There is a difference between an overweight child and a child who overeats. Overweight leads to health problems but over eating does not always leads to heath issues if your child is active. If your child is overeating:Accept that children come in all shapes and sizes and their appetites also vary. You should trust your child to be able to feed himself/herself. If your child is extremely active physically, his or her appetite may be larger. This is completely normal. Remember that your kid is constantly growing and (s)he needs food to support their development. But if your feel that your child is an over-eater and is not very active physically, then in this case, overeating may lead to your child being an overweight child. In case of an overweight child:As a parent stop blaming your child for unhealthy eating habits. Shouting and forcing them never works. Instead of stopping it altogether, you can reduce it gradually and simultaneously increase healthy food intake. Parents can also make healthy food interesting by either using colourful utensils, or different shaped plates, dressing food in an interesting way, creating a back story associated with the food. On a standard Body Mass Index (BMI) chart, kids ages 2 to 19 fall into one of four categories:<ul><li>Underweight</li><li>Normal weight</li><li>Overweight</li><li>Obese</li></ul>Depending on your child's BMI and health, the doctor may refer you to a registered dietitian or a weight management program. Here are 5 key ways you can help your child maintain a healthy weight:<ul><li>Be a good role model – A child is going to follow what he/she sees so have healthy eating habit and the child will follow.</li><li>Encourage physical activity. Make time for a little walk or play a small game wherein the child has some physical movements.</li><li>Keep to child-sized portions.</li><li>Eat healthy meals, drinks and snacks.</li><li>Less screen time and more sleep.</li></ul> Overweight children soon cross the mark of obesity hence it is important to keep a check on their eating habits. Obesity leads to several health problems in later life such as:<ul><li>Type 2 diabetes</li><li>High blood pressure</li><li>High cholesterol</li><li>Bone and joint problems</li><li>Shortness of breath that makes exercise, sports, or any physical activity more difficult</li><li>Restless sleep or breathing problems at night</li><li>Liver and gallbladder disease</li></ul> Obese kids might also deal with emotional issues like low self-esteem, and may be teased, bullied, or rejected by peers. Kids who are insecure with their weight can be at risk for:<ul><li>Unhealthy dieting and eating disorders</li><li>Depression</li><li>Substance abuse</li></ul> Reasons behind obesity:<ul><li>Diet habits: high consumption of fat-filled, processed or packaged foods.</li><li>Lack of exercise: older kids and teens should do moderate to vigorous excerise for atleast one hour.</li><li>Genetics: Genes help determine body type and how the body stores and burns fat.</li><li>Some medication</li><li>Endocrine problem</li><li>A combination of the above</li></ul> Preventing Obesity:<ul><li>Make healthy eating and exercise a family affair.</li><li>Take them along when you go grocery shopping.</li><li>Teach them how to make good food choices.</li><li>Cut down on TV, phone, computer, and video game time and discourage eating in front of a screen (TV or otherwise).</li></ul> Encourage healthy eating habits. There’s no great secret to healthy eating. To help your children and family develop healthy eating habits:<ul><li>Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.</li><li>Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products.</li><li>Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.</li><li>Serve reasonably-sized portions.</li><li>Encourage your family to drink lots of water.</li><li>Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.</li><li>Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.</li><li>Remember that small changes every day can lead to a recipe for success!</li></ul>

For overweight children, you cannot just take away interesting food altogether. It needs to happen gradually over the time.

Overweight Child

Itching can result due to various reasons:<ul><li>Skin allergies</li><li>Food allergies</li><li>Dandruff</li><li>Skin disorder</li></ul> <ul><li>It is advisable to consult your paediatrician or doctor for itching before you apply any skin products to your child.</li></ul> Remedies for itching:<ul><li>Avoid scented soaps, lotions, and bubble baths.</li><li>Change out of wet or damp clothing immediately after exercising or swimming.</li><li>Moisturising the skin with a good moisturiser.</li><li>See a doctor when the itching persists for more than 2 weeks, when there is inflammation and when itching affects the entire body.</li></ul>

Itching, if not treated at the right time can intensify and irritate a child. It is better to consult your paediatrician at the right time.

Itching problem in children

Ravina Sewani

Diarrhoea is the body's way of ridding itself of germs, and most episodes last a few days to a week. Diarrhoea can be of sudden onset and lasting for less than two weeks (acute) or persistent (chronic). The main risk is lack of fluid in the body (dehydration). Once any dehydration is treated with drinks, encourage your child to eat as normally as possible. Causes:<ul><li>Bacterial infection</li><li>Viral infection</li><li>Trouble digesting certain things (food intolerance)</li><li>Food allergy</li><li>Parasites that enter the body through food or water</li><li>Reaction to medicines</li><li>An intestinal disease</li><li>Surgery on the stomach or gallbladder</li><li>Traveller's diarrhoea, this is caused by having food or water that is not safe because of bacteria, viruses, or parasites after a visit to a different country.</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Cramping</li><li>Belly (abdominal) pain</li><li>Swelling (bloating)</li><li>Upset stomach (nausea)</li><li>Urgent need to use the bathroom</li><li>Fever</li><li>Bloody stools</li><li>Loss of body fluids (dehydration)</li></ul> Signs of dehydration:<ul><li>Dizziness and light-headedness</li><li>Dry, sticky mouth</li><li>Dark yellow urine, or very little or no urine</li><li>Few or no tears when crying</li><li>Cool, dry skin</li><li>Lack of energy</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Your child’s doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. The doctor might ask for a few tests to be done like:&nbsp;</li><li>A stool check</li><li>Blood test</li><li>Tests to check for food intolerance or allergies</li></ul> When to call a doctor:<ul><li>Is too weak to stand up</li><li>Is confused or dizzy</li><li>Has had diarrhoea more than three days</li><li>Is younger than 6 months old</li><li>Is vomiting bloody green or yellow fluid</li><li>Has a persistent fever</li><li>Has bloody stool</li><li>Has a rash</li></ul> Treatment:<ul><li>In most cases, treatment includes replacing lost fluids. Antibiotics may be prescribed when bacterial infections are the cause.</li><li>Offer electrolyte and glucose drinks. These fluids have the right balance of water, sugar, and salts. Some are available as popsicles.</li><li>Avoid juice or soda as they may make diarrhoea worse.</li><li>Keep breastfeeding your baby. Breastfed babies often have less diarrhoea.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Wash your hands properly before handling your child.</li><li>Timely get your child vaccinated.</li></ul>

Here are Diarrhoea causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Diarrhoea in children

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Breastfeed your baby as much as (s)he wants. In the early days and weeks, your baby will wake and feed frequently, day and night.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">When your baby is a newborn, their stomachs are tiny. Babies can physically take only small amounts of milk. They can digest breast milk easily and it soon gets absorbed it into their system. That's why babies might demand constant feeding.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">After the first few days, most young babies feed at least 8 to 10 times in 24 hours. This means your baby could be asking for a feed every 90 minutes to two hours.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It's worth keeping an eye on the number of feeds the child has, and offering them your breast, even if the baby not asking. By breastfeeding often, you're building up your milk supply. The more your baby feeds, the more milk you will produce. This is called responsive feeding. And your baby will love snuggling into you, whether or not they are hungry.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Do check that your baby is latched on well. Otherwise, (s)he may be nipple-feeding, rather than breastfeeding. This can make your nipples sore, and your baby may be unsettled, because they can't get a good amount of milk. Get advice from your elders or paediatrician if you're worried that your baby isn't feeding well.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Your baby needs to open wide and take a good mouthful of your breast. Once they have latched on, the chin should be touching your breast, the nose should be clear and baby's lower lip should be evened.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Your baby may want to feed more often, or for longer, at night. This is normal, because your body produces more prolactin, the hormone that makes milk, at night. By feeding often at night, your baby stimulates your body to make more milk.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Over the next few months, your baby's feeding pattern may become more predictable. This can take a while to establish, though, so try not to be disheartened.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Always keep the weight of the baby in check, to track their physical development. The track of baby’s weight will also help you to understand whether your baby is feeding enough or not.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It is recommended to JUST breastfeed your baby until the age of twelve months and it can be continued till the age of four depending on mother's and child's comfort.</li></ul>Signs that your child is adequately breastfeeding:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Frequent urination up to 6-7 times a day.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Adequate weight gain.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">A sleepy baby post breastfeeding.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Let down reflex (Milk comes out from the other breast while baby feeds from one breast).</li></ol>

Worried about whether you are feeding the child enough? Look for the signs that your child gives.

Breastfeeding Schedule

Palak Vyas

Preterm birth usually affects a child's respiratory system and brain development. The effects of preterm birth on a baby’s development depend on how early the baby was born before its full term. Preterm birth can have short term and long term effects on a child’s development. Short term effects of preterm birth:<ul><li>Preterm babies are born with serious breathing problems. Sometimes they have to be put on ventilators to breathe.</li><li>These babies are at higher risks of developing asthma in the later stage of life.</li><li>As mentioned earlier, they are likely to develop brain impairments, because the brain is the last major organ to develop even after birth. So when the baby is prematurely born, its brain has to keep growing in an abnormal environment that is outside the womb. So even though the brain develops post-birth, for premature babies, the development is slow as they have spent less time inside the womb.</li><li>In short, the kind of growth that happens easily inside the womb is difficult for preemies outside the womb.</li></ul> Long term effects of preterm birth:<ul><li>Life-long effects include cerebral palsy, mental retardation, visual and hearing impairments, and poor health.</li><li>Babies, who are born a few weeks early, say at 34-36 weeks, may have behavioural, social and emotional problems.</li><li>They are likely to develop learning difficulties.</li><li>Increased risk of ADHD</li><li>Increased risk of SIDS</li><li>Chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.</li><li>The other important thing to keep in mind is the birth weight. The less your baby weighed when (s)he was born, the more likely (s)he is to have health problems that could affect his/her growth. Mostly the preemies born with very less weight than normal a child are kept in the hospital under observation. First year can be a bit problematic but gradually they cope up.</li></ul> The other general effects found in preemies are:<ul><li>They may look different than full term babies.</li><li>Their bones and muscles are fragile. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, lots of minerals like calcium and phosphorus needed for baby’s growth are transferred from mother to baby. And because premature babies are born before full term, they cannot get enough of these minerals. They need extra care while handling.</li><li>Language development may be delayed. These babies might have more trouble speaking and understanding the language.</li><li>Their teeth may develop abnormally or may have late teething than full-term babies.</li><li>There are chances of vision impairment, squint eyes, farsightedness or nearsightedness.</li></ul>

Premature babies are prone to more health risks than full-term babies.

Effects of preterm birth on growth and development of babies

Peanut allergy triggers an immune response towards the proteins present in peanuts. It is one of the most common food allergies.Peanuts grow underground and are different from tree nuts.Please note that having a peanut allergy does not mean being allergic towards all nuts.Peanut allergy is usually developed in early childhood but can develop later in life as well. Diagnosis:Never self-assume that your child has peanut allergy. Always get your child diagnosed by a healthcare expert. The doctor may recommend that your child undertake tests like skin prick test, blood test or food challenge. It is important that these tests are performed under medical supervision as these tests might trigger an allergic reaction. Who is at risk?<ul><li>Family history: Your child has a higher risk of developing peanut allergy if it runs in your family.</li><li>Existing allergy: Having one food allergy may sometimes lead to some other food allergy to develop.</li></ul> Symptoms of peanut allergy:<ul><li>Itching</li><li>Rashes</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Swelling of the lips or tongue or face</li><li>Throat constriction</li><li>Difficulty in breathing</li><li>Peanut allergy may sometimes also cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis which constricts the airway passage and requires immediate medical attention.</li></ul> Myths about peanut allergy:1. Myth: Peanut allergy is more common than other food allergies in children.Fact: No, Peanut allergy is not 'the' most common food allergy. Egg and milk are more common food allergies. 2. Myth: Peanut allergy is only developed in childhood and then stays on for life.Fact: Even though it is common in childhood, peanut allergy can develop at any age. A small percentage of children tend to outgrow peanut allergy but in most cases, it is permanent. 3. Myth: The allergic reaction develops immediately and of same intensity every time.Fact: In most cases, the reactions begin within minutes but in some cases, the allergic reaction might take a few hours as well. Also, the intensity of the allergic reaction is also not the same every time. 4. Myth: I can diagnose my child’s food allergies myself.Fact: While you can gauge your child’s allergic symptoms, they should always be diagnosed by healthcare expert. Commercial home test kits for self-diagnosis are not recommended as they may not be of the required standards. 5. Myth: If a dish or a food product does not list peanut, then it is safe.Fact: No, you must clarify and always pay close attention to the ingredients in a food product or a dish which is served to your child. Teach your child to develop the same practice as well. 6. Myth: Peanut allergy can be cured permanently.Fact: Researches are going on but there are no permanent cures for peanut allergy as of now. 7. Myth: Consumption of trace amounts of peanut-based food won't cause any problem.Fact: No, even a trace amount of peanut-based food can cause a severe reaction. Prevention:<ul><li>Studies suggest that if infants are introduced to peanut-based food then the chances of developing the allergy later are less. But such steps should always be taken under proper guidance of your child’s paediatrician.</li><li>Introducing peanuts in your baby’s diet:</li><li>If your child has any other food allergy already, it is better to first consult your child’s paediatrician and then introduce peanuts under doctor’s guidance.</li><li>You can introduce peanuts in your baby’s diet when your child starts eating solid food. Introduce peanuts in the form of a puree and not as whole. Observe for 10 to 30 minutes after feeding for any allergic reactions. If you find something wrong, consult your child’s paediatrician soon.</li></ul> Steps to take after reaction against peanuts get triggered:<ul><li>If your child has mistakenly consumed a food containing peanuts, the immune reaction gets triggered a few minutes to an hour.</li><li>The immune reaction varies every time and varies from child to child.</li><li>These immune reactions range from mild (itching or rashes) to severe life-threatening ones (breathing trouble or 'Anaphylaxis').</li><li>When your child shows mild reaction: Give your child doctor recommended medicines and take him/her to the doctor once your child starts feeling better.</li><li>When the reaction is severe: Give the medications recommended for such a condition as soon as possible and seek medical attention immediately.</li><li>Always keeps medications of allergies handy for your child.</li></ul> Therapies or treatments commonly used to treat peanut allergies:<ul><li>Antihistamine medicines for mild allergic reactions</li><li>Use Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI) for severe allergic reaction like anaphylaxis. It is an injector pen that releases a prescribed dosage of adrenaline into the blood.</li><li>Always keep AAI handy because only AAIs can be used in treating severe cases of allergy reaction. Learn how to properly use an AAI on your child. These injector pens are usually used on the outer mid-thigh muscle.</li></ul> Following few alternative therapies are being tried as a long-term cure:<ul><li>Skin patch: It is a small adhesive patch which can be used topically on skin. It releases peanut proteins in small amounts into the blood. These are used to protect against accidental cases of exposure or consumption of peanuts.</li><li>Oral Immunotherapy (OIT): In this therapy, peanut protein based foods are given in small amounts to children known to have peanut allergy. Gradually the amount of such foods is progressively increased to develop tolerance against peanut proteins. Note: Do not go for this therapy without consulting your child’s paediatrician as this method can have serious consequences.</li></ul> Outgrowing peanut allergy:<ul><li>It is very rare that children would outgrow their peanut allergies as peanut allergies tend to stay on for life.</li><li>Peanut and other nut allergies:</li><li>Peanuts are legumes so it is rare that children with peanut allergy would develop allergies to tree nuts (eg. walnuts, almonds).</li><li>Sometimes, children with peanut allergies might develop allergies to other legumes like lupin or sesame.</li></ul> Foods to avoid or things to take care of if the child has peanut allergy:<ul><li>Develop a habit of reading the food labels for ingredients and allergy information.</li><li>Teach your child to mention about the allergy whenever he/she goes to visit someone.</li><li>Be careful about the possibility of cross-contact; especially when visiting a restaurant.</li></ul> Check the labels/ingredients of:<ul><li>Ice creams, candy, nougat, pancakes, egg rolls, and salad dressing</li><li>Sauces such as pesto, gravy, chilli / hot sauce, and enchilada sauce</li><li>If there is equipment sharing between peanuts and other nuts, be careful about the same.</li><li>Food or drinks such as hot chocolate, cookies, pudding, pies or other baked foods</li><li>Vegetarian food labelled as meat substitutes</li><li>Pet food (cross-contact risk) or compost used as fertiliser may also contain peanut shells (cross-contact risk).</li></ul>

Peanut allergies tend to stay on for life so it is very important to stay conscious and aware all the time.

Peanut allergy

Tearing is a normal function of the eye. But when tear ducts get blocked due to infection and inflammation, tears well up in the eye and fall excessively; this is called "eye watering". In newborns, the condition usually resolves itself within a few weeks. Common causes of watery eyes:<ul><li>Allergies</li><li>Blocked tear duct</li><li>Common cold</li><li>Dry eyes</li><li>Ingrown hair lashes</li><li>Pink eye (Conjunctivitis)</li><li>Stye (a red, painful lump near the edge of the child’s eyelid)</li><li>Tear duct infection</li><li>Eye injury</li><li>Chemical splash in the eye</li></ul> Symptoms associated with watery eyes:<ul><li>Eye pain</li><li>Eye infection</li><li>Runny nose</li><li>Vision impairment</li><li>Sneezing</li><li>Swelling in the eyes</li><li>Redness in the eyes</li></ul> Treating eye watering:<ul><li>Sometimes a sticky liquid may form around the baby's eye or eyes. You can use a piece of cotton wool that has been soaked in sterile water to clean the eyes. Make sure to boil the water to make it sterile and then cool enough before dabbing it on the child’s eyes with cotton wool.</li><li>Sometimes tears can be relieved by gently massaging the tear ducts. Apply light pressure with the finger and thumb to the outside of the nose.</li><li>If the situation persists for more than a day, consult a doctor.</li></ul>

The problem of constant tears usually resolves within a few weeks in a newborn. If eye watering is accompanied with other problems, you might want to consult a eye specialist for your child.

Treating eye watering

Begin brushing your baby’s teeth from the time they start appearing. Even in the absence of teeth you can wipe their gums with soft clean cotton cloth carefully. Brush their teeth with clean small soft bristled toothbrush using small circular movements. Change their brush every 3 months. Cause of bad breath could vary:<ul><li>Sometimes, infections can cause bad breath. If your toddler has an infection at the back of his throat, such as tonsillitis, this can make his breath smell foul. Other symptoms of tonsillitis include a sore throat and coughing. Your toddler’s bad breath will disappear when the infection clears up.</li><li>It’s also possible that the smelly breath is because your little one has a blockage in his nose. That could be because he has a cold or sinus infection.</li><li>If your toddler sucks or chews on a blanket, or sucks thumb, it could lead to developing bad breath.</li><li>If your toddler has persistent bad breath, take him for a check-up at the dentist.</li></ul>

It is important to maintain proper oral hygiene since day 1. Bad breath is an indication of poor oral hygiene.

Taking care of Bad breath

Babies who are prematurely born may have complications as some of their organs haven’t yet fully developed. Premature babies can have complications in the first few days, weeks or months and so are first kept in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for survival and to provide optimal environment for growth. Kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) is a unique practice where a baby is taken care of outside the incubator. The baby is positioned directly on the mother's bare chest after birth and is covered with a warm blanket. Care should be taken to not move the baby too far away from the incubator as the machine is connected with tubes and wires. There are several benefits of Kangaroo care. They are:<ul><li>Kangaroo care regulates baby's body temperature and heart rate.</li><li>It promotes baby's digestion and improves oxygen levels for the baby.</li><li>It helps babies sleep longer, thereby promoting growth and protection from infections.</li><li>Kangaroo care releases hormones that support breastfeeding and increases the volume of volume that contains antibodies.</li><li>It is a great practice to develop the bond between the mother and the baby.</li></ul>

Kangaroo care is a method of holding a baby that involves skin-to-skin contact with the mother.

breastfeeding health concern

Following article(s) will help solve your concern.