TRANSMEGA HEALTH: child health

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How Preschool can Affect your Child's Health

Doc Health Plan -Many parents fail to recognize the role that the right preschool plays in their child health. They tend to categorize things into set boxes, such as emotional intelligence being limited to those that the child learns in the home, the school being the place for a child’s mental, social, and intellectual development, while the paediatrician’s clinic is the only place wherein his physical health will be in check.

The truth is, a child’s health is affected by all the factors in his daily life. From infancy on, his immediate environment would be the home, along with whoever are his main caregivers; some babies are exposed to day care and babysitters from a very early age when their mothers happened to be working, either as part of a dual income household or as a single mom. When a child reaches the age of readiness for school, though, some parents simply send their child to the school most convenient for them, the parents. While it is an important consideration that the parents find the school “convenient,” there are also other factors to consider in picking the best preschool:

1. What are your child’s sleeping habits? Does the time for the preschool match those sleeping habits, or if there were to be some adjustments made, do you foresee him having an easy time with the adjustment? Of course, children are naturally very flexible, but you will need to make sure that the time when he is expected to be at the school will not result in his lacking sleep on a daily basis.
2. Does the school respect the individual child and his learning style? Early childhood education experts have discovered a greater retention and lesser stress levels for children who are nurtured in a play-based environment compared to strictly academic ones. If the preschool you are considering adheres to these principles, you will likely find your preschooler enjoying school and having an easier time adjusting to the new environment.
3. Is the school kept clean and hygienic, with high regard for possible allergies or accidents? When you check out the school, check the safety precautions that the owners have set in place. Although the government typically requires preschools to have child proofing facilities, use your keen sense of parenthood to check if anything seems amiss about the place. If your child happens to have allergies, you will need to check what the school has set in motion regarding keeping him from allergens like pollen or other allergens found in most grassy areas.
4. Does the school promote healthy eating habits? Although eating habits are developed from the home, your child will be spending considerable time in school, and if the adults at the school do not make healthy eating a priority, chances are, your child will also absorb their beliefs.

5. Does the school foster an atmosphere of friendly camaraderie and cooperation instead of competition? Young children may enjoy some friendly competition, but when used as a daily way of life, it can be highly stressful, especially if your child happens to be slower than other children. You will know whether those running the preschool understand individual difference from this one point. If you want to keep your child from unnecessary pressure, it might be wise to steer clear of schools that put too much emphasis on performance, especially in comparison to other children.

6. Does the school give its students a sense of accomplishment minus rewards and punishments? Although rewards are generally harmless, it can go to extremes, too, that a child’s self esteem becomes determined by the rewards he gets: whether he gets a star that day or not. On the other extreme, punishments are even more crucial in shaping a child’s heart: if the school resorts to threats or punishments that hinge on physical or even verbal abuse, you would be wise to get your child out of there immediately.

As a parent, there are no hoops that you would not go to in ensuring your child grows up to be healthy in all aspects that truly count. In your preparation for getting your preschooler ready for school, may you find the wisdom needed in picking the school that will definitely benefit your child, not just intellectually and mentally, but also socially, emotionally, and in terms of his physical upbringing.

Breastfeeding Made Easier

Doc Health Plan -Breastfeeding is easy—or so it seems. After all, every mother from the Stone Age, from the Biblical Eve, down to the modern busy yuppy mom can do it with her eyes closed. But when you really get down to it, the late-night feedings, the offering of the breast every half hour, can actually wear down a new mom. Unfortunately, many moms feel that they are being unloving to their babies when they admit that breastfeeding is actually exhausting and that they would rather just stick a bottle in their babies’ mouths instead of having to go through the entire thing again on the next day, and the next, and the next.

What is it about breastfeeding that makes it so difficult? If mothers from several generations ago, prior to the invention of formula milk and milk bottles, only had breastfeeding to rely on to keep their babies alive, how come they managed to do that—and still maintain their homes and help in the farm and all that stuff? How do you, as a modern-day mom, find a way to breastfeed without dying from exhaustion?

The following important principles about breastfeeding will likely change the way you do it, and make it much easier for you:

1. You breastfeed to “feed” your baby. This means that you will want to make sure your baby gets the meal he needs to see him throughout his nap. Babies, especially newborns, sleep most of the day. However, when they are not satisfied with their milk, they tend to wake up in shorter intervals, bawling for milk. What could be the cause? Is it possible that they did not take in as much milk as they needed? Is it possible the baby fell asleep at the breast too soon? This is a common mistake among mothers, wherein they nurse the baby to sleep. Can you imagine falling asleep in the middle of your lunch, without having eaten enough to give you energy for the rest of the day? This is also the case with infants who are nursed at a time when they are already sleepy. This is why experts recommend switching the baby’s feeding-sleeping-wake patterns. Instead of allowing the baby to wake up and feed only when he is about to sleep, they recommend feeding the baby as soon as he wakes up, so that he gets a full feeding. When he finally falls asleep, he falls asleep full and satisfied. This results in longer naps, and longer rest periods for mom before she needs to nurse again.2. Breast milk comes out in batches. The first batch is the thinner milk. With enough stimulation, the hind milk is released. This is much more laden with nutrients. As such, it is the longer feeding time, that is, with baby fully awake, that allows the baby to get the benefits of this hind milk. When you know about this, you will find it much easier to aim to get that hind milk out and into your baby’s mouth. Also, this hind milk results in a fuller, more satisfied infant who sleeps more soundly.

3. The more stimulation that a mother’s breast gets, the more milk is produced. This principle will give hope to any mom who gives up breastfeeding due to poor milk supply, especially during the first month after birth. Misconceptions abound about how only those moms whose breasts overflow with milk from the first day of birth can successfully breastfeed. Of course, there will be some moms who indeed cannot produce enough milk, but more possibly, the breasts have not gotten enough stimulation because the baby falls asleep too soon. This is where a breast pump might help, in giving added stimulation just to ready the milk production for the baby’s benefit.

These basic principles should equip you with what you need for making sure your baby gets all that he needs from breastfeeding without wearing you out to nothingness. When you apply these principles, you will find the task to be manageable enough that you can even do other chores in between, giving you a glimpse of what it meant when mothers of old had only their breasts to give their babies suck.

Reasons Why Kids Lose Their Appetite

Doc Health Plan -One of the most common problems with kids is loss of appetite and this worries a lot of parents from all over the world. There are kids who simply resent eating at any time of the day or insist on eating only his favorite. Usually, these favorites are not so healthy and a lot of children usually lose their desire to eat specifically when it comes to nutritious foods. Loss of appetite in children can be quite alarming especially if the child is starting to lose weight, seem small for his age or is always lacking energy. It may be an indication that a child is sick or it may lead to eating disorders.

There are several reasons for a child to not want to eat. The most common causes will be discussed in the following paragraphs.

1. Junk Food between Meals

There are kids who can be very picky. If they do not see anything interesting to eat on the dinner table, especially if it’s green and leafy, then they’d rather starve themselves. Appetite, gone with the wind! But when you present them with oh-so-colorfully packed and prepared junk foods, notice how they are more excited to eat this kind of stuff. Another thing, notice how they tell you that they’re hungry and request “snacks” (which are more junk food rather than healthy snacks) when it’s near dinner time. It will definitely ruin their appetite especially if they consume these foods right before the proper meal. If you know that your child gets hungry on a specific time before lunch or dinner, you can adjust his meal time or give him nutritious snacks that can increase the appetite. Avoid stuffing him with chips, juice, soda, sweets or chocolate drinks an hour before meal time. These foods will definitely drive his appetite away.

2. Flu

Influenza or flu is one of the most common reasons why kids lose their appetite. This is an obvious reason because aside from not feeling well and lacking energy to do other stuff, a person loses his or her ability to taste food. Children won’t eat what they can’t taste and especially if their little tummies don’t feel so well either. If your son or daughter usually likes eating and suddenly loses his or her appetite, then start checking the temperature. The child could be suffering from flu. Do not force the child to eat full solid meals, instead, treat him with soups and natural fruit juices. An occasional treat of his favorite food won’t hurt. Letting a child eat what he wants once or twice when he’s not feeling well will help him forget that he’s sick just for a little while.

3. Too Much Pressure

Pressure results to stress. Just like adults, stress can make desire for foods disappear. Look for signs of aloofness, sadness or irritability in your child. If he is going through some extreme pressure in school or having problems with his siblings or his best friend, this could be the cause of his lack of appetite. You may also want to assess yourself if you are giving too much pressure on your child when it comes to eating habits or other issues. Force feeding is never the answer. It can even lead to severe eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. If you don’t want your children to love eating junk or detest anything green, yellow or red in their meals, then start with feeding them what’s right and healthy. Once you let them get used to not eating veggies or eating fries and ice cream an hour before lunch which clearly causes them to not want to eat lunch anymore, then they will grow up with that eating habit.

4. Distractions

Television and computer games are two of the most distracting creations ever made. If these can distract adults from work or from doing other important things, then it could even more distract a playful child from mealtime. But sometimes, kids just follow what adults do. So, be a good example. If it’s time to eat, then encourage everyone in the family to sit down on the table and eat together as a family. You can let them get away with eating in front of the television sometimes, say, once every weekend. Don’t let these gadgets take away your child’s needed nutrition.

These are just some of the reasons why kids sometimes don’t want to eat. Be observant and be a responsible parent as well when it comes to feeding your child the right foods and in developing a healthy eating habit.

Caring for a Child’s Emotional Needs

Doc Health Plan -Many parents, especially first-time ones, run to parenting books for guidance on how to care for their newborn babies. Of course, authors of parenting books are eager to lay out the physical as well as social needs of babies and children. However, one aspect that is, up to this day, largely overlooked in parenting books are a child’s emotional needs. Sure, they tackle emotional quotient as being more important than a child’s IQ, but do you know that parents play the largest role in shaping their child’s EQ?

How do parents meet a child’s emotional needs? After all, aren’t they so young that they need to be guided to behave properly and not throw temper tantrums?

Herein lies the very subtle deception. Young children typically do not have the capacity to tell right and wrong, and expecting them to behave based on standards that adults have set over the generations in their specific culture is not only unrealistic, it also sets an unnecessary pressure on the child. Have you seen parents who scold their young kids for spilling a cup of juice on the carpet? Parents can rave and rave about how stupid the child was for spilling, or sometimes, for not obeying the rule of no drinks in the living room, when in fact the child is obviously immature, not rebellious. This has a scathing effect on a child, especially when done often. And indeed, parents who have the weakness of yelling at their child for every little misdeed, intentional or not, tend to succumb to that weakness more and more.

So how can one care for a child’s emotional needs? The following are only examples, as each child is unique and you are especially gifted with wisdom how to deal with the child entrusted to you:

1. Enjoy them. This is one of the most difficult things to do, as parents, who see their child in every state, including the difficult tantrums and hard headedness, tend to skip over the enjoying part and go right on to the scolding and making them “behave.” Sure, once in a while, a dad may have fun with his son, and a mom may laugh at a crazy antic, but why not make this the norm instead of the exception? A child needs to know that he is enjoyed and loved, and from there he will grow up to be confident and a pleasing addition to society.2. Don’t set unrealistic expectations on your child. This has actually become so much more commonplace this generation, with preschools that admit younger and younger children. Whereas, a few generations ago, children only went to school at first grade, now we have preschools that admit even two-year-olds. How can adults expect a two-year-old to behave like his more mature seven-year-old brother, who can sit quietly coloring or playing with his robots? This unreasonable expectation contributes to stress not just to kids, but to parents as well—and in the end it will backfire on the way they treat their kids.3. A little touch goes a long way. Science has undergone many a research study on the effects of touch on a baby’s life. One of these studies have tested two groups of babies, all of which were fed properly and had their physical needs met. However, one group received lots of hugs and kisses, while the other didn’t. The study showed that the group that got the affectionate touches fared much better than the other group. As parents, hugging and kissing are our privilege, and being free to express our affection actually also frees our children to be who they are, and still be accepted for who they are.

4. Respect their interests and nourish them in that area. In the same vein that children need to know they are enjoyed and accepted for who they are, they also need to know that their parents approve of their interests. Interests are a strange thing that naturally manifests as part of a child’s design. Having the parents encourage them in their interests actually serves to skyrocket their potential, giving them a good self-esteem to succeed later on in life.

The difficult thing about a child’s emotional needs is that they are largely intangible. But it is no surprise that families are the basic unit of society, before any child goes on into the tough world out there, as the daily hugs and kisses from mom and dad will more than equip him to be emotionally stable and socially acceptable in the long run.

Hyperacidity in Kids

Doc Health Plan -Hyperacidity is usually detected in children when they have problems with the natural process of bowel movement: for example, diarrhea and constipation are taken as natural symptoms of a problem in the digestive system. So is vomiting. However, these are usually attributed to other causes, such as parasites, indigestion, or any other sickness, with hyperacidity being the last that parents think about. This may perhaps be due to the seeming simplicity of hyperacidity, or perhaps more likely, to its intangibility.

What causes hyperacidity? Whether in adults or children, studies have shown that stress and pressure contribute to the release of acids in the stomach. Even worse, having this causes extreme discomfort, which adds to the agitation and stress levels that the child faces, resulting in an endless cycle. Is there a way to cut this cycle? In adults, it is possible to train them to relieve their stress. Also, adults have antacids that can help alleviate the problem. On the other hand, to date, there has not yet been a strong availability of antacids designed for children. So how do you, as a parent, help your child if you suspect he is suffering from hyperacidity?

1. The first thing you can do is try to adjust his diet. There are certain foods that inarguably trigger acid in the digestive system. Top on this list would be acidic fruits and juices, such as lemon, lime, and other citric fruits like orange and pomelo. Too much sweets is also known to cause hyperacidity, especially when taken on an empty stomach. You can also try to reduce his intake of heavy meats and switch it with easier to digest vegetables and starches like potatoes.2. The next thing you need to consider is the level of stress he faces daily, and then you need to try to make adjustments as necessary. If your child is young and goes to school, the rushed preparation for the school day may be part of the irritants. In this example, you can make things more relaxed perhaps by waking up half an hour earlier. This will translate into a less pressured preparation time both for him and you. If you find him stressed over school work, perhaps finding a tutor to help him get back on track temporarily might help.3. Is he getting enough rest? A child who is sleepy tends to be cranky and therefore much more stressed than one who is well rested. For this, you will need to check his bedtime routine. If he seems to get enough hours of sleep but wakes up cranky, check if he’s waking up during the night disturbed by nightmares or unnecessary noises. You can reduce the disturbance by toning down your own night time activities, or perhaps by playing music in his room to act as white noise. If nightmares are a disturbance, check his intake of media: studies have shown that excessive TV watching, especially of material that is not wholesome or beneficial, can cause nightmares and night terrors in children.

4. Take the time to laugh! The person who coined the phrase “Laughter is the best medicine” is right on par. Not only should you try to avoid stress for your child, you can actually combat the effects of stress by having laughing sprees. Adults nowadays, especially with busy work schedules and family commitments, sometimes overlook the beauty of laughter, especially in terms of sharing it with their little ones. But this can do wonders to your child’s health, when he gets a healthy dose of good, clean fun with his parents. Whatever stress he may be facing throughout the day will likely disappear after just a few minutes of laughing, either through a funny movie or a tickle fest with his parents.

These practical tips might not seem like much, but you will see the effects when you find your child having a more relaxed and happy demeanor. And sooner or later, you can be sure you will be able to kiss his hyperacidity and the uncomfortable symptoms goodbye forever. So go ahead, you have permission to make life more fun for you and your child!

Is it Possible for Children to Get Heat Stroke?

Doc Health Plan -Anybody can get heatstroke, especially a child. Since little ones do not have fully developed central nervous systems, they do not have the capability to handle shifts in body temperature. They also find it hard to stay hydrated all the time and these facts increase their risk of getting heat stroke.

What is heat stroke? Heat stroke is a type of hypothermia which is an unusually increased body temperature accompanied by physical signs and changes in the function of the nervous system. Also known as sun stroke, this medical situation is considered an emergency and could be fatal if not treated promptly and correctly. When a child gets over exposed to heat, the temperature of the body goes up and its capacity to cool down is broken.

Kids are particularly susceptible to heat stroke. Allowing them to play outside during a very hot day or dressing them with clothes that are too warm for the hot weather, or leaving them in a parked vehicle which is just plain reckless – this can leave them dehydrated and end up with heat stroke. Bad sunburn also increases the risk of this deadly condition.

What are the symptoms of child heat stroke? The first sign of possible heat stroke in a child is heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion includes moist and cool skin, fatigue, thirst and cramped stomach or legs. If these symptoms progress to heat stroke, then the parent should observe the skin if it is red, dry and hot. Get the child’s temperature and if it measures 39.4 degree Celsius and above but the patient is not sweating, then he or she might be suffering from sunstroke. Other signs are quick pulse, confusion, dizziness, vomiting, restlessness, headache, fast but low breathing, unconsciousness, and unusual activities like a weak response when the baby is tickled or called. Common signs of dehydration should also be observed like tearless cries, sunken eyes, sticky or dry mucous membranes, less urination and irritability.

If you think that your child has sun-caused stroke, don’t panic. Have someone call for an ambulance. What you must do is to bring down the child’s temperature as fast as you can. Remember that as soon as you do something, there is a greater chance for the child to survive. One must also take note that severe heat stroke can leave the child unconscious really fast and this should be avoided.

To cool the patient down, take all the child’s clothes off and put him or her in a cool place. If you’re still outside and exposed in the sun, you must find a shade or cover. But, it is more advisable if you bring the patient inside an air-conditioned building. Elevate his head with a pillow or a towel or blanket that you have folded. Wash the child’s body using a towel or washcloth that you have soaked in cold water. Continue doing this while you’re waiting for medical help to arrive. It will also help if there is an electric fan that you can use to fan the child, if not, and then find any material like a magazine or newspaper that you can use. Speak to the child, comfort him, and tell him that he has to stay awake and that the ambulance is on its way. Do not give him something to drink and don’t attempt to let him take acetaminophen because it won’t do anything to bring down the temperature.

However, if the baby or toddler is displaying symptoms of heat exhaustion that has not developed into heat stroke yet, then bring him or her inside as fast as possible. It would be better if it is in an air-conditioned area. Let the child drink lots of water that is not too cold to avoid stomach cramps. A cool bath will be good and playing inside for the meantime is important for the child to heed. If you don’t see improvements, rush him to the hospital.

It is very easy for a child’s body to overheat, so as a parent, one must be very cautious about letting their kids go out and play active games during a hot day. Help them get used to the super hot weather by allowing them to play outside a tad at a time and lengthening this time as the week progress. Light and breezy clothes should be worn and increased intake of liquids and playtime breaks should be imposed especially during summer months. Know when to keep the kids inside when the temperature is too hot to bear.

Night Terrors: How Media Affect Children’s Sleep

Doc Health Plan -It is common knowledge that what children watch on television or videos affect their behavior. But do you know that even sleep, something that they do not have conscious control over, can be affected?

Although children normally go through night awakenings regularly, especially for younger kids, experts indicate a difference between these natural awakenings and what they call “night terrors.” Interestingly, most parenting books tell parents that when their children experience these night terrors frequently, they should consult their pediatrician.

Night terrors are characterized by rough awakenings in the night wherein the child wakes up crying and takes a long time, if at all, to be comforted. Sometimes the child will actually be awake, other times he may appear to be asleep but crying incessantly. Parents who are familiar with their child’s crying patterns may notice that the cry does not seem to be one of familiar cause, such as the usual hunger, pain, or needing company; instead, trained ears may notice that the cry sounds more like an unknown fear.

Some parenting books even go on to say that the cause of such night terrors is unknown. This gives parents little solace, especially when they experience the nightly disturbance to sleep with no idea how to comfort the little ones.

Do you know that the media that your children are exposed to can actually contribute to these night terrors? This is especially true for children below six years old, as studies prove that children of this age range are incapable of distinguishing between reality and fantasy. As such, mystical creatures that you may easily shrug off as not true may not be as impossible for your little one. It will therefore be no surprise when your little one tells you that he had a nightmare filled with dragons and monsters and other things that you know are not real.

Knowing this might help you to make wiser media choices for your children. Various experts have proven that children naturally desire beautiful and good things. This is a good starting point. Instead of struggling to undo the damage done by negative media, perhaps a better way would be to infuse your child’s media exposure with beautiful things, such as happy movies, cartoons with love as the main theme, and similar things. Some Christian families have observed the decreased occurrence of nightmares among their children when they have switched to Bible-based stories, which after all, tell them about a God who loves them and is for them. Some children also enjoy a good night’s sleep when they have happy bedtime stories told them, especially of stories that show how a hero is always looking out for their good and takes care of the big bad wolf and the dragon.

Of course, these days, it is hardly possible to screen everything your child watches, especially with the Internet being an easy access. Still, when you know how these media can cause night terrors, you might not be quite so passive about making sure your child gets a daily feeding of positive media. In addition to infusing stories into your child’s daily schedule, music can also play a role. Christian families also report that exposure to worship music at a young age causes young children to report having happy dreams of a God who loves them instead of nightmares of monsters and demons.

Now that you know how media can affect your children’s sleep, you will most likely be interested in finding more choices of videos and stories that will be beneficial to your children in the long run. After all, if you love your kids enough to give them healthy food, you will also likely want to give them a healthy feeding for their minds, as this will have greater repercussions for their lives much more than healthy eating habits.

Tummy Aches in Children

Doc Health Plan -When a child complains of a stomach ache, the main fear of parents is: what if it’s appendicitis? Of course, appendicitis is indeed a rational fear, as there seems to be no known cause and it has been shown as a possibly fatal inflammation.

But before you worry yourself to death, understand that not all tummy aches can be appendicitis. There are in fact many other possible reasons why your kid is complaining of a tummy ache, some of which you can treat, while others are simply ones you have to wait out and prevent the next time. You can consider the following as other possible causes of the tummy ache that might be ailing your little one:

1. Gas is among the major causes of tummy aches, especially in kids who might gulp in too much air, usually from eating too fast. Experts have also noted that stress seems to result in gas, especially emotions like fear and anger. Once he gets to pass the gas, he should be fine. Children generally are not prescribed medication for passing gas, but if it becomes a common problem, consult your pediatrician. In any case, training your child to eat slowly and properly may help him avoid swallowing too much air as he eats.

2. Indigestion may also be a culprit. Since it may not be possible to cure the indigestion once it happens, knowing some ways to prevent it from happening again may spare you a lot of headaches in the future. You can help your child by improving his intake of probiotics over the next few weeks. Yogurt is a good source of the healthy bacteria that helps improve digestion. Fortunately yogurt now comes in many fruity flavors that little ones enjoy. You may also check if your child is chewing his food properly. If you notice him gobbling up his food too fast, it might cause him to have improper digestion. Stop him and ask him to slow down and chew properly. Food supplements containing zinc may help improve digestion too. Share your concerns with your pediatrician and ask for his recommendation of vitamins and dietary supplements for your child.

3. Another possible cause is full bowels. Has your child moved his bowels yet? Did it seem sufficient based on his regular routine? Perhaps you might notice that the last bowel movement he had was a little less compared to usual; this might indicate constipation. If you think he is constipated, give him plenty of fluids and try to increase his fiber constipation over the next few days. You can add more fruits or whole-grain items into his diet. Oatmeal is a good source of fiber, as well as whole-grain cereals that you can serve him for breakfast. During the time when he still hasn’t moved his bowels, you can refrain from giving him fried food. If the problem persists, consult your doctor. There are laxatives designed for children but they are usually prescribed and not over-the-counter. Helping your child develop healthy habits of regular bowel movement may help, too, as it assures you that his intestines are regularly cleared.

4. Sometimes, the pain may come from microorganisms in his tummy, and your doctor will be able to diagnose it properly. If the stomach ache is accompanied by loose bowels or diarrhea, your doctor will most likely require a stool exam. If ever diarrhea happens, just make sure to keep your child well-hydrated, and check that it does not continue for more than a day or two. Sometimes a child may have diarrhea for less than a day if he had eaten something that upset his stomach, but any longer than that should be referred to your doctor.

Technically, pain from appendicitis occurs on the lower right quadrant of the stomach. In any case, if your child’s tummy ache seems to persist or comes on and off a lot, it may be best to consult your doctor so he can check other possible causes of the pain. Anything that bothers you should be enough cause to bring it up with your doctor, and he will help you find the best way to deal with your child’s tummy ache.

Does Your Child Have G6PD Deficiency?

Doc Health Plan -Newborn screening has helped doctors diagnose certain hereditary conditions in babies as early when the baby is a couple of weeks old, and one of the conditions that they can detect is a deficiency in G6PD. While other conditions are fatal, G6PD deficiency is easily managed, although there will be some nutritional considerations to take.

G6PD, or Glucose Phosphate Dehydrogenase, is an enzyme required to convert substances in the body into a reduced form, which keeps our red blood cells from getting damaged. As such, a child that lacks G6PD lacks this capacity to convert the given substance into a form that does not pose a risk of damage to the red blood cells. This means that a child with G6PD deficiency can get anemic as a result of the destroyed red blood cells. The condition is a rare hereditary condition that can affect people in different degrees from person-to-person.

If your baby’s newborn screening result shows him to have G6PD deficiency, there are ways you can care for him to take into account the condition:

1. You can help improve his resistance to infection by having regular immunization.

2. Certain antibiotic medications should be avoided, such as nalidixic acid, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, or those from the sulfa group, such as cotrimoxazole. Anti-malaria medicines like primaquine, the anti-leprosy drug dapsone, and pain relievers like high-dose aspirin should also be avoided.

3. Legumes and beans, including soy-based products, are generally not recommended for children with G6PD, as it may cause anemia. Consult your doctor for his advice, but typically he would recommend you not to introduce these foods at an early age. When the child is older, he might advise you to try to introduce them a little at a time.

4. Natural foods are preferred especially for children with G6PD. Your pediatrician will normally give you a list of foods to avoid, such as legumes and beans, but other than that, most natural foods should be safe. Try to steer clear of processed foods as much as possible, as they typically make use of soy and legume additives, or bean paste as a thickener. Thankfully groceries now offer a wider selection of fresh foods, and you can also get your pick at the local organic market. Natural fruit juices, fresh milk, and cheese, not the processed cheese food, are good additions.

5. Processed foods that you should be wary about offering a G6PD-positive child include artificial butter flavor, canned meats, chips, low-fat cheeses or cheese substitutes, sauces like Worcestershire or sweet and sour sauce, margarine, candies, or baked goods. If ever, be sure to offer any food item in small doses at first to check for any allergic response.

6. Chinese food and other similar Oriental food should also be taken in a watchful manner, as they are typically cooked with soy-based sauces or bean pastes. Korean food is very much filled with bean pastes as well. Of course, the level of intensity of a child’s G6PD-deficiency varies from person-to-person, anyway, so it is still best to check your child’s ability to ingest them.

7. When your child constantly rejects the natural, unprocessed food you offer, don’t despair. Instead, try to introduce foods one at a time, so you know which ones to improve upon should he reject them. For rejected foods, you can re-introduce them with a varied taste and perhaps a new presentation. Perhaps you can puree meat and veggies and form them into balls or patties to make them more attractive. While these sorts of challenges may also be encountered by moms whose babies are not G6PD-positive, it is more crucial for you as you cannot just resort to processed food at the first sign of trouble.

In any case, your pediatrician can give you recommendations of how to improve your child’s fight against anemia with his deficiency of this enzyme.

How to Boost Your Child’s Immune System

Doc Health Plan -Unlike adults, children are yet to develop their immune system. This is the reason why they are given essential vaccines as young as they are. It’s also a fact that small children get sick easily especially during the cold seasons. While it’s normal for your little ones to suffer from the common cold once in a while, it is not really necessary, and there are actually a lot of ways to prevent it. One is by boosting their immune system. Your children’s immune system is their body’s protection against sickness and diseases that might be too much for them to handle at their young age. By helping them improve it, they will have very little chance of getting sick with fever or cold at all.

You may ask, “How do I boost my child’s immune system?” Do you know that you can do that even when your child is still inside your womb? By taking vitamins and eating food that are essential for the development of your baby, you are actually helping boost his or her immune system even before your child comes out. Once your baby is born, you can continue boosting his immune system by breastfeeding him. Instead of giving him cow’s milk, give him breast milk to strengthen his immunity against chronic diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis, and even diabetes.

Once your children are old enough to understand, teach them the importance of healthy eating. Show them that in order for them to grow healthy and fit, they have to stay away from junk food and food that offers no nutritional value at all. In addition, it is your role as a parent to prepare healthy meals for your children so that their diet is rich in fresh fruit, vegetables, and other type of food that are essential for the development of their brain, bones, muscles, and most of all their immune system. Doing this will not only help your children become immune to sickness but will also help lower their risk for obesity which is often the cause of several health problems.

Another important thing you should teach your children is proper hygiene. Since kids love to play in the dirt, it’s easy for bacteria and germs to attack them. Therefore, teach them to wash their hands after playing outside and before and after eating their meals. Teach them to clean their bodies on a regular basis. To ensure their oral health, teach your kids to brush their teeth three times a day especially after meals. Most of the diseases that hit children are bacterial or viral in nature, so by showing them the importance of practicing good personal hygiene, you are helping them reduce their risk for diseases such as cold, flu, tonsillitis, stomach diseases, and many more.

Sleep is also essential for the improvement of your children’s immune system. Therefore, make sure your kid gets at least eight hours of sleep every night. Lack of sleep is linked to a number of health problems not only among adults but especially among children. When your children fail to get enough sleep all the time, chances are, their energy levels will become lower compared to other kids who sleep 8 straight hours at night. See to it that your kids get to bed as early as 9 in the evening, and in the afternoon, give them at least 2 hours of sleep as well to ensure that their immune system is working full time all the time.

Along with sleep, perhaps the most important thing you should teach your children in order for them to have strong immune systems is exercise. Regular physical activity doesn’t just help your children fight obesity but also helps them boost their immune system. To get your kids moving, it would help to encourage them to play sports like basketball, baseball, and football. Even a few hours of playing catch with your kids can already be a good start for them to learn to live an active lifestyle.

Finally, be a role model for your kids and live a healthy lifestyle yourself. Set an example by preparing healthy meals for the family, leading your family’s morning exercises, and staying away from bad health habits such as smoking and drinking. If you can do this, you will see your children and your children’s children living healthy lifestyles.

Is Your Childs Health Affected by Video Games?

In this day and age, every household is familiar with video games dominating the lives of the young and the not-so-young ones. With the rise of the Internet, the kinds of games that kids play have evolved from one-man games to online games that allow them to play against virtually anyone anywhere on the planet.

In and of itself, video games are nothing more than recreation for kids, but when done in excessive amounts of time, they can negatively affect other aspects of your child’s life. This is why as parents, you need to know how to deal with video games that you allow, if you do allow them, into your kids’ daily life.

The Internet has paved the way for virtually limitless possibilities when it comes to video games. For example, there are card games, board games, adventure games, and many more. Role playing games are also extremely popular, and they allow the players to connect to the game and play with the thousands of users that are logged in at any one time. Counterstrike and Ragnarok are among the most popular RPGs, along with Cabal, Special Forces, and War Rock. Even third world countries seem to be well-updated on these games, as the lowest-income child can still play them by simply playing the Internet café computer use rental, which, by now, has sunk so low that it doesn’t cause any dent on a child’s allowance.

How do you know if your child is playing too much video games? After all, when they are played in moderation, they may mean no harm. The following symptoms may tell you if you need to pull the stop sign for your child’s video gaming:

1. Is your child becoming increasingly isolated and having trouble relating with other people? Poor social skills are a tell-tale sign of too much time spent on the computer, as the child spends most of his time with virtual playmates with whom he will obviously need not to deal with directly.

2. Does your child have erratic mood swings? Too much gaming can cause swings in your child’s behavior. There is no clear explanation for this, except perhaps he has gotten too engrossed in his virtual world that he has trouble adapting to the uncertainty of the real world. For example, when things don’t go as he would like, he may be alarmingly furious.

3. Have you caught him lying or stealing? Although these may have causes elsewhere, if your child has become addicted to gaming, he will likely want to do anything just to keep playing, including lying about household chores, stealing in order to buy things related to the game, or other unusual misbehavior.

4. Do you notice a deterioration of his physical health as well as regular sleep? Does he seem disinterested in hygiene? This can come about as he begins to obsess about the time he spends playing his games. Perhaps you may notice him rushing to school regularly without having taken a shower, or he seems unusually groggy on a regular basis.

5. Does he increasingly neglect his responsibilities, from home, to school, or for older kids, work? An increasing disinterest in chores that he may have been consistent with previously may signal a preoccupation somewhere else, and most likely, the culprit could be his gaming.

If your child shows any of these signs, it may be time to set your foot down as the parent. Perhaps you can work on an agreement with your child about the number of hours he can spend on the computer. For older kids, this may be a bit difficult, but perhaps you can start by bringing the computer out of his room into the living room where you can keep closer tabs on him. Alternatively, you can give him his freedom but just set periods of no-playing-time throughout the day, such as dinnertime and after a certain bed time. Remember, your child may resent you for it at first, but in the long run it will be for his own good. After all, you would not want him to shut himself off from the rest of the family and other friends, would you?

Dealing with Colds in Toddlers

The common cold is indeed so common, but when it strikes a beloved toddler, we want to do everything possible to make things as comfortable as can be for the little one. After all, the sniffles and stuffed noses can mean that the baby will usually not be able to sleep soundly, as it is extremely uncomfortable.

Doctors typically agree that there is no way to get rid of colds until the symptoms run their course, as it is usually a viral infection, which means that all you need to do is relieve the discomfort as much as possible. Of course, there are things to look for in order to figure out whether the colds require additional doctor’s attention or you can make do with home remedies and wait for it to go away. These simple tips should help you deal with the cold in your little one.

1. The usual way that pediatricians advice parents to tell if the infection is viral or bacterial is to watch the child’s temperature. If he has a low grade fever, as long as it does not stay for longer than three days, home remedies should be fine. But if your baby develops a high fever, or if the fever stays longer than three days, your doctor will generally ask you to bring the baby in for a checkup. He will typically screen through other factors, and if he determines that the cold is bacterial, he will typically prescribe antibiotics. If he finds out that it is viral, he will likely recommend antihistamines and advice you to make sure your baby has a high intake of fluids.

2. Another tell-tale sign that doctors tell you to watch for is the color of the mucous. If it is white and clear, it is viral, and therefore needs no added medication. If it’s green or yellow-colored, it usually means there’s a bacterial infection, and as such antibiotics will normally help to get rid of the bacteria.

3. While the cold is running through its course, it is best to try to keep your toddler well-rested. Of course, this is a real challenge for active tots, but you can try to divert his attention from physically strenuous activities to perhaps quieter activities like coloring or playing with blocks.

4. Also, make sure he gets plenty of sleep. While this is difficult to do when he gets a stuffy nose, you can make use of saline solutions to soften the dried up mucous. You can usually buy these solutions at the local drugstore, in a bottle with a spray-on cap so you can spray it into your baby’s nostrils. When the mucous is loosened, you can use a nasal aspirator to pump the mucous out. If your baby is older, he may refuse to have his nose pumped, but perhaps you can start to teach him how to blow his nose. Along with that, make sure that he is well-dressed for sleep, such as warm enough during cold nights or cool enough for typically warmer nights. If he tends to kick off his blanket, dress him in good comfortable pajamas.

5. If you do give him a bath, make sure the water is not too cold, as when your baby has a cold, he tends to be more sensitive to cold water. If you can heat the water, it would be best. Alternatively, you can rub some baby oil on his body before he takes his bath, as the oil is known for sealing in warmth.

6. Be prepared for some degree of crankiness, as an uncomfortable baby can be more irritable than usual. As such, it would be best if you also get enough rest yourself to give you the strength and patience in dealing with the baby’s mood swings.

These basic tips should give you some help in dealing with a cranky baby with the colds. As you help alleviate the symptoms, he will also feel better and the lesser stress will help in speeding up his recovery, while also giving you greater time to rest as he rests more soundly throughout this period.

How to Know if Your Child Has Dyslexia

Perhaps you have found your child reaching developmental milestones averagely well, but when he starts school, you wonder why he suddenly seems to have trouble. By this point, you may be wondering if he is simply stubborn, doesn’t like school for some reason or another, such as bullying, or if he genuinely has a learning disorder.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects school children immensely, particularly since it affects one’s ability to read letters in the correct sequence when they form words. This is because dyslexia is a problem with visual-motor integration, resulting in poor reading and even writing skills. Unfortunately, dyslexia affects more than just reading and writing, as the disability typically also causes directional confusion and makes it difficult for a person to memorize sequences. This results in difficulty with tying shoelaces, doing long division, which includes several steps, or even touch typing. They may also have trouble memorizing facts that do not seem to have any personal relevance, such as multiplication tables, science facts, and history dates.

This is why it is crucial to detect dyslexia at an early age, in order for the parent to find the proper intervention to help the child learn the basic concepts he needs in life. Of course, for young children, it is quite normal for them to reverse the letters when they are learning to write, which is no cause for alarm. This is perhaps why many teachers shrug off the possibility of dyslexia at preschool age. But there are still some symptoms you might want to look out for, as children who have three or more of these signs typically should be tested for dyslexia by five years of age:

1. Does the child suffer delayed speech, such as not being able to speak any words by his first birthday?

2. Does the child frequently mix up sounds in words with multiple syllables? For example, he might pronounce spaghetti as “bisghetti,” or hamburger as “hangaberg.”

3. Does he stutter at an early age?

4. Does he frequently have ear infections?

5. Does he have trouble mastering tying shoelaces?

6. Does he have confusion about left and right, over and under, before and after, as well as other directional words or concepts?

7. Is he late in establishing a dominant hand?

8. Does he have difficulty learning letters and their sounds? Does he have difficulty writing the alphabet in order?

9. If you have frequently read him stories with rhyming words, like Dr. Seuss’ “Cat in the Hat,” does he have trouble telling you what words rhyme with what by four and a half years old?

10. Does he have trouble pronouncing L’s and R’s, N’s and M’s?

If your child shows at least three of these warning signals, you might do well to have him undergo testing for the learning disability. Take note, though, that dyslexic people do not typically make reading errors at random. There are specific types of errors that they make both for reading and writing. For example, dyslexic kids tend to be able to read a word on one page but fail to recognize it on another. They may also know phonics, but have trouble sounding out an unknown word. They may also have labored reading of single words when shown in isolation.

Of course, strangely, despite these troubles, dyslexic people have been found to be often gifted in math, as three-dimensional skills in visualization allow them to “see” math concepts unlike non-dyslexic people. But they remain challenged with rote memorization and sequencing, which might hinder their gift in math. They may also show great talent in terms of art, athletics, music, mechanical things, people skills, and being overly creative.

In any case, you need to understand that every case of dyslexia may be unique, and if you suspect your child to have it, just have him tested early, as the earlier you can have intervention, the greater chance he has of coping with this learning disability. It might help you to note that many dyslexics have gone on to become very successful people, not in spite of the condition, but rather thanks to their dyslexic gifts. As such, you would do well to have early intervention in order to highlight your child’s gifts as well!

Does Your Child Have Flat Feet?

Do you wonder why your child seems to complain about standing for a long time? Does he seem to work through his shoes rather quickly, leaving them looking worn out and squashed? Does he have trouble keeping his balance when running? Perhaps your child has flat feet.

Flat feet, known as pes planus or fallen arches, is a condition wherein the feet do not have the arch that is present in those with normal feet. It can occur in one or both feet. Of course, when you check babies’ feet, you will probably note that they all look flat, but that is because the arch has not formed yet. The arches usually form by the time the child reaches two or three years old. Unfortunately for some people, the arches never develop.

Flat feet usually do not cause serious problems, although they are usually characterized by symptoms of strain. They can come as a congenital condition, with a person born with it, or when the foot suffers extensive trauma by constantly running on hard surfaces. Sometimes, the feet may appear to have arches when the person is seated and with the big toe bent backward, but as soon as he puts his weight on the foot, the arch flattens out. Flat feet may also come as a result of years of wear and tear that weaken the tendon responsible for holding the arch.

The main symptoms from having flat feet include aching feet after standing for a while and possible swelling on the midfoot when standing. Some experience a visible deformity of the foot, or limping from the loss of push-off strength from the foot. It may also cause lower leg pain, or pain on the inside of a person’s ankle.

If you suspect your child to have the condition, the signs that you can look for include checking his shoes. If his shoes show excessive wear on the mid sole on the inside part of, between the heel and midfoot, there is a good chance that your child has flat feet. You can schedule a trip to a podiatrist to make sure the fallen arches do not affect the hip or the knee. This doctor’s visit is even more important if the child complains of pain when walking or running. The rarest case is when the flat feet are caused by foot bones that have been joined together, which keeps the bones from moving and causes pain.

There are contradicting views about whether special shoes or orthopedic inserts can help the condition. Some believe that wearing inserts helps ease the pain by giving the feet an artificial arch, but others believe that the foot development will not be affected anyway. Indeed, the inserts have been found not to affect the growth, but just seems to offer some relief while they are being worn. This is why, if your child experiences pain on his feet, the doctor is more likely to recommend a shoe insert or a heel cup to alleviate it. It would seem that flexible flat feet that do not cause any pain generally do not need to be treated.

In a few of the cases, complications can come from flat feet. This may include inflammation and pain on the ligaments on the soles of the child’s feet. It may also lead to bunions and calluses, as well as stress fractures on the lower leg. But these are considered to be limited cases, as most flat feet cases do not result in anything more serious.

Fortunately, flat feet do not necessarily limit your child’s physical activities. Although the child with flat feet may feel physical strain on his feet faster than other children, as long as he can still go on, it is no problem. Doctors typically only recommend rest when the feet get painful from overuse. Apparently, wearing special shoes, walking barefoot, or even doing foot exercises have not been proven to help flat feet.

These insights into flat feet should give you the needed peace of mind to assist your child in whatever way he needs. Surgery is usually not considered for flat feet, except in very rare cases. Still, only your doctor can help advice you on that, and most cases can be left well enough alone, so you need not worry yourself to pieces imagining worst case scenarios.

The Emotional Effects of Cartoons on Children

Many people are aware of the effect of violence on media on little children, but do you know that any kind of media has emotional repercussions as well? Children are very impressionable, and what they see in their environment tends to form a big part of what they eventually believe about themselves and about others. This is why, as parents, it is crucial that you monitor and guide your children in the kind of media they watch, while providing them a healthy and loving environment to foster their growth.

One of the unexpected ways that media affect children can be in the form of the cartoons they watch everyday. This is crucial, because as parents, we sometimes just let our kids spend hours in front of the TV as we go about our daily chores. But how do you suppose a little grows up who constantly sees pretty princesses with tiny bodies and praised for their looks? Like it or not, they can sometimes develop the mindset that their looks are all they are about. This is the early trigger of self-esteem problems that may result in eating disorders in the long run.

Still, this is not all bad, because what the media industry simply did was prey on the inherent need of every little girl to feel beautiful. However, the problem lies with how they eventually go about to achieving the affirmation for that need. Since it is literally impossible to shield your child from watching princess cartoons, what is recommended instead is to augment the things they see with what the family upholds. This can be done when you spend ample time developing trust with your children. As they learn to respect you, you can show them that true beauty does not lie on the externals but it is what is inside of them that counts. You can show them by your words and actions that they are special for who they are, not for how they look.

As for little boys, when they keep watching cartoons that compliment the strongest hero or the one that uses the most force, they may develop a mindset that being strong is all that matters, and using force can get them what they want. Eventually they may try to resort to using force whenever they do not get what they want, and it may result to other kids being hurt in the process. Or, if your child finds that he does not have the strength embodied in the cartoons, he may hide away behind a shy façade and have problems interacting with other children his age.

As with little girls, the desire to know that they have what it takes is also inherent in little boys. This is why it is crucial for parents to learn to give them this affirmation and not limiting it to when the boy performs exceptionally well. Children need to know their parents accept them just as they are, because it is unconditional love that will transform them into the adults that they have the potential to be.

In terms of love, cartoons also sometimes portray a stilted picture of love, with all the fairy-tale, dragon-slaying angles of cartoon love stories. As such they may grow up believing that love is all sunshine and roses, so when they encounter their first heartbreak, they may have trouble coping with it.

As a parent, your role is, of course, not to burst the bubble too early on, because a child still deserves to believe at some point that the world is good. But perhaps a better way would be to show them what love is like, as you show them your love even when they are being unlovable, sticking with them through thick and thin, and other intangible but visible ways.

These are just basic examples of the emotional repercussions that cartoons may have on children. But do not despair. As their parent, you still have the greatest influence on their emotional development, if you can only find the time to be involved in their lives just as you were designed to be. It was certainly no accident that you became the parent matched up with them, as you are called to give them a glimpse of a greater love that no cartoon can offer.

Child Vaccination: Is there a Link to Autism?

The development of vaccines has spelled tremendous difference in the health of nations. Historically, many outbreaks could not be contained due to the lack of preventative measures. As is often quoted in medical circles, prevention is better than cure. This holds the basic premise why children are normally vaccinated against common diseases, a lot of which can be deadly and were in fact fatal for many generations prior to the discovery of their cures and inoculations.

Along with this advancement in medical science, these last few years have also ushered in a greater consciousness among parents about the chronic development disorder called autism. Although a direct cause of the disorder has not yet been identified, many research has allowed the earlier detection of the condition based on certain behavioral cues in toddlers, or even babies younger than that age.

Autism is typically first identified between the ages of 18 to 30 months. This might have been the initial reason why some studies looked into the possibility of some vaccines administered prior to that age as increasing the risk of autism in children. For example, some studies have pinpointed certain vaccines given before the age of one year as upping the risk of autism occurrence in male children. But is there in fact scientific evidence for this claim?

These concerns typically centered on vaccines containing mercury or thimerosal. Interestingly, though, extensive reports coming from national health institutes in the United States have found that there is no proven link to these vaccines and autism. In fact, many health agencies believe the risks, if any, would be negligible and the benefits of vaccination will far outweigh any of these perceived risks.

The timing of identifying autism at about the same age range as when children typically receive vaccinations is a major reason why there was a mistaken assumption of cause and effect. But recent studies have shown increasing evidence that autism may be determined even while the baby is still in the womb during pregnancy. This at least assures mothers that they do not have to worry about vaccinations “causing” autism. If ever you do have concerns or doubts about the vaccines, it would be best to discuss your concerns with your pediatrician.

In any case, the usual vaccinations recommended for children from birth to 12 months include those against tuberculosis, whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps, German measles, poliomyelitis, and Hepatitis B. If you are concerned about the number of shots that your fragile newborn will be getting, there are actually numerous combination vaccines made available today, significantly reducing the number of injections needed.

Also, doctors typically only postpone vaccination for certain medical reasons, such as when a child is sick and has a high temperature of over 38.5 degrees Centigrade. A runny nose is not usually reason to postpone a vaccination as long as the child is otherwise healthy, or is taking antibiotics and is recovering. Experts typically prefer not to postpone vaccinations as it will put the child at greater risk for the sickness for which vaccination was held off. Of course, there are certain cases when doctors would not be able to give vaccination to children. This is typically limited to children with immune deficiency disorders, or those who are on certain medication, when the doctor determines that the vaccination may interfere with their ability to fight infection.

This is why the issue between a possible link between vaccination and autism has to be settled once and for all, as a child who misses a vaccination because his mother does not want him to have a higher risk for autism will be at risk for that particular disease supposedly combated by the vaccine.

As stated earlier, if you are still uncertain and would like your doubts put to rest, do not be afraid to ask your pediatrician. Remember, he should, and usually does, have your child’s best interest at heart, and you can partner with him in discussing your child’s condition. Also, if you have qualms about some issues in your child’s development, be sure to discuss them with your doctor, as he can help you identify possible problem areas at an early stage.

How to Raise a Non-Picky Eater

A common worry about mothers especially in this generation of rising obesity occurrences and health awareness is how to get their kids to eat healthy food. As the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure, so if you are a new mother, you can spare yourself the countless mealtime battles by starting your baby off on the right foot when it comes to food choices.

Babies typically have their own food preferences, but as a mother of a beginning eater, you have the greatest influence over his common food choices. The following tips should get you started on the road to having a healthy and non-picky eater:

1. Make sure mealtimes are enjoyable times, not battlegrounds. Even from the outset of toddler-hood, babies can already get parents into a battle of the wills at the dinner table. This usually consists of difficulty in getting the child to eat instead of play with his food. The way to make mealtimes enjoyable is to make it a fun bonding time with mom, or with mom and dad at dinnertime. Experts recommend training to be done during lunch with only mom and the baby, and to skip any reprimands at dinnertime in order to help the child incorporate into healthy mealtimes with both parents.

2. For babies, offer blander-tasting food ahead of sweeter and saltier ones. For example, when offering fruit to a toddler, try to do so after he has had the chance to eat some vegetables. That way, you may not have to force him anymore, as his taste buds have not yet been tainted with a longing for something tasting better.

Technically, in terms of the order of introducing solid food, wheat and vegetable products are also recommended ahead of fruit and other textures, so it should get you off on a good start. Then, by the time you can mix them in one meal, offer the vegetable or wheat product first, ending with fruit. Although mixing them into one bowl will tend to make feeding your baby go much faster, thanks to the sweet fruit, you might pay the consequences in later years when your child grows up accustomed to everything sweet.

3. If your child seems to dislike all healthy food after drinking cola at mealtimes, try to avoid offering it at meal times. Make a habit of drinking water throughout the meal yourself, too, so that your child will not be confused why you have a can of Coke and he cannot have any. Indeed, as in nearly all ways that children learn, imitation is still the best key.

4. Vary food choices. This way, vegetables do not always have to look like the green icky stuff that your child already dislikes. Instead, you can try to learn how to make tasty veggie-based casseroles or cream soups. This way you will be offering new treats and they will not even have to know that they are already eating blended broccoli and carrots. You can also discover ways to make smoothies out of vegetables, although these drinks typically rely on lots of sugar to make them taste good, so use them sparingly.

5. As much as possible, keep your child on a diet of fresh unprocessed foods. This means, if at all possible, limit intake of greasy chips, sugary juices and too much sweets from his toddler years. The habit formed early on will be carried through to his preschool years, and you will not have to worry about what types of food he will be eating in school. The more used he is to snacking on fruits, the greater the chances that he would make those same choices in school.

All in all, these tips would not be worth a dime if they are not followed through with your own example. Remember, your child is always watching you and what you eat, too, so your words will only fall on deaf ears if your child sees you wolfing down a gallon of ice cream in one sitting! In any case, if you have had that kind of unhealthy eating habit before, perhaps now you will have enough inspiration to eat healthy yourself!

What to Do if Your Child is Overweight

More and more children are said to be overweight in America today, even as the number of those with eating disorders is also on the rise. Many parents panic when they see their kids beginning to wolf down a greater quantity of food for some meals, and then suddenly bear down on them to shed the excess weight. Kids are generally innocent about their food choices, so it is your role as a parent to train them up instead of dictating their every move.

If you find that your child is overweight, do not despair. There is a way of encouraging your child to shed those extra pounds without making the dinner table a constant battlefield!

1. First off, you need to remember that your words can possibly have long-term effects on your child. Some children, when constantly bombarded by hurtful or insulting words from their parents, can learn to suppress their emotions or clam up away from their parents. You would not want to exasperate them with your constant nagging. After all, children also have feelings, and they are usually highly sensitive especially to words from their parents. As such, it might be best to lead by example, and not by preaching. If you want your child to eat vegetables, make sure you yourself enjoy eating them. If you yourself have poor eating habits, it will not be fair to expect your children to develop good ones, because generally, they initially learn best by example.

2. Next, remember that your goal is not a diet, but a healthy lifestyle. As such, you will need to set a good example on an overall scale. This means you do not just scold your child when he eats a second serving of cake, but you educate him on making good choices while illustrating it yourself in your own food choices. If your child constantly sees you gobbling up an entire gallon of ice cream and you scold him for eating an extra cup, you will wind up with a very frustrated child who may not want to listen to you anymore. Also, teach him about nutrition in a non-pressured environment, and hopefully not during meal time as it will come across as an unwanted lecture.

3. Instead of dictating that your child exercise, it may be a better idea to invite him on games that will get him moving. You can perhaps play a game of basketball out on your yard, or go biking along the beach. If your son or daughter is sensitive about showing his or her body, be sensitive to this and avoid picking activities that would require that, such as swimming. If he or she is not conscious about it, you can also have a good time splashing around and burning calories in the water.

4. Alternatively, you can set up friendly games with some children in the neighborhood. Some kids may enjoy playing with other children, but if your child has already gotten some beating on his self-esteem, he may not be up to it. Be sensitive to his emotions and do not make light of them; even if you think it is no big deal, for your child, feeling embarrassed to play with other children is a big issue. As you empathize with him, you may not get immediate results but the bond you form with your child will be priceless, and in the long run he will respect your suggestions so much more.

5. Lastly, avoid forcing your child to eat less. Many children turn to food for comfort at a very young age, and they will not like you constantly breathing down their necks. Instead, give them healthier alternatives without forcing it. For example, you can offer frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, home-made popcorn instead of chips, or frozen slush drinks instead of soda. Take note that the taste is not obviously yucky or else you will definitely have a hard time convincing him or her to try them. Also, steer clear of green colored stuff, as it spells “vegetable alert” all over it!

When you become used to the friendly way of dealing with your child’s weight problem, you will soon see him opening up to you in ways he never has before, and together you can solve it and see the pounds melting away without the unnecessary World War IV!

TRANSMEGA HEALTH