Coping With ColicWritten by Margaret Tye
A new baby with colic is one of most difficult problems a new parent has to cope with. Most new parents are under pressure trying to deal with a new routine and lack of sleep, added burden of a crying infant you seem powerless to help can be overwhelming. The only comfort that can be offered is, with 1 in 5 babies developing colic, many other parents are suffering too and that by time baby is four months old problem normally disappears.The normal symptoms of colic are continuous loud crying, flexing and extending legs, clenching fists and often a distended tummy. Very often this occurs in late afternoon or early evening, although it can happen at any time. So what is colic and is there a remedy for it? There are many possible causes, but initially most important thing that a parent must do is establish that child is actually suffering from colic and there is not another reason for crying. Colic, however distressed baby seems, is not life threatening, but it is essential not to assume a crying baby has colic, check with your doctor immediately. Once colic has been diagnosed you should try to identify cause. If you are breastfeeding avoid foods that are likely to cause gas. Make a note of what you are eating, baby may be intolerant to something in your diet, including dairy products. If baby is bottle fed your doctor may suggest a change of formula. Don't overfeed baby, we all know that bloated feeling when we have overeaten, so why shouldn't baby feel same. Try hard not to get stressed, I know this isn't easy but many experts believe that babies are sensitive to stress around them and react. It's a catch 22 situation, more crying greater stress. Try to take turns in dealing with crying baby, even rope in grandparents or a close friend so that you can walk away for 30minutes.
| | Child Obesity and DietWritten by Margaret Tye
This article is looking at child obesity as result of poor diet. Medical conditions resulting in child obesity, or physical appearance of obesity, are issues to be discussed with your physician and beyond scope of this article.If you are concerned about your child possibly being overweight then you need to decide whether excess weight is part of a growth pattern, that may change over time, or whether there is a weight problem. Your doctor will advise you on this. Child obesity can result in an increase in health problems. Don't be embarrassed about seeking help, your doctor would rather treat child obesity or teen obesity now, than diabetes or heart disease later. Statistics show that level of child obesity in America is amongst highest in world, and a major cause is a diet of fast food, or food that is high in fat or sugar. Most children, with a change in diet and an increase in exercise, should see an improvement. Look at diet of your child. Is it mainly takeaways and processed food? These often contain high levels of fat, sugar and salt and should be cut back. Snacking is a bad habit, think of calories in a candy bar! Fizzy drinks can also pile on weight, when pure water is what body really needs. Every parent should try to implement 5 A Day program. At first it may seem difficult to serve five portions of fruit and vegetables, never mind persuading your child to eat them, but if you study a list of suitable foods it is surprising how varied a diet you can provide. A glass of orange juice at breakfast, a banana mid- morning, beans or salad for lunch, fresh or frozen vegetables with dinner, dried fruit as a snack, list is endless once you start looking. Having found right food, next problem is persuading your child to eat it . Try making small changes gradually altering eating habits of whole family. Unless a child is very overweight, maintaining present weight without increasing it and letting child grow to absorb excess fat, is better than dramatic dieting. Ask your doctor about this as he can make a decision based on your child's age and weight.
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