5 Steps To Nurture Emotional Intelligence in Your Child

So you want to raise an emotionally intelligent child and and you're wondering where to begin? Start with these five steps.

1. Acknowledge your child’s perspective and empathize.

Even if you can't "do anything" about your child's upsets, empathize. Just being understood helps humans let go of troubling emotions. If your child's upset seems out of proportion to the situation, remember that we all store up emotions and then let ourselves experience them once we find a safe haven. Then we're free to move on.
Empathizing doesn’t mean you agree, just that you see it from his side, too. He may have to do what you say, but he’s entitled to his own perspective. We all know how good it feels to have our position acknowledged; somehow it just makes it easier when we don’t get our way.

“It’s hard for you to stop playing and come to dinner, but it’s time now.”

“You wish you could have me all to yourself, don’t you?”

“You’re so disappointed that it’s raining.”

“You want to stay up later like the big kids, I know.”

“You’re mad your tower fell!”

Why this encourages emotional intelligence:

• Feeling understood triggers soothing biochemicals; that neural pathway you’re strengthening each time he feels soothed is what he’ll use to soothe himself as he gets older.
• Children develop empathy by experiencing it from others.
• You’re helping your child reflect on his experience and what triggers his feelings. For little ones, just knowing there’s a name for their feeling is an early tool in learning to manage the emotions that flood them.

2. Allow expression

Little ones can't differentiate between their emotions and their "selves." Accept your child’s emotions, rather than denying or minimizing them, which gives children the message that some feelings are shameful or unacceptable.
Disapproving of her fear or anger won't stop her from having those feelings, but it may well force her to repress them. Unfortunately, repressed feelings don't fade away, as feelings do that have been freely expressed. They’re trapped and looking for a way out. Because they aren’t under conscious control, they pop out unmodulated, when a child socks her sister, has nightmares, or develops a nervous tic.
Instead, teach that the full range of feelings is understandable and part of being human, even while some actions must be limited.

“You're so mad your brother broke your toy! I understand, AND it's never okay to hit, even when you're very mad. Tell your brother in words how you feel.

“You seem worried about the field trip today. I used to get nervous on field trips too, in kindergarten. Want to tell me about it?”

"You're so frustrated! Nothing seems to be going right for you this morning...I wonder if you just need to cry? Everybody needs to cry sometimes. Come snuggle with Daddy and you can cry as much as you want."

Why this encourages emotional intelligence:

• Your acceptance helps your child accept her own emotions, which is what allows us to resolve our feelings and move on, so she is better able to regulate her own emotions.
• Your acceptance teaches your child that her emotional life is not dangerous, is not shameful, and in fact is universal and manageable. She learns that she is not alone. She learns that even the less pleasant parts of herself are acceptable, which means that she is wholly ok, just the way she is.

3. Listen to your child’s feelings.

Often, your child just needs a chance to feel heard while she expresses her feelings. Whether your child is 6 months or sixteen, she needs you to listen to the feelings she’s expressing. Once she feels and expresses them, she’ll let them go and get on with her life. In fact, you’ll be amazed at how affectionate and cooperative she’ll be once she has a chance to show you how she feels. But to feel safe letting those feelings up and out, she needs to know you’re fully present and listening. Assured that it’s safe, children have an amazing ability to let their feelings wash over and out, leaving them relaxed and cooperative. Your job? Breathe through it, stay present, and resist the urge to make those troublesome feelings go away. Your child instinctively knows how to heal herself.

“You seem so unhappy right now. Everybody gets upset sometimes... I’m right here. Tell me about it.”

“You are so sad and mad you just want to scream and yell and cry. Everybody feels that way sometimes. I’m right here listening and see all those big feelings. You can show me how mad and sad you are.

“You are so mad you’re yelling at me to go away. I’ll move back a little. But these feelings hurt and scare you, and I won’t leave you alone with these upsetting feelings. I’m right here and you’re safe. You can be as sad and mad as you want, and when you’re ready, I am right here to hug you.”

Why this encourages emotional intelligence:
The nature of healthy human emotions is to move through us, swamp us, and then pass away. When we fend them off or repress them, emotions get stuck inside us rather than finding healthy expression. But children are terrified of their strong emotions overwhelming them, so they try to fend them off until they feel safe enough to experience them. Because emotions are stored in the body, tantrums are nature’s way to help young children vent. When we help our children feel safe enough to feel and express their emotions, we not only heal their psyches and bodies; we help them trust their own emotional process so that they can handle their own emotions as they get older, without tantrums or repression.

4. Teach problem solving

Emotions are messages, not mud for wallowing. Teach your child to breathe through them, feel them, tolerate them without needing to act on them, and, once they aren’t in the grip of strong emotion, to problem-solve and act if necessary.
Most of the time, once kids (and adults) feel their emotions are understood and accepted, the feelings lose their charge and begin to dissipate. This leaves an opening for problem solving. Sometimes, kids can do this themselves. Sometimes, they need your help to brainstorm. But resist the urge to rush in and handle the problem for them unless they ask you to; that gives him the message that you don't have confidence in his ability to handle it himself.

“You’re so disappointed that Molly can’t come over because she’s sick. You were really looking forward to playing with her. When you’re ready, maybe we can brainstorm ideas of something else to do that sounds like fun.”

“You’re pretty frustrated with Sam not giving you a turn. Sometimes you feel like not playing with him anymore. But you also really like playing with him. I wonder what you could say to Sam, so that he could hear how you feel?”

Why this encourages emotional intelligence:

• Kids need to express their feelings, but they also need to know how to shift gears to find constructive solutions to problems. That takes practice and modeling on our part.
• Research shows that simply empathizing with our kids is insufficient to teach them to manage their feelings, because they still feel at the mercy of their emotions. Teaching kids to honor their feelings as signals about things they need to handle differently in their lives empowers kids.
• All children need coaching to learn to express their needs without attacking the other person.

5. Play it out

When you notice a negative pattern developing, recognize that your child has some big feelings she doesn’t know how to handle, and step in with the best medicine: Play. For instance:
For instance, maybe your four year old always wants Mommy. Instead of taking it personally, help him work through his feelings about how much he prefers Mom by playing a game where poor bumbling Dad "tries" unsuccessfully to keep him away from her. Dad gets between Mom and son, and roars “I won’t let you get to Mom….Hey, you just ran right around me!...You pushed me right over!...You are too strong!....But this time you won’t get past me!”
Your four year old will giggle and boast and get a chance to prove he can ALWAYS have his mom. He'll also discharge all those pent up worries that make him demand her.

Why this encourages emotional intelligence:
All children experience big feelings on a daily basis. They often feel powerless and pushed around, angry, sad, frightened, or jealous. Emotionally healthy kids process these feelings with play, which is how little ones of all species learn. Helping your child “play” out his big inner conflicts lets him resolve them so he can move on to the next age-appropriate developmental challenge.
Your child can’t put his deeper emotional conflicts into words; that’s tough even for most adults. But he can play them out symbolically and resolve them without even needing to talk about them.
Laughter releases stress hormones just as well as tears -- and is a lot more fun.

Source by: http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/emotional-intelligence/steps-to-encourage

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Seven super foods to help boost your child's brain power

by ANNABEL KARMEL, femail.co.uk

Eating certain foods during the day can help boost your child's brain power. Bananas and dried fruit provide good 'fuel' to your child's brain for example, and breakfast cereal provides an excellent start to the day and will help sustain your child's energy throughout the morning.

Here, we look at seven superfoods to boost your child's brain power

BREAKFAST CEREAL
A bowl of cereal is a healthy start to the day - but you will need to choose carefully. Many of the cereals which appeal to children can contain almost 50 per cent of sugar, are highly processed which means they contain very little fibre, vitamins or minerals and are high in salt.
It is much better to choose cereals like Cornflakes, Weetabix, Granola, Muesli and Porridge. Even if your child adds sugar, these cereals will contain much less sugar than the four to five teaspoons per bowl you might find in some cereals.

EGGS

Eggs are rich in protein, zinc, vitamin A (for good vision), vitamin D (for bone growth), vitamin E (to prevent against disease) and B12 (essential for the formation of red blood cells).
Egg yolks contain lecithin which is thought to be an important 'brain food' contributing to memory and concentration and egg yolks also contain iron which is important for good brain function.

KIWI
Kiwi fruits contain almost twice as much vitamin C as oranges and one kiwi fruit provides the adult daily requirement of vitamin C. Vitamin C is important as it improves the absorption of iron from food. Our bodies find it difficult to absorb iron from iron fortified cereals without vitamin C. Vitmain C cannot be stored in our bodies which is why children need to eat vitamin C-rich foods on a daily basis.

BANANAS

Bananas are an excellent energy-boosting carbohydrate. Eating a banana as a snack will help your child sustain his or her energy levels and concentration throughout the morning. Include bananas in their school bag instead of salt crisps or biscuits as a healthier mid-morning snack.

DRIED FRUIT
Try introducing dried fruit to your child as a pudding or mid-morning snack. Dried fruits are rich in iron and are an excellent source of energy.

OILY FISH
Some types of fatty acids are not made by the body and must be obtained from foods. Fats are a major component of the brain and a large proportion of the brain is composed of fatty acids which play an important role in brain cell function.

Salmon, tuna, kippers and sardines are all rich in fish oils. Research suggests that a diet rich in fatty acids could improve the performance of children with dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention deficit disorder. Kedgeree which is a blend of egg, rice and haddock makes a delicious breakfast for a change.

CHEESE
Low-fat high fibre guidelines for adults do not apply to young children who need more fat and less fibre in their diet to provide them with the energy they need to perform well.
Young children have small stomachs that get full quickly, so the food that they eat needs to be packed with as many nutrients as possible.

Cheese is a nutrient-dense food, rich in protein and calcium which is important for healthy bones and teeth. Cheese can also benefit your child's teeth as it helps to neutralise the acids that cause tooth decay.

Source By: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-112210/Seven-superfoods-help-boost-childs-brain-power.html

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Your Newborn: 30 Tips for the First 30 Days

Parent-to-parent advice on feeding, soothing, and more during baby's first days at home.

By Heather Swain from

 

Breastfeeding

It's been six weeks since our daughter, Clementine, was born. She's finally sleeping better and going longer between feedings. She's also becoming more alert when she's awake. My husband and I, on the other hand, feel like we've been hit by a truck. I'm amazed that we've muddled through. Here are tips from seasoned parents and baby experts to make your first month easier.

Hints for Nursing

Babies eat and eat and eat. Although nature has done a pretty good job of providing you and your baby with the right equipment, in the beginning it's almost guaranteed to be harder than you expected. From sore nipples to tough latch-ons, nursing can seem overwhelming.
1. Women who seek help have a higher success rate. "Think of ways to ensure success before you even give birth," suggests Stacey Brosnan, a lactation consultant in New York City. Talk with friends who had a good nursing experience, ask baby's pediatrician for a lactation consultant's number, or attend a La Leche League (nursing support group) meeting (see laleche.org to find one).
2. Use hospital resources. Kira Sexton, a Brooklyn, New York, mom, says, "I learned everything I could about breastfeeding before I left the hospital." Ask if there's a nursing class or a lactation consultant on staff. Push the nurse-call button each time you're ready to feed the baby, and ask a nurse to spot you and offer advice.
3. Prepare. At home, you'll want to drop everything to feed the baby the moment she cries for you. But Heather O'Donnell, a mom in New York City, suggests taking care of yourself first. "Get a glass of water and a book or magazine to read." And, because breastfeeding can take a while, she says, "pee first!"
4. Try a warm compress if your breasts are engorged or you have blocked ducts. A heating pad or a warm, wet washcloth works, but a flax pillow (often sold with natural beauty products) is even better. "Heat it in the microwave, and conform it to your breast," says Laura Kriska, a mom in Brooklyn, New York.
5. Heat helps the milk flow, but if your breasts are sore after nursing, try a cold pack. Amy Hooker, a San Diego mom, says, "A bag of frozen peas worked really well for me."
6. If you want baby to eventually take a bottle, introduce it after breastfeeding is established but before the 3-month mark. Many experts say 6 to 8 weeks is good, but "we started each of our kids on one bottle a day at 3 weeks," says Jill Sizemore, a mom in Pendleton, Indiana.

Sleeping

If your infant isn't eating, he's probably sleeping. Newborns log as many as 16 hours of sleep a day but only in short bursts. The result: You'll feel on constant alert and more exhausted than you ever thought possible. Even the best of us can come to resent the severe sleep deprivation.
7. Stop obsessing about being tired. There's only one goal right now: Care for your baby. "You're not going to get a full night's sleep, so you can either be tired and angry or just tired," says Vicki Lansky, author of Getting Your Child to Sleep...and Back to Sleep (Book Peddlers). "Just tired is easier."
8. Take shifts. One night it's Mom's turn to rock the cranky baby, the next it's Dad's turn. Amy Reichardt and her husband, Richard, parents in Denver, worked out a system for the weekends, when Richard was off from work. "I'd be up with the baby at night but got to sleep in. Richard did all the morning care, then got to nap later."
9. The old adage "Sleep when your baby sleeps" really is the best advice. "Take naps together and go to bed early," says Sarah Clark, a mom in Washington, D.C.
10. What if your infant has trouble sleeping? Do whatever it takes: Nurse or rock baby to sleep; let your newborn fall asleep on your chest or in the car seat. "Don't worry about bad habits yet. It's about survival -- yours!" says Jean Farnham, a Los Angeles mom.

Soothing

It's often hard to decipher exactly what baby wants in the first murky weeks. You'll learn, of course, by trial and error.
11. "The key to soothing fussy infants is to mimic the womb. Swaddling, shushing, and swinging, as well as allowing babies to suck and holding them on their sides, may trigger a calming reflex," says Harvey Karp, MD, creator of The Happiest Baby on the Block books, videos, and DVDs.
12. Play tunes. Forget the dubious theory that music makes a baby smarter, and concentrate on the fact that it's likely to calm him. "The Baby Einstein tapes saved us," says Kim Rich, a mom in Anchorage, Alaska.
13. Warm things up. Alexandra Komisaruk, a mom in Los Angeles, found that diaper changes triggered a meltdown. "I made warm wipes using paper towels and a pumpable thermos of warm water," she says. You can also buy an electric wipe warmer for a sensitive baby.
14. You'll need other tricks, too. "Doing deep knee bends and lunges while holding my daughter calmed her down," says Emily Earle, a mom in Brooklyn, New York. "And the upside was, I got my legs back in shape!"
15. Soak to soothe. If all else fails -- and baby's umbilical cord stub has fallen off -- try a warm bath together. "You'll relax, too, and a relaxed mommy can calm a baby," says Emily Franklin, a Boston mom.

Getting Dad Involved

Your husband, who helped you through your pregnancy, may seem at a loss now that baby's here. It's up to you, Mom, to hand the baby over and let Dad figure things out, just like you're doing.
16. Let him be. Many first-time dads hesitate to get involved for fear of doing something wrong and incurring the wrath of Mom. "Moms need to allow their husbands to make mistakes without criticizing them," says Armin Brott, author of The New Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year (Abbeville Press).
17. Ask Dad to take time off from work -- after all the relatives leave. That's what Thad Calabrese, of Brooklyn, New York, did. "There was more for me to do, and I got some alone time with my son."
18. Divvy up duties. Mark DiStefano, a dad in Los Angeles, took over the cleaning and grocery shopping. "I also took Ben for a bit each afternoon so my wife could have a little time to herself."
19. Remember that Dad wants to do some fun stuff, too. "I used to take my shirt off and put the baby on my chest while we napped," say Bob Vonnegut, a dad in Islamorada, Florida. "I loved the rhythm of our hearts beating together."

Staying Sane

No matter how excited you are to be a mommy, the constant care an infant demands can drain you. Find ways to take care of yourself by lowering your expectations and stealing short breaks.
20. First, ignore unwanted or confusing advice. "In the end, you're the parents, so you decide what's best," says Julie Balis, a mom in Frankfort, Illinois.
21. "Forget about housework for the first couple of months," says Alison Mackonochie, author of 100 Tips for a Happy Baby (Barron's). "Concentrate on getting to know your baby. If anyone has anything to say about the dust piling up or the unwashed dishes, smile and hand them a duster or the dish detergent!"
22. Accept help from anyone who is nice -- or naive -- enough to offer. "If a neighbor wants to hold the baby while you shower, say yes!" says Jeanne Anzalone, a mom in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.
23. Got lots of people who want to help but don't know how? "Don't be afraid to tell people exactly what you need," says Abby Moskowitz, a Brooklyn mom. It's one of the few times in your life when you'll be able to order everyone around!
24. But don't give other people the small jobs. "Changing a diaper takes two minutes. You'll need others to do time-consuming work like cooking, sweeping floors, and buying diapers," says Catherine Park, a Cleveland mom.
25. Reconnect. To keep yourself from feeling detached from the world, Jacqueline Kelly, a mom in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, suggests: "Get outside on your own, even for five minutes."

Out and About with Baby

26. Enlist backup. Make your first journey to a big, public place with a veteran mom. "Having my sister with me for support kept me from becoming flustered the first time I went shopping with my newborn," says Suzanne Zook, a mom in Denver.
27. If you're on your own, "stick to places likely to welcome a baby, such as story hour at a library or bookstore," suggests Christin Gauss, a mom in Fishers, Indiana.
28. "Keep your diaper bag packed," says Fran Bowen, a mom in Brooklyn. There's nothing worse than finally getting the baby ready, only to find that you're not.
29. Stash a spare. Holland Brown, a mom in Long Beach, California, always keeps a change of adult clothes in her diaper bag. "You don't want to get stuck walking around with an adorable baby but mustard-colored poop all over you."
30. Finally, embrace the chaos. "Keep your plans simple and be prepared to abandon them at any time," says Margi Weeks, a mom in Tarrytown, New York.
If nothing else, remember that everyone makes it through, and so will you. Soon enough you'll be rewarded with your baby's first smile, and that will help make up for all the initial craziness.

Heather Swain is a mother and writer in Brooklyn, New York. Her novel is Luscious Lemon (Downtown Press).
Originally published in American Baby magazine, May 2005.

source by: http://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/newborn-tips-first-30-days/

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Healthy Meal Planner: How Much Does My Kid Need to Eat?

How Much Does My Kid Need to Eat?

Use this age-by-age guide to find out the amount of food your child should be eating -- and how to create healthy habits for a lifetime.

By Sally Kuzemchak, R.D. from Parents Magazine

From Day 1, we worry about our kids getting enough to eat -- yet with the childhood obesity rate at 17 percent, we also fret that they'll get too much. What's the right amount? To cut through the confusion, nutrition experts help ed compile this guide of just how much kids need at each age, plus tips on how to stay on track. Follow their advice -- and your child's weight will be one concern you can cross off your list.

How to Eat Healthy: Raising Nutrition-Smart Kids

AGES 1-3 Feeling Finicky

Daily Calorie Needs 1,200 - 1,400
Remember that baby of yours who happily ate chicken, squash, and most anything else that landed on his high-chair tray? He's been replaced -- by someone a lot less agreeable at mealtime. After your baby's first year, growth slows down by about 30 percent, and so may appetite. Infants need to eat about 35 to 50 calories per pound, while toddlers require roughly 35 to 40 calories per pound, according to guidelines from the Institute of Medicine. How do you know if you're hitting that target?

 

• Trust toddler instincts. It's natural for a 2-year-old's appetite to be erratic from day to day. Yet according to a study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, up to 85 percent of parents say they push their kids to eat more, giving them rewards and praise for having a couple more bites. Believe your child when she pushes her plate away or tells you she's full. Otherwise, she'll eventually start to eat when she's not hungry -- and that's a slippery slope. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania found that many overweight and obese 5- to 12-year-olds have lost touch with their own hunger cues. "Keeping a child aware of her hunger and fullness may go a long way to help prevent obesity," says study author Tanja Kral, Ph.D. are just too busy to eat -- after a few bites, they're hopping down from the table to play. It's okay to have healthy munchies (such as bite-size veggies, fruit, cheese, and whole-grain crackers) within arm's reach during playtime, but serve most meals and snacks at the table so eating there becomes a habit, says Dina Rose, Ph.D., a sociologist in Hoboken, New Jersey, who specializes in children's eating habits.
• Stick to a schedule. Serve meals and snacks about three hours apart. "This helps keep your child at a healthy weight by 'normalizing' hunger," says Jill Castle, R.D., author of Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters From High Chair to High School. A child who's always nibbling will never feel hungry. Plus, if your child skimps at one meal, you'll both know there's another opportunity to eat in a few hours.
• Avoid food bribes. Yes, you'll get the short-term gain of a few bites of peas or chicken, but you're telling your child to eat more than she wants -- which can set her up for a pattern of overeating. You're also sending the wrong message about food. "If kids think that vegetables are just the yucky stuff you have to eat to get to the good stuff, they'll never learn to really like them," says Rose.

• Get insights on toddler development and behavior with our interactive tool. Start now.

AGES 1-3 Sample Menu

Serve meals with 1/2 cup of low-fat milk; switch to water if your child is still thirsty. Have water or 100% fruit or vegetable juice at snack time. Don't exceed 6 ounces of juice daily.
breakfast
Oatmeal (1/2 cup mixed with 1 tsp. brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon)
1/2 banana sliced
lunch
Bean-and-cheese quesadilla (1 6" whole-wheat tortilla with 1 tbs. fat-free refried beans and sprinkled with 2 tbs. shredded cheese)
1/4 cup chunky salsa for dipping
dinner
1 oz. grilled chicken
1/2 cup roasted sweet potatoes
1/2 cup steamed broccoli (toss with 1/4 tsp. olive oil and 2 tsp. Parmesan cheese)
snacks
1/2 cup low-fat flavored yogurt with 1 whole-grain waffle cut into strips
1/2 apple, sliced, with a piece of string cheese

Healthy eating for 4- to 6-year-olds

AGES 4-6 Branching Out

Daily Calorie Needs 1,500-1,750

While you were able to keep tabs on what your toddler ate, kids this age consume about 40 percent or more of their calories away from you, usually having snacks and lunch at school or on after-school play dates. "Keep snack portions on the small side, and boost the amount of food by about one third at the main meals," suggests Sarah Krieger, R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in St. Petersburg, Florida. Other tips:

 

• Make a lunch date. Some schools allow parents to drop by and have lunch with their child once in while, or at least volunteer in the lunchroom. "Most kids this age are slow eaters, and end up throwing out a lot of their lunch," says Liz Weiss, R.D., coauthor of No Whine With Dinner. "So don't count on your child getting all the calories in her lunch box. Adjust her lunch size accordingly, and plan for a bigger breakfast or dinner."
• Watch out for emotional eating. If your child is constantly asking for snacks, he may be eating out of boredom or even anxiety. Use a "hunger scale" with your kids: 0 is totally empty, 10 is totally full, and 5 is neither hungry nor full. "If he's above a 5 and asking for food, he's probably eating for emotional reasons," says Susan M. Kosharek, R.D., author of If Your Child Is Overweight: A Guide for Parents. He's old enough to understand emotions, so help give words to his feelings by asking, "Are you angry? Are you worried?" Then help him problem-solve or distract him from the situation without using food.
• Serve family style. Allow your child to serve herself -- without any prompting or pressuring from you -- and she'll likely take a portion that's just the right size. "Some parents unknowingly over-feed by giving adult-size portions, and kids get used to eating those larger amounts," says Castle. Go to parents.com/portions to find out the serving sizes for kids at every age.

AGES 4-6 Sample Menu

Serve meals with 3/4 cup of low-fat milk; switch to water if your child is still thirsty. Have water or 100% juice at snack time. Don't exceed 6 ounces of juice daily.
breakfast
1 small whole-wheat bagel spread with 1 tbs. nut or seed butter
1/2 cup fruit salad
lunch
1/2 turkey-and-cheese sandwich on whole-wheat bread
Yellow pepper strips with 2 tbs. low-fat ranch dressing
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
dinner
2 oz. fish (such as cod or tilapia)
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
4 asparagus spears roasted in olive oil
snacks
1/4 cup hummus and 10 baby carrots
1 small box raisins

Healthy eating for 7- to 9-year-olds

AGES 7-9 Playing Hard

Daily Calorie Needs 1,700-1,950

Your child's growth slows down more during this time -- boys gain 15 pounds on average from age 4 to 6, but only 10 from age 7 to 9 -- but calorie needs rise because many kids are more active. "Sports and after-school activities like dance and karate are increasingly intense at this age," says Weiss. "So kids end up burning more calories." These pre-tweens often get to make a lot of their own food choices too -- from deciding what to have in the cafeteria to how much to eat when at a friend's house. Make sure they fuel up right:

 

• Keep an eye on weight. There's a surge in the percent of overweight and obese kids in the years leading up to puberty. "It's normal for kids this age to become heavier in preparation for an impending growth spurt, but if treats get out of control, your child can gain too much weight," says Castle. She suggests limiting treats to one a day, and teaching your child to opt for water instead of soft drinks and other beverages with added sugar.
• Plan for sports. Give your child a healthy meal or snack containing carbohydrates (such as whole-grain cereal or bread) and protein (such as lean meat, yogurt, or milk) before games. She doesn't need anything except water to drink during and after exercise. Offer sports drinks only if she's playing hard on a hot day for more than an hour, with back-to-back soccer games, for example.
• Serve (some) favorites. Researchers from the University of Minnesota found that about 40 percent of parents cook separate dinner food for their 8- to 10-year-olds. Don't be a short-order cook. But be sure there are always foods on the table that your child likes -- such as fruit, whole-grain bread, or a favorite grain side dish -- so she can still be nourished even if she doesn't love the entrée.

AGES 7-9 Sample Menu

Serve meals with 1 cup of low-fat milk; switch to water if your child is still thirsty. Have water or 100% fruit or vegetable juice at snacktime. Don't exceed 12 ounces of juice daily.
breakfast
1 whole-wheat pita filled with 1 scrambled egg
Sliced orange
lunch
Pasta salad (1 cup whole-wheat pasta mixed with 1/2 cup sliced cherry tomatoes and 1 oz. cheese cubed and drizzled with 1 tsp. olive oil)
1 apple
dinner
2 pieces cheese pizza topped with grilled chicken
1/2 cup broccoli with 2 tbs. low-fat dipping sauce
1 small piece of chocolate
snacks
1/4 cup each almonds and dried chopped apricots or cherries
1 cup edamame sprinkled with salt

Calorie Calculator

Although you shouldn't count your kid's calories every day, it's smart to know about how many are needed. Plug your child's weight, height, age, and activity level into the calculator at bcm.edu/cnrc for a precise number or get a ballpark idea for typically active kids (below).

	Weight (lbs.)	Calories (daily)
Boy, 3	32	1,465
Girl, 3	31	1,375
Boy, 4	36	1,546
Girl, 4	35	1,455
Boy, 5	41	1,638
Girl, 5	40	1,537
Boy, 6	46	1,722
Girl, 6	45	1,622
Boy, 7	51	1,820
Girl, 7	50	1,699
Boy, 8	56	1,911
Girl, 8	56	1,790
Boy, 9	63	2,018
Girl, 9	64	1,865
Boy, 10	70	2,124
Girl, 10	73	1,947

Copy from: http://www.parents.com/recipes/nutrition/how-much-does-my-kid-need-to-eat/

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Pregnancy and baby

Baby and toddler meal ideas

If you need some inspiration to help you cook healthy and tasty food for your kids, try these meal ideas. 
They're not suitable as first foods, but fine once your baby is used to eating a wide range of solid foods.
When preparing food for babies, don’t add salt, sugar or stock cubes directly to the food, or to the cooking water.

Breakfast ideas for babies and children

• Unsweetened porridge or cereal mixed with milk, topped with mashed ripe pear.
• Wholewheat biscuit cereal with milk and unsweetened stewed fruit.
• Toast fingers with mashed banana.
• Toast fingers with a hard-boiled egg and slices of ripe peach.
• Unsweetened stewed apple and breakfast cereal with plain, unsweetened yoghurt.

Children's lunch or tea ideas

• Cauliflower cheese with cooked pasta pieces.
• Mashed pasta with broccoli and cheese.
• Baked beans (reduced salt and sugar) with toast.
• Scrambled egg with toast, chapatti or pitta bread.  
• Cottage cheese dip with pitta bread and cucumber and carrot sticks.
• Plain fromage frais with stewed apple.

Children's dinners

• Mashed sweet potato with mashed chickpeas and cauliflower.
• Shepherd’s pie (made with beef or lamb) with green vegetables.
• Rice and mashed peas with courgette sticks.
• Mashed cooked lentils with rice.
• Minced chicken and vegetable casserole with mashed potato.
• Mashed canned salmon with couscous and peas.  
• Fish poached in milk with potato, broccoli and carrot.

Snacks for babies and toddlers

• Fresh fruit, such as small pieces of soft, ripe peeled pear or peach.
• Canned fruit in fruit juice.
• Rice pudding or porridge (with no added sugar or salt).
• Plain, unsweetened yoghurt.
• Toast, pitta or chapatti fingers.
• Unsalted and unsweetened rice cakes.
• Plain bagels.
• Small cubes of cheese.

Getting your child to eat fruit and vegetables

Try these ways of increasing your child’s intake of fruit and vegetables:

• Put their favourite vegetables or canned pineapple on top of pizza.
• Give carrot sticks, slices of pepper and peeled apple as snacks.
• Mix chopped or mashed vegetables with rice, mashed potatoes, meat sauces or dhal.
• Chop prunes or dried apricots into cereal or plain, unsweetened yoghurt, or add them to a stew.
• For a tasty dessert, try mixing fruit (fresh, canned or stewed) with plain, unsweetened yoghurt. You could also try tinned fruit in fruit juice, such as pears and peaches, or unsweetened stewed fruit, such as apples.

Your baby and cows' milk

From six months, keep giving your child mum's milk or formula milk, as well as introducing solid foods, but don't give cows' milk as a drink. Whole cows' milk can be used in small amounts in cooking or mixed with foods from the age of six months. You can give it to your child as a drink from the age of one.
Semi-skimmed milk can be introduced at two years old, providing your child is eating a varied diet and growing well for their age. From five years, you can give your child 1% or skimmed milk to drink.

copy from: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/childrens-meal-ideas.aspx

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8 Signs of a Healthy Baby

6 Reasons to Stop Worrying About Baby's Development

Even if you fear you don't know the first thing about newborns, after a few weeks with your own little darling, you start to hear a difference between his hungry and tired cries. You know how he prefers to be rocked and burped. You grow more confident about your parenting skills. If it weren't for the exhaustion and the hormonal overload, you'd feel like you have everything under control. But all it takes is a small, paranoid though -- is my baby eating enough? Is all this crying unusual? -- and you can easily fall into a spiral of anxious concern. You seek out friends and ask, "Does he look okay to you?" They say yes, but still, you can't help but worry.
So you search around online and read the comforting, vague phrases: "Healthy babies exhibit a wide range of behaviors, appearances, and temperaments." Question is, how do you know that your baby is happy and developing normally? To help reassure you, we've assembled a list of indicators to watch for that prove an infant is doing just fine. Relax, will you?

1. Baby calms at your touch and at the sound of your voice.

 

What It Proves: You've got a good relationship.
Newborns cry. A lot. And no, just talking to your baby will probably not turn off the tears. Your voice was the soundtrack to her time in the womb, though, so it should be something that generally draws her attention. "A baby is used to being in close quarters, and your voice was a big part of that experience," says Jennifer Shu, M.D., pediatrician and coauthor of Heading Home With Your Newborn. "After they're born, hearing your voice, being wrapped and carried, and feeling your body heat all mimic that peaceful time." When your child is calmed by your presence, that's her first step in bonding with you and a clear sign that she's developing emotionally.

2. You're changing 8 - 10 wet diapers a day, and Baby is gaining weight.

What It Proves: He's getting enough milk and growing at a healthy rate, even if how much he drinks changes day by day.
If you're nursing, how can you be sure your baby is drinking enough breast milk? The proof is in the wet diapers.
"My baby was born five weeks before her due date and weighed only 5 pounds," says Sara Porth, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts. "I was always worried about her weigh-ins. I didn't relax about her eating until she started making significant gains about ten days after birth."
It's important to keep your well-baby visits so the pediatrician can assess whether your baby is growing. In between trips to the doctor, wet diapers are the best sign he's drinking well. Trust these indicators rather than obsessing over how much he consumes at each meal. Babies don't eat the same amount every day, or even every feeding. "There are growth spurts and slowdowns," Dr. Shu says. The important thing is that weight increases over time.

3. Baby is quiet and attentive at least a few times each day.

What It Proves: She's observing the world and starting to learn.
Those first blurry weeks will be marked by feedings (about every 2 hours) and sleep (about 16 hours a day, but only a few hours in a row). In between all that, there's crying -- and very little else. It's not until your baby begins gaining control of her eye muscles and focusing on a target (you most of all) that you'll get a sense of what a little sponge you have on your hands. When infants are quiet and alert, they're taking note of everything around them and processing all kinds of new information. "Babies begin having more awake time when they're about 1 month old," Dr. Shu says. "That's when they can briefly settle down and soak in more visual cues."

4. Baby turns toward a new sound and quiets down to listen.

What It Proves: His hearing is developing, and he's using his brain to discern sounds.
Babies are able to hear from birth, but it takes a few weeks for them to be able to filter out the white noise of daily existence outside the womb. The idea that some sounds are more interesting than others (the dull roar of the air conditioner is not as important as a big sister's sudden shrieks of laughter) develops over time. The sound of music, especially, will eventually get a baby's attention, whether it's coming from a toy or your stereo. Once you see your baby react to sound by looking for the source, you'll know his ears are healthy and he's growing curious about what he's hearing.

5. She looks at patterns, colors, and movement.

What It Proves: Eyesight is sharpening and baby's brain development is ramping up.
You wouldn't think that the ability to space out while staring at a ceiling fan would be a sign of progress, but it is. Babies are born with eyesight that's about 20/100, and they can see between 8 and 12 inches away -- about the distance between your baby's face and yours when you're feeding her. By 1 month, she can see up to 18 inches away. And by 2 months, most babies start tracking patterns, bright colors, and objects that spin, such as a mobile or fan. They don't have perfect color vision or good depth perception, which is why contrasting colors tend to get their attention.

6. She makes eye contact, smiles, giggles, and flirts with people.

What It Proves: Your baby is becoming a social -- and happy -- creature.
The first moment of eye contact with your newborn usually comes when he's a month old, the first smile by about 2 months, cooing at 3 months, and laughing by 4 months -- and none of these milestones comes a moment too soon. "I've been craving any sort of interaction I can get with Zachary," says Sally Lee, of New York City, whose son is 2 months old. "I can't imagine that he'll one day be sitting up and actually talking to me."
All of these interactions show that your baby is connecting with you and becoming more aware of his surroundings. On some level, he understands that people interact with him more when he behaves in a socially engaging manner. By the time a baby is about 5 months, he almost has to smile when someone smiles at him, as if it's a reflex.
All of these behaviors are important indicators of early language development. "Babies use body language, including eye contact and facial expressions, long before they can speak," Dr. Shu says. "It's a precursor to communicating with words." When your child coos and babbles, he's testing out his vocal cords, your little baby really will eventually start chatting away.

7. She cries a little less and sleeps more regularly.

What It Proves: His nervous system is maturing. You've made it out of the newborn juggernaut!
Aah. Do you feel that barely perceptible shift in your baby's routines? As in, there is a glimmer of a routine? That's a result of his nervous system learning the ropes. Look for the emergence of several naps a day and stretches of four or more hours between feedings at night. Some babies get there fast; others won't till they're 4 months or so. If your baby's older than that and still eating and sleeping at unpredictable times, try making his days more tightly scheduled. Then it's your turn to find a brand-new mom and reassure her: ?Your baby is doing great!?

8. Baby begins to support her own body weight.

What It Proves: Those mini muscles are getting stronger.
Lots of babies hold their head up briefly -- so briefly! -- by 1 month. By the time they're 3 months old, they're typically doing so more regularly and with greater skill. If your baby can hold her head up or shift around in your arms, you know she's flexing her growing muscles. To help her along, make sure she's spending quality time outside the carrier or car seat. Tummy time on the floor (most babies' version of an exercise class) can especially help speed up the development of different muscles, including ones that allow her to roll or sit unassisted. "We see that babies who haven't had a chance to exercise with tummy time tend to roll, sit, and crawl later than the norm," Dr. Shu says.

copy from: http://www.parents.com/baby/development/social/signs-of-a-healthy-baby/

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Zika virus: The symptoms and what travellers and pregnant women need to know

A pregnant woman waits to be attended at the Maternal and Children's Hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras AFP PHOTO/Orlando SIERRAORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images

The Zika virus is becoming a growing public health concern in the Americas, prompting officials to advise pregnant women and those who are trying to conceive to take precautions to prevent catching the virus that can damage the brains of foetuses.
Health ministers in El Salvador are the latest officials to release warnings about the virus, and have advised women to put off becoming pregnant for the next two years to avoid their unborn babies from developing microcephaly – which stops brains from growing and the head appear shrunken.

The number of cases of microcephaly in Brazil, which is also affected, has risen to 3,893 since October 2015. Currently, there are 96 suspected cases of pregnant women with the virus in El Salvador.
Here is what you need to know about the virus if you are pregnant or planning to travel to affected regions.

What is Zika?

Zika is a virus spread by mosquitos. Symptoms include a mild fever, rash, headaches, joint and muscle pain, weakness, and puss-free conjunctivitis. The signs usually start showing between two to seven days after a mosquito bite. Symptoms then continue for around two to seven days.
For most people, Zika is mild and short-lived, however its affect on babies is what is concerning the authorities and pregnant women.

How is it spread? 

Zika is spread by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can also carry dengue and chikungunya.
It also remains in semen for up to two weeks after a man is infected.

Where am I at risk of catching it?

The largest outbreak of the virus is currently unfolding in Brazil - mainly in the impoverished north - where it has been linked to a surge in birth defects including microcephaly.
The states with the largest number of cases include: Pernambuco, Paraíba, Bahia, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe, Alagoas, Mato Grosso and Rio de Janeiro, according to the UK Government.
As well as Brazil and El Salvador, countries where Zika has been reported currently include: Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, and Venezuela.

The virus is known to circulate in parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

How can I protect myself

Mirroring health advice from governments including the US and UK, El Salvador's vice-minister of public health Eduardo Espinoza recently told women who are pregnant to stay covered outdoors to lessen the risk of being bitten by mosquitos – both day and night.
Extra precaution can be taken by treating clothing in insecticide such as permethrin, as well as applying insect repellent over sunscreen.
Health officials recommend not suing sun screen which is sold with insect repellent.
Avoiding and removing what attracts mosquitos can also help, including  carbon dioxide, heat and movement.The WHO also recommends ensuring mosquotis do not have a place to breed, but emptying and cleaning out containers that can hold water, such as buckets, flower pots or tyres.
If you are pregnant and have recently travelled to a country where Zika is known to be an issue, or you are planning on doing so, you should contact your obstetrician or midwife

How are officials trying to stop it?

There is currently no cure for Zika. However, Brazil’s Presidet Dilma Rousseff recently announced that  Brazil is trying to develop vaccine against the Zika and dengue viruses, also spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Source By: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/what-pregnant-women-and-travellers-need-to-know-about-zika-a6826786.html

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Baby weight losses and weight gains

What is normal for breastfed babies?
The World Health Organization growth standards¹ are the best reference for growth in the first 2 years as they reflect the growth of breastfed babies.
The general guidelines that are usually given for weight loss and weight gain are:

• a baby loses 5-10% of birth weight in the first week and regains this by 2-3 weeks²
• birth weight is doubled by 4 months and tripled by 13 months in boys and 15 months in girls¹
• birth length increases 1.5 times in 12 months¹
• birth head circumference increases by about 11 cm in 12 months¹

However, all babies grow differently and these are just general guidelines. If you are concerned about your baby's growth, contact your medical adviser for a thorough assessment of your baby's general health and wellbeing.

Baby weight losses – the early days
Normal weight loss
All infants lose weight after they are born, no matter what or how they are fed.
It is normal for breastfed infants to lose weight for the first 3 days after birth. Exclusively-breastfed infants are perfectly adapted to survive on the small volumes of colostrum they receive in the first few days of life. After this, their mothers begin to make large volumes of breastmilk which then provides all the fluids, energy and nutrients they need and they will slowly regain their birthweight over the next 2 to 3 weeks.²
Weight loss in infants is expressed as a percentage and a maximum weight loss of 7-10% is considered normal (for review of guidelines from breastfeeding-friendly authorities see Tawia & McGuire, 2014).³

Epidurals and intravenous fluids
Concerns about excessive weight loss in infants, combined with changes in the management of birth, have led researchers to investigate whether there is a link between the two. Much recent research has focussed on looking at whether the newborn infant is overhydrated due to the administration of intravenous fluids to the mother during birth.
When women receive intravenous fluids during the birth, for example, when they receive epidural anaesthesia, the fluids move freely from a woman to her foetus and, as a consequence, the infant is overhydrated at birth. This extra fluid is then naturally removed from the infant’s body when it urinates, particularly on day 1, and may make it appear that the baby has lost an excessive amount of weight.⁴
Evidence is accumulating that maternal intrapartum intravenous fluids are associated with excessive weight loss in healthy, term, exclusively-breastfed, newborn infants.⁵

What is a Growth Chart or a Percentile Chart?
Growth charts are often used to help follow and assess a baby's growth. Your baby's weight can be plotted against a weight-for-age growth chart. Historically, these charts have been compiled by measuring the weights of hundreds of different children at each age. The most common type of growth chart is a percentile chart where these hundreds of weights are then divided into 100 equal groups. These groups are then plotted on a graph or listed in a table.
If your baby record book does not contain the World Health Organization growth standards, you may like to print out and put them in your book. Importantly, the World Health Organization growth standards are based on healthy, exclusively breastfed babies from six countries across five continents. These more accurately show how a normal baby should grow. You can find the World Health Organization child growth standards percentile charts and tables here:

Charts	Tables
Girls	Girls
Boys	Boys

The simplified World Health Organization child growth percentile field tables, which are very easy to read, can be found at: Girls, Boys


 How do I read a Growth/Percentile Chart?
The following example explains how you should read a percentile chart:

• 3% of children will be below the 3rd percentile and 3% of children will be above the 97th percentile
• 15% of children will be below the 15th percentile and 15% of children will be above the 85th percentile
• 50% of children will be below the 50th percentile and 50% of children will be above the 50th percentile

The 50th percentile is not a pass, it means that 50% of the normal population is below this line and 50% is above it.
If a baby's height or weight is 'off the chart' (above the 97th percentile or below the 3rd), there is a higher chance of something being wrong and it is wise to check with your medical adviser. In many cases though, all is well. Three in every 100 normal babies will weigh less than the 3rd percentile, often because both parents are small.

Does it matter if my baby doesn't 'stick' to a percentile line?
Usually, no.
Because the charts are derived from average weights, lengths etc, individual children shouldn't be expected to follow them exactly. They can and do grow faster or slower at times.
A large study in the US found that most infants (77%) aged from birth to 6 months crossed weight-for-age percentile lines, with 39% of infants either moving up or moving down two percentile lines. From birth to 6 months, larger babies tended to put on weight more slowly (on average) and smaller babies put on weight more quickly. This may be because birth size relates more to nutritional conditions in the womb than to genetic potential for growth. As this group of children got older, they were much less likely to cross two weight-for-age percentile lines, but it did still happen.⁶ See Table 1 for more detail.
Table 1.

Age	Percentage of infants and children crossing 2 percentile lines – weight-for-age	Percentage of infants and children crossing 2 percentile lines – weight-for-height
Birth to 6 months	39%	62%
6 to 24 months	6–15%	20–27%
24 to 60 months	1–5%	6–15

My baby has had persistently low weight gains. Is my baby getting enough breastmilk?
Many mums who are worried that their baby is not gaining enough weight are also worried that their baby is not getting enough breastmilk.
These are some reliable signs of adequate milk intake.

Remember - what goes in must come out!:

• After 5 days of age a minimum of 5 heavily-wet disposable, or 6-8 very wet cloth nappies, in 24 hours.
• Pale urine (wee). If your baby's urine is dark and smelly, this is a sign that your baby is not taking in enough milk.
• Good-sized, soft poos. Under the age of 6-8 weeks, your baby should have two or more runny poos a day, about the size of the palm of your baby's hand. After this age, it can be quite normal for a baby to poo less often, even once every 7-10 days, as long as when your baby does a poo, there is a large amount of soft or runny poo coming out!

In addition to the 'what goes in must come out' signs above, other reliable signs that result from an adequate milk intake in a healthy baby are:

• Baby has some weight gain after the initial weight loss soon after birth, and some growth in length and head circumference. (Are your baby's clothes getting snugger?)
• Baby looks like she fits in her skin - with good skin colour and muscle tone.
• Baby is meeting developmental milestones.

For more information about how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk, refer to the article Low Supply on this website.

My baby is getting enough breastmilk. What's causing the low weight gains?
If your baby appears to be underweight, with wrinkly, loose skin and yet has a good nappy count indicating enough milk intake, it may be that your baby has an underlying medical condition which is causing a slow weight gain. There are many conditions which could affect weight gain. Some of the common ones include:

• infection (anything from a cold to a urinary infection)
• vomiting or frequent posseting (eg pyloric stenosis or severe reflux) - can mean a baby does not retain enough milk to grow
• a sensitivity to foods in the mother's diet could be a cause of low weight gain (usually along with other symptoms, such as 'colic').

Your medical adviser will be able to help you investigate these and other areas.

My baby is getting enough breastmilk. Is my baby just meant to be small?
Some adults are naturally petite and so are some babies. If your baby appears to be happy and healthy, is meeting developmental milestones, does not appear underweight (does not have loose wrinkly skin) and has a good wet/pooy nappy count, then your baby's low weight gains may be due to family factors (genetics).
I think my baby is NOT getting enough breastmilk. What can I do?

• Is your baby feeding often enough? The simplest and most effective way to increase your baby's milk intake is to breastfeed more often. Babies need at least 6 feeds in 24 hours in the first few months. For most babies, 6 will not be enough; they need 8-12 feeds in 24 hours (or more) to take in enough milk.
• More frequent feeding also means your breasts are relatively 'emptier' (they are never completely empty), which means that your breasts will speed up milk production, increasing your milk supply. For more information on how to increase your milk supply refer to the article Low Supply on this website, or refer to the Australian Breastfeeding Association booklet, Increasing Your Supply, available for purchase from the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
• Is your baby feeding for long enough to get a balanced feed? The fat content of your breastmilk steadily rises and usually doubles from the beginning to the end of the feed. If you let your baby decide how long to feed, he will usually be getting enough of both the breastmilk and the fat that he needs.
• Have you only been offering one breast per feed? Some babies only need one breast per feed, other babies need both. Some babies start off just needing one and change as they grow older. You could try offering your baby the second breast.
• Try offering top-up breastfeeds 20-60 minutes after your baby's normal breastfeeds.
• Is your baby sleeping longer at night? Long night sleeps (and therefore missed feeds) can also decrease your baby's milk intake and weight gain. You might consider waking your baby during the night to feed or fit in extra daytime feeds.
• Is your baby attaching and suckling effectively? Babies who are failing to thrive may have a poor sucking action, so they don't empty and stimulate your breasts enough. Face-to-face assessment of this by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor can be very useful. You can find an IBCLC near you at this website: Find a Lactation Consultant.
• Does your baby have a tongue-tie? This can lead to poor attachment and mean that they cannot drain the breast effectively. An IBCLC can also check for this. In many cases the tongue-tie is snipped, leading to much more effective feeding for the baby and more comfortable feeding for the mum.
• Have you been using a nipple shield? Provided a nipple shield is used properly, it should not cause supply problems. However, if your baby's weight gains continue to be low, it could be that your baby is not transferring milk well through the shield. Consult a lactation consultant or an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor to check that your baby is attached properly on the shield. If you baby cannot feed well without the shield, you will also need to express your milk to protect your milk supply and to provide more milk for your baby.

What are developmental milestones?
Developmental milestones are normal skills and abilities that infants and children acquire as they grow. These include events such as smiling for the first time, turning their head towards a sound, bringing their hand to their mouth, holding their head steadily without support, rolling from tummy to back and taking a first step.
Developmental milestones tend to appear in a predictable order and the following links take you to information about what kind of milestones to expect at each age.
0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months, 1-2 years,
My baby was gaining weight well and now all of a sudden things have slowed down. What's going on?

• Have there been any changes in your baby's behaviour? For example has your baby been taking fewer feeds as a result of sleeping longer at night?
• Have you been trying to feed at set times instead of when the baby indicates?
• Have you (the mother) been stressed or unwell? For some women this can cause a temporary dip in supply.
• Have you just started a new medication such as the contraceptive pill? Could you be pregnant? These factors can cause a dip in your supply.
• Has your baby been ill? Even a small cold can disrupt feeding and weight gain for a week or two.
• Has your baby previously gained well and is now slowing down normally? It is very normal for an exclusively breastfed baby's weight gain to slow down at 3-4 months. The World Health Organization child growth standards, based on healthy breastfed babies, help demonstrate this.

In most cases of sudden weight change, a 'wait-and-see' approach is justified if your baby seems happy and the other indicators of growth and health are fine. If there seems to be a temporary low supply problem, offering a couple of extra breastfeeds a day can help avoid a more serious situation. If you are concerned, see a medical advisor
Please feel welcome to call the toll-free National Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 686 268 to talk about anything discussed in this article, or any other breastfeeding related matter.
References

1. WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. (2006). WHO Child Growth Standards based on length/height, weight and age. Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway: 1992). Supplement, 450, 76-85.
2. Macdonald, P. D., Ross, S. R. M., Grant, L., & Young, D. (2003). Neonatal weight loss in breast and formula fed infants. Archives of Disease in Childhood-Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 88(6), F472-F476.
3. Tawia, S., & McGuire, L. (2014). Early weight loss and weight gain in healthy, full-term, exclusively-breastfed infants. Breastfeeding Review, 22(1), 31-42.
4. Noel-Weiss, J., Woodend, A.K., Peterson, W.E., Gibb, W., & Groll, D.L. (2011). An observational study of associations among maternal fluids during parturition, neonatal output, and breastfed newborn weight loss. International Breastfeeding Journal 6: 9.
5. Watson, J., Hodnett, E., Armson, B.A., Davies, B., Watt-Watson, J. (2012). A randomized controlled trial of the effect of intrapartum intravenous fluid management on breastfed newborn weight loss. JOGNN 41: 24–32.
   Hirth, R., Weitkamp, T., Dwivedi, A. (2012). Maternal intravenous fluids and infant weight. Clinical Lactation 3: 59–93.
6. Mei, Z., Grummer-Strawn, L. M., Thompson, D., & Dietz, W. H. (2004). Shifts in percentiles of growth during early childhood: analysis of longitudinal data from the California Child Health and Development Study. Pediatrics, 113(6), e617-e627.
   
    Source By: https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/common-concerns%E2%80%93baby/baby-weight-gains

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Birth Day: Your Baby's First 24 Hours of Life

While you've probably mapped out what your post-delivery hospital stay will entail, you may not realize that your baby will be twice as busy as you'll be. Just five minutes after he arrives, he is poked, pricked, measured, tested, cleaned, and swaddled. Delivery procedures are different in every hospital, but here's what's likely to happen in the whirlwind that's your baby's first day.

Baby's First Hours

Your first day with your baby will be exciting (and emotional), as doctors and nurses examine him to ensure that he's healthy -- and teach you the essentials of caring for him. Knowing what to expect will make this special time feel more joyful and less overwhelming. While procedures vary by hospital, our time line will give you a sense of how the hours typically unfold, starting with the minute he's born.
First 5 Minutes

As soon as your child arrives, the doctor will suction her mouth and nose to clear away mucus and amniotic fluid, and she should begin to breathe on her own. The doctor will then clamp and cut (or let your partner cut) the umbilical cord before determining your baby's Apgar score, which is based on heart rate, color, reflex response, activity and muscle tone, and breathing at one minute and five minutes post-delivery. Scores can range from zero to ten, but anything above seven is generally considered healthy. Most babies score eight or nine, but if your baby tests lower, the cause will be addressed (say, she's having trouble breathing) and testing will continue at five-minute intervals until the issue is resolved. Not to worry: Most infants who receive a low mark at birth go on to be healthy, happy babies, says Michael A. Posencheg, M.D., medical director of the newborn nursery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. While you're delivering the placenta, your newborn will be weighed and measured. Typically a nurse will wipe her clean and place her in a baby warmer until she's able to maintain her own body temperature -- a process that can take from a few minutes to a couple of hours. You may be able to watch all of this happen, but you also may be getting stitches, if necessary.
Hour 1

When you're still in the delivery room, your baby will get antibiotic eye ointment to prevent eye infections that can result from passing through the birth canal. He'll also receive a vitamin K shot in the thigh to prevent clotting problems. If you plan to breastfeed, you'll be encouraged to try it. Even if you've had a C-section you can begin nursing as soon as you leave the operating room, provided that you're comfortable, alert, and aren't experiencing complications, says Parents advisor Ari Brown, M.D., coauthor of Baby 411. If the doctor sends your baby to the neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) because he was born prematurely or there's a risk of infection, this bonding session will be postponed.
Hours 2 to 3

Now that your child's initial tests have been completed, the two of you will spend time together in your hospital room or the recovery room, as long as both of you are well. At some point the nurse will examine your baby to determine how well she's adjusting to newborn life. She'll also check her pulse, feel her abdomen, make sure her genitals have formed properly, and verify that she has all ten fingers and toes. She'll also record the Ballard score, in which your child's head circumference, chest circumference, and length are measured to confirm her gestational age.
If your baby is premature, she'll most likely remain in the nursery, where her temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate can be closely monitored, and you'll be able to visit. Her vitals will be checked every 30 minutes for the first two hours and then every four to six hours if all is on track. If her vitals aren?t stable after two hours, the NICU staff will perform more tests.

The Rest of the Day

Hours 4 through 22

You'll spend this time learning how to care for your newborn. You'll probably help a nurse give him his first bath and change his diaper once he passes his first bowel movement, called meconium. You'll also learn how to swaddle and hold your baby, as well as how to handle his umbilical-cord stump and his circumcision site (if he's been circumcised). If you choose to breastfeed your baby, you'll be nursing him every two to three hours. Most hospitals have a lactation consultant who will check in to see how you're doing, even if you've breastfed before, says M. Terese Verklan, Ph.D., a nursing consultant in Houston. If you don't get a visit, ask for one.
Hours 23 and 24

By now your baby will have been formally evaluated by a pediatrician -- unless a problem was discovered at birth, in which case this exam will have been done then. The doctor will assess risk factors for infection, check for malformations, and ensure that your child is feeding and breathing well. She'll be checked for jaundice, which causes yellowish skin because bilirubin isn't being broken down in the liver. Babies with the condition may be exposed to a special kind of light that helps break down bilirubin, and you'll be encouraged to nurse your little one often to help eliminate the substance through her stool. In rare cases, if left untreated, jaundice can lead to brain damage. Additionally, your baby's heel will be pricked to screen for up to 50 different metabolic diseases, depending on your state's requirements, including sickle cell anemia and phenylketonuria (PKU). Performing this test any earlier is useless; blood levels in a baby don't rise until 24 hours after she has begun to drink breast milk or formula, so there can be a higher incidence of a false negative if the test is performed too soon. This evaluation is extremely important -- if your baby has one of these diseases, detecting and treating it early can substantially improve her prognosis.
Just Before Hospital Discharge

You'll stay at the hospital 24 to 48 hours after having a routine vaginal delivery. If you've had a C-section, you'll generally be there for three to four days. Right before you leave, your baby will receive a hearing test, in which he'll wear a pair of headphones and an audiologist will monitor his brain waves in response to sound. He'll also be weighed, and you'll probably notice that his weight has dropped since birth. Don't be alarmed. Fluid is moving from his extravascular system to his blood vessels, increasing his blood pressure and promoting the flow of oxygen to his organs. He's urinating out the excess fluid, which causes a 5 to 7 percent dip in his birth weight, but he'll gain back the weight after a few days of eating, Dr. Verklan explains.
After you've been discharged but before you can drive off, the hospital staff will confirm that you have a car seat, which is required in all 50 states. Once you get the go-ahead and realize that you're on your own, you may feel overwhelmed. "Don't panic," Dr. Brown says. "No one goes home really feeling prepared." Try to relax. Before you know it you'll be parenting like a pro.

Source By: http://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/your-babys-first-24-hours-of-life/

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Baby Skin Care Slideshow: Simple Tips to Keep Baby's Skin Healthy

Expect Bumps, Spots, and Rashes

There's nothing quite like the soft, delicate skin of a baby. And nothing like a cranky infant irritated by diaper rash, cradle cap, or another skin condition. While your baby is perfect, your baby's skin may not be. Many babies are prone to skin irritation in the first few months after birth. Here's how to spot and treat common baby skin problems.

 

 

Newborns Are Prone to Rashes

The good news about your newborn's rashes: Most cause no harm and go away on their own. While caring for baby's skin may seem complex, all you really need to know are three simple things: Which conditions can you treat at home? Which need medical treatment? And how can you prevent baby from experiencing skin problems to begin with?

 

 

Avoiding Diaper Rash

If baby has red skin around the diaper area, you're dealing with diaper rash. Most diaper rashes occur because of skin irritation due to diapers that are too tight; wet diapers left on for too long; or a particular brand of detergent, diapers, or baby wipes. Avoid it by keeping the diaper area open to the air as long as possible, changing your baby's diaper as soon as it's wet, washing with a warm cloth, and applying zinc oxide cream.

 

Pimples & Whiteheads

Baby "acne" is not really acne, like the kind teenagers get. In fact, recent research suggests that it may be related to yeast, not oil production. Pimples on baby's nose and cheeks usually clear up by themselves in a few weeks. So you don't need to treat baby acne or use lotion.

 

 

 

Baby Birthmarks

Lots of babies have birthmarks -- more than one in ten as a matter of fact. Birthmarks, areas of skin discoloration, are not inherited. They may be there when your baby is born, or they might show up a few months later. Generally birthmarks are nothing to worry about and need no treatment. But if your baby's birthmark worries you, talk to your pediatrician.

Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema

Eczema is an itchy, red rash that may or may not occur in response to a trigger. It is common in children who have a family history of asthma, allergies, or atopic dermatitis. Eczema may occur on baby's face as a weepy rash. Over time it becomes thick, dry, and scaly. You may also see eczema on the elbow, chest, arms, or behind the knees. To treat it, identify and avoid any triggers. Use gentle soaps and detergents and apply moderate amounts of moisturizers. More severe eczema should be treated with prescription medicine.

Baby's Dry Skin

You probably shouldn't worry if your newborn has peeling, dry skin -- it often happens if your baby is born a little late. The underlying skin is perfectly healthy, soft, and moist. If your infant's dry skin persists, talk to your baby's pediatrician.

Excess Oil Causes Cradle Cap

Cradle cap can show up during baby's first or second month, and usually clears up within the first year. Also called seborrheic dermatitis, cradle cap is caused in part by excess oil and shows up as a scaly, waxy, red rash on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, the sides of the nose, or behind the ears. Your pediatrician will recommend the best treatment for cradle cap, which may include a special shampoo, baby oil, or certain creams and lotions.

Prickly Heat Causes Irritated Skin

Showing up as small pinkish-red bumps, prickly heat usually appears on the parts of your baby's body that are prone to sweating, like the neck, diaper area, armpits, and skin folds. A cool, dry environment and loose-fitting clothes are all you need to treat prickly heat rash -- which can even be brought on in winter when baby is over-bundled. Try dressing baby in layers that you can remove when things heat up.

Infant Skin Doesn't Need Powdering

Babies can inhale the very fine grains of talcum powder or the larger particles of cornstarch, which could cause lung problems. So it's best to avoid using them on your infant.

Newborn Skin: White Bumps (Milia)

As many as one in two newborns get the little white bumps known as milia. Appearing usually on the nose and face, they're caused by skin flakes blocking oil glands. Milia are sometimes called "baby acne," but baby acne is related to yeast. In this case, baby skin care is easy: As baby's glands open up over the course of a few days or weeks, the bumps usually disappear, and need no treatment.

Baby Yeast Infections

Yeast infections often appear after your baby has had a round of antibiotics, and show up differently depending on where they are on your baby's skin. Thrush appears on the tongue and mouth, and looks like dried milk, while a yeast diaper rash is bright red, often with small red pimples at the rash edges. Talk to your pediatrician: Thrush is treated with an anti-yeast liquid medicine, while an anti-fungal cream is used for a yeast diaper rash.

Laundry Tips for Baby Skin Care

Avoiding skin rashes will keep your baby smiling and happy: Use a gentle detergent to wash everything that touches your infant's skin, from bedding and blankets, to towels and even your own clothes. You'll cut down on the likelihood of baby developing irritated or itchy skin.

Yellow Skin Can Mean Jaundice

Usually occurring two or three days after birth, jaundice is a yellow coloration that affects baby's skin and eyes. It's common in premature infants. Caused by too much bilirubin (a breakdown product of red blood cells), the condition usually disappears by the time baby is 1 or 2 weeks old. Treatment for jaundice may include more frequent feedings or, for more severe cases, light therapy (phototherapy). If your baby looks yellow, talk to your doctor.

Infant Sunburn

The sun may feel great, but it could be exposing your baby's skin to the risk of damaging sunburn. You can use baby sunscreen on infants at any age. Hats and umbrellas are also good for babies. But for the best protection from sunburn, keep your infant out of direct sunlight during the first six months of life. For mild infant sunburn apply a cool cloth to baby's skin for 10-15 minutes a few times daily. For more severe sunburn, call your child's pediatrician.

Baby Sunscreen and More

Apply sunscreen to the areas of baby's skin that can't be covered by clothes. You can also use zinc oxide on baby's nose, ears, and lips. Cover the rest of your baby's skin in clothes and a wide-brimmed hat. Sunglasses protect children's eyes from harmful rays.

Baby Skin Care Products

Shopping for baby skin care products? Less is more. Look for items without dyes, fragrance, phthalates and parabens -- all of which could cause skin irritation. When in doubt, talk to your pediatrician to see if a product is appropriate for newborn skin.

Avoiding Skin Problems at Bath Time

Remember, newborn skin is soft and sensitive. Keep baby's skin hydrated by bathing in warm water for only three to five minutes. Avoid letting your baby sit or play or soak for long in soapy water. Apply a baby lotion or moisturizer immediately after bath while skin is still wet, and then pat dry instead of rubbing.

Baby Massage

If rashes or other skin conditions are making your baby irritable, try baby massage. Gently stroking and massaging baby's skin can not only help boost relaxation, but it may also lead to better sleep and reduce or stop crying, according to a recent study.

When to Call the Pediatrician

Most baby skin rashes and problems aren't serious, but a few may be signs of infection -- and need close attention. If baby's skin has small, red-purplish dots, if there are yellow fluid-filled bumps (pustules), or if baby has a fever or lethargy, see your pediatrician for medical treatment right away.




Source By:  http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/ss/slideshow-baby-skin-care

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