Boost Your Baby’s Immune System

Your child is exposed to disease-causing germs every day. But it does not necessarily mean that your child will automatically get sick due to exposure to the elements and germs. Our bodies have this complex immune system that serves as a natural defense mechanism against viruses, bacteria, and fungi that can cause infection and diseases.

However, the immune system of infants is not yet fully developed and may not have the full complement of immune responses. Breast milk remains the best source of nutrition for the optimal growth and development of infants especially during the first year of life. It naturally contains a lot of nutrients and immunological benefits that help infants to develop a strong immune system, protect them from infections and diseases, and boost their immune responses in the presence of an infection or disease.

Among the micro-nutrients, the following nutrients are scientifically recognized to have a significant and important influence on the immune responses:

1. nucleotides
2. the anti-oxidants
a. beta-carotene
b. vitamin A
c. vitamin C
d. vitamin E
7. minerals
a. Selenium
b. Zinc

Nucleotides help increase the production of lymphocytes, which are activated in response to the invasion of foreign substances in the body thus boosting the body’s defense. They also optimize the metabolic function of immune cells, with the effect of further increasing immune responses.

Anti-oxidants and minerals control the potentially harmful activities of highly reactive molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are linked to damage to cell membranes, enzymes and DNA. Anti-oxidants are also responsible for promoting production of immune cells, stimulating their responses and speeding up their reactions. All of which result in increased resistance against diseases and infections.

A diet sufficient with immunonutrients will protect infants by warding off diseases and infections. During episodes of infection, these immunonutrients can significantly improve immune responses resulting into faster recoveries.

Over all, immunonutrients may help to create, increase and sustain periods of unrestricted growth and development in infants. Therefore optimal nutrition, particularly one that provides an adequate supply of immunonutrients, is essential in developing, maintaining and boosting an infant’s immune system.

Breast milk contains the immunonutrients babies need. In the event that breastfeeding is not possible, a scientifically formulate milk supplement with Nucleotides and antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamins a, c and e, and the minerals selenium and zinc, is a good substitute.

Parents can ensure that their babies are given the best level of protection against illnesses, to enable them to grow into young champions by reaching their maximum growth and development potential early in life. Proper nutrition and immunonutrients play a vital role in the shield of protection.

What to do if your daughter suffers from anorexia

Anorexia, an eating disorders often characterized by starvation and a distorted body image is a serious problem for many adolescents. It’s extremely important to talk with your daughter immediately after you notice the first signs of anorexia.

First of all, you must choose the right time to have this conversation, in order not to be disturbed or interrupted. Make sure you have enough time available to reach all points of interest. Start the discussion in a friendly manner. Keep in mind that your daughter might not immediately respond to your questions.

Find information about anorexia on the Internet, in libraries or ask for the advice of a doctor. If you want to make your daughter understand your point of view, you must be familiar with this problem. Tell her that there are some clear differences between healthy weight loss and anorexia.

A single conversation about anorexia will not solve the problem and won’t help your daughter understand the risks involved by this dangerous disease. It will be a long process and your daughter will need your help and support permanently.

If your intervention fails, seek for medical help. Anorexia can lead to permanent health problems and even death. This is not a disease that can be cured only by parents.

Inculcating Good Habits and Values in Children

Children are like wet cement and whatever falls on them makes an impression. This saying has a very deep meaning. Remember, you are the role model of your child. And so, you must try to inculcate good habits in your child. But merely guiding and teaching won’t help. You will have to yourself practise good habits in front of your child. Then only he or she will learn.

Good habits merely does not mean teaching mannerisms. But it actually means putting forward the right way of life.

Many parents do not understand that what effect they are laying down on their children by fighting in front of them. Parents must always show respect towards each other in front of children. They must speak softly, eat right and eat properly. Only when children watch right things in front of them, they will be convinced that these are right things and must be adopted.

Tell your children the importance of morals and ethics. Let them understand how important it is to live rightly. Show them the importance of money management. Live rightly then only he will learn from you. Give them good books to read which show importance of good manners and way of life.

Dealing with Sibling Rivalry

Sibling rivalry is a common enough occurence in nealry every family with two or more children. However, it is important for you as a parent, to deal with sibling rivalry in a positive manner so that the siblings grow up to love and respect each other. Here are some ways that you can use to defuse volatile sibling fights and arguments and develop loving relationships.

Never Take Sides – Rule number one is to never, ever take sides of one child. The other one will invariably feel hurt and angry. Instead, listen to both sides and empathize with each.

Be Impartial – Related to the first point, it is important for a parent to be neutral and fair. Only, if you feel that one child has really been unreasonable or hurtful, should you punish one and not the other. If both were fighting equally, then both should be disciplined and not the older or bigger one.

Spend Quality Alone Time with Each Child – This will help strengthen the parent-child relationship and also, enable you to understand each child independently. Moreover, if one child is feeling neglected or inferior, this quality time can be used to address that.

These are just some ways in which you as a parent can bring siblings close to each other and create a warm and cohesive family.

Teaching Children Traditions and Rituals

Traditions and rituals are a great way to unite a family and create special memories. Traditions don’t have to be associated with a festival or a religion. You can create your own tradition unique to your family. Teaching children about the importance of these little family rituals can create warmth and strength in a time when everything, including relationships,is fragile.

Traditions could be eating dinner together each night and not arguing or fighting with one another, spending weekends at the library or museum, watching a movie together every Wednesday or Friday night. Rituals could include special birthday treats or expressing gratitude for life’s blessings by sharing with the unfortunate and needy. The list is endless and one can easily choose activities that will be apt for one’s own family and children and then, set an example by doing them together and giving them importance. If you keep canceling a movie night or family dinner, kids are bound to realize that this doesn’t really mean much to you and so wouldn’t bother about it themselves. On the other hand, if they see you canceling something else to accomodate family tradition, they will try and do the same.

So, go ahead and create your own family tradition or ritual this year and watch it bring your family closer.

How to Get Kids to Help With Chores

Do your kids like doing chores? You know, clearing the dishes, mowing the lawn or even, tidying up their own rooms? Chances are no, they probably hate it and each time you ask, it leads to arguments and yelling. So, what does a parent do?

Simple, use strategies and tips that children understand and work with. Here are some ideas to help you get started.

Create a Chore and Reward Chart – A chart which lists all the chores that you want your child to do and a star/stars against each. Have a simple reward system. Say, five stars a kid gets to eat a special dessert of his choice but within a budget specified by you.

Show them Consequences- So, if you have a child who refuses to clear dishes or tidy up, let the dirty dishes remain and let the room be messy. Even when he has friends over. In other words, let him see the results of his actions.

Never belittle or scorn – This is true for any situation. Treat a child with respect. Never make fun of his habits, irritating though they maybe. And never belittle him or her in front of friends, relatives or even, siblings.

These are just a few suggestions to help get you started with having children help you more around the house.

Holiday Reading and Toddlers

The holidays are a great time to introduce toddlers to the world of books and reading. There are many interesting books to choose from and a range of topics to suit nearly all toddler interests.

For my part, I enjoy picking up books that a toddler would love to hold and look at and which touch upon the theme of Christmas, Hannukah or any other holiday-related topic. Books are a great way to tell toddlers about Christmas or holiday traditions and the history of a particular festival. Since books have vivid colors and interesting illstrations, little readers enjoy looking at them and also, learn more in the process.

I also choose books that focus on learning other concepts such as vocabulary building, numbers, or even, sounds that animals make. I choose board books that can take rough handling and also, last longer. Books with textures, flaps or an accompanying CD make it a perfect toddler read. You can also, pick out activity holiday books and do things together with your toddler. Draw, paint, color, make cards, the list is endless. Let the time you read be special time with your toddler and reading will become a fun, family activity.

Do choose some good holiday books for your toddler this year and let him or her discover the wonders of a book and the traditions of the festivals your family celebrates.

Teaching Children Money Management

Children need to learn and practice money management skills just as much as adults need to. It is important to inculcate sound spending and saving habits early on in life. When children learn the importance of saving money and not spending it all, they will grow up to value and respect money. Financial difficulties can create misery and hopelessness and I am sure none of us want that for our children. So here are some ways to encourage children to manage money.

Set an Example- The first and easiest thing to do is “practice what you preach”. If your kids see you spending wisely, they will do the same. If they see you frittering away money, they’ll copy that behavior. So, set a good example and chances are they’ll follow.

Give Them Money to Spend- The concept of pocket money is a good way to encourage children to make their own money decisions. Let them decide how to stretch $10 through the month.

Explain Simple Debt and Credit Principles – Explain how credit cards and mortgages work. Take them to a bank and show them how it functions. Make it interesting and fun and they’ll absorb more information.

These are just a few basic ways to show children the importance of managing money and saving it for more important times. However, at the end of the day, remember that childhood is a time when things should be easy and fun, so don’t become overbearing and harsh about money.

Cell phone precautions

A cell phone is no longer an exclusive adult tool. More and more children are using mobile phones, and a good percentage of them regularly. Parents would do well to take some precautions while entrusting their children with mobile phone.

For children, a basic version of the mobile phone that allows the primary purpose of communication and little else is the best. The cell phone is primarily intended for the child’s safety . An expensive gizmo laden mobile phone itself might be the source for danger, as it would attract muggers. Another danger of loading the mobile phone with many features such as games is that the tee would soon become addicted to them, and this has many negative consequences such a inability to concentrate, retardation of reading skills and the likes.

Another safeguard parent should take is while selection an appropriate service package from the mobile phone operator. It is always better to opt for a pay-as-you-go plan, as this will enable the parent to keep track of the usage of the cell phone. It is important not to fall into the marketing trap and hype and be tempted into upgrading the mobile at frequent intervals or choose a plan that allows unlimited and unrestrained calls.

Cell phones for teenagers

Whether to allow cell phones for children is a burning question every parent faces. On one side, cell phones have their obvious advantage, especially of being able to sty in touch at all times, while on the other hand, the propensity of abuse or misuse is also very much evident.

Whether to entrust a cell phone in the hands of a teenage child is best left to the individual parents and child, depending on the specific circumstances and the maturity of the child. Also, the cell phone need not be a permanent fixture. It need to be entrusted to the child only while making a trip to unfamiliar place, going on an excursion or the like. In routine places, like going to the school where the child will be under close supervision and can easily be traced, there is no need for a cell phone.

Parents handing over cell phones to children would also do well to check the usage history, especially the incoming and outgoing call register. While too much of a probing might be invasion of the teenagers privacy, such probing will help deter the child from moving to the wrong direction.

The children should also be made aware of the po5tential health hazards of using mobile phones continuously. The children should be trained to use the mobile phone as a emergency device and not a plaything.

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