Health care tips for child

It's Tummy Time!

You no doubt know that placing your baby to sleep on her back dramatically reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

You no doubt know that placing your baby to sleep on her back dramatically reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But did you know that putting her on her belly when she's awake is also important? "When babies are kept on their backs for long periods, they don't have the opportunity to exercise their neck and trunk muscles," explains Annette Majnemer, Ph.D., O.T., a professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University in Montreal. "As a result, they may have delays in milestones such as being able to lift their heads against gravity, support themselves on their hands, roll over or sit up." Tummy time also helps prevent a baby's head from flattening. Majnemer offers these tips to make the experience more enjoyable for your baby:

Start early, go slowly Place your baby on her stomach for a few minutes two or three times a day starting the day you bring her home. (If you don't expose your baby to this position early on, she may develop an intolerance to it.) Gradually increase the time as she gets stronger. Tuck a rolled-up diaper or blanket under her chest with her arms placed over the roll for extra support. Stop when she gets tired or cranky.

Keep it safe Put her on her tummy only when she is awake and supervised.

Make it fun Get down on the floor with your baby during tummy time. Talk, sing or jiggle contrasting-colored toys to encourage your baby to lift her head. Also try this: Lie on your back and place your infant on top of you, stomach to stomach. Babies love faces, and this position will encourage her to lift her head to look at you.


Making Smarter Babies

Taking fish oil supplements while pregnant may boost your baby's smarts. Researchers found that 2 1/2 -year-olds whose mothers supplemented with fish oil daily during the last half of pregnancy scored better in language comprehension, vocabulary and eye-hand coordination than those whose moms didn't.

For neurological and visual development, a fetus needs long-chain fatty acids from the mother's diet. While these are readily available in seafood, experts recommend that women limit prenatal fish consumption to 12 ounces weekly to avoid contamination by mercury. The supplements contained the benefits of one fish serving daily, but without risk of mercury exposure from eating the fish itself.

Eating For Two?

While you're probably aware that your diet affects your baby's development in utero and your newborn's health, many pregnant women still make eating errors--mainly because they don't know any better. "Most women I see tend not to be aware of all the nutritional requirements of pregnancy," maintains Kelli Hughes, R.D., a clinical nutritionist at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville. "But they'll happily do what is recommended once they know what to do."

Some of the common blunders expectant moms make could increase their risk of developing serious consequences like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to the fetus. Avoiding these five dietary faux pas can mean better health for both of you.

Mistake 1: Eating for two

Every expert we spoke to listed this as the numero-uno diet gaffe. "There is a common belief that pregnancy is the time for indulgence," says Raul Artal, M.D., chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health at St. Louis University School of Medicine. "It's a myth."

Not only can overeating make it harder to lose the excess weight after delivery, but you're also at increased risk during pregnancy for gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, which is a symptom of preeclampsia. "If you develop preeclampsia, there is a higher risk for poor fetal growth and a complicated delivery," Artal says. "Gestational diabetes leads to bigger babies and a higher C-section rate."

During your first trimester, you don't need any additional calories; in the second trimester, you need 340 more each day; in the third, 450 more. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that pregnant women consume 71 grams of protein per day. (Nuts, eggs and lean meats are quick, easy options.) "You need the extra protein to support new cell growth in the fetus," says Jennifer Ramos Galluzzi, Ph.D., assistant professor of nutrition and science at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, Conn.

Solution: The number of extra calories you require is small compared with the amount of extra nutrients. So get your additional calories from high-nutrient foods: fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, legumes, low-fat dairy products and lean meats. All of these give you lots of nutritional bang for your calorie buck.

Mistake 2: Obsessing about weight gain

While some women take in too many calories, others consume too few. Big mistake. "Some women are terrified of gaining weight and scared it won't come off afterward, so they restrict their diets," says Heather Blazier, R.D., L.D., a clinical dietitian at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Complications of eating too few calories can include low birth weight. "I see women who think milk products are high in fat and calories, so they avoid them," Blazier adds. "If you don't get 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily, the baby's skeleton will be built with calcium leached from your bones."

Solution: Don't deprive yourself of necessary nutrients during pregnancy, as your fetus will not get what it needs for healthy growth and development. If you are obese, consult a dietitian who specializes in pregnancy nutrition to determine the proper prenatal diet for you. Also, cut out all nutritionally empty calories, such as snack foods.

Mistake 3: Feeling tired & stressed

Why, you may wonder, are psychosocial factors considered nutritional mistakes? Because studies show they have a negative impact on your diet. "Overtired, fatigued women tended to eat more empty-calorie carbohydrates like candy and cookies, the kind that provide quick energy but lead to a decrease in important nutrients like folate and vitamin C," says Laura Caulfield, Ph.D., an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Human Nutrition in Baltimore, referring to a recent study she co-authored that examined how stress affects diet during pregnancy. "And they ate fewer vegetables, fruits, beans--the nutrient-dense foods that pregnant women should choose."

Solution: Pay as much attention to your emotional well-being as to your physical health. Stress and weariness lead to poor food choices, so get enough sleep and discuss with your doctor any anxiety you're experiencing.

Mistake 4: Skipping breakfast

Experts advise that pregnant women eat three small meals and two snacks at regular intervals--every three to four hours--to help maintain steady blood glucose (sugar) levels. But many women habitually eschew the morning meal, and continue to do so even when expecting. "By morning you've gone eight to 12 hours without food, so you need to eat. "Skipping breakfast and [other] meals increases the risk of premature labor."

Without a healthy morning meal, you also may feel sick to your stomach, lightheaded and, soon, famished. But what if you already have morning sickness? "Many times, keeping something in the stomach can help ward off morning sickness," Blazier says. Soon after getting up, eat just a little of whatever you can tolerate, such as rice or rice cakes, toast or saltine crackers. If you can't keep down anything at all, don't give up. "Try to eat a very small amount every two hours. "Some women may have to live on rice for a couple of weeks if that is all they're able to handle." And be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Other nausea soothers include citrus, ginger, mint and watermelon. Choose foods with those ingredients; even just sniffing a lemon or sprig of fresh mint may do the trick. Or try this simple, refreshing recipe for watermelon pops (even better if you can get someone to make them for you!): Puree 4 cups of frozen, seedless, cubed watermelon and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a blender. Strain the purée through a fine-mesh sieve, then pour it into popsicle molds, small paper cups or an ice cube tray. Freeze and enjoy.

Solution: If you've never been a breakfast eater, start with yogurt and a banana; then add whole grains and lean protein a few weeks later.


Mistake 5: Eating unsafe foods

You're at higher risk for food-borne illnesses now, because a woman's immune system is suppressed when she's pregnant. Listeriosis, a serious food-borne bacterial infection, is particularly dangerous during pregnancy. "This infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or severe brain infections in fetuses and newborns. "Pregnant women may think it's OK to have a hot dog or undercooked meat 'just this once,' but that's all it takes if the food is contaminated."

Solution: Avoid eating raw or undercooked meats and fish (that includes sushi), Mexican soft cheeses and varieties such as Brie and Camembert, deli meats, hot dogs, and unpasteurized milk products or juices. In addition, adopt safe food-handling practices, which include washing your hands after touching uncooked meats and using separate cutting boards, plates and knives for meats and produce.

Complete Child Health Care Information


Having a fit child implies that your child eats well, does a lot of physical activity, and has a healthy weight. If your child is physically fit he/she remains active, and feels good. This can be accomplished with some simple steps and rules to live by, in order to have a happy and healthy child.

Serve a variety of foods to your child, especially fruits and vegetables in the meal:-

Your child may like chocolate, ice cream, junk food, fast food, or other extra caloric foods, but it is best to serve them a variety of foods. This ensures your child gets a wholesome meal and the required nutrition that his body needs. Serve your child new dishes and old ones, you haven't tried for a while. Some foods, such as green veggies, are more pleasing the older you get. Shoot for five servings of fruits and vegetables a day - two fruits and three vegetables. Here's one combination that might work for you:

Healthy Food for your children:-

Fruits in their breakfast cereal
10 Baby carrots
Fruit Juice
Salad
Milk and biscuits
Serve more Calcium through drinks to your children:-

When your child is really thirsty, everyone recommends cold water as the ideal drink for the child.However parents should consider replacing that with milk occasionally. A growing child requires more calcium for strong bones, and milk is a great source for this mineral. So whenever they are feeling thirsty it would be more beneficial to give your children a glass of chilled milk. However the question remains, how much does your child need? About 800 milligrams of calcium each day from the milk and others sources if your child is between 6 to 8 years, and 1,300 milligrams if your child is 9 years or older. Here is a list of foods and drinks that would add up to the 1,300-milligram goal daily dose of calcium:


Healthy Food Drink for your cute children:-

About half a liter of milk has 600 milligrams of calcium.
57 grams of cheese 300 has milligrams of calcium.
227 grams of yogurt has 315 milligrams of calcium
113 grams cooked white beans have 120 milligrams of calcium.

A child wants more attention regarding their health, because children are ignorant of health and hygiene. Parents hold the key to a healthy child so it is imperative that they make conscious efforts to provide them with a healthy diet and nourishment.