Palak Vyas

Dry eyes describe a condition when the eye is unable to produce tears properly or does not produce tears of a suitable consistency. Symptoms associated with dry eyes:<ul><li>Your child may experience stinging or burning sensation in the eye.</li><li>He or she feels something is caught in his/her eye.</li><li>They may have red or painful eyes.</li><li>There may be stringy discharge from the eyes.</li><li>They may experience blurred vision.</li><li>Their eyes may feel tired easily after watching TV or reading.</li></ul> Home remedies for dry eyes:<ul><li>Apply water compresses to the eye.</li><li>In cold weather, you can use a bedside humidifier at night.</li><li>Avoid taking your child in the breezy atmosphere.</li></ul> If the situation persists for more than a few days, consult a doctor.

Dry eyes can lead to constant itching and so it becomes all the more necessary to treat it at the right time.

Dealing with Dry eyes

<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

Ravina Sewani

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.

Thrush infection in breastfeeding mothers

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) or Pollen-Fruit Syndrome (PFS) is a type of contact allergy resulting in a local reaction in the mouth or throat following ingestion of certain foods (raw veggies and fruits).This is commonly seen in children who are highly sensitive to pollen due to the cross-reactivity between the allergy-causing pollen proteins and proteins present in certain foods or vice versa. Symptoms:<ul><li>Symptoms of an OAS are common during the pollen season.</li><li>If a child allergic to pollen develops an allergic reaction in the pollen season against a specific fruit or vegetable, it is not a 'true food allergy' but cross-reactivity.</li><li>True Food Allergy is an allergy to the proteins present in the food and is diagnosed by healthcare professionals based on the symptoms, history, and tests if required.</li><li>OAS is diagnosed by evaluating clinical history, followed by a skin prick test containing extracts of pollen and the specific food if required.</li><li>Symptoms of an OAS are immediate within a few minutes, with a rapid onset of itching or swelling of mouth, throat, tongue or face. These symptoms usually disappear in a few minutes as well. The reactions of OAS are usually mild and can be treated by giving your child antihistamine medication prescribed by your doctor.</li></ul>

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) is a local allergic reaction in mouth and throat.

Oral Allergy Syndrome

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

Eczema is a non-contagious chronic skin condition wherein the child suffers from severe itching, redness, scaly rashes on arms, legs, hands or face. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. Family history of allergic diseases like asthma and hay fever increases the chance of eczema in children. Causes:It is not known that what exactly causes eczema. It might be due to the difference between how each individual's body reacts to things. Symptoms of Eczema:<ul><li>Rashes on the body or in just a few areas. They may be oozing or dry.</li><li>In babies, rashes are found usually on the face and scalp.</li><li>In young children, rashes are found in the folds of elbows and knees.</li><li>Children tend to rub their skin against the bedding to relieve itching.</li></ul> Prevention:<ol><li>Use fragrance-free moisturiser. Do not let the child’s skin dry out. Apply moisturiser as often as needed. Once the child takes a bath, pat dry the child and apply the moisturiser on damp skin.</li><li>Avoid irritants. Use chemical-free detergents and soaps for your child’s clothes and bathing respectively.</li><li>Prefer 100% soft cotton fabric for the child.</li><li>Short baths at room temperature are advisable compared to long hot-water baths.</li><li>Do not use dyes or perfumes.</li><li>Avoid using fabric softener on a child’s clothes.</li><li>Look for any food/pet/pollen/dust allergies. These too can trigger eczema.</li><li>Overheating temperature, sweating and stress can also worsen the situation.</li></ol>&nbsp;Diagnosis:There are no specific tests to confirm eczema. Doctors usually examine rashes, rule out skin allergies, ask for child's and family's medical histories to conclude eczema. Treatment:Doctors can prescribe two types of medication:<ol><li>Topical: cream and ointment</li><li>Oral: pills in liquid medicine</li></ol>

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

All about Eczema

Prachi Shah

Food in the first 6 months:A baby receives all the nourishment during the first six months from either breast-milk or infant formula milk. Health experts recommend that babies should take solid foods after six months in addition to breast-milk (or the baby’s usual formula milk) to allow them to grow and develop. Foods to avoid in first 9 months: <ol><li>Salt: Do not add any salt in babies' food as their kidneys are not fully developed.</li><li>Sugar: Do not add sugar to foods or drinks you give to your baby. Sugar encourages a sweet tooth in children and leads to tooth decay.</li><li>Honey: Do not give honey to a child under the age of one year, as it may contain a kind of bacteria which can produce toxins in the baby’s intestines and can cause a very serious illness (infant botulism).</li><li>Nuts: It is recommended that nuts and products containing them should not provided to children. This is to protect children who may be at risk of nut allergy. Whole nuts should never be given to children under the age of five because of the risk of choking.</li><li>Foods which contain gluten, e.g. wheat flour, bread, breakfast cereals made from wheat, rusks, spaghetti or other pastas</li><li>Citrus fruits, including citrus fruit juices, e.g. orange juice</li></ol> Food from the 7th month:<ul><li>All family foods can be offered at this stage – remember not to add salt while cooking or at the table.</li><li>Mash food with a fork. This will encourage the baby to learn how to chew.</li><li>By this age the baby should be having three meals a day and eating more at each spoon feed.</li><li>The amount of milk can be gradually reduced as the baby eats more solid food.</li></ul> Food from the 9th month:<ul><li>During this stage babies will move on from mashed to chopped foods.</li><li>Continue to offer all family foods at this stage.</li><li>Continue to give three meals a day plus 1–2 snacks.</li><li>At this stage babies will continue to receive 3–4 breastfeeds each day</li><li>Encourage babies to eat a wide variety of foods</li><li>By this time introduce cups to your baby.</li></ul> By the age of 12 months, the baby should be introduced to all kinds of vegetables and fruits. Dried fruits should be introduced after one year.

Gradual introduction of different foods leads to proper development in children.

Diet for babies from 0 to 12 months

It is very for children to get acne between the age of 0-6 years. Generally it affects on the onset of puberty (puberty is the age where children reach sexual maturity).But it can occur at any age out of hormonal imbalance or sensitive skin. There is no natural remedy for pimples. Things you can follow to reduce pimples:<ul><li>Make your child drink enough water.</li><li>Wash his/her face a few times during the day with clean water.</li><li>Follow healthy lifestyle.</li><li>Reduce the intake of oily, fried, and spicy food.</li></ul>

It is rare that your child would get pimples or acne at this age. If it does happen, it is always advisable to consult your paediatrician.

Dealing with acne

If your baby has green, foamy or frothy, explosive stools and pain, it might be a case of lactose overload. Lactose overload can happen when your baby gulps a very large quantity of breastmilk either due to a long gap between the feedings or due to an oversupply of milk. Healthy babies are able to break down the lactose in normal volumes of milk. The presence of fat in the milk ensures the slow movement of milk through the gut. But if your baby consumes a lot of milk that is relatively low in fat, it can rush through the digestive system without being digested. This can cause the problem of gas causing pain and frothy stools. If you suspect lactose overload, try to check your baby's latch. Try different positions to feed your baby if you have a problem of oversupply of milk. Try frequent feeds as your baby to avoid build up of watery low fat milk. If the problem persists, you know what to do, head straight to your doctor.

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