Naps (daytime Sleep)

Children need to have regular daytime naps.  When night sleep is disturbed some parents think that removing a nap time will increase night sleep. Unfortunately this is far from the case. 
If daytime naps are reduced the child becomes too tired to settle properly at night so night waking may become more frequent.

Daytime sleep opportunities should be offered in a safe room in natural daylight. Ensuring that the sun is not directly shining on the child is helpful but the room should not need to be darkened unless it is very bright. Normal background household noise is helpful because it is reassuring to the child. It reflects that there are people present and the child is not alone. Learning to be comfortable in their own space is a valuable lesson which instills confidence in being able to cope with some time alone.

Depending on the age and stage of the child, they will manage to be "happily awake" for a period of time. At the end of this time children demonstrate sleepy signals. This can be yawning, closing eyes, rubbing face with hands or on the carer if the child is being held. There is a small window of opportunity, from noting these expressions of tiredness, to achieving a  successful nap. If you can settle your child within 10/15 minutes of noting these signals the chances are the child will nap successfully.

Working on improving daytime naps is easier on parents who are more awake and more patient during the day, and has a knock on effect of improving the child's night sleep, which is easier for parents too.

By 3 years of age one single 1 hour nap is enough and by 4 years most children no longer require naps. As daytime naps reduce night sleep should be slightly longer and eventually even out at 10-11.5 hours.

If you need help to resolve your child's sleep issues, Contact Dream-Angus.com

Coping with twice yearly clock changes

Most of us experience no problems when the clock goes back an hour or forward an hour in spring and autumn.
Unfortunately there are some individuals who find this a very difficult experience. They find that their sleep pattern is disturbed by this event for a good few weeks. This leaves these individuals struggling with all the associated symptoms of sleep deficit, and makes life for the other family members much more difficult. However, with a little planning these difficulties can be avoided.

If you know how long it takes to "recover" from the clock change then you can anticipate and plan a strategy that will avoid the process of sleep deficit and sleep disturbances. These clock changes occur at pre set calender dates. If you know, for example, that it will take three weeks to catch up with this change, then you can avoid the problems altogether by simply dividing the 60 minute change into 3 segments of 20 minutes.

Three weeks before the clock changes start to adjust pre bedtime routine by a few minutes so that by the end of the first week a 20 minute delay in bedtime routine (or an earlier start to this routine) is accepted.
Continue this over the following three weeks, and by the time the clock has moved, the brain and body will be in sync with this altered sleep/wake time.

This can be further enhanced by altering the supper snack before bed to ensure that it is rich in the chemicals which encourage the release of sleep hormones. The precursor to the release of Melatonin, the sleep hormone, is Tryptophan.

Tryptophan is a natural amino acid found in foods like turkey, chickpeas and a variety of other foods. Tryptophan is required to make Melatonin, the sleep hormone and to act as a precursor for Serotonin.

Serotonin levels affect our mood. Patients who suffer from depression may be given drugs which modify the uptake of this chemical.

Foods that help in serotonin production are foods high in B-vitamins, foods like brown rice, eggs, organic chicken, corn, green leafy veggies, legumes, nuts, peas, and sunflower seeds.

If you would like further advice about sleep disorders  
Contact us on;- info@Dream-Angus.com

Did you know? Comforters/Dummies

Parents who have "given in" and offered their child a dummy/comforter, often feel guilty when they try to discourage the soothing habit which they offered their child. Well, here are some good reasons why you should discourage the use of this "soothing" equipment;-

1) Toddlers using dummies/comforters, are 3 times more likely to develop ear infections.

2) 50% of all children using them are sent for Speech and Language therapy.

3) Children who use dummies/comforters tend to speak from the back of their mouths so the "t" sound becomes "k"

4) Children who use dummies/comforters often do not try to chat to other children as readily as those who don't use them.

5)  Sucking a comforter/dummy can lead to overcrowding of the front teeth even when the said object is supposed to be "orthodontic".


For parents who have discovered that their child is more easily quieted and soothed by sucking on a comforter/dummy, you may find it helpful to know that you can limit their use by;-

1) Only allow the child to suck until they are calm. Once the child is calm remove the comforter.

2) Do not allow your child to fall asleep sucking this.Particularly if you have a small baby who sucks as a soothing mechanism. If the comforter falls out, baby wakes and needs this replaced. Better to learn to soothe themselves without it.

3) Use a big event, birthday/Christmas, to tell your child you know that they are now big enough not to need this anymore. Make an event of removing all comforters from your home. Reward this progress with a treat. Time one to one doing something fun, a magazine or a special toy.

Toddlers won't be keen to stop using a comforter, so prepare yourself by choosing a time when you have plenty of support. Tell other carers so that they can support you and your child. Prepare yourself for protest, and decide in advance what you will do, when you are faced with it.

Bowel Training

Often the most difficult part of toilet training a child is getting them to use a potty or toilet for the elimination of solid waste (poo!) Here are some helpful hints to consider when trying to potty train a child.

Ensure that you have chosen the right size of potty or toilet seat insert for your child. This needs to be a comfortable experience if it is to become an accepted behaviour.
Warm drinks, a warm bath a soothing tummy massage can be especially helpful if your child has been constipated or reluctant to pass poo for a couple of days.
A child who has a good position on the toilet with a support for his/her feet will find this easier.
Teach your child how to wipe themselves.
It is particularly important for girls to wipe from front to back, as this will avoid bringing bacteria from the bowel towards the bladder.
Use a soft toilet paper and praise your child when they manage to wipe themselves. Encourage hand washing after every toileting so that this becomes a natural habit.

Having a healthy regular bowel movement is better for your child and developing this habit needs time and training. A healthy bowel needs a regular fiber intake, regular exercise, like walking and swimming, and the ingestion of plenty of fluids including water. Setting aside a regular time for toileting without rushing, will improve the habit. Access to clean and pleasant facilities makes this a nicer experience. 

Fiber containing foods include;-
Wheatabix, bran flakes and shredded wheat
Wholemeal bread
Wholemeal pasta and brown rice
Fruit and vegetables (dried, fresh, or frozen), washed but with skin on where possible.
Pulses like peas, baked beans, kidney beans etc

Things you should know about baby's teeth.

Red cheeks and dribbles are often the first signs of teething. Gentle massaging of the gums with a toothbrush or teething ring can be soothing for babies at this stage.

Babies first teeth usually appear at about 6 months although some children will have teeth before then. As soon as the first teeth appear tooth brushing should become part of routine child care. At first baby may not like it but, as you do it more often it becomes quite soothing.

Pick a time which is convenient for you. Consider your child's normal daily routine, playtime or bath time may work best at first, and then you can move this to morning and bed time.
Baby's teeth can be brushed anywhere that is safe for baby. Sitting on your knee, on a changing mat, in the bath, in a high chair or sitting in the pram or stroller.

Stroke each tooth using a small soft toothbrush with a smear of toothpaste and imagine you are painting this onto the tooth. Flouride toothpaste on a dry brush works best. Eventually you can encourage baby to spit out the excess toothpaste but, if you avoid rinsing the mouth with fresh water you will be strengthening baby's teeth.

The toothbrush should be replaced every three months, or when the bristles start to splay out and away from the neat brush shape. Rinse the toothbrush between use and store it in a clean dry area.
Always supervise tooth brushing and never leave a child alone with a toothbrush.

Register your baby with a dentist and once your child is a year old, book a first appointment. Regular dental visits before anything needs to be done to repair or treat the teeth will make visits less concerning for the child.

Avoid sugary drinks and snacks between meals. Erosion is becoming a more common problem for both adults and children. Baby teeth have thinner dentine and enamel, and are worn away more quickly by contact with acid.
The foods that can affect children's teeth in this way include;-

1. Fizzy drinks like cola and lemonade, even some fizzy waters,
2. orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit drinks even when diluted.
3. Sour fruits, oranges and plums
4. Yoghurt
5. Herbal tea and vitamin C supplements.

Erosion can also be seen in children with gastric reflux and the teeth may become smaller and have saucer shaped depressions.
Fruit juices and squashes should not be given to babies or children in bottles as a comfort and children under the age of 2 years should not be given tea to drink. Limiting acidic foods to special times only and following their consumption with a bit of cheese or a milky drink will neutralize the acid more quickly.

If you are concerned about your child's teeth see your dentist.

6 Tips for dealing with Temper Tantrums

Temper Tantrums are most common in the 2 to 3 year old age group. Children of this age regularly experience overwhelming emotions and, if they manage to stay on an even keel all day long they are copping very well indeed. They do not have the language skills, or the vocabulary to tell their parents what they are feeling,  this can make life overwhelming at times.

When your child has a melt down they are demonstrating to you what it feels like when they can no longer cope. This can happen because they are exhausted or overwhelmed. It is not an attempt just to get attention. They are probably frightened as well as angry. Their anger has become so powerful that they can no longer see mummy and daddy as friendly and helpful. Coming up with a solution, or buying them off with treats is not helpful. (although most parents have done this at some time!)

Coping with your child's temper tantrum does not mean trying to stop the child from being angry. It is about coping with how angry this makes you feel. During a meltdown it is easy to become as angry as your child and to scream back at them. No parent can be perfectly calm throughout these events, but you need to be able to control your own emotions, particularly when your child's emotions are outwith control.
Firmness, understanding and tolerance are all very important. Simply telling a child to behave does not empower them to cope with  their overwhelming feelings. This is something they learn, but it takes time. Learning that it is possible to be distressed or angry without throwing a tantrum, comes from the demonstration of their parents who can be seen struggling to cope with their own frustration and worry.

Tips

1. Unless your child is likely to hurt themselves, or they are doing something dangerous, count to ten before you do anything at all.
2. In this state the child is beyond reasoning with so don't get drawn into an argument.
3. Don't ask more of your child than you know they can manage.
4. Try to remember that they are learning important lessons about themselves and both of you are practicing for the teenage years!
5. You may not mean what you say if you are angry and upset in the heat of the moment, so try to remember NOT to say things to hurt them back. Threats like leaving them or having them taken away are not appropriate or helpful.
6. Don't assume that the child you see in meltdown will grow up to be a monster. These temper tantrums will fade, sometimes quite slowly, but they will reduce over a couple of years.

If you have real concerns that your child has never really started talking, or does not enjoy being with others, has become restless and destructive, and takes no pleasure in anything,  do ask for specialist advice. Parents in this situation may feel that there is a real barrier between them and their child. It is not a good idea to just leave things as they are and hope for improvement. See a health professional and have an assessment and get some practical advice and support.

Feeding a new born baby

Many new mums do not realise how much time will be spent simply feeding their baby. Newborns have very small tummies. At first the baby's full tummy is about the size of a ping pong ball. It cannot hold a large volume of food, consequently baby needs fed very regularly. This can be as often as every one or two hours to begin with. Breast feeding takes time to establish and frequently putting baby to breast encourages the creation of more milk to feed baby. The movement of baby's hand against the breast encourages "let down", and as this occurs baby and mum relax into the act of feeding and being fed.

After a few days baby's full tummy is about the size of a large egg and baby takes more food at each feeding. As a result there is a more time between feeds. As baby grows his tummy also grows, and soon he is looking for feeds at between 3-4 hourly. Every baby is different. Adults don't have a three course meal every meal time and baby's requirements also vary throughout the day so, naturally, some feeds take longer than others.

Formula is man's best adaptation of cows milk for babies. A great deal of research has gone into learning how to make a cows milk into a milk which will be a "good" substitute for breast milk. Not every woman can, and not every woman wants to breast feed. Choosing a formula feeding regime is just that, personal choice. With the best will in the world, even following a recipe, batches of formula feed are not exact copies of the previous batch, although that is the aim. Consequently mums may occasionally find that a variety of formula feed which worked well for baby before, is not working quite so well now.

Breast milk is also continually changing to reflect the environment and the calorific requirements of the baby. It is amazing that mum and baby can be in a public space, the supermarket for example, someone can sneeze near them and by the next feed mum has made antibodies to that sneeze! Kissing baby brings the "bugs" that baby has met, into mum and again allows breast milk to modify them to provide protection against these nasties.

Formula milk may appear to be more satisfying because babies may appear more settled on formula milks, but they are more difficult to digest. Breast milk was designed for babies and is easily digested, more easily than modified cows milk.

To begin with baby can see best at about 10 inches, roughly the distance between mum's breast and mum's face. Feeding encourages an intimate moment when eye contact is sought as a communication and as a reassurance. It is in baby's best interest to please mum. A parent who gets pleasure from their child is more likely to interact with them on a regular basis and to provide a nurturing environment.

It doesn't matter if baby is breast or formula fed, this moment of feeding, direct eye contact and being held close, is what baby needs to form an attachment to mum/dad/carer and to being the process of pre verbal communication. If baby is fussy at this stage, there is something wrong. Baby is trying to tell you that they are uncomfortable for some reason. The difficulty for the parent may be identifying the reason for baby's fussiness.

It can take some time before you feel that you have a definite feeding routine for your baby. Babies feed from a desire to refuel, and not always as a comfort, although being held closely can be comforting. Mums who opt to feed their baby on a formula milk should still be aiming for a feeding position which mimics breast feeding because this offers the closest, most natural, intimate time for pre verbal communication.

If you have difficulty with a fussy baby talk to a health professional. Most babies will be fine, the most common causes of fussing are simple to deal with. 

Sleep problems and starting school.

Sleep disorders in children starting school are associated with impaired performance and behavioural difficulties. This is not at all unusual. It is already recognised that the symptoms of these disorders are very variable and can be demonstrated among children of any given age. Even in an individually affected child, they need an appropriate diagnostic evaluation so that the many environmental and background factors that may be relevant, can be assessed.

In order to look more closely at this, extensive data was obtained on approximately 1400 children who were tested before beginning school in 2005. This data was obtained using a special sleep questionnaire and another screening instrument that is used to assess behavioral strengths and difficulties (the SDQ, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire).

Five percent of the children were found to have difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or nocturnal awakening. Less frequent problems included sleepwalking (0.1%), and frequent nightmares (1.7%).

This study showed that sleep disorders increase the risk of daytime fatigue, poorer concentration, poor learning and of psychological problems in general. Sleep deficit can result in both hyperactivity and excessive emotional stress.

These results imply that sleep problems and emotional disturbances are intimately connected. They also underscore the importance of diagnosing sleep problems in young children.

               If you have concerns about your child's sleep contact us;-   Info@dream-angus.com

 

 

Temper Tantrums and avoiding them.

Temper tantrums usually start when a child is about 1 year old. The child is becoming more independent and may appear to be demanding, stubborn and uncooperative. Tantrums are common in two year olds but if managed well, are less common at ages three and four years.
Part of a parents’ responsibility is to teach the child to manage frustration and express anger in appropriate ways.

Tantrums may include ;-

• Crying (without being hurt)
• Screaming and yelling
• Stamping feet
• Breath holding
• Rolling around on the floor
• Vomiting (usually only in severe tantrums)

These tantrums occur when children are angry or frustrated. They may be the result of being told No! Things may not be going as the child expects, the task they have been asked to do may be too difficult, they may lack the vocabulary to express how they are feeling, they may be overwhelmed with an emotion that they cannot express, they may be overtired, or there may be absolutely no obvious reason.

Every child is different. Some are quiet and easy going and seldom have tantrums. Others have quick tempers and tantrums are frequent. Children quickly learn that a tantrum may bring them the outcome they want and learn to escalate their behaviour until they achieve their goals. Managing these events so that they are not escalated and become less frequent is a challenge for many parents. How best to react to a child who is "bringing the house down" and get it right so that there is no reward for this behaviour is an important question.

The key steps to managing this behaviour are ;-

• Plan ahead to prevent the tantrums
• Give your child praise and attention when they are behaving well.
• If a tantrum occurs use planned ignoring (for younger toddlers.)
• For older children, tell them what to do and use "time out" if the tantrum continues.
• Praise your child as soon as they are quiet or behaving well.
• Return your child to an activity once the tantrum has resolved and praise them for good behaviour.

To help prevent tantrums it is necessary to have a few realistic rules.

• Decide if your child's requests are reasonable before you say "yes" or "no", and having made your decision stick to it.
•  Keep your child busy with activities especially in situations where they may easily become bored and disruptive. 
• Throughout the day let your child know what you are doing, and what is going to happen so that they know what to expect. 
• Watch your child and praise them for behaving well. 
• Give visual or audible cues before changing an activity. Telling a child that “in five minutes we need to do…” ,means nothing. Set a timer and tell them when the bell goes or the hand reaches a set visible point, we need to do something else makes it easier for the child to cope and to plan. Children under the age of 6 to 8 years old don’t always understand the concept of time.

How babies learn

Babies are born with a brain which is about one quarter the size of an adult brain. They will make connections and increase their brain size as they learn more about the world around them. Initially the limbic or primitive brain controls their actions. Babies have no experience to bring to the world other than the experiences within the womb and these have little relevance in the wider world.

The most interesting experience that babies have is a sense of the tastes of their mothers diet. While floating in the amniotic fluid, which is changed on a daily basis, they have some diluted taste of mum's diet delivered through this fluid. When the time comes to actually taste these foods, it can be the texture which is foreign rather than the flavour.

The things which soothed baby while in the womb will still soothe baby for the first few weeks in the wider world. These things are;- 

1. Being held, this can be actually holding baby or swaddling them to provide firm boundaries without the need for constant carrying/holding. 
2. Sound, baby has heard digestion, breathing, heartbeat and external noise through the abdominal wall. A world which is suddenly silent can be quite alarming.   
3. Sucking, baby may have been sucking hands, fingers or thumbs before birth and afterwards sucking is associated with feeding, feeling warm, full and comfortable.
4. Movement baby has felt mum rise from sitting to standing, walking, going up and down stairs, so gentle up and down movement is also comforting.
5. Skin to skin being skin to skin with a parent allows the baby to hear heartbeat and breathing of another person, smell a familiar and trusted carer and generally be comforted by not being alone.

Infants live in the moment. If they are cold, uncomfortable, or even just lonely, the only way they can tell us is to cry. To babies in the first two months of life, how they feel at this moment, is how life is always going to be. It takes about three or four months before the child learns that their actions result in their parents reaction. By six months babies can predict how their parents will react in some situations. They are starting to learn about routines then too. By six months babies know what particular event a chain of events should lead to. This can be something as simple as recognising that they are going to be fed, go out with mum for a walk, or put down for a nap. Routines are soothing they help the child to learn his/her place in the world.

Babies learn by repeated demonstration. Once they recognise a routine they also recognise what is expected of them. Changes need to be repeated a number of times to move these from the front of the brain, where this is an experience, to the back of the brain when this is a behaviour which is accepted as normal at the end of a chain of events. The number of times this demonstration has to occur to allow a new behaviour to become an accepted "norm" is individual. For some children it can be very quick, three to seven repetitions, other children take longer.

Babies need parents to be consistent during these repetitions. If you change your own reaction then you naturally, although sometimes inadvertently, alter your child's perception of what is required of them. 

If you would like to learn more about altering your child's behaviour
Contact  us at  info@Dream-Angus.com

Gastric Reflux: Re-visited and Updated

Gastric Reflux is a common problem particularly in pre term babies. It can be defined as a transient, inappropriate relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter allowing stomach contents to flow back into the oesophagus.

This can result in regurgitation or vomiting, which may upset the child by causing pain and discomfort or, in milder cases there may be no apparent distress related to these events.'

When there is no distress there is no need for treatment. More moderate to severe reflux should be treated because there is a link to reflux and Asthma in early childhood. 

 In practice, sick children's hospitals, and some special baby care units, use infant Gaviscon as an antacid. This is made from seaweed and forms a "jelly like " layer at the top of the stomach. The result is that this less acid "jelly" is what floats back to the oesophagus and thus pain is reduced.

The only side effect of this, and only in some infants, is constipation. Medical trials using Gaviscon Infant powder have shown that this was effective in reducing vomiting and regurgitation in episodes at 14 days, but did not reduce the level of vomiting. Another double blind trial, found no difference when Gaviscon was used.'

Some Consultant Paediatricians will prescribe medications which will reduce the amount of acid that is released into the stomach. These are only used in the short term and, once the child is established on a semi solid diet these are generally discontinued. Family Doctors are always reluctant to prescribe such medication without the overview of a Consultant.

Although symptoms of reflux can be demonstrated there is only one way to accurately diagnose reflux and that involves a short hospital stay and the passing of an acid monitor to check the level of acid in the oesophagus. This is not always reliable and most Paediatric Consultants will accept the parents description and treat this uncomfortable condition.

Using formulas which thicken on contact with stomach acids , such as Efamil AR and SMA Staydown ( both available on NHS prescription) are only moderately effective in treating reflux in otherwise healthy children.

This is because this issue is often one of mechanics, and nothing is going to make the sphincter muscle mature and perform it's function as it should, other than maturity. Using an antacid or something which will reduce the acid production, is really the only way to reduce discomfort and distress.

The first line of treatment is usually Gaviscon infant powder, and where this is successful, there is no need for further intervention. If this proves ineffective then it is worth exploring other options.

Another study, looking at positioning the infant with the head of the crib raised, found that this is not always justifiable, however, placing infants on their left side, can reduce reflux. Lying on one side is not a stable position for infants and using pillows to maintain this position is not recommended.

It is possible to use a breathable fabric rolled against the child's back and supporting the child's legs but, this needs to be done with some care to avoid overheating.

Reflux, like colic, is self limiting. It can be difficult for parents to watch an infant in distress and pain without seeking assistance to make the child more comfortable.Children affected by any degree of reflux often take longer to settle after a feed and can be fussy, because feeding does not comfort them as it would an unaffected child.

Feeding a Toddler

As children move from a purely milk diet, whether this is breast or formula, they are growing very quickly and are usually very active, so they need plenty of energy and nutrients.Between the ages of 2 to 5 years children should be gradually moving to eating with the family, and this means eating the same foods as the family.

Every day toddlers should have the following sorts of foods.

• Milk and dairy foods which will provide protein, vitamins, minerals and calories.
• Meat, fish, eggs, peas,beans, lentils and tofu. Boys need up to 4 portions of oily fish per week, mackerel,sardines, or salmon. Girls should have no more than 2 portions of oily fish per week.
• Bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereals, potatoes, sweet potatoes,which will provide fibre as well as calories, vitamins and minerals.
• Fruit and vegetables for vitamin C and other protective vitamins.
• A vitamin D supplement for healthy bone and good immune response.

If you are giving your child a vegetarian diet it is important to include milk cheese and eggs. This means the diet will not be too bulky and they will get enough protein, vitamin A calcium and zinc.
Iron is found in many vegetables and pulses such as beans lentils and chickpeas, in dried fruit such as apricots, raisins and sultanas and in some breakfast cereals.
Absorbing iron from vegetable sources is more difficult than absorbing iron from meat so ensure your toddler has some foods containing iron every day. A food or drink which is high in vitamin C given at the same time as vegetables or iron containing foods will help make the absorption of iron easier.

Avoid giving young children tea or coffee especially at meal times as this reduces iron absorption.
Semi skimmed milk can be given from 2 years of age but fully skimmed milk is unsuitable for children under 5 years of age.

Vitamin drops are a useful addition to the diet of under 5's as this ensures, despite any fussy food behaviour, that the child gets enough of the important protective vitamins to encourage bone growth and immune system support.

Small portions on small plates are less daunting. Children can always ask for more but can be discouraged if they are expected to eat large amounts. Plan for three main meals per day and two snacks.

If you want to know more about toddler diet, if you need support with your toddlers eating habits,
Contact us at;-info@dreamangus.com

Infant constipation.

Bowel habit varies between individual infants and frequency is affected by diet, fluid intake, age and behaviour. Less than 3 complete stools per week is considered a potential indicator of constipation in children under one year of age (excluding those exclusively breast fed after 6 weeks of age,)
An exclusively breast fed infant can pass up to 6 stools per day in the first 28 days of life.

The average "normal "stool frequency of formula fed babies is;-
at 1 week old         up to 4 dirty nappies per day.
At 3 months           2-4 dirty nappies per day.
At 6 months           1-2 dirty nappies per day
At 12 months         one dirty nappy every 2-3 days.

Constipation can occur for a variety of reasons.

• Change of formula milk, including change of brand or stage.
• Change to more semi solid diet
• Inadequate fluid intake.
• Illness with a raise in body temperature
• Side effect of some medications (e.g. baby Gaviscon)
• Medical conditions such as Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis and low thyroid function.
• About 2 percent of children may experience constipation as a result of a congenital abnormality. 

The symptoms of constipation include;-

•  Distress and difficulty in passing stool.
• Reduction in feeding and becoming more "fussy".
• Overflow diarrhoea accompanied by offensive wind being passed.

How can this be resolved?

Circular massaging of the infant's abdomen, or gently stretching and cycling the child's legs when the child is warm and relaxed, can reduce the abdominal tension and allow stool to be passed.

If the infant is straining, put them on their back in a warm room with the nappy off and gently position the baby's knees against their chest will help them pass the stool.

A warm bath may help comfort baby by easing abdominal pain.

In small babies a 30 ml top up with plain boiled water, or boiled cooled water to which a level teaspoon of brown sugar has been added, should be enough to get things moving. This can be repeated. Baby should not be allowed to go longer than three days without a dirty nappy, unless this is normal for that child.

If baby has a swollen abdomen, temperature, blood or mucus in or around the stool, vomits or shows signs of reduced feeding, medical attention should be sought.

If symptoms persist, and baby is older than one month a small dose of oral lactulose may be prescribed to relieve the symptoms and allow stool to be passed. 

Five points to avoiding overheating baby.

Overheating can increase the risk of cot death. Babies overheat when there is too much bedding or clothing, or the room is too warm. Remember that a folded blanket is as warm as two blankets.
Lightweight blankets make it easier to control the temperature.
When you check on your baby, if he or she is perspiring, or their tummy feels hot to the touch, remove a blanket. It is absolutely normal that an infant's hands and feet are cool.
Room temperature of 16 to 18degrees C (63-65 degrees F) is a comfortable temperature,
The easy way to get it right is;-

• In summer baby may only need a sheet if it is very warm. (19-22 degrees C)
• Even in winter, most babies who are unwell or feverish need fewer clothes.
• Excess heat is lost through babies head, which is why it should never be covered at bed time, unless the room is very cold.
• Always remove hats and extra clothing as soon as you come indoors, enter a warm car,bus or train, even if it means waking your baby.
• Babies should never sleep with a hot water bottle, electric blanket, next to a radiator or in direct sunshine.

During the day baby should have one more layer of clothing than you have on. 

Children's growth and development.

From birth children are weighed and a note made of their OFC (head circumference) and length. Health professionals chart these measurements on a chart known as a "centiles chart". This allows an accurate following of the child's growth. Some weight loss is expected immediately after delivery but babies generally regain their birth weight by about 2 weeks.

If you look at a centiles chart, there is usually one in your child's personal health record, you will see that the graph has nine curves. Starting at -04th and rising to the 99.6th.
If you lined up 100 children of the same age, in height/length order you would find that, if your child is following the 25th percentile, your child would be number 25 in the row with 75 children taller.

Until a child is 2 years old the weight and length of the child are noted. From the child's second birthday the measurements change to a standing height measurement.

There is no exact measurement at which a child's measurement is abnormal, but, only one child in one thousand will follow the curve at 0.4th.

Weight gain is not the only important measurement, children can gain weight but not be thriving. When a child's weight crosses two percentile lines, for example a child who at birth and the first few months measured along the 50th percentile and then this falls to the 9th percentile, a referral should be made to a Consultant Paediatrician. Further investigation will determine if there is any underlying health problem which requires treatment.

Children do not always follow a centile line exactly an it is not unusual for a child to lose a little weight due to illness but will usually return to the initial centile after two or three weeks. If the charted measurements fall between one percentile curve and another, (e.g.between the 75th and 50th, or, 50th and 25th) that is not a cause for concern.

Children aged 2 weeks to 6 months should be measured and weighed once a month.
Once every two months at age 6-12 months.
Over age 12 months one measurement every three months is enough unless there are concerns about the child's eating or other health issue.

Children born before their due date should be charted on a "preterm" percentile chart, or, if they were born with a particularly low birth weight then the appropriate chart should be used.

When a child is a fussy eater these measurements can be an important indicator of whether this behaviour is affecting their growth and development. Some children have a limited diet but continue to grow and to follow the centile as they always have. Others may have a falling growth pattern. Where growth is failing and weight is rising but not to meet the anticipated pattern, further investigations are necessary.

Simple things like frequent coughs and colds, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and gastric reflux can have a negative effect on children's growth. It is always important to recognise these and where necessary to treat them.

If you would like a UK percentile chart to plot your child's growth;-
 Contact Dream-Angus at info@dreamangus.com

Learning, genetics, habits and sleep.

Sleep is a complex thing. The sleep patterns we have as adults are composed in part of the sleep patterns of our parents, the sleep patterns we learned and the habits we have adopted.

Children are capable of learning sleep habits from as young as 60 days of life. We encourage them to sleep at regular intervals in infancy and we expect them to extend night sleep and reduce daytime sleep as they grow. Teaching a desirable sleep pattern is fairly easy, however children often pick up sleep associated habits which may be less desirable along the way.

Some professionals talk about "inappropriate sleep associations". What this really means, is that the child has learned that certain things are required to happen before they are comfortable and confident in being able to get themselves to sleep. Sometimes these are things that the child will grow out of. Sometimes one inappropriate association or habit is not eliminated but replaced with another just as inappropriate.

There are "recommended" lengths of sleep for different age groups but, these are not set in tablets of stone, they are guidelines only. Every one of us has a general sleep requirement, but how we have learned to sleep and the effects of previous generations on our genetic make up can, and does have some effect on our sleep pattern and on the sleep patterns of our children.

If your child has shorter sleep than the recommendation for his/her age and stage, look at the amount of sleep the parents need. Does your child generally wake in a positive happy cheerful mood? If so, the chances are that the sleep that they have had has been restful and restorative. A child who sleeps well in generally a child who is happy and copes well with the rest of the day.

Children need routines. These are there to act as touchstones. They help children understand the world and what is expected of them. As they grow these routines change slightly.
Every adult has at least three things which they do every night, regardless of holidays, before they are ready to go to sleep. The last routine of a child's day should consist of three things always completed in the same order, started at the same time of day and finishing in lying down to sleep.

Teaching good sleep habits is every bit as important as teaching good habits in other areas of life.

If you would like some help to teach your child good sleep habits, Contact us at;- info@Dream-Angus.com and we will help you.

Growing independence.

As children grow and learn to be comfortable in their environment they start to explore more. Although to begin with they will check back to see where mum or dad or their trusted adult is, they gradually extend their range. About this time there is a more defined character forming and they start to express their desires and emotions. Unfortunately some of these emotions are overwhelming and difficult for the child to understand. Lacking a vocabulary they resort to screaming, crying or simply having a full blown tantrum.

You can avoid a great deal of frustration for yourself and your child, if you accept and work with this growing independence. How many choices do you make in a day? How many does your child make?

Children understand "fairness" as a concept, even before they can walk. It must seem terribly unfair that they have so little say in their own lives. Offer your child a choice of things. Only offer two simple things to choose between, things which you can live with no matter what decision your child makes.

It doesn't have to be about big things, it can simply be which shirt or skirt to wear today, whether to brush your teeth or wash your hands first. Offering a choice of two things is less confusing. As your child learns to make these small decisions he/she is learning to take a small level of responsibility for their life. If the child has made several decisions then when you decide something for the child, it seems altogether fairer from the child's perspective.

Practising making small decisions makes taking the bigger step when the time comes, much easier. Your child believes he/she has some control and at the same time learns to live with the consequences of that decision. For example, offered the choice of shoes or boots in the morning, a child that chooses inappropriately learns that in some situations shoes/boots are a better idea. The parents are less likely to be seen as the "bad" guys because the decision was made by the child.

Obviously when using the "choices" approach you need to be ready to follow through. Accept the decision, which is why both choices should be ones you will be happy with. Praise a good decision and don't criticise a poorer one. Your child will quickly learn what works and what doesn't.

Ten things you can do to help your child to play.

Without play children have difficulties forming healthy relationships, they won't learn to develop and function in the world without positive play experiences. Active children are happy children, they are better adjusted, more co-operative with their peers and more popular because of it.

Parents who actively encourage play and communicate with their children provide excellent opportunities for speech and language development, information sharing and use of imagination. Here are ten ways you can help your child to develop through play. This is not an exhaustive list, merely a starter for parents who are uncertain how to encourage their child to become involved in their environment.

1) Allow yourself time to play with your child. We all lead busy lives, so we need to recognise the importance of playing with our children.

2) Have a couple of "treasure boxes" for children to explore. Natural materials, pine cones, leaves,shells,a short chain, a wooden spoon, keys, simple household objects can allow exploration of colour and texture and the developing of hand eye co-ordination. A dressing up box for toddlers, with a variety of old clothes of different materials are good starting boxes.

3) Communicate effectively by using facial expressions, eye contact and a positive tone of voice.

4) Use music to encourage your child to dance and to move more in their play.

5) Encourage messy play using jelly, spaghetti, Playdoh and sand.

6) Provide opportunity for water play with different containers, hose pipes and moulds.

7) Even when the weather is inclement, pull on warm waterproof clothing and get out to the park or beach. 

8) Read or look through books with your child and encourage them to tell a story or extend the story that they are familiar with.

9) Observe your child playing and  comment appropriately, this will help them develop vocabulary.

10) Allow your inner child to have some fun too!

Monsters in the bedroom?

It can be difficult for young children to differentiate between real life and imagination. Characters like Kermit and Big Bird are very real to pre school children. As a child's imagination develops, more imaginary characters can become real. When these characters are more threatening it can be worrying, and some children develop a real fear of being alone in their room. Parents need to recognise that although they know the environment is completely safe, in the mind of a child, monsters are very real indeed.

When young children "create" these characters they don't always understand how to banish them. Sometimes, they can become a little like imaginary friends and a relationship can develop which adults may find perplexing. If the child can talk about the character they "see" , and if the parent accepts this as the child's reality then a variety of techniques can be offered to calm, banish or kill the "monster".

Telling a child that there is nothing there and nothing to be afraid of, is logical to adults, but not always acceptable to the child. Some parents use "monster spray" a simple spray of water sprayed in the corners of the room, under the bed or wherever the child thinks the "monster" is lurking, can be effective. Sometimes it is better to create something the child can use by themselves. Praising their bravery in facing the scary helps the child to manage their own fear. There is usually something that your child can tell you that the monster will not like, it may be a torch, monster spray, a dream catcher, a ray gun or a simple "incantation" some noise or rhythm which "monster" doesn't like.

What scares you and how do you manage that fear?
If your child starts to talk about scary things and is reluctant to go to bed because of this it is time to review the media the child is exposed to and to ask more. Treating your child's fears as reasonable, will help your child to have more faith in you as being someone to confide in.  Together you can find a way to conquer these simple fears and help your child to become more confident in his/her abilities as well as your own as a parent