who makes you feel relaxed and secure while you are busy with other priorities.
Healthy Snacks for Pregnant Women
In order to gain the ideal amount of weight, doctors recommend that pregnant women consume about 300 extra calories a day—and those calories shouldn't ALWAYS be from cake and ice cream!
While indulging on craved delicacies during pregnancy is certainly okay every once in a while, pregnant women should try and get in the habit of eating healthy snacks every day, both the reduce the amount of weight gained over the nine month period, and to send that fetus the message that it's momma cares about health!
Here are some 300 calorie snacks to consider:
1. 1 medium apple and one cup of low fat or fat free non-flavored yogurt with a tablespoon of 100% fruit jam for flavor.
2. 1 cup of vanilla ice cream or fruit sorbet, topped with a teaspoon of chocolate sprinkles..
3. 1 hard boiled egg sliced on a piece of whole wheat toast. You can add a thin layer of low fat mayo.
4. Raw vegetables (celery, tomatoes, carrots, kohlrabi) dipped in ½ cup of homemade humus.
5. 1 banana and 1 tbsp of natural peanut butter and a small handful of raisins.
6. A small whole wheat tortilla with 1/3 cup of melted low fat cheese.
7. 6 cups of air popped popcorn sprinkled with ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
8. ½ cup of shredded or cubed chicken breast on top of a bed of salad greens (1 cup).
9. ½ cup of low fat cottage cheese with a ½ cup of fruit (apples, pears, melon, grapes).
10. Three 100-calorie pack snacks spread out throughout the day.
11. ¼ cup of almonds, ¼ cup of raisins, and a sprinkle of chocolate chips.
While indulging on craved delicacies during pregnancy is certainly okay every once in a while, pregnant women should try and get in the habit of eating healthy snacks every day, both the reduce the amount of weight gained over the nine month period, and to send that fetus the message that it's momma cares about health!
Here are some 300 calorie snacks to consider:
1. 1 medium apple and one cup of low fat or fat free non-flavored yogurt with a tablespoon of 100% fruit jam for flavor.
2. 1 cup of vanilla ice cream or fruit sorbet, topped with a teaspoon of chocolate sprinkles..
3. 1 hard boiled egg sliced on a piece of whole wheat toast. You can add a thin layer of low fat mayo.
4. Raw vegetables (celery, tomatoes, carrots, kohlrabi) dipped in ½ cup of homemade humus.
5. 1 banana and 1 tbsp of natural peanut butter and a small handful of raisins.
6. A small whole wheat tortilla with 1/3 cup of melted low fat cheese.
7. 6 cups of air popped popcorn sprinkled with ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
8. ½ cup of shredded or cubed chicken breast on top of a bed of salad greens (1 cup).
9. ½ cup of low fat cottage cheese with a ½ cup of fruit (apples, pears, melon, grapes).
10. Three 100-calorie pack snacks spread out throughout the day.
11. ¼ cup of almonds, ¼ cup of raisins, and a sprinkle of chocolate chips.
Simple Ways to Reduce Common Headache in Children
These days all kids get headaches, lots of them thanks to technology. Sometimes, parents make the mistake of not believing their child, reasoning they might be too young to get them or worse that they're trying to get out of school - but by some research estimates nearly 75% of children under the age of 15 will experience at least one severe headache.
Headaches are commonly assumed to be the domain of stressed out adults, but with many children who are loaded with eight hours of schooling, homework and extra curricular activities, iPods, cell phones, portable video games, TVs, laptops, headaches are actually quite common-place amongst the under 18 set.
One thing scientists are discovering is that the brain activity responsible for headaches is actually one of the most preventable forms of illness in children. Yes, this means that parents can actually play a dramatic and active role in helping to prevent their children from developing patterns that cause chronic headaches, including migraines, in their children.
Below is some of the research that has recently become available in being able to sharply reduce headaches in children:
Video Games
You don't need a brain surgeon to tell you that staring at a computer screen or television screen for hours at a time is not healthy for you, nor is it healthy for a developing mind. Sustained bursts of light and radiation can give anyone a headache. Studies are beginning to show that children who stare at computer screens and television monitors for at least 3 hours daily are five times more likely to develop severe headaches than children who have a more diversified lifestyle. The eyestrain is considerable and can definitely pave the way to chronic migraines as an adult, depending on the length of prolonged exposure to a television or computer terminal.
Solution:
LIMIT your child's playtime on the TV and computer-it can be that simple or that difficult. Engage with them outside in the sunshine or play a board game. Not only will limiting their exposure to the internet teach them to develop social skills, but their eyes will get a break, and hence, a reduction in headaches.
Sodas, Starbucks and Chocolate, Oh My...
The sad truth about children today is that their little bodies probably consume MORE caffeine proportionally than you as a parent do, today. Caffeine is a vicious drug and when not fed it can unleash the equivalent a never-ending jackhammer in the head. Soda, chocolate and coffee or teas can easily re-wire a child's brain to become chemically dependent on caffeine very quickly, like, in as a little as a week.
Solution:
If your child has been hitting the soda bottle for quite some time or really enjoys his Twix or M&M's, this might take some time and patience. You definitely need to explain to your child the consequences of food/beverages that have caffeine and what they will do to his/her brain (they will understand). Make a plan to begin gradually scaling back their exposure. You may need an analgesic like Tylenol or Advil to ease the first and second day headaches-but use them sparingly.
Forget the Butler, the iPod Did It.
Kids have so many handheld devices these days that all them in unison can easily give them a headache if used for a prolonged period of time. But the main culprit can be a MP3 player, especially if the volume is jacked up. Young ears are especially sensitive to most auditory vibrations and even mildly loud music is enough to do some significant damage to both the ear canals and parts of the brain, resulting in headaches and ear ringing. Not only can listening to sustained decibels of loud music irreversibly destroy a child's hearing, it can produce sensitivity that can easily trigger massive migraines for the rest of their adult lives.
Solution:
If your child complains of headaches often, ask them to abstain from listening to their MP3 player for one week and see the difference a week can make. Explain to them the how their volume setting is creating the headaches.
Is your Child allowed to be a Kid?
Children these days can have just as active a school and extracurricular life as their parents. And all of this stress may be eating away at your child. If your child is expected to be the scholar, the star athlete and the perfect sibling, you may be inviting an unhealthy amount of stress that can easily cause headaches on a daily basis for your child.
Solution:
Let your child be...a child. Carve out chunks of time for them to do anything they want, no matter how frivolous or goofy. Free, unstructured time is vital in this digital age where everyone is an email away from work. Protect your child from the stressors of adulthood. This can ease their burden significantly and let them unwind from the pressure of school and sports competitions. Everyone needs a healthy release.
Analgesics
Do you run to the medicine cabinet the minute your child gets a throbbing sensation in the head? Overuse of analgesics like Tylenol or Advil can actually make headaches worse if used for a prolonged period of time. The body adapts to the effects of the medicine and eventually the stress can overwhelm the effects of the medicine. And, you should NEVER administer more than the recommended dosage of medicine to a child.
Solution:
Break the addiction to painkillers. Teach your child some simple breathing and meditation techniques. Lying on a bed and taking ten deep breaths can go a long way to helping a headache. Teaching a child to be still and breathing can be more powerful in reducing stress than any prescriptive painkiller. In addition, placing a blind fold over the eyes can further help the child calm down to a point where the pain and any inflammation can be reduced in a short amount of time. If he or she has a sinus pressure headache, begin using a neti pot on a regular basis to clean out the internal sinus cavities, it can make a significant difference.
Headaches are commonly assumed to be the domain of stressed out adults, but with many children who are loaded with eight hours of schooling, homework and extra curricular activities, iPods, cell phones, portable video games, TVs, laptops, headaches are actually quite common-place amongst the under 18 set.
One thing scientists are discovering is that the brain activity responsible for headaches is actually one of the most preventable forms of illness in children. Yes, this means that parents can actually play a dramatic and active role in helping to prevent their children from developing patterns that cause chronic headaches, including migraines, in their children.
Below is some of the research that has recently become available in being able to sharply reduce headaches in children:
Video Games
You don't need a brain surgeon to tell you that staring at a computer screen or television screen for hours at a time is not healthy for you, nor is it healthy for a developing mind. Sustained bursts of light and radiation can give anyone a headache. Studies are beginning to show that children who stare at computer screens and television monitors for at least 3 hours daily are five times more likely to develop severe headaches than children who have a more diversified lifestyle. The eyestrain is considerable and can definitely pave the way to chronic migraines as an adult, depending on the length of prolonged exposure to a television or computer terminal.
Solution:
LIMIT your child's playtime on the TV and computer-it can be that simple or that difficult. Engage with them outside in the sunshine or play a board game. Not only will limiting their exposure to the internet teach them to develop social skills, but their eyes will get a break, and hence, a reduction in headaches.
Sodas, Starbucks and Chocolate, Oh My...
The sad truth about children today is that their little bodies probably consume MORE caffeine proportionally than you as a parent do, today. Caffeine is a vicious drug and when not fed it can unleash the equivalent a never-ending jackhammer in the head. Soda, chocolate and coffee or teas can easily re-wire a child's brain to become chemically dependent on caffeine very quickly, like, in as a little as a week.
Solution:
If your child has been hitting the soda bottle for quite some time or really enjoys his Twix or M&M's, this might take some time and patience. You definitely need to explain to your child the consequences of food/beverages that have caffeine and what they will do to his/her brain (they will understand). Make a plan to begin gradually scaling back their exposure. You may need an analgesic like Tylenol or Advil to ease the first and second day headaches-but use them sparingly.
Forget the Butler, the iPod Did It.
Kids have so many handheld devices these days that all them in unison can easily give them a headache if used for a prolonged period of time. But the main culprit can be a MP3 player, especially if the volume is jacked up. Young ears are especially sensitive to most auditory vibrations and even mildly loud music is enough to do some significant damage to both the ear canals and parts of the brain, resulting in headaches and ear ringing. Not only can listening to sustained decibels of loud music irreversibly destroy a child's hearing, it can produce sensitivity that can easily trigger massive migraines for the rest of their adult lives.
Solution:
If your child complains of headaches often, ask them to abstain from listening to their MP3 player for one week and see the difference a week can make. Explain to them the how their volume setting is creating the headaches.
Is your Child allowed to be a Kid?
Children these days can have just as active a school and extracurricular life as their parents. And all of this stress may be eating away at your child. If your child is expected to be the scholar, the star athlete and the perfect sibling, you may be inviting an unhealthy amount of stress that can easily cause headaches on a daily basis for your child.
Solution:
Let your child be...a child. Carve out chunks of time for them to do anything they want, no matter how frivolous or goofy. Free, unstructured time is vital in this digital age where everyone is an email away from work. Protect your child from the stressors of adulthood. This can ease their burden significantly and let them unwind from the pressure of school and sports competitions. Everyone needs a healthy release.
Analgesics
Do you run to the medicine cabinet the minute your child gets a throbbing sensation in the head? Overuse of analgesics like Tylenol or Advil can actually make headaches worse if used for a prolonged period of time. The body adapts to the effects of the medicine and eventually the stress can overwhelm the effects of the medicine. And, you should NEVER administer more than the recommended dosage of medicine to a child.
Solution:
Break the addiction to painkillers. Teach your child some simple breathing and meditation techniques. Lying on a bed and taking ten deep breaths can go a long way to helping a headache. Teaching a child to be still and breathing can be more powerful in reducing stress than any prescriptive painkiller. In addition, placing a blind fold over the eyes can further help the child calm down to a point where the pain and any inflammation can be reduced in a short amount of time. If he or she has a sinus pressure headache, begin using a neti pot on a regular basis to clean out the internal sinus cavities, it can make a significant difference.
Avoiding Childhood Constipation and Getting Things Moving
It’s never a fun time when your kids are having trouble pooping; in fact, for them, it can be really painful. You may have already had one or two issues with your kids experiencing some kind of blockage and are looking for ways to prevent it from happening again. Well, here are some helpful tips and information that can go a long way to making sure they stay regular and letting you keep your sanity.
How often should it be?
The cycle of pooping differs depending on the diet of the child. A child who has a consistent healthy diet of no junk food and mostly vegetables, fruits, whole grains and some meat proteins will usually poop once to twice a day. The ideal poop should resemble long slender strands of sausage or look like chicken nuggets.
However, if they don’t it doesn’t mean that they’re constipated. Constipation in a child results when s/he has not pooped in about 3 days or they are straining to poop and nothing comes out (that can usually be sooner than 3 days). The poop that is trapped in the rectum can begin to solidify making it even harder and more painful to pass. Children can even be pooping little pellet-sized poops and be constipated because the idea is to completely expel all fecal content from the body, not in small quantities.
What causes childhood constipation?
Physical Health Causes & Solutions
Let’s start with the obvious, and that is diet. Doctors and nutritionists are now discovering that as little as one “bad” meal a day can throw a child’s digestive system completely out of whack. What does “bad” mean anyway—here are some of the worst offenders:
Lack of Water. It’s that simple sometimes. Making sure your child gets enough water and not soda or sugary fruit juices can help keep the body stay constipation-free and make the stools soft and easy to pass.
Solution:
If your child is on a healthy diet with lots of fruits and veggies, chances are, they will get most of the water they need from the food. Bottled water with electrolytes can also help maintain hydration, especially if they eat fast food or have been ill.
Foods that are loaded with sodium/salt are at the top of the list and include all fast food and processed foods from boxes.
Solution:
Ban fast food and processed foods at your house, at first; scale back modestly until you can phase them out completely. These types of food do more harm to your child than just constipation. Increase fresh fruits, beans, nuts and vegetables to your child’s diet.
Foods with little to no fiber, including ice cream, pizza, chips, kid cereals and fries.
Solution: Look for little ways to sneak in fiber rich food; mix in fruit with your dessert—whole fruit, not juice, has lots of fiber. Use recipes for goodies that include incorporating vegetable puree as an ingredient. There are some online cookie and brownie recipes that call for carrot, cauliflower or broccoli purees. Get creative, make Friday night veggie bean chili with fresh cornbread instead of pizza; and you can always add a cup of mixed frozen vegetables to mac-and-cheese.
Cut back on high protein diets full of saturated fats like beef, milk, cheese and to some extent chicken.
Solution: Beans, nuts, fish and soy based foods made to look and taste like hamburgers and chicken fingers are also loaded with protein but have more fiber, especially beans which are also heart healthy.
Lack of exercise coupled with a poor diet can give your child the express ticket to constipation.
Solution:
Exercise is good for the digestive process and promotes stool regularity. Turning off the video game system and taking a twenty-minute walk around the neighborhood with your kids can go a long way to keeping them regular while also teaching them healthy exercise habits.
Mental Health Causes & Solutions
Kids can develop some pretty awful hang-ups about poop. They can develop fears about doing it in public restrooms or have been constipated once and carry that lingering unpleasant association into all future pooping efforts. This kind of stigma can make them poop-avoidant and thus lead them down the road to constipation. Here are some common problems and solutions:
Embarrassed to use public toilets. Who taught your child to fear using a public toilet? It may have been you, and it may be why they are holding their poop inside giving them constipation. You, the parent, are the most powerful voice on earth to them, whatever you say…they believe.
Solution:
Vocalize how important it is to for them to poop whenever they feel they need to and that it’s perfectly natural. If you have public toilet issues, teach them some basic steps for hygiene, like building a ring of toilet paper on the toilet seat before pooping, and washing their hands with soap and water after finishing. Giving them a travel pack of wet wipes to use might also signify to them that it’s OK to use a public toilet.
Doesn’t like going in general. Sometimes children for a variety of reasons do not like going. That’s when you need to have a discussion with them—is it psychological, physical or both.
Solution:
If it’s psychological, try to have fun with the discussion. Explain to them everybody poops, even the furry cute little animals and birds do it. Tell them it’s part of being healthy and happy and that there’s nothing wrong with it. Encourage them to talk about the issue whenever they need to and that it’s perfectly welcomed.
When it’s Chronic
Even after doing everything “right” your child may still have “poop” issues. Here are some remedies that can help unblock the problem. Chronic constipation is usually defined as your child having at least two to three bouts with constipation in a two-week period.
Relieve the painful pressure and straining: If a child has been straining and it hurts, try a hot bath (as hot as they can handle). The heat will release the muscles in the sphincter and relieve the terrible pain and discomfort, instantly. Creams with hydrocortisone can also help with the burning and throbbing after a painful expulsion.
Try Natural Laxatives and Softeners:
Senna Leaf Powder is natural and a powerful laxative that can help cleanse the system. Making a tea and adding some honey can make it more palatable. Even allowing the child to simply smell the brew can be enough to make them go. Olive oil and olives are also natural stool softeners.
Any kind of laxative should only be used as an interim measure and not be used as a routine method for defecation.
Visiting your Pediatrician:
If your child suffers from chronic constipation, it’s always best to include your pediatrician in the equation. There might be something else that is underlying the issue that a trained medical professional can detect. In addition, chronic constipation may also require medicine or advanced treatments that should only be performed under the supervision of doctor.
How often should it be?
The cycle of pooping differs depending on the diet of the child. A child who has a consistent healthy diet of no junk food and mostly vegetables, fruits, whole grains and some meat proteins will usually poop once to twice a day. The ideal poop should resemble long slender strands of sausage or look like chicken nuggets.
However, if they don’t it doesn’t mean that they’re constipated. Constipation in a child results when s/he has not pooped in about 3 days or they are straining to poop and nothing comes out (that can usually be sooner than 3 days). The poop that is trapped in the rectum can begin to solidify making it even harder and more painful to pass. Children can even be pooping little pellet-sized poops and be constipated because the idea is to completely expel all fecal content from the body, not in small quantities.
What causes childhood constipation?
Physical Health Causes & Solutions
Let’s start with the obvious, and that is diet. Doctors and nutritionists are now discovering that as little as one “bad” meal a day can throw a child’s digestive system completely out of whack. What does “bad” mean anyway—here are some of the worst offenders:
Lack of Water. It’s that simple sometimes. Making sure your child gets enough water and not soda or sugary fruit juices can help keep the body stay constipation-free and make the stools soft and easy to pass.
Solution:
If your child is on a healthy diet with lots of fruits and veggies, chances are, they will get most of the water they need from the food. Bottled water with electrolytes can also help maintain hydration, especially if they eat fast food or have been ill.
Foods that are loaded with sodium/salt are at the top of the list and include all fast food and processed foods from boxes.
Solution:
Ban fast food and processed foods at your house, at first; scale back modestly until you can phase them out completely. These types of food do more harm to your child than just constipation. Increase fresh fruits, beans, nuts and vegetables to your child’s diet.
Foods with little to no fiber, including ice cream, pizza, chips, kid cereals and fries.
Solution: Look for little ways to sneak in fiber rich food; mix in fruit with your dessert—whole fruit, not juice, has lots of fiber. Use recipes for goodies that include incorporating vegetable puree as an ingredient. There are some online cookie and brownie recipes that call for carrot, cauliflower or broccoli purees. Get creative, make Friday night veggie bean chili with fresh cornbread instead of pizza; and you can always add a cup of mixed frozen vegetables to mac-and-cheese.
Cut back on high protein diets full of saturated fats like beef, milk, cheese and to some extent chicken.
Solution: Beans, nuts, fish and soy based foods made to look and taste like hamburgers and chicken fingers are also loaded with protein but have more fiber, especially beans which are also heart healthy.
Lack of exercise coupled with a poor diet can give your child the express ticket to constipation.
Solution:
Exercise is good for the digestive process and promotes stool regularity. Turning off the video game system and taking a twenty-minute walk around the neighborhood with your kids can go a long way to keeping them regular while also teaching them healthy exercise habits.
Mental Health Causes & Solutions
Kids can develop some pretty awful hang-ups about poop. They can develop fears about doing it in public restrooms or have been constipated once and carry that lingering unpleasant association into all future pooping efforts. This kind of stigma can make them poop-avoidant and thus lead them down the road to constipation. Here are some common problems and solutions:
Embarrassed to use public toilets. Who taught your child to fear using a public toilet? It may have been you, and it may be why they are holding their poop inside giving them constipation. You, the parent, are the most powerful voice on earth to them, whatever you say…they believe.
Solution:
Vocalize how important it is to for them to poop whenever they feel they need to and that it’s perfectly natural. If you have public toilet issues, teach them some basic steps for hygiene, like building a ring of toilet paper on the toilet seat before pooping, and washing their hands with soap and water after finishing. Giving them a travel pack of wet wipes to use might also signify to them that it’s OK to use a public toilet.
Doesn’t like going in general. Sometimes children for a variety of reasons do not like going. That’s when you need to have a discussion with them—is it psychological, physical or both.
Solution:
If it’s psychological, try to have fun with the discussion. Explain to them everybody poops, even the furry cute little animals and birds do it. Tell them it’s part of being healthy and happy and that there’s nothing wrong with it. Encourage them to talk about the issue whenever they need to and that it’s perfectly welcomed.
When it’s Chronic
Even after doing everything “right” your child may still have “poop” issues. Here are some remedies that can help unblock the problem. Chronic constipation is usually defined as your child having at least two to three bouts with constipation in a two-week period.
Relieve the painful pressure and straining: If a child has been straining and it hurts, try a hot bath (as hot as they can handle). The heat will release the muscles in the sphincter and relieve the terrible pain and discomfort, instantly. Creams with hydrocortisone can also help with the burning and throbbing after a painful expulsion.
Try Natural Laxatives and Softeners:
Senna Leaf Powder is natural and a powerful laxative that can help cleanse the system. Making a tea and adding some honey can make it more palatable. Even allowing the child to simply smell the brew can be enough to make them go. Olive oil and olives are also natural stool softeners.
Any kind of laxative should only be used as an interim measure and not be used as a routine method for defecation.
Visiting your Pediatrician:
If your child suffers from chronic constipation, it’s always best to include your pediatrician in the equation. There might be something else that is underlying the issue that a trained medical professional can detect. In addition, chronic constipation may also require medicine or advanced treatments that should only be performed under the supervision of doctor.
The Nasty Truth About Asthma and Children
Make no mistake about it, asthma is a nasty illness that can affect not only the life of the child who has it, but everyone who lives with the child as well. And it’s a growing epidemic, too! According to the Centers for Disease Control nearly 7 million children in the US have it and it has jumped to the third leading cause for hospitalization of children in the US.
Asthma is an inflammation of tube like structures in the lungs called bronchial airways that supply oxygen to the lungs. When the inflammation occurs it can be so severe that it constricts the bronchial tubes tightly, preventing any air from reaching the lungs. In a severe asthma attack, suffocation can occur, followed by death. It’s like being choked to death from the inside.
Asthma is a chronic condition, which means once you develop it you will have it for life, but its intensity and frequency can be managed.
There are multiple theories on how a child develops asthma ranging from early childhood bronchial infections, to viruses, to allergies to pollutants like smog or cigarette smoke. All of them, in fact, may be contributing factors. Some research also suggests that premature babies born early with immature lung capacity may also be at risk for developing chronic forms of asthma.
So what can be done?
Fortunately, there’s a lot that can be done to manage asthma and even prevent attacks from occurring over long periods of time.
A Pediatrician is Essential
There’s more to asthma than just buying an inhaler at the drug store. They are overused and parents tend to think of them as magic wands—this is a mistake. Treat asthma like you would if your child has diabetes. You need a pediatrician to be your partner; all it takes is one bad asthma attack to put your child in the hospital.
Know what triggers Asthma
Allergies and exercise are the most common reasons a child has an asthma attack. Specifically, knowing what can trigger your child’s asthma can help you prevent it. Getting tested by a pediatrician is essential to helping you figure out this process and also knowing how to use an inhaler/medication to treat an attack when it occurs.
If you smoke, now more than even may be the perfect time to quit. Second hand smoke or even the mere hint of tobacco (like in a smoker’s car) can trigger a nasty attack. As a medical matter, begin to eliminate your child’s exposure to it. Communicate to any smokers that your child cannot be exposed to it under any circumstances.
Time To Go Green
Did you know that the hundreds of household chemicals in our cleaning products and cosmetics are capable of triggering an asthma attack? This also includes perfume and cologne, which can be especially lethal. Going green is a great way to protect your child. Start cleaning with natural citrus and vinegar based products, and using unscented, hypoallergenic, dye and perfume free detergents, and natural-based ingredients for toiletries & make-up.
Asthma Loves Sickness
If your child is prone to colds, the flu, sore throats, the sniffles or other lung related maladies like pneumonia or bronchitis this can be a fertile ground for your child to develop chronic asthma. The coughing and straining can irritate and inflame the lungs and airways, causing an attack. Be vigilant about these particular illnesses and work with your pediatrician to have a plan that addresses the risk factor to developing chronic asthma.
Think Yoga not Cardio
Exercise is vital for the well being of a child, but exercise can also trigger a violent attack. Yoga can be an excellent alternative as it’s a powerful method for training the body to use breathing as a way to calm the body down and in addition it strengthens and tones the muscles and bones. Many people with asthma have attributed their yoga practice to increasing the time and intensity of attacks.
Asthma is an inflammation of tube like structures in the lungs called bronchial airways that supply oxygen to the lungs. When the inflammation occurs it can be so severe that it constricts the bronchial tubes tightly, preventing any air from reaching the lungs. In a severe asthma attack, suffocation can occur, followed by death. It’s like being choked to death from the inside.
Asthma is a chronic condition, which means once you develop it you will have it for life, but its intensity and frequency can be managed.
There are multiple theories on how a child develops asthma ranging from early childhood bronchial infections, to viruses, to allergies to pollutants like smog or cigarette smoke. All of them, in fact, may be contributing factors. Some research also suggests that premature babies born early with immature lung capacity may also be at risk for developing chronic forms of asthma.
So what can be done?
Fortunately, there’s a lot that can be done to manage asthma and even prevent attacks from occurring over long periods of time.
A Pediatrician is Essential
There’s more to asthma than just buying an inhaler at the drug store. They are overused and parents tend to think of them as magic wands—this is a mistake. Treat asthma like you would if your child has diabetes. You need a pediatrician to be your partner; all it takes is one bad asthma attack to put your child in the hospital.
Know what triggers Asthma
Allergies and exercise are the most common reasons a child has an asthma attack. Specifically, knowing what can trigger your child’s asthma can help you prevent it. Getting tested by a pediatrician is essential to helping you figure out this process and also knowing how to use an inhaler/medication to treat an attack when it occurs.
If you smoke, now more than even may be the perfect time to quit. Second hand smoke or even the mere hint of tobacco (like in a smoker’s car) can trigger a nasty attack. As a medical matter, begin to eliminate your child’s exposure to it. Communicate to any smokers that your child cannot be exposed to it under any circumstances.
Time To Go Green
Did you know that the hundreds of household chemicals in our cleaning products and cosmetics are capable of triggering an asthma attack? This also includes perfume and cologne, which can be especially lethal. Going green is a great way to protect your child. Start cleaning with natural citrus and vinegar based products, and using unscented, hypoallergenic, dye and perfume free detergents, and natural-based ingredients for toiletries & make-up.
Asthma Loves Sickness
If your child is prone to colds, the flu, sore throats, the sniffles or other lung related maladies like pneumonia or bronchitis this can be a fertile ground for your child to develop chronic asthma. The coughing and straining can irritate and inflame the lungs and airways, causing an attack. Be vigilant about these particular illnesses and work with your pediatrician to have a plan that addresses the risk factor to developing chronic asthma.
Think Yoga not Cardio
Exercise is vital for the well being of a child, but exercise can also trigger a violent attack. Yoga can be an excellent alternative as it’s a powerful method for training the body to use breathing as a way to calm the body down and in addition it strengthens and tones the muscles and bones. Many people with asthma have attributed their yoga practice to increasing the time and intensity of attacks.
Study: 1 in 5 Kids has High Cholesterol
Throughout the developed world, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. While many things contribute to cardiovascular illness, doctors say that high cholesterol is one of the leading factors, and it’s what makes many cardiovascular problems so serious and potentially deadly.
Up until the last decade or so, high cholesterol has been thought of primarily as an adult problem. Its negative effects tend to affect people over 40, and people who are younger rarely have to worry about it. However, a series of recent studies is casting new light on this issue.
One particular study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. found that high cholesterol is becoming increasingly prevalent in children, particularly in those who have obesity or who do not exercise enough. That’s why many health experts are beginning to recommend that kids as young as 2 years of age may, under certain circumstances, need to be screened for high cholesterol.
Cholesterol Definition
Before we look more closely at which kids need screening and how high cholesterol can be dealt with, let’s get the definitions out of the way.
First of all, cholesterol is a fatty substance that most animals naturally produce in the liver. As humans, we produce it naturally, but the problems really begin when we consume excess cholesterol in the form of animal products such as meat, eggs, and dairy.
A little bit of cholesterol is healthy. It strengthens our cell walls, and it’s needed for the production of hormones, digestive acids, and various vitamins. However, the amount of cholesterol that is needed for these functions is minimal, particularly when compared to the amount that most people consume.
In any case, there are only certain types of cholesterol that are healthy. Most significantly, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as “good cholesterol,” is mostly beneficial, while low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is mostly harmful. HDL helps to clear out LDL while also decreasing your chances of heart disease. LDL does the exact opposite.
When there is too much LDL in a person’s body, it begins to collect inside of the arteries, restricting the amount of blood that can flow back to the heart. Eventually, the arteries start to harden, having dangerous effects on the heart’s functioning.
The end result of LDL build-up going unchecked is a heart attack, and we all know how serious those can be.
What makes cholesterol high?
There are a variety of factors that contribute to whether you have low or high cholesterol, including:
* Weight: Overweight people tend to have higher levels of bad cholesterol, as overeating and cholesterol usually go hand in hand.
* Age: As we get older, we gather more LDL in our arteries, and we start to have more difficulty getting rid of it.
* Exercise: Exercising speeds up the metabolism and helps to clear out bad cholesterol more efficiently.
* Gender: Men typically have more cholesterol than women. Pre-menopausal woman are usually pretty safe from cholesterol problems, but this reverses post-menopause.
* Genes: Heredity can play a very significant role in governing your susceptibility to high cholesterol.
* Smoking: Smoking reduces the good cholesterol in your body.
Who needs to be tested, and what can be done?
With all these factors in mind, it’s clear which kids need to be tested for high cholesterol. There are three main groups:
1. kids who are overweight;
2. kids who don’t exercise enough;
3. kids who have a family history of cholesterol problems.
Due to factors 2 and 3, there have been many cases of normal-sized, even underweight, kids with high cholesterol. So wherever there is family history, parents cannot be too careful.
To reduce these problems, there are some simple solutions. Children of all ages need at least 60 minutes of sustained exercise per day. It’s also important that they have no more than 2 servings of meat every day, plus only limited amounts of dairy and eggs. Vegetables can play a huge role in reducing cholesterol, so make sure your child gets his or her greens.
When, due to genetic disposition, kids have high cholesterol in spite of all of their parents’ best efforts, consider talking to your doctor about anti-cholesterol medications. The downside? Once children begin with these medications, they basically have to take them for life.
Up until the last decade or so, high cholesterol has been thought of primarily as an adult problem. Its negative effects tend to affect people over 40, and people who are younger rarely have to worry about it. However, a series of recent studies is casting new light on this issue.
One particular study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. found that high cholesterol is becoming increasingly prevalent in children, particularly in those who have obesity or who do not exercise enough. That’s why many health experts are beginning to recommend that kids as young as 2 years of age may, under certain circumstances, need to be screened for high cholesterol.
Cholesterol Definition
Before we look more closely at which kids need screening and how high cholesterol can be dealt with, let’s get the definitions out of the way.
First of all, cholesterol is a fatty substance that most animals naturally produce in the liver. As humans, we produce it naturally, but the problems really begin when we consume excess cholesterol in the form of animal products such as meat, eggs, and dairy.
A little bit of cholesterol is healthy. It strengthens our cell walls, and it’s needed for the production of hormones, digestive acids, and various vitamins. However, the amount of cholesterol that is needed for these functions is minimal, particularly when compared to the amount that most people consume.
In any case, there are only certain types of cholesterol that are healthy. Most significantly, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as “good cholesterol,” is mostly beneficial, while low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is mostly harmful. HDL helps to clear out LDL while also decreasing your chances of heart disease. LDL does the exact opposite.
When there is too much LDL in a person’s body, it begins to collect inside of the arteries, restricting the amount of blood that can flow back to the heart. Eventually, the arteries start to harden, having dangerous effects on the heart’s functioning.
The end result of LDL build-up going unchecked is a heart attack, and we all know how serious those can be.
What makes cholesterol high?
There are a variety of factors that contribute to whether you have low or high cholesterol, including:
* Weight: Overweight people tend to have higher levels of bad cholesterol, as overeating and cholesterol usually go hand in hand.
* Age: As we get older, we gather more LDL in our arteries, and we start to have more difficulty getting rid of it.
* Exercise: Exercising speeds up the metabolism and helps to clear out bad cholesterol more efficiently.
* Gender: Men typically have more cholesterol than women. Pre-menopausal woman are usually pretty safe from cholesterol problems, but this reverses post-menopause.
* Genes: Heredity can play a very significant role in governing your susceptibility to high cholesterol.
* Smoking: Smoking reduces the good cholesterol in your body.
Who needs to be tested, and what can be done?
With all these factors in mind, it’s clear which kids need to be tested for high cholesterol. There are three main groups:
1. kids who are overweight;
2. kids who don’t exercise enough;
3. kids who have a family history of cholesterol problems.
Due to factors 2 and 3, there have been many cases of normal-sized, even underweight, kids with high cholesterol. So wherever there is family history, parents cannot be too careful.
To reduce these problems, there are some simple solutions. Children of all ages need at least 60 minutes of sustained exercise per day. It’s also important that they have no more than 2 servings of meat every day, plus only limited amounts of dairy and eggs. Vegetables can play a huge role in reducing cholesterol, so make sure your child gets his or her greens.
When, due to genetic disposition, kids have high cholesterol in spite of all of their parents’ best efforts, consider talking to your doctor about anti-cholesterol medications. The downside? Once children begin with these medications, they basically have to take them for life.
Understanding Disruptive Behavior Disorders in Children
Kids experience some of the same mental health disorders of adults, such as mood and anxiety disorders. These may even become precursors of future mental illnesses. And because they are constantly changing and developing, children have a limited sense to discriminate or to describe what they are experiencing. For an instance, a certain level of oppositional behavior is common in children, and is almost expected at 2-3 years of age—to assert their autonomy. Read on to see the differences between two similar childhood disorders.
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is characterized by an enduring pattern of uncooperative, disobedient, explosive angry outbursts, and hostile behavior towards authority figures for at least 6 months. ODD kids are diagnosed only when it interferes a child’s inability to function in social, academic, or work situations—and occurs more frequently than that can be observed in children of similar age and developmental level. It cannot be a result of other more serious disorders. Some literature says it is more common in preschool children, and results to conflicts with adults and even maintaining friendship. 20% percent of cases will develop conduct disorder.
Conduct disorder is different since it is more serious. It consists of a persistent antisocial behavior that significantly impairs their ability to function at school, home, or the community. Children with conduct disorders show little empathy for others, lacks remorse or guilt feelings, and low self-esteem. They are characteristically irritable, have low frustration tolerance, and have frequent temper outbursts. To be diagnosed with childhood-onset conduct disorder, a child must show at least one of these 4 major criterion: aggression to people and animals, cause destruction of property, involved in theft, and a major offender. These symptoms must be observed before the age of 10. Otherwise, it can be categorized as adolescent-onset. As many as 30-50% of them are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder as adults.
Management for disruptive behaviors are geared to ward’s the child’s developmental age. Early intervention is even more effective. The treatment approach would commence with a comprehensive evaluation. A combination of methods would be most effective.
Medications must be used in conjunction with treatment for specific symptoms. At the same time, pre-schooler’s parents are educated about normal patterns of growth and development and to teach them support during crises stages. At school age, family therapy, social skills training to improve peer relationships, and attempts to improve academic performance and ability to comply with demands from authority figures. In problems like decreasing violence it is important to do limit setting: state an expected behavior, place a limit on that behavior, and inform the child of the consequences of exceeding the limit for the behavior. For example, if the child is angry, tell him that he can talk to another person about those feelings. It is improper to hit people. If he does, state a consequence such as restriction to watch television for a specific period of time. Expected outcomes may be gradual, and there will be a few setbacks before the child stops being aggressive. The key is consistency in your approach.
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is characterized by an enduring pattern of uncooperative, disobedient, explosive angry outbursts, and hostile behavior towards authority figures for at least 6 months. ODD kids are diagnosed only when it interferes a child’s inability to function in social, academic, or work situations—and occurs more frequently than that can be observed in children of similar age and developmental level. It cannot be a result of other more serious disorders. Some literature says it is more common in preschool children, and results to conflicts with adults and even maintaining friendship. 20% percent of cases will develop conduct disorder.
Conduct disorder is different since it is more serious. It consists of a persistent antisocial behavior that significantly impairs their ability to function at school, home, or the community. Children with conduct disorders show little empathy for others, lacks remorse or guilt feelings, and low self-esteem. They are characteristically irritable, have low frustration tolerance, and have frequent temper outbursts. To be diagnosed with childhood-onset conduct disorder, a child must show at least one of these 4 major criterion: aggression to people and animals, cause destruction of property, involved in theft, and a major offender. These symptoms must be observed before the age of 10. Otherwise, it can be categorized as adolescent-onset. As many as 30-50% of them are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder as adults.
Management for disruptive behaviors are geared to ward’s the child’s developmental age. Early intervention is even more effective. The treatment approach would commence with a comprehensive evaluation. A combination of methods would be most effective.
Medications must be used in conjunction with treatment for specific symptoms. At the same time, pre-schooler’s parents are educated about normal patterns of growth and development and to teach them support during crises stages. At school age, family therapy, social skills training to improve peer relationships, and attempts to improve academic performance and ability to comply with demands from authority figures. In problems like decreasing violence it is important to do limit setting: state an expected behavior, place a limit on that behavior, and inform the child of the consequences of exceeding the limit for the behavior. For example, if the child is angry, tell him that he can talk to another person about those feelings. It is improper to hit people. If he does, state a consequence such as restriction to watch television for a specific period of time. Expected outcomes may be gradual, and there will be a few setbacks before the child stops being aggressive. The key is consistency in your approach.
Weight Loss Methods For Children
It’s true. Obesity in children is rising in numbers. And it’s very likely that the era of television and computer games have greatly contributed to the increased generation of fat kids. Everyone knows that an overweight child may face problems far worse than an adolescent would, especially with normal weight peers. And eventually they will encounter higher rates of health consequences, such as heart disease and cancer later in life that could lower their life expectancy. While adults may seem overzealous about trying to lose weight, kids don’t necessarily have to follow methods intended for grown-ups. There are a number of weight-control guidelines that are specifically targeted for children—ways to empower families to join the battle against the bulge.
It’s always best to begin early. The well-being of a child begins as early as conception. Women who are pregnant are advised to maintain a healthy weight gain. Breast milk is considered to be the ideal form of infant nutrition. Some studies show that breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of pediatric overweight than formula-feeding. One of the reasons is that formula-fed infants have increased insulin concentration in their blood which stimulate more deposition of fat tissue(1).
Parents and older siblings can teach kids to make healthy choices. For example, encourage children to eat pizza with vegetable toppings instead of meat toppings, or consume whole grain bun over white bread, or get pasta instead of French fries. Try going an extra mile by using corn oil, or olive oil when frying. But don’t become too obsessed—some parents put their children too early on a low-fat diet. Children under two years actually need some amount of fat in their diet for the development of the nervous system. Once they reach over the age of two years, encourage them to drink low-fat milk. Experts say that consuming a liter of milk a day is getting a large amount of saturated fat. Saturated fats contain saturated fatty acids which is directly associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The protein content in the milk is still the same. So there is nothing to worry about inadequate nutrients needed for growth.
Lastly, set a good example. Don’t just tell them what to do, show them the same healthy habits. Kick the kids out of the house. Take them to exercise on a regular basis. Exercise doesn’t always have to be a structured program. Encourage them to play—outdoors. Biking, running and even walking can burn off calories and excess weight. It may also increase metabolism for as long as 18 hours after working out. Kid’s TV/computer time should also be limited. The least thing that we would allow our children is to live a sedentary lifestyle.
It’s always best to begin early. The well-being of a child begins as early as conception. Women who are pregnant are advised to maintain a healthy weight gain. Breast milk is considered to be the ideal form of infant nutrition. Some studies show that breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of pediatric overweight than formula-feeding. One of the reasons is that formula-fed infants have increased insulin concentration in their blood which stimulate more deposition of fat tissue(1).
Parents and older siblings can teach kids to make healthy choices. For example, encourage children to eat pizza with vegetable toppings instead of meat toppings, or consume whole grain bun over white bread, or get pasta instead of French fries. Try going an extra mile by using corn oil, or olive oil when frying. But don’t become too obsessed—some parents put their children too early on a low-fat diet. Children under two years actually need some amount of fat in their diet for the development of the nervous system. Once they reach over the age of two years, encourage them to drink low-fat milk. Experts say that consuming a liter of milk a day is getting a large amount of saturated fat. Saturated fats contain saturated fatty acids which is directly associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The protein content in the milk is still the same. So there is nothing to worry about inadequate nutrients needed for growth.
Lastly, set a good example. Don’t just tell them what to do, show them the same healthy habits. Kick the kids out of the house. Take them to exercise on a regular basis. Exercise doesn’t always have to be a structured program. Encourage them to play—outdoors. Biking, running and even walking can burn off calories and excess weight. It may also increase metabolism for as long as 18 hours after working out. Kid’s TV/computer time should also be limited. The least thing that we would allow our children is to live a sedentary lifestyle.
Helping a Child Cope With a Difficult Event
In this day and age, it’s becoming harder and harder to shield our children from the harsh realities of the world. Even if we manage to protect them from the dark side of the internet and bad events on the news, they’re still liable to hear about things at school or from their friends. In the end, as hard as we try to keep them protected, there’s just no getting around it. The untroubled innocence of childhood cannot last.
Disturbing news events are one thing. But when a traumatic event happens to a child or one of his or her family members, it becomes even more difficult to shield that child from the truth. Fortunately, many children tend to be resilient, but this is by no means always true. For example, one young child may respond to a death in the extended family as if it’s no big deal, while another may be deeply disturbed by the specter of death.
The key to helping children through these times is to take a balanced approach. We have to accept that there are only so many things we can do to protect our children from reality. And in the end, as they grow older it no longer makes sense to protect them. In order to grow into functioning members of society, young people have to acquire a familiarity with how the world works—and that includes all the bad things along with the good.
Until your child is ready to cope with difficult events, you might want to keep these techniques in mind:
1.Set a good example: Children learn by imitation. If you put up a calm and caring exterior, your child is likely to follow suit.
2.Keep things stable: As much as possible, try to provide your child with a very stable home environment. Kids are reassured by routine and familiarity, so try to give them these things as much as you can.
3.Keep communication open: Children are sometimes reluctant to talk about things, but this is an important aspect of their growth. If possible, try to encourage your children to talk about their feelings.
4.Don’t try to have all the answers: There are some things in the world that just can’t be explained, and this is especially true when it comes to things like natural disasters and the actions of bad people. If you can’t explain something, don’t be afraid to tell your child that there is no good reason why that event occurred.
5.Consider outside help: If your child can’t seem to get over the event, it may be that he or she has Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In this case, the child should be brought to a mental health professional as soon as possible.
Disturbing news events are one thing. But when a traumatic event happens to a child or one of his or her family members, it becomes even more difficult to shield that child from the truth. Fortunately, many children tend to be resilient, but this is by no means always true. For example, one young child may respond to a death in the extended family as if it’s no big deal, while another may be deeply disturbed by the specter of death.
The key to helping children through these times is to take a balanced approach. We have to accept that there are only so many things we can do to protect our children from reality. And in the end, as they grow older it no longer makes sense to protect them. In order to grow into functioning members of society, young people have to acquire a familiarity with how the world works—and that includes all the bad things along with the good.
Until your child is ready to cope with difficult events, you might want to keep these techniques in mind:
1.Set a good example: Children learn by imitation. If you put up a calm and caring exterior, your child is likely to follow suit.
2.Keep things stable: As much as possible, try to provide your child with a very stable home environment. Kids are reassured by routine and familiarity, so try to give them these things as much as you can.
3.Keep communication open: Children are sometimes reluctant to talk about things, but this is an important aspect of their growth. If possible, try to encourage your children to talk about their feelings.
4.Don’t try to have all the answers: There are some things in the world that just can’t be explained, and this is especially true when it comes to things like natural disasters and the actions of bad people. If you can’t explain something, don’t be afraid to tell your child that there is no good reason why that event occurred.
5.Consider outside help: If your child can’t seem to get over the event, it may be that he or she has Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In this case, the child should be brought to a mental health professional as soon as possible.
How to Make Kids Eat Vegetables
As parents, we try to give our kids healthy diets, but unfortunately this is not always as easy as it should be. Kids like their sweets, and they don’t have much patience for foods that, while being healthy, may not taste so great. You can even try to explain to them why they should eat certain things, but they’re not likely to listen to reason. As adults, we’re capable of making smart decisions about what’s healthy and what’s not, but kids don’t think this way. They like things that taste good.
And children do need vegetables. According to most government authorities, children need to have around three or four servings per day, and it’s best if these servings include multiple types of vegetables. If you’ve been having trouble getting your children to follow these guidelines, don’t give up. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Start early: Studies have shown that the earlier kids start eating vegetables, the more likely they are to enjoy eating vegetables later on. In fact, according to one study, this starts even when the child is in the womb. Mothers who eat vegetables when pregnant and, later, when breastfeeding are more likely to raise kids who enjoy eating vegetables.
Have persistence: Other studies have shown that, while children may reject vegetables at first, the more time they try a given vegetable the more they will accept it. So even if your child insists on being stubborn about eating that broccoli, keep serving it, and he or she will eventually come around.
Make vegetables more fun: There are many ways to make eating vegetables more than just a boring chore. For example, serve multiple different colors of vegetables, and encourage your child to “eat the rainbow” on a daily basis. In fact, this is a good practice for all of us.
Eat what you serve: We cannot overestimate the importance of setting a positive example. If you encourage your child to eat a certain food but don’t consume it yourself, this is obviously not the best form of encouragement. Rather than having different meals for parents and children, eat as a family. Everyone should get the same foods.
Let the child participate: Many young children will jump at the opportunity to make grown-up decisions such as what vegetables to have for dinner. Try collaborating with your child on the food decisions. Let your child help plan meals based on the healthy food pyramid, and make whatever tweaks to the meal that you think are necessary.
And children do need vegetables. According to most government authorities, children need to have around three or four servings per day, and it’s best if these servings include multiple types of vegetables. If you’ve been having trouble getting your children to follow these guidelines, don’t give up. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Start early: Studies have shown that the earlier kids start eating vegetables, the more likely they are to enjoy eating vegetables later on. In fact, according to one study, this starts even when the child is in the womb. Mothers who eat vegetables when pregnant and, later, when breastfeeding are more likely to raise kids who enjoy eating vegetables.
Have persistence: Other studies have shown that, while children may reject vegetables at first, the more time they try a given vegetable the more they will accept it. So even if your child insists on being stubborn about eating that broccoli, keep serving it, and he or she will eventually come around.
Make vegetables more fun: There are many ways to make eating vegetables more than just a boring chore. For example, serve multiple different colors of vegetables, and encourage your child to “eat the rainbow” on a daily basis. In fact, this is a good practice for all of us.
Eat what you serve: We cannot overestimate the importance of setting a positive example. If you encourage your child to eat a certain food but don’t consume it yourself, this is obviously not the best form of encouragement. Rather than having different meals for parents and children, eat as a family. Everyone should get the same foods.
Let the child participate: Many young children will jump at the opportunity to make grown-up decisions such as what vegetables to have for dinner. Try collaborating with your child on the food decisions. Let your child help plan meals based on the healthy food pyramid, and make whatever tweaks to the meal that you think are necessary.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Prevention
How to Tell if Your Child is Properly NourishedSudden Infant Death Syndrome, better known as SIDS, is one of the scariest health risks that new parents have to face. The condition is made all the more terrifying because we know very little about why it happens, but the good news is that advancing medical research is finally starting to shed light on the causes and risk factors associated with SIDS, and it’s now becoming much clearer what parents can do to keep their babies safe.
What is SIDS?
One of the defining features of SIDS is that it is unexpected and often unexplained. Other potentially fatal inflictions that affect young babies have their own names. SIDS is by nature more difficult to classify. It happens to children from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and it apparently occurs everywhere in the world. It happens without warning, and it often happens while the child is sleeping, so that many parents don’t even realize that it has occurred until hours later.
For still unexplained reasons, SIDS seems to occur less frequently to children under the age of one month. It happens most frequently to children aged two to four months. From four months on, incidence steadily drops until bottoming out at around two years old. For children under one year old, it is the most common cause of death.
What causes SIDS?
Again, SIDS is still by nature a mysterious illness. However, theories abound about what could cause the condition, and a number of potentially hazardous risk factors have been identified. All of the following factors have been proposed, some more credibly than others, as potential contributors to SIDS:
• overheating
• soft bedding, pillows, blankets, or toys where the baby sleeps
• substance abuse in the mother during pregnancy
• smoking during pregnancy or the presence of second-hand smoke in the home
• premature birth
• a maternal age younger than 20
• more health in the pregnant mother
• lying on the stomach
• abnormalities or underdevelopment in the section of the brain that controls breathing
• co-sleeping
• low levels of oxygen in the blood
Although some of these things may be contributing factors, it’s important to note that many cases of SIDS probably have multiple combined factors, and some may be caused by things that we don’t yet know about. In fact, in many cases of SIDS it is impossible to identify the exact cause. Parents of a child who dies of SIDS often blame themselves and wonder if there was anything they should have done different. But while these negative feelings are certainly understandable, they’re usually not justified. Parents in this situation should seek a professional to help them worth through their feelings.
Reducing SIDS risk
Given the fact that many cases of SIDS appear completely random, preventing this condition can be difficult. However, researchers have begun to identify very definitive actions that you can take to reduce your child’s risk.
One of the most important factors is sleeping position. A growing body of research has shown that SIDS occurs much more frequently to babies who are not sleeping on their backs, and “Back to Sleep” campaigns have already greatly reduced SIDS frequency in several countries.
There are a few ideas about why babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides are more prone to SIDS. One idea is that sleeping on the stomach causes the baby to “rebreathe”—that is, to keep breathing in the exhaled air so that the baby doesn’t get enough oxygen. In other cases, stomach sleeping may lead to the baby being smothered in the bedding.
In addition to back sleeping, doctors recommend that parents take the following precautions to prevent SIDS:
• Breastfeeding: A few studies have shown that babies who are breastfed have lower SIDS risk.
• Firm surfaces: Softer and fluffier surfaces have been shown to increase the risk of SIDS. Make sure your baby sleeps on a relatively firm surface with no soft objects within reach.
• Not overheating: Make sure the room temperature is comfortable.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol: All drugs and alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy, and there should be no second-hand smoke in the household after the baby is born.
• Regular check-ups: Have your doctor check your baby’s health on a regular basis.
• No co-sleeping: You can keep the crib or bassinet in the room where you sleep, but co-sleeping has been shown to increase SIDS risk.
What is SIDS?
One of the defining features of SIDS is that it is unexpected and often unexplained. Other potentially fatal inflictions that affect young babies have their own names. SIDS is by nature more difficult to classify. It happens to children from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and it apparently occurs everywhere in the world. It happens without warning, and it often happens while the child is sleeping, so that many parents don’t even realize that it has occurred until hours later.
For still unexplained reasons, SIDS seems to occur less frequently to children under the age of one month. It happens most frequently to children aged two to four months. From four months on, incidence steadily drops until bottoming out at around two years old. For children under one year old, it is the most common cause of death.
What causes SIDS?
Again, SIDS is still by nature a mysterious illness. However, theories abound about what could cause the condition, and a number of potentially hazardous risk factors have been identified. All of the following factors have been proposed, some more credibly than others, as potential contributors to SIDS:
• overheating
• soft bedding, pillows, blankets, or toys where the baby sleeps
• substance abuse in the mother during pregnancy
• smoking during pregnancy or the presence of second-hand smoke in the home
• premature birth
• a maternal age younger than 20
• more health in the pregnant mother
• lying on the stomach
• abnormalities or underdevelopment in the section of the brain that controls breathing
• co-sleeping
• low levels of oxygen in the blood
Although some of these things may be contributing factors, it’s important to note that many cases of SIDS probably have multiple combined factors, and some may be caused by things that we don’t yet know about. In fact, in many cases of SIDS it is impossible to identify the exact cause. Parents of a child who dies of SIDS often blame themselves and wonder if there was anything they should have done different. But while these negative feelings are certainly understandable, they’re usually not justified. Parents in this situation should seek a professional to help them worth through their feelings.
Reducing SIDS risk
Given the fact that many cases of SIDS appear completely random, preventing this condition can be difficult. However, researchers have begun to identify very definitive actions that you can take to reduce your child’s risk.
One of the most important factors is sleeping position. A growing body of research has shown that SIDS occurs much more frequently to babies who are not sleeping on their backs, and “Back to Sleep” campaigns have already greatly reduced SIDS frequency in several countries.
There are a few ideas about why babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides are more prone to SIDS. One idea is that sleeping on the stomach causes the baby to “rebreathe”—that is, to keep breathing in the exhaled air so that the baby doesn’t get enough oxygen. In other cases, stomach sleeping may lead to the baby being smothered in the bedding.
In addition to back sleeping, doctors recommend that parents take the following precautions to prevent SIDS:
• Breastfeeding: A few studies have shown that babies who are breastfed have lower SIDS risk.
• Firm surfaces: Softer and fluffier surfaces have been shown to increase the risk of SIDS. Make sure your baby sleeps on a relatively firm surface with no soft objects within reach.
• Not overheating: Make sure the room temperature is comfortable.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol: All drugs and alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy, and there should be no second-hand smoke in the household after the baby is born.
• Regular check-ups: Have your doctor check your baby’s health on a regular basis.
• No co-sleeping: You can keep the crib or bassinet in the room where you sleep, but co-sleeping has been shown to increase SIDS risk.
How to Tell if Your Child has ADHD
The latest statistics show that over 4 million kids in the United States have been diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and of course there are millions more worldwide. While ADHD has often gotten a bad rap as a trendy diagnosis that is handed out a little too easily, there is no denying the fact that it’s a legitimate disorder that can have truly negative effects on people who are afflicted.
There are actually some potential benefits to mild cases of ADHD, but as any parent of a child who has a particularly bad case of the disorder knows, ADHD can also be highly disruptive. It can lead to behavioral problems, poor school performance, and even delayed emotional and social development. To make matters worse, this issue is still not widely understood, which means that kids with ADHD often fail to receive the help they need, and this can severely set them back in life.
Diagnosing ADHD can be a real challenge for parents and medical professionals. Every child is different, and every case of ADHD is particular to each child. In other words, no two cases are the same, and doctors often have trouble identifying cases in a definitive way. However, if your child has had trouble fitting in, has boundless energy, seems to have difficulty focusing at school, and can’t seem to sit still for long enough to focus on anything, there’s a good chance that he or she has a case of ADHD.
ADHD in the early years
Anecdotes abound about mothers of ADHD children who remember their unborn babies kicking unusually frequently in the womb, but these stories have yet to be backed by real research. In most cases, ADHD symptoms begin to form noticeably during the preschool years. Symptoms may be present earlier than that, but social and school settings really tend to bring them out.
At this early age, kids with ADHD may confound their preschool and early primary school teachers. They often have trouble following directions, don’t learn as quickly as the other kids, don’t share or play nicely, and don’t get along with the other kids. In some cases, ADHD behaviors can even take the form of aggression toward other kids. Unless a teacher or parent recognizes what is happening, a child of preschool age may already begin to face the negative consequences of ADHD in the form of punishment and ostracization.
ADHD in older children
The signs of ADHD usually become much more apparent during the early years of primary school, usually soon after the child begins to attend school full-time. While you can tell a lot about a child by how he or she behaves in the home, ADHD behaviors become much more troublesome at school, which is why the condition usually isn’t diagnosed until a child is between ages 7 and 12. When a child reaches these ages, the most common symptoms include:
• difficulty following directions and listening;
• trouble paying attention or sitting through the long hours of class;
• absentmindedness, forgetfulness, and frequently losing things;
• unwillingness to do homework;
• talking too much, even during quiet times;
• excessive fidgeting;
• constant restlessness;
• frequent complaining;
• difficulty sharing, taking turns with other kids, or waiting in lines.
When a child reaches adolescence, untreated ADHD can create even further problems, sometimes leading to low self-esteem, social isolation, depression, and other conditions such as eating disorders. At the same time, persistent poor school performance can set the child back academically, and if he or she does not receive treatment soon, it could have repercussions throughout life. Many ADHD kids end up joining the rebellious crowd at school, which can lead to drug use, teen sex, and other reckless behaviors.
How to handle ADHD
Every child gets hyper sometimes. And in general, a moderate amount of hyperactive behavior is just part of childhood. But when a child’s hyperactivity becomes detrimental to important aspects of life, it’s time to do something about it. Don’t worry if your child just seems to have a lot of energy. Do worry if these behaviors seem to have long-term negative effects.
If you think your child may have ADHD, then it’s time to consult with your doctor about evaluation and potential treatment options. There are many options for dealing with ADHD, and not all of them involve medication. In any case, it can’t hurt to know the choices that are available to you.
There are actually some potential benefits to mild cases of ADHD, but as any parent of a child who has a particularly bad case of the disorder knows, ADHD can also be highly disruptive. It can lead to behavioral problems, poor school performance, and even delayed emotional and social development. To make matters worse, this issue is still not widely understood, which means that kids with ADHD often fail to receive the help they need, and this can severely set them back in life.
Diagnosing ADHD can be a real challenge for parents and medical professionals. Every child is different, and every case of ADHD is particular to each child. In other words, no two cases are the same, and doctors often have trouble identifying cases in a definitive way. However, if your child has had trouble fitting in, has boundless energy, seems to have difficulty focusing at school, and can’t seem to sit still for long enough to focus on anything, there’s a good chance that he or she has a case of ADHD.
ADHD in the early years
Anecdotes abound about mothers of ADHD children who remember their unborn babies kicking unusually frequently in the womb, but these stories have yet to be backed by real research. In most cases, ADHD symptoms begin to form noticeably during the preschool years. Symptoms may be present earlier than that, but social and school settings really tend to bring them out.
At this early age, kids with ADHD may confound their preschool and early primary school teachers. They often have trouble following directions, don’t learn as quickly as the other kids, don’t share or play nicely, and don’t get along with the other kids. In some cases, ADHD behaviors can even take the form of aggression toward other kids. Unless a teacher or parent recognizes what is happening, a child of preschool age may already begin to face the negative consequences of ADHD in the form of punishment and ostracization.
ADHD in older children
The signs of ADHD usually become much more apparent during the early years of primary school, usually soon after the child begins to attend school full-time. While you can tell a lot about a child by how he or she behaves in the home, ADHD behaviors become much more troublesome at school, which is why the condition usually isn’t diagnosed until a child is between ages 7 and 12. When a child reaches these ages, the most common symptoms include:
• difficulty following directions and listening;
• trouble paying attention or sitting through the long hours of class;
• absentmindedness, forgetfulness, and frequently losing things;
• unwillingness to do homework;
• talking too much, even during quiet times;
• excessive fidgeting;
• constant restlessness;
• frequent complaining;
• difficulty sharing, taking turns with other kids, or waiting in lines.
When a child reaches adolescence, untreated ADHD can create even further problems, sometimes leading to low self-esteem, social isolation, depression, and other conditions such as eating disorders. At the same time, persistent poor school performance can set the child back academically, and if he or she does not receive treatment soon, it could have repercussions throughout life. Many ADHD kids end up joining the rebellious crowd at school, which can lead to drug use, teen sex, and other reckless behaviors.
How to handle ADHD
Every child gets hyper sometimes. And in general, a moderate amount of hyperactive behavior is just part of childhood. But when a child’s hyperactivity becomes detrimental to important aspects of life, it’s time to do something about it. Don’t worry if your child just seems to have a lot of energy. Do worry if these behaviors seem to have long-term negative effects.
If you think your child may have ADHD, then it’s time to consult with your doctor about evaluation and potential treatment options. There are many options for dealing with ADHD, and not all of them involve medication. In any case, it can’t hurt to know the choices that are available to you.
How to Help Your Child Eat Healthy
Among the biggest problems that mothers face and share is how to get their children to eat healthy food, such as vegetables. What makes it even harder is the abundance of junk food or greasy fast food. For some reason, children seem to have a natural dislike for anything green and leafy or stringy, and the high-fat, high-cholesterol items are much more delicious. It is no wonder why many meal times become a stressful battleground, with parents withholding privileges or doting out punishments in response to a child’s refusal to finish his vegetables.
But there must be an easier way to get kids to eat healthy food minus the nightly World War that happens around the dining table. Some simple positive-reinforcement tips that do not prohibit anything but offer an alternative may help you make sure your child gets the nutrients he needs:
1. Set a good example. Nobody can underestimate the power of imitation. A child, no matter what age, instinctively wants to imitate adults, even if he shows every sign of wanting to be independent. Usually, a child who sees his parents enjoying vegetables will want to eat them more than a kid whose mom always forces him to eat without actually eating much of them herself. Instead, when he sees his parents savoring the healthy types of food, he will wind up curious enough to try it himself. If he spits it out, do not despair. There are still other ways to get him to eat healthy options.
2. Find delicious ways to cook vegetables, such as cream soups or disguised in sandwiches. Many mothers vow by this strategy, of cooking vegetables such as broccoli or squash in a yummy cream soup. Some moms even add coloring to remove the greenish hue that children normally steer away from. Other moms recommend mixing up sandwich fillings, such as using green apple for an added tart to a peanut butter sandwich instead of using sugar-rich jellies.
3. Pay attention to the kind of vegetables or vegetable-rich food that he does enjoy. Some kids like carrot sticks dipped in different dips and sauces, while others like onions on pizzas and those in tacos. You can encourage them to eat more variety of food in order to make sure they get enough vegetables. In the same vein, do not be afraid to experiment. Some families that enjoy Chinese or other Asian cuisine might find their children enjoying spring rolls. These crispy fried rolls usually come with vegetables finely chopped inside, and you can easily learn how to cook them from recipes on the Internet, cooking magazines, or cooking channels on TV.
4. Stock up on fruit juice in the home. This will not only give your child enough nutrients from fruit, it will also discourage him from drinking sugar-laden colas and sodas. Also, encourage them from a young age to drink a lot of water. A child who is used to drinking water at every meal will most likely be satisfied with it even in the absence of a sweet drink.
5. Include whole-grain items on your grocery list. This can be in the form of muesli and other whole-wheat cereals, instead of the sugar-coated cereals that kids naturally love. To sweeten the cereal, add bits of sliced fruit to the breakfast bowl, or add wheat germ on top of the cereal for an added dose of fiber. Nuts and seeds can also easily replace chips, since they offer the same chewy enjoyment. If the child is not too keen to make the switch, you can offer a closer alternative in the form of homemade popcorn. Many brands of microwave popcorn are very easy to prepare.
These are just basic things to help you get started in encouraging your child to eat healthy food options. Once you get used to these in your daily routine, you can very easily find more creative ways to get around the problem, and before you know it, you will have a very well-nourished child who voluntarily picks the healthier alternative when given a choice. After all, that is the long-term goal. It is not simply to make sure they eat healthy when your eye is on them, but more importantly, you want to know that even when they eat in school, they will know better than to survive on chips, candy, and soda.
But there must be an easier way to get kids to eat healthy food minus the nightly World War that happens around the dining table. Some simple positive-reinforcement tips that do not prohibit anything but offer an alternative may help you make sure your child gets the nutrients he needs:
1. Set a good example. Nobody can underestimate the power of imitation. A child, no matter what age, instinctively wants to imitate adults, even if he shows every sign of wanting to be independent. Usually, a child who sees his parents enjoying vegetables will want to eat them more than a kid whose mom always forces him to eat without actually eating much of them herself. Instead, when he sees his parents savoring the healthy types of food, he will wind up curious enough to try it himself. If he spits it out, do not despair. There are still other ways to get him to eat healthy options.
2. Find delicious ways to cook vegetables, such as cream soups or disguised in sandwiches. Many mothers vow by this strategy, of cooking vegetables such as broccoli or squash in a yummy cream soup. Some moms even add coloring to remove the greenish hue that children normally steer away from. Other moms recommend mixing up sandwich fillings, such as using green apple for an added tart to a peanut butter sandwich instead of using sugar-rich jellies.
3. Pay attention to the kind of vegetables or vegetable-rich food that he does enjoy. Some kids like carrot sticks dipped in different dips and sauces, while others like onions on pizzas and those in tacos. You can encourage them to eat more variety of food in order to make sure they get enough vegetables. In the same vein, do not be afraid to experiment. Some families that enjoy Chinese or other Asian cuisine might find their children enjoying spring rolls. These crispy fried rolls usually come with vegetables finely chopped inside, and you can easily learn how to cook them from recipes on the Internet, cooking magazines, or cooking channels on TV.
4. Stock up on fruit juice in the home. This will not only give your child enough nutrients from fruit, it will also discourage him from drinking sugar-laden colas and sodas. Also, encourage them from a young age to drink a lot of water. A child who is used to drinking water at every meal will most likely be satisfied with it even in the absence of a sweet drink.
5. Include whole-grain items on your grocery list. This can be in the form of muesli and other whole-wheat cereals, instead of the sugar-coated cereals that kids naturally love. To sweeten the cereal, add bits of sliced fruit to the breakfast bowl, or add wheat germ on top of the cereal for an added dose of fiber. Nuts and seeds can also easily replace chips, since they offer the same chewy enjoyment. If the child is not too keen to make the switch, you can offer a closer alternative in the form of homemade popcorn. Many brands of microwave popcorn are very easy to prepare.
These are just basic things to help you get started in encouraging your child to eat healthy food options. Once you get used to these in your daily routine, you can very easily find more creative ways to get around the problem, and before you know it, you will have a very well-nourished child who voluntarily picks the healthier alternative when given a choice. After all, that is the long-term goal. It is not simply to make sure they eat healthy when your eye is on them, but more importantly, you want to know that even when they eat in school, they will know better than to survive on chips, candy, and soda.
Babies Can Sleep Through the Night
When a woman has a baby below one year old, you would naturally expect the mother to look bedraggled, with dark, nasty eye bags below her eyes every day of the week. Sometimes she may even be very difficult to converse with. This is because an infant would normally have several feeding times during the night, and in the morning she still would not be able to nap sufficiently because of all the chores she needs to do. This is a complete recipe for a snappish, moody mom, who would bite at the slightest prodding from a sometimes-insensitive husband. This highlights how important sleep is to any person, from a baby to any full-grown adult. After all, lack of sleep always makes a person cranky, exhausted, and lazy, and sometimes it may even cause serious damage to other organs in the body.
But there is good news! Recent studies have observed ways on how babies are actually able to sleep for at least five hour a night straight by the age of two months, and longer past that age. That means it is possible for a new mom to get a good night’s sleep, and have enough energy to face the rest of her responsibilities during the day. And this is very important, since she needs her precious energy to be able to give her best to the infant himself as well as to the rest of the family. After all, the house runs by her hands, and if those hands are tired, anyone can guess what state the household will be in!
The first thing being described in pediatricians’ study on infant sleep is that they sleep better when they are on a routine during the day. By routine, it means they have a relatively fixed pattern of feeding, playing, and sleeping. Instead of the normal way that babies wake up, then play, then feed to fall asleep, they propose a different routine wherein the baby feeds upon waking up, then spends some time awake, and then sleeps with no prop needed. This pattern will result in a baby that automatically sleeps for a stretch of five hours after the last cycle of feed, play, sleep comes to a close at the end of the day.
A second principle needed for a baby to develop this sleep pattern is the idea of full feedings. Full feedings means that the baby nurses until he is full, instead of falling asleep halfway and then asking for more ten minutes later. The first principle of an altered cycle schedule greatly facilitates this, since the baby feeds upon first waking up, which means he is not likely to fall asleep too soon. After all, infants tend to sleep so much of the time, and if he does, the mom will wind up waiting for the next hunger cry to come, which cannot be predicted. This way, he gets a full tummy and will usually last an hour or two before needing another feeding.
The last and another important principle at work why the baby will be able to sleep through the night is that it was not given a sleep prop during the day. A sleep prop is anything that helps a baby fall asleep. It could be rocking, patting, a lullaby, or even a milk bottle or a pacifier. What happens is that the baby gets used to falling asleep by himself, so that if by any chance he stirs during the night, he is perfectly able to fall back to sleep without needing to rouse mom or dad. This is in contrast to a baby who wakes up and then cries because he needs to be rocked back to sleep or he lost his pacifier and could not find it. This is definitely happy news for parents who would gladly appreciate the added hours of sleep!
Once these principles are understood and developed into the baby’s schedule, the mom, and even the dad, can be sure she herself will get sufficient rest. Baby’s happy sleeping patterns will automatically translate to a more relaxed mother with a sharp focus on the things she needs to accomplish for the day, even leaving her with enough time to dote on her husband.
But there is good news! Recent studies have observed ways on how babies are actually able to sleep for at least five hour a night straight by the age of two months, and longer past that age. That means it is possible for a new mom to get a good night’s sleep, and have enough energy to face the rest of her responsibilities during the day. And this is very important, since she needs her precious energy to be able to give her best to the infant himself as well as to the rest of the family. After all, the house runs by her hands, and if those hands are tired, anyone can guess what state the household will be in!
The first thing being described in pediatricians’ study on infant sleep is that they sleep better when they are on a routine during the day. By routine, it means they have a relatively fixed pattern of feeding, playing, and sleeping. Instead of the normal way that babies wake up, then play, then feed to fall asleep, they propose a different routine wherein the baby feeds upon waking up, then spends some time awake, and then sleeps with no prop needed. This pattern will result in a baby that automatically sleeps for a stretch of five hours after the last cycle of feed, play, sleep comes to a close at the end of the day.
A second principle needed for a baby to develop this sleep pattern is the idea of full feedings. Full feedings means that the baby nurses until he is full, instead of falling asleep halfway and then asking for more ten minutes later. The first principle of an altered cycle schedule greatly facilitates this, since the baby feeds upon first waking up, which means he is not likely to fall asleep too soon. After all, infants tend to sleep so much of the time, and if he does, the mom will wind up waiting for the next hunger cry to come, which cannot be predicted. This way, he gets a full tummy and will usually last an hour or two before needing another feeding.
The last and another important principle at work why the baby will be able to sleep through the night is that it was not given a sleep prop during the day. A sleep prop is anything that helps a baby fall asleep. It could be rocking, patting, a lullaby, or even a milk bottle or a pacifier. What happens is that the baby gets used to falling asleep by himself, so that if by any chance he stirs during the night, he is perfectly able to fall back to sleep without needing to rouse mom or dad. This is in contrast to a baby who wakes up and then cries because he needs to be rocked back to sleep or he lost his pacifier and could not find it. This is definitely happy news for parents who would gladly appreciate the added hours of sleep!
Once these principles are understood and developed into the baby’s schedule, the mom, and even the dad, can be sure she herself will get sufficient rest. Baby’s happy sleeping patterns will automatically translate to a more relaxed mother with a sharp focus on the things she needs to accomplish for the day, even leaving her with enough time to dote on her husband.
How Words Can Affect Your Child’s Health
Many parents are overly concerned about the food that their children eat, and rightly so, because proper nutrition cannot be overemphasized. But few of them are aware that the words they speak and the way they say them actually has tremendous impact on a child’s overall health. Sure, most people would agree that words can have an impact on a child’s emotional heath, but how can it affect the physical health? It may be indirect, but the effects have repercussions that you certainly would not want your child to suffer from.
Some ways in which words can affect a child’s health are the following:
1. Negative comments about his physical appearance may be factors behind future eating disorders. Many children in the US today are suffering from eating disorders, and most of their parents are not even aware of it. An indirect link has been observed between the last few years of the high incidence of obesity among children. Is it possible that the parents became too conscious and kept scolding their kids’ eating habits? This kind of behavior can trigger a sense of loss of self-esteem on the child, and later on manifest as a dislike of eating or wanting to be slim so that he will be considered handsome or for a little girl to feel pretty.
2. A constant barrage of angry words tends to eat away at a child’s confidence, and some children find comfort in food. Nobody can really explain how emotional eating develops, but a link may be found in a baby’s attachment to his feeding bottle prior to being weaned or to a security blanket. The attachment, for some reason, gets transferred to food, perhaps because food does give us a sense of comfort. Once this dependence is formed, it is very difficult to change or remove.
3. A harsh encounter with a child right before bedtime can trigger nightmares and result in poor rest for the child. If the stressful situations continue, he may even have trouble falling asleep, causing a possible variety of sicknesses due to the lowered immunity from lack of rest and sleep.
4. An overall ugly environment in the home would sometimes trigger a child to want to spend time away from mommy or daddy and instead enjoy the company of his friends. Once that happens, you no longer have any influence on his choice of food. More often than not, a child younger than a teenager would gravitate towards junk food in the absence of a responsible adult. An even if you are around, once you have come across as somebody they do not want to listen to, you will no longer have influence in developing healthy eating habits.
5. A child who always hears his parents tell him he is useless will eventually believe it. And once anyone believes there is no use to his life, he would also tend to be lax with taking care of his body. Could there be a link between the many kids experimenting with drugs and cigarettes at a very early age, to the way that the parents built up their self-image to be? After all, when a child feels he is not worth much, he would not be conscious anymore about taking good care of his body.
These are but a few examples of how negative words can have a strong effect on a child’s overall health. The reason why they were highlighted here is that they are very often the natural inclination of human parents, while positive words sometimes have to be forced out of us. As such, we need to understand that part of the problem of kids’ health these days may perhaps be because of the words coming out of our mouths that speak volumes into the hearts of our children.
Some ways in which words can affect a child’s health are the following:
1. Negative comments about his physical appearance may be factors behind future eating disorders. Many children in the US today are suffering from eating disorders, and most of their parents are not even aware of it. An indirect link has been observed between the last few years of the high incidence of obesity among children. Is it possible that the parents became too conscious and kept scolding their kids’ eating habits? This kind of behavior can trigger a sense of loss of self-esteem on the child, and later on manifest as a dislike of eating or wanting to be slim so that he will be considered handsome or for a little girl to feel pretty.
2. A constant barrage of angry words tends to eat away at a child’s confidence, and some children find comfort in food. Nobody can really explain how emotional eating develops, but a link may be found in a baby’s attachment to his feeding bottle prior to being weaned or to a security blanket. The attachment, for some reason, gets transferred to food, perhaps because food does give us a sense of comfort. Once this dependence is formed, it is very difficult to change or remove.
3. A harsh encounter with a child right before bedtime can trigger nightmares and result in poor rest for the child. If the stressful situations continue, he may even have trouble falling asleep, causing a possible variety of sicknesses due to the lowered immunity from lack of rest and sleep.
4. An overall ugly environment in the home would sometimes trigger a child to want to spend time away from mommy or daddy and instead enjoy the company of his friends. Once that happens, you no longer have any influence on his choice of food. More often than not, a child younger than a teenager would gravitate towards junk food in the absence of a responsible adult. An even if you are around, once you have come across as somebody they do not want to listen to, you will no longer have influence in developing healthy eating habits.
5. A child who always hears his parents tell him he is useless will eventually believe it. And once anyone believes there is no use to his life, he would also tend to be lax with taking care of his body. Could there be a link between the many kids experimenting with drugs and cigarettes at a very early age, to the way that the parents built up their self-image to be? After all, when a child feels he is not worth much, he would not be conscious anymore about taking good care of his body.
These are but a few examples of how negative words can have a strong effect on a child’s overall health. The reason why they were highlighted here is that they are very often the natural inclination of human parents, while positive words sometimes have to be forced out of us. As such, we need to understand that part of the problem of kids’ health these days may perhaps be because of the words coming out of our mouths that speak volumes into the hearts of our children.
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