Newborn babies need regular feeds whether breast or formula. Some will look for feeds 2-3 hourly others will accept a regimen of 4 hourly feeds. In the first few months, waking to feed a baby is an expected part of infant care.
By the time an infant is six months old fewer will physically require a night time feed. Some will perisist through habit and, most mums, don't mind this too much if it is simply a case of feeding the infant and re settling. If this can be done within a few minutes it can almost be accomplished in mum's sleep.
Other infants are more awake. Through habit they have developed a lighter phase of sleep at this time and they may also associate a feed as being the thing that helps them to return to sleep. There may be no real hunger and the breast or bottle may only be a plaything, an opportunity to interact with mum.
At this point it is up to mum to decide whether or not she is happy to continue to have her night's sleep interrupted. There are a variety of ways of stopping this night waking behaviour. As this is a habit, once the infant has slept through the night for a few nights usually the behaviour stops completely.
If you need help to change your infant's sleep pattern contact www. Dream-Angus.com
Working with you to improve your child's sleep.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Doing it "by the book!"
Children's sleep problems have become a popular topic. Not with the parents who experience sleep deprivation, but with a number of persons from different medical or paramedical backgrounds. It can be really difficult weeding out the ones who genuinely know something that will help you and your child, from those who are out to make a fast buck.
Sleep problems have been investigated and solutions tried in many countries, perhaps the USA has the largest number of blogs and sites related to these issues. The medical staff there have had a prolonged exposure to literature about children and their sleep issues.
In the UK the first real training on Children's Sleep became available through Sleep Scotland in the late 1990's. A mum who had experienced the problems of trying to live and sleep with a child who wouldn't/couldn't sleep, decided she had to find an answer that would help her and her son. Having researched and networked throughout the UK she decided to set up a programme that would help others resolve the issues their children had. This was the begining of a realistic view of children's sleep patterns and how to resolve them without resorting to medication.
Sleep Scotland now trains not only staff in Scotland but across the UK. The methods used to help parents and their children are all researched and evidence based. Many knowledgeable and highly experienced Pediatricans and Pediatric Nurologists offer their skills and knowledge to train interested parties.
Books on parenting and books on Sleep issues are very general. They have to be. They are available to everyone and cannot determine each individual situation. Of course there are solutions to some challenges that are effective in many situations. That does not make them right for you and your child. The training and experience of people who have worked in this field for many years, highlights the effectiveness of an individual plan, tailored to the child and family. A plan that takes account of the lifestyle and parenting styles of the family is always going to be more effective than a "one size fits all" approach.
If you would like more information or help to resolve your childs sleep problem,
contact Dream-Angus.com. We have the skills and the experience to help you.
Sleep problems have been investigated and solutions tried in many countries, perhaps the USA has the largest number of blogs and sites related to these issues. The medical staff there have had a prolonged exposure to literature about children and their sleep issues.
In the UK the first real training on Children's Sleep became available through Sleep Scotland in the late 1990's. A mum who had experienced the problems of trying to live and sleep with a child who wouldn't/couldn't sleep, decided she had to find an answer that would help her and her son. Having researched and networked throughout the UK she decided to set up a programme that would help others resolve the issues their children had. This was the begining of a realistic view of children's sleep patterns and how to resolve them without resorting to medication.
Sleep Scotland now trains not only staff in Scotland but across the UK. The methods used to help parents and their children are all researched and evidence based. Many knowledgeable and highly experienced Pediatricans and Pediatric Nurologists offer their skills and knowledge to train interested parties.
Books on parenting and books on Sleep issues are very general. They have to be. They are available to everyone and cannot determine each individual situation. Of course there are solutions to some challenges that are effective in many situations. That does not make them right for you and your child. The training and experience of people who have worked in this field for many years, highlights the effectiveness of an individual plan, tailored to the child and family. A plan that takes account of the lifestyle and parenting styles of the family is always going to be more effective than a "one size fits all" approach.
If you would like more information or help to resolve your childs sleep problem,
contact Dream-Angus.com. We have the skills and the experience to help you.
Toddler Diarrhoea/Constipation
Toddler Diarrhoea is a common problem. Frequent stools which are too soft to be formed passed several times a day without any fever being present and with no dirty nappies overnight are often diagnosed as Toddler Diarrohea. The child is not vomiting and shows no other symptoms. There may be recognisable food matter, peas carrots or sweetcorn present. The stools often become more loose as the day progresses. The succession of dirty nappies start typically after the child first eats or drinks.
It is thought that this condition is due to gut immaturity and often it improves without any treatment.
Many dietary manipulations have been tried including reducing fibre, increasing fat to prolong transit times, and reducing sugar intake. Reducing fibre will help where the family have adopted healthy eating practices and have a normally high fibre intake. Tolerance of fibre increases as the child ages and arround 4-5 years a higher fibre intake is better tolerated by the child.
Constipation in children is particularly common following infection or after an anal fissure. There may also be a behavioural element to this. The child should be encouraged to eat a higher fibre diet including beans, wholegrain cereals, lentil soup, and baked beans. Encouraging fluids will also help. There is no place for mealtime battles over vegetables and young children should never be given unprocessed bran. With gentle encouragement and reassurance this is a simple issue that is easily resolved.
It is thought that this condition is due to gut immaturity and often it improves without any treatment.
Many dietary manipulations have been tried including reducing fibre, increasing fat to prolong transit times, and reducing sugar intake. Reducing fibre will help where the family have adopted healthy eating practices and have a normally high fibre intake. Tolerance of fibre increases as the child ages and arround 4-5 years a higher fibre intake is better tolerated by the child.
Constipation in children is particularly common following infection or after an anal fissure. There may also be a behavioural element to this. The child should be encouraged to eat a higher fibre diet including beans, wholegrain cereals, lentil soup, and baked beans. Encouraging fluids will also help. There is no place for mealtime battles over vegetables and young children should never be given unprocessed bran. With gentle encouragement and reassurance this is a simple issue that is easily resolved.
Friday, 10 April 2009
Toddler Issues
Poor Eating/Food Refusal
Many young children go through a phase of faddish eating when they limit the foods they are prepared to eat. This is rarely longlasting and if the child is growing appropriately it is unlikely that this is significant.
Often parents expectations of their child's weight gain and food requirements are unrealistic.
On average a child gains about 6kg (15lbs) in the first year of life. Over the following second, third and fourth year the average weight gain is only 2kg (5lbs) The rapid growth and constant increases in the demand for food does not continue as it did in the first year. It is important to discover what the child is actually eating. Taking a detailed food diary can be very revealing. Most children will take enough food to sustain their growth and energy expenditure and this is apparent when the diary is reviewed.
Many children prefer drinking to eating and will readily fill themselves up with drinks. It can be helpful to avoid offering drinks an hour before mealtimes and offer a drink, in a cup, after a meal. Three cups of milk a day plus some on cereal is ample.
A cup of milk and a packet of crisps mid morning will stop most toddlers eating lunch. It would be better to offer a cup of juice and a plain biscuit or half a banana.
No healthy child offered appropriate food at mealtimes will starve. Battles over meals should be avoided, mealtimes should be happy social occasions where there are minimal distractions.
Many young children go through a phase of faddish eating when they limit the foods they are prepared to eat. This is rarely longlasting and if the child is growing appropriately it is unlikely that this is significant.
Often parents expectations of their child's weight gain and food requirements are unrealistic.
On average a child gains about 6kg (15lbs) in the first year of life. Over the following second, third and fourth year the average weight gain is only 2kg (5lbs) The rapid growth and constant increases in the demand for food does not continue as it did in the first year. It is important to discover what the child is actually eating. Taking a detailed food diary can be very revealing. Most children will take enough food to sustain their growth and energy expenditure and this is apparent when the diary is reviewed.
Many children prefer drinking to eating and will readily fill themselves up with drinks. It can be helpful to avoid offering drinks an hour before mealtimes and offer a drink, in a cup, after a meal. Three cups of milk a day plus some on cereal is ample.
A cup of milk and a packet of crisps mid morning will stop most toddlers eating lunch. It would be better to offer a cup of juice and a plain biscuit or half a banana.
No healthy child offered appropriate food at mealtimes will starve. Battles over meals should be avoided, mealtimes should be happy social occasions where there are minimal distractions.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
2009 Expat Family Support Services Survey
This year Dream-Angus.com in co-operation with the Hogeschool in Den Haag, The Hague on line, and Family Centred Consulting is conducting a survey to acertain what child health related services are available within the Netherlands and to test the knowledge that expat parents have about these services.
Where do expats learn what is available to them and how to access these services? How satisfied are expats with the services and support that is available and what services have they had good or bad experiences with.
This survey will be open throughout April for interested people to participate. The results will be available in May .
In 2008 there was a small survey taken in The Hague looking at services and how accessible they were to Expats. At the time this showed a demand for services to be made available in English.
This survey hopes to build on the results of the previous survey and give strength to the pressure for better information about childrens health and family support services to be made available in English.
Where do expats learn what is available to them and how to access these services? How satisfied are expats with the services and support that is available and what services have they had good or bad experiences with.
This survey will be open throughout April for interested people to participate. The results will be available in May .
In 2008 there was a small survey taken in The Hague looking at services and how accessible they were to Expats. At the time this showed a demand for services to be made available in English.
This survey hopes to build on the results of the previous survey and give strength to the pressure for better information about childrens health and family support services to be made available in English.
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Head banging and body rocking.
Rhythmic Movement Disorder is the correct term for rhythmic movements including headbanging and body rocking. These are common in young children who use these movements to self soothe. They can occur at the start of sleep and when the child is in lighter sleep or is aroused in the night.
Studies indicate that about two thirds of children aged 9 months use rhythmic movement to self soothe. Less than half still do so at 18 months and only about 8% continue to do so by the time they are 4 years old. It is also estimated that approximately 3-15% head bang to a significant degree. This behaviour usually starts before one year with body rocking being more prevelant than headbanging. Boys are much more likely to use these methods to self soothe.
The earliest bodyrocking occurs at about 6 months. It is usually done while on hands and knees and the whole body is rocked. Head rolling, side to side movements while lying on the back can start at about 10 months. Body rolling is less common, rolling from side to side from lying on the back.
Parents get very anxious about these behaviours and the risk of injury, particularly the risk of head injury. Some also assocciate these behaviours with mental retardation or Autism and this leads to general developmental concerns. For most children this behaviour is self limiting and by the age of 2-3 years it is outgrown. By the age of 4 years 90% of children no longer use this method of self soothing.
The key to resolving this is largely to ignore it, and certainly to avoid reinforcing the behaviour.
If you have concerns about your child, contact Dream-Angus.com
Studies indicate that about two thirds of children aged 9 months use rhythmic movement to self soothe. Less than half still do so at 18 months and only about 8% continue to do so by the time they are 4 years old. It is also estimated that approximately 3-15% head bang to a significant degree. This behaviour usually starts before one year with body rocking being more prevelant than headbanging. Boys are much more likely to use these methods to self soothe.
The earliest bodyrocking occurs at about 6 months. It is usually done while on hands and knees and the whole body is rocked. Head rolling, side to side movements while lying on the back can start at about 10 months. Body rolling is less common, rolling from side to side from lying on the back.
Parents get very anxious about these behaviours and the risk of injury, particularly the risk of head injury. Some also assocciate these behaviours with mental retardation or Autism and this leads to general developmental concerns. For most children this behaviour is self limiting and by the age of 2-3 years it is outgrown. By the age of 4 years 90% of children no longer use this method of self soothing.
The key to resolving this is largely to ignore it, and certainly to avoid reinforcing the behaviour.
If you have concerns about your child, contact Dream-Angus.com
Insomnia
Insomnia is defined as a difficulty falling asleep, and/or maintaining sleep and includes early morning awakenings. In many cases this is secondary to another sleep or medical disorder. In contrast Primary Insomnia is accompanied by learned sleep preventing or delaying assocciations and physiological arousal resulting in complaints of sleeplessness and decreased daytime functioning.
To date no studies have been done to look at how often this occurs in children of school age or in adolescents. About 12-13% of adolescents report that they are poor sleepers. This appears to be slightly more common in women than in men. Although there are a number of theories about the causes of insomnia no conclusive evidence supports any particular theory.
It is widely recognised that genetics may play a part and that stress, obsessive thinking styles, poor sleep habits and caffine intake, exacerbate the problem.
Difficulties in falling asleep can be related to medical problems such as asthma, allergies, headaches and physical discomfort. Some medications cause insomnia as a side effect.
Fortunately there are a variety of treatments which are effective without resorting to medication. Research has not been conducted on the long term outcome of insomnia in children and adolescents but certain personality traits make it likely that affected individuals are more likely to experience recurrant problems. The learned nature of this disorder makes it more likely to persist if it is not treated.
If you think this applies to your children contact Dream-Angus for support and advice.
To date no studies have been done to look at how often this occurs in children of school age or in adolescents. About 12-13% of adolescents report that they are poor sleepers. This appears to be slightly more common in women than in men. Although there are a number of theories about the causes of insomnia no conclusive evidence supports any particular theory.
It is widely recognised that genetics may play a part and that stress, obsessive thinking styles, poor sleep habits and caffine intake, exacerbate the problem.
Difficulties in falling asleep can be related to medical problems such as asthma, allergies, headaches and physical discomfort. Some medications cause insomnia as a side effect.
Fortunately there are a variety of treatments which are effective without resorting to medication. Research has not been conducted on the long term outcome of insomnia in children and adolescents but certain personality traits make it likely that affected individuals are more likely to experience recurrant problems. The learned nature of this disorder makes it more likely to persist if it is not treated.
If you think this applies to your children contact Dream-Angus for support and advice.
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