We all get sick at one time or another. Some of the illnesses are expected at different stages of our life while other health problems may be due to lack of attention and personal care. There are illnesses which are common among children. Some of these illnesses are expected to make the child become stronger and immune to similar diseases later on in life. Coughing, asthma, and influenza are common illnesses and disorders in childhood. Chest infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia occur after a common cold or sore throat. If not handled immediately, these can develop into asthma. Asthma is common among children and hopefully the child will become immune to their allergies and outgrow the asthma syndrome. Asthma makes breathing difficult. The air passage to the lungs is narrowed and the person has a hard time breathing. Sometimes, an inhalator or other aids are needed to help clear the air passage. Asthma can be triggered by bronchitis or an allergy, such as dust, pollen, soap, clothes and food. When a child develops asthma, find out the possible causes for the asthma. Isolate their environment, clothes and food until you can identify the cause for their asthma. Once you know the allergies, you can instruct the children to avoid certain items and slowly get them immunized from the item. Children should get over their allergies at an early age or end up having those allergies as grownups.

Stomach pains are also common among children. It is normally caused by eating too fast or eating rich food. Have them rest for a while and provide them medication to ease the pain and help in the digestion process. The pain should subside within an hour. If the pain persists and the child begins vomiting or displays other unusual signs, consult a doctor. The child might be experiencing appendicitis or some other internal disorder.

Cold, fever and rashes are usually caused by bacteria or viruses. These viruses can be air borne or spread via food and water. These diseases can be easily cured by medication. Some parents do not provide medication immediately but rather let the child develop some body resistance to the disease. Consult with the doctor and carefully monitor the child so they do not experience excessive discomfort. Avoid delaying the medication for a long period as the diseases may lead to complications. Provide the child with sufficient liquid as dehydration can occur due to those illnesses. Keep them cool and try to lower their temperature.

Observe the child closely for any unusual disorders that may be related to the senses or nervous system. These should be brought to the doctor’s attention and treated immediately. Otherwise, it might impair the child’s development. Difficulties in gaining weight or height are indications of growth disorders. Provide your children with the essential vitamins and have them regularly checked by the doctor. Any health program you plan to give to the child should be with the doctor’s knowledge and consent.

Children learn to hear at a very early age. Research shows that hearing is one of the first senses the child responds to. Humming and singing songs to the baby are heard and communicated to the child’s mind. The child hears the soothing music and responds to it positively.  When a baby feels disturbed, is hungry or sleepy they cry and seek attention. After a while, you get to recognize the baby’s cries and figure out what the baby is looking for. In the process of providing the child with the proper needs, you talk to the child gently and you start humming and singing soothing music. The baby responds positively and quiets down regardless of what is being said or sang. The gentle tones and calm voice brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the child’s mind. Music is a good therapy for the baby. It lowers the stress and tensions.

From birth to six months, the baby enjoys the music with body movements. If the baby is awake and active, try playing a lively tune and dance while holding the baby. Feel the baby’s emotions of joy and excitement. Put the baby in the crib and watch the baby turn their heads to locate the sound of the music.  These are indications that the sounds are being transmitted to the baby’s mind.  Try experimenting with different kinds of music. It also provides the baby with some form of movements.  From six months to one year, the baby has some control over their movements. Their eye and hand coordination should improve during this period. Give them a rattle and watch how the sound of the rattle affects them. They realize that when they shake the rattle, sounds are made which they can distinctly hear. Try shaking the rattle and observe the baby looking for the rattle. The baby may even talk in response to the rattle’s sounds.  If the baby enjoys the music, the baby might even try clapping their hands and start cooing in rhythm to the music.

One of the most relaxing sounds to a baby is the voice of the parents. Talk to the baby while doing your chores, such as changing diapers, preparing milk, and putting baby to sleep. Get the baby accustomed to your voice.  Different tones of your voice can send varying messages to the baby’s mind. Try humming or singing a song to the baby while putting them to sleep. If you sing the song often, the baby will recognize the tune after a while. Exposing the child to different kinds of music will provide them with a vast range of music, such as classical, pop and rock. They may display different reactions depending on the type of music.  It will enhance their listening skills and concentration. Their growth and development are greatly improved through music.
Once they learn to speak, they will be able to join you in the song. They might learn to sing from listening to the music. This is one way to develop their singing talents. Be careful of playing the television or introducing other sounds as they may get attuned to those sounds too, and there may be offensive words that you want to prevent them from hearing.

You have a new born baby in the household and you wonder what to expect from the child during the first few months. You could have a midwife, nurse or health care provider take care of the baby at the start but that option are for people who can afford the expense. Most people do not have the luxury of household help. Each baby is different but there are certain standard development stages that babies normally follow. Monitoring the baby’s progress will help you gauge the natural development of the baby. As the baby accomplishes a stage of the development process, be there to give them love and encouragement to reach the next stage. Do not worry if the baby takes some time to reach the next development stage. Keep watch and inform the doctor regularly on their progress. The doctor can determine if the baby is developing at a normal pace. Here are a few guidelines to help you monitor the child’s progress over the first six months.

On the first month, the baby will begin to lift their head. Encourage the baby but do not force them. Let the baby do it on their own. The baby will detect and respond to sound. Talking and singing to the baby will help the baby recognize sound.

The baby will start making noises on the second month. The most natural sound will be their crying. The baby is able to see objects but cannot identify what they are. You can try talking to them and laugh and cry alternately. The baby cannot differentiate in detail between sounds of happiness and sadness but it can sense our emotions. Tell the baby simple words repeatedly like “mama” and “dada”. They are able to articulate these words easier than other types of words.

The baby will start reaching for objects by the third month. They become excited when they hear the sound of your voice. They want to stand up on their own. Do not force it because it could strain their back. Give them objects to hold but be sure they are too big to be placed in their mouth. Be sure there are no edges that could harm their eyes or other parts of the body. They want to taste anything they hold and if it tastes good to them, they will put it in their mouth. Sterilize the objects if possible to preserve a hygienic environment.

The child becomes frisky on the fourth month. Be sure the crib can withstand their rolling around. Sitting becomes an adventure for them. Train them gently so they do not strain their back. The baby will start crying incessantly on the fifth month and that’s because they are teething. They are developing teeth and want to chew everything in sight. This is a risky period. Be very observant as they might end up swallowing and choking on small items.

On the sixth month, the baby might start mouthing those words you have repeatedly said to them. Give them the milk bottle to hold on their own. Put them in a playpen to move around freely.
Don’t rush the child’s development. They will do whatever is needed in their own time. It is our duty to monitor and see that their development is normal and not impeded by harmful obstacles.  Love them and show your affection in every way. Babies can feel and appreciate it.

Mothers can sense the babies in their womb. Can babies sense their mothers while still in the womb? Is there a bond existing between the mother and the baby, and can they “communicate” to each other? Modern technology, such as ultrasound and other methods of checking on the baby while in the womb have shown that babies react to different stimulations. The reactions appear to be expressions of the baby’s needs and feelings.

Tests made on twins have shown that there appears to be a form of communication between the two babies. Tests show the babies holding hands, playing and kicking each other. Although it is not definite, the results seem to point to the fact that the twins are aware of each other and are somehow reacting to each other’s presence.

Ultrasound shows babies reacting to amniocentesis tests. Amniocentesis is a test to check the fluid surrounding the baby. It involves putting a needle through the belly into the uterus and extracting some of the fluid. Observations show the baby’s heart rate suddenly increasing during the procedure and their subsequent withdrawal from their normal activity for hours, even days after the process. A newborn baby displays a wide range of body language through facial expressions and arm and leg movements. Color changes depending on their emotions. A baby may not have the power of speech but has other ways and means to communicate to the mother its needs and feelings. Here are some tips to take care of your baby while in the womb.

Stop smoking. The smoke you inhale finds its way to the baby and affects the baby’s organs. Avoid taking harmful substances, like alcoholic beverages or liquids containing caffeine. Inform your doctor on medications that you are taking and see if they are safe to continue taking. Eat healthy food. If possible, take a lot of milk and other safe liquids. Fish that is high in mercury, food with raw eggs and undercooked meat should be avoided. Refrain from too much sugar. Anything you take into your body finds its way to baby. Make sure that all your intakes are safe for baby’s health.

Get enough rest and sleep. You may have been able to handle a hectic schedule before your pregnancy. However, with your pregnancy, you may be feeling more stressed and tire out easily. This may get worse as you become larger. Sleep on your side to enable proper blood flow through your body. If you have difficulty sleeping, use pillows for added support.

Do exercises. With all your rest and additional healthy food for baby, you tend to become overweight. This can become a potential problem during childbirth and even lead to complications beforehand.
Have regular prenatal visits with your doctor. They will monitor your progress and ensure the safety of the baby. Be honest and candid with your doctor. They know what is good for the baby. Take a midwife or health care provider to help you in your pregnancy. These are professionals who can guide you.

Mothers cannot help but be obsessed with their baby’s weight. It cannot be avoided because parents often use weight as a standard in measuring how healthy their babies are. They think that the heavier their babies are, the healthier they will be. This is one of the reasons why there are babies that are overweight by the time they reach toddlerhood, and obese when they reach pre-school age.

Pediatricians have a general standard on just how much your baby should weigh at a certain age. This would help you gauge how your baby is responding to his current feeding program. Remember that breast milk or formula is your baby’s staple food for up to 6 months.

When your baby is around 0-4 months, the normal weight gain should be 5.5 – 8.5 ounces per week, although there are some babies who will peak at a weight gain of 7 ounces per week. Initially, your baby will lose 5% of birth weight in the first week because he is burning brown fat. Brown fat is stored fat that your baby develops while inside the womb. Your baby will also have to get used to being fed by mouth, as he spent 9 months being fed via the umbilical cord by your placenta. Once your baby’s digestive system picks up, he will then start utilizing energy to develop organs and other body parts.

When your baby reaches 4-6 months, your baby’s weight gain will slow down to 1-2 pounds per month. By 6 months to 1 year, weight gain will be 1 pound per month. In this period, your baby’s body is now centered in developing bones and nervous system. Instead of gaining weight, your baby is getting longer and leaner.

Do not be concerned if your baby is not getting the highest recommended weight. As long as your baby is on the lowest recommended weight range, you are feeding your baby properly. When you consider the weight gain of your baby, you must also take into account your baby’s build. Generally, longer babies do not gain weight easily. Round babies, on the other hand, tend to increase in weight faster. Babies gain weight better if they are given the best quality of sleep and when they are fed according to demand. If you are concerned with your baby’s weight, do not hesitate to contact your pediatrician. Babies who do not gain weight or are below the minimum weight range need to be carefully examined by a pediatrician to rule out or correct any medical condition.

Pregnancy is often followed by a change in lifestyle, and that includes smoking. If you can feel the effects of smoking in your body, expect that your baby is also feeling similar effects and twice as potent and twice as dangerous. Pregnant mothers that smoke often give birth to low-birth weight babies. Statistics show that pregnant mothers who smoke are most likely to also give birth pre-term. Aside from that, there are other numerous life-threatening complications that can occur to both mother and baby because of the 2,500 harmful chemicals found in just one cigarette.

It is a common knowledge that what you drink and eat is also what your baby would be getting while he’s inside of you. The same goes for smoking. What you breathe in also enters your baby’s lungs and circulation. This is because your body systems are linked to your baby via the placenta. His nutritional requirements all come from you. What your body metabolizes reaches your baby via fetal circulation.

One of the major chemicals found in cigarettes is nicotine. This compound is a potent vasoconstrictor, and can also affect the blood vessels found in the placenta. This in turn will lessen the amount of blood that will circulate in your baby’s circulation. Low blood circulation means low nutrition is also reaching your baby. The result would be slow development of your baby’s organs and other body parts.

Carbon monoxide is also another lethal chemical found in cigarettes. This chemical is very dangerous for it binds to blood cells more than oxygen as it mimics it is almost similar in molecular composition. Accumulation of carbon monoxide in the brain can hinder its development, especially during the last trimester when the brain is developing rapidly. This along with nicotine are severely damaging to developing nerve cells. This would result to learning difficulties that will last during the entire lifetime of your baby.

There are also some pregnancy complications that are linked to smoking. Placenta previa, or a low-implanted placenta is commonly observed in pregnant women who are heavy smokers. Abruptio placenta is also a pregnancy complication linked to smoking that involves premature peeling of the placenta from the uterine wall. Both complications are life-threatening conditions as they can cause bleeding problems as well as difficulty in labor and delivery.

These conditions need serious consideration, and can be motivators for you to quit smoking. Some women find it easier to quit while pregnant for they are instinctively thinking about the welfare of their baby. There are some resources that you can use to help you quit smoking while you’re pregnant. Mothers who quit half-way of their pregnancy often deliver normal-weight babies, as if they never smoked in their lives.

Wouldn’t it be just great to know just what is it exactly that your baby wants at that very moment? Imagine having to lessen the stress and frustration on both yourself and your baby. Knowing instantly what your baby wants and giving it to him would lessen the probability of having a meltdown. Actually, this is possible.

Research has shown that if you teach your baby how to sign he would be able to communicate as early as 6-9 months. Your baby’s brain is still developing, so spoken language is still difficult for him. Most babies learn to communicate through words by age of 1-1 1/2 years of age. However, coordination and motor skills are developed enough to do sign language. Learned gestures increases understanding between baby, parent, and caregiver, thus improving the relationship between infant and adult. Babies who learn to sign at an early age were observed to have more vocabulary and able to construct sentences better compared to those who don’t. It is not true that babies who are taught to sign will not learn how to talk properly. As long as you sign and say the word simultaneously, your baby will still know how to talk. Since the baby is able to communicate correctly, he is smarter and able to learn better. Temperament and behavior is also tamed and controlled for better communication between baby and parent or caregiver leads to lesser frustration and confusion, lessening the incidence of tantrums.

The bond between parent and child increase the baby is now able to share what he has observed or experienced with his parent. He would be able to tell you that he saw a bird, a spider, or a balloon, and be able to tell his delight on his discovery. You will not only just hold your baby and nod over something that he is babbling even though you do not understand what he said. Signing gives your baby the advantage of improved interaction that can foster good self-esteem and self-confidence.

You can use your own method of signing, or do the recommended gestures of ASL. Either way, as long as you share your mode of signing to the family and to caregivers, your baby will still be able to communicate. There are different ways for you to learn sign language. There are certain sites that offer you a course for basic baby sign language, or you can order DVD’s, or enroll in baby ASL programs that can teach you basic sign language that is easy to understand, but not that complex or difficult for your baby to perform.

Signing Time! – ($129.99). It has 4 sets of dvd’s, 4 sets of cd’s, and 4 sets of signing flash cards that can help both you and your baby learn how to sign.

Baby Signs – ($39.95) offers a started DVD of 6 basic start signs, a parent DVD containing 100 signs, an 80-page parent guide, flip cards, and board books of signs categorized according to use (i.e. bath time signs, meal time signs). Aside from the offered DVD program, they also have instructional class so you can bring your baby along as both of you learn how to sign.

Babies and Sign Language – offers 3 different instructional DVD’s of sing language according to your child’s age. Baby sign language is priced $29.95 in Amazon.com

WeeHands – offers resource links on DVD’s to order to help you and your child sign. They also offer classes that can guide parents to effectively use sign language with babies.

Separation anxiety is the distress and fear infants and young kids have that their parents will leave them. It is a normal occurrence for many young children usually when they have develop the skill of object permanence or the mental ability to remember objects when they are no longer present. It is something that happened to all children at a certain stage of their growing years.
Babies can exhibit signs of separation as early as 6 to 7 months, but the crisis age for most babies is 12 to 18 months. By 6 months, an infant has built a strong attachment to his parent especially mother or caregiver. Separation anxiety stops at around 2 years of age. It can be quite intense during early years, with this intensity gradually decreasing as he gets older and become more and more used to being away from their primary caregivers.
Your child’s inability to understand that you will return at some point after you leave is the prime reason of separation anxiety.  Teaching your child this idea will help him overcome separation anxiety fast. Babies have diverse personalities, so some will experience more severe bouts of separation anxiety than others.
Signs of Separation Anxiety
* Crying when you leave the room
* Clinging or crying to the caretaker
* Awakening and crying at night
* Persistent reluctance or refusal to go to sleep at nighttime without a parent or caregiver nearby
* Crying when someone unfamiliar or stranger to them approaches
What to Do
* Avoid sneaking away when your child is not looking. It will only heighten the fear.
* Tell your child that you will be back when you leave. Be sure to keep your promise and be consistent.
* Give your infant a sweet hug and kiss, make your good-byes short when you leave.
* Calm and comfort your child when he feels afraid.
* Assist your baby to learn independence by allowing him to crawl around the room by himself.
* Provide some extra hugging time with your baby before sleep by reading and singing lullaby song for him.
* Introduce new people and faces little by little, so he gets familiarized to new faces and surroundings.
* Together, play “peek-a-boo “and “where’s the baby?” as it is an excellent way to practice separation in a fun and enjoyable way. This game allows him to have control over the separation.
* Try to lessen separations and take your baby along with you if he seems anxious.
* When awaken at night, comfort and reassure your child by gently patting him until he resumes sleeping.
Separation anxiety that lasts beyond 2 years of age may or may not be a problem depending on the level to which it interferes with the child’s behavior and development. This feeling of anxiousness should be diminished with time.
However, when child’s anxiety became severe and took longer than expected, it can turn into a disorder called Separation Anxiety Disorder or SAD. Your baby will exhibit severe signs of separation anxiety and will not stop in anticipated time. This anxiety is abnormal, thus, seeking medical attention for your child is needed. Parents are encouraged to be patient and perseverant in assisting their child work through infant separation anxiety.

PART II

You have passed the first hurdle of raising your baby. He’s now ready to transition to the next psychological development. It is still unclear how and exactly when a baby transitions between stages. Each transition occurs naturally, so you don’t have to worry about urging your baby to the next stage.

STAGE 2: AUTONOMY VS. SHAME AND DOUBT

(18 months – 3 years)

The toddler years are the most challenging in the early years of your child’s life. Your lovable angel has somehow turned into some entity that you have trouble controlling or supervising. That is because your baby is no longer concerned with self-discovery. He will now be interested in what is happening to the world around him. What is it that makes that television show those colorful moving pictures? What is that shining thing right on top of that tall shelf? What’s beyond that window that people always walk by? Everything is such a new thing for him that he would want to discover.

The “Terrible Two” is what mothers will call this stage. The toddler will now learn what “NO” means and use it in every way possible. And no, he is not using it to have some battle of wills with you. That happens during adolescence. What happens here is that he is learning that he is now a separate being, an individual capable of making decisions and acting upon it. He will now explore the world of action and counter-action. If he would do this, what would you do? If he does not do that, what will happen next? What you need to do is give him the autonomy that he seeks, yet still create a structure to help him control his basic urges. Your child’s ego is forming. Ego is believed to control the impulses and drives of a person. You must help him. Not by controlling every action that he makes, or letting him do as he pleases.

What creates a structure for him is his parents. Both parents should be doing their part in his world discovery. What can parents do?

1) Do not constrain or restrict excessively what your child can do. Let him explore his world, but provide a reasonable amount of limit on up to when and where he can do so. Guiding him will help promote his sense of autonomy, where he can trust his own abilities and judgments.

2) Do not scold him every time he says “no.” To prevent a battle of wills, you have to offer him choices, and then respect his choice. In dressing him, don’t show him his entire wardrobe. Choose two sets of clothes and ask him which of the two he would want. If you say that he cannot wear the blue shirt, he will insist on wearing the blue shirt. If he’s chosen the red one, don’t say it’s a bad choice. Tell him he’s done a good job in choosing for himself and give him is preference.

3) Whenever he makes a mistake, give him the right amount of scolding in relation to the extent of the mistake done. Do not scold him and spank him when he’s clumsily toppled over his sippy cup or if he goes to the living room when you told him to stay in his room. As much as possible, tell him what he’s done wrong and show him how to do it right.

Constant and unrealistic restrictions will result in feeling shameful over things that he would do. Slapping his hand for getting his hands dirty, scolding him excessively over being naturally clumsy will lead to obsessive-compulsive issues when he gets old. He will become dependent and insecure of his abilities. Lack of structure, being lenient or lax during his exploration that results to harm to himself and to others will lead to impulsiveness, lack of self-control.

Parents are always concerned whenever their babies or children suck on their thumbs. They are always wondering why their children are doing so and often scold them or slap their hands to stop them.

Babies have been known to thumbsuck even as young as 15 weeks from conception. Since we cannot delve into the mind and physiology of a fetus inside a mother’s womb, conclusive studies why a fetus would thumbsuck cannot be done. On the other hand, we do know why babies thumbsuck. At birth whenever you place something on your baby’s lips, their instinct is to suck on that object. That reflex is called “sucking reflex,” an instinct given by nature to help the baby survive outside the uterus. This way, the baby will need not be taught how to get milk from their mother’s breasts. Whenever babies are distressed, bored, or simply exploring their body parts or any object that they get in contact with, they put them in their mouths. Sigmund Freud classified this stage in his Psychoanalytic Theory as the Oral Stage. This stage must be satisfied appropriately in order for the child not to carry it when they reach the age of 2. Unresolved, the baby will carry this desire to thumbsuck right up to the age of 7-10. This will now pose some orthodontic problems like alveolar prognathism

To know how to stop your child from thumbsucking, you must know the root cause. Knowing the root cause will help you find ways to divert your child’s attention gradually from thumbsucking. Here are some common reasons why your child thumbsuck.

Anxiety: your child may be distressed about something. See what he’s afraid of, what has caused such anxiety or fear. Most kids have been observed to thumbsuck after a heavy scolding from a parent, whenever they see their parents fight, or whenever he and a sibling or a friend fought over a toy. Comfort your child and do not forcibly remove his thumb from his mouth. Talk to him; console him until his fears or anxiety has been resolved. You’ll notice that every now and then he will remove his thumb as his distress is slowly removed. When he’s totally let go of his thumb that would be the time to tell him not to thumbsuck whenever he has problems, but come to you instead. Do not scold him for placing thumbsucking. If you slap his hand or scold him, he will only resume thumbsucking whenever you’re not around.

Boredom: You’ll definitely notice that your child is bored by the way he walks, and on that dissatisfied expression you see in his face. Do not place him in front of the TV with his favorite cartoon. What you need is an activity that would keep his hands busy and occupied. Is it time to prepare dinner? Take him into the kitchen and let him help you with setting the table. Even if you don’t feel like it, bake something and have him help with mixing, or forming dough. Take him outside and play ball with him. Always keep his hands busy so he won’t remember sucking on it.

If all of these actions fail, have an appointment with an orthodontist and have him explain the effects of thumbsucking. Ask the orthodontist to show your child pictures of different children of with orthodontic problems because of thumbsucking. Remember that you need to be patient in helping your child stop. Usually, it takes about 2 weeks or more for the child to stop once you have used the appropriate measures to help him out of his fixation. Children respond more to praise than harsh words, so remember to give encouraging words to your child whenever he’s not sucking his thumb.