Parenting tips

NIGHTMARE OF DIARRHEA AND VOMITING

Most of us run to the doctor the moment our child sneezes and especially so if child is the first born. Babies are very sensitive to any kind of change especially in the first year of your baby’s life. Some infants are prone to vomiting or have diarrhea with any kind of illness like cold, ear aches, intestinal infection or even with more serious illness. The younger the infant, the more serious vomiting and diarrhea can be.

If there is rapid loss of body fluids through vomiting or diarrhea then the baby is susceptible to dehydration; if the dehydration is severe then hospital treatment may be warranted. Usually infants have a variable daily number of small bowel movements of soft, pasty stool.
Be careful not to confuse this with diarrhea which is an intestinal disorder marked by frequent, loose and watery stool.

If your baby has diarrhea without vomiting then you can follow these measures:

• During diarrhea, don’t try to feed the baby any fruits, chocolate, vegetables or meat.
• If you are breast feeding, don’t eat any food that you think may have caused diarrhea to your infant.
• If you are bottle feeding your baby then before making any changes in your baby’s diet, please consult your doctor.

If diarrhea or vomiting lasts for more than 6 to 12 hours, call your doctor.

HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS WITH CHILDREN AROUND!

It has been observed that accidents are the major cause of death in children under the age of 15. One of the biggest jobs as a parent is to be alert and proactive in making your home safe for your baby. Make a thumb rule of never leaving scissors or knives within the reach of a child for they might injure themselves or other kids around them.

Never leave your child alone in the bathtub. He can drown even in shallow water or might turn hot water on and burn himself severely.

Let the child never play in the kitchen for he can get burned from boiling water, hot plates or the oven.

Here are some ways to poison proof your home.

• Find out which of your common household items are poisonous.
• Put medicines in a safe storage place immediately after use. Find a place that is high so that your child can’t reach up and grab it.
• Discard medicines after your have recovered from the illness for which they were prescribed.
• Never store poisonous or inflammable substances in food or beverage containers which might be consumed by mistake.
• Make sure that you cover all the electric outlets that are within the child’s reach.
• Child proof your house especially focusing on the safety cabinets which has dangerous substance.

EDUCATIONAL TOYS ARE BEST FOR YOUR TODDLERS

Toys are a great way to teach your toddlers various things. This is a great age where they want to explore everything around them, learn and imitate adults. Educational toys are extremely instrumental in teaching your child and developing various skills of his.

Here are some playthings that toddlers will definitely enjoy:

• Toys that have handles which can be pushed or pulled along the floor.
• A large ball that the baby can throw and chase.
• Objects that a baby can load and unload like a toy truck or a baby cart. Babies can load and unloads things for hours together. It is very fascinating for them to remove the things and then decorate or line them up again.
• Boxes that fit together and into which the baby can put things is another toy that toddlers enjoy to play with.
• A sandbox or sand pit for digging and other games. Don’t worry that the child with get dirty. Give some time to the child to bond with nature.
• A bathtub or small pool for splashing and kicking in with sponges to squeeze and plastic tubs to fill up and empty. Most of the kids love water and bathtubs but never leave your child even for a minute when they are playing in the tub.

TEMPER TANTRUMS

Temper tantrums seem so typical for children around 18 months. The toddlers have a mind and will of their own and want to do things their way. If they are not allowed to do as they please the parents get to see the wrath and rage of their tiny ones. Verbal rebuttal, physical violence, crying, screaming, lying on the floor, kicking, jumping up and down are few to the traits of temper tantrums.

Here are some suggestions to handle the situation.

• During a session of your child’s temper tantrum, never abandon your child.
• Don’t start scolding the child. This would only aggravate the situation more and the child wouldn’t stop throwing tantrums even if you yelled.
• Don’t spank the child. Hitting can never teach a lesson or control your child.
• Don’t get angry or hold a grudge once the tantrum is over.

The best way to react to such situation is as impossible as it sounds no reaction. Keep doing whatever you were doing and don’t pay any attention to your child. Once the child realizes that he has no audience and realizes that he will not get his own way by throwing temper tantrum, he will discontinue them.