When do Babies get to taste the real stuff?
October 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Introducing Your baby to Solid Foods
Every parent seems dying to get his or her baby started on “real food”. It’s a natural instinct to want to feed your baby, and watch them experience new tastes and textures. But they have a lifetime to eat, so try to be patient and look for some clear signs from them, as well as advice from the baby’s doctor, about when to start the transition to solid foods.
Is your baby ready for solid foods?
There are two issues here: one is physical readiness, the other is developmental readiness. Physical readiness is the maturation of the intestinal tract, the digestive ability of the baby, and the baby’s immune system. Babies cannot digest certain foods easily, and their liver, kidneys and GI tract cannot handle certain proteins easily. Furthermore, their immune system is on high alert and early feeding can lead to a potential increase in food allergies or intolerances. Remember, Breast milk or formula is nutritionally a complete meal for you newborn until at least four months if not longer. Rushing her to try new foods will only increase her potential indigestion, sensitivity and irritability.
Developmental readiness implies the ability of the child to coordinate the “suck and swallow” reflexes required to move solid food down the esophagus. He also needs to be able to sit with support and have good head control in order to eat solid foods safely.
Signs that you baby is ready:
• Is your baby sitting up with his head well controlled in his seat?
• Does she seem to watch everything you eat with great interest, even opening her mouth as if asking for a bite?
• Do you or your family members have any food-related allergies?
• Does your baby’s doctor agree that the baby is healthy and ready to start?
What to serve when
• Most people start with baby cereal. Mix 1 teaspoon of iron-fortified baby cereal with 4 to 5 teaspoons of breast milk or formula. I recommend starting with oatmeal although most books will tell you rice cereal. Just remember to be sure it is a single-grain cereal. Be patient. If your baby isn’t interested, wait a week or two and try again.
• Add pureed vegetables and fruits. Once your baby gets the hang of feeding from a spoon and not a bottle, begin to introduce vegetables and fruits. Offer single-ingredient foods at first, and wait at least 5 days before between each new food because food reactions can take up to one week to emerge.
• Finger foods. By 10 months, most babies can master chopped finger foods, such as soft fruits, steamed or boiled vegetables, or well-cooked pasta. Hummus is also an excellent source of Zinc and is soft and easy to digest.
What to Avoid before Age 1
• Cow’s milk: cow’s milk can lead to iron deficiency anemia because it irritates the lining of an infant’s stomach and causes microscopic bleeding.
• Citrus can cause a painful diaper rash,
• Honey can cause a serious illness known as botulism.
• Choking Hazards: whole grapes, hot dogs and nuts
Antioxidants
September 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Everyone is talking about antioxidants- there are even companies making chocolate and promoting it for its antioxidant effect. What does this really mean? And what are the free radicals they are supposedly fighting off?
When the body metabolizes food into energy, the body consumes oxygen and produces free radicals. Free radicals are cells that have a missing electron in their outer shell and try to take back or bind up an electron from other cells to stay chemically stable. The problem is that they steal these electrons back from important other components of the body, namely DNA, fats and proteins. The damage caused by free radicals can potentially lead to longterm health problems.
Antioxidants donate electrons to free radicals, essentially neutralizing their electron charge imbalance and thus preventing damage to other cells. They also may help reduce the impact of chemicals and pollution on the body caused by chemicals and pollutants.
However, some antioxidants, known as Phytates or phytic acid can decrease mineral absorption by binding with iron, zinc, manganese and weakly to calcium. These phytates are found in nuts, seed and whole grains. This is a concern for many vegetarians, especially if they eat a lot of wheat bran.
However, for most children’s diets, the benefits of phytates outweigh the risks because they are shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and, like other antioxidants, help normalize cell development against free radicals.
The best way for your child to get antioxidants is to eat a varied diet. This should consist of fruits, a variety of vegetables, and some whole grains. Encouraging you child to have a varied diet insures he or she will consume all the necessary vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for healthy growth and development.
Foods to Boost Cognitive Health
August 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment
A healthy diet is said to improve your child’s health, but did you ever consider their mental health? Many foods are reputed to boost your child’s memory, and, as adults, prevent cognitive decline. Feed your child these foods regularly so they receive their memory-boosting benefits:
-Salmon: This fish is high in DHA, an omega-3 fat, and low in mercury. This combination means a lot of the memory boosting and very little toxic chemicals. Ideally they should have two servings a week.
- Flaxseed and walnut oil: These are plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and have proven to lower the risk of dementia. It also protects against heart disease, arthritis and chronic pain. For a definitive guide on the health benefits of flax, pick up “The Healing Power of Flax” by Herb Joiner-Bey, N.D. I recommend one tablespoon of flaxseed oil a day.
-Leafy greens: Spinach, kale, collard greens—all of these are loaded with vitamin E and folic acids. These have been linked to faster processing and recall. In an Australian study, women’s memory improved in just five weeks. One cup a day could make a real difference.
-Berries: Cranberries and raspberries protect against brain cell degeneration, in addition to their well-known antioxidant powers. Blueberries, which contain compounds such as flavanoids, have been shown to enhance spatial memory and learning. Top your child’s yogurt, cereal or salad with these berries to get them the recommended cup a day.
Every woman has a story. What’s yours?
August 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There’s a place where real voice rule, where women can write and publish stories about anything that matters to them. It’s called DivineCaroline.com and you’re invited to come and explore, read, write and make connections. One area of the site we think you’ll really appreciate is Parenting.
DivineCaroline is new, but the community is already an active one. So come and wander around. When you’re ready to join in, registration is fast and free. Hope to see you soon at DivineCaroline.com (link to: http://www.divinecaroline.com/?CMP=GP_MM_E38)
Pool Safety
July 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental deaths, after motor vehicle accidents, in children under fourteen, and your swimming pool must be treated as a potential danger. Please take your pool seriously!
Here are some pool safety tips to ensure the safety of your child:
- - Obviously, NEVER leave your child unattended near a pool.
- - Think about taking a CPR class. They’re offered by most local hospitals for free.
- - Keep a cell phone or cordless phone near the pool in case of an emergency.
- - Make sure the supervising adult can swim.
- - Make sure the area around the pool is a nonslip surface.
- - Bring all the pool toys into the house once your child is done playing in the pool—he or she should not be tempted to try and reach in.
- - Just because your child has learned how to swim does not mean she is safe. Although she may be more comfortable in the water, you should not rely on new swimmers to swim to safety.
- - Make sure the pool chemicals are kept out of your child’s reach.
Most counties require that people construct a fence around the pool. 76% of drowning accidents happen NOT when kids are swimming, but when they are playing or walking around the pool. The fence should be at least four feet high and surround the entire pool, and make sure the latch to enter is too high for your child to reach.
These rules apply for all pools, no matter how shallow the water is. Parents should be as vigilant in respect to pool safety as they are with automobile safety. If your child is particularly interested in exploring the pool on her own, you may want to look into getting a Child Immersion Alarm from safetyturtle.com.
The Real Worries about Overweight Children
July 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Childhood obesity affects up to 25% of American children and teens and children who are obese are at least 70% more likely to be obese as adults. Childhood obesity can cause problems with high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and an increased risk of diabetes, not to mention low self-esteem.
The solution may seem simple: eat healthy food and add more physical activity to your child’s daily routine. However, it can be extremely tough to manage. Childhood obesity is most effectively treated and prevented when the entire family adopts healthier habits. By encouraging the whole family to get healthier, you are supporting your child instead of singling him or her out. Consider these helpful hints:
CREATE A HEALTHY AND ACTIVE ENVIRONMENT:
- Healthy Choices: Stock the fridge with a lot of healthy food and snacks, such as whole-grain choices, fresh produce and milk. Get rid of the junk food and soda.
- Behavioral changes help: Serving water or milk at dinner instead of soda, sitting at a table instead of around the T.V., eating dinner at a regular time—these changes are small but can break old habits and make a real difference. Make small decisions to increase the activity in your day.
- Beware of the TV: studies have shown that TV time directly correlates with snacking. Instead, encourage your child to be active, or work on a project that engages his or her hands so they are less likely to snack.
- Slow down the consumption. Encourage your child to eat slowly and engage them in discussion during mealtime. Serve them smaller portions, and if they are old enough, don’t cut their food for them.
- Food as nutrition, not reward: Don’t make food a source of reward or punishment. Allow your child to stop eating when they are no longer hungry and never force them to finish their plate.
- Engage them in physical activity outside of the home. Enroll your child in a physical activity they might enjoy, such as gymnastics, dance or martial arts. Encourage him to join a school team or play basketball with his friends.
- Be a good role model: Create a healthy lifestyle, not just a goal for your child’s weight. There are old habits to break and good habits to establish- acting as a role model for your child is the most effective way to help him or her make changes that last.
AAP NY Times
July 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment
A recent New York Times article, called “8-Year-Olds on Statins? A New Plan Quickly Bites Back”, has many parents up in arms, and rightly so. The article claims that the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending the use of statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, to prevent heart disease in. The report was misleading, as it implied that this was a fully endorsed plan by the AAP. Instead, the policy statement by the AAP was carefully considered and clearly recommended a case-by-case evaluation in the context of the family’s medical history. On the other hand, this article by the AAP and the following media coverage does signals an increasing recognition of childhood obesity. While they are not recommending parents add lovastatins to their children’s low-fat milk, it is worth looking at the following recommendations:
1. “For children between 12 months and 2 years of age for whom overweight or obesity is a concern […] the use of reduced-fat milk [may] be appropriate.”
2. The AAP recommends a change in diet with nutritional counseling and increased physical activity for children at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
3. Screen children with a family history of cardiovascular disease, if their history is unknown or if they have other risk factors such as obesity, hypertension or smoking.
4.”For these children, the first screening should take place after 2 years of age but no later than 10 years of age. Screening before 2 years of age is not recommended. ”
5. Weight management is the primary treatment for overweight or obese patients. This includes increased physical activity and an improved diet.
6. Medications, such as statins, should be considered for patients eight or older with a family history of cardiovascular disease to lower their levels of LVL cholesterol, especially if there are other risk factors such as obesity or diabetes.
Clearly the new attention to America’s increasing epidemic of childhood obesity is worthy of media coverage and parental concern, however children are not simply small adults and, by extension, their care needs to be uniquely considered.
Bed-Wetting
July 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Although we all know that everyone learns to stop bed-wetting, it can be stressful teaching your child how to stay dry through the night. If your child still bed-wets, then either your child is a deep, deep sleeper or he still feels the need to urinate at night. So what to do??
Photo by Asif Ahmed
Since bedwetting can damage a child’s self-image and confidence, it is crucial that you avoid being judgmental and remain supportive. You should reassure your child that bedwetting is a relatively common problem (5 to 7 million children in the United States are affected by it,) and that you know they will succeed in learning how to stay dry.
Here are some tips to consider.
BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP: Do not give your child anything to drink in the 2 hours before bedtime. Also, have your child go to the bathroom before getting into bed.
REASSURANCE AND PATIENCE: Reassure and encourage your child often. Do not make an issue out of the bedwetting each time it happens.
Mercury in Silver Fillings
June 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Ms. Annabelle Moore with Dr. Geary
The most controversial issue in dentistry is once again in the media after the FDA recently announced that silver-colored metal dental fillings (amalgam fillings) contain mercury that may cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses.
Recent studies have argued that although the fillings release mercury, the amounts released are not considered dangerous. A panel of the World Health Organization, on the other hand, says that no such level exists, and many dentists, physicians and politicians maintain that the amounts of mercury being released can be detrimental.
Watch a disturbing video in which you can actually see the mercury vapor coming off an old filling.
What does it mean to have a Drug allergy?
June 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
A Drug allergy is not the same as a “side effect”:
Anything you put into your body has the potential to cause side effects- these are symptoms that are induced by the drug/chemical/herb that are usually predictable, documented and usually listed on the outside of the bottle. In the summer, for example, children taking antibiotics have an increased sensitivity to the sun, and risk of sunburn. This is a known side effect, not an allergy.
Drug allergies are different: they are unpredictable, less common and the result of an immune response that your body has to the drug. The first time your child takes a medicine they may appear to tolerate it well but their immune system may be internally developing a sensitivity to the chemical. Then the next time he or she takes the same medication, their immune system is geared up to recognize that medication, and the reaction is known as an allergic reaction- one that is immune mediated and can cause significant distress.
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