Trimming your baby’s nails

Even when babies are young, their nails are quite sharp. This can easily lead to babies injuring either themselves or adults who are handling them. To avoid this, it is essential that you start trimming children’s nails from the time they are still young.
Do not attempt to cut your baby’s nails with scissors or anything else that is likely to cause injury. Instead, use clippers and scissors that are especially designed for children. They have rounded tips and prevent accidental injury from taking place.
Here are a few things to remember about trimming your baby’s nails:

• The ideal time to trim young children’s nails is right after a bath when their nails are softer.
• If your baby is fidgety and refuses to sit quietly, you may need someone to distract your baby’s attention. Another option is to encourage your baby to fall asleep.
• Hold your baby’s finger (or toe) firmly in your hand and push down on the part that is under the nail, to prevent accidentally cutting it.
• Take care to avoid cutting too deep.
• Trim the nail by following the natural curve on the fingertip. (While trimming the nails on your baby’s toes you may cut them in a straight line.)
• Gently smoothen any rough or sharp edges by using emery board.
• Avoid biting your baby’s nails in an attempt to trim them. This not only prevents a clean and even cut, but may also lead to your baby contracting an infection through your saliva.

If you find that you have either injured the skin or cut too deep, so that there is bleeding, hold a sterile cotton wad or gauze over the wound and press gently. Ensure that the bleeding has stopped, before you release the pressure. Do not wrap a bandage around the wound as it may present a risk of choking.

Teach by Setting Examples

If you are looking for a great way to make sure your children are off to a healthy start, don’t overlook the importance of a nutritious breakfast.

According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), when children are consistent about eating breakfast each day, they tend to consume more calories than those that don’t, but they are less likely to be overweight. Furthermore, not eating breakfast may predispose them to diets that fall short of providing enough calcium and fiber.

Another key component for fathers is what behaviors they are modeling. Children are quick to learn by watching others, so it’s important that fathers consider what type of example they are setting through their own eating and activity level.

According to the ADA, research shows that when mothers pressure their young daughters to eat more healthy foods, the children tend to do the opposite. They report that the most effective way to get them to eat more fruits and vegetables is to lead by example.

Children who see their parents frequently eat healthy food are more likely to do so themselves. Being overweight can cause a host of problems, creating difficulties in every area, from finding clothing that fits well to avoiding the school playground.

For young children, it’s especially troubling because they don’t yet have the ability to prepare their own foods or be much of an active participant in deciding what they will eat and how active their family will be.

Parents shouldn’t make their child’s weight a constant worry, but they should take it into consideration and check up on it with their family doctor.

Read more about Fatherhood

Reasons for Mother Not to Breastfeed

A few viruses are known to pass through breast milk. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is one of them. If the mother is HIV positive, she should not breastfeed. If she has HIV and wants to breastfeed, you can get breast milk for your baby from a milk bank. Sometimes babies can be born with a condition called galactosemia, in which they can’t tolerate breast milk. This is because their bodies can’t break down the sugar galactose.

Babies with classic galactosemia may have liver problems, malnutrition, or mental retardation. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, since both human and animal milk contain the sugar lactose that splits into galactose and glucose, babies with classic galactosemia must be fed a special diet that is free of lactose and galactose.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, mothers who have active, untreated TB (tuberculosis) or who are receiving any type of chemotherapy drugs should not breastfeed.

If your spouse is breastfeeding, she should not take illegal drugs. Some drugs, such as cocaine and PCP, can affect the baby and cause serious side effects. Other drugs, such as heroin and marijuana can cause irritability, poor sleeping patterns, tremors, and vomiting. Babies can become addicted to these drugs. If you smoke tobacco, it is best for the mother and the baby if she tries to quit as soon as possible. If she can’t quit, it is still better to breastfeed. She also should avoid drinking alcohol. An occasional drink is ok, but she should avoid breastfeeding for two hours after the drink.

Sometimes a baby may have a reaction to something the mother has eaten, but this doesn’t mean your baby is allergic to her milk. Usually, if the mother has eaten a food throughout pregnancy, the baby has already become used to the flavor of this food. If your spouse stops eating whatever is bothering the baby, the problem usually goes away on its own. Some women think that when they are sick, they should not breastfeed. But, most common illnesses, such as colds, flu, or diarrhea, can’t be passed through breast milk.

In fact, if your spouse is sick, her breast milk will have antibodies in it. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, these antibodies will help protect your baby from getting the same sickness.

Eating Unnatural or Inedible Substances – Harmful for your Child or not

Pica is an eating disorder relating to the consumption of non-nutritive substances. It’s common for children to put all sorts of things, from clay and dirt, to crayons, in their mouths. Usually, all it takes is a basic amount of parental supervision and instruction to keep the growing child from consuming unsuitable substances.
 
However, sometimes children develop an abnormal appetite for things such as dirt, paper, sand, rust, hair, baking soda, glue, wood-chips, and even cigarette butts. This pattern of compulsively eating non-food substances is known as pica. 25 to 30 percent of infants are diagnosed with pica disorders.
 
If you observe your child growing at a normal developmental pace, chances are that pica is just another habit for your child rather than a full blown disorder, but you should still be on the lookout for what your child is eating.
 
Whereas pica has no specific causes to which it can be attributed, it may be linked to any of the following:

• Developmental deficiencies
• Malnutrition
• Parental neglect
• Mental health disorders like autism
• Cultural habits

Lead poisoning and iron-deficiency anemia in children can result from pica disorders.
 
Preventions

• Keep infants under supervision when they are playing at beaches or in their favorite sandbox.
• Teach your children the difference between acceptable and non-acceptable foods.
• Keep household chemicals, drugs, and medications out of their reach.
• Give your children an organic based nutrition diet.
• Look out for signs of nervousness or boredom in your child.
• Check for nutritional deficits in your child’s body with your pediatrician.

A doctor can play an important role in handling pica.

• A pediatrician can diagnose zinc deficiency and other symptoms in your child.
• A doctor can administer behavioral therapy in case of pica disorders to help wean the child off harmful substances.

Useful Article: Child Development

Baby Cold – How to Prevent Your Baby from Cold

Common cold is simply an infection that affects the nose and respiratory tracts. More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold. Babies, in particular, are more vulnerable, because their immune systems are not completely developed. Most colds are not dangerous, and usually last only a week. Colds that last longer than a week should be treated by a health professional. A cold may lead to pneumonia or other serious illnesses, especially in babies younger than three months.
 
Symptoms
 
Children with a common cold may display one of the following symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Low-grade fever
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Watery eyes

Treatment
 
There is no cure for the common cold. However, here are some ways you can help your baby feel better:

• Wash your hands regularly. Keep the baby’s toys, pillows, and bed clean.
• Let your baby drink plenty of water, juice, or other suitable liquids to keep your baby hydrated. Breastfeeding is the best option at this age, since human milk contains the necessary antibodies to fight infections.
• Clear the baby’s nasal passage with a rubber-bulb syringe.
• Keep the air in your baby’s room moist by running a humidifier or vaporizer.
• Doctors may suggest giving a medication such as acetaminophen to reduce discomfort to babies older than three months but always double-check dosage since the doctor will calculate on exact weight and age of your baby.

Call the doctor immediately in the following cases:

• When the cold symptoms persist for more than two weeks
• When the child displays symptoms such as wheezing, panting, or other breathing difficulties
• When the child complains of pain in the ears
• When a fever higher than 100F persists for more than three days
• When the sputum is tinged with blood

Autism – Early Signs in Babies

The World Health Organization or ( WHO ) and American Psychological Association or ( APA ) recognize autism as a developmental disability resulting from disorders of the central human nervous system. Though the most apparent signs of autism in children are visible at two or three years of age, parents should also be wary of symptoms of this disorder in their infants.
Though specific causes remain unproven, autism is usually judged to be caused by some of the following:

• Genetic influences
• Anatomical abnormality or variations (e.g. head circumference)
• Abnormal blood vessel functions

According to the National Institute of Mental Health or ( NIMH ), some common early indicators for autism are when babies:

• Don’t ever babble or smile.
• Never respond to gestures.
• Avoid eye contact.
• Seem to be hearing impaired at times.
• Do not respond to calling by name.
• Don’t play with other children or toys.
• Seem to be losing their scarcely developed language skills.

Autistic children fall off the charts when it comes to achieving basic developmental milestones. Generally, babies smile or react in some way when ‘ooh-ed’ and ‘aah-ed’ at. They tend to reach out to grab at pacifiers or crayons handed to them. Autistic children are unable to perform these simple actions.
Keeping in mind that autism usually isn’t diagnosed until about age 3, it is best for parents to trust their instincts about their children and get a full formal developmental evaluation done by a medical expert. The earlier children are diagnosed for this disability, the better are their chances for treatment and intervention.

Useful Article: Parenting Skills

Cord Blood Banking – Learn More About this Medical Procedure

What is cord-blood banking?
Cord blood banking refers to the collection and storage of the umbilical cord blood of your child. This blood, from the placenta and umbilical cord, is rich in hematopoietic stem cells. Stem cells from this cord blood play an important role in the treatment of certain serious blood and immune system related genetic diseases such as cancers that are treated with bone marrow transplants.
Benefits

• Cord blood stem cells have a higher success rate than stem cells from the bone marrow.
• They are valuable in treating conditions such as leukemia or lymphoma, aplastic anemia, severe sickle cell anemia, severe combined immune deficiency, and other diseases that require bone marrow transplants.
• They may prove useful for a family that has a medical history of diseases that are usually treated using bone marrow transplants.

Disadvantages

• The odds that the baby’s cord blood will ever be used to treat a family member are very low; odds that it will ever be used to treat the same child are even lower.
• It is expensive. Storing a sample of cord blood may cost approximately $1, 500, along with an annual maintenance of $ 150.
• It has limited use. Cord blood stem cells are mostly used in the treatment of children and young adults. The quantity of stem cells provided by cord blood is not enough for transplant into adults.
• It is not yet certain whether stem cells from close relatives actually offer a higher rate of success than those from strangers.
• The process of collecting the blood holds some risk, though very low, to the baby.

Help Your Child Cope with Colic

Colic is a health condition characterized by long and repeated bouts of crying seen in otherwise healthy infants. The causes of colic are not known, and though some believe that there is no such thing as colic, acute abdominal pain is believed to cause the symptoms.
While all infants cry, babies are said to be colicky if they cry for more than three hours a day for at least three days in a week in the first three to four months.
Symptoms

Colicky babies may display the following symptoms:

• High pitched crying for long periods in spite of constant comfort
• Irritability and fussiness
• Clenched fists
• Passing gas
• Arched back
• Sleeplessness and exhaustion

Treatment

• Diagnosis – Typically, infant colic subsides after a few months. A thorough medical examination is necessary to eliminate all possible causes. Take your child to a health professional immediately if you suspect that the child is suffering from colic.
• Dietary changes – Colic is sometimes attributed to certain foods or ingredients. Cow’s milk is not suitable for some children who are lactose intolerant.
• Use of soothing techniques – Try different methods such as pacifier, baby swings, back massage, etc. to soothe the infant.
• Medications – Some parents believe gripe water and colic drops may help to reduce the child’s symptoms.
• Use of Sedatives – Tranquilizers, alcohol, or any drug can adversely affect the child’s development and need to be avoided.
• Alternative therapies – Several herbal and alternative remedies are available but the FDA does not regulate most of them. Hence, parents need to exercise caution.
• Parent Care – Parents of colicky babies require some care and attention themselves. To reduce the stress and frustration, parents may take turns to handle the child. Support by family members and friends may be a good alternative.

Diagnosing Asthma in Babies

Babies are susceptible to respiratory infections and may commonly be seen coughing or wheezing. However, mostly these symptoms are related to colds, or infections of the upper respiratory tract. However, coughing or wheezing may also indicate asthma.

What is asthma?
Asthma is a respiratory condition in which the tubes that transfer air in and out of the lungs become sensitive and inflamed. Upon contact with a trigger, the muscles around the walls of these tubes tighten further, making it difficult for the person to breathe. Since these airways are small in babies, even a small degree of inflammation or contraction is sufficient to give rise to symptoms of asthma.
You should consult the pediatrician if your baby:

• Wheezes on more than one occasion.
• Has continuous bouts of coughing that get aggravated at night.
• Displays an unusual form of breathing.
• Suffers breathing problems in response to a cold, or allergens such as dust or smoke.

Here are some facts related to asthma in babies:

• An isolated episode of wheezing is no reason to suspect asthma. If wheezing is recurrent, the pediatrician may prescribe tests to check for asthma.
• Most kids who wheeze as infants outgrow it and do not have asthma when they get older. Less than a third of babies who regularly wheeze during the first three years of their lives, continue to do so as they grow older.
• Asthma if uncontrolled can, over time, seriously damage babies’ lungs. To avoid this, the pediatrician may prescribe asthma medications to babies who have symptoms of asthma, even if the diagnosis is not confirmed.

When to Worry About Dehydration in Your Baby

Dehydration refers to a condition when the amount of fluid in a person’s body is less than the ideal requirement. Babies and infants are commonly susceptible to dehydration. Dehydration in babies occurs mainly when they take in less fluid than they lose, typically through vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or perspiration. While dehydration is often mild and easily reversible, sometimes it can also be serious and potentially life threatening.

The following symptoms indicate that your child could be getting dehydrated:

• Your baby does not pass urine for more than six hours.

• Your baby’s urine is dark yellow in appearance and smells quite strong.

• Your baby’s appears lethargic.

• Your baby’s mouth is dry or the lips are parched.

The following symptoms indicate that your baby has serious dehydration:

• Your baby’s eyes are sunken in the sockets.

• Your baby’s hands and feet feel cold and appear splotchy.

• Your baby experiences dizziness or seems delirious.

Here is what you can do:

• If you suspect your baby is becoming dehydrated, consult a pediatrician immediately. You could give your baby a special electrolyte liquid drink that is designed to help recover lost water and salts from the body.

• If you suspect serious dehydration, rush your baby to the emergency room. Babies get dehydrated quickly and an intravenous infusion may be necessary to restore the balance of fluids.

Note: Do not give your baby one of the sports drinks that are advertised to help sportsmen cope with dehydration; while these contain electrolytes, their sugar concentration is too high. Use Pedialyte, Infalyte, ReVital, or similar brands of electrolyte liquids that are specially designed to help rehydrate children. You may continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby.