parenting

How can probiotics help your baby’s health?

Angela Manning Health , , ,
How can probiotics help your baby’s health?

The human intestine contains a huge number of bacteria. Probiotics are a combination of beneficial bacteria that live naturally in your body.

Probiotics in foods and supplements are specific strains of live bacteria that manufacturers claim to provide health benefits when consumed in adequate quantities. The theory behind their effectiveness is based on the idea that certain kinds of germs perform specific biological functions in our intestines, and an imbalance of these germs leads to health problems. By absorbing billions of “beneficial” bacteria, we can help restore our microbiome and health.

Do all babies need probiotics?

Given the components that probiotics contain, they are considered to be absolutely safe cures even for babies in their first year of life. The microorganisms present in probiotics are representatives of the normal human flora, so they are usually well absorbed when consumed. It should be noted that the health benefits of probiotics depend on the strain, so you should consult your doctor before taking them.

Popular probiotic products, including baby formula, already contain probiotics. However, many parents wonder whether their child is getting enough probiotics with his or her food and whether probiotic supplements are necessary. Probiotics are some of the most commonly used food supplements in the world.

When are probiotics prescribed for babies?

The most important sign for prescribing probiotics is digestive issues. The doctor finds out under what conditions inconsistent stools form, whether there is enough breast milk, and the nursing woman’s diet. And in cases when it is necessary, prescribes the probiotic supplement for infants.

Probiotics work on the gut microbes, affecting immune mechanisms in the intestinal mucosa, contributing to the production of beneficial metabolic products, interacting with beneficial and harmful bacteria. All this leads to the suppression of pathogenic (harmful) microbiota, increased growth of beneficial bacteria, reduced inflammation in the intestinal wall, and strengthened the GI tract barrier. These mechanisms and effects help reduce the frequency and severity of diarrhea, which is the most common reason for prescribing probiotics in children.

Probiotics for babies are more often used in liquid form. Parents can instantly drip drops into the mouth – it is more difficult to dilute dry powders in sachets or capsules. At the same time, there is no difference between children’s and adults’ products, and it’s more a marketing ploy. With the right probiotic, the stool frequency and consistency improve.

What are the most common probiotics?

The most commonly used and studied probiotics are strains of two main species.

Bifidobacteria is a type of bacteria generally used in supplements and baby foods to:

  • Boost the baby’s immune system
  • Limit the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut
  • Help break down lactose into nutrients to enrich the body

Lactobacilli produces an enzyme that breaks down lactose or milk sugar. The other significant function of these bacteria species is also to produce lactic acid. Lactic acid helps regulate the population of harmful germs.

 

There is a huge variety of probiotics for babies available today, and you can find such supplements at any pharmacy. And although these products are considered safe, you should not prescribe them to your child by yourself. Before giving probiotics to your baby, it is essential to consult a doctor and have tests done to determine exactly which bacteria are lacking and which are in excess.

Coping With Children’s Allergies

Angela Manning Health , , ,
Coping With Children’s Allergies

With so many children suffering from allergies, it comes as no surprise that most parents are quite knowledgeable when it comes to the ways to deal with this issue. Still, it’s always a good idea to revisit the tips for coping with allergies, especially since there are always new discoveries, forcing us to rethink the approach we have been taking so far.

We all know how complicated life is when your child is suffering from allergies. It shapes their eating habits, social life and, very often, it has a profound effect on how our kids spend their free time. This affects not only the kid but the whole family, since they all have to adapt to the circumstances. Depending on the type of allergy, we need to invest less or more effort into preventing our kid from coming into contact with various allergens and treating the symptoms.

Whatever the case, one thing is for sure: we mustn’t give up fighting, but reevaluate how we care for our allergic kid and integrate some activities into our routine to help us all have an easier life. Here are some tips on how to go about this issue.

Finding the best allergy medicine

In order to be absolutely sure whether the treatment is right, you need to know exactly what triggers an allergy in your kid. Without this step, there’s no guarantee you’re giving your kid the best possible treatment. With so many new medications appearing on the market, you might be stuck with an older alternative that is inferior to a new medication. That’s why you need to make regular visits to your doctor and have consultations about the treatment.

Immunotherapy is said to be the closest thing to curing allergies, with more than 80% of people responding positively to the treatment. Allergy shots help your kid not only with allergies but also with asthma. Immunotherapy is particularly useful when it comes to kids who can’t take medications or whose medications aren’t working well.

Avoiding contact with allergens

If there’s no allergen, there’s no allergy to cope with. Creating an allergen-free environment is something most parents are most concerned about, since it’s always better to prevent than to cure a health issue. Some allergens are quite simple to avoid, but others are more difficult to deal with. For example, if your child is allergic to peanuts, you’ll make sure they don’t eat anything that contains or has been in contact with this allergen.

Similarly, if you’re not sure about the indoor air quality and your kid is allergic to mold, which is one of the most common allergens, you should find an efficient air purifier for mold to prevent the problem from aggravating. Finally, if your kid is allergic to pollen, you’ll simply avoid spending time in an environment that is rich in pollen.

Other tips

If possible, you should plan your vacations during non-allergy seasons. A nice ski-trip or fall camping holiday can be a great substitute for a spring holiday if that’s the season when your kid suffers the most. Traditional summer camps can be substituted with alternatives, such as art or surf camps.

When it comes to pets, experts claim that no animal is truly hypoallergenic. Still, there is a huge difference in terms of shedding when you consider various dog and cat breeds. So, if your child would really like to have a pet and you’re willing to make their wish come true, make sure you choose wisely. Also, if you already have a pet that causes occasional allergy symptoms, don’t give it up before you consider how much stress that would cause for the child. Instead, pay more attention to combing it regularly and keeping it outside as much as possible. If that’s not possible, try to find a new home for the pet in your family, since that would allow your child to pay occasional visits.

Take a break

You can have fun with your kid even if it has severe issues with allergies. A simple board game or any activity that doesn’t include contact with allergens will go a long way in establishing a better parent-child relation. You should never let your child feel that your life is greatly affected by their health issues, since they will feel guilty. Instead, keep a positive attitude and teach your child about the things they shouldn’t do if they want to be healthy.

Having a child suffering from allergies can be a great inconvenience, but it’s something a lot of us have to deal with. The most important thing is to be fully informed about the nature of the problems and the ways of coping with it so that the negative effects can be minimized.

Highly Essential Tips for Celebrating Your Kids 1st Birthday Party

Angela Manning DIY, Fashion , , , ,
Highly Essential Tips for Celebrating Your Kids 1st Birthday Party

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A first birthday party of a kid is definitely a special occasion for the parents as it’s a milestone in your baby’s life and of course the first of many exciting birthdays to come. It is a very obvious fact that kids don’t remember the first birthday of their lives and they don’t enjoy as much as everyone does. As a loving and caring parent, you need to make sure that it has to be a fun-filled day for everyone, especially for your kids.

Planning a birthday party and execute it properly is not an easy job at all. It is quite a hectic and time-consuming affair where you really try to give your best performance as a parent. One thing that you must need to keep in mind that the activities you have planned should engage the kids invited to the birthday party.

You need to put a lot of efforts into the planning and organizing process of the first birthday party of your kid.

There are lots of 1st birthday ideas that you can choose from. From a simple family gathering to an extravagant birthday party, there is the huge numbers of ideas but you, as a parent should choose one based on your prerogative.

The birthday party can be arranged at home or somewhere outside of your home. You need to first determine how much hard work you are ready to put into the birthday affair and choose the venue on the basis of that. Outdoor birthday parties have almost become the trend in these days. All you need to do is spend some money and almost everything will be arranged for you. But if you want to throw a homely birthday party then you can follow some of the first birthday tips-

1.Theme:

Start with finalizing a theme for the birthday party. The theme can be a cartoon that your kid just loves or even a toy. There are many options for choosing the theme and some of the very popular themes include Thomas the train, Superman, Mickey Mouse, Cars or anything that the birthday kid loves.

2.Invitation:

Once you are done with finalizing the theme, it’s time to focus on the invitation part. If you have any dress code in your mind to match up with the birthday theme, then you should definitely mention it beforehand.

3.Birthday Dress:

The dress of the birthday kid plays a very crucial as your kid is the center of the attraction for this special day. You can simply go for the theme based dress. If you don’t want to go for the themed based dress then you should go for something simple and casual as this will keep your kid comfortable for the longer span of the birthday party.

4.Birthday Cake:

A cake is one of the inevitable parts of any kind birthday party and when it comes to choosing the cake for the first birthday of your baby, needless to say, it has to be ultra-special. Almost everyone loves cake and that’s why you should order a large sized kids birthday cake online.

5. Decoration:

It completely depends on the choice of the individual. You can either go for a heavy or light decoration based on what fascinates you more. If you want to decorate the birthday venue with the latest decoration idea, employing an event management group would be a nice idea.

Your childs first dentist visit how to make it as smooth as possible

Angela Manning Health , , , , , ,
Your childs first dentist visit how to make it as smooth as possible

Let’s be honest: going to the dentist is tough enough for adults, so it isn’t surprising kids are similarly uneasy with the whole exercise as well.

While part of this is due to us projecting our insecurities onto our children, dentist offices are sterile environments filled with the uncomfortable whines of drills, so even the most comfortable parents will have issues introducing their kids to this place.

If you neglect to prepare them and they have a bad time the first time they go, future trips will be as fun as ripping a hang nail from your index finger.

Thanks to dentists such as Dr. Kami Hoss, though, there are dentist practices kids actively look forward to visiting.

As SoCal’s most popular family dental clinic, The Super Dentists managed to marry fun interior design, explanatory comics in reception, and specially trained staff together to create an environment where kids are instantly comfortable.

If you aren’t lucky enough to be close to this facility, there are several things you can do to make your child’s first dentist trip a positive one.

In this post, we’ll run down how to ensure this landmark visit goes as smoothly as possible.

1) Get it over with as soon as possible

The sooner a child is introduced to something, the quicker they will be able to normalize it as part of their routine. The same goes for going to the dentist, as unlikely as that sounds.

If you wait until they are older, they are more likely to go into the situation with fear in their hearts, as their mind will have developed enough to do that.

Soon after they blow out the candle on their first birthday cake or once they have their first tooth, take them in for their inaugural appointment.

2) Watch what you say beforehand

When your kids are little, anything you say can be taken quite literally. Accordingly, the words you use prior to their first appointment will shape whether they get through it fine or end up breaking out in tears.

Instead of being brutally honest as some parents are wont to do, describe the work dentists do in cartoonish detail. Some paint them as sugar bug hunters, so go with that if you are creatively challenged.

Avoid any words associated with pain, as many children make the connection between pain they feel and the words that describe them early in life. As such, using them will make a dentist appointment more difficult, not easier.

3) Schedule a pre-appointment meet and greet with the dentist

Before your kid goes in for their first dentist appointment, arrange a meeting between them and the professionals that will work on their teeth.

Doing this will humanize them, allowing a bond of trust to be forged between them and your child. If this can be achieved, any procedures done will go more smoothly as a result of this step.

By discussing what they do in terms understandable and relatable to children, this tip is one every parent should act upon before putting their kid in a dentist’s chair for the first time.