Parenting Healthy Confident Children by Jane Thurnell-Read

Being a good parent can seem like an impossible task, but remember there is no such thing as a perfect parent. Don't judge yourself by too high a standard. A guilty parent doesn't produce a happy child. That said check out these ideas to help you rear a healthy, confident child.

Healthy Sleeping For Babies And Children

Children who sleep on a mattress that is more than 10 years old are more likely to suffer from asthma, aggravated at night by dust mites thriving in the damp, warm environment. Don't let you baby overheat while asleep (a risk factor for cot death). Keep the bedroom between 16 and 20 degrees centigrade. Babies should be put to sleep on their backs with the feet to the foot of the cot for the first 6 months of their life. Breast feeding reduces the risks of sudden infant death (cot death). Do not let anyone smoke in the house around a baby. Keeping babies in a smoke-free environment could reduce the chances of cot death by as much as 60%.

Rearing Confident Children

Build independence by allowing your child to try and fail. Your children learn from how you negotiate difficult situations with them. Listen to their point of view, as well as giving your own. Work out the issues that are really important to you, and explain why to them. Don't make personal critical remarks to your children that you wouldn't consider making to a friend.

Children's Attention Span

Mineral and Multivitamin supplements have been found to improve children's attention span in a study by British and Australian researchers. (British Journal Of Nutrition 2008)

Paracetamol And Asthma

An international study found children treated with paracetamol in the first year of life had a 46 per cent increased risk of developing asthma by the age of seven. (European Respiratory Journal 2008)

Personal Music Players

Personal music players usually have a maximum decibel level of 100; prolonged exposure to anything above 80 decibels will damage your child's hearing. Visit the Apple web site to download a software patch that will allow you to set the maximum volume on an iPod. If your kids like their music loud, turn up the bass, so that the music seems louder, and then you can turn down the volume.

Traffic Aware Children

Living Streets, a UK charity, says that children who don't practice walking to primary school are less traffic aware and more likely to have road accidents.

Car Seats

Backless booster car seats have been found to be ineffective; use a high-back booster and protect your child from injury. A child safety seat for children up to the age of 6 reduces the risk of death in a car accident by 28%. Archives of Paediatric & Adolescent Medicine 2006; 160: 617-21.

Eczema

Probiotics have been shown to help babies and children with eczema. Try giving them  a good quality acidophilus supplement specifically formulated for children.

Cuts And Grazes

Use natural calendula cream to soothe cuts and grazes.

Hay Fever And Exams

Hay fever medication containing chlorpheniramine has been shown to result in a 40% chance of a drop in grade if taken during exams. Try safe, effective homeopathic remedies instead.

Emergency First Aid

If a toddler is not breathing, lift the chin while pushing down on the forehead to open the airways. (NHS Direct)

Carrying Backpacks

Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10% of his or her body weight. Otherwise the child is likely to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back. (American Chiropractic Association)

Plastic Toys

Only buy good-quality plastic toys for young children. Cheap ones may contain phthalates which are known to cause problems in the body. If the child sucks a cheap plastic toy, they could be getting a dose of phthalates.

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Copyright 2009 Jane Thurnell-Read Healthy Living for Babies And Children