[Share] Parenting + Babyhood

nutristation · Post time 4-5-2013 12:29 AM

Be a happy parent, raising happy children!

Child - Useful info:

Child - Sleep:

Child - Development:

Child - Food:

Is Chocolate Milk Healthy For My Child?

Child - Health:

Child - Mental:

Child - Attitude / Behaviour:

Child - Cleanliness:

Pregnancy:

Pregnancy after 35

Parents:

Health and Food Tips: 7 Healthy Eating Habits for Parents

Disclaimer: All content provided is for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional.

Last edited by nutristation on 20-6-2013 03:38 PM

nutristation · Post time 4-5-2013 12:29 AM

Ask a mom of a newborn about her child's sleep and she'll likely look at you through bleary eyes and mutter, "What sleep?" The fact is, it's perfectly normal for babies to have erratic sleep patterns -- some rest for little more than an hour at a time! But all of them need as much sleep as they can get in order to develop properly.

How much sleep do babies need?

The number of hours of rest a baby needs varies with age. Here's what doctors recommend:

Age: 1 week
Day Sleep: 8 hours
Night Sleep: 8 1/2 hours
Total: 16 1/2 hours

Age: 1 month
Day Sleep: 7 hours
Night Sleep: 8 1/2 hours
Total: 15 1/2 hours

Age: 3 months
Day Sleep: 5 hours
Night Sleep: 10 hours
Total: 15 hours

Age: 6 months
Day Sleep: 3 1/4 hours
Night Sleep: 11 hours
Total: 14 1/4 hours

Age: 9 months
Day Sleep: 3 hours
Night Sleep: 11 hours
Total: 14 hours

Age: 12 months
Day Sleep: 2 1/4 hours
Night Sleep: 11 1/2 hours
Total: 13 3/4 hours

nutristation · Post time 4-5-2013 12:38 AM

Having a baby when you're over 35 can mean more health concerns and extra tests, but it shouldn't be cause for alarm or distress. In fact, nearly 1 in 10 babies are born to women over 35, and the majority are delivered without complications.Here, a look at what older pregnant women should consider:

General health Women this age need to eat properly, exercise, and attend all prenatal appointments. Most women need to add about 300 calories to their daily diet.

Testing It's standard for women over 35 to be offered genetic testing, as the risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases at this age. You can usually choose between a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) at 9 to 11 weeks or an amniocentesis at 15 to 16 weeks. (Miscarriage risks are a bit higher with the CVS test.) If the results are positive, further tests or counseling can be arranged.

Complications Pregnancy in women over 35 can trigger high blood pressure and diabetes, and the risk of preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension) may also increase. The risk of miscarriage and stillbirth goes up with age as well, possibly due to chromosomal abnormalities or uterine fibroids (benign tumors found in nearly one-quarter of women over 35), which may interfere with fetal development. The incidence of twin births also increases and can cause preterm labor, which occurs in almost half of all multiple pregnancies. Older women have a higher rate of cesarean sections as well, which involve a longer recovery.

Emotions Moms-to-be over 35 are usually ready for the life change that comes with the birth of a baby. Managing the emotions and added strain that may accompany pregnancy, however, is important as high stress levels have been linked to an increased risk of complications. In addition to eating well and exercising, making time to relax should be a priority. Yoga, massage, and leaning on a support network of friends and family will help expectant mothers wind down during this emotionally charged time.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 02:58 PM

Your child's ability to recognize different colors heats up at around 18 months, the same time he begins to notice similarities and differences in shape, size, and texture. Then it will be a while longerbefore he's able to name the colors — most children can name at least one color by 36 months.

In the meantime, though, he'll love to practice, adding new colors to his repertoire. And he may surprise you by knowing and identifying colors even if he can't name them verbally. When you're out and about, play pointing and matching games. Say, "I see a red flower" and wait before pointing to it to see if he points first. If he's wearing a blue shirt, ask him if he sees anything else around him the same color.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:00 PM

Like other sugar-sweetened beverages, chocolate milk is okay as a special treat but shouldn't be a regular part of your child's diet.

To its credit, chocolate milk has the same nutrients as regular, nonflavored milk. Whether flavored or plain, milk is a valuable source of protein, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium, which are especially important in bone health and growth in children.

Sweetened foods and drinks appeal to kids' innate preference for sweetness. But constantly offering sugary snacks like chocolate milk can make your little one less receptive to plainer fare like green vegetables and regular water.

The upshot? Chocolate milk provides the same nutrients as regular milk but with more calories and a sweeter flavor. Given the downsides and healthier alternatives, it's best to limit or avoid it.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:01 PM

If your 3-year-old routinely sits through a video at home, he might be ready to go to the theater for a "first run" show. "Just be aware that watching a movie in a darkened theater will be a very different experience for him than watching a video in the familiarity of your family room," says Victoria J. Youcha, of Zero to Three, a nonprofit organization devoted to the healthy development of infants and toddlers. "Some children as old as 5 or 6 are overwhelmed by the experience."

The big screen's larger-than-life characters and room-rattling sound effects can be intimidating to small children. For your first film outing, choose a movie that has characters that are familiar to your child, perhaps a movie version of a favorite cartoon or book. That way he'll be so distracted by the super-sized version of his beloved characters that he might not be put off by being in a theater.

Keep in mind that your child may get fidgety, or need lots of bathroom breaks during the movie. Be sure to sit on or near the aisle and bring plenty of not-too-crunchy snacks and a drink safely enclosed in a sippy cup.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:02 PM

Because the symptoms of nasal allergies are much like cold symptoms – runny nose, watery eyes, cough, nasal congestion, sneezing – it can be tough to tell the difference. There are some telltale signs of allergies, though.

Ask yourself the following questions:
• Does it seem like your child always has a cold? Colds usually wind down in a week to ten days; allergies don't.
• Is your child's nose continually stuffy or running?
• Is she constantly wiggling, wiping, or pushing her nose up in what doctors call the allergic salute?
• Is the mucus that drains from her nose clear and thin (as opposed to yellow or greenish and thick)?
• Does she seem to sneeze a lot?
• Are her eyes itchy, red, and watery?
• Does the skin under her eyes look dark or purple or blue – what doctors call allergic shiners?
• Does she breathe through her mouth?
• Does she have a persistent dry cough?
• Is her skin irritated or broken out in an itchy red rash?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, there's a good chance your child is allergic to something in her environment. Kids with nasal allergies are also more prone to ear infections, asthma, and sinus infections.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:05 PM

During the early stages in growing up (from birth to 18 months) babies learn to trust their environment and their caretakers when their needs are consistently met. Babies cry to signal hunger, pain, or discomfort, or when they are overly tired. When adults meet their needs with attention and affection, babies begin to feel safe in their world.

Babies need the stimulation of movies, music, picture books, colorful objects, simple toys, and a lot of chatters. But don’t overdo it; they need quiet time, too. The early months of life are a period of great discovery as babies find their hands, their feet, and other parts of their bodies. As the stages in growing up continue, babies experiment with their own sounds and try to imitate the sounds they hear. Eventually, they can imitate the words of others.

Some of the physical milestones of development are sitting, standing, crawling, walking, and throwing things down. As babies begin to move around and discover things to play with, parents are tempted to show them how things work. Resisting the impulse to teach, allowing children to discover as much as possible on their own is important for their growth and self-esteem.

During these stages in growing up, daily routines provide many opportunities for children to take charge of themselves. Usually before their first birthday children will be able to feed themselves. When this happens, parents should present healthy food choices and let the children select what to put into their mouths.

During the first 18 months, it is especially important that children receive encouragement from their parents during these stages in growing up. They need to feel wanted, appreciated, and loved. This period of a child’s life is critical in forming a positive foundation for the future.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:07 PM

Is there any solution to child’s laziness to study? How to help him improve his study habits? Does your child show no interest at all to hold his book, read and study?

Unfortunately, there’s no any cure to improve a child’s laziness to study. The only possible remedy is learning to discipline the child so that he will start doing things he doesn’t enjoy. It is good to provide right discipline through consequences. Give him some sort of negative consequences for all his laziness. It could be depriving the child of watching TV, playing video games, or using the computer. You may use this if grades become very low as a result of his laziness to study.

How does child’s laziness to study happen? What are their valid reasons in showing no interest to study?

1. Often, a lazy student is not interested to do homework. There is no desire to learn and re-learn the lessons already presented. The effective teaching approach requires repetitive procedures to reinforce memory retention. For an average child or student, repeating materials over and over again is dumb and boring. As a result, the child just tunes out this method until another new material comes along.

2. For the parents, try to investigate whether the student is really bored. It could be that he really doesn’t understand what’s going on in the first place. Offer help to read his book and try to discover if materials are just the repetition of the former material.

3. Figure out the reason why your child’s laziness to study is happening. There must be a reason behind his laziness. You may start probing by asking these questions:
   - Is understanding the material hard for him?
   - Doesn’t he know the reason why old material needs reviewing?
   - Why this educational system not working effectively for him?

4. Consider also his environment. Are there lots of distractions around? Where is the television or computer? What is he doing while studying? Is his attention divided into many disturbances while doing his homework? A child’s laziness to study happens when he lacks concentration.

5. If your child loves to play games, he might be interested to study when there’s visual stimulation. RPGs are attractive illustrations that involve rich test contents as well as complicated point system. A textbook, on the other hand, is a tedious old style approach of reading, writing and learning. To a modern child of today, this old system may look dumb and will not catch his interest.

6. The child’s laziness to study may have an existing issue on his learning. Dyslexia is one of the usual problems among young children and students. This disability shows that the words being read don’t really make sense. The child does not see nor comprehend the words the way other children do. Unfortunately, words do not line up properly for them. You see words and understand them, but for them they don’t. Check it out with their school. As much as possible get some evaluations for your child if this issue of child’s laziness to study is connected with Dyslexia.

7. And finally, search about the things your child is passionate about. If you suspect your child is extremely visual in his activities, then offer materials that have images, drawings, or illustrations. If he’s lazy to read his textbooks, the material for him is mind-numbing without those attractive images.

Bear in mind that even the brain of Einstein did not work exactly the way other kids did. Even Einstein got diagnosed with impaired learning during his childhood stages. Help your kid by making necessary actions based on our tips. Keep this in mind: if the child gets interested in his schoolwork, he will always be glad to overcome the child’s laziness to study.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:09 PM

If we parents should make just one promise to ourselves that concerns children, it should be a life-long investment on health. Tips for effective parenting come only from parents having healthy eating habits. This is where strong minds and body come from. Poor parenting comes from having poor health and chronic sicknesses. Parents can only take care of their kids as much as they can take good care of their own selves.

Being busy parents is not an excuse for not taking care of ourselves. This is true when it comes to providing themselves with right food and nutrition. Without understanding the healthy eating habits, parents tend to eat less and choose the wrong kinds of food. Today, they are more concerned about their children’s welfare and simply neglect their health. All through the day, 24 hours is given to children and there’s almost no time left for themselves.

Healthy eating habits all parents should develop:

1. Consume less meat, and buy leaner cuts. Before eating, pick the leanest option, trim all visible fats from meat and remove the skin from poultry. Don’t go on a crash diet; this is risky to your health. Maintaining healthy eating habits means discipline on the part of parents.

2. Never assume that a fat-free or low-fat label indicates the right food diet. These labels do not necessarily mean the product is also low in calories. Also, watch out for sugar and sodium content. Since fat plays a big part in making foods taste good, sugar and sodium may be added to make up for the lack of fat. By going fat-free, you may take in excess calories, which are eventually converted into body fat.

3. Healthy eating habits help parents keep blood cholesterol levels. Eat more oats, carrots, chick-peas, and soybean foods. Use lots of garlic in your food. This powerful clove keeps down blood pressure, cancer, infections, and diabetes.

4. Take time to chew your food, as this prolongs eating and gives you the feeling of fullness. It also aids digestion and helps you savour the food fully. If you must reach for seconds, wait for 20 minutes after you’ve finished the firsts. It takes that long for your brain to know that your stomach is full.

5. Drink a full glass of water before a meal, and another one during the meal, even when you’re dining out. This aids digestion and makes you feel full. The healthy way to eating habits is avoiding salty foods: anchovies, smoked fish, pickles, capers, luncheon meats, salted snacks. Use honey only if you prefer its flavour. Honey is no more nourishing than ordinary sugar.

6. Eat potatoes for Vitamin B and C, minerals and protein. The potato has the undeserved reputation as a fattening food. However, it is the butter we use when we eat baked potatoes that add up the calories. Whenever possible, eat the skins of the fruits and vegetables. You get the most nutrients that way including the roughage you need. Including fibers make healthy eating habits important for parents.

7. Cut down on bacon, ham and other treated meat products. They contain sodium nitrate and nitrites are widely believed to be cancer-causing. Neither excessive fat consumption nor fat phobia is good for parents healthy eating habits. We have to get the pendulum back to the middle where there is a place for some fat in our lives.

Above all, remember that balance, variety and moderation tips form the basis of a healthful diet. These are the genuine, healthy ways to all eating habits parents can do. They need to get out nutrients from each food. This means 50 to 55% from carbohydrates, 15% from protein, and 25 to 30% from fat. Parents should learn to eat these without having guilt on themselves.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:10 PM

Obesity or overweight is a severe difficulty for children and for those parents who care about them. Large children quickly discover that adults normally are sorry for them but that peers exclude them. Being obese can obstruct a child’s capability to join effectively in a lot of activities. The most important question is that obesity is disadvantageous to the child’s health and personality. Some factors can be considered to control overeating:

1. Ask your other children to purposely help you. Tell them that you are going to buy only healthful food for snacks, and that you trust they will not complain but understand it’s really better for their bodies, too. Prepare very good but low-calorie meals.

2. Avoid nagging or showing disgust toward your son. Rather, let him know how much you care about him no matter what his weight is.

3. Try to find out a guide in his eating binges; they might happen, for instance, when he feels fed up or disappointed about his school experiences.

4. If you can get him occupied in an activity, the problem might resolve itself. This action could be a pastime (making models, taking care of a pet, collecting stamps—it really doesn’t matter what, as long as it makes him interested) or a neighborhood work (car washing, cutting of grass, etc.).

5. And, most importantly, give an overweight kid the attention on matters not related to his predicament.

Being obese and indulging in overeating are within a person’s control. It helps if you can apply these tips and find out how well they can work for your child!

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:12 PM

Physical exhaustion does affect human awareness and, as a result, it affects communication. After a long day of work and play, the not-so-hard problems may seem to be undefeatable. When parents are tired and weary, beginning to train and discipline their children are hard. Parents are inclined to be more emotional rather than rational. Here’s what you can do with your child's excuses:

1. Talk with each other when both of you have relaxed and rested. Probably over a breakfast before he becomes occupied with the activities of the day. You explain yourself as frequently engaging your son in serious talks when he is physically tired. If you want to train and discipline your child that way it might be ineffective. Most likely you as a parent can have the tears, pressures, and resentment avoided by delaying some important topics until next day. A sound, good sleep at night goes a long way in getting rid of emotional disagreements and excuses.

2. You are right that your son should take the responsibilities for his own actions and behavior, it’s an effective approach to train and discipline children that way. Your method of dealing with him helps find out his failure or success. When your son is questioned in a way you seem to be accusing him, it is less likely that he will accept his faults and wrongdoings. If a child fears unkind punishment or the anger of his parents, to offer excuses is the safest way to do. Worse, when he has developed it as a habit (putting blame on someone or something else) he will start believing made-up stories in the long run. As a loving parent begin to train and discipline your child while he is still young.

3. If you’ve recognized that your son is the one responsible for causing a problem, ask him about it in a non-penalizing, non-threatening manner. Let him feel how much you want to help him understand his problems. Parents don’t realize that to train and discipline children that way are so effective. Sooner or later, this ability will be far more functional than his fabricated excuses.

As a parent, you can help your son feel he’s truly able to solve problems. If you show love rather than reprimand, you are helping him overcome his excuses and develop a winning character. And when he’s grown up, he could train and discipline his children the way you did to him.

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:40 PM

If your baby seems fussy or sick, or if you simply are not sure if all is well, check the stool in your baby’s diaper for clues about what’s going on.

1、Greenish-black and sticky baby poop
What does it mean?
This is the first stool your baby will have after birth, and it is perfectly normal. It appears greenish-black because it contains bilirubin, a yellowish-green breakdown of red blood cells. The colostrum in your breast milk acts as a laxative and helps your baby pass the meconium in about three days.

What should I do?
There is no need to worry. This stool is normal, healthy, and temporary. (If it lasts more than three days, check with your doctor. He might want to check to make sure your baby is receiving the feedings she needs to move this through her system.)

2、Yellow and seedy baby poop
What does it mean?
This stool is normal. Breastfed babies' poop has a mild smell, and might come with loud — even explosive — sound effects.

What should I do?
Do not worry. Your baby's poop is standard. Breast milk has the ideal nutrients to help your baby stay healthy and grow strong.

3、Tan and thick baby poop
What does it mean?
Your baby's stools are normal. You should only be concerned if your baby's poop becomes hard (especially small hard balls of stool) or is watery.

What should I do?
There is no need to worry. Your baby's stool is normal and healthy.

4、Greenish-brown baby poop
What does it mean?
While it is typical to see greenish-brown poop when your baby starts eating solids, you might see this color in your baby's diaper before then. The color of this baby stool is usually normal, but if your baby has other symptoms that concern you, contact your health care professional.

What should I do?
Do not worry. This stool is normal and healthy.

5、Watery, brown, and loose baby poop
What does it mean?
The occasional loose baby stool is no cause for alarm. But if it occurs regularly for two days or more, it could be diarrhea. Diarrhea in babies can cause dehydration, and also might be a sign of infection. Usually these infections are not dangerous, but the dehydration that can result from losing too much fluid in these stools is a concern.

What should I do?
Call your health care provider if the problem persists for more than two days. The younger the baby, and the more frequent the diarrhea, the greater the concern for dehydration. Do not give your baby anti-diarrhea medication unless advised by your health care professional.

Contact your health care professional right away if you see:
- Blood or mucus in stools
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased or dark-colored urine
- Decreased activity

6、Dry, brown, and hard baby poop
What does it mean?
Occasional constipation is normal, especially with formula-fed babies, and when your baby transitions to solid foods. It could be a sign that your baby is not getting enough fluid or that he is losing too much fluid from the heat, illness, or a fever. Occasional blood streaking on the surface of the stool can result when hard stools make tiny tears in the soft tissues around the anus.

What should I do?
In a very young baby, consult your health care professional, who might recommend giving your baby small amounts of extra water. Give older babies plenty to drink. Consider adding 1 to 2 ounces of prune or pear juice to your baby's diet. If your baby is eating solids, offer foods that are higher in fiber, such as fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and add puréed prunes to your baby's cereal. Check with your baby’s doctor about altering your baby's diet or using juices.

Contact your health care professional right away if you see:
- Blood or mucus in stools
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased or dark-colored urine
- Decreased activity

7、Pinkish-red baby poop
What does it mean?
Once your baby has started on solids, you will see bowel movements that can vary in color and texture after every meal. In addition to foods, some medications also can turn a baby’s poop unusual colors.

What should I do?
Watch what your baby eats to ensure there is a link between the color of the stool and what she is eating. Examples of foods known for turning baby poop shocking colors include carrots (orange) and spinach (green). If your baby’s stool is red for no apparent reason (no cherry Popsicle®, no Froot Loops® cereal or red gelatin), call your health care provider.

Contact your health care professional right away if you see:
- Blood or mucus in stools
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased or dark-colored urine
- Decreased activity

8、Dark green baby poop
What does it mean?
In some babies, the iron sulfate in a supplement or iron-fortified baby formula can make dark green stools, or sometimes even greenish-black. There is no need to be concerned with the color change, as it has no significance to your baby’s digestive system.

What should I do?
This stool is normal. Studies show that iron supplementation does not cause digestive problems or discomfort.

Contact your health care professional right away if you see:
- Blood or mucus in stools
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased or dark-colored urine
- Decreased activity

9、Bright green baby poop
What does it mean?
When your breastfed baby nurses for short periods of time on each breast, he might get more foremilk, which is sweeter and thinner, and less hindmilk, which is richer and fattier. Your baby might need to nurse longer on each side in order to ensure enough hindmilk is consumed during each feeding. Sometimes a virus will turn your baby's stools bright green. If your baby is fussy and seems uncomfortable, contact your health care provider.

What should I do?
Try to let your baby empty the first breast before you switch to the other side.

Contact your health care professional right away if you see:
- Blood or mucus in stools
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased or dark-colored urine
- Decreased activity

10、Red-streaked baby poop
What does it mean?
Often the stools of constipated babies are streaked with red from rectal fissures, small cracks in the anus caused by pushing. You also might see streaks of mucus on the baby poop.

What should I do?
If your baby’s doctor confirms the bleeding is from a fissure, there is little cause for concern. Usually, once the constipation has resolved, the bleeding stops. If there is a large amount of blood (more than a few drops) or if the bleeding does not resolve with the softening of the stools, check with your doctor.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your health care professional right away:
- Blood or mucus in stools
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased or dark-colored urine
- Decreased activity

11、Black baby poop
What does it mean?
A black baby stool might contain blood that entered the intestines in the upper portion of the digestive system.

What should I do?
If your baby has black poop that is not meconium (which passes during the first few days of life), call your health care professional immediately.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your health care professional right away:
Blood or mucus in stools
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased or dark-colored urine
- Decreased activity

12、Chalky and white baby poop
What does it mean?
A white stool might be a sign of a liver or gallbladder problem. Bile is a digestive fluid made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Your baby's stool gets its normal color from the bile as it is excreted during digestion. If your baby's liver doesn't produce bile, or if the bile is obstructed, his stool will be white.

What should I do?
A white stool is very rare, but if your baby's poop is white, call your health care professional right away.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your health care professional right away:
- Blood or mucus in stools
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Refusal to eat
- Decreased or dark-colored urine
- Decreased activity

nutristation · Post time 14-5-2013 03:43 PM

It's an age-old question: How tall will my kid be? The traditional formula is to add Mom's and Dad's height plus five inches for a boy or minus five inches for a girl, then divide that by two. But environmental issues can come into play as well. Here, four surprising factors to consider.

Inhaled Steroids
We know that oral steroids can stunt growth, but a new study says that even inhaled steroids, like those used to treat asthma, can impact a child's adult height. “A small amount of the drug is potentially absorbed by the body, which can reduce adult height by one-half inch,” says Radhika Muzumdar, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City.

ADHD Medications
Ritalin and other stimulants prescribed for ADHD have no effect on a child's adult height, but there can be some growth delays in the first year of treatment, due to a reduction in appetite. “Some kids go from gaining two inches per year to one,” says Paul Kaplowitz, M.D., chief of endocrinology at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Reserving the meds for school days only can help.

Sleep
Yet another reason kids should get the recommended nine to ten hours of shut-eye every night: It's essential to growth. “The biggest secretion of growth hormone occurs while a child is asleep—almost two-thirds of what the body produces daily,” explains Dr. Kaplowitz. Too little sleep too often could ultimately lead to shortened adult height. The upshot: If you want to see a growth spurt, get your kid to bed early.

Diet
A balanced diet of fresh produce, dairy, and lean protein (plus regular exercise) helps kids maintain a healthy weight—which can help them reach their full genetically determined height. “Obesity can trigger early puberty, which is a child's peak time of growth,” says Dr. Muzumdar. “Once puberty is complete, kids will only get wider, but not taller.”

nutristation · Post time 10-6-2013 05:29 PM

Happier thoughts
Losing half an hour of sleep may not seem like much, but regularly missing that amount over two years added up to increased feelings of depression and lower self-esteem among a group of eighth-graders, according to new research from the University of Massachusetts. Sleep loss is normal as kids enter adolescence, but it's a good idea to keep an eye on their shut-eye -- losing too much could take a toll on kids' mental health over time.

Heartier hearts
A kid who snores could actually be harming his ticker. Compared to quiet sleepers, even mild snorers had higher blood pressure and heart rates when asleep and awake, reports a new Australian study. Researchers suspect that waking up a lot at night plus taking in less oxygen as a result of the snoring could be what's at fault. If you've got a consistent little snorer on your hands, it may be time to see the doctor.

Healthier weight
Toddlers who logged fewer than 12 hours of daily sleep were twice as likely to be overweight by age 3 than those who slept more, according to Harvard Medical School researchers. Another study found that each extra hour of sleep kids got beyond what's recommended lowered their risk of being overweight by 9 percent. The lesson: "It's not that all kids should sleep a lot," assures Harvard study author Elsie Taveras, M.D. "It's that distractions -- like a TV in the bedroom -- can keep them from getting what they need."

Sharper minds
"With enough sleep, a child typically uses three or four areas of the brain to complete a task," says Dennis Molfese, Ph.D., who researched the sleep schedules and response rates of kids ages 4 through 8. But sleep loss makes the brain less coordinated and efficient -- and it doesn't take much to have an impact. Skipping only one hour of nightly sleep for just a week can have a significant effect on kids' ability to concentrate.

Stronger immunity
More snoozing may mean less sniffling for your kid. Studies in adults show that skimping on eight hours of nightly sleep made them almost three times more likely to catch a cold. "We expect that a lack of sleep could mean a weaker immunity in kids, too," says Jodi Mindell, associate director of the Sleep Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. So if your child is surrounded by sickies at school, get her in the sack a little earlier.

Fewer boo-boos
Have a particularly accident-prone kid? Take a closer look at her sleep habits. Tired kids have twice as many injuries as their well-rested peers, say scientists at the University of Rochester School of Nursing.

nutristation · Post time 17-6-2013 03:56 PM

When it comes to teeth, the earliest milestones get the most press: Many a tweet has been devoted to that first chomper. But what about later "big boy" milestones? Here are some suggestions:

3 to 4 years: Your kid should be using fluoride toothpaste - but only a pea-size amount, and you should still be squeezing it out and brushing for him. If he's raring to take over, let him do the 'important' second pass. Introduce flossing as soon as two of his teeth are touching.
4 to 5 years: Brush together, and use a plaque-revealing rinse to double-check each other's work.
5 to 6 years: When are you off the hook? When the child can tie his shoes or print his name, then he'll be able to dole out his own toothpaste.

nutristation · Post time 17-6-2013 03:59 PM

Your baby's smile is one the most precious things about her. Even though her first set of teeth is just temporary, each tooth is important. Tooth decay can cause infections that could make baby sick, and losing baby teeth too soon can affect the way adult teeth come in and may lead to speech-development problems. So even before that first tooth pop through her gums, you should be preparing for their arrival.

Prep Work: 0 to 6 Months
Baby teeth can arrive anywhere between 3 and 12 months, though the average is closer to 6 months. Teeth are formed in utero, so those prenatal vitamins you took (they contain tooth-friendly minerals like calcium and phosphorus) play a role in your baby's tooth development.
What to watch for You might see some discoloration of the gum where the tooth is going to pop up (called an eruption cyst). It's nothing to worry about. A newly erupting tooth maybe preceded by a bruise (hematoma) or an eruption cyst. Both disappear as the new tooth emerges. The hematoma is more common than the cyst.
What you should do Get into the habit of wiping your little one's gums with a finger brush, a piece of gauze or a clean washcloth. Before a tooth breaks the surface, there may be a small opening in the gum where bacteria can hide and cause a cavity. When that little tooth does poke out, clean it with a washcloth or baby toothbrush moistened with water. Do it after your baby's morning meal and before bed so it becomes part of his regular routine. The last thing in your baby's mouth before bed should be a toothbrush or water.
Seeing a dentist A visit to the dentist should happen within six months of the appearance of the first tooth, so start checking around now for a dentist who is comfortable taking care of young children. Ask your friends and your pediatrician for recommendation. Consider pediatric dentists and those in a family dental practice.

Here They Come: 6 to 12 Months
By your baby's first birthday, she will probably have at least a couple of teeth and perhaps as many as eight. They tend to show up in this order: lower central incisors, upper central incisors and lower lateral incisors.
What to watch for Be on the lookout for tight teeth, which have no space in between and will need flossing. (Your baby's dentist can show you how; adult floss is fine to use.)
What you should do If your baby's emerging teeth bother her, offer her your finger or a chilled teething ring, gently massage her gums with gauze or a washcloth, or ask the doctor about giving a dose of an infant pain reliever.
Seeing a dentist Research shows that children who begin dental care by age 1 have fewer fillings than those whose parents wait until age 2 or 3. Getting to know a dentist at this age will help baby be more comfortable with him or her in the future, and you will get helpful guidance about how to manage habits (pacifiers and thumb-sucking, for instance) as well as tips on what to do if your baby bumps a tooth.

More to Brush: 12 to 18 Months
If your baby still hasn't gotten a single tooth by 15 months, ask his pediatrician to check his gums; a doctor can usually feel the teeth just below the surface and may suggest that you rub baby's gums to help them emerge.
What to watch for As children's teeth come in, they may start grinding them. Part of this is just a 1-year-old's pleasure in making new noises with his body, but it could also be a sign of frustration or discomfort. Check to see whether he's tired, too hot or too cold or has a stuffy nose.
What you should do Start using a child's soft-bristle toothbrush. Skip the toothpaste or use a fluoride-free toddler brand. (Swallowing fluoride can cause fluorosis.) Let your child "help" with the brushing -- you brush a bit, and then he does some.
Seeing a dentist If your child has not yet seen a dentist, make the appointment now. The dentist will answer any questions you have about your child's teeth, may recommend using a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste, and may put fluoride varnish on his teeth to keep them healthy.

nutristation · Post time 17-6-2013 04:01 PM

Babies can smile at birth, or even sooner -- ultrasounds have actually spotted upside-down frowns on babies in the last trimester of pregnancy. What's unclear is why they do it so early on. Some research shows that they smile most often as they're falling asleep and waking up. Those times are probably inherently pleasurable for babies, and their good feelings seem to create a smile.

It is true that social smiling -- when a baby breaks into a gummy grin in response to something outside herself, like the sight of your face or the start of a favorite routine -- doesn't begin until 2 months. By the time your baby is 3 to 4 months old she'll be able to pull off broader smiles that lift her cheekbones and may include laughing. You may grow addicted to making her beam at you, but follow her cues: If she smiles and then turns away, she could be overstimulated. Give her a break, let her recharge, and remember there are years of smiles yet to come!

nutristation · Post time 17-6-2013 04:05 PM

It's a thrill for parents to witness a baby milestone, whether it be the first time their baby smiles, grabs, or rolls over. But what are these milestones and when do babies reach them? And how can you tell if your child is just a late bloomer or is actually delayed? Read on.
The 9 major physical milestones

Smiling (8 weeks)
Your baby has an adorable grin, but your husband says, "That's just gas." Is he right? It depends on how old your little grinner is. An infant can't produce what's called a social smile until about 8 weeks. It takes that long for his nervous system and vision to develop enough to see you and produce a smile in response.

Smiling is a baby's first social skill  -- he's picking up on how relationships work  -- as well as a signal of emotional growth. Your baby is showing you he can distinguish between different emotional states; he's aware that the happy feeling he gets when he sees you isn't the same as the sad feeling he has when you're not around.

Rolling over (2 or 3 months)
During tummy time (which you should supervise), your baby may lift herself into a push-up position and then start to rock back and forth or kick her feet. Then, if she's strong enough, those movements will send her rolling over. (She may get startled and cry the first time!) Flipping from back to front often takes until around 5 months because it requires more coordination and strength. You don't need to coach your baby to roll, though; just make sure she has a safe place to try it out if she wants to.

Grabbing (3 or 4 months)
After the first few months, babies begin to gauge where things are in space, and they can plan an action, such as grabbing a pacifier. By simply dropping something and picking it up, your baby's learning that he can manipulate things with his hands, and he's learning more details about how his toys work. He can make the rattle produce a sound, for instance, which teaches him cause and effect. Being able to grab things means he can engage more in play  -- whether by himself or with you.

Hugging (5 months)
Your baby will quickly learn to hug Mom, Dad, and other people she's comfortable around  -- as well as her stuffed gorilla, the cat, and anything else she adores  -- by watching others hug and getting hugged herself.

Not all babies are wild about hugging, though. Some are naturally more affectionate, while others are just too busy exploring their environment to stop for a cuddle. So try not to take it personally if your baby isn't wrapping her arms around you. She might be more receptive to physical affection before naps, at bedtime, or while you're looking at a book together.

Playing peekaboo (6 months)
What is it about this game that makes your baby crack up no matter how many times you play? When a baby understands the concept of object permanence  -- that even though he can't see your face, it's still there behind your hands or his blankie  -- he gets a thrill from knowing that at any minute your smiling face will pop back into view.

A few months later, he'll be able to play along by hiding himself. How to increase the fun:
1. Sit close enough that your baby can see your eyes. It'll keep him focused on what you're doing.
2. Ask, "Where's Mommy?" Your voice will reassure him that you're still there.
3. Vary the length of time you're hiding and play with the tone of your voice to make the game more stimulating for him (and less monotonous for you!).

Sitting up (8 months)
Once your baby has enough balance, arm strength, and head, neck, and lower-body control, she'll be able to sit up and take in a whole new world. At this point, her improving eyesight will allow her to see objects outside her direct line of vision  -- and she'll try to pull herself up to get a better look.

At first, she won't be able to sit up for long on her own and may need to put out her hand for balance. To motivate your baby to sit well, dangle or set her favorite toy in front of her, then slowly move it from side to side to encourage her to reach for the toy and rely solely on her torso and legs for balance. She'll be sitting without help in no time!

Crawling (6 to 10 months)
Now that your baby's sitting up by himself, it won't be long before he's looking to broaden his horizons. He'll probably start by repositioning himself, from sitting to being on all fours. Then he'll test his arms: When he figures out that they can support him, off he'll go. Some babies start to move without doing the typical hands-and-knees crawl. Yours might shuffle across the floor on his bottom, slither on his belly, or even roll. To encourage him, clear some space. Then place things he likes (including yourself) just out of reach. And be sure to keep him safe by childproofing the house. Take a tour on your hands and knees, and remove anything your baby shouldn't get into.

Pulling up (8 months)
Until now, your baby has depended on you to help her get up on her feet. But at around 8 months, her torso and leg muscles will be strong enough for her to stand up on her own. It's also when she'll realize that she can: Her confidence has been boosted by her ability to roll over, sit up on her own, and crawl.

At first, she'll look for things to pull up on  -- the side of the crib, the arm of the sofa, your leg  -- so be sure to remove objects that aren't safe or sturdy enough for support, or that have sharp edges she can fall on. And while she may not need to grab your fingers to get up anymore, she won't know how to bend her knees to sit until she's about 10 or 12 months.

Walking (10 to 18 months)
First steps represent a huge developmental leap. Walking requires muscle strength, coordination, balance  -- and a certain level of emotional maturity, too. After all, when you're crawling, your center of gravity is just a few inches off the ground. To walk you need to have a bit more confidence. That's why some beginning walkers are content to cruise along the furniture for weeks. The more eager hike away and never look back.

On the most basic level, walking frees up your child's hands to carry items while he moves about independently. By incorporating everything he's learned from all the other milestones  -- about space, objects, and people  -- he can now bring you things. This turns a purely physical skill into a game, as well as a rich social interaction. For instance: He comes over to you with his little toy duck and you say, "Thank you." You quack a few times (to his delight), and then he takes his duck away and you say, "Bye-bye, duck."

nutristation · Post time 17-6-2013 04:06 PM

Temperament
Some kids are daredevils: the first to climb onto the coffee table to see out the window and  -- later  -- the first to jump off the diving board. They're frequently the ones who walk early. More cautious kids often want to know they can do something well before they do it all.

Natural strengths
Think of your own family  -- is there one person who's particularly good at writing or loves to build things? Individual fortes can show up as early as age 1, so a child who talks early may well end up being a talented writer or orator. This doesn't mean that children who are late bloomers in these areas won't thrive in them eventually, though.

Siblings
Kids with an older sib often reach milestones sooner than expected because they push themselves to keep up. On the flip side, having an older sibling may also mean that milestones come late  -- if, for instance, a child has an older brother or sister who gets his toys for him rather than letting him get them himself. So sometimes you'll need to act as a referee, reminding your older child to let his brother try things by himself or not to push him too hard to do something he's not ready for yet.

Premature birth
Babies born early often take longer than others to reach milestones, but by age 2 they usually catch up to their peers. In fact, pediatricians say that when gauging a preemie's development, parents should begin counting from the child's due date, not from his birth date. So a child born three months early should be expected to reach at 6 months the milestones of a 3-month-old.