Child's disinterest in healthy home cooked food starts from an early age of 6-7 months. There are several reasons behind a picky eater child: <ol><li>Medical Challenge - Allergy, Reflex, Constipation</li><li>Oral-motor Challenge - Chewing, Breathing, Swallowing</li><li>Sensory Challenge - Recognises only few flavours or smell</li><li>Temperament and mood - Easily frustrated so feels and express the internal emotion.</li><li>Early exposure to junk food - This is the most common</li></ol> What can be done to make your child eat all kinds of food:<ul><li>When during the initial months of introducing food to child, do not introduce sugary chocolates, junk food like packed food items, extremely spicy or salty food or else the child will develop the taste for those kind of things. If you introduce foods which are higher on the taste spectrum, the child will throw tantrums when you give him/her healthy food. In this case you can always start slow by making their food interesting, example - using ingredients they like and garnish their food with smileys. Using decorative plates and cups also helps.</li><li>Be patient: If your child throws tantrums on seeing healthy home cooked food, do not melt and give the junk food just because your child is crying. Be strong because developing a new habit will take time.</li><li>A child who has eaten chocolates will not adjust to khichdi. Khichdi does not have the same taste as chocolate. A child is driven by taste and not by nutrition.</li><li>Make sure that everyone in the family eats the same dish. Special dishes should not be prepared for everyone. If the child watches that special dishes are being prepared for someone in the family, the child also learns to demand the same.</li><li>Do not keep any distractible food on the table - like sugary or spicy foods.</li><li>Make it a point that everyone eats together in their own plates. This way the child learns to eat everything and also on their own.</li><li>Keep a fixed meal time.</li></ul>

It is not right to completely put the blame on kids for their disinterest in healthy food. As parents, we need to reflect on ourselves and take necessary measures for the same.

Child being choosy about food

Palak Vyas

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

<ul><li>When a grownup child of 4 or 5 years does not eat food on their own, it is a matter of concern. Actually, the training of a child eating on their own should begin in early years. When a child in of 6th or 7th month, (s)he tries to put everything in the mouth and that is the age when the child is eager to eat on his/her own.</li><li>At this time, the parent doesn’t allow thinking that the child is too young to eat on his/her own and will create mess like making their clothes dirty or floor and because the child will take longer time. So the child is being spoon fed and later when they get habituated to be fed by the parent, the parent starts complaining.</li><li>So the whole approach towards feeding needs to be changed. Child should be allowed to eat on his/her own even when (s)he creates mess or takes time.</li><li>Finger food which can be put on their fingers like fryums, cucumber or toast sticks, fruits are the kinds of food children like to eat on their own. Make food interesting for them and gradually they will develop the habit.</li><li>Of course developing a new habit is going to take time and you will need to be patient with your child.</li></ul>

When a child is ready to eat food on its own, (s)he will give you signals. Look for the signals and you will know how to help your baby.

Helping Children eat food on their own

<ul><li>Adding certain foods to their diet can promote hair growth — and give children the nourishment their bodies need.</li><li>Peanuts, corn, and spinach contain Vitamin E, which stimulates hair growth.</li><li>Folic acid, found in foods like peas and citrus fruits, will help promote hair growth by strengthening strands so they don’t break off prematurely.</li><li>Drinking water—four to six glasses a day—will keep hair hydrated.</li><li>Vitamin B produces keratin, a protein that strengthens strands. Found in bananas, whole-grain cereals, rice and eggs.</li><li>Dairy products like skim milk and yogurt—as well as broccoli and strawberries–are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth.</li><li>Trimming hair regularly helps too.</li><li>Washing hair at least twice a week maintains hygiene of the scalp and hair which maintains strength of the hair.</li><li>Massaging hair and scalp with oil is equally necessary.</li></ul>

Children tend to get careless about taking care of their hair. Proper diet and hygiene helps a long way in healthy hair.

Enhancing hair growth

Following are the guidelines to be followed regarding the milk intake of a child: <ul><li>Ideally the child should be compulsorily breastfed till the age of 1 year.</li><li>In case if the mother’s milk is not enough or if she’s a working mother and is unable to feed the child, external milk can be given.</li><li>As external milk, give formula milk. You can give formula milk based on your budget and child’s nutrition requirements. Formula milk is rich in proteins and DHA which help in brain development. There are several formulas for milk available - STANDARD formula like Lactogen and Dexolac. PREMIUM formula is also available in market which is very similar to the mother’s milk with DHA and ARA like Enfamil and Nan Excella pro.</li></ul> <ul><li>In any case, DO NOT give animal milk to your child before one year. The proteins in animal milk and human milk are completely different which can lead to consequences. A child can be given animal (cow/goat/buffalo) milk after 1 year.</li><li>A child can be given semi-skimmed milk after 2 years of age. However, do not give complete skim milk to a child under 5 years.</li></ul> <ul><li>There is no age limit for breastfeeding. A child can be breastfed till one or two years or even more than that as long as both the mother and child are comfortable. But sometimes it so happens that even after one year, the child considers mother’s milk as the sole source of food and does not intake any external food.</li><li>REMEMBER that after one year, the child’s nutrition need should be fulfilled 70% by outer food and 30% by mother’s milk.</li><li>When the child feeds on mother’s milk for a while, his/her hunger is satisfied but the child does not get enough nutrition. Hence, such a child can stay malnourished and can lose weight. In such cases, doctors can advise the mother to wean off the child at least during the daytime so that the child starts eating properly and gets proper nutrition.</li></ul>

It is important to breastfeed a child till 1 year. It is not advisable to give formula milk before the age of 1 year.

Milk for babies - Mother's milk, Formula milk or Animal milk

No human can stay hungry for long. Hunger is an integral part of survival. Every child has his/her own set of likes and dislikes when it comes to food. So the problem should not be that a child does not eat, rather the problem is that the child does not always eat what his/her parent wants them to eat. Every child likes something or the other. Identify that and feed them that. Introduce new foods along with their favourite foods.A few things which you can keep in mind:<ul><li>Avoid introducing junk foods with high taste levels at a young age: For example, if you introduce chocolate too soon, your child will be habituated to an intense sugary taste. Also, chocolates, biscuits, wafers have more calories. So if children eat 4-5 chocolates or biscuits, their calorie count is fulfilled and they will not require any more food for the whole day. These foods are highly rich in calories but do not provide other quality nutrition. Eating excess junk food will result in nutrient deficiency when they grow old.</li><li>Stop giving any junk food altogether: If you totally stop giving chocolates or biscuits, the child will gradually divert towards healthy nutritious food because no one can survive without food. You will have to work hard to develop a new habit of eating healthy and this can be time consuming and can demand a lot of patience.&nbsp;</li><li>Work as a team: When you know some things are not right for your child’s health, sit with the entire family and convince everyone to not give junk food every time a child demands. By being stricter, gradually your child will develop healthy eating habits.</li><li>Be a role model: If you want your child to follow your instructions, you too will have to say goodbye to your junk food habits. A child learns the most from his parents. Eat healthy and so will your children.</li><li>A frequent intake of sugar and sugary foods and drinks between meals causes tooth decay. Snacks and drinks taken between meals should be sugar-free.</li><li>Do not add more salt in the food either while cooking or at the table, as babies’ kidneys are not fully developed.</li><li>Every day, children need three meals plus snacks. Provide nutritious meals and snacks.</li><li>Young children are very active and have high energy (calorie) and nutrient needs in proportion to their small body size.</li></ul>

Children learn from your behaviour. Changing your eating habits will help them develop healthy eating habits as well.

Developing healthy food habits

Ravina Sewani

Few allergic reactions are known to worsen existing conditions like asthma and a few are known to cause asthma problems.Not all children develop asthma due to allergies. Children with a family history of asthma or children with eczema are at a higher risk of developing asthma.Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the smaller air passages in the lungs. The common triggers of asthma:<ul><li>Cold or flu</li><li>Allergens like dust or pollen</li><li>Cigarette smoke or other irritants</li><li>Gastrointestinal reflux</li><li>Stress, continuous crying or laughing, physical activities are also known to trigger an asthma attack.</li></ul> Diagnosis of asthma is based on symptoms, family history and medical history of your child, previously known allergies, etc. followed by medical asthma tests which may include x- ray, blood tests or allergy tests. Please note, it is important to get your child diagnosed of asthma problem only by a healthcare expert. Symptoms of Asthma include:<ul><li>Coughing</li><li>Wheezing</li><li>Shortness of breath</li><li>Uncomfortable tightness in the chest</li></ul> Seek medical attention immediately if you notice these symptoms in your child:<ul><li>Gasping for breath or trouble speaking</li><li>Deep breath/inhalation that shows the abdomen sucked in</li><li>Increased rate of breathing</li><li>Given the close link between allergies and asthma, it is important to identify the source of allergy and manage it effectively.</li><li>Allergy shots (Immunotherapy) may be advised if your child's asthma is due to allergens like pollen or pet dander.</li><li>Asthma treatment is based on the severity and frequency. An inhaler with a holding chamber/spacer may be prescribed by your child’s paediatrician for a quick relief during an asthma attack. Always seek medical help if you think your child might have asthma.</li><li>According to studies, omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil are known to reduce inflammatory conditions like asthma in children. For children with fish allergies, an alternative source for omega 3 fatty acids is algae.</li></ul>

Asthma and allergy are closely related hence it is important to take proper precautions.

Asthma and Allergy

<ul><li>If the child gets sick again and again, the parent considers it as weak immunity but this is not true because every time a child falls sick, (s)he gets back to normal on their own so the immunity is fine. The immunity is weak when the child doesn’t heal and stays sick for long extended periods.</li><li>As a child grows, (s)he does not stay at one place or with just one person. This leads to a child getting exposed to outside environment and a lot of new people. Due to this, the chances of catching infections again and again are very high. And so the child falls sick frequently.</li><li>This does not mean that the immunity is less. In fact, the child should not be given medication again and again. The infection will be cured within a week as a child’s body learns to fight against outside germs. Fighting against germs will only make your child’s immunity stronger.</li><li>A child’s immunity completely develops by 5 to 7 years.</li></ul> To increase your child's immunity:<ul><li>Breastfeed your baby.</li><li>Encourage exercise:&nbsp;It enhances immune system through stress-reduction. Thus encouraging your kids to opt for age-appropriate exercise regularly, will&nbsp;make them physically fit and support their immunity. Regular moderate intensity exercise increases child’s immunity.</li><li>Give them nutritious diet: Deficiencies of Vitamins A, C, E, B6 and Folate, are also associated with reduced immunity. Micro-nutrients such as Zinc, Selenium, Iron and Copper are also important in developing a healthy immune system. Thus, a properly balanced diet with all required nutrients is extremely important, especially in the growing years when the immune system is still maturing.</li><li>Inculcate healthy sleep habits: Sleep is a restorative process that plays a critical role in the proper functioning of the immune system. It is important to develop and follow a healthy and optimum sleep pattern for your children.</li><li>Serve more fruits and vegetables.</li><li>Develop a good habit of washing hands: You should pay particular attention to their hygiene before and after each meal and after playing outside, handling pets, blowing their nose, using the bathroom, and arriving home from daycare. When you're out, carry disposable wipes with you for quick cleanups. To help kids get into the hand-washing habit at home, let them pick out their own brightly coloured hand towels and soap in fun shapes, colours, and scents.</li><li>Keep your babies away from second hand smoke: If you or your spouse smokes, quit. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 toxins, most of which can irritate or kill cells in the body.</li></ul>

Your child getting sick again and again does not mean that (s)he has a weaker immunity.

Increasing child’s immunity

Thrush is a fungal infection that causes severe pain in both nipples and breasts after feeds. If the pain lasts even up to an hour after every feed, it is the sign of thrush. If not taken care of, your baby can also develop this infection in the mouth. This infection is caused when you have cracked nipples that give the fungus an entry into your nipples. If you are on antibiotics for some reason, do not stop taking them fearing the thrush infection. Always do as advised by your doctor. Because your baby breastfeeds, (s)he has chances of developing this infection. Check if your baby has white spots or patches in tongue, gums, roof of the mouth or inside the cheeks. Try wiping them gently and if it does not go away, it indicates thrush. Other indicators of thrush include baby’s unrest when feeding, nappy rash, a white film on lips. It is important to maintain hygiene as the infection can spread to others in the family as well. Properly wash your hands carefully after nappy changes and use separate towels to prevent spreading of infection. You need to also wash and sterilise the toys your baby puts in mouth. Wash your bras at high temperature. Pain in the breast and thrush are two different things. Always seek medical help for the right diagnosis.In case you or your baby both have thrush, both of you will be treated simultaneously. Your doctor will usually prescribe a topical cream for you and an antifungal gel or liquid for your baby. Thrush can be treated, and you will be back to your days of breezy breastfeeding experience.

Thrush is a fungal infection that causes severe pain in both nipples and breasts after feeds.

common causes of post nasal drip

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