5 Ways Nutrition Affects Your Child’s Mood

cute black girl chewing sweet baked dessert

We have a lot of moody kids now, and nutrition is the culprit! Here’s how nutrition could be the problem. As a parent, giving good and nutritious foods to your child(ren) is key to your child’s physical growth. Amazingly, food in our children’s guts could impact their mood (Cryan and Dinan, 2012). And yes, food doesn’t just fuel their bodies—it influences their emotions, too!

How Does Nutrition Affect Your Child’s Mood?

When it comes to your child’s mood, several factors are at play, but the easiest one to control is their diet. Firstly, foods that affect their blood sugar such as candy or soda, could lead to blood sugar spikes and mood swings. Secondly, nutritional deficiencies such as iron deficiencies, vitamin deficiencies, and omega-3 deficiencies can lead to anxiety and emotional instability in children (Richardson, 2012). Even if your doctor finds any genetic factors influencing your child’s behavior, adjusting their diet can still make a world of difference. Here’s what you need to know:

Foods to Avoid:

  • Artificial Coloring: Surprisingly, many countries have banned artificial coloring due to its harmful effects on children, including headaches, ADHD, anxiety, and severe mood swings. These colorings are often found in sweets, yogurt, and even bread. While sugar is often blamed for hyperactivity, artificial coloring is a hidden culprit that parents should avoid.
  • Preservatives: Preservatives keep food fresh longer, but can also negatively affect your child’s behavior. Common preservatives like nitrates, nitrites, and sodium benzoate are linked to hyperactivity and other behavioral issues. You’ll find these in deli meats, dairy products, and sauces, so it’s best to limit their intake.
  • Foods high in trans-fat: Foods high in trans-fat are not only bad for your child’s mood due to inflammation, but can also affect their overall health. Rather than giving your child food high in trans fat, replace their diet with fruit smoothies and mashed fruits.
  • Highly processed and fried foods: This type of food not only disrupts the sleep and behavioral patterns of children, they also causes increased stomach aches and digestive problems. Due to its availability, you might be tempted as a parent to always make this your children’s first meal choice, but homemade meals will always be a healthier choice in the long run.

Foods to Embrace:

  • Minerals (Magnesium and Zinc): Magnesium and zinc are powerful mood boosters for kids. Zinc, a key component of DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid found in cold-water fish), supports brain development, mood regulation, and better sleep. Magnesium, on the other hand, helps reduce anxiety and improves focus, especially in kids with attention disorders.
  • Vitamins (B and D): Vitamin B plays a crucial role in producing serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. Foods rich in vitamin B—like nuts, seeds, whole grains, and veggies—are essential for a happy, healthy mind. Vitamin D, often called the “sunshine vitamin,” also enhances mood, energy levels, and sleep. It’s found in liver, oily fish, and egg yolks, especially if you live in a less sunny climate.
  • Protein: Protein isn’t just for building muscles—it’s vital for brain health too! Essential amino acids from protein-rich foods like poultry, lean meats, seafood, and dairy help your child stay focused, energized, and in a good mood. Without enough protein, kids might feel sluggish, moody, and unable to concentrate.

Conclusion

Now that you know how nutrition can shape your child’s mood, remember that balance is key. Kids can be picky eaters, so finding healthy foods they enjoy might take some effort. But as a parent, you know your child best. Don’t look out for only their moods, keep their dental and overall health in mind. However, you can quickly notice if certain foods are affecting their behavior. If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to consult your child’s doctor for advice.

Have you noticed any foods that seem to change your child’s mood? Share your thoughts.

Reference:

  1. Cryan, J. F., & Dinan, T. G. (2012). Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behavior. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 13(10), 701-712
  2. Richardson, A. J., & Lukens, E. J. (2012). Omega-3 fatty acids: mechanisms of action in anxiety and depression? Journal of Affective Disorders, 140(3), 281-290.
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Causes of Pregnancy Weight and How to Manage it

pregnancy weight

The weight a woman gains during pregnancy is a critical factor for the health of the baby and the woman herself. The body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy determines the amount of weight you should gain. A normal weight is classified to be a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. Someone who is overweight is classified to have about 29.9 BMI. Someone who is also obese is classified to have more than 30 BMI.

Before we discuss about the causes of pregnancy weight, let us know talk about the risks and complications of being overweight or obese.

There are high chances that women who are obese have a high risk of complications. These complications include high blood pressure disorders like sleep apnea, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. They also have high chances of giving birth to kids who become overweight and obese.

You baby may also be affected negatively if you gain too much weight during pregnancy. In other words, your baby may be born larger than average and result to complications at birth or preterm birth.

That being said, your doctor should be of assistance in helping you managing your weight throughout pregnancy.

How Often Does Pregnancy Weight Gain Occur?

In the United States, one in five women possess a BMI of 30 or more while being at the early stage of their pregnancy. During the pregnancy stage, around one to five women gain more than 40 pounds.

The Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy Weight Gain

You can experience day-to-day issues if you are experiencing excess weight. This includes snoring or sleep apnea, breathlessness, increased sweating, heartburn, fatigue, and back and joint pain. If you must know, obesity can result to high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.

The causes of Pregnancy Weight

Not exercising your body and consuming too much food are the most common factors that contribute to increased weight. A pregnant woman can also be obese if she takes certain medications like anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and hypothyroidism.

Where Does Pregnancy Weight Come from?

Adding weight during pregnancy is not bad. It\’s recommended you aim for a weight gain of around 25-35 pounds during your 40 weeks of pregnancy (if you started out pre-pregnancy at a \” normal \” BMI. Ask your prenatal practitioner for the recommended weight gain for your profile.) But not all that weight will be in the form of extra fat. ⁣
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Here\’s a breakdown of where those pounds come from.⁣

What you Need to do to treat excess pregnancy weight

The best way to reduce the risk is losing weight prior to your pregnancy. You can improve your overall health and live a healthier pregnancy if you lose just 10 to 20 pounds.

Even though there are risks, you can still experience a healthy pregnancy if you possess excess weight. You can monitor your pregnancy for complications by following the regular parental care. You will need to provide good nourishment to your body and your baby by eating healthy foods.

1. Consume a Healthy Diet

While at home, you can practice some healthy habits to lose weight before becoming pregnant or to even assist manage your weight while pregnant.

You can help keep your weight in a healthy range by changing what you eat and consuming these foods consistently. To determine an individualized healthy eating plan, simply visit and discuss with a registered dietitian. Generally, extra calories are not needed in the first trimester of pregnancy. During the second trimester, women require about 340 extra calories on daily basis. When she gets to the third trimester, she will need about 450 extra calories per day.

2. Get Regular exercise

You can control your weight by having regular and moderate exercise during pregnancy. Every week, you should try to have at least two and a half hours of moderate exercise. To break it down, thirty minutes every day and five days a week. Before you start to exercise especially when you are pregnant, simply discuss with your doctor on the possible workouts you can perform. The reason is to prevent stressing the lower body.

Know your Limit

Do not take cigarettes, alcohol, or any illicit drugs when you are pregnant.

Click this link below to know the home remedies for irregular menstruation or periods;

Home Remedies for Irregular Menstruation or Periods
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Home Remedies for Irregular Menstruation or Periods

Irregular menstruation

If your periods come every 24 to 38 days, it is certainly regarded or even considered regular. That being said, you may be experiencing irregular menstruation if the time between periods continue to change and your periods come earlier or later.

Treatment fully depends on discovering what the result of your irregular menstruation is, but there are home remedies you can attempt to get your cycle back on track. Continue to read further to know the basic home remedies for irregular menstruation or periods.

Maintain a healthy weight

Your periods could be affected by changes in your weight. Assuming you are obese or overweight, you could regulate your menstruation or periods by losing weight. Also, you may be experiencing irregular menstruation if you are underweight. This is the main reason you need to maintain a healthy weight. If you feel that your weight has an effect on your periods, simply talk to your doctor. Your doctor may help you come up with a weight loss or gain strategy.

Exercise regularly

There are many health benefits you can gain when exercising. Exercising can even help you maintain a healthy weight and effectively treat primary dysmenorrheal. Even though there have not been enough research on how exercise can affect menstruation, it can certainly help control weight which may, in turn help to regulate your menstrual periods.

Add some cinnamon

For some menstrual issues, cinnamon appears to benefit women. A study of 2004 discovered that cinnamon helps to regulate menstrual cycles and is even considered a treatment option for women with PCOS. This study has proven that cinnamon helps to reduce menstrual pain and bleeding. It also relieves vomiting and nausea related to primary dysmenorrheal.

Ginger

If you intend to treat irregular menstruation, also consider using ginger; though there has not been any scientific evidence to show it is the real deal. A recent study showed that taking ginger supplements on a daily basis may help limit the amount of blood lost during menstruation.

In other words, if you take 750 to 2,000 mg of ginger powder during the first three to four days of your menstruation, it may help to treat painful periods. Another study proved that the consumption of ginger for one week before your period may be effective.

Consume Apple Cider Vinegar

A study published in 2013 proved that consuming 0.53 oz of apple cider vinegar may re-establish ovulatory menstruation in women with PCOS. Also, consuming the apple cider vinegar may reduce blood sugar and insulin as well as your weight.

For some people, it may be difficult to consume, since it possesses a bitter taste. Assuming you intend to take it but go through a hard time, it is advisable to use a flavor to take it. You can consider using water to dilute it or even adding a tablespoon of honey to consume it.

Keep in mind that 15 grams of apple cider vinegar a day may be of assistance in regulating menstruation in women with PCOS.

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Ways to Remove Lice from Your Child’s Hair

Lice treatment

Before now, when people hear lice, they quickly imagine, \”how dirty can you?\”. But now it is known that having lice infestation doesn\’t mean you are dirty. And if you find lice on your child\’s hair, don\’t think you are not a good enough mother. The lifecycle and lice infestation pattern ease the transfer from an infected host to a new host quickly.

When you begin treating lice on a child\’s hair, check the other siblings\’ scalp and hair to make sure it hasn\’t spread. It is best if you take care of all the children\’s hair and even your hair as the mother because of how it spreads, which we will discuss below.

STEPS TO REMOVE LICES WITHOUT PESTICIDE

Use of shampoo and conditioner
  1. Get nits comb or fine-toothed comb, delousing shampoo or ordinary shampoo and conditioner.
  2. Wash the hair with shampoo and rinse off with clean water.
  3. Apply hair conditioner to the shampooed hair and allow hair stand for 10 to 20 minutes.
  4. Use the nits comb to comb out the hair gently but thoroughly. For every comb out, rinse out the comb to prevent returning any comb louse and nits.
  5. Rinse out the hair with warm water.
  6. Gently towel dry the hair.
  7. Apply coconut oil or any hair growth oil you have. Oil immobilizes any louse left in the hair and prevents them from biting your scalp. And consistently keep your child\’s hair laced with oil to immobilize the lice
  8. After every 3 days, repeat steps 1 to 7 for 10 to 14 days.

This process is suitable for a child of any age and will prevent any damage from chemicals, especially in babies less than two years of age

Use of heat
  • Get a hand dryer, hair straightener, or hairdryer ready.
  • After shampooing and conditioning the hair, apply hair heat serum and coconut oil to the hair. The hair heat serum protects the hair from the effect of the heating element on the hair, and coconut oil fix the lice in one place.
  • Take your plugged-in blow drier close to the scalp and comb out the hair with nits or fine-toothed comb, gently and repeatedly.
  • Or work the hair straightener from the hair\’s root up and comb out with the nits\’ comb to take out the dead lice and the nits(eggs).
  • Wash the beddings and clothes that were used before treatmentRepeat these steps three times every three days.

Heat dries out and kills the lice and sometimes the nits. The comb and oil make the removal of the nits easier from the hair.   Because the nits can be challenging work, no process of lice removal is one-off. Repeated processes are to take care of nits that might have hatched after the last time you worked on your hair to prevent them from breeding and multiplying. The aim is to eliminate them.

Understanding the life cycle of lice

Lice are tiny black or brown insects that only thrives on human hair and scalp and cannot survive outside the scalp for long; they die within 48 hours after they fall off. They grow and multiply by sucking blood from the scalp. Because louse does not fly, it can only crawl. Lice infestation only occurs when there is head-to-head contact with an infected carrier.  

The louse begins as a nit (egg), a whitish-yellow speck that could be mistaken for flakes of dandruff. The nit attaches itself firmly to the hair strand very close to the scalp so that it cannot easily be removed. It hatches into the young louse called lymph in seven to ten days, which then matures into an adult louse in nine to twelve days. The adult louse is not usually bigger than 2 millimeters. The adult louse lives up to three to four weeks on the hair, and in that space of time, it would have produced thousands of eggs.  

                       
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Foods That Will Make Your Kids Grow Tall

Genetic makeup plays a significant role in the height of a child. No one likes dwarfism, and parents ensure that their kids grow to a certain optimum height. Also, height is affected by external factors like nutrition and lifestyle. But nutrition plays a vital role in overall body growth, and height is one of the benefits.

Healthy feeding right from birth will go a long way in height determination. The parent\’s genes will also be a contributory factor that can predict the kid\’s height. The genetic factor passed onto a child cannot be changed. The food and lifestyle you inculcate can also support growth.

What is responsible for growth in kids? 

The relationship between height and food in children cannot be overemphasized. If you follow the recommended diet, there will be a rapid increase even if the parents are not too tall. The logic is that, if you and your partner are tall, your child\’s chance of being tall is also high. If you and your partner are short, the probability of the child tending towards the shortness is predictable. What most parents are unaware of is that the height of their kids lies in their hands. They can help the child by feeding with diets that help in height growth.

For a female child, she reaches her maximum height at age nineteen, while males can keep growing till age twenty-five. In the body, the pituitary gland plays a significant role in height determination. It secretes the Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which is responsible for an increase in height.

During the growth years, there are several numbers of foods that can help in stimulating the function of the Human Growth Hormone. This will help in attaining the maximum height obtainable within those growing periods.

Therefore, the relationship between food and your kid\’s height should be fully understood. The type of nutrients that will help the child grow as well as the procedures must be known.

Read Also: Benefits of Homemade Food for Babies & Toddlers

Nutrients requirements needed to help your child grow taller

A kid needs a well-balanced diet as well as exercise for overall growth. However, there are some nutrients whose consumption should be at the high side for a child\’s growth in height. They include:

1. Protein. For boys within ages 3-18 and girls within ages 3-15, the reference value for protein intake is 0.9g/kg/day. This recommended amount of protein should be provided from protein-rich food for the child\’s daily consumption.

2. Carbohydrates. Balanced carbohydrate intake from complex carbohydrate sources should be given to the child. Avoid carbohydrates rich in pure sugar.

3. Vitamins. All vitamins are essential for growth and development. Some vitamins, like vitamin D and B-complex, can directly impact your kid\’s height.

4. Minerals. An adequate mineral intake can help regulate healthy growth and height gain. Minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, manganese, etc. can help in a child\’s growth.

What are the foods that will make your kids grow taller?

You need to note that foods rich in diet and balanced will assist in a kid\’s growth. Those foods include:

1. Eggs. Daily consumption of eggs is recommended in a child\’s meal. An egg is rich in protein, riboflavin, biotin, and iron. Protein helps in cell growth and development.

2. Dairy and dairy products. These include cheese, milk, yogurt, and curd. They are rich in protein, vitamins, and calcium. Daily consumption of these will aid bone growth and strength development.

3. Soybeans. You can make it like milk or cheese. Soybeans are very rich in protein and can be substituted for animal milk in kids with lactose intolerance.

4. Chicken. It is a good source of vitamin B, as well as protein. Regular consumption of chicken will aid in growth acceleration and development.

5. Green leafy vegetables. It supplies the right amount of calcium, which is necessary for bone deposition and resorption. Green leafy vegetables give your kids strength.

6. Carrots. You can use carrots to make fruit juice for your kid or add raw carrots to the salad for them to consume. The addition of fresh carrots to your kid\’s diet will help the body efficiently absorb calcium. This will influence bone resorption and keep them healthy. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.

7. Fruits. It is essential to include different varieties of fruits into your child\’s daily diet. Fruits are rich in minerals, vitamins, and essential micronutrients that help in boosting immunity, growth acceleration, and development.

9. Whole grains. It can be whole grain bread, pasta, or cereals. Whole grains contain vitamin B, magnesium, selenium, zinc, a small amount of calcium, and iron. All these assist in bone growth and mineralization.

10. Yogurt. It is a source of protein and several other vital nutrients needed for growth. Some of them also contain probiotics that produce beneficial bacteria that can help support gut health. These probiotics also reduce inflammation in children and increase growth as well.

11. Nuts. It is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for bone health and turnover. Nuts also contain vitamins, minerals, and protein, which is vital for your kid\’s growth. It can be included as snacks, porridges, or added to cereals.

12. Beans. Beans are a good source of protein and very nutritious. It is also rich in iron and fights against anemia that may cause delayed growth in children.

Read Also: Signs your Baby is Malnourished

13. Almonds. It contains a lot of vitamins and minerals necessary for growing taller. Almonds are high in fiber, manganese, magnesium, and vitamin E. All these essential nutrients help to fight against stunted growth in children.

14. Sweet potatoes. They are rich in vitamin A which helps in bone improvement and height maintenance. Also, the presence of both soluble and insoluble fiber in sweet potatoes can increase digestive health. This will enhance the growth of good bacteria gut. In the process, nutrients absorption is boosted to ensure that you receive the needed vitamins and minerals required for growth and development.

15. Quinoa. It contains the nine essential amino acids needed by the body. Quinoa is an excellent source of magnesium required for bone health.

16. Berries. Several types of berries, like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. They all contain nutrients high in vitamin C, necessary for cell growth and tissue repair. Research shows that vitamin C can increase collagen synthesis. In return, collagen increases bone density and improves bone health. This could help you grow taller or maintain your height.

17. Salmon. It is high in Omega-3 fatty acids. High consumption of salmon can improve sleep and bone turn over to increase growth.

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Natural Remedies for Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Stretch Marks remedy

We all love good skin, especially one without blemish. The fact that pregnant women go through a lot and the fact that they need not be downcast by that can be overwhelming at times. A lot comes with pregnancy, coupled with all kinds of changes. The fact that you need to look good and still be in shape is a thing of major concern.

Most women develop stretch marks during pregnancy as the fibers in the skin become soft and stretch, giving way for the developing baby. Stretch marks appear on the tummy, thighs, buttocks, knees, arms, and breasts as the baby grows as a result of continuous tugging and stretching.

Stretch marks occur as bands of parallel lines on the skin. The lines are usually different in color and texture than the normal skin. In the case of pregnancy, they occur when the dermal layer of the skin is suddenly stretched. The skin overstretches as a result of sudden weight gain and the fibers break, which then leads to stretch marks.

This shouldn\’t pose a problem because there are natural remedies for stretch marks during pregnancy. They have been tested and proved effective.

What are the causes of stretch marks during pregnancy?

Some of the cause of stretch marks during pregnancy include (but not limited to):

  • Rapid weight gain or growth
  • Hereditary
  • Carrying multiple babies
  • When the baby\’s weight is above average
  • Genetics

How to prevent stretch marks

Stretch marks can be tiring and sometimes reduce body confidence. Therefore, it is best to prevent it from allowing it to occur. This is because the remedies can be tasking to use most times. Some of the ways you can prevent stretch marks include:

  • Weight monitoring. Rapid weight gain during pregnancy can lead to stretch marks. It is advisable to keep your weight in check. If you gain weight, let it be in a healthier manner.
  • Feed on foods that can improve your skin elasticity. Diet rich in gelatin will help improve skin elasticity due to the collagen present. Vitamin A, C, and E are recommended because they are useful in collagen and cartilage formation. They help to improve skin elasticity and keeps stretch marks at bay.
  • Always consume a lot of water. It is needed to keep you hydrated during pregnancy. This is to facilitate your increased blood volume and build the water sack for the baby. Dehydration will hinder the elasticity of your skin. It will make it prone to damage because of stretching skin.
  • Use coconut oil for moisturizing. It supplies good moisture to the skin and prevents stretch mark because it is an excellent source of saturated fatty acids which do not easily get oxidized.
  • Check for zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency hampers the body\’s ability to produce adequate collagen and antioxidants.
  • Use oil treatments like castor oil, vitamin E oil, and other essential oil to improve your skin elasticity. Present in these oils is antioxidant, which helps in free radical damage and stretch mark prevention.
  • Use cocoa and Shea butter. They work wonderfully in keeping the skin hydrated and moist by stimulating the skin renewal process, thereby preventing damage.

Natural remedies for stretch marks during pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the critical stages of your life where you must be very careful in all you do. Anything you take must be with strict precautions so that you and the baby are not affected. To opt-in for any treatment, it is advisable to seek your doctor first.

These natural stretch marks remedies listed below can be used to make stretch marks fade away. They include:

  • Honey application. Honey may be applied to the affected area and washed off with warm water after a few minutes. It helps lessen the marks.
  • Aloe vera application. Aloe vera soothes and heals the skin. Apply it regularly to the affected part to get rid of the marks.
  • Use oil treatments. Oils like castor oil, vitamin E, or olive oil should be massaged on the affected area. It helps improve blood circulation, and it is useful in stretch mark removal.
  • Use egg white (albumen). Apply it to the affected area and allow drying. Wash with cold water and apply olive oil. Apply this treatment for some weeks to fade away the stretch mark.
  • Sugar scrub application. Make a scrub with sugar, lemon juice, and almond oil. Apply daily before bath for a few months to lighten the mark.
  • Lemon juice application. Allow your skin to soak a few minutes in it upon application. Rinse with warm water and repeat daily for the best result.
  • Use alfalfa leaves. The paste made from alfalfa leaves and chamomile oil can be applied to the affected area twice a day for effective results. These leaves have detoxifying and antifungal properties. 
  • Potato juice application. It can be applied on your stretch marks and washed away with warm water. Please use it for a few months to monitor them fade away.
  • Use sandalwood and turmeric. The paste should be equally mixed and applied to the affected part. It may be applied five to six months to monitor improvement.
  • Drinking enough water daily. It helps restore the skin\’s elasticity by keeping it soft and supple, thereby preventing stretch marks.
  • Omega- 3 fatty acids. It can help increase skin elasticity. Foods like cod liver, walnuts, soya beans, cauliflower, and salmon can go a long way in reducing stretch marks.

How long does it take to remove stretch marks?

While you can use natural remedies to prevent stretch marks, they tend to fade away with time. After child delivery, they usually become less noticeable. If the skin is adequately taken care of, within six to twelve months, these marks become less visible. Applying the necessary treatments on the affected area helps to heal the broken tissue and increase the skin elasticity.

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Common Diseases in Babies and Symptoms

diseases in babies

It\’s hard when your child\’s sick. Common health issues in infants include colds, coughing, nausea, and vomiting. Babies often commonly have skin problems, such as diaper rash or cradle cap. Most of these things are not extreme. It\’s essential to know how to treat your sick kid and to see the warning signs for more severe problems. Here are common diseases in babies;

RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus)

The respiratory syncytial virus affects the lungs. Children under the age of 2 are more prone. In most cases, symptoms are relatively minor and reflect those of a cold. Yet preemies and children who have a weakened immune system, a congenital heart defect, or chronic lung disease may get severe in a hurry, causing either bronchiolitis (a small airway infection in the lungs) or pneumonia. 

Around 150,000 children are admitted every year due to RSV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seek medical attention from your pediatrician right away if your child is wheezing, breathing very rapidly, or unable to breathe fails to drink something, seems to be excessively lethargic, or starts to grow starts to develop a pinkish tint on her lips and in her mouth.

Roseola

It\’s usually over two years of age, so it\’s always kindergarten. The chances are that the effects of your child\’s Roseola will be so mild that you won\’t even know it\’s under the sky. Many babies, however, have a high fever, vomiting, coughing, and, later, a patchy rash that begins on the chest and spreads. While Roseola normally takes place within a week, please contact your pediatrician if your child\’s fever is higher or longer than three days. In the meantime, ease his pain with children\’s ibuprofen and keep him at home until the rash fades.

Gastroenteritis

This condition, also known as the stomach bug, causes vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. A variety of viruses, including noroviruses, which often run through child care centers (not to mention cruise ships), can cause gastroenteritis. Most stomach viruses can clear up within a few days to a week and need nothing more than rest and TLC. 

Also, make sure your child consumes enough fluid to avoid dehydration. If your child likes juice, water it by half as these drinks are high in sugar and may exacerbate diarrhea. When she feels like feeding, give her small quantities of bananas, pasta, apple sauce, and toast (BRAT diet). If she holds them down, she\’ll gradually go back to daily meals. You could try to feed her Greek yogurt, too. It is high in probiotics (which encourage healthy flora in the intestine) and contains less sugar than the standard form. 

Related Article: How to Treat Diarrhea in Infants

Coxsackievirus (painful sores in the mouth and throat)

Coxsackievirus occurs primarily during summer and fall and is extremely infectious, spreading from child to child by contact, coughing, sneezing, and fecal matter. Red blisters also follow the sores on the hands and soles of the legs that last seven to ten days. When your child still feels achy, give him or her children ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Ease your sore throat with ice pops and cold drinks, but avoid acidic juices that can sting. You should also watch for dehydration, as some children\’s sores are so uncomfortable that they can resist drinking.

Slapped cheek syndrome

Children 3 and younger are the most susceptible to the fifth disease, which produces a bright red rash on the cheeks. The child does not have any other signs of sickness. Still, she may also have a moderate fever, a runny nose, and a small, lacy-looking rash on her abdomen. Five diseases frequently spread like wildfire across kindergartens and preschools. If the rash comes out, the kid is no longer infectious, so it\’s going to go down on its own. A small percentage of the children who receive it will experience joint pain (let your doctor know if it happens immediately). Also, contact your ob-gyn if your child has the fifth disease while pregnant, as the virus may cause complications.

Strep Throat

Young children are more likely to become infected with streptococcal bacteria if their older sibling has a disease. While strep spreads mainly through coughs and sneezes, your child can also get it by touching a toy played by an infected child. The classic symptom is a pain in the throat, which can be so intense thatIt can be hard to swallow or even speak. 

It can develop a fever, swollen lymph nodes, with abdominal pain. Contact your doctor if you notice your kids can develop fever, sinusitis, with abdominal pain. When you suspect that your child has gastroenteritis, contact your doctor. A quick examination (which does not pick up any strain of tonsillitis) and a culture of the throat (which takes 48 hours but is definitive) can be performed. When the test is positive, antibiotics are likely to make your child feel better. Leave it at home for at least another 24 hours after the first dose to minimize the risk of transmitting the bacteria to someone else.

Influenza

Flu is hard and fast: fever of up to 103 ° F, body aches and chills, headache, sore throat, cough, and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea. It\’s a miserable winter-time disease that sometimes lasts more than a week and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia.

Luckily, you can significantly minimize your child\’s risk by scheduling an annual flu vaccine that can be administered as a shot or, for children over 2, as a nasal spray. The vaccination is not foolproof (because the strains of the virus differ from year to year). Still, if it gets influenza despite being vaccinated, the symptoms will be much less extreme. If you notice your child has the flu, make an appointment with your pediatrician right away.  

Related Article: Signs your Baby is Malnourished

Conjunctivitis

This inflammation of the tissue lining of the eyelids (also called the Pink eye) causes redness, yellowish discharge, blurry vision, and crusty skin. In younger children, pinkeye is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotic drops. (Note: It can also result from a condition that does not need any treatment, allergies or irritants in the environment that can be handled with a drug). Your baby will not attend class until he or she has been cared for at a minimum of 24 hours. Make him wash his hands frequently and stop rubbing his face and sharing napkins, blankets, or pillows so that he won\’t harm someone else in your house. 

Pinworms

If an infected child scratches her butt and she doesn\’t clean her hands, she can easily pass them on to other children (who get sick if they put their hands in their mouths). Eggs travel down the digestive tract, hatch, and lay eggs around the anus (yuck!). The doctor will give you special tape for affixing at night and check it for pinworms and eggs. Just one or two doses of prescription medications are required to get rid of them. But you\’re going to have to wash her towels and bedding in hot water. See your doctor if you find that your child is scraping the bottom of it.

Many childhood diseases reached their peak without any big concern. However, some indications (and some children) can warrant consultation with your doctor. Watch for:

  • Dehydration: Your baby may have swollen eyes (or, if he\’s a boy, a plume, or a soft spot on his head) or look excessively irritable, or his mouth may be sticky or tacky to the touch.  
  • High fever:  In infants, any high temperature warrants a call. For newborns 3 to 6 months of age, phone when the rage is 101 ° F; for older infants and young children, the level is 103 ° F.
  • Breathing difficulty: Call right away if your infant is wheezing, breathing quickly, or you experience awkward pauses between his breaths. 
  • Not eating: It\’s common for a sick kid to have little real interest. But if your kid eats or consumes less than half of what it would usually have been for two days or longer, consult your doctor. 
  • Preexisting conditions: If your baby has been diagnosed with asthma, diabetes, a compromised immune system, or any other severe medical ailment, speak to your doctor any moment he or she encounters a virus that might affect his or her wellbeing. 

The key to a healthy child is a strong immune system through a HEALTHY MEAL PLAN.

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Learn Early Nutrition and Meal Plan for Your Baby

Early nutrition and meal plan

Baby Nutrition

Proper nutrition means getting the right amount of nutrients from healthy foods in the right combinations. Having nutrition knowledge and making smart choices about the foods you eat can and will help you achieve optimum health for your little one over their lifetime. It is key to avoiding obesity, illness, and many of today\’s most prevalent chronic diseases.

Nutrition is just one key to growth and development, as well as maintaining good health for your little ones. Good health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being — a healthy mind, body, and spirit.

Offering your baby a varied diet is a great way to ensure your little one is getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need to grow and develop. Every spoonful you feed them should contain the required nutrients.

Weaning Process 

Weaning is, however, the most important transitional phase for a baby. They start tasting and eating foods that aid their growth and development. The need to wean babies generally begins from the age of 6 months and can go on until that of 12 months to 2 years, depending on the baby\’s intake and the weaning foods and portions. But since their stomach is still very delicate, they need food, which is easy on their digestive system. 

The foods that parents can start with once a day are cooked and mashed vegetables, soft fruits, and baby cereals mixed with breastmilk or formula. New, nutrient-rich foods mean that your baby now has access to all the nutrients required for growth and development. With breastmilk no longer being the only source of nutrition, your baby\’s body can have its share of iron, protein, minerals, etc., from a varied set of food items.

Read Also: Foods That Will Make Your Kids Grow Tall

Types of Weaning

Natural or Baby-led Weaning: 

This occurs when your baby starts to accept a larger quantity and a wider variety of solid foods while still nursing on demand. With natural weaning, you must take note of your baby\’s behavioral cues and go along at their pace. Babies who are weaned naturally usually tend to stop breastfeeding only between the ages of two and four years.

Planned or Mother-led Weaning: 

This occurs when mothers themselves decide to start the weaning process. Planned weaning could happen for several reasons – insufficient milk production, their return to work, and so on.

Partial or Gradual Weaning:

Partial weaning combines the best of both worlds for you and your little one. Here, one or more solid food feedings are substituted with breastmilk from time to time. Partial weaning works well for working mothers who still want to continue to breastfeed.

However, weaning your baby from 6months of age is extremely important. They begin to need nutrients from real foods such as iron, which has already diminished at 6 months of age.

Several nutrients play a crucial role in growth and development, depending on the age of your child. For example, from ages 6-12 months, fat, protein, and other micronutrients are vital for your little one at that stage. While from 12 months, carbohydrates, protein, and fat, as well as other micronutrients, plays an important role at that stage. 

Getting a Baby Meal Plan

It is imperative to get a well-prepared healthy baby Meal plan to guide and assist you in choosing a variety of foods from each nutrient to help your little one\’s growth.

There\’s nothing more frustrating than having to think of what to give your child. Especially, when you opt for healthy nutrition for your little one. Seeing what your little one is eating for a couple of days, week/month written down, can alert you to any patterns of bad habits. This might give you the push to try new recipes, which can only be a good thing for your little one to explore different foods, as well as varieties of nutrients. 

With a meal plan, you can buy what your child needs, and not being swayed by special bulk offers. You can avoid throwing out lots of food you haven\’t been able to eat in time (before the expiry date) and, in turn, save money.

Babies, as well as toddlers, can be fuzzy when they are hungry, which can be so stressful for moms. But getting things figured out, which is a vital key, is why you need a meal plan for your baby.

Conclusion

It is important to note that nutrition plays a vital role in strengthening the immune system. Good food helps our body\’s natural defence to fight viruses, infection, etc. Especially that of our little ones whose immune system are still developing.

Remember your little ones needs all the nutrient they can get from real foods. Let\’s raise healthy kids together.

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How to Treat Diarrhea in Infants

Baby Diarrhea Treatment

What is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a rise in the occurrence of bowel movements or a reduction in the shape of stools (more loose stools). While changes in bowel movements and stool looseness may differ independently of each other, there are often changes in both. Diarrhea may be classified as absolute or relative diarrhea.

Absolute diarrhea is characterized as more than five movements of the intestines a day or liquid stools. Relative diarrhea is an increase in the number of bowel movements per day or an increase in stool looseness compared to the regular intestinal habit. Diarrhea may be either acute or chronic, with various causes and treatments. Diarrhea risks include diarrhea, electrolyte (mineral) irregularities, and anal pain.

A variety of different textures, colors, and smells can be found in a baby\’s poopy diaper depending on what he eats (breast milk, formula, or solid food). The poop is usually much softer than the adult\’s, and sometimes it\’s not unusual for it to be even softer than usual. But if it unexpectedly gets much looser or more watery, which occurs more frequently and in significant quantities, it may be diarrhea.

Baby Diarrhea Causes

A lot of factors can cause this problem, including

  • infection with a virus, bacteria, or parasite. Babies will collect these germs by rubbing unclean food or water, or by touching germ surfaces, and placing their hands in their mouths. 
  • A food allergy or sensitivity to medicines
  • Drinking too much fruit juice
  • Poisoning

Effects of Baby Diarrhea

Diarrhea causes the body to start losing too much water and minerals called electrolytes. This can cause dehydration. Kids can get dehydrated very quickly within a day or two of having diarrhea, and it can be hazardous, particularly in infants. Call your doctor if you realize these indications of dehydration in your kids:

  • Peeing less often (fewer wet diapers)
  • Acting fussy or irritable
  • Dry mouth
  • No tears when he cries
  • Unusual drowsiness or sluggishness
  • Sunken soft spot on the top of the baby\’s head
  • Skin that isn\’t as elastic as usual (doesn\’t spring back when you gently pinch and release it)

Also, put a call across to your family doctor if your kid has diarrhea less than six months of age or has these indications:

  • Fever of 102 degrees or higher
  • Belly pain
  • Blood or pus in his poop, or poop that\’s black, white, or red
  • Sluggishness
  • Vomiting

Baby Diarrhea Treatments

Doctors typically do not prescribe over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications for infants. But your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic for a bacterial infection or an antiparasitic medication for a parasitic infection.

Babies with severe diarrhea who are dehydrated will need to go to the hospital and get fluids in their veins through the IV.

If your kid eats solid foods, the doctor may recommend changing to soft, starchy foods such as strained bananas, apple sauce, and rice cereal until diarrhea stops. Mothers who are breastfeeding may need to change their diet to prevent any food that might cause diarrhea in their children.

Babies having diarrhea should not be fed anything that can make it worse, which include:

  • Greasy foods
  • Foods that are high in fiber
  • Dairy products such as milk and cheese
  • Sweets such as cake, cookies, and soda

Diarrhea triggered by a viral or bacterial infection is very infectious. Clean your hands with warm water and soap every time you change your baby\’s diaper to avoid the spreading of the disease. Keep the diaper-change region clean and disinfected. Keep your kids at home from daycare until he has recovered.

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Top 6 Healthy Prеgnаnсу Fооdѕ

pregnancy Fооdѕ

Every рrеgnаnt wоmаn muѕt соnѕіdеr whаt thеу еаt or drіnk аѕ it’s hеr baby’s primary source of nоurіѕhmеnt. Yоu must bе ѕurе thаt уоu’rе taking healthy fооdѕ and drinks durіng уоur рrеgnаnсу реrіоd, to avoid risking your baby’s development.

What mаnу moms fаіl tо understand is thаt fіgurіng оut whаt tо еаt when you’re eating fоr twо саn bе соnfuѕіng. Our fіrѕt recommendation bеfоrе diving into these healthy fооdѕ іѕ tо саll уоur hеаlth care provider to ѕсhеdulе a hеаlth сhесk appointment.

Here’s a list to get уоu off tо a good start wіth healthy рrеgnаnсу fооdѕ;

1. Bаnаnаѕ:

Eating hеаlthу fооdѕ helps to ensure thаt thе bаbу gеtѕ the nutrіеntѕ it nееdѕ to grow in thе wоmb. Bаnаnаѕ аrе rісh in роtаѕѕіum аnd offer ԛuісk еnеrgу to fіght off pregnancy fаtіguе. Also, they boost hеmоglоbіn lеvеlѕ in thе bоdу, whісh increases red blооd сеllѕ in thе blood, and hеnсе boosts lеvеlѕ of hеmоglоbіn. Thеу are аn excellent source оf саrbоhуdrаtеѕ, vitamins C аnd B, fatty асіdѕ; so they аrе аll іmроrtаnt fоr hеаlthу bаbу development. As a rich ѕоurсе of аntіоxіdаntѕ, they hеlр іn fighting frее radical damage in thе bоdу.

2. Drіnk Mоrе Water:

Generally, water is nееdеd to fluѕh оut toxins, аіd dіgеѕtіоn. It еnѕurеs оur bоdіеѕ аbѕоrb thе еѕѕеntіаl nutrіеntѕ from thе food wе eat. Whеn уоu’rе pregnant, уоu nееd more wаtеr tо соре with the demands оf оur еvеr-сhаngіng bоdіеѕ. During pregnancy, whеn the bоdу dоеѕ nоt gеt еnоugh fluіd, іt becomes dеhуdrаtеd, which саn lеаd tо соnѕtіраtіоn, headaches, fаtіguе. Yоu nееd tо drіnk ѕіx tо eight mеdіum (200ml) glasses of fluid a day. Fluіd rеԛuіrеmеntѕ аrе аlѕо vegetable juice, hеrbаl tea, ѕоuр, rice drіnk, оr any оthеr nоn-аlсоhоlіс refreshment

3. Folate:

Folate is an еѕѕеntіаl B vіtаmіn that ѕuрроrtѕ thе placenta аnd hеlрѕ рrеvеnt nеurаl tubе dеfесtѕ in thе baby. Congenital dіѕаbіlіtіеѕ оссur within the fіrѕt 3-4 wееkѕ оf pregnancy. Sо it’s іmроrtаnt tо hаvе fоlаtе іn уоur ѕуѕtеm during thоѕе еаrlу ѕtаgеѕ whеn уоur bаbу’ѕ brаіn аnd spinal соrd аrе dеvеlоріng. Fоlаtе rеԛuіrеmеntѕ increase substantially іn рrеgnаnсу, ѕо women ѕhоuld аіm tо соnѕumе аt lеаѕt 600 mcg of fоlаtе frоm their rеgulаr dаіlу dіеt. Fоlаtе is fоund naturally in dаrk grееn vegetables аnd сіtruѕ fruіtѕ.

Read Also: Best Sleeping Position for Pregnant Women

4. Sweet Pоtаtоеѕ:

Arе ѕwееt роtаtоеѕ ѕаfе tо consume durіng рrеgnаnсу? Swееt роtаtоеѕ are соnѕіdеrеd ѕаfе fоr соnѕumрtіоn durіng рrеgnаnсу аѕ they аrе rісh in vіtаmіnѕ A and C, аnd fіbеr. Also, prеgnаnt women rеԛuіrе more роtаѕѕіum thаn оthеr wоmеn оf thе ѕаmе аgе. Swееt potato соntаіnѕ роtаѕѕіum, whісh helps to mаіntаіn fluіd bаlаnсе аnd nоrmаlіzе blооd рrеѕѕurе. Brеаѕtfееdіng moms ѕhоuld take mоrе роtаѕѕіum.

5. Broccoli:

Brоссоlіѕ аrе оnе оf the best hеаlthу fооdѕ fоr рrеgnаnt wоmеn. Nоw that уоu аrе рrеgnаnt, уоu’d be wondering how Brоссоlі саn hеlр. They are rісh in vіtаmіnѕ A, C, K, B6, folate, and dіѕеаѕе-fіghtіng аntіоxіdаntѕ thаt аrе nесеѕѕаrу for a hеаlthу pregnancy. Also, broccoli hеlрѕ еlіmіnаtе many of thе рrоblеmѕ рrеgnаnt wоmеn fасе, such as diabetes, оѕtеороrоѕіѕ, anemia, and so оn. It helps рrеvеnt constipation too.

6. Eggѕ:

Eggѕ аrе аn excellent аltеrnаtіvе protein ѕоurсе; thеу contain аll thе еѕѕеntіаl аmіnо acids уоur bоdу needs аnd especially сruсіаl for уоur baby’s development. Amіnо acids соntаіnеd іn рrоtеіn аrе the buіldіng blосkѕ of our bоdіеѕ’ сеllѕ; уоu must еаt protein-rich fооd to help your baby develop well.

What to know?

It іѕ essential durіng рrеgnаnсу to keep a сhесk on whаt уоu eat. Sіnсе саlоrіе аnd nutrіеnt needs аrе іnсrеаѕеd, уоu must сhооѕе nutrіеnt-dеnѕе, hеаlthу fооdѕ. So, make ѕurе you аrе gеttіng еnоugh еѕѕеntіаl nutrіеntѕ аnd vitamins tо hеlр уоur bаbу grоw.

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