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5 Questions Parents always ask about Feeding Their Kids

Five Questions Parents Always Ask About Feeding Their Kids

FAM, health By September 8, 2011 Tags: , , , , No Comments

New parents have a lot to learn. Let’s be honest: How many of us really tried to bathe a newborn before having children? And who knew babies could go through a dozen diapers a day? Stages come and stages go, and with each passing one, we learn something new. There is one consistent task that is challenging for even the most experienced of parents – how to feed children. From kids who constantly spit up to super picky eaters, feeding kids is one of the most daunting tasks of parenthood.
Whether you are breast- or formula-feeding, eventually your baby will drink from a bottle and you’ll need to know the proper temperature for feeding, how to prevent clumpy formula and how best to clean the bottles to prevent mould and bacteria from causing contamination. As wee ones start solids, parents must become skilled at whipping up the right consistency for the food and finding proper seating positions for safety and ease of mealtimes. And as kids enter toddlerhood, questions of texture and safe food size and shape arise.With the right knowledge and tools, parents can easily transition their tots from bottles to purees and beyond.  We’ve answered five questions parents always ask about feeding their kids

1.     Why should I wait until my baby is six months old to start solids? The World Health Organization and Health Canada both recommend you wait until six months before introducing solids. This will help ensure your baby has the proper neck and tongue muscles to swallow and may reduce the risk of developing food allergies.

2.    When do I introduce a sippy cup? Depends on your baby! Some babies are eager and are ready to start at six to seven months; others don’t have much interest in learning to use a sippy until nine months. Your best bet is to watch for the signs and experiment. If more milk is ending up on her bib and not in her mouth, wait a few weeks and try again. With the Prince Lionheart Sippy Cup Upgrade Kit, learning to use a cup makes the transition easy. Handles can be added for independent bottle-feeding and nipples replaced with a sippy spout!

3.     Can I feed my toddler solids while she sits on my lap? Sure, but be prepared to “wear” your baby’s food. Try using a boosterPOD.® This comfy booster seat makes sitting safe, fashionable and fun! The soft seat design and practical base attaches securely to both child and chair.

4.     Do I really need to cut grapes in half or hotdogs lengthwise? Choking is always a fear with young children. Cutting food into small, bite-sized pieces will reduce the risk of choking. Teaching tots to chew is important at meal times.

5.    Can I use a bottle more than once without cleaning it? Not a good idea! Whether you are using formula or breast milk, when using a bottle it is imperative to clean and dry it properly. Standing milk or formula can breed harmful bacteria – hazardous to an infant’s health.  The Prince Lionheart Complete Dishwasher Basket System will ensure your bottles are cleaned and dried properly.

Lianne Phillipson-Webb would love to share her tips on how to best feed your baby as they move through those (messy!) early stages. She knows the tips and the tools required to help make mealtime a fun, stress-free part of your day.

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do's and don't of giving kids medicine

Do’s and Don’ts of Giving Kids Medicine

FAM, health By August 30, 2011 Tags: , , , No Comments

As much as we hate it, kids get sick. From the time they’re tiny babies and get that horrible first snuffly cold to the advent of communicable viruses and such that comes from interaction with other kids at school and playdates, your child will be sick more than a few times during their time in your care. Sometimes they don’t need much more than a tissue and a night with the dehumidifier, but other times more stern measures must be taken.

Some kids can be persuaded to take their meds easily enough, and the invention of newer, better-tasting formulas and interesting dosage methods have certainly made things easier for many parents in terms of getting Junior and Jenny to swallow their medicine. However, some kids are resolutely medi-phobic. Here is a common-sense guide to giving your kids medicine, and some do’s and don’ts of giving kids medicine.

Do’s

Give them some control. No, this doesn’t mean they get to call all the shots, but sometimes giving a child a bit of choice helps them feel less out of control. “Do you want to take this one or that one first?” or “Right now or after you’ve brushed your teeth?” are reasonable options to give, among others, depending on how often they must take the medicine and how strict the schedule is.

Supervise them. Sure, you trust your kid…but who’s to say he or she won’t just dump that little cup of liquid down the drain or spit out the pills when your back is turned? Don’t go all Nurse Ratched on them, but medicines like antibiotics and others requiring precise timing and dosage can’t be left to caprice.

Follow the directions. Always be exact about the label. If it calls for taking with or without food, or avoiding certain foods, etc., don’t scrimp.

Be Generous with Praise. If your child took their medicine, make sure you let them know how proud you are. If it won’t interfere with the medicine, even apply a bit of Mary Poppins and give a spoonful of sugar, although not literally—perhaps a Hershey’s Kiss or other small candy. Or, use a completely foodless reward and give them a gold star for good behavior, to redeem in the future for something they want. The value of a big hug and worse of praise can’t be underestimated, either.

Observe the Age Ranges. When it comes to OTC medicines, always stick with the manufacturers’ guidelines. Why? Because they are there for a reason. Kids react differently to drugs than adults do; even small quantities of certain chemicals cause no reaction in an adult but can prove dangerous to children. Generally, pediatricians advise not giving any kind of drugs, especially cold medicines, to infants under age 9 months of age or so.

Be a Good Example. Let your kids see you take your daily vitamins and/or any other pills or formulas you may take, to provide them with the idea that taking medicine is ok. However, make sure you keep your meds out of their reach, and let them know that it’s not ok for people to take each other’s medicines.

Help them Take Nasty Stuff Easier. Those nifty new film strips that dissolve on the tongue and the liquid-gels that are like fizzy candy are all the rage for allergies and such, but unfortunately not all meds are like that. If your child has to take antibiotics and other prescription drugs, they may be awful-tasting (despite the flavorings the pharmacies add) or chalky, which puts anyone off. In order to help them learn to take these, show them some tried-and-true techniques:

  1. Holding the nose. Ah, yes, this old favorite does indeed work. By following the dose with a gulp of juice or a swig of water you can cut the flavor; however, if it’s an expectorant, cough syrup or throat medicine, wait half an hour before giving liquids. Instead, have them take their medicine at the bathroom since and let them brush their teeth right away.
  2. Suck on an ice cube. By sucking on something icy for a minute or so before taking the medicine, the taste buds are numbed somewhat. Only do this with older kids, of course.
  3. Mix liquid medicine with a measured amount of yogurt or a V8 Smoothie, which will cover up the taste well and not dilute the medicine.

How to Swallow Pills. Eventually every kid has to learn how to swallow pills. Start out small: invest in a pill cutter, or carefully cut larger pills into smaller chunks, which will be easier to swallow. Have them place the pill at the very back of the throat and have them take at least 2-3 big gulps of water, while keeping their heads tilted back. While this is going on, stroke his or her throat in a repetitive, downward motion to induce peristalsis. This works well on dogs and cats, too!

Don’ts

Don’t mix medicine with food. Food changes the absorptive properties of medication, especially milk-based products. Also, you can’t be sure if they got it all if they didn’t eat the entire amount of food!

Don’t open capsules or crush pills to mix with liquids. Many medicines are time-release, meaning they need to be digested at a gradual rate, not in one big gulp. This can render the medication ineffective at best, and can be dangerous at worst.

Don’t force it. Sometimes it seems the only way is to hold them down and force them to take the medicine, but this is entirely the wrong tactic: some kids get so freaked out by this that they become hysterical and can even become physically ill, vomiting up that medicine you spent so much time and effort getting down their throats. If your child is being recalcitrant, this is the time to give them some decompression time. You have a little leeway even with medication that is rigidly scheduled; let the kid calm down, talk to them…heck, sometimes you may find bribery the only way to get it done. If so, comfort yourself in the knowledge that many other moms have walked in your shoes, and their kids didn’t turn out mass-murderers, ok?

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Signs Your Child Might have Allergies

Signs Your Child Might have Allergies

FAM, health By May 9, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , 3 Comments

Are you apprehensive about those springtime sniffles? Wondering about that slight wheeze your child exhibits? Is it the common cold or something more? From peanuts to pets, eggs to airborne culprits, allergens cause trouble for millions of children each year.  Before we get to the signs that your child might have allergies, let’s discuss exactly what allergies are.

What Are Allergies?

In basic terms, an allergy is when the immune system overreacts to matter that is normally harmless to humans. When a person with an allergy comes in contact with the particular matter, the immune system reacts like that substance is an intruder. This can lead to symptoms that start at merely annoying and range to extremely harmful for the allergic person.

The immune system will then produce antibodies in an effort to guard the body. Chemicals are released throughout the body via the bloodstream to shield away the intruders, creating the allergic reactions such as itchy eyes, sniffling noses, coughing and wheezing.

Signs of Allergies in Children

1)     One of the first signs that your child might have allergies is their gene pool. If either parent has allergies, there is a good chance that a child will develop allergies, too. There is no rhyme or reason as to which allergies your child will have or when they will develop them, though. The fact that a parent has allergies basically means that it is probable that their child will have allergies, too.

But, this doesn’t eliminate children with parents who do not have allergies. For some reason, even children with parents who do not exhibit allergies can be allergic to different types of matter. In addition, there is a good chance that if a child is allergic to one thing, they can have other allergies, too

2)     If your child experiences abdominal pain and/or vomiting directly after eating, it could be a sure sign of food allergies.  Food allergies tend to occur rather rapidly, sometimes within minutes of consumption of the food. Symptoms can also include a rash and diarrhea. Be sure to document which foods your child has eaten (and possible ingredients) prior to getting sick.

3)     Another sign of allergies is the more obvious shortness of breath, wheezing and labored breathing. A persistent cough that is accompanied by cold-like symptoms can also be an indication that your child has allergies or asthma. Although the above warning signs can be a precursor, you will want to discuss these symptoms with your child’s pediatrician and keep a journal that documents when and where the issues pop up. This will help to both diagnose and treat your child accurately.

4)     Eczema, a scaly, dry and itchy rash on the skin, can signify that your child has allergies and is quite often the result of a food allergy. A skin test at the pediatrician’s office can reveal more information about the pesky rash.

As mentioned above, if you suspect that your child has an allergic reaction or shows persistent or recurring signs or allergies, a trip to the pediatrician may be in store. Be sure to bring any journals that you have kept and pertinent information that can help your child’s pediatrician diagnose and treat the problem.

– BC

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Immunization Tracker Chart

FAM, health By April 11, 2011 Tags: , , , 1 Comment

Immunization Tracker ChartWe know that not everyone believes in vaccinating their kids, but for those who do, we’ve developed a pretty cool Immunization Tracker Chart for you.  You might want to print a thumbnail for your wallet so you’re always on top of these things!

The debate about whether or not to immunize has advocates on each side.  Please do your research and remember that the health of our society is only as strong as it’s most immuno-compromized member.

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CHI Kids

FAM, health By February 14, 2011 Tags: , , , , , 4 Comments

Clammy hands.  Racing heart.  Clenched stomach. If I could give my children one gift for their lifetime, it would be to manage stress.  I wish they could learn techniques so that they  could be confident and grounded in any situation.  In our society, parents are continually bombarded with the current health buzz.  We are so careful about not eating unpasturized cheese while pregnant.  We ditch the carpet lest our kids are affected by off-gassing, and we work incessantly to make sure there are no parabens in our shampoo, nitrites in our meat and dust in our pillows.  Doing the right things for our children can not only be time-consuming but stressful as well.  And we’ve also heard the buzz about the long-term health consequences of stress.  What better gift could we bestow on any human being than the gift of a healthy coping mechanism?  Child and youth clinical counsellor Michele Kambolis is the Vice Chair of the BC Mental Health Foundation, and saw the need for a program for children to learn the coping skills for stressful situations thoughout their lives.  Enter CHI Kids. It needs more than a drumroll.

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Boiron for Cold and Flu

FAM, health By February 11, 2011 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

AAAH-CHOO!  I hab a cold in my node.  And I just raided the kid’s medicine cabinet to fix it!  I always used Boiron’s Camilia for the teething pain, so was thrilled to hear that they’ve developed natural medicines for children’s cough, cold and flu.  Boiron’s Stodal for coughs is specifically formulated for children 1 year and older, tastes like honey, is toxin-, dextromethorphan- and guaifenesin-free and boasts no alcohol, no artificial colorings or flavorings.  MMMM.  www.boiron.ca

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Kawasaki Disease

FAM, health By December 14, 2010 Tags: , , , No Comments

Kawasaki’s is an auto-immune disease that affects blood vessels, mucous membranes, skin and lymph nodes. It also normally exhibits its serious effects on the heart leading to severe coronary artery aneurysm in untreated cases. The disease normally affects children who are under 5 years of age. The condition is usually accompanied by a fever during the onset period or acute phase of the disease. The fever is normally high with temperatures of about 400c (1040F) or higher and it does not yield to treatment with paracetamol or acetaminophen.

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What is Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD

FAM, health By December 14, 2010 Tags: , , , , No Comments

Attention Deficit Disorder is a biological and neurological condition that is characterized by either poor attention or hyperactive and impulsive behaviours. It is very common in children and when nothing is done about it, a child will grow with such behaviours. This normally has an adverse effect on academic performance and social relationships of the child. The exact cause of attention deficit disorder is yet to be ascertained but there are various proponents to what may be the cause. There are reports that the disorder may be genetic and neurologically related. Some of the risk factors also identified include genetic and hereditary factors as well as brain disorders and injuries or trauma to the brain.

Children with this disorder manifest it in several ways. It is difficult for a child with this disorder to follow through on a task and complete it without being distracted. They may be so forgetful and often look like they are not listening to instructions especially in a class. It is also common to see these type children lose their belongings easily, and they find it difficult to arrange or organize their stuff orderly. It is difficult for such children to sit down in one place to wait for someone or get involved in an activity that entails concentration and efforts for a long time.

Parents are advised to seek medical help if they are concerned that their child may have attention deficit disorder. However, you must know that most of these signs are what most children exhibit when growing up.  Before you run to a specialist, always familiarize yourself with the stages of development for your child’s gender.

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Holiday Safety Tips

FAM, health By December 10, 2010 Tags: , , , , No Comments

The holiday season is an exciting time for children, full of glittering decorations and new things to explore. Unfortunately, all those unfamiliar items and the distractions of the season can lead to injuries. Here are some common seasonal hazards and the simple steps you can take to keep kids safe:

Safe decorating:
-Keep Christmas trees well watered at all times. Dry trees are a fire hazard.
-Check all lights, bulbs, sockets, and extension cords to make sure nothing is frayed, cracked or broken.

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