Infant constipation includes the absence of bowel movement as well as the passage of hard, dry bowel movements. It is a common issue when babies begin to transition from breast milk to formula or begin eating solid foods. Often constipation in infants can be remedied with a few simple dietary changes.

Tips for Preventing Infant Constipation

1. Breastfeeding is properly the most effective way to prevent constipation in infants. Breast milk is easy for babies to digest and is specially designed for their immature intestinal systems. While formula may provide the needed nutrition, it is often more difficult for little ones sensitive digestive tracts.

2. Infants often become constipated when transitioning between foods. Remember, always add new foods to your baby's diet slowly. This includes changing formula brands, offering solid food, or switching from breast milk to formula.

3. Massage your infant's abdomen. Infant massage can ease constipation as well as the pain it can cause. Massage your child's abdomen and pump his/her legs after eating and when they seem constipated. This can reduce tension in the tummy and help keep things moving along.

4. If your infant become constipated frequently, goes more than three days without a soiled diaper, is a newborn, or seems to be in substantial pain, it is time to see the doctor. Make note of any changes in the frequency of bowel movements. Monitor your child's level of pain and discomfort. Remember, as a parent, asking for advice from your pediatrician or other health care professional is never the wrong move.

5. Be wary of giving any herbal supplements to ease constipation in your infant. Discuss any medications or remedies with your doctor before administering them to an infant.

Tips for Relieving Constipation

Water. Offering your child water daily is sometimes enough to get the bowels moving once again. This should be given in addition to any regular feedings you would typically provide. Start out slowly, offering 2 to 4 ounces and then moving to more or less as you gauge your child's response.

Fruit Juice. If water does not seem to work, beginning offering your child apple, prune, or pear juice. Again, start slowly with only 2 to 4 ounces until you have a good feel for what your child needs. Adjust the amount accordingly.

Baby Food. Providing a different choice of baby food is sometimes enough to relieve constipation. Try pureed pears or prunes. Offer your child barley cereals instead of rice.

Others Tips for Relieving Infant Constipation

The passage of hard stool can sometimes be made easier by applying a small amount of water-based lubricant to the infant's anus. Babies should never be treated with mineral oil, laxatives, or enemas. However, if your child is having considerable trouble, you may want to try an infant glycerin suppository. These are available without a prescription and are only meant for occasional use.

For constipation that does not seem to have a cause and that is not relieved by any of the above, requires the attention of an medical professional. Infants can sometime suffer from underlying conditions that have resulted in constipation.

Fun Foods And Kitchen Activities For Kids

Food-Time Fun

Having kids can bring many challenges even in little things like eating. I wish I had a little more of a challenge to convince myself to eat, it's more like convincing myself not to eat.

Children can come up with all kinds of excuses at meal time and pick and poke at their food with this dumbfounded gaze into another world of princesses or pirates. What frustrates me more than anything is when I pay for a nice meal at a restaurant and an hour later I hear a little person moaning in the back seat, " I'm hungry, when are we gonna eat?" Reminding them we just ate they respond with this mental block excuse," Oh! I forgot."

We as adults usually stuff ourselves to the gills at dinner time so it's hard to understand and know how to deal with these antics in a calm, creative way.

Here is some ideas especially great for stay-at-home moms or daycare to make eating a thrill and an anticipated adventure for little ones.

Keep It Simple Yummy And Fun

Apples: 
First cut in half cross-ways so the kids can see the star in the middle. Take craft sticks and let them spread peanut butter or let them dip it in caramel dip. Apples are very healthy, my kids favorite snack.
Make their own apple sauce: 
Put three sliced apples into two cups of boiled water. Boil, mash( let kids do this with the back of the spoon), add sugar and cinnamon to taste. They can even make several batches of this and put in little jars and give as gifts with a label telling who made it.
Make their own butter: 
Put 1/2 pint of heavy whipping cream and 1 tsp of salt into a tightly sealed container.Shake several times until butter forms. You might want to sing songs or tell stories and jokes in between to pass time. With a plastic knife or wooden craft stick let them butter their bread, biscuit or crackers.
Green Eggs And Ham:
Your kids love the Dr. Suess book "Green Eggs And Ham" so read it to them and make it with them. All it will take is to add little green food coloring to the eggs and use sliced ham or even lunch meat.
Peanut Butter Play Dough:
Mix 1 cup of peanut butter, 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 cup of nonfat powdered dry milk, then form into silly shapes before eating with a side of graham or vanilla wafers.
Octopus Hot Dogs: 
Slice a hot dog two to three ways, leaving around an inch uncut at the top of the hot dog. Spread the legs out on a saucer. Then make mustard eyes nose and mouth. They love it. You can also put your octopus on a bed of ramen noodles.
Cookies: 
Let the children roll out the cookie dough and cut out neat shapes with cookie cutter. Invest in cake-decorating tips or just let them ice it and put sprinkles or candy to decorate. It is also yummy to dip half of a cookie in melted chocolate or almond bark.
Veggie Tales At The Ranch: 
Play your kids veggie tales and have them to act out their own veggie play with broccoli, celery, baby carrots, cauliflower and other veggies that are good raw. They can name them after their favorite characters and dip them in Ranch dressing ( bottled or homemade).
Fun-Shaped Pancakes: 
Learn the art of creating fun shapes while your pouring pancake better into the skillet, when your all done your kids get to guess what they are. Try hearts, boats, lips, teddy bears, puppies or you can even pour it in a heat proof cookie cutter.
Cheese Dip Swimming Pool: 
Most kids love cheese dip. They might eat a bigger helping if they act like it's a swimming pool and they are diving in, then diving back into their mouths. They can tell you a story from their own imagination. Be sure to smile and encourage their creativity.
Piggy's In A Blanket: 
This is an old favorite of most of us. Use refrigerator biscuits, hot-dogs and cheese for this quick, yummy treat. Let them help you put the cheesy pj's on the piggy's and wrap them in a blanket. This is a great take-a-long snack.
Pizza Pictures: 
Make a homemade pizza, have your kids to design a picture scene out of the toppings. Take your time and let them detail it with all the cheeses and different kinds of veggies. You can add a little green food color to the cheese to make grass, you can make green pepper cars with pepperoni wheels and olive head lights. You can have them make the pizza a picture of themselves. This would be a great craft idea for a group of kids, they can make small personal pan pizza's. Also a fun pizza party idea.
Homemade Bread: 
Children love playing with squishy things. Let the children participate in the long process of making homemade yeast bread or rolls. Educate them about yeast and how it's alive and rises. Then let them knead the dough and form the rolls. They will enjoy the anticipation of checking on the dough too see if it is rising.
Tea Parties And Picnics: 
Turning lunch time and snack time into tea parties using their little play dinnerware and tea pitcher make it more interesting and often they keep asking for refills.
Play Restaurant: 
Play restaurant, give them a menu choice, take their orders and be their waiter or waitress. Kids love when adults break down and play with them. Deliver their food and ask if they need refills etc.
Kiss The Little Cook: 
Get your kids an apron and chef hat and include them in the simple safe parts of your cooking. Let them help set the table, teach them how to do it proper, and give them a kiss on the cheek and allot of praise as the family sits down and eats what they helped you prepare.Kids are not pesky flies in the kitchen, if trained right they can cut allot of kitchen time. You can even have one cleaning up as you cook:.)
Creating Recipes: 
Parents you can have allot of memory making fun with this idea. Create a family recipe book. Teach your children about basic ingredients and how food cooks then let them create their own recipe's and name them. Have a taste testing party and try out their creations.Warning!Adult supervision required, you never know what their creations might consist of, may explode. Once the recipe is perfected they can take a picture of it with themselves for the book. "Grandma would enjoy a copy I'm sure."
Fishin Goldfish: 
All you need is a can of their favorite soup and goldfish crackers. The spoon is the fishing pole and they have to catch all the fish out of the pond. After they are all gone, re-stock the pond until the soup is all ate.
Smiley Cheese And Crackers: Somehow a bright cheesy grin makes this favorite snack more edible and they will want more:.) Use the squirt cheese for an easy smiley face:.)
Real Juice Ice Pops: 
Let them make their own Popsicles out of fruit juice, this will be a healthy tasty treat. You can even pour fruit juice into ice trays and let them add it to their water for extra flavor and color.
A Watermelon Whale: 
Kids go crazy over this!!! Take an oval watermelon and cut out a zig zag big wide open mouth. Cut out two eyes or draw them on, you can also make a tail out of the peel you cut out. The zig zag is the scary teeth. Scoop out all the melon meat and either cut it into to chunks or use a melon ball scoop. Add other fruits and fill the whale full. This is a good way to get kids eat allot of fruit. You can also make a good dip with Cool Whip, Cream Cheese and Brown or Powdered Sugar. It would also be cute to tell them the story of Jonah and the whale and do an object lesson.
Phonics and Number Lesson: 
You can teach your kids their phonics and numbers with food. This would be great for homeschooling. Each day have a new phonic and number. Make a food that has the phonic sound in it and a snack they can count. Example: The letter M - Meatloaf and 4 Big Marshmallows. Some of the more difficult letter you might have to create a fantasy name for the food.

How to Cure Toddler Constipation

Toddler constipation is something you can work towards preventing, and doing so will save you heaps of worry. Holding a screaming child while she tries to eliminate is not something I thought would be a part of parenthood. However, this scenario plays out roughly once every two days. In addition, my toddler clings to me, contorts her face in agony and tightens nearly every muscle in her body.

My heart breaks in two when this happens. When I searched the internet to find a cure, I discovered that one site would say to avoid bananas while another said to eat them and so on.

Needless to say, I was confused, so I decided to write about what actually worked for us. We got advice from a pediatrician and then took steps to change our toddler's diet.

1. Remove Bananas from the Diet: 

This food, which had a binding effect on the body, should not be eaten by children with constipation troubles. You may already know that bananas form part of the BRAT (bananas - rice - applesauce - toast) diet that is recommended for diarrhea. You certainly want to encourage foods that will NOT bind.

2. Remove Wheat from the Diet: 

This is a hard one to do. However, a wheat free diet (http://wheatfreediet.wordpress.com) is completely possible. You can substitute rice or millet bread for wheat bread. Since more people have discovered their wheat allergies, there are a number of delicious products to replace the desire or need for wheat. You can get wheat-free soy sauce, wheat-free cookies, and plenty of wheat-free flours.

3. Encourage Pears and Watermelon: 

We had a great deal of success by encouraging watermelon. The high water content and fiber helped the toddler constipation situation. The doctor recommended peaches, and that works well, too.

4. Encourage Water Drinking: 
Water is not a food favorite of my toddler. I'd add some into her milk, but the doctor suggested we get her to drink it straight. To encourage the process, I'm using bendy straws only for increasing water consumption - anything to make drinking water fun and enjoyable.

5. Reduce Yogurt and Eliminate Cheese: 
Cheese (like bananas) is binding and slows down the digestive process, so cheese is completely out. About 4 ounces per day of yogurt can be eaten according to our pediatrician.

6. Get Moving!: 
The process of walking and movement helps digestion. It probably won't be hard to encourage your toddler to move around - they are always moving! - yet be sure you take some walks or run around after meals.

7. Read a Book: 
After feeling pain with elimination, your toddler may start to withold it to avoid the pain. This could cause problems later. An excellent book to read with your toddler is: "It Hurts When I Poop" about a boy named Ryan who hurts when he poops and overcomes it.

With time, and by following these guidelines, your toddler constipation woes should come to an end. It will take dedication and patience to heal the situation completely.

Hopefully, these guidelines help you improve your toddler's constipation, so she will feel healthy and comfortable - and so she won't be scared to use bathroom.

How to cure the sleepless nights of your baby or babies

Sleepless nights

A baby who has trouble sleeping can cause many problems within the family household. The lack of sleep increases the irritability between family members, with parents snapping at older children and each other for no real reason and thus arguments occur when they need not.It is therefore very important to find the cause of your baby's sleep problem as soon as you possible can, not only for your baby's sake but also for your own sanity.There are many causes for babies having trouble sleeping, some can be dealt with easily, while others need a bit more detective work.Most babies should start sleeping through the night between 8 and 12 weeks, obviously as all babies are different, some may sleep through quicker some longer.

Why is your baby not sleeping when you put it to bed?

If your baby is not sleeping through the night then you should look at the overall situation,
Have you just moved them into a cot or a junior bed?
Have they just gone into their own room after being with you for some length of time?
Have you moved house?
Has there been something happen within the family to cause an unsettled feeling i.e. a death to close family member?
All of these things are enough to unsettle a baby at night.

Good baby Sleeping tips

One of the best ways to help your baby sleep at night is to have a very good bedtime routine. This should start the same time every night, and should follow the same pattern. For example;

6.30pm bath/shower
7pm a little play with quiet toys
7.15pm story time, maybe 1 or 2 small books
7.30pm lights out, kiss, cuddle and tell them ‘sleep tight and see you in the morning’ and maybe get them to cuddle their favourite teddy

Sleep disorders

A baby waking in the night

When a newborn first arrives on the scene you expect to be woken 2-3 times during the night, with this gradually decreasing as you get baby into a better sleeping routine. However when an older child/toddler starts waking 2-3 times in the night for no apparent reason or generally showing a total lack of sleep, it can be very annoying for the parent, and in turn you end up with a very tired toddler and parent.
So again you find yourself looking at the big picture and asking simple questions,
Are they cutting teeth? Remember a child can still be cutting teeth at the 2-3 years of age!
Are they still in a cot? It may be possible that the cot is now getting too small and they are waking themselves when they move in the night.
Have you just moved them into a child size bed? It is possible that they feel insecure by the amount of round that they have around them. Perhaps fill their bed with their favourite teddies.
Are they waking up wet with nappies leaking? This can be very uncomfortable for the child and you should be thinking about maybe cutting back drinks before bed and just allowing them to have their milk at bedtime. Or if they do not drink too much maybe you need to look at larger nappies for during the night, or even a different brand. They are all cut and fit slightly differently.
Have you started potty training but still have them in nappies during the night? If so this could be there way of telling you that they need a wee during the night.
Are they asking for a drink of juice every time they wake? If so, and you usually give your child diluted squash it could be that they are actually craving for the squash. Be brave and strong and just give them water for during the night and during the day dilute the squash so water only just changes colour.
Are they having a growth spurt and waking hungry? If so perhaps they need a more filling evening meal, meat/vegetarian option with vegetables, or maybe a pasta dish, followed by a filling pudding i.e. rice pudding, fresh fruit with any yoghurt. You could always give your child something simple to eat while you are reading a story and they are drinking their milk i.e. breadsticks or small piece of toast/bread and butter.

Wheezing in children

Wheezing in children

Scenario 1:
Logan is a chubby 5 month old who goes to day care. One evening,his mother was told by the day care assistant that he has mild fever and runny nose. The next day his mother found him to have wheeze and questionable troubled breathing. What could be the cause for his wheeze?

Scenario 2:
Max is a skinny 5 year old, who has been having repeated episodes of cough, cold and wheeze since toddler-hood. Lately his mother feels that his symptoms are getting worse and he is increasingly woken up from sleep by breathing difficulty and wheeze. Is his wheeze due to asthma?

What is wheezing?

Wheezing is a high pitched whistling sound that occurs while breathing and it is caused by the flow of air through constricted breathing tubes. It is usually heard while exhaling, but also can be heard while inhaling. It is usually caused by the constriction of smaller airways deep in the chest but also can be due to larger airway constriction. There are many causes for wheeze and the mechanism by which they cause wheeze are the following.

1.spasm or constriction of airways.

2. blockage by a foreign object.

3. excessive secretion.

4.swelling of the mucous lining of the airways.

Wheezing is a very common symptom of childhood and infancy. It is rare in the newborn period, though.

Common causes of wheeze:

1. Asthma:

Not all asthmatics wheeze and not all wheezers are asthmatics. However asthma usually presents with recurrent episodes of wheeze and breathing difficulty.Other common symptoms that must clue you are
recurrent attacks of cold,coughing, wheeze and difficulty in breathing during activities like running, jumping etcprolonged coughing that worsens at night,a general feeling of being unwell.Asthma is exacerbated during exposure to cold, pollutants, certain food like egg or milk, allergens like pollen, pet fur etc. With modern treatment asthma can be controlled very well. It is important to visit your doctor if you think that your child has asthma.

2.Bronchiolitis:

It presents as low grade fever,cough, breathing difficulty, reduced feeding with or without audible wheeze. It is common during winter or late spring. Majority of cases are caused by 'Respiratory syncitial virus', rest are caused by adeno viru, parainfluenza virus or mycoplasma. Infants usually recover in 2 weeks but may have prolonged wheeze or cough. Occasionally a child with severe breathing difficulty may need hospitalisation.

3. Transient wheezing in infancy:

It is characterised by recurrent wheeze in non atopic infants and toddlers which usually disappears when child turns three. If the symptoms are severe and the child has allergic manifestations, he can go on to have asthma.

4.Choking on a foreign object:

If the onset of wheeze is abrupt on a previously healthy child, it may be due to choking on a foreign object. The choking can be observed or unobserved, may or may not present as an emergency but always deserves prompt medical examination and treatment.

5.Allergy:

Allergic reaction to cold, pollen, animal fur, insect bite, certain food can present with wheeze. The child may have red, itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and coughing. In food allergy, following ingestion of a particular food ,the child may get a rash, watery eyes, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhoea,itching and swelling of mouth, face and neck, wheeze and a worsening breathing difficulty (which is an emergency).

6.Gastroesophageal reflux disease:

This condition begins to present at 4 weeks, peaks at 4 months and subsides by one year as the child starts to walk around and starts taking solid food. It is due to the immaturity of the sphincter which lead to reflux of stomach content back. This will present as irritability, wheeze, noisy breathing, choking and hoarseness of voice.

7.Pneumonia:

Starts with symptoms similar to common cold but progressively worsens with high fever, cough, wheezing, grunting, difficulty in breathing and chest pain. The child looks sick, feeding declines and breathing difficulty worsens. Significant distress requires hospitalisation.

8.Cystic fibrosis:

Presents with frequent cold, long standing cough, recurrent sinusitis, bulky greasy stool with offensive odour, loss of weight and nasal polyps. An observant mother notices that the baby's skin is salty to kiss.

9.Other causes:

Most cases of wheeze in infants and toddlers are associated with viral infection.Wheezing also occurs in many other conditions like heart diseases, congenital malformation of airways, dysfunction of vocal cords, chronic lung diseases etc

Croup is characterised by stridor (which is a high pitched noise while breathing), breathing difficulty , barky cough and it may also present with wheeze.

The 5 Most Common Childhood Illnesses

Along with a new bundle of joy, comes common childhood illnesses. Pediatric offices appear to be one of the many medical facilities that are filled to the brim, with anxious parents who are concerned about their child's health. From a runny nose to red bumps that appear out of nowhere, watching the clock in the doctor's office can become a nightmare. Listening to a child cry or hearing blood curdling screams while in the waiting room heightens the fear that something more severe could be wrong with your child.

Hoping to ease the pain of traveling to a doctor's office with a sick child, listed are the 5 most common illnesses among children. What to look for could your time at the pediatrics office a little less stressful.

Childhood illnesses can become a worrisome task. Hives appear out of nowhere, a large red bump appears on the arm or that sneeze does not appear to be just allergies. Due to our own upbringing we are familiar with some of the common illnesses such as a stomach, the flu, or even pinkeye. But there are many illnesses that we may have heard about and others that can be prevented. There are viral and bacterial infections that can be eliminated just by using an antibacterial soap or washing hands. When a child has a cold we should always teach them to cover their mouths and wash their hands. This lessens the chances of the infection to spread.

5. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Do not confuse this infection with hoof and mouth disease. One of the most common childhood diseases causes a high-grade fever with blisters or sores that cover the inside of the mouth, palms and soles of the feet. Blisters may also appear on the buttocks of your child.
Prone to rear its head in the Summer or Fall it is caused by a variety of viruses called enteroviruses also known in the United States as coxsackievirus A16.
Not really serious once treated the nasty little bug disappears in about 7-10 days.

4. Croup

If your child's cough sounds like he/she is "barking" this common cough is called croup. Many children are hospitalized every year when left untreated. It is caused by a group of viruses called human parainfluenza viruses, which also aides in the creation of the common cold. Rarely fatal the treatment provided assist the child with breathing normally until the cough ends. If your child is diagnosed with Croup it normally only hangs around for about a week.

3. Impetigo

Discussing the little red bumps previously that weep fluid is called Impetigo. Highly contagious and adults can get it to. It is normally found in children 2-6 years old.

It appears as a cluster of weeping red bumps that are itchy and forms a honey-colored crust over them. Touching the bumps can spread to other children and adults. If your child appears to have these little red bumps. Do not touch them and continually wash your hands. Get them to the doctor so they can prescribe an antibiotic. They will not cause scars and you will see them disappear after about a week. Give them the antibiotic as needed and do not discontinue the medicine. Follow-up with the doctor as discussed at your appointment.

2. Fifth Disease

Commonly known as the "slapped cheek" disease because it causes a red rash on the cheeks that looks like a slap mark. A red rash may also appear anywhere on the body or the arms and legs. There are rarely any symptoms but a possible oncoming cold. It will not always make your child feel ill before the rash appears.
Fifth disease is caused by the human parvovirus B19. By the age of 5 up to 20% of all children may contract Fifth Disease. By age 19 up to 60% of all children have had this disease. Not normally serious the disease can go away in 7-10 days. The infection can also cause joint pain and be misdiagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthirits. Joint pain normally disappears within 3 weeks.

1. RSV

RSV is the most common viruses of all childhood illnesses. Commonly known as Respiratory syncytial virus it wreaks havoc more often then influenza. Many of us have had (RSV) by the time we were 2-years old. Symptoms can include runny nose, cough and fever. It may appear as a common cold.

From newborn to 1 it is the most common cause of pneumonia and inflammation of the small air passages in the child's lungs. Wheezing can be one of the symptoms of RSV and it is sometimes treated with hospitalization. Wheezing will not occur in most children and approximately only 2% of all children are hospitalized.

RSV infections normally last 2 week if treated with an antibiotic. Anyone can contract the RSV virus. Eventually after catching RSV a few times, then it is treated as common cold.

There are many more common childhood illnesses. But with any illness it is best to contact your physician to get the proper diagnosis and have it treated accordingly. Always follow-up with the doctor after the first exam. If you have a newborn to 2-years old, do not ignore the signs when they are sick. Seek immediate medical attention if you believe your child/children has contracted any of these illnesses.

Stop Biting Nails for Kids

Kids Biting Nails.

If your constant nail biting in in any way causing you concern, it's high time that you seek for assistance. This write up looks at some of the easy techniques on how to stop biting nails for kids. Scroll down to know more on this.

Nail biting, scientifically known as onychophagia, is a nasty habit usually followed by many kids and even adults. Though this habit does not usually cause any serious health issue, it should be avoided since it can easily lead to very many negative effects.

For some people, nail biting is normally considered as an effective stress relief habit. Most nail biters see it hard to completely get rid of this habit since there is no specific cure for this nasty habit. Let us now have a look at some of the effective techniques that can be used to stop this habit in children.

How to Stop Biting Nails For Kids.

Here are some of the effective tricks, which might assist kids in effectively getting rid of this pesky behavior.

Applying Bitter Foul Tasting Solution on the Nails

Applying a bitter foul tasting solution on the kid's nails is a fool-proof remedy you can use for biting nails. This way, each time the child has craving to put his or her fingers on the mouth or also if unconsciously his or her fingers end up inside the mouth, the bitter tasting nails will act as an ideal reminder for him or her to stop biting nails.

It is essential also that you select a solution that is very bitter and apply it on your kids' nails. This solution should act as an aversion therapy and protect the child from being stimulated by it. Also, it is ideal that you ensure that this solution is reapplied each time the kid washes his or her hands.

Wearing Gloves

If the child has the tendency on inadvertently nibbling at his or her nails, covering up his or her hands or wearing gloves is an ideal idea. Putting on bandages or stickers on the child's fingers is another tested and tried remedy you can use to end this habit in your kid.

Offering the Kids with Rewards

This is another effective and essential technique you can use to end this habit in your kid(s). Rewards are believed to act as effective reinforcement for the changed behaviors. Thus, promise your child that you will buy him gifts if he stops this habit of nail biting.

Explaining to the Kid Why this Habit is Unhealthy

Explaining to your kid why nail biting is an unhealthy habit can also assist you stop this habit in your child. However, while explaining that, you must ensure that you use a tone that is matter of fact in order to prevent increasing the child's anxiety level.

Last but not the least; I guess by this time, you are conversant with effective ways on how to stop biting nails for kids. Start making use of these techniques today to witness their effectiveness.

What Kills Head Lice - Vinegar

It is extremely difficult to get rid of head lice. Vinegar can suffocate and kill head lice and nits.

Head lice are quite a difficult problem to deal with. It is very difficult to get rid of head lice. They can survive up to 30 days. They survive on human blood. Lice die in two days if they are not in contact with human body. Children are very likely to pickup lice at school. They can make life difficult. They are creatures which are 2mm in length. Once they infest the head, they lay eggs profusely, which hatch and multiply. Lice eggs are called nits. These eggs get glued to the hair. Lice cannot fly as they are wingless. There are a variety of methods to get rid of them. Quite a few shampoos are available in the market for the purpose. But as they contain toxic chemicals, application of these may cause allergic reaction. A number of home remedies are also available for the purpose

Vinegar Treatment

Apple cider vinegar which is made from organic apples is suited to get rid of the lice. It has a higher concentration of 5% acetic acid in water and ideally suited to for the application. Acetic acid will remove the glue and release the nits. Vinegar has to be heated. Head has to be shampooed first and warm vinegar has to be applied thoroughly to the head and scalp. Then head has to be covered with a cloth or cap to let the vinegar soak.

The acidic properties of vinegar will suffocate the head lice and kill them. Vinegar also has a pungent smell which also helps. Then head should be washed off thoroughly using shampoo. The dead lice can be removed with the help of a lice comb. The process has to be repeated, once in seven days, two or three times.

Spread of Head Lice

Lice generally spread from one person to another through physical contact. They also spread by using comb, hair band or hats of another person. Head lice can also spread from pets like cats and dogs.

Preventing Reinfestation

The reinfestation of the head lice may come from cloth or bed linen. After the shampoo bath all the bed linen and clothes have to be soaked and washed in hot water. Three or four tea spoons of vinegar can be added to this water. To prevent the reinfestation of head lice put in a few drops of lavender oil behind the ear and the neck. As lice hate the smell, it will keep them away.

What is breast milk jaundice?

Breast milk jaundice is a type of newborn jaundice which is associated with breastfeeding. It is characterised by a raised level of unconjugated bilirubin (also called the indirect bilirubin) in blood. It develops after the first 4 to 7 days, lasts for about 3 to 12 weeks and has no other identifiable cause. The cause of breast milk jaundice is not found but is supposed to be due to following reasons,

presence of pregnane 3 -beta 20- alpha diol and free fatty acids in breast milk that interferes with normal metabolism of bilirubin.
the delay in appearance of normal gut bacteria in baby's gut, due to ingestion of breast milk- which interferes with excretion of bilirubin.
Breast milk jaundice is important because

the presence of jaundice beyond 2 weeks in term babies and 3 weeks in premature babies, should alert the doctor to look for and rule out other causes of jaundice by examining the baby, testing for a split bilirubin test and if necessary performing other tests.
when other conditions are ruled out, it is important to reassure the parents about the harmless nature of breast milk jaundice and prepare them for the lengthy period that the baby could remain jaundiced (up to 3 months).

What is bilirubin?

A newborn is born with an excess of red blood cells that has to be broken up and removed from his blood.These red blood cells have a shorter life span that those of adult's. Bilirubin is one such waste product of broken up red blood cells. The bilirubin that reaches liver is called unconjugated bilirubin. In the liver, bilirubin is conjugated with a sugar to form conjugated bilirubin. Conjugated bilirubin is soluble and it is secreted in to the gut. Here it is further broken down and excreted.

The importance of understanding the metabolism of bilirubin is that the split bilirubin test which measures the levels of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin helps us to diagnose the cause of Jaundice. For example, jaundice due to liver disease usually causes a leakage of conjugated bilirubin in to blood which is detected by the split bilirubin test.

Also, such presence of water soluble conjugated bilirubin will turn the urine yellow, as kidneys try to excrete the metabolite. In cases of obstruction of bile flow due to liver disease or obstruction of bile ducts, the stools changes from the normal yellow color to white or putty color. This is very important to differentiate breast milk jaundice ( where babies pass plenty of colorless urine and golden yellow poo) from other serious causes of long standing jaundice (for example a liver disease where babies may pass dark yellow urine and pale poo).

Jaundice in newborn:

Jaundice is the yellow appearance of eyes and skin . Jaundice is very common in newborn babies. About 90% of babies become jaundiced two or three days after birth.(Jaundice occuring in the first 24 hours after birth is abnormal and must be evaluated by a doctor)

Physiological Jaundice:

When baby is in the mother's womb, his waste products are removed by the placenta. Once baby is born, baby's liver is responsible for metabolism and excretion. But, baby's liver is immature at birth and takes a few days to catch up. A newborn has an excess of short lived red blood cells which have to be removed. Such an increased work load and decreased functioning of immature baby liver can lead on to a surge in the level of bilirubin. This is called physiological jaundice. Physiological jaundice appears after the first 24 hours, reaches peak in 3 to 4 days and gradually disappears in 2 weeks. (Breast milk jaundice, on the other hand appears after 2 weeks and may last until 3 months).

Breastfeeding jaundice:

Breast feeding jaundice (otherwise called 'Not-enough-breast milk-jaundice') is different from breast milk jaundice. This occurs in the first few days of life and is due to infrequent feeding sessions, poor latching and other reasons that causes delay in establishment of breast feeding. The babies may appear dehydrated, passes scanty urine and poo. This type of jaundice can get severe if there is no intervention. The treatment is by encouraging frequent feeding (10 to 15 times per day ), helping the baby to latch properly and breast compression. A lactation consultant can help and support the mother in establishing breast feeding.

Other causes of Jaundice:

Apart from physiological jaundice, breast feeding jaundice and breast milk jaundice described above, babies can also get jaundiced in many other conditions like

Conditions that cause an increased break down of red blood cells : Examples- spherocytosis, sickle cell anaemia, G6PD, Blood group incompatibility etc.
Prematurity :Delayed clearance of physiological jaundice.
Under active thyroid gland: Delayed clearance of physiological jaundice.
Infections: A hidden urinary tract infection or sepsis in blood
Liver diseases- which are rare, but could be serious.
Symptoms of breast milk jaundice:

Breast milk jaundice occurs after 4 to 7 days of life, usually when physiological jaundice has resolved. Interestingly many infants with breast milk jaundice also had an exaggerated physiological jaundice. A second peak by the age of 14 days. After lingering on for a few weeks to months, it resolves by the age of 12 weeks.

Breast milk jaundice is often picked up by the yellowish appearance of skin and eyes during a routine examination of a new born baby during the first week. In dark skinned babies, gentle pressure can reveal the presence of jaundice. A rough correlation between the blood levels of bilirubin and the extent of jaundice is often noted (face- approximately 5mg/dl, mid abdomen-15mg/dl, feet- 20 mg/dl). However the doctor often performs a blood test to diagnose the presence or the extent of jaundice, because visual determination is often very inaccurate. Babies with high level of bilirubin tend to be sleepy.

Breast milk jaundice often runs in families. If a sibling has already had breast milk jaundice, there is greater chance for a baby to have breast milk jaundice. Babies with breast milk jaundice are thriving well, regained birth weight and gaining weight steadily, passing plenty of colorless urine (at least 6 to 8 wet diapers) and golden yellow or daffodil yellow poo.

How is breast milk jaundice diagnosed?

Breast milk jaundice is a diagnosis of exclusion- that is a diagnosis made when other conditions are ruled out.

So if a baby is still jaundiced after 2 weeks, the physician gives a thorough examination of the baby to see if the baby has any congenital abnormality, anaemia, dehydration,bleeding, any enlargement of liver or spleen etc. He enquires about the weight of the baby, number of wet diapers, color of urine and stool and if there were similar complaints with other siblings in their newborn period. He will do a split bilirubin blood test . Other tests, including blood grouping and tests to detect infection may be necessary depending on the clinical presentation. Similarly, with a prolonged course of jaundice, it may be necessary to repeat the blood test to look for a decreasing trend in the levels. Blood levels can also be measured by non invasive techniques like transcutaneous bilirubinometry.

Split bilirubin test determines if the elevated bilirubin is predominantly conjugated or unconjugated (if the conjugated fraction is greater than 20 % of the total bilirubin it indicates liver disease ).

Treatment of breast milk jaundice:

When a diagnosis of breast milk jaundice is made, it is important to allay the fear and anxiety of parents by explaining them the benign nature of breast milk jaundice. There has been claims that breast milk jaundice can be protective for the babies, citing the antioxidant role of bilirubin. Parents should also be counselled for a long period of resolution, as long as 3 months.

Mothers are instructed to breast feed the babies frequently - 12 to 15 times for the first several days. Jaundiced babies tend to be sleepy and may need to be gently waken up for a feed. Lactation consultant can help in establishing and supporting breast feeding. Frequent feeding increases the number of bowel movements that help in excretion of bilirubin.

Although studies have shown that breast milk jaundice can rapidly be brought down by stopping breast feeding (and resuming breast feeding strangely does not cause an increase in blood level to the previous level) interruption of breast feeding is not generally recommended.

If the bilirubin levels gets too high , the baby is treated with phototherapy. Phototherapy can be administered with standard phototherapy units (where the baby is made to lie ,with only diapers and eye pad, on a cot under special blue lights) or wrapped in a bili blanket. The light breaks down the bilirubin and lowers its level. Although sunlight also has the sufficient wavelength to provide phototherapy, the risk of getting a 'sun burn' while exposing the baby to sun prevent some doctors from advising so. Fibre optic phototherapy can often be safely administered at home. Mothers are instructed to feed the baby frequently despite phototherapy.

Complications:

There is no documented case of high bilirubin level led brain damage (kernicterus) due to breast milk jaundice. Babies are often put on phototherapy well before such levels could be reached.

You must call the doctor immediately if

baby is too sleepy to wake, nurses poorly, is floppy , develops a high pitched cry, arches the back or neck or throws a seizures- these signs indicate that the blood level of bilirubin is dangerously high.
if the baby's poo or urine is not in the right color, irrespective of the age , baby should be investigated.

Remember:

Breast milk jaundice is very common.
It has an excellent prognosis although it can last for up to 12 weeks.
Interruption of breast feeding is generally not recommended in breast milk jaundice.

How They Assist To Identify Head lice In Children

Not everyone knows what to look for when checking for head lice, so here are a few great examples of pictures of head lice and what you should be looking for as well as what size you can expect them to be.

Interestingly enough, head lice will sometimes be misdiagnosed as dandruff since the two have a somewhat similar look to them.This website page will tell you the best way to discern lice from numerous other unusual and wonderful things that may be found in your child's hair.

Head lice are actually about the dimensions of a sesame seed and can come in a variety of shades from clear white to opaque to brown. After they feed their colouring becomes darker. The males and the females are slightly different in form, but both have got big claws which they use to connect themselves to the head in order to feed. It is these claws that cause the itching and uncomfortableness.

Head Lice can be equally shameful and irritating simultaneously. First, there is no need for being self-conscious mainly because many clean and healthy persons end up with lice each and every day. With today's swift-moving world and most homes having both parents earning a living, a great number of children are placed in day cares or playgroups that may expose them to head lice and various common germs. The unnecessary aggravation, however, could be much more difficult to deal with.

At the first indication of head lice, go to the store and look at every one of the various products and solutions for removing head lice and you could be quickly aggravated by the enormous assortment of possibilities. Do not be, most of the various products are all alike, simply with different packaging. Now whenever you bring the treatment home, you read the recommendations and it does not appear that awful. Following several minutes of putting on the first product and keeping the hair divided, you realize that this could take a while. It's fundamental at this time to fight through this unnecessary aggravation and definitely not consider any kind of shortcuts. Skipped steps at this time will lead to an incomplete treatment and you'll be right back exactly where you began. If you believed you're discouraged before, needing to start over and with possibly more loved ones with their very own case of lice it will be a great deal more troublesome.

Developmental Milestones

Since birth, the following five years of the life of a child is of great significance. The rate of their mental and physical development is so high that it is beyond our normal comprehension to be able to conceive such a drastic rate of development. Therefore, great stress is laid by the child experts upon taking particular care of the child’s mental and physical developments during these vital years of the child’s life because the future of the child is highly dependent upon this period, the initial five years after birth. It is highly recommended for parents that they should consult their family pediatrician very often for the nutritional status of their child during this crucial time of development.

It is very commonly observed that parents consult a pediatrician only when their child is ill and not consult them regularly. For this purpose developed countries have “well baby clinics” where a child is assessed not only for his/her nutritional status, but also for his/her balanced diet, vaccination and behavioral changes, hence the parents are advised accordingly.

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

NEONATE (FROM BIRTH TO 1 MONTH OF AGE)

Soon after birth, healthy new born babies tilt their heads to one side when they are laid down. They grasp the finger if it is given in their hands, which is called Palmar Grasp Reflex. Their hands are always clenched, elbows are flexed and they give spontaneous smiles. If anything is given in their mouth, they start sucking it. New born babies give startled reactions to sudden loud noises. They are asleep most of the time.

3 MONTHS OF AGE

Infants of three months usually lift their head and chest above the surface over which they are laying using forearms as their support in prone position. At this age child starts to recognize his/her mother and few close associations. The child quiets to the sound of rattle, and smiles at pleasurable social contact.

6 MONTHS OF AGE

Infants at this age are able to sit with support and can roll over from prone to supine and supine to prone position. These babies take everything in their mouth, and reach to objects with one hand. They show friendly behavior with strangers and vocalize in single or double syllables example; “guu”, “duh”, “aah”.

9 MONTHS OF AGE

These babies can sit without any support. They can reach out for toys in which are in front of them. They are able to crawl as well as stand with support but they fall with a bump. The baby usually drops objects and lolls at fallen objects. The baby is imitates clapping and is able to respond to simple orders such as “No”, “Come here”, “Give it to me”. The baby babbles such as; “ba-ba”, “da-da”.



1 YEAR OF AGE

These babies walk with one hand held and can also walk by holding on to some support such as the furniture. One year-old child usually points to desired objects. The child also drinks from a cup or a mug with little help and also needs little help while dressing such as holding out the arm. The child can hold two separate objects separately. The child pays attention when his/her name is called. The child carries out very simple commands successfully, example “come to mama!”, “start clapping!” Excessive saliva production is also reduced.

2 YEARSOF AGE

A child of two years is fully capable of running, maintaining his/her balance and stopping precisely at will. They can climb stairs with one of their hands being held. The child can open doors and cabinets can also kick balls on request. They can also hold a pencil and scribble with it. They can turn pages of a book and often ask the names of various objects. Children belonging to this age group normally join 2-3 words to form a semi-constructed sentence. The child also refers himself/herself by his/her own name. They can verbalize to their toilet needs.

3 YEARS OF AGE

The child at this age is able to learn and then tell his/her name, age and gender. He/she is also able to kick a ball. These children can climb stairs easily and without any support, and can also jump from the last stair step. A three year-old child can walk on tip toe. The child washes his/her hands by own self. The child is also capable of standing on one foot. The child can ride a tricycle. At this age the child begins to show signs of mental intellect. He/she is able to count up to 10 and can also sing nursery rhymes. The child can build a tower of 0-10 cubes. These children are also toilet trained and do not wet their sleeping place at night.

4 YEARS OF AGE

Children from this age group are able to move downstairs with alternating steps and can also climb trees. They can draw pictures of a man with a head, trunk and legs. He/she is can use scissors to cut out pictures. The child needs companionship of other children which marks the beginning of social interaction of the child. The child is also well-trained enough to tell his/her full name, address and age. The child gets to learn the days of the week. He/she is also able to count to 20 and tell different stories. The children are also able to brush their teeth and dress and undress independently.

5 YEARS OF AGE

These children are disciplined enough to walk in a straight line. An enhancement in speaking skills, grammar and speed of speaking is also observed. They can also hop on one foot. They gain increased expertise in games. They also tend to dance on the tunes of music. They can hold anything with a very firm grip. They also gain particular expertise in handwriting and drawing. The child can count on his/her fingers. They are also aware of the 4 basic colors and their names and are also able to recognize 8-12 more colors. The child sings poems with pleasure. They are more affectionate towards younger siblings. They can draw basic shapes such as; square and triangle. They talk particular interest in listening stories and ask more questions about them.

5 Helpful Tips To Prevent Toddler Eczema

5 Infant Eczema Treatments

Here is a helpful list of tips for managing and preventing toddler eczema. Remember the most important step is prevention, this can be achieved by limiting your child's exposure to common triggers and maintaining an effective skincare routine.

Use a good moisturizer or emollient daily. The best time to apply this is straight after bathing to help lock in the skin's moisture. When the skin has eczema symptoms or is overly dry then applying it more than once a day is recommended.
Avoid scratchy materials such as wool which will only make eczema symptoms worse. The best clothing to put your child in are natural ones such as cotton. This allows their skin to breathe and prevents overheating and sweating, two common triggers for eczema in babies.
Stop using harsh soaps, shampoos and detergents and opt for mild, fragrance free ones that are specifically made for sensitive skin. Also avoid fabric softeners as they contain lots of irritants that will be left over on the clothes once they are washed.

Toddler Eczema is extremely common affecting between 10 - 20% of children.

Often seasonal changes can cause toddler eczema to flare up. Temperature extremes are one cause as well as pollen. It is best to consult with an allergist if this is one of the problems to get a good idea of how to deal with seasonal allergies. Again the key is to limit exposure to these environments as much as possible.
A major problem that can also aggravate toddler eczema and lead to infection is scratching. There are a few ways you can help your child avoid scratching or reduce the damage it is causing. Keeping the nails short is an absolute must, giving your child cotton mittens or socks on their hands will also prevent them from scratching.

How To Treat Infant Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is a common occurence in young infants that may cause parents to look for treatment for this condition.

Cradle cap may be a worrisome condition to see on a new baby, however, the condition is usually harmless and does not cause discomfort to the baby. There is no know cause of infant cradle cap. It is believed it may be related to the mother's hormones crossing the placenta during the later stages of pregnancy, which could cause hyperactivity of an infant's sebaceous glands. This can cause increased oil secretion and extra skin cells on the scalp. Cradle cap is not caused by infections, allergy, irritation or poor hygiene. In most cases, an infant will show symptoms of cradle cap during the first few weeks to months of life. Although, some infants do not develop cradle cap until later in the first year of life.

Symptoms of Infant Cradle Cap

Cradle cap appears as thick, scaly patches on a babies scalp. Sometimes it appears as greasy patches of skin that also have flaking patches of skin. Patches may appear white or yellow in color and the infant's head may also appear red. The spots may be in patches or affect the entire scalp. It may appear to look like dandruff, and after time, the patches may flake off.

Cradle cap does not usually cause signs of discomfort in an infant. However, if the condition becomes severe or is not treated, it may become itchy. This can cause an infant to scratch the scalp and leave marks that bleed or open up wounds that could become infected. It is important to keep baby's fingernails trimmed and ensure the cradle cap is remedied to prevent further irritation.

Treatment For Cradle Cap

When parents notice these symptoms on their infant, they will want to find cradle cap remedies to help get rid of the cradle cap. The easiest cradle cap treatment is by washing baby's head with a gentle shampoo and massaging the scalp. After washing, use a baby brush or comb, or a soft, clean toothbrush, to remove flaky scales. If regular shampooing is not effective, parents can try massaging baby's scalp with baby oil or petroleum jelly, let it sit for a few minutes, then brush the scalp with a soft toothbrush to remove the patches of flaky skin.

To keep the patches from returning, parents can apply a cradle cap lotion. Aquaphor is a hypoallergenic lotion that is sensitive enough for infants. It can effectively keep baby's skin hydrated and help restore healing. It is also important to regularly wash baby's head with gentle shampoo to remove any patches or scaling as they occur. Parents should also consult their infant's physician to find out what their recommendations are for treating cradle cap.

Some doctors recommend the use of an anti-dandruff shampoo in severe cases of cradle cap. To use this remedy, lay baby down on a flat surface and keep their eyes protected (anti-dandruff shampoos are strong and can cause irritation if dripped into baby's eyes). Then lather the shampoo onto the scalp and rinse thoroughly. This treatment should be used with caution, as some babies have very sensitive skin. In addition, when the skin is very red or inflamed some doctors suggest using a cortisone cream. Before using these treatments, parents should consult with baby's pediatrician.

Recurring Cradle Cap

If the cradle cap appears to be returning continuously, it may actually be caused by infantile eczema. This can appear as scaly patches of skin on the scalp and other areas of the body. The patches may appear wet or bumpy, and may become red, inflamed or flaky. Infants with eczema will usually have some amount of discomfort as the condition is itchy, so they may often scratch the spots that are affected. In these cases, the cause may be from an allergy, food allergy, sensitivity or irritation from certain products (such as detergent, lotions or soaps), family history of eczema and dry skin.

Parents should consult their pediatrician first, the physician may recommend the use of a cortisone cream. A hydrating ointment, such as Aquaphor, Aveeno Baby, or Eucerin can be applied to the affected areas to help promote healing as well. Parents should also keep baby's fingernails trimmed to prevent scratching, avoid the use of strong detergents and soaps, and look for possible causes of an allergy, such as cow's milk, fruit or nuts.

Ear Infection - how to treat ear infection

Ear infection is one of the most common problem in children. Ear has three parts, outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. Inflammation of the ear is called otitis.

Otitis externa

Otitis externa is the outer ear infection which is highly prevalent among children and swimmers. Generally, it is caused by swimming in polluted water. It is also called swimmer’s ear.
In otitis externa, the outer part of the ear (pinna) and the external auditory canal are gnerally affected. Symptoms of Otitis externa is severe pain when the pinna is moved. Other symptoms of otitis externa are redness as well as swelling of the auricles, itching of the external auditory canal, drainage from the ear and temporary hearing loss.

Common bacterias that can cause otitis external are Psuedomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and funguses like Candida Albicans.

Otitis media

The most common type of ear infection is middle ear infection which is called otitis media. Runny nose, common cold and upper respiratory tract infection leads to build of fluid in the middle ear and inflammation of the tympanic membrane or ear drum. When bacteria and viruses start growing in it, infection occurs. Pathogens travel from the pharynx to the middle ear through eustachian tube, the tube that connects the pharynx and ear.

Acute otitis media or middle ear infection is usually caused by an upper respiratory infection, injury to the ear or may be associated allergy. Symptoms may by mild, just a fullness in the ear and some hearing loss. Other symptoms of infection like pressure or pain. It can be painless as well.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacteria that causes otitis media.
For viral otitis media, respiratory syncytial virus and rotavirus are the common viruses.

Signs and symptoms of otitis in ear is due to the pressure of fluid accumulation. The inflammed Eustachin tube cannot effectively drain the fluid out. This causes pressure and pain. Other common middle ear infection symptoms are tinnitus, fever, feeling of fullness in the ear, irritability and deafness. Sometime the tympanic membrane or ear drum can rupture.

Acute otitis media can become chronic when it persists for more than three months. As pressure builds up, eardrum may rupture leading to fluid drainage to outside.

Otitis interna

Upper respiratory tract infections, viral infections and otitis media can spread to the inner ear. In otitis interna, the most common clinical symptoms vertigo and loss of balance. The inner ear maintains the balance of the body during head movements and changes in body position.

When an ear infection occurs in children they usually pull their ears, cannot sleep at night and cries for pain.

Ear infection treatment

Otitis externa is treated with topical antiseptic solutions as well as antibiotic and steroidal ear drops. Antifungal treatments with Clotrimazole and Ketoconazole creams are effective against fungal infection.

Otitis media is treated with antibiotic of choice, Amoxicillin. If allergic to this medicine, other antibiotics can be used.

For Otitis interna infection, viral medications, as well as corticosteroidal drugs like Prednisone are prescribed. For bacterial infection antibiotics like amoxicillin is prescribed.

Consult your doctor for treatment before any complications develop.

My personal experience with ear infeciton

When my child was getting ear infection one after another, even there was no runny nose or respiratory infections or swimming. I tried to figure out what kind of food he had before having ear infection, what was the extra food he had than usual. I thought may be orange juice is the one that he had the day before. I stopped giving him orange juice and he did not have any more ear infections. After six years of no ear infection, I thought may be it will not affect him anymore and one day gave him orange juice, that night he woke up at night and said his ear was hurting. Took him to the doctor and he had ear infection. Then I was confirmed that it was the orange juice which was causing the ear infection.

So from my experience, I think avoiding orange juice and any kind of citrus juice will prevent young children getting ear infection.

Home remedies for ear infection

Garlic in oil

Put one to two cloves of garlic in mastard oil and warm in low heat till the oil boils. Remove it from the heat and cool it to room temperature. Then, put two to three drops of the oil in the ear and leave it for half an hour to an hour. It will clear the infection and pain. Garlic is a powerful natural antebacterial, antiviral and antifungal agent. It is a good remedy for ear infection.

Vinegar

Mix one teaspoon of white vinegar and on teaspoon of water. Put two to three drops of this into the ear and this will clear the infection. Vinegar has antebacterial property which helps to kill the bacteria.

When do babies talk - At what age do babies start talking?

It's an important issue, when do babies talk ? And it concerns all parents. There are many special unforgettable moments during the growth of babies that are worth waiting for. Such moments are very fun and amazing for parents to watch, this includes the first time he says "mommy" or "dad", or when he learns to walk, talk and learn a few words, etc. Any new thing he can do.

But babies can really differ from each other in the developmental milestones, they don't do the same things at the same age so you shouldn't expect things at an exact age, but there is a normal range at which important events and developmental steps happen, your baby may do it a little earlier or later but stays in the normal range.

When do babies talk ?

The first sign of vocalisation appear at the age of one month with a little humming sound (aah, oh)which is different from crying. The baby then starts babbling and saying monosyllables (da, ma, ba, yaya) and laughing by then end of the fourth month.

At the age of 9 months (and sometimes before this age) he will amaze you by saying dada & mama! but not necessarily to the right persons! At the age of 1 year he will be able to identify the real parents and call them dada and mama! and of course he can identify himself and understand that you are talking to him.

From now on, he will begin building his own dictionary and can say a few words up to 10 words by the age of 18 months. Some children may be even able to say about 50 words at 20-24 months and learn a few new words every day and just imitates people. It just different from one kid to another. You better watch your words at this stage because he will be learning alot of new words (and actions) from his parents!

Then around two years of age he can form a 2-3 word sentence and refers to himself using "I" and can also use the words "me" and "you". His vocabulary grows even more to include up to 300 words by the age of three.

By the age of 4 years, your kids is going to be a real experienced speaker and can tell stories, count to ten and sing!

Keep in mind that even the most gifted kids can start talking late. Some may start by the age of 9 months while others start about the age of 18-24 months.

The learning and speech skills of your child are affected by their health state, their nutrition and emotional factors. The social and emotional environment is very importqant in the precess of growth and development for your children. Kids living in a well balanced and healthy emotional atmosphere grow appropriately both on the physical and intellectual levels.

Stuttering can be a normal thing in the early month as the child begins to learn how to talk and he can be so excited with his new abilities that he can't fully control his talking.

Talking can be delayed in case of bilingualism, if each parent is talking a different language, the child may not be able to understand or speak either of them, so take care!

Growing pains in children

Growing pains

Universally ,children in their growing years typically complain of a characteristic pain in their legs at night during their growth spurts - known as the growing pains. Growing pains are noted to have the following typical characteristics:

Occurs in children in the age group of 3 to 12 years. By teenage, most children have outgrown the pain. Some suggest that the condition peaks at two vulnerable age groups- among 3 to 5 year olds and 8 to 10 year olds.
The pain appears in the late evening or more commonly at night, waking up the child.
Pain may be mild but can be severe.
Commonly felt in the shin, calf, thighs or sometimes behind the knee, almost never in the joint.
An episode may last from a few minutes to a couple of hours.
Child is totally pain free the following day- may be fatigued due to lack of sleep the previous night.
The episodes are punctuated by pain free periods that may last from weeks to months.
Growing pain is almost always bilateral affecting both legs.
Pain is relieved by massaging, stretching or moist heat and pain killers like acetaminophen.
Despite the typical features, the cause of growing pain has not yet been found out. Current knowledge about the cause and course of the pain is largely based on experiences, as only very few studies are done on this topic.

Why do some kids get growing pains while others do not?

As already mentioned previously, the causes of growing pains are not very obvious. The proposed causes (according to studies by Dr.Yosef Uziel and Dr. Philip J Hashkes) are

Low pain tolerance: Kids with growing pains exhibited a lower pain tolerance when compared to controls.
Overuse: Kids who reported growing pains were overactive, when compared to other kids. Also parents note that when a kid has had an exhausting day, he is more likely to complain pain that night. It is not recommended to make such children to slow down so as to prevent growing pains, though.
Bone strength density : Children suffering from growing pains are found to have a low bone strength density. This along with overuse and hyperactivity is likely to cause pain.
Mechanical strain :Many children with growing pains are found to have flat foot with mild outward turning of back of foot. This could cause increased strain during activity leading on to pain.
Although the quality of life is similar to other kids, it is suggested that family environment , stress and psychological disposition often can contribute to pain. Parents note that the kid is more likely to complain of pain, when he has been mentally upset.
Other proposed causes are that the bone growth often slightly exceeds the muscle growth leading on to tightness of muscles and tendons. It has also been noted that the children with growing pains are slightly on the heavier range.

What is not growing pain?

It is very important not to miss any disease which also can present as leg pain. The following are the warning signs that clue you that the pain is not just a 'growing pain'.

If the pain is persistent or occurs even during daytime.
If the pain is increased on handling or movement. In growing pain, the child is comforted by massaging or patting his legs.
If the pain is localised in a joint, other diagnosis such as childhood arthritis should be considered, as growing pains practically never affect joints.
If the child develops a limp while walking.
If the child runs a temperature, it may signal infection and will need a thorough check up and tests.
If the child has or develops a rash.
If the child develops pain in only one leg consistently or if there is a wound, bruise or redness.
Limb weakness.
Under the above said situations, it is advisable to visit your paediatrician.Also visit your doctor, if you are getting stressed out about your child's complaint or if it starts affecting your quality of life.

What will the doctor do?

From their experience , most doctors can pick out 'growing pain' and will be able to reassure you and put your worrying mind to rest. If the doctor is not convinced about the nature of the pain or if there are other worrying symptoms, he may want to rule out other conditions like trauma, tumor, arthritis, infection etc. For this, he may order tests like x ray, bone scan, blood tests etc.

Can I prevent these pain episodes?

Nothing much could be done to prevent growing pains. Some parents say that they can prevent an episode by predicting it when the child is having a physically demanding day and by giving painkillers in advance.

Treatment:

A child crying with pain in the middle of the night can be very stressful for the parents and the child.
The child with mild pain can be comforted by helping him to stretch out his legs, gentle massaging and by applying moist heat, (along with plenty of cuddling of course).Children with more intense pain may be given painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. (Do not give aspirin to children as it can cause a rare but potentially fatal condition called 'Reye's syndrome).

Remember:

Growing pain is the most common pain disorder that presents to a paediatrician and it affects as much as 3 to 40% of children in their growing years.
Visit the paediatrician if you are worried about your child's pain. Know the warning signs.
Growing pains are part and parcel of childhood and sooner than you realise your clingy little child will turn in to a tall and shy teenager and the pain episodes will be a memory of the past.

How To Tell if your Child Has a Fever

All children pick up bugs and ailments.
No matter how much we try to protect them, kids get sick.
Most bugs are shaken off within a day or two by a healthy immune system, but are still a great worry to parents at the time.
Most bugs just make kids feel off-color and miserable, but infections sometimes need treated with medical assistance.
One of the signs parents need to look out for are high temperatures.
This is often a sign that the immune system is not coping well, and your child can become really ill.
How can you tell when your child has a fever? What are the bench-marks of a high temperature?
Certainly, you can feel your child's forehead with the flat of your palm.
The brows of children with fevers feel hot, with almost a burning heat compared to normal. However, it takes a lot of practice to be able to definitively diagnose a fever this way.
Do not be afraid to practise this, because children derive comfort from your hand being gently placed across their forehead.
To tell the exact temperature, it is much better to use a thermometer.

What are normal body temperatures?

The normal body temperature is 35.5ºC/95.9ºF to 37.2ºC/98.9ºF
Temperatures below 35.5C/95.9F are indicative of hypothermia, and are not discussed here.
Temperatures above 37.2C/98.9F are considered to be high, or feverish.
Temperatures of 38C/95.9F, 39/102.2F or even 40C/104F are not uncommon in sick children, whose immature immune systems tend to cope less well, and send temperatures higher than adults would be expected to contend with.
To prevent fever fits, it is best to try and reduce high fevers in children where possible.
It will also help your child to feel a little better.

Thermometers

The most accurate thermometers are those filled with mercury.
Mercury is highly poisonous, and because of the risk of accident, there are many digital thermometers on the market now.
As I haven't used them and so cannot vouch for their accuracy, it is seldom of great importance to know the exact reading anyway.
A child has a fever, or not.
Any thermometer will tell you that.
If a child has a high fever, or a very high fever, then home thermometers will tell you, even if they are a fraction of a degree off.
It actually makes no difference for you, or your doctor, to know.
The only thing I would caution against is using one of the ear thermometers on a sick child.
A high percentage of all childhood fevers are caused be ear infections. The insertion of a thermometer to even the outer ear would cause intense pain, and so is best avoided.

How to Reduce Fever in Children

There are various ways you can reduce your child's fever.

1. Paracetamol is excellent. Buy a proprietary liquid brand suitable for children, and give your child the minimum recommended dose for their age group.

2. Cool compress. A damp facecloth held against a feverish child's forehead will help lower temperature as well as make the child feel better. Never use freezing cold water. Rinse in hand-hot water and refresh as often as necessary.

3. Remove clothing. An over-heated body needs cooling quickly, and this can be achieved by removing warm clothing. If your child is in bed, remove outer blankets and covers, leaving only a thin sheet. If your child may start shivering, replace covers or clothing, but as this is also a sign of a high and fluctuating temperature, be prepared to remove them again at a moment's notice.

4. Tepid sponging. If your child's fever has reached 40 or beyond, then you must quickly reduce that temperature to help prevent fitting. This can be done by tepid sponging.

Take a cloth and a basin of warm water, and gently dab the skin all over your child's body. At such a high temperature, their skin will be burning hot to touch, and the warm water you add will cool their skin.

Do not be tempted to use cold water. This is too big a shock to the system.

Check your child's temperature again, and if it is still high, and you are unhappy about your child's condition, call for medical assistance.

Treat constipation in newborn babies

Babies and Constipation

As a mother of a 2-year old, I have dealt with constipation in babies many times and have treated it at home quite succesfully. During the process of treating my son's constipation, I have learnt a lot about constipation, its causes and treatments, regulating bowel movements by reading a lot, researching online and talking to doctors. Many newborn babies usually have their first bowel movement within 24 hours after they are born. Newborn babies will pass a thick greenish black like stool called meconium in the first 24 to 36 hours after they are born. After the first few days, the poop will be yellowish-orange in color and grainy in composition. If the baby does not have a bowel movement in like 3 or more days, or if there is any blood in the stool, the baby may be constipated. Consult your doctor right away to treat constipation in your infant baby.

As the baby grows older, you know the pattern of their bowel movements and can detect any future constipation. If you notice the stool to be very dry and hard like pebble during a bowel movement, your baby may be constipated. If your baby has infrequent bowel movements like once in 2 or 3 days or if the baby grunts or strains a lot during bowel movement, it does not necessarily mean they are constipated. The grunting and struggling would go away after the baby stretches and loosens the anus muscles and has had many bowel movements. The consistency and number of stools varies from baby to baby. Some may have 3 or 5 stools a day or one bowel movement after every feeding. Some may have stools once every two days.

How to detect baby constipation

1. For newborn babies, stools less than once a day with straining and difficulty to pass can be a sign of constipation.

2. Babies who pass dry, hard pebble like stools and pain during a bowel movement.

3. Some babies pull their legs up on abdomen when passing stool, even do grunting and it will turn babies face into red.

4. Abdominal discomfort along with hard and infrequent stools.

How to treat constipation in newborn babies

1. You can try giving one ounce of diluted prune juice once daily to treat your baby's constipation. Always consult with your pediatrician first.

2. You can give foods that are high in fiber such as prunes, apricots, pears, peaches, peas and plums.

3. Sometimes juices like apple and prune juice is helpful to relieve constipation in your infant.

4. Tummy baby massage: You can massage your baby's stomach by placing your hands at babys belly button and massage in a circular motion. You should continue if the baby enjoys the massage and is comfortable and relaxed. This will help the baby have a happy bowel movement.

5. Warm bath: Sometimes a warm bath can make the baby relaxed and help the stool to pass more easily. After you bath the baby, apply some baby oil or cream like vaseline around the outside of the baby's anus. Always ask your baby's doctor first before applying.

6. Bicycle excercise: You can place your baby on its back and hold the legs and turn them in a quick cycling motion.

7. Do not forget to give a couple of ounces of warm water to your baby. Always consult with your pediatrician as some may disagree with this method.

Possible causes of constipation in babies

1. Introduction of solid foods: Babies may get constipated when they start eating solid foods. This is because their diet is majorly composed of rice cereal, which is low in fiber.

2. Diets low in fiber.

3. Foods such as banana, applesauce, potato and cereals may cause constipation.

source Hubpages.com