Allergies are different from intolerances. An allergic reaction triggers an immune response and this shows in the bloodstream. Intolerance may make life uncomfortable in the short term, but does not provoke an immune response and therefore cannot be identified from blood samples.
Parents often have concerns about their children being allergic to a foodstuff. The list below starts with the foodstuffs which are least likely to provoke an allergy. As you go down this list the risk of allergy grows with the most common allergic reactions being demonstrated in at the end of this list.
1) Baby rice
2) Puréed potatoes and mashed carrots
3) Swedes, turnip, green beans
4) Parsnips, cabbage, broccoli
5) Cauliflower
6) Puréed apple, pear,banana
7) Oats, wheat, (rusks, biscuits, cereals)
8) Chicken, Turkey,
9) Beef,lamb,pork
10) Fish
11) Tomatoes and citrus fruits
12) Strawberries, raspberries
13) Marmite, honey
14) Cows milk, goats milk, cheese, yoghurt, eggs, shellfish, kiwi fruit, peanuts and tree nuts.
When introducing semi solid diet to an infant it makes sense to make these introductions slowly. Baby's taste buds are immature and only recognise sweet, sour and salt to begin with. Adding extra sugar or salt to any baby food is not recommended as too much sugar makes for an early sugar addiction, and salt is difficult for baby's kidneys to cope with, particularly in large amounts.
If you would like more information about starting your infant on semi solids ;- Contact Dream-Angus.com
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Monday, 26 September 2011
Preventing Cot Death and using baby car seats safely.
A neonatal nurse recently developed "Best practice" guidelines for the prevention of Cot Death while travelling and using car safety seats.Michelle Clark, neonatal unit sister at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, produced information to raise parents’ awareness of the risk of car seat cot death, due to a dearth of materials in this area. She spent two years researching the subject, studying findings from various sources, including New Zealand and the Foundation for Sudden Infant Death. Now Ms Clark has developed guidance for parents to help minimise the risk of car seat cot death and her work has been recognised by the national special care baby charity Bliss, which is publishing it on its website and in its information booklet for parents.
Key findings from Ms Clark’s work include:
Young babies may experience respiratory (breathing) problems if placed in a sitting position or car seat. A newborn baby’s reflex to keep its head held up is not fully developed, meaning the head flops down and restricts the airway. It is always best to keep a young baby on their back wherever possible.
Car seats should only be used to transport babies in cars, and other sitting baby equipment should only be used once the baby is strong enough to support their own head. (usually about 6/7 months)
Car seats are designed to keep babies safe while travelling, not as a main sleeping place. The research recommends that frequent breaks are taken on long journeys to get the baby out of the seat, even if this involves waking the baby up.
The same applies when bringing the baby into the home if they have fallen asleep in the car seat. The baby’s warm outdoor clothing should be taken off, even if this involves waking the baby.
If the baby is due a sleep, they should be taken out of the car seat and put into a cot or crib; the safest place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat mattress - a car seat does not meet this requirement. Worryingly, it has been found that some babies were spending hour after hour in car seats, ie during the journey, transferring the car seat in a travel system pram, and once home allowing the baby to continue sleeping in the car seat rather than waking the baby up and placing in them in a cot or crib.
All the advice suggests that babies should not spend longer than possible in a car seat, especially whilst sleeping.
1) So, stop your baby from scrunching up and over, keep an eye on their neckline.
2) Make sure the car seat you buy is age appropriate and correctly fitted.
3) Be sure grandparents and carers know how to fit the car seat and watch them practice.
4) When ever possible, babies travelling in a car seat should be observable by a responsible adult.
5) If you are a lone driver driving a significant distance use service stations to stop and check on your baby.
6) Babies find it difficult to regulate their temperature and quickly overheat. When in the car, remove any headgear the baby is wearing as they lose excess heat through their head.
7) Think about what baby is wearing, for example, thick snowsuits. It may be cold outside, but cars can heat up quickly. Natural materials will help the baby’s body with heat rather than nylon, polyester, and other man-made fabrics.
Key findings from Ms Clark’s work include:
Young babies may experience respiratory (breathing) problems if placed in a sitting position or car seat. A newborn baby’s reflex to keep its head held up is not fully developed, meaning the head flops down and restricts the airway. It is always best to keep a young baby on their back wherever possible.
Car seats should only be used to transport babies in cars, and other sitting baby equipment should only be used once the baby is strong enough to support their own head. (usually about 6/7 months)
Car seats are designed to keep babies safe while travelling, not as a main sleeping place. The research recommends that frequent breaks are taken on long journeys to get the baby out of the seat, even if this involves waking the baby up.
The same applies when bringing the baby into the home if they have fallen asleep in the car seat. The baby’s warm outdoor clothing should be taken off, even if this involves waking the baby.
If the baby is due a sleep, they should be taken out of the car seat and put into a cot or crib; the safest place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat mattress - a car seat does not meet this requirement. Worryingly, it has been found that some babies were spending hour after hour in car seats, ie during the journey, transferring the car seat in a travel system pram, and once home allowing the baby to continue sleeping in the car seat rather than waking the baby up and placing in them in a cot or crib.
All the advice suggests that babies should not spend longer than possible in a car seat, especially whilst sleeping.
1) So, stop your baby from scrunching up and over, keep an eye on their neckline.
2) Make sure the car seat you buy is age appropriate and correctly fitted.
3) Be sure grandparents and carers know how to fit the car seat and watch them practice.
4) When ever possible, babies travelling in a car seat should be observable by a responsible adult.
5) If you are a lone driver driving a significant distance use service stations to stop and check on your baby.
6) Babies find it difficult to regulate their temperature and quickly overheat. When in the car, remove any headgear the baby is wearing as they lose excess heat through their head.
7) Think about what baby is wearing, for example, thick snowsuits. It may be cold outside, but cars can heat up quickly. Natural materials will help the baby’s body with heat rather than nylon, polyester, and other man-made fabrics.
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Infant Colic
In medical terms "colic" is defined as "persistent inconsolable paroxysmal crying in otherwise healthy infants aged two to sixteen weeks old." It is presumed to be as a result of abdominal pain. There is an associated "rule of three" which gives the following criteria;-
Infantile colic is considered to be a self limiting condition which resolves in 90% of children within the first four months. 95% of cases resolve by six months. There are many theories about the cause of colic. The most commonly held beliefs are that colic is caused by;-
If you think your child has colic take breaks by using a baby sitter or extended family. Respond quickly to your child's cry as infants take in large amounts of air when left to cry. Sooth your infant, offer a comforter or dummy as a soothing mechanism. Skin to skin contact can also be soothing and reassuring. Some infants benefit from rocking. There are over the counter solutions which work well for some infants.
- Spasms of crying lasting up to three hours.
- Occurring up to 3 days every week.
- For Three weeks
Infantile colic is considered to be a self limiting condition which resolves in 90% of children within the first four months. 95% of cases resolve by six months. There are many theories about the cause of colic. The most commonly held beliefs are that colic is caused by;-
- Excessive wind or gas
- Lactose intolerance
- Reflux
- That it is behavioural and a result of inadequate parent infant interaction which may be due to a difficult maternal experience or a temperamental infant.
If you think your child has colic take breaks by using a baby sitter or extended family. Respond quickly to your child's cry as infants take in large amounts of air when left to cry. Sooth your infant, offer a comforter or dummy as a soothing mechanism. Skin to skin contact can also be soothing and reassuring. Some infants benefit from rocking. There are over the counter solutions which work well for some infants.
Allergy and Intolerance
Food allergy is when the body reacts to certain foods by an abnormal immune system reaction. Some reactions such as "hives" or a red skin rash, swelling of the tongue or lips, happens very quickly.
Other reactions include eczema, vomiting or constipation may be delayed. Reactions can range from mild to severe and there may be overlap between fast and delayed reactions.
Food intolerance happens in a more delayed way, often occurring hours or even days after eating certain foods.The immune system is not involved in this reaction, therefore it is not life threatening and cannot cause anaphylactic shock. Typical symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.
Avoiding or reducing the intake of allergenic foods during pregnancy and breast feeding is not proven to prevent an infant from developing food allergies.
The ideal time for starting to introduce solid foods to an infant is after 17 weeks,(4 months) and before 26 weeks (6 months) based on the needs of the mother and child.
Less hypersensitivity has been demonstrated in infants who are weaned before 6 months but there is no ideal time on which all "experts" are agreed.
Other reactions include eczema, vomiting or constipation may be delayed. Reactions can range from mild to severe and there may be overlap between fast and delayed reactions.
Food intolerance happens in a more delayed way, often occurring hours or even days after eating certain foods.The immune system is not involved in this reaction, therefore it is not life threatening and cannot cause anaphylactic shock. Typical symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.
Avoiding or reducing the intake of allergenic foods during pregnancy and breast feeding is not proven to prevent an infant from developing food allergies.
The ideal time for starting to introduce solid foods to an infant is after 17 weeks,(4 months) and before 26 weeks (6 months) based on the needs of the mother and child.
Less hypersensitivity has been demonstrated in infants who are weaned before 6 months but there is no ideal time on which all "experts" are agreed.
The Importance of play
Play is the way children learn. In the past many generations lived together, either under one roof or close together in the community and there were many opportunities for play. Now parents want their children to play at home so playing opportunities with others are fewer.
Children with access to a wide variety of toys are more likely to be intellectually stimulated and challenged. They reach higher levels of intellectual development regardless of age, sex, racial or social class.
Toys that stimulate mental development are appropriate to the child's abilities, responsive to the child's movements and give feedback when manipulated.Whether playing alone or with others, quietly or with enthusiasm play is the way that children explore their world and use their imaginations.
A baby's first toys are important in teaching about size, shape, colour and texture. The availability of toys in infancy is strongly related to the child's IQ at 3 years of age. In the first year babies respond to bright colours and gentle sounds.
Musical toys and mobiles are ideal. At first babies cannot co-ordinate their hand and eye movements so all shape and feel is learned about through mouthing the object.
As they gain co-ordination an activity mat is good for exploring textures and shapes.
Half the waking hours of a toddler are devoted to play so toys that move, and stimulate the imagination, such as play sets, toy vehicles, soft toys and puppets are popular.
An active toddler needs toys for physical play, toys they can sit on, push or pull. Toys that are responsive to movements hold the child's attention. Increasing the attention span is important for reading.
Pretend play is important for 3-5 year olds. This is how new skills are developed, language being one of these. As children gain confidence and social skills they enjoy play with other children.
This is when role playing and fantasy games help because these are the things which help social and emotional development.
Realistic toys such as dolls, action figures, household items, things which resemble everyday people and objects help children to understand the world.
Active play on swings, slides and climbing frames encourages physical development, co-ordination and balance. As they develop logic and are able to concentrate for longer games with rules like "lotto" matching games and memory games become more interesting.
One of the joys of being a parent or grandparent is the opportunity to play with children. It is the ideal setting for getting to know each other while providing a foundation for the child's future, raising the child's self esteem and happiness. While playing adults are both teachers and learners. At all times they are role models. Shared playtime is an opportunity for mutual enjoyment and discovery.
Have you played with your child today?
Children with access to a wide variety of toys are more likely to be intellectually stimulated and challenged. They reach higher levels of intellectual development regardless of age, sex, racial or social class.
Toys that stimulate mental development are appropriate to the child's abilities, responsive to the child's movements and give feedback when manipulated.Whether playing alone or with others, quietly or with enthusiasm play is the way that children explore their world and use their imaginations.
A baby's first toys are important in teaching about size, shape, colour and texture. The availability of toys in infancy is strongly related to the child's IQ at 3 years of age. In the first year babies respond to bright colours and gentle sounds.
Musical toys and mobiles are ideal. At first babies cannot co-ordinate their hand and eye movements so all shape and feel is learned about through mouthing the object.
As they gain co-ordination an activity mat is good for exploring textures and shapes.
Half the waking hours of a toddler are devoted to play so toys that move, and stimulate the imagination, such as play sets, toy vehicles, soft toys and puppets are popular.
An active toddler needs toys for physical play, toys they can sit on, push or pull. Toys that are responsive to movements hold the child's attention. Increasing the attention span is important for reading.
Pretend play is important for 3-5 year olds. This is how new skills are developed, language being one of these. As children gain confidence and social skills they enjoy play with other children.
This is when role playing and fantasy games help because these are the things which help social and emotional development.
Realistic toys such as dolls, action figures, household items, things which resemble everyday people and objects help children to understand the world.
Active play on swings, slides and climbing frames encourages physical development, co-ordination and balance. As they develop logic and are able to concentrate for longer games with rules like "lotto" matching games and memory games become more interesting.
One of the joys of being a parent or grandparent is the opportunity to play with children. It is the ideal setting for getting to know each other while providing a foundation for the child's future, raising the child's self esteem and happiness. While playing adults are both teachers and learners. At all times they are role models. Shared playtime is an opportunity for mutual enjoyment and discovery.
Have you played with your child today?
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Successful Napping
All children, up to the age of 4 years, should have daytime sleep as well as night sleep. Daytime sleep is as important to small children as night sleep.
Every child has a sleep requirement which we can calculate by looking at the age and stage of the child and the parents own sleep requirements. This is true because sleep is partly genetic and partly learned.
Newborn babies sleep an average of 18 to 20 hours a day. As they grow and develop they have periods when they can be happily awake, aware of their surroundings and interested in the stimulation this provides.
At 3-4 months babies can usually cope with 1-1.5 hours of alert wakefulness. As they get to the end of this concentrated stimulation they become restless and signal a need for sleep. To achieve a sucessful nap parents have a very small window of opportunity to get baby settled in a warm and comfortable place so that the baby will use the nap opportunity and sleep.
What are the basic requirements for successful naps?
1) Daytime sleep in normal ambient daylight; Obviously direct sunlight on baby's face may be too strong to allow the baby to go to sleep, other than shading baby's face no attempt need be made to completely darken the room.
2) Keep houshold noise at normal daytime levels; Baby has heard noise all the time inside mum. Silence is more concerning and makes sudden loud noises more startling.
3) Recognise your baby's sleepy signals and act quickly to give your baby the opportunity to relax and sleep.
4) Ensure that the room baby naps in is a comfortable temperature and that baby's temperature can be comfortable too. When we sleep our temperature naturally drops a degree or two. Sleep is more easily accomplished when we are comfortably warm and out body temperature can be maintained.
5) Offer regular opportunities for naps. Space them according to the age and stage of your child and make them part of the daily routine.
6) Do not try and eliminate naps in order to improve night sleep. This does not work and will leave you holding a very cranky baby.
Children who do not have enough sleep are irritable and confrontational. They can go into "overdrive" as they get beyond tired and struggle to remain awake. Although every child, just like the adults, have slightly different sleep requirements, the minimum length of time for a nap should be 45 minutes as this allows completion of 5 stages of sleep.
Naps shorter than 45 minutes are "catch up" sleep. A short "catch up" in the car or stroller should not interfere with the normal sleep routine.
If you miss the opportunity to get your child down for a nap, or if they resist your attempts, don't persist longer than 30 to 45 minutes. If you have been trying for 30 minutes or longer to settle your child for a nap, abandon that nap time and offer another opportunity later.
Most children will settle within 5-20 minutes. If this doesn't happen it is usually because there was too great a delay or the opportunity was offered too early.
If you struggle to get your child to nap contact us here at; Dream-Angus.com We will be happy to help support you in improving your child's sleep.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Constipation in children
The biggest difficulty for some children, during toilet training, is learning to "poo in the potty". While many children achieve this without any great difficulty there are a few who, for a variety of reasons are reluctant to part with solid matter. This may be related to a fear of the toilet or to discomfort at something weighted dropping away. Refusing to "poo", over a prolonged period, can cause constipation.
Children who have had difficulty in passing a bowel movement may have passed a hard stool which has resulted in a tiny tear in the anus. This can be painful and sting, consequently the child is reluctant to repeat the experience. Again, this leads to further difficulty and can compound the problem.
While it is important to have a good amount of fiber in the diet to help with the elimination of waste from the body, it is also important not to give children a diet too high in fiber as this may cause other problems. Children who are constipated may complain of abdominal pain, they may soil their nappy/underpants and may even have diarrhea as a symptom. This happens because the hard impacted stool blocks the bowel and some of the waste above this blockage is passed as fluid.
Encouraging the child to drink more water and eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, or drink more smoothies made with fresh ingredients, will certainly help alleviate this condition. Some children may require medication from the family doctor to soften the stool and allow this to be passed.
Prevention is definitely better than cure. Ensure that your child is encouraged to drink plenty of water and to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables will help in making elimination a lot easier. Praise your child when he/she uses the toilet. Encourage good toilet behaviour. Avoid allowing children to postpone toilet visits. If the child needs to go, they need to go.
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