Sunday, June 25, 2006 

Don't Let a Home Business Cost You Your Family

by: Craig Binkley

Does the title of this article sound funny to you? To some, it may not only seem funny but downright silly. To others, it may be offensive also. On the surface, it does sound like a funny topic for an article. When we look deeper, it can be a very serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Now I’m sure that most of us have either heard, or even personally known a family that has been damaged because the husband/father pours all of his time and efforts into a job or career. His wife never sees him. His children don’t know him. He may try to make up for it with all kinds of “worldly” gifts, when all the while what is really needed is him to be there.

I know what you are thinking. This couldn’t, or shouldn’t, happen with a home based business. I am here to tell you that it not only can, but also it does. It doesn’t matter if the husband/father is devoting all his time to his career away from the home or tucked away in his cozy office at home. The outcome is going to be the same.

The question that needs to asked is “How can a father/husband run a home based business, at times while still working full-time outside the home, without causing irreparable damage to his marriage and family?” Hopefully, the following things will help him keep his priorities in line and not be “sucked in” to the “succeed at all costs” mentality that is so prevalent in this day and age.

1) The most important recommendation I can offer, the reason it is at the top of my list, is to trust in God to provide. If we learn to trust HIM rather than feeling that is all up to us, the better off we will be (I used to struggle with this BIG time).

2) If you are building a home business while working outside the home, you MUST understand that your family needs you. I’m not talking about being able to purchase the newest home video center to keep everyone busy either. Set aside some time to spend with the family. Make your wife feel special (surprise her with a rose) and remember that you kids are only kids FOR A SHORT WHILE.

3) Set your goals according to the items listed in #2 above. Don’t let your goals run your life. Goals are important, but they are worthless if you lose your family in the pursuit of them.

4) Try to get your wife and/or children involved in your business. The home should be a place of commerce. Children are a blessing, not a curse. Let them bless your business. Our oldest daughter has designed her own line of jewelry that we sell on our website. It started as a hobby, and then naturally progressed into a small business. Let your children do things for you, even if it is just filing papers or searching a topic on the Internet that you may need. Make them feel like they are a part of the business and it will go a long way to keeping your family together.

There are many other things that can be done to keep your home business from adversely affecting your marriage and family life. Some of them are OBVIOUS while others are not. A good rule of thumb is to remember that your family should be the most important thing in your life next to your relationship with God. If you keep this in mind, and work your business with this as your primary “goal”, not only will you not cause damage, but I truly believe you will be blessed in whatever endeavor you are undertaking.

Copyright 2006 Craig Binkley

8:46 AM |

 

Driveway Safety for Children

by: V. Michael Santoro

Driveway safety is a very demanding responsibility for parents or guardians of young children. Even when closely watching your children, it is difficult to react quickly enough when they dart out from your driveway into the street either chasing a ball or riding a toy. Some of the most devastating motor vehicle accidents involving children occur in the driveway.

Driveway safety statistics show that children who do survive sustain severe and permanent physical and brain injuries. In fact, the driveway is the second greatest killer of young children around the home.

Driveway injuries can be prevented by:

• Having a greater awareness of the danger

• Following simple safety rules

• Being more vigilance as parents

Driveway safety is comprised of two categories

Preventing your child from:

• Being run over by a car backing out of the driveway

• Running into the street while playing in the yard

Prevent your child from being run over in the driveway

One third of children under the age of six, who are involved in motor vehicle accidents, were killed in yards, parking lots and driveways. One and two year olds are most likely to be killed or injured in home driveways. The vehicle is usually moving slowly and is often being driven by a parent, relative or friend.

A slow moving vehicle backing down a driveway can trap a child, and cause fatal crushing injuries. Children who do survive often suffer severe long-term injuries.

Small children, particularly toddlers, can be impossible to see if they are directly behind a car. Most drivers are aware of their car’s ‘blind spots,’ and studies show that there is a large “blind spot” behind most cars, particularly when driving in reverse. Even cars with parking sensors or a video camera may not notice a small child until it is too late to stop.

The greatest number of fatal driveway accidents occur on weekdays as opposed to weekends. They usually occur between 8:00am and 10:00am in the morning, and between 4:00pm and 6:00pm in the afternoon. Additionally, most of these accidents occur in good weather and bright conditions.

Safety Steps

• Always watch your children and never leave them alone while playing in the yard - especially near parked or moving vehicles

• Ensure their safety by holding their hands or keeping them close to you

• If you are home alone and need to move your vehicle, securely put your child in the car while you move it

• Use security doors, fencing or gates for areas that exit your home to make access to the driveway difficult for young children

• Walk around your vehicle before leaving an area where children have been playing

• Never allow your unsupervised child use your driveway as a place to play

• Create an alternative safe play area for your children

Protecting Your Children from Running into the Street

To deal with this driveway safety problem, many parents use their car to block the driveway or erect a temporary barrier out of wood or whatever else may be lying around the garage. Many of these barriers are not sturdy and children on riding toys can be injured if they collide with the barrier or car.

A better driveway safety solution is called a driveway safety net. It extends across the bottom of your driveway. It is a low-cost, easy-to use portable mesh barrier that acts as a deterrent by preventing children and toys from leaving the driveway and entering the street.

It also acts as a visual barrier to deter automobiles from entering the driveway where children are playing. This is especially important when cars parked on the street next to your driveway can impair a driver’s vision.

Nothing can replace parental supervision as the primary solution to child safety. Proactively watching our children can be a challenge, however it is better to meet the challenge than to suffer the consequences.

8:43 AM |

Thursday, June 15, 2006 

Tips For Boys On Reducing Acne

by: Daniel Lesser

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of acne is certainly no exception.
Many people believe that boy's puberty and acne should not be seen as a problem but boys might disagree. Acne can have an affect on the confidence of the young man and makes this transitional time harder to live with.
Boys, puberty and acne can be controlled if you know what to do. When the boy starts showing signs of acne you can try changing his diet. Some folks agree that eating greasy foods or foods that contain chocolate may add to the problem of boys, puberty and acne. Although most experts disagree with this acne myth.
It is important for the boy to keep his face clean. There are many products on the market that can be used for cleansing if acne is a problem. Boys during puberty may find these products to be helpful.
Sometimes puberty and stress can combine to make acne even worse. Find the causes of stress and work on reducing or eliminating it. The acne itself can lead to stress and then you have a vicious cycle. A boy during puberty does not need the added stress of acne.
When you are dealing with boys during puberty it is helpful to know some things about acne. Here are some tips about boys during puberty who are experiencing acne.
Acne tip #1: Take the condition seriously. Acne outbreaks may not seem like a big deal to you but they may be a big deal to a boy during puberty.
Now that we've covered those aspects of acne, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.
Acne tip #2: Suggest a gentle skin cleaning regimen rather than severe scrubbing with harsh cleaners. A mild cleanser that can be used twice a day is all that is needed.
Acne tip #3: Ask a doctor or dermatologist for skin car advice. A health care professional will be able to guide you as far as a good cleaning program.
Acne tip #4: It is not a good idea to squeeze or pick at blemishes. This practice only makes the acne worse, and makes the scars last longer.
Acne tip #5: Try using acne skin care products that do not promote blemishes. There are skin care products that are labeled as non-comedogenic that should not clog pores.
Acne tip #6: If the boy is shaving try using different types of razors. Sometimes an electric razor is the best but for other boys a safety razor will be more comfortable.
Acne tip #7: If the acne is severe you may need a dermatologist to prescribe a medication for the boy during puberty. Sometimes a prescription is necessary to lessen the affects of the acne.
Boys during puberty need a lot of support and understanding. Discovering the best way to combat an acne condition will help a teenager during puberty so that he can deal with all the other changes that he is going through.
So now you know a little bit about acne. Even if you don't know everything, you've done something worthwhile: you've expanded your knowledge.

11:20 AM |

 

What Toys Did Caveman Kids Play With To Pass The Time

by: Peter Legrove

Back in the days, when home was a cave stuck on the face of a cliff.
Kids, babies, cubs, kittens or whatever you like to call the offspring, all have one thing in common. They love to play. So I think we can safely assume that caveman kids played. But with what did they play with.
What amused the minds of our ancestor's kids. When they were lying around the fire after a hard day learning about staying alive. We are still trying to work out the minor details of the past lives of children of prehistory, but we can dream.
Anyway, were the first jigsaw puzzles just leaves that had been ripped up into little pieces so the little ones could put them back together. Was this a teaching aid so the kids could learn which plants were safe to eat. We will possible never know but it is good to ponder.
Back in prehistory, before houses and cars and TVs, video games and all the modern gadgets that we have nowadays. What toys did caveman kids play with, when daddy was out hunting the mighty mammoth or giant sloth. And mommy was gathering vegetables and herbs and grasses and whatever else they ate back then.
Anyway many artifacts have been dug up, mostly bone and rock carving of people and wild animals. Beautiful carvings, something to be really proud of. Don't you think that maybe, just maybe, it might have been made by a dotting daddy for his little son.
In the future when future man digs up what we leave behind, what conclusions will they come to. Looking at some of the dinosaur toys available, would they conclude that these beasts actually walked among the skyscrapers.
In the 25th century if you dug up an old car toy that hadn't rusted away, how would you explain it.
Would you say it was some sort of God that we worshiped, or was it a decorative item we used to show power. It could have been a model of the king's chariot.
But do we stop to think, that it may have been something for our kids to play with. While we were out making more money to buy even more things for our kids to play with.
We have war games with tiny toy soldiers and cowboy and Indian sets. What is to stop the tiny carved human figures from prehistory being toys to teach the kids the best way to hunt down a mammoth or rhino or deer.
If we made some replica models of some of the artifacts, and gave them to our kids to play with in the sand pit. We might see them reenacting a mammoth hunt or chasing a wild deer into the ground.
Some of the most valuable artifacts would suddenly be delegated from God status to kid status.
I like to look at what we do now and them dream about what could have happened in the caveman days.
Nowadays in any toyshop there is a shelf of toy plastic animals. Anything we see in the wild or on the farm or in the home is there in little packets.
Did the caveman kids also have collections of toys. Now, our kids even have toy cavemen to play with, so what did caveman kids play with.
I can remember “Fred Flintstone” on TV but did Pebbles and BamBam have any toys. All I can remember is BamBam running around with this big club. Now you can buy big air-filled clubs and hammers that don’t hurt when they hit you on the head.
But back to reality, kids love to play and caveman kids would also have played, but with what.
Toy bows and arrows and toy spears. Like kids today who love anything to do with war. Would all the spear points belong to daddy's toolbox or would the smaller ones belong to the son.
They must have had something to play with, but with what.
Maybe in the future someone scratching around in a long forgotten cave will unearth the Barbie prototype. Or the lovely bird carved from a long dead mammoth tusk just might have been from mummy to daughter.
And not some elegantly carved offering to an unknown God.
Article by copyright © Peter Legrove 2006, at www.animalsdinosaursandbugs.com

11:18 AM |

Monday, June 12, 2006 

Celebrity Baby Names

by: Julie Parker

Celebrities are not like everyday people. They have busy schedules, drive expensive cars, and wear jewelry that others can only dream of owning. Maybe it is because celebrities are so far removed from normal life that they often give their babies unusual names.
Some names are just a little different. John Travolta and Kelly Preston have two beautiful children. Their daughter's name is Ella Bleu. Their son's name is Jett. Jett is different, but anyone who knows anything about John Travolta knows he has a love for flying. Gwyneth Paltrow, pregnant again, came under scrutiny for naming her first child Apple. While it is unusual, it is somewhat cute, like in the "apple of their eye." Chris Martin, her husband, tired of the controversy over the name Apple, has jokingly stated their second child, whether male or female, will be named Banana. Another cute name is Dandelion, the name of Keith Richards' daughter. Julie Roberts recently gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - and received flack over the names she chose. She received almost as much grief over the choice for her daughter's name, Hazel, as she did the more eccentric choice of Phinnaeus for her son.
Many people speculated what Madonna would name her first child. Lourdes Maria seems a fitting name for child who's mother's name is Madonna, but she often goes by Lola. Her son is named Rocco, which sounds a bit like a cartoon character, but at least it is a tough sounding name. Actor Casey Affleck and fiancé Summer Phoenix recently had a son named Indiana August, which leads one to wonder what state and month their son was conceived in. Toni Braxton has two sons, Denim and Diezel. While both useful products, they make somewhat strange names for children. Rob Marrow decided it would be cute if he named his daughter Tu Simone Ayer, calling her Tu Morrow. Wonder if she will think it is cute 20 years from now? Actor Jason Lee named his son Pilot Inspektor, but magician Penn Jillette may have topped them all. He named his daughter, Moxie Crimefighter, saying "because when she's pulled over for speeding she can say, `But officer, we're on the same side, my middle name is CrimeFighter."'
If you think it is a new trend, think again. Back in 1971, David Bowie and his then wife Angela decided to name their son Duncan Zowie Heywood Jones. He soon became known as Zowie Bowie. Cher named her children Chastity Sun and Elijah Blue.
The Phoenix family is well known for their unusual choice of baby names. Summer Phoenix's siblings are the late actor River Phoenix, actresses Rain and Liberty Phoenix and actor Joaquin Phoenix. Joaquin felt his name was so out of place with his siblings, that when he was four, he decided to change his name to Leaf. By the early 1990's, he had reverted back to using his birth name. Another family infamous for their choices of baby names is the Zappa family. Frank's children are Dweezil, Moon Unit, Ahmed Emuukha Rodan and Diva Muffin. While many people think that Dweezil is his given name, his birth name was originally Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa because the hospital refused to register the name Dweezil. Always called Dweezil, when he was a child, he wanted to make the name official and his parents took him to have it changed legally. Paula Yates, former wife of Sir Bob Geldof and girlfriend of late rocker Michael Hutchence, also had a knack for giving her children unusual names. Among her brood are Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa, Heavenly Hiraani Tigerlily, and Little Pixie.
Some celebrity baby names make sense if you know the story behind them. Eurythmic's Dave Stewart named his son Django after jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Stevie Wonder named his son Mandla Kadjaly Carl Stevland, however Mandla means "powerful" in Zulu and Kadjaly means "born from God" in Swahili. Helen Hunt just gave birth to a baby girl she named Makena'lei Gordon. The name Makena'lei is from a friend's dream and means "many flowers of heaven." Gordon, an unlikely girl's name, was to honor of Helen's father, television director Gordon Hunt. Nicolas Cage just named his new baby boy Kal-el. Because Nicolas took his stage name of Cage from comic book character Luke Cage, he decided to name his son Kal-el after one of his favorite comic book heroes. Kal-el is Superman's kryptonian name.
So, do the children like these unconventional names given them by their parents? In some cases, they do. The Phoenix's seem to love their nature-inspired names and the Zappa children seem to have had no ill effects from their eccentric names. However, some children tire of the peculiar names quickly. Zowie Bowie had had enough of his moniker by the time he was 12 and asked to be referred to as "Joey." Although Dandelion Richards does not seem too bad, she has since started referring to herself as Angela. Recently, Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof has been the most outspoken about the odd choice her parents made in naming her. She has been quoted as saying, "I hate ridiculous names. My weird name has haunted me all my life."
While having an unusual name might be difficult for any child, the celebrity of a child's parents may enhance it even further. Thankfully, celebrity children who decide they don't like their given names can switch to a nickname or even eventually have their names legally changed.

1:00 PM |

 

Honing Your Parenting Skills And Teaching Manners

by: Alison Palmer

Parenting skills go beyond teaching your child to say, “Please” and “Thank you”. Teaching a child what behavior is expected is a daily process, and you will have many opportunities each day to steer your child in the right direction.
One key point to remember is to teach, not reprimand. It is easy to assume that your child is just being bad when, in fact, he just needs a lesson or two from you on the correct behavior. Be specific when you teach your child and remember that follow-up lessons are necessary.
Instead of saying, "Don't be so discourteous!" you can say, "It's impolite to belch at the table, but if you do, you should say 'excuse me'.
Rephrase. When your child states her feelings in a less-than-polite way, you can rephrase what she already said in the way you find acceptable. So if she says, “I hate this green stuff!" You can politely correct her by saying, "What you should say is, 'I don't like spinach'."
Accept mistakes. When kids are young they will spill, drop and break things. It takes time to acquire the motor skills necessary to be neat and tidy. Children will make social blunders. It takes maturity to learn how to act in social situations. Accept age-appropriate mistakes for being simple childishness.
Correct privately. As annoying as your child's lack of manners may be, resist the urge to reprimand him in front of other people. Making a scene as you attempt to teach your child proper manners can just be bad manners on your part.
Expect good manners. When you know your child has learned the proper way to behave it is important to expect those good manners. Be consistent. Require good manners every day. Remind gently. And over time you will find your children turning into proper ladies and gentlemen.
Take charge. Simply give yourself permission to be in charge and begin expecting your children to obey you. With this solid foundation you will build a loving, trusting relationship with your children. More importantly, you will be able to lead your children into adulthood with values, wisdom, and life skills that only a strong, supportive parent can impart.
Use rules and routines. If you have very specific rules and routines you will find that things flow more peacefully. If you don’t, then expect chaos. It is well worth the time and effort to establish family priorities, rules and schedules for the usual daily routines.
None of us are born knowing how to be parents. We can love our kids with our whole heart and soul, but we are not born with a gene that gives us an instinctual knowledge of all the right answers, nor do we automatically know how to solve daily child rearing problems. But you can confident that your parenting skills with grow with time

12:56 PM |

Monday, June 05, 2006 

Living With (And Cleaning Up After) A Reflux Baby

by: Angie Hewerdine

It’s amazing how messy a baby can be, and how much mess a parent is capable of dealing with! I used to be squeamish. You know... the type of person who would gag if someone else even hinted that they felt like throwing up. That was before I became a Mom. Now, I can handle any bodily fluid with ease.

Shortly after my second child, Ruby, was born it was obvious that she would give my stomach a run for it's money. Ruby was a reflux baby, diagnosed at just one month old.

Gastro esophageal reflux occurs when the contents of the stomach are pushed back up into the esophagus and expelled. Reflux in infants is associated with frequent spitting up, upset stomach and persistent hiccups. Apparently, Reflux is common among infants, but to this day I still have not met a baby that could out-shine my Ruby! My baby didn't just dribble, she gushed!

I remember holding up a box full of bibs at my baby shower, remarking that we would never be able to use them all. Use them we did, and often. So often we bought dozens more. I was washing up to 2 loads of bibs and urped upon clothes each day. We would go through 4 or 5 shirts in a single afternoon.

I had to warn people about Ruby's 'problem' before I let them hold her. I figured that way they couldn't blame me if they got wet. When they did get 'hit', I always came back with the retort 'Don't worry, it's breast milk. It won't stain!’ Words of comfort , indeed.

I wondered if it was something in my milk that was making my baby's insides rebel. Perhaps my love of garlic and onions? Our pediatrician assured me that this was not the case, and she prescribed Zantac and Metoclopramide for my baby – two very grown up drugs for one very small human. At first I was very skeptical. I tried to cut back on the medication, hoping that the reflux had run its course, but within hours of her not receiving her meds, Ruby was at it again, thoroughly soaking the spaces around her small body.

It always tickled me to see how little her vomiting actually phased her. She'd blow chunks midway through a smile, and still be grinning when she was finished. The medication helped, but by no means did it stop her from throwing up. We just got used to the mess and took precautions. We walked around with towels over our shoulder. We carried extra clothes, not only for Ruby, but for me as well. Burp cloths became known as ‘barf cloths’ and we never went anywhere without at least ten of them.

Over time, the condition eased up, as her little body continued to develop. We have been able to take her off the medication, though my baby geyser still erupts at least 3 times a day. I no longer cringe at the familiar sound of liquid hitting the floor. I just hope she outgrows it before Kindergarten! Cleaning up messes is just part of being a parent. With Ruby, I got more than I bargained for, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

7:51 AM |

Friday, June 02, 2006 

Wholesome Feeding For 1-6 Years Old Children

by: Yana Mikheeva
So your baby is one year old. He grew enough, feel independent and can do many of the things that adults can do. Mother’s milk and various purees are not enough for his growing and development already. A baby is ready for a gradual transfer for more serious food, which will finish by about 5-6 years. This “transitional period” requires especially responsible attitude from parents. Experts note that it is irrational feeding in early childhood that is a reason of many problems with digestion and metabolism, appearing already in mature age. To avoid dangerous mistakes, let’s arm ourselves with scientific facts.
- How and in which terms a baby’s transfer to an “adult” food should be carried out?
- It’s very important for a baby to receive food of consistence that corresponds to his age. Many parents, taking too much care of their babies, keep on feeding him with grated dishes up to 2-3 years. But such “care” brings no good, and is rather injurious to health. Food should stimulate, not delay development of masticatory apparatus and digestive system of a baby.
One year old baby should be already given minced dishes, instead of purees. By 2 years a baby already has 20 calf's teeth, he already can chew well, so it is possible to transfer to larger pieces. After 3 years a healthy baby should already receive a piece of dish. He already can chew, digest and assimilate even beef Stroganoff.
- How much meat a baby of 1-6 years should eat? And which meat is good for a baby?
First of all, remember that every child is individual and his needs in meat, fish and other food are individual too. So we can talk only about approximate norms and recommendations, oriented on such “average” baby. Taking this into account, we can say that a baby from 1 to 1,5 years needs about 60-70 g of meat gross per day. In this case a baby will receive enough protein, easy assimilated iron, and also a range of vitamins of group B. It’ll be better, if this is minced meat or – if a baby already can chew rather well - meat-balls.
At 1,5-2 years a baby should already receive 70-80 g of meat gross per day 4-5 times per week. In this age you can already cook steam cutlets for a baby. A child of 2,5-5 years should eat 120 g (gross) of meat per day-and-night. You can and should offer not minced boiled meat, in the form of beef and bird meat, goulash, schnitzel. A 6 y.o. child needs 120 g of meat, including bird meat, daily. Exactly meat, not sausage food and other convenience foods, which, as it’s known, contain much more fat, than protein.
As for sort of meat, for children feeding lean beef or veal, chicken, turkey are preferable, you can use lean pork and mutton. Moreover, meat by-product: kidneys, tongue, heart, liver should be definitely included in menu. Don’t forget about fish, which is also the most valuable source of some indispensable fatty acids, iron, vitamin B12 and other health-giving elements. It’s better to choose lean sorts of sea and river fish, such as pike perch, cod, hake, perch, navaga.
- After year a baby already eats enough solid food, this means, his necessity in liquid increases. How much should children from year and upwards drink?
- For children from 1 to 3 years a daily norm is about 100 ml of water on kilogram of weight, from 3 to 7 years – about 80 ml. Probably bigger quantity. In connection with children’s high activity, losses of water are rather significant, so you should not restrict your child in drinking.
It’s better to drink water – children mineral gas-free or boiled and cooled till room temperature. Sweet compotes, juices and drinks should be drunk during intervals between meals, not during eating. The matter is that if a child drinks water during eating, water fills his stomach and a child feels satiety prematurely. In a while he’ll become hungry again, and this will lead to breach of dietary habits.
- Many parents complain that their child eats little. Why does a child eat little? How to improve his appetite?
- As for the first question, children appetite lowers due to different reasons, but most popular is wrong organization of feeding. It’s desirable that a child upwards year would eat according to strict schedule. When a child takes snacks all the time, he just has no time to get hungry, and good appetite is out of the question. Moreover, if a baby applies himself to sweets and drinks, he doesn’t receive many more wholesome products in necessary quantity.
Another reason of bad appetite can be a monotony of food – a child is just tired of eating the same food. So you shouldn’t cook in store, moreover while keeping and warming up food value of products lowers.
Sometimes there’re cases, when a child secretes not enough saline, and because of this it’s difficult for him to chew and swallow food. Of course, such child eats unwillingly. In this case you should cook more liquid dishes, pour second course with sauces, offer taking drink while eating.
Often it happens that a child is just playing up. In this case you shouldn’t rush to cook something “special”. It’s enough to explain a child calmly that he can refuse from food, but next time he’ll be invited to table only in several hours – during next feeding. As a rule, this helps.
Frequent walks on fresh air, movable games, fun help to work up appetite. At the same time excess excitement of a child as a result of active games, watching TV etc. can serve as a reason of bad appetite. So, it’s desirable for a child to be in quiet atmosphere and have a rest, before he is invited to have a meal. Moreover, good sleep is very important for a child feeding. On no account feed your child forcedly – this will form a child’s stable disgust for food. And meal should be always accompanied only by positive emotions, bring pleasure.
- If a child, on the contrary, has good appetite and sometimes he wants to have a snack between basic meals very much – should we refuse him strictly or no?
- No, if he does want, then you shouldn’t refuse him. Sometimes a child even needs some additional “recharge” – for example, after he has had enough of running about on fresh air. You can give him a piece of dried bread, some dried apricots, raisins. But, again, don’t offer him snack with sweets – they will slacken the appetite, and when time of constant feeding comes, a child may refuse from food. If a child is really hungry, then he’ll gladly snack with a crust of bread.
In general, when a child’s daily ration is composed correctly, then it’s not wishful to supplement it with anything without serious reasons. Experts all over the world consider that problem of adults’ excess weight, which is so actual today, is connected right with wrong schedule of feeding in early childhood.
- What are recommendations as for plump children’s feeding? You know, it’s difficult to prescribe a diet for a baby.
- There’re no universal recommendations in this case. Reasons of excess weight may be various, including firstly inherited ones. So, a professional who observes a child should compose a diet. But if a plump child is healthy, active, then the reason of his excess weight is really in wrong feeding.
The main what should be considered, - is frequency and volume of taken food, quantity of fats and carbohydrate is especially important. There’re special norms of daily quantity of energy and food substances for children of different ages, and you should orient on them while composing ration. Of course, you shouldn’t count milligrams carefully – these norms are averaged. However, if you notice that a child eats more, than he needs, don’t rush to deprive him of his favorite dishes. You should reduce quantity little by little, restricting consumption of some products, to prevent a child from traumatizing.
It’s important that while reducing calorie content, food wouldn’t become less tasty – this will requite inventiveness and even ruse from parents. For example, baked potato is not less tasty than fried. The same is with meat and fish. You can increase portions due to vegetables (for example, cauliflower, spinach, leguminous haricot, but not potato), so that a child would feel satiety, without receiving excess calories.
- What if a child is too thin, on the contrary?
- Often parents worry for excess leanness of a child – he eats well, but is thin all the same. However, if a child is healthy, movable, has good appetite, then you shouldn’t worry – most likely, this is just his individual peculiarity. In majority of cases everything will become normal with age. Sudden weight loss requires attention – in this case a child usually becomes sluggish, gets tired quickly, eat and sleep little. You should consult a doctor to find the reasons.
- Probably, weight loss is connected with lack of vitamins?
- Most likely they are not straightly connected. But lack of micro-nutrients, including vitamins, as a rule is accompanied by lowering of general vitality of organism, worsening of appetite and sleep, what may lead to weight loss too. Parents should know that even the most perfect ration cannot provide a child with necessary quantity of micro-nutrients. So children should take vitamin-mineral additions daily. This is not a trick of manufacturers of vitamins, but a scientific proved fact.
Children should take vitamins twice a year – in spring and autumn, a course should last 1-2 months.
Researches show that it’s better to take vitamins and minerals in different time during a day. This way they are assimilated better and act more efficient. Also, when you choose polyvitamins, pay special attention on dosage. Hypervitaminosis may bring the same harm to a children organism, as lack of vitamins. Moreover, a child receives a part of nutritive materials with food.
- It is known that during cooking or keeping of food many vitamins are lost. Are there any ways to keep them?
- To keep maximum of nutritive materials, you need to know what they are “afraid” of. Thus, for example, vitamins A and E are not destroyed while heating, however they are very sensitive to sunshine and oxygen. So vegetable oil and butter shouldn’t be left on light and in open ware. Vitamins B1 and B6, containing in bread, macaroni and soy, and also vitamin K, containing in spinach and cabbage, also don’t like light.
Vitamin C is very capricious. Many mothers like to peel off potato since evening and leave in water for the night, to boil in the morning. However, in this case potato, like other vegetables, loses most part of its vitamin C. According to the same reason it’s not desirable to cut and grate vegetables and fruits – cells are broken and ferment ascorbatoxidase gets free, it destroys ascorbic acid quickly. If a child can already chew by himself, it’s better to give him vegetables and fruits as a whole.
Wrong heat processing of products also leads to loss of vitamins. Frying destroys vitamins most of all. And least of all they are destroyed while steam boiling, baking in foil or pot. While boiling in water you should put vegetables into boiling water, not cold, to neutralize ascorbatoxidase. It’s also important not to overdo food. For example, potato is boiled 10-20 minutes, cabbage – 20-25, carrot, onion, marrows – 10-15 minutes. A pan, where vegetables are boiled, should be covered with lid tightly and filled to the brim.
For better safety of vitamins, boil products in aluminum or stainless steel crockery.
- Which crockery a child should eat from?
- Best crockery for a child – is that made of unbreakable porcelain or faience. Be careful with plastic, many parents prefer it because it is unbreakable, but plastic items, not meant for food purposes, can excrete poisonous substances.
Place settings for children should be made of stainless steel, cupronickel, and ideally – of silver, which has anti-microbe effect. You shouldn’t use wooden crockery, as microbes may stay in pores of wood. Souvenir wooden spoons and dishes are better used like toys.
It’s desirable that a child would have his own set of crockery and place setting, and also tissues and dish-cloth. Children things should be definitely kept separately from adult’s ones.
- What is the main principle of feeding for children of 1-6 years?
- Perhaps, the main is calm, attentive and careful attitude to a child, as they help to support both good health and feeding. It’s very important for food to be varied to the maximum and include all groups of products. Follow experts’ advices, but consider a child’s needs, value personality in him. And then he will make you glad with good health and mood.

4:36 PM |

 

Secret Life Of Babies

by: Yana Mikheeva
A miracle has happened. A baby was born. Your first, although very short, acquaintance has happened. Let’s try to learn what happens with babies after they are present solemnly to mothers.
The first thing a new-born baby needs is warmth. In comparison with maternal comfortable warmth, outward things of a labour ward are rather cold. So, doctors’ task – is to prevent warmth loss: babies are wiped dry with a swaddling band at once and put on a table with a special lamp, where a baby’s temperature is constantly controlled. But beforehand, when a baby is at his mother’s legs yet, right after his birth, and sometimes right at the moment when his head appears, they draw off slime and amniotic fluid from a baby’s nose and mouth, to make his first breath easier. Right after birth, an accoucheur clamps and cuts an umbilical cord. Your baby begins his own life. Then doctors spot argentic nitrate or sulfacetamide extract into baby’s eyes, to prevent eye infections, particularly blennorrhea , which appears, if a mother is sick with gonorrhoea. Absolutely all babies pass through this preventive procedure, as a woman is not always aware about her illness. They cleanse girls’ genitals also. Moreover, they also determine a baby’s blood group and Rhesus factor, according to umbilical cord blood.
A baby’s first medical inspection takes place right after birth. A doctor estimates a baby’s general state, his breath, palpitation, skin color, determines apparent defects, estimating also a state of hip joints and clavicles, which pathology is often met. A doctor pays special attention to a baby’s cry. Doctor can determine a lot about general state of a baby, listening to a baby’s inflexion while crying. Later on, a doctor and a nurse examine a baby every morning, during his stay in a maternity hospital. A baby is weighed every day at the same time, and before discharge he passes through control weighing – before and after nursing, in order to know whether he eats enough. Moreover, a nurse cleanses his umbilical wound with a hydric dioxide and manganese crystals regularly.
If you think it’s too early for your baby to get marks, you’re mistaken. He’ll get his first mark right after birth, according to so called scale of Apgar, which allows determining a baby’s initial state of health quickly. This scale was worked out in 1952 by doctor V.Apgar for junior medical staff, which could determine a baby that needed more care, with the help of this scale. A baby receives marks according to this scale in the end of the first minute after birth and then in the end of the fifth minute. Doctors estimate a baby’s state of muscle tone in complex, reaction to irritation, skin color, respiration rate and heartbeat. Till recently such estimation served as a guide to further actions for medical staff. Now a role of this scale has changed a little, especially for babies, which need special reanimation measures. A doctor estimates a baby’s state right after birth (and often even before birth) and holds reanimation, if it’s necessary, - according to modern standards, it’s already late to do it in the end of the first minute of life. So, in this case, they estimate rather efficiency of reanimation measures according to the scale, not a real state of a baby. And such estimation takes place during following 25 minutes of baby’s life. Later, it is written in a baby’s medical card.
After first medical examination, an accoucheur cleanses an umbilical cord, clear a baby’s skin with oil and wraps him in swaddling clothes. Now a new human being can have some rest from first impressions, falling on him, till his first procedure of nursing.
On the third day babies pass through general blood test. Moreover, now all babies pass through blood screening-tests, to reveal more common diseases, namely hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria. These are serious heritable diseases. One of five thousands of babies suffers from hypothyroidism, it causes decline in a thyroid gland’s functioning, and leads to backwardness of a baby. Phenylketonuria is less spread: about one of fifteen thousands of babies suffers from it. This disease leads to cerebral defects. If these diseases are found and treated in early age, it’s possible to avoid serious consequences. For example, phenylketonuria can be treated with a special diet, observing which a baby develops absolutely normal. Doctors give an injection of a medicine that improves fibrillation and reduces a chance of extravasation to babies, suffering from chronic pre-natal hypoxia (lack of oxygen).
Your baby will receive his first vaccination against tuberculosis in a maternity hospital. As a rule, such vaccination takes place on third day after birth, in the morning, in a special room. And at home a doctor- podiatrist will check a reaction to the vaccination in 4-6 weeks. In fact, there’re some contra-indications for this vaccination. Usually doctors don’t do it, if a baby’s weight is less than 2000 g or a baby suffered from intrauterine hypotrophy, infections, suppurative-septic inflammations, serious affections of central nervous system. If a mother has HIV, her baby also cannot be vaccinated against tuberculosis.
Usually a mother can go home on the fifth day, although doctors may allow mothers go home earlier, so that a mother and a baby would turn to be in a comfortable sphere, at home, in a family, as soon as possible. If a mother and a baby have no health problems, such discharge is possible on second-third day.

4:35 PM |

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