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Baby's Health

What Second Hand Smoke Can Do to Your Baby

May 30, 2020 By Karen Leave a Comment

The world has always been warned that cigarette smoking is dangerous to our health. It is the cause of life-risky diseases such as lung and esophageal cancers, heart disease, stroke, aneurysm and a lot more. If smoking has been dangerous to adults who are smomers, how much more and what could have been its effect to the second hand smokers especially the babies? Is it as life-threatening to children as it is to adults? Let’s find out.

Effects of Secondhand Smoking to Babies

•Respiratory Infectons. Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoking are much more prone to develop respiratory infections and lung diseases.

•Ear Infectons. Experts speculaten that when a child is exposed to secondhand smoke, the tube in his ear may become blocked up or inflamed. This can cause for water and dirt to be trap inside the ears making it an ideal place for bacteria and infections.

•Asthma and Allergies. Children are more probe to asthma and allergies once exposed to secondhand smoke. Not only because of the toxicity of the smoke but also because of the contained harmful chemicals in it.

•Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This refers to sudden death of healthy infants (below one year old) during sleep. There is no scientific reason for it but secondhand smoking is one of the factors that researchers see as a contributing factor.

•Sickly Children. With the exposure in secondhand smoking, children are more prone to getting sick. They could easily get cough, wheezing, bronchitis and even pneumonia.

How to Save Children from Secondhand Smoke

•From pregnancy, avoid smoking or avoid being in the same room with someone who smokes. Even if the baby is still inside you, he is unsafe from all the hazardous things you could encounter like secondhand or thirdhand smoking.

•Newborn babies are very vulnerable. Protect them. Never let anyone smoke around you. Even inside the car with windows down, it is still unsafe. Completely eliminate smoking from your daily lives. The child’s welfare should come first.

•When going out into the public, always be vigilant and check if the place you are in designates a smoking area or not. Children are helpless so stand up for them.

•Ask relatives, friends, nannies, baby siyters and care givers to step outside when they smoke. Inform them that you don’t allow smoking near your children.

•As early as toddler stage, teach your kids to avoid people who are smoking. Make them understand how dangerous and risky it is for their health.

It takes a very consistent effort and sacrifice to be able to raise our children. They are supposed to be well taken cared off. Take the responsibility to save and protect your children from secondhand smoke risks.

Filed Under: Baby Care and Needs, Baby's Health, Parenting, Pregnancy and Health, Toddler Life, Young Kids

Why You Shouldn’t Kiss an Infant’s Face

May 25, 2020 By Karen Leave a Comment

What gestures do we usually use to show love and affection to little ones? Hugging, kissing, verbal compliments, giggling and the likes. But, do you know that it is really not advisable to kiss a newborn’s or infant’s face, lips, not even hands. Frustrating, trully. Especially for Momma’s like me. Everytime my baby is sleeping right next to me, or when im cuddling with him and he stares back at me, or just simply when he makes a cutie face look, i surely want to dive and shower him with kisses. How I’d giggle and want to kiss those cheeks soundly. But no, I’d rather not risk it. Why? Why should we be cautious with this thing? Read on to find out why.

The Risks of Kissing a Baby

•Cavities

Streptococcus Mutans is a kind of bacteria present in a person’s saliva. When you kiss a baby, it can be passed on to him and it can cause cavities in his teeth. Oral hygiene is very important especially when you are around the little ones.

•Cold Sores Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus type1

An adult who has stronger immune system may be unaware that he is carrying such virus. However, a baby who has never had any antibodies and immunity to fight against these viruses will surely be in trouble. Cold sores and blisters may develop around the mouth area and spread in the face. It may even get worse if unattended.

•Allergies

A woman who is wearing cosmetics and lipstic that has a strong chemicals on it might trigger allergies to babies. Also, someone who has been out for a meal might still got bits of food around his mouth and would trigger allergic reaction when he showers kisses to the baby.

•Respiratory Syncytial Virus

This virus causes Respiratory and Lung Infections. Considering that it is highly contagious, babies are vulnerable to it. An adult’s simple cough and cold could already be a different case when it comes to babies. When someone is sick, he should not get around to babies without any protection like mask.

•Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

This disease is very common among children. It can easily be passed through close contact, touching and kissing. It’s symptoms includes sores especially in mouth, hand and feet, children feel extra tired, they might experience sore throat, and fever might come too.

In Handling Kids and Babies, Remember to:

•Maintain your good hygiene. As a mother or someone who handles the baby daily, you should be clean all the time too.

•Wash hands or sanitize hands before handling babies especially newborn and infant.

•Keep baby clean all day long by wiping with wet wipes and baby wipes. Keep him fresh too.

•Tell people around you to practice hand washing and sanitizing too before they touch the baby.

•Educate people near that kissing the baby is a No No. Make them understand why too.

Handling newborn and infants requires extra care and attention. They are the most vulnerable when it comes to germs, virus and bacteria around us. Practice the do’s and don’ts. It is better to contain our affection and overwhelming feeling towards the baby by ourselves than put them at risk. No regret will ever come first so better take precautions seriously.

Filed Under: Baby Care and Needs, Baby's Health, infancy, Newborn, Toddler Life, Young Kids

How to Protect Your Baby From SIDS

May 25, 2020 By Karen 2 Comments

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS refers to a sudden unexplained death of healthy infants, usually younger than one year old. In most cases, SIDS occurs during an infant’s sleep. In a resaerch study of 2017, it is found out that there are 36 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases in every 100,000 live births. Newborn and infant babies are still very vulnerable. It is important for parents to eliminate whatever risk factors there is that might lead to SIDS. In this article, let’s find out how we can save our babies from this deadly nightmare.

Possible Affecting Factors of SIDS

Although up uptil this moment, doctors, experts and researchers still haven’t found any concrete reason for SIDS, studies have found out several factors that might have affected and contributed to it.

•Breathing Difficulty

It is remarkably shown that babies who are premature, has respiratory issues, or has brain defect are more likely prone to SIDS. When I say brain defect, this refers to those babies who has a part of their brain that is still not fully developed. It could be the part that controls breathing. It is also found out that some babies who died of SIDS previously suffered from respiratory infections and colds. That is why when baby is sick, it is very important to double our attention to them.

•Environmental Factors

Since most cases of SIDS occur during sleep, let us focus on baby’s sleeping environment. It could be that in his sleep, he on his side or tummy position. Put your baby in that position only when you have your full attention to him. As much as possible, keep him on his back. Stuffy crib could also be a risk factor. As much as possible, clear the crib from all unnecessary things. His crib or bed mattress might be too soft that when he sleeps on it face down, it could block his airways.

How to Save Your Baby from SIDS

•Make sure to pay attention to baby while sleeping. As much as possible, keep him on his back. Avoid lying him on side or on his tummy especially of you are not on a watch.

•Don’t put anything near him that might block airways. Pillows, blankets and stuffed toys should be kept away when baby is sleeping.

•Be watchful when baby is sleeping near siblings, any family member or pets.

•Sleep on the same room with your baby so every now and then, you could check on him.

•Use sleeping sack or any other sleeping clothes to keep him warm instead of layering him with blanket to keep him warm.

•Study shows that breastfed babies (for at least 6 months) lowers the risk of SIDS.

•When pregnant, make sure to attend into your prenatal consultations and take it seriously so your baby is well taken cared of even when he’s still inside you.

•Avoid smoking and drugs when pregnant. It might affect baby’s development and health.

•It is recognized that babies who has been vaccinated has lower risk for SIDS.

Taking care of our little one requires a lot of effort from the moment they are still in our tummy. These little humans deserve to live life as wonderfully as we have. Let us do our best as parents to provide them a healthy and risk-free environment to grow into.

Filed Under: Baby Sleeping, Baby's Health, infancy, Newborn, Parenting, Pregnancy and Health

What Parents Should Know About Baby’s Hiccups

May 11, 2020 By Karen Leave a Comment

As early as when babies are still inside their mother’s womb, babies are already experiencing hiccups and as he gets older, the lesser it may occur. Hiccups happen when there is contractions in the baby’s diaphram caused by irritation or stimulation of the muscle. The air is forced out through vocal chord, thus creating a hiccuping sounds. It may be a little uncomfortable for adults but that is not the same case when it comes to babies. Parents should know about the natural occurance of it but rest assured it is nothing to be very concerned about. Let us discuss the causes of this and how to cure or prevent it.

Factors that May Have Caused Hiccups in Infants

Although it is not something to worry about, it is only right that we, as parents, should educate ourselves too about the things that are happening to our little one. Though it is not proven yet as to what is the real purpose of the occurance of hiccups, it is said that some factors may have caused it such as too much air in the stomach, overfeeding, quick swallowing of food, and not burping the baby after eating. These things causes the stomach to expand, thus creating contractions to diaphram and leading to hiccups.

How to Stop and Prevent Hiccups

When the baby is experiencing hiccups and we feel uneasy just watching him go through it, you can try to let your baby latch on you (if you are breastfeeding). His latching may relax or soothe him. If you are not breastfeeding him, try to use pacifier for him to suck on. If it occurs in the middle of feeding, try to take a break and burp him up. You may also try patting and rubbing his back to comfort him and make him relax.

Although hiccups is naturally unpreventable, since you already know the factors that may cause it, what you can do is try and avoid them so that it will not trigger spasm and hiccups. Example, to avoid having too much gas or air in the tummy, make sure to properly burp your baby.

When to Consult a Doctor?

Hiccups naturally lasts for a few minutes and causes no discomfort to baby. If it lasts for a little too long for a lot of times already and may have seemed to cause distress to the little one, or when your baby often spits up his food and may seem to be fussy and irritable, you can bring that up to your doctor to ease your mind and just to make sure that everything is alright.

It is normal for parents to get worried with every single detail when it comes to our children. Remind yourself that its never wrong to take chances, read articles, do some research and try our best to protect our precious little one.

Filed Under: Baby Care and Needs, Baby's Health, infancy, Newborn

How to Prepare for Breastfeeding Before Birth

May 8, 2020 By Karen Leave a Comment

Today, more than 75% of new mothers breastfeed their newborns. Though breastfeeding is proven to be challenging especially during the first few days because both the mommy and baby are still under adjustment period, more and more mommies have decided to look into the benefits breastfeeding could give into their little one. Breastmilk is the best food for baby especially on his first 6 months of life. It is important to prepare yourself physically, mentally and emotionally for this very wonderful journey even before you give birth to your baby. But how do we really do that? How can we prepare ourselves so we can have a bigger chance of successful breastfeeding after giving birth? Here are some tips:

•Physical Preparation

When a women is pregnant, she will experience changes in her breasts as early as first trimester of pregnancy. Her breasts and nipples will become more sensitive. Some will experience soreness of breasts. Few weeks before your due, your body will start producing colostrum or the first milk to get ready for feeding your baby. What you can do is make sure to eat healthy foods, take your vitamins properly, attend to your prenatal check ups regularly. If you experience soreness of breasts and nipples, you can massage your breasts. Taking care of your body is one key to succeed in breastfeeding.

•Mental and Emotional Preparation

Talk to your doctor about your plan of breastfeeding your baby. Tell your doctor things that might hinder you from successfully breastfeeding your baby. Have a lactation consultant even if the baby isn’t born just yet so that you will be able to establish a good relationship already with your consultant and you will become much more comfortable by the time the baby arrives. Also join mommy groups and lactation groups that can give you support for you to succeed your breastfeeding goals.

•Other Things to Prepare

Take breastfeeding class so that you will be able to know how to properly do it by the time the baby arrives. Prepare for breastfeeding essentials that you would need to make things easier for you and baby on your first few days together. Discuss with your doctor the kind of birth control you would want to have. (If you plan to have one). There are birth control methods that might affect your breastfeeding journey such as those pills that might lower your milk supply. That’s why it is important to talk to experts about it.

Breastfeeding could be a tough adventure especially if you are a first time mom. However, if you are getting enough support from family, loved ones and professionals, and if you will have the full courage needed to pursue this wonderful journey, for sure everything will be worth it especially that you are getting ready to produce and feed your baby the best liquid gold there is, called breastmilk. Goodluck Momma!

Filed Under: Baby's Health, Breastfeeding, Newborn, Pregnancy, Pregnancy and Health

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