Kids love the outdoors. We can’t blame them; it is much enjoyable to play games outside rather than playing indoors where you can have a limited view and limited set of activities. Swimming is also one of the most favorite past time among children which makes them spend so many hours under the heat of the sun.

Staying too much under the sun can cause minor to serious problems to your child’s health. Your child can have sunburn, have dehydration, and much worse he can be prone to have skin cancer especially that your child’s skin is still very sensitive.

Although staying under the sun can give a lot health risks, you do not have to stop them from enjoying. There are a lot of ways in which you can protect your child from the harmful effects of the sun without preventing them from sun exposure. Here are some tips on how you can keep your kids safe from the sun:

• Tell your child about the harmful effects that too much sun exposure can give to his body. In this way he will be cautious in his own little way. When you remind him that he is staying too much on the sun, he will understand because you have already explained the reasons beforehand.
• Before going out either to play at your backyard or swim at the beach, make sure that you have applied sunscreen which contains at least SPF 30 thirty minutes before you. The higher the SPF, the better protection it gives the skin. It is best that your choice of sunscreen it waterproof so that its effect won’t be gone when in water.
• As much as possible limit your child’s sun exposure especially during 10 AM to 4 PM wherein the sun’s rays are most harmful to the skin. If your child insists that he still wants to play or swim, tell him that he can go back after resting under the shade. In this way the body has time to cool down and be away from the heat of the sun.
• Keep your child hydrated. Make sure that you have ready drinks for your child to drink. Dehydration is very common when it is very hot so it should be prevented. You should also be mindful for the signs of dehydration like headaches, excessive thirst, too much sweating, and weakness.
• Make sure that you are there to watch over your child while he is outside. At least you can tell him that he is staying too much on the sun and you can respond quickly if ever emergency happens. Close guarding your child doesn’t mean being too close, you can just watch from a distance without him getting intimidated.

Cigarette smoking is very much dangerous to the health but much more if the one that is hooked is still on his teens. Being exposed to bad effects of nicotine and the other harmful chemicals that cigarettes have especially in a young age is like killing their bodies softly. Ideally teens should not be smoking but they can start this bad vice early on because of peer pressures. Seeking to belong in a group is very crucial in this age group and when they have less or no guidance from parents and other adults, the tendency is they will cling into their friends for comfort. Good if your teen’s friends are good influences, but that is not always the case. They are just those teens who love to discover new things and do certain things like cigarette smoking in order for them to belong in the group.

Aside from peer pressures, one of the main culprits why teens are engaged in cigarette smoking even in a young age is because of point-of-sale advertising. Teens are very visual individuals and usually they want to try whatever appeals their eyes. When they see that cigarettes are neatly displayed on grocery or convenience stores with attractive posters which is modeled by their favorite stars, they are tempted to try it. These teens may think that there is no harm in trying a few sticks of cigarette, but what they do not know is that cigarettes have contents that can make you want to smoke more. So what seem to be a few sticks will now turn into daily habits if they are unable to control it.

As parents it is your primary duty to look after your teens. Even it has been taught in school, it is always best to explain these things to them especially on the bad effects it gives the health. When buying groceries, inform your teenager to not always believe on what advertisements are telling especially when it involves alcohol and cigarettes. Also be a friend to your teen so that it will not seek friendship from somebody else’s especially those groups that are already starting to have vices.

Your baby is now a toddler and now beginning to grow which makes you very excited as a parent. Being able to see your toddler do things without much assistance gives parents a sense of fulfillment. This signals that the baby you were cradling is now maturing and starts to seek independence.

Aside from learning to feed on its own one of the things that every parents need to teach their toddlers is peeing and pooping in the potty and not on their diapers. This can be a hard skill for toddlers to do and master that is why it is very important for parents to guide their little ones during this transition.

The following are the potty training basics and the ways on how to assist your toddler with potty training:

• Potty train your toddler when you can see that he is already ready. The usual time wherein a toddler is already ready for potty training is when he is 1 and a half months until three years of age. Your toddler is now able to control the urge to defecate and urinate at this time. Teaching toddlers when they are too young will not succeed because their psychomotor development is not yet fully developed.
• Slowly tell your child that now that he reached a certain age he is now ready to poo and pee like you adults do without diapers. In this way he will be able to understand why you are trying to teach a news skill to him.
• Bring your toddler when you buy a potty chair. Make him pick the one that he likes so that you can be sure that he will be interested in using it.
• Explain what will be the purpose of his potty chair be.
• At home do not let your toddler to wear diapers and tell him to call you whenever he feels that he is to pee or poo. Then make him sit on his potty chair while defecating and urinating. This will make him used to using his potty chair and not to rely on his diapers when he feels like peeing or to poo.
• Every morning when he wakes up and before tucking him to bed at night, make him sit for his potty chair for about an hour to either urinate or defecate. This will be a good training ground for him on to use his potty chair.
• Give rewards. When your toddler is able to poo or pee using his potty chair, give rewards and compliments. This will make your toddler cautious and try to fulfill what you want him to do like use potty chair.

Potty training your toddler is not always a smooth process. It takes patience from parents because most of the time it takes months and even years for toddlers to master this skill.

Here we go again. You may be prepping for dinner and you see your child constantly scratching his head, searching for that elusive answer for his homework. In some cases, parents will find their older children tired and exhausted in the middle of the night, but still, focused on their assignment or project. Time and again, the idea of helping your child or of letting him become independent in his homework has been a predicament for parents.

For parents, it is just difficult to see their child struggle but when dealing with assignments, the basic rule is to offer assistance and give all the support your child needs. You may help but you should never ever attempt doing the work on your own. Here are a few tips you may want to consider to make sure that you really are effectively helping your child in his homework.

• Let your child feel that you are there to assist him whenever necessary. Talking to your child about his homework builds up his confidence to accomplish his homework. You may have to ask questions about your child’s comprehension of the homework or how will he accomplish the tasks at hand. Take this opportunity to check your child’s work every after the work is finished.
• Determine how the teacher interprets the result of the homework. A teacher’s perception of a homework may different from another. There are some teachers who just want to evaluate whether your child understands the previous lesson or not while there are some who check the progress of your kid to determine his standing in the class. The former may mean you do not need to assist your child while the latter means if you do not help in your child’s homework, he may lag behind.
• There are a lot of ways where you can help. Each child has a different forte just like adults. So, if your child seems to be on the creative side, let him focus on that strength and then when he has difficulty with solving math problems, you might want to come in. For instance, addition problems can be solved by getting all those spoons and forks in the kitchen. Apart from your bonding time, the homework is relatively easier for you and your child.
• Commend your kid for the good work. Remember those stars you received when you were younger? Remember how it felt? The same concept applies. As emotional beings, we love to be praised for what we are worth. Another good approach to boost your kid’s ego is to let him hear how proud you are of his achievements.
• Finally, your child’s homework should be done in a conducive space for studying with minimal distractions from the television, from a sibling or the internet (READ: online games). It is also a good idea to make sure that you are readily available whenever your child might need you for a little help.

A chronic disease brought about by hereditary conditions, Cystic Fibrosis or the scarring and cyst formation of the pancreas can be a fatal disease especially if parents are either misinformed or uninformed of the situation their child has. A child suffering from the condition will have sticky mucus, salty sweat and oddly thickened digestive juices because of the altered movement of the salt inside the body.

As a result of the altered conditions of the secretions, the child may experience clogged lungs making him at risk of developing breathing problems, lung infection and even lung injury. Moreover, the thickened digestive juices can also result to digestion problems leading to malnutrition or poor growth.

Signs and Symptoms

If you think your child is suffering from CF or if you know that he is at risk of having one, here are the signs and symptoms to watch out for:

• Growth problems (weight and height) even with good appetite
• Coughing and wheezing that becomes very persistent which may happen at the same time with asthma or upper respiratory tract infection especially to a very sensitive child
• Salty-tasting skin
• Fatty stools
• Sinus infection
• Diarrhea
• Infertility

Risks

Your child has an increased chance of having CF if you are a Caucasian. In fact, Ireland has the highest incidence in the world while Americans see CF as the most common life-threatening disease. An African heritage also gives your child a 1 in 15,300 chance of acquiring the condition. Interestingly, Asians rarely have CF.

Diagnosis

Thankfully, there is genetic screening for Cystic Fibrosis. This is advantageous for those who know that their child may be at risk. A definitive test, which is painless and quick, may be done. The procedure involves the use of Pilocarpine. It is used on a certain spot preferably in the upper extremities to stimulate sweating. Aftersuch an absorbent paper is used to check on the salt content of the sweat. If the values are above normal, then, it is suggestive of Cystic Fibrosis, which in turn will be supported by other procedures such as saliva or blood genetic test as well as chest x-ray and family history checking.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for CF. Parents, nonetheless should be consoled that there are ongoing researches made about the condition. More treatments are geared towards helping a child live longer and helping one tolerate the untoward signs and symptoms of the disorder. Therefore, the earlier that you know about your child’s condition, more and better interventions will be introduced.

When your child suffers from cystic fibrosis, you may want to get the best possible care in a team with specialization on the said disease. Your child will usually be treated as an outpatient unless there is an immediate need for him to be confined. You will have to do continuous monitoring and that it is likely that your doctor will ask you to regularly visit him. During these visits, routine exams will be ordered such as a saliva or sputum sample. The sample will determine possible infections which can be treated using antibiotics introduced intravenously. Apart from the routine childhood immunizations your child should have, doctors may also prescribe other drugs to help your child with his condition. It is then your responsibility to check how your child responds to the medications. Since there is no cure, you have to be vigilant. Years ago, children with cystic fibrosis die at a relatively young age, now, a lot of those who suffer live longer and more significant lives.

When younger children are told about getting a haircut, a lot of them freak out in ways that can only be seen in maniacs. Admittedly, this is a dilemma for most parents. However, this reaction does not need to be forever that way if we parents try to be creative or resourceful enough to find the perfect ways for our child to give in to that badly needed haircut.

Here are some tips you may want to use and measures you might want to forget about when trying to seal the deal:

• Hearing the word cut means it can inflict injury or pain. Bear in mind that toddlers and pre-schoolers are very sensitive when it comes to their body. The thought of losing a certain part of their body or even losing their parents or siblings because of an alien invasion is not taken lightly. Therefore, instead of using the word haircut, you may want to remind the other older people in the house that your child is only getting a trim. This way, your child may feel more comfortable about having a haircut. Additionally, associating scissors with injury, blood or death is a wrong thing. It may help if we try not to overwhelm our children with horrifying stories associated with the use of scissors.
• Getting the snip will also help if an older person, say the father or the mother or even the siblings is the one to be serviced first. By having a model, the child is assured that nothing wrong will ever happen to him. He will surely be surprised at how easy and harmless the process is. Additionally, it is best to let your child sit in the salon chair for awhile while the haircut of the model is going on. This way, he will feel more relaxed and accustomed to the process. Conversely, you don’t have to really force your child to look at what is being done with the model; it may be excruciatingly painful for him without your knowledge.  You may want to let the salon be his play area in the meantime.
• Speaking of the salon being a play area, there are certain parlors that specifically cater to haircuts for children. The personnel of these salons are well-trained to help a child in dealing with a haircut. Additionally, these establishments also have some perks with them such as DVD players, toys and other sorts of bribe or distraction available just to deliver the needed service.
• You can also have your own ways of distracting your child. Since haircut only happens once in a while, you may want to help your child with his favorite snack or you may let him indulge in a helpful serving of some sweet goodies. This conditioning will make him believe that haircut is equal to a sweet reward.
• Finally, let your child realize that nothing is really wrong with having a haircut by talking about the process with him. He might not be able to understand it but with tough love and the patience and affection you show your child, he may realize that “Daddy or Mommy just wants me to look good.” Make a mini-role play of the procedure and hopefully, you’ll get lucky.

It is not unusual to have lots of choices when one becomes a parent. There are just too many alternatives or substitutes that are being constantly introduced in the market to challenge the more conventional items and even ideas that we have known since we were younger. Add to the situation is the fact that most of our children these days are more vulnerable than in the past. We have to be guarded and to be always on our toes when it comes to knowing what really works best for our children. Therefore, as parents, we have to be empowered and well-informed.

In choosing the right nipple, one should decide between three materials; the latex, silicon or rubber. Nipples made of latex are known to be more flexible and softer as compared to nipples made of silicon as these are firmer and therefore, tend to last longer. Rubber nipples, on the other hand are also firm. However, most rubber nipples these days have been implicated for allergic reactions as well as cancer-causing components.

You may want to ask other important information from the salesperson or directly call the manufacturers regarding other concerns like the presence of the controversial Bisphenol A, a compound found in plastics that have been linked to obesity, cancer and even neurological problems.

Another thing about the nipples is that there are three current shapes from the traditional, the orthodontic and the flat-topped nipples. You may also encounter nipples that have holes in strategic areas. You will also determine that some nipples are designed to imitate the natural contour of a mother’s breast while some nipples are more concerned with the accommodation of the nipple in the palate and gums of your baby. Also, manufacturers offer different sizes of nipples; you will also chance upon different flow rates of milk passing through the nipple because of differently sized holes.

In the end, as you try different nipples, you’ll find out that your baby is the one making the decision as he has to figure out his own preference. Your job is to be sensitive to his needs and to buy what really suits him.

In terms of choosing the right bottles, a lot of parents these days have growing concern on whether to give preference to the age-old and durable plastic bottles or go with the breakable and yet perceived safer glass bottles. Parents are also given options that include streamlined bottles that may be held by the baby himself, disposable bottles and right-angled bottles that direct less air into the nipple causing less discomfort for the baby.

For those who prefer to stick to the plastic bottles, experts accept that this practice is perfectly fine as long as the plastics used are replaced on a regular basis. Additionally, the problem on Bisphenol A only surfaces when the bottle being sterilized contains formula milk. Manufacturers also advise consumers not to make the plastic bottles as storage bottles. Wash the plastic bottles immediately after use and discard the unconsumed formula milk. The size may also be a cause of concern as the products come in 4-ounce, 8-ounce and even 9-ounce bottles; all depending on the manufacturer but size problems will only come in as your baby grows and his needs increase.

Adults undeniably suffer from dry skin. Babies, on the other hand, can also suffer the same thing as their skin is more delicate and susceptible to becoming dry. For these reasons, it is important for parents to know how to safeguard their baby’s skin against drying.

Foremost, parents as well as guardians should know that there are a lot of factors that come into play when skin dryness is involved. Dry skin in babies can be as a result of the cold, dry outdoor air. Also, it can be brought about by indoor heating. You will also notice that dryness is even common during summer because of the exposure to the sun’s rays, the use of the airconditioning system, and the chlorine present in the swimming pools or salt water in the beaches.

Another probable cause of dry skin is also the use of harmful chemicals either directly during bath time or indirectly in the detergent used in your baby’s clothes. It is important to note that the use of harsh chemicals may strip off the vital and useful oil present in your baby’s skin.

Given these factors, how will you be able to help your child avoid getting the dry, scaly and clearly, unsightly skin? Here are some helpful tips and reminders.

- If you feel that the air circulating in your house is relatively dry, then, you might want to purchase a cool mist humidifier. You need not buy for every room inside the house; you can just put the equipment inside the room of your baby. It will also help if you refrain from exposing your child in harsh conditions. This applies both during the summer where the heat rays coming from the sun are extremely difficult to bear and during the winter where any fragile skin may become dry, chap and consequently break out or form flakes. If you just can’t help it, you may employ measures like letting your baby snuggle in mittens, booties and a dependable bonet to protect him from the cold and the wind. During the summer season, you may want to shield your baby from the sun using an umbrella, staying in shaded areas or going out early in the morning where the sun’s rays are relatively harmless.

- If at all possible, avoid exposing your child in chlorinated pools or even the salt water beach. If this is not possible, then, you should take a long shower with your baby using tap water. Aftersuch, slather your choice of moisturizer while the skin is still damp to lock in the moisture.

- It will also help not to prolong the bathing time of your baby. As much as possible, try to cut down your child’s exposure to soap suds (especially in the tub) as these may increase the risk of having dry skin. Lukewarm water is ideal and be careful with your choice of soap. Go for those without a lot of harmful synthetic product; go for the milder products than the regular soaps.

- Use moisturizers.  After bathing your baby, pat him dry using a clean towel and immediately apply your moisturizer to seal the water left in the damp skin. If the moisturizer does not work, you may want to switch to a cream or an ointment.