Your child should generally pass stool up to 4 times a day, declining to about twice a day by the time they’re 2 years old.

However, if they haven’t had any bowel movement in a good few days, what you should do really depends on how old they are.

Call your doctor for counsel if he/she is under 2 months. If over 2 months, give him/her 2-4 oz of water two times a day, mixing it with 2-4 oz of fruit juice if the constipation persists. Prune, apple, pear, grape or cherry juice will suffice.

And if your child is over 4 months and has transitioned to eating solids, feed them food high in fibre twice a day until his/her bowel movement improves.

You could, alternatively, apply lubricant to their anus; however, do ensure this is a small amount and that the lubricant is water-based.

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A new study has shown that children who live in areas where there’s a lot of traffic pollution have a lower IQ than children who live in areas where the air is clean.

Vehicles emit a substance called black carbon. The researchers found that of the 202 8-11 year old Boston children they studied, those who scored lower in the intelligence tests that were set were more exposed to black carbon.

The effects were likened to those experienced by children whose mothers smoked 10 cigarettes a day while pregnant with them.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Shakira Franco Suglia, stated that short of moving away from a heavy-trafficked neighbourhood, there wasn’t a lot that people could do to curb its effects.

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It’s understandable. Your microwave is like a member of the family!

However, with debates and concerns about the possible risks of using microwaves (e.g., decreased nutritional value, creation of unnatural substances), is it really worth you and your family using them?

Only you can decide that.

But while you’re at it, why not set your family a challenge and see if you can do without using your microwave for a day? And then, the following week, see if you can go 2 days without using it. The next week, go 3 days without it.

If you can, keep a family diary while you’re on the challenge.

Pause the challenge after the 4^th week, call a family meeting and take stock of how you all feel. Do your children seem more alert? Do you feel healthier, fitter? Have your taste buds sharpened?

Or was it all just a waste of time? Not worth it?

At that point, you can take a ‘family vote’ to decide whether  to continue the challenge or not.

Mum or dad cooks the food and, voila!, it’s on the table like clockwork.

Showing your child how dinner, for instance, gets from the local supermarket to the kitchen to the table to their tummies is a great way to help them make healthier choices about what they eat when they get older.

Obviously, this is assuming you’re eating healthy yourself!

You could also try taking them on a daytrip to a farm. Or if you have the space, why not grow your own vegetable garden? Get your child to join in. Hold them responsible for tendering to, say, a handful of carrots until they’re harvested.

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So your child’s got exams early tomorrow. They’re really nervous. They think they’re destined to fail. They think everything they revised will drift straight out the window the minute the teacher says, “Your time starts now”.

How do you calm him/her down?

You could talk to them about an instance in which you were really nervous about a particular situation and how it all worked out for the better.

You could make sure they go to bed an hour before their usual bedtime. The extra rest will do their body the world of good.

On the day of the exam, though they might be feeling too nervous to eat, do make sure they do have something.

Perhaps you could promise them some kind of mini-treat at the end of the day or at the weekend so they have something to look forward to.

Exams are a given. Nerves are normal. They’ll be just fine.

The findings of a US government survey have shown that about 3.1 million young people, some as young as 12 years old, have experimented with over-the-counter cold and cough medicines in order to get high.

The survey found that misuse was three times higher amongst whites than blacks; and in the 12-17 age group, abuse was more frequent amongst girls.

Officials said that cough and cold medicines taken in large amounts can have a hallucinogenic effect, bring about out-of-body experiences, as well as other outcomes.

Nearly 82% of the young people surveyed said they had also used marijuana at some point.

A new study, published in the Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, has suggested that teenage girls who eat regular meals with their families may be shielded from developing eating disorders later.

The study found that girls who sat down and ate 5 or more meals each week with their family were roughly one third less likely to develop severe weight control issues such as bulimia, diet-pill popping and taking laxatives or diuretics.

The researchers added, however, that not all family meal sit-downs are necessarily beneficial as the way some families interact can sometimes encourage unhealthy eating behaviours in their children.

Do make sure the room your child is in is warm and well-aired. If (s)he is sweating, use a lukewarm flannel to wipe their face and neck. Also, ensure you change their clothes and their bed linen on a regular basis.

Give them paracetamol, adhering to the proper dosage for their age. Stop giving it to them once their temperature starts to go down.

If your fevered child is under 6 months old and hits an armpit temperature of over 38.3C (101F), or a rectal temperature of over 39.7C (104F), do call your doctor immediately. Make the same call if your child is older and their fever’s running over 40C (104F).

[source: Total Health – the essential family guide to conventional & complementary medicine (by Dr David Peters) ]