PROTECT INFANT SKIN FROM UV DAMAGE

The Characteristics of Infant Skin

* Infant skin produces less melanin than adult skin and will burn more easily.

* Childhood is an especially vulnerable time for ultraviolet rays exposure. Children can get up to three times as much sun exposure in a year as adults.

* Most lifetime exposure to the sun occurs before the age of 18 years, and it is estimated that regular sunscreen use during childhood and adolescence would reduce the lifetime incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers by 78%.

* As much as 80% of UV-induced photoaging may occur in the first two decades of life. Therefore, preventive measures should begin as early as possible.

PHOTOPROTECTION FOR INFANT

* Minimize sun exposure, especially between the hours of 10am and 2pm.

* When children go out, be sure they are wearing wide-brimmed hats and loose, protective clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts and long pants.

* Apply liberal amounts of sunscreen lotion regularly when outdoors. Use sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15, which allows the child to remain in the sun approximately 15 times longer before burning than if no sunscreen were applied.

* Although solar radiation is much more significant in summer, it is still present (though less visible) on cloudy days and in winter. Therefore, to avoid damage to an infant’s skin, sunscreen lotion should be applied throughout the year under all weather conditions.

* Avoid chemical-based sunscreens on infants and young children, as chemicals may be absorbed through the skin.

Gentle Care for Baby’s Tender Skin

Baby’s skin is a source of admiration and wonder. At birth the baby’s skin is beautiful, soft and supple. In the womb and shortly after birth, it is protected by a whitish coating called vernix. Once the vernix is removed, the baby is exposed to elements that could cause discomfort.

Have you ever stopped to think about how the baby’s skin works? We tend to take the skin for granted, but as the body’s largest organ, it has many vital functions to fulfill. It protects the baby from the outside elements, keeps baby’s body at the correct temperature (by allowing perspiration for cooling and “goose-bumps” for warning), protects the sensitive organs inside baby’s body, and with its thousands of highly sensitive nerve endings, the skin puts a baby in touch with the outside world.

We all know how important “touch” is to humans. To babies, touch is even more vital and it is through the skin that baby experiences the tender loving care of parents. Immediately after birth, when babies are placed on their mother’s breast or in their father’s arms, the first bond of a life long relationship is formed.

So carefully select gently caring products for baby’s tender skin for a relationship go warmer, gentler, and closer.

Can you rely on Daycare Centers

Many parents who go out for a job have to rely on day care centers for their kids. This facility is really a boon for the parents who want their children to be under the best care. Day care center has a qualified staff which is trained to take care of kids and understand their needs. Daycare centers are licensed and so they are much safer than appointing a nanny at home. Your child will be under supervision of many people and so you can stay relaxed. Children get good company because there are many children who come here. Apart from that there is qualified staff which knows how to create a learning environment or children so that there is mental growth and development. Cost wise also day care centers are cost effective and affordable.

Your child will learn many things that he does not learn at home. Your child will get all the attention he needs. However, parents must not think that since kid is learning everything at the day care center, he does not need the much deserved love, attention and training. You still have to be completely dedicated to your children when they are at home with you. No one can take the place of the parents.

Consistent Parenting Style

One of the most important factor of good parenting is staying consistent when you are dealing with your kids. They’d be getting mixed signals when you cannot enforce or implement what you tell them and asked them to do. This why it is very crucial to be able to say and do the same thing.

When you tell them to tidy up their things, you should ensure that your own things are not scattered everywhere. Disciplining your children should be made by serving as their models and their examples. If you tell them not to drink from the milk cartoon, be sure that you are not doing this too. You have to keep in mind that effective parenting is more than just saying and teaching the right things – it is also about doing and demonstrating the right actions.

It is easy to ask your kids to do something right, but if you yourself cannot follow your words, it will be hard for your child to understand you when you are contradicting your rules and the things you try to teach them. Kids usually imitate the adults around them and this happens unconsciously even without you telling them. You can notice that parents are always careful about their language because kids would easily copy this out of them. So if you are unhappy about how your children are behaving, you might want to check out your own behavior.

Sleep Apnea in Children

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder which affects many people all over the world. Even children get afflicted with this disorder. But it becomes difficult to diagnose it. If the child behaves awkwardly or aggressively or daytime sleepiness is noticed then it must be attended quickly. Some of the causes of sleep apnea in children may be poor eating habits, allergies, weight problems, mouth breathing, tonsils etc.

Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea in children are:

Aggressive behavior
Lack of interest in activities
Poor performance at school
Daytime sleepiness
Depression
Irritability
Lack of concentration
Sleeping during lectures
Snoring

The main symptom of sleep apnea in children is pause in breathing for a few seconds or minutes and resuming back to normal with a choking sound.

One must know that there are no medicines for sleep apnea. However, some form of treatment will bring relief to the problem of sleep apnea in children. If sleep apnea is because of weight then in that case weight loss will be an apt way of getting rid of this. Bringing about some modification in lifestyle will also be helpful. It is important to talk to your doctor about this problem. He will be the best person to guide you.

Online predators are everywhere

According to statistics, majority of U.S. family owns a computer, at least 8 out of 10 family has a desktop or a laptop at home. This is conservative counting, and we all knew the truth, computer is cheaper and cheaper everyday; and the internet service cost is cheaper and cheaper every year with more competition coming to the market. To access to computer is more easier than 20 years ago. Our children have more opportunities to get online than long before.

Here is the question we have been asking, more and more children be able to get access to computer and internet to talk to their online friends, is there any danger associate with it? The answer to that question definitely is a “yes”. Online predators are everywhere, and they are out there to hunt. They will find every channel to have that opportunity to acquainted with our innocent children in any way they can. So, as parents, we should know more about who our children talk to online, and the content of the conversation. If you find out anything weird, or out of ordinary, you should have a serious talk with your kids, instead of waiting for their response. Educate them earlier, and giving warning on any sign or symptoms. Social network such as facebook, myspace, and others are easily predated by online predators. So, parents should be active and be guard on those dangers associated with those social networks.

Attachment

The bonding of a mother and a child deepens as he grows.It is an instinct that comes out naturally. Distance is not a barrier but, it makes them closer more upon seeing each other. It is a surprise that child’s memory is sharp. His sense of smell and touch knows the familiarity of his mother. Mother’s voice is like a song in his ears. He makes gestures of excitement and happiness seeing and hugging his mother. It’s like being together for the first time.

In the mother’s side, her instinct is strong. She knows if something happens wrong. When she was out, she always check her baby by calling the nanny or baby sitter time to time to make sure that everything is fine. Sometimes, she ask the nanny to give the telephone to the child and let her voice be heard. Few words from her child is enough for her to feel his presence. When she got home, a big hug and kisses arrive for her child. A wiggle and a smile from her child makes her day complete.

The bond between the mother and the child cannot be broken because it’s in the blood. It’s a man’s nature. It is not something that force you to do.Indeed, powerful because it is called Love.

How to Motivate Children for Studying

Children love playing. In fact, they love everything except for studying. But studies play an important role for making their future better. Thus, you as parents must motivate them for studying. But firstly, you must find out as to why your child is not interested in studies? Is it because, he is having some problem or is suffering from low self esteem or something like that. There are some important guidelines that you must follow to motivate your children for studying:

There must never be comparison among children. If you compare your kid with his friends or your neighbors or other children and keep on reminding him that he is not good in academics then your child will lose his self confidence. He will never be inclined towards studies. Rather than getting into such comparisons you must gently explain your child the importance of studies.

Many parents have habit of making promises to the child that if he finishes with his homework, he will be rewarded with a candy. But don’t bribe children. Explain them that he is studying for making his own life better. Bribing the child must never become a habit.

Keep control over your temper. Rather than scolding, punishing or criticizing your child, be patient and maintain a free flow of communication with him.

Treating Rashes due to Diapers

Babies have very soft and delicate skin. Such a soft skin is prone to inflammation and rashes. Even though you buy the best quality diaper, diaper rashes are going to be there. Diaper rash is a very common complaint among mothers. And a new mother is bound to get nervous with such events. But it is recommended that rather than getting nervous it is important to find out the cause of diaper rash and solve the problem at the earliest.

Diaper rashes are mostly seen on the genitals, thighs and buttocks. This may be due to wetness, sensitive skin, and infection. Treating rashes due to diapers is something every new mother wants to know. So, here is the list of treatments:

• It is important to wash the genital area and the area which normally remains in contact with the diaper thoroughly and gently with warm water. Since baby’s skin is very soft, you must wipe it with fresh cotton.
• It is not good to use diapers all the time. You must let the baby’s skin breathe. Use diapers only when you are not around or you are out with your baby. Diapers have chemicals which may harm your baby’s skin. So don’t drape the baby with diapers frequently.
• Buying diaper cream is also a good option of treating diaper rashes. Apply this cream on the affected area everyday till the rashes become invisible.
• You must change the diaper as soon as it gets wet.
• Do not use synthetic pants, as they cause rashes. Prefer cotton garments for babies.

How to Deal with Aggressive Children

Many children have the trait of aggressiveness which is really tough for the parents and the family to handle. It is not that they become aggressive only because they want the things to get done in their way. There are many reasons for such an aggressive behavior of your child. Some reasons include comparison of child with others, sibling rivalry, parents scolding child every now and then, bad experiences with friends and school etc. It is important that the parents find out the reasons behind such behavior and deal with that patiently.

Some efforts that parents must take to deal with aggressive children are described here:

Be calm and composed: Do you know children imitate and learn what their parents do in front of them. You must therefore be very careful in front o your children. If they see parents fighting, verbal and physical abuse, aggressive behavior around them, they learn the same. You must therefore try to show good behavior in front of children so that even they learn to remain calm and composed during testing times.

Keep a watch on your temper: You must not get into scolding and spanking to discipline your aggressive child. You must deal with this situation tactfully. Remember, to every action there is always equal and opposite reaction. So, if you discipline your child aggressively, he will not change. You must be very cool and explain him things.

Accept the fact that even children have self respect: You must never forget that a child is an individual with self respect. If you hurt him with your words every now and then, he will show aggressive behavior and will become an aggressive person in the long run. Respect him.

These suggestions will be helpful in dealing with the aggressive child behavior.

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