The post Reflux in babies: Foods to avoid appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>Most moms do however, instinctively feel that ‘something is not quite right’ and will repeatedly visit the GP or health visitor but end up deeply frustrated feeling it must be something that ‘they are doing wrong’ as no-one seems to listen or understand.
Reflux is simply the ‘backward flow’ of the stomach contents up into the oesophagus.
This is most commonly due to the natural immaturity and weakness of the muscle and valve that lead into the stomach therefore allowing the baby’s feed along with gastric acid to be involuntarily regurgitated.
Most people only recognise reflux if the baby vomits, but this is simply not true and many babies who suffer never vomit.
Quite simply, the force at which the stomach contents come back up determines whether the baby projectile vomits, is frequently sick, continually spits up or is never actually sick, which is known as Silent Reflux. This occurs when the stomach contents continually fluctuate up and down inside the oesophagus causing intense pain with ‘heartburn’ like symptoms – but with no actual vomiting it can be even harder to diagnose as reflux.
Just to make diagnosis even more difficult, reflux has many different symptoms and individual babies will display different signs of the condition.
Not only are the outward signals determined by the actual root cause and severity of the reflux, but also by the baby’s individual temperament and personality.
For example some will scream with pain whilst others just learn to deal with it and rarely cry, some may be relatively happy although vomit a lot whilst others may refuse feeds, are rarely sick but be quite miserable.
Reflux cannot really be ‘cured’ but the symptoms can be controlled, and I always say ‘we have to crack-the-reflux-code’ for each baby to find what helps relieve the individuals’ symptoms”.
There are a range of medical antacid treatments including infant Gaviscon, which by reducing stomach acidity will lessen the burning pain experienced through a reflux attack.
It is also important to understand HOW to maximise the positive effect of finding the right combination of milk and medication.
It is vital to establish a good feeding and sleeping structure as you cannot just medicate a baby and expect everything to fall into place.
The baby may have had weeks or even months of being in discomfort which will have created many negative behavioural associations to feeding and sleeping that will need to be redressed through re-building the baby’s association to milk and food, implementing a daily routine for milk, naps and mealtimes and also you may need to implement some sleep training for night-time.
Although most infants will outgrow reflux as their digestive system matures, many may continue to have problems throughout toddler-hood, but through many years of working with reflux babies, I discovered that there is less likelihood of any long-term negative effects through an early diagnosis, proper treatment and an effective, on-going management plan of the condition.
Many parents are told to “wean early” if their baby has been diagnosed with reflux. Whilst this does ultimately help in the majority of cases, firstly, it is imperative to ensure that the reflux, and or, food intolerances and allergies are correctly diagnosed, treated and managed before introducing solids.
Introducing solids to an already distressed digestive system in a baby with untreated reflux can sometimes make matters worse than before.It might induce further vomiting, could create a negative association to solids foods or anything given from a spoon and sometimes even create a complete refusal of solid food.
We also need to be cautious with what is introduced for first foods, as the usual suggested purées of apple or carrot are actually very acidic and often exacerbate an already sensitive gut.
Some babies prove to be intolerant to various different vegetables and fruit; others are sensitive to fish and many to dairy and cows milk protein products. Some are sensitive to other foods containing egg, wheat, soya or gluten!
It can be a minefield when weaning a reflux baby and it is often just through a ‘trial and error’ basis that you can discover which foods suit your baby and those that don’t.
Article Author: By Allison Scott-Wright www.alisonscott-wright.com
For more information on weaning, introducing food groups and how to create delicious, nutritionally balanced meals visit Bumbles Cookery Club http://bumblescookeryclub.co.za/ Be sure to sign up for the monthly newsletter and look out for fun updates. Like Bumbles Cookery Club on Facebook for fun posts, news and information.https://www.facebook.com/bumblesbabies/timeline
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]]>The post Study: How to make a veggie lover out of your toddler appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>Want to raise open-minded kids who don’t complain about their veggies? Introduce carrots and peas early in life and don’t give up after the first try, say British researchers.
And they should know. Because for their research, the team from the University of Leeds used, perhaps, one of the least popular and most uncommon foods in the plant kingdom on their mini test subjects: artichoke puree.
For the study, scientists fed the puree to 332 babies and children aged 6 to 38 months, who came from the UK, France and Denmark.
Children were fed five to 10 servings of at least 100 g of the puree, either in its basic form, sweetened with added sugar or mixed with vegetable oil.
Overall, younger children consumed more of the puree than older kids, notably kids under 24 months — the age more commonly known as the terrible twos, when tots suddenly discover their own will and are more reluctant to try new things.
Most of the kids — 40 percent — were classified as “learners,” kids who increased their intake over time.
“Plate-clearers” were defined as those who consumed more than 75 percent of what was offered each time (21 percent). “Non-eaters” were those who ate less than 10g by the fifth helping (16 percent) and the rest were categorized as “others.”
Researchers found that that the fussiest group, the “non-eaters,” tended to be older pre-school children.
Interestingly, researchers found that sweetening the puree didn’t make a difference in the amount that children ate.
The findings were published in PLoS One.
The moral of the study?
“If you want to encourage your children to eat vegetables, make sure you start early and often. Even if your child is fussy or does not like veggies, our study shows that 5-10 exposures will do the trick,” said lead researcher Marion Hetherington.
Other studies have also suggested offering kids more variety when it comes to vegetables, refraining from telling them their veggies are healthy and leading by example.
(AFP Relaxnews)
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]]>The post Baby bath time tips appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>Clevamama offers a number of products that will not only make bath time safe but also fun. Although there is no recipe to guarantee every bath time experience will be smooth sailing, here are some tips that could assist to lighten the mood in and around the bath:
Choose a particular time every day for bath time, this way there are no surprises and your little one gets used to the routine.
Sing favourite bath time songs to encourage hand movements .
When washing baby, mention the different body parts that are being washed. This way baby learns about the body while parents get the job of cleaning them done.
The following tips will assist in keeping baby safe during fun bath time activities:
Parents can choose clever bath time safety products from the Clevamama product range:
The Clevamama bath range consists of the ClevaBath Mat and Kneeler™ which is extra-long to perfectly fit two children on it comfortably. The non-slip surface holds firmly to the bath preventing slips and falls. The free kneeling cushion offers Mom or Dad added comfort at bath time. The mat is available at selected Checkers stores at a recommended retail price of R235.00.
There will be no tears during shampooing when in the bath as the clever design of the ClevaRinse Shampoo Cup™ helps keep the soap and water out of the eyes. The cup can be found at Baby City, Toys R Us and Baby Boom and selected Checkers stores at a recommended retail price of R90.00
The Clevamama Apron Baby Bath Towel™ is designed to be fastened around the neck like an apron, allowing two free hands to lift baby safely out of the bath. When baby is in the arms, the towel can be wrapped around baby’s body and can cover the head with the hood to keep in the all-important heat. The towel is available at selected Checkers stores at a recommended retail price of R293.00.
To keep baby occupied during bath time let them play and learn with the Clevamama Bath Toys and Tidy Bag. The coloured foam animals stick to the bath when wet and help children with their counting as each animal has a number on it.
The easy mount suction cups on the tidy bag keep the bath tidy while the toys are not in use. The toys and tidy bag are available at a recommended retail price of R134.00atBaby City, Toys R Us and Baby Boom and selected Checkers stores.
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]]>The post Nutrition and sleep: What’s the connection? appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>In hindsight, I am embarrassed to admit, that I was shoving (and I mean, forcefully SHOVING) rice cereal down my 3 month old’s throat because I was convinced that he was hungry. This was supported by the sage advice of the older generation, who insisted that once I started feeding him solids, he’d magically start sleeping through.
I also tried (with little success) “topping up” my baby’s breastmilk with formula because—as the nurse was telling me—he continued to wake at night because he is NOT receiving sufficient nutrition from me. I was also informed by loving friends and strangers alike that I should change the formula that I’d selected for the young one, because my baby might in fact be lactose intolerant, therefore the current formula was causing him discomfort as it was being processed by the digestive system.
Does any of this sound familiar? With the popularity of this type of ill-advice, it is very easy to fall into the “over-nutrition” trap. Moms, just because you are breastfeeding does not mean your child is not able to sleep through.
What If I told you that only 5% of the cases we deal with, is rooted in nutritional challenges!?
It is far more likely that that your baby has not yet developed the skill of soothing him or herself, and therefore nutrition is not the problem.
The fundamental rule to remember is that your baby’s sleep is regulated by his orher brain and not by the stomach.
Nevertheless, a hungry baby will not sleep well either; so here is a checklist to use to rule out whether nutrition is the problem:
About the Author: Good Night is a child and baby sleep consultancy that specialises in helping parents with children who struggle to sleep soundly. For more information, visit: www.goodnightbaby.co.za
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]]>The post How hygienic is it to put your baby in a shopping trolley? appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>“Often, while shopping with my daughter Reilly, she’d get bored with sitting in the trolley. Soon she’d start touching the trolley and then would put her hands straight into her mouth! When I saw retailers offering sanitising trolley wipes to shoppers, I wondered just how clean trolleys were,” mom Kerry Costa explains.
She investigated the issue and found startling statistics pointing to the dirtiness of shopping trolleys. She also visited local malls and saw trolleys stored in parking lots and used for packing shelves and fridges and transporting fresh produce waste.
Just think, trolleys are passed from hand to hand, all day, every day without the opportunity for disinfection. At the end of the day, a trolley has just as much (or even more) bacteria than a public restroom. Yuck!
Researchers at the University of Arizona analysed the handlebars of 85 shopping carts and found fecal bacteria in 72% of them. With further analysis they determined that 50% of these bacteria corresponded to variations of E.Coli, along with other types of bacteria.
E.Coli is a bacteria that usually lives in the intestines of humans and animals. This bacterium has many varieties, some of which are harmless, but others however cause diarrhea because of their toxins.
Some varieties can cause severe diarrhea that can damage your intestines. The bacteria can also be found in vegetables and spread from person to person if the infected person has not washed their hands after going to the bathroom, contaminating surfaces such as handles of shopping trolleys for example.
Kerry’s research prompted her to develop the ReillyRooz Shopping Trolley Pouch, which effectively covers all the areas of a trolley that young children (up to 4 years) sitting in the front seat are exposed to. The easy-to-assemble pouch slips easily into the seat and wraps over the handlebar of the trolley, offering a hygienic and comfortable shopping solution for both parents and their children.
For further information, visit ReillyRooz on Facebook or www.reillyrooz.co.za
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]]>The post A guideline to introducing your baby to solids appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>Here are a few guidelines to introducing solids to your baby…
Remember that your baby has only had fluids up until this point which are easy to swallow and hold in the mouth. The introduction of solids brings a whole new experience to the child with different tastes, smells and textures.
You will find that your child will enjoy keeping food in his/her mouth for a while before swallowing to learn the textures of the food. Make sure that you have set enough time aside for feeding as it could take a while.
From 4-6 months you want to only introduce pureed foods as these are less likely to cause choking and maintain that similar texture to the fluid that they are accustomed to. Start with small teaspoons of one food at a time to determine tolerance and enjoyment.
Rice and maize cereals are good introductory foods but be sure to avoid wheat to reduce risk of developing an allergy.
Bland vegetables such as squash, peas and carrots should always be introduced before fruit to avoid the development of a “sweet tooth”.
From six to eight months you can begin to try a variety of new foods ensuring that you are always monitoring for any allergies or reactions.
Introduce pureed meat such as chicken, pork or beef. Mash vegetables so the consistency becomes a bit thicker to what you baby is used.
Mash fruit such as pears, bananas and apples; try unsweetened yogurt but remember no cow’s milk until your baby has reached the one year mark. Again, start with one teaspoon at a time and gradually increase according to tolerance.
From eight to ten months include finger foods into the diet. Small pieces of banana, potato, peas and scrambled eggs are nice options for your baby to hold and feed him/herself.
Also introduce small amounts of fish, mashed beans, lentils and soft cheeses (no cow’s milk). Don’t forget to continue with the mashed fruit and vegetables to ensure variety.
From 10 to 12 months your baby will try and hold its’ own spoon and will no longer push food out of his/her mouth. Continue with finger foods and introduce bite size pieces of soft fruit, vegetables, toast and cheeses.
Try combination foods such as macaroni and cheese or casseroles. Continue to do one food at a time
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]]>The post Handwashing tips for moms with new babies appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>“By teaching mothers and birth attendants how hand washing with soap can prevent disease, we can improve neonatal survival rates and put more children on the path to reach their fifth birthday – a key milestone that millions of children don’t reach every year,” says Ashveer Mahabeer, Brand Building Manager of Lifebuoy.
Young babies have not built up a strong immune system yet, so they are susceptible to infection. Make sure that everyone who handles your baby also has clean hands.
In particular wash hands with soap at the following occasions:
Always remember to wash your hands with soap and running water after handling dirty nappies to stop the spread of infection.
The more people your baby is exposed to, the more likely it is that he will come in to contact with someone who is sick, especially during flu season. Ensure that you prevent the spread of everyday infections such as common colds, flu and digestive disorders by adopting healthy hand washing routines – keeping yourself healthy is important when you are nursing a newborn.
Don’t leave your baby alone with pets or near pets. Make sure pets do not get into the cot with your baby. When your baby is very young, don’t allow the family dog or cat to lick your baby’s face. This could transmit infectious material (such as faeces) into the baby’s mouth or eyes. Make sure that anyone who has come into contact with your pets washes their hands thoroughly before touching your newborn.
To protect your newborn from microbes that could be ingested during feeding, sanitise all parts of the bottles and feeding equipment (including breast pump attachments). To avoid contamination, it’s imperative to wash your hands when handling any of this equipment.
Lifebuoy has initiated a new awareness programme in a rural community in KZN, which illustrates the importance of developing daily hand washing routines to improve hygiene standards. For more on the programme, click here.
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]]>The post Winter skincare for infant skin appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>A cooler climate also spells the start of dry skin, cracked lips and irritated complexions, all of which affect your baby’s usually plump and moist skin. Geoffrey Holtes, brand custodian for Krayons in South Africa says that keeping your infant’s skin soft and supple during the winter months is easily achieved by adding a few extra steps to your bath time routine.
Geoffrey says that with the South African climate, parents should also be mindful of the sun. “During the southern hemisphere winter it is still possible for skin to burn if exposed to the sun for too long. Parents should apply a high factor sun protection lotion if the baby will be exposed to the elements for too long.’
For more information on Krayons products visit KrayonsBabies on Facebook.
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]]>The post How to unblock and clean your baby’s stuffy nose appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>This is very uncomfortable for them, especially because they are unable to blow their noses – most children are only able to do this from the age of about four.
In healthy babies and toddlers, mucous moisturises and cleans the nasal membrane, but when illness occurs or when there are environmental irritants that cause allergies, such as pollen, pollution or smoke, the mucous production in the nose increases and often becomes thicker, resulting in a stuffy nose.
There are a number of ways to clear a blocked nose…
Saline solution is safe to use on babies and toddlers. Tilt back the baby’s head so that the nostrils are easily accessible and the baby is comfortable. Gently administer a drop into each nostril. Wait a minute or two for the solution to flow into the nasal passages. The baby may sneeze or cough out the mucous. If the baby doesn’t, use a nasal aspirator to draw out the mucous, which should be looser due to the saline solution. Keep tissues handy.
An aspirator is a wonderful tool for clearing a snotty nose. Ensure that the aspirator is clean and dry and that you have washed your hands before using it. Place the tip at the opening of the nostril and gently clear the mucous. Do the same in the other nostril. Use tissues to clear away the mucous. Wash the aspirator immediately after use.
For babies aged one month to a year, topical nasal decongestants offer relief. Due to the fact that they are administered at the area of discomfort, and not ingested, topical nasal decongestants have minimal side effects and risks. They open the airways to help the child breathe and often also reduce swelling and limit the production of mucous, keeping the nose clearer for longer.
A paediatrician or a doctor should be consulted before administering a topical nasal decongestant. Also, don’t use the same bottle on multiple children as this can pass germs on from one child to the other. Ensure that you use the correct decongestant strength and dosage for the child’s age.
A humidifier will help moisten the air, especially in areas of the country that are usually dry, and help the child breathe easier.
For more information consult your Health Care Practitioner.
About the Author: Iliadin offers a range of saline products suitable for babies, toddlers, children and adults. Products include Iliadin® Saline Metered Spray and Iliadin® Saline Drops. Available at pharmacies nationwide.
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