Category Archives: Babycare Advice

Lots of ideas and advice to help guide you

February 15, 2022 · 1:36 pm

Family-Friendly Outings and Activities to Combat Nature-Deficit Disorder 

By Emma Grace Brown

Image via Pexels

If your kids spend much of their time cooped up indoors, you may be worried about nature-deficit disorder (NDD), a term that describes the physical, mental, and emotional effects of spending too little time in nature. To assist you in getting your children outside and teaching them to appreciate the great outdoors, we’ve put together the following list of backyard activities and nature-based outings for families. NannySavvy invites you to read on to get started! 

Unique Strategies for Getting Your Kids Outside

These days, it can be tough to pry those kids away from the television or iPad, but don’t worry. Here are lots of things you can try.

  • If your little one has a fondness for bugs, or you want to prevent them from developing an irrational fear of insects, Fatherly suggests you try sending them on a backyard bug hunt. And if they’re really ambitious, you could even challenge your little nature-lover to build a backyard bug hotel!
  • If you’re looking for something cheaper, how about installing an in-ground trampoline?
  • If you’re looking for some fresh air and fairly easy set-up, a badminton net is one idea that never gets old.
  • Ready to cool off from the hot sun? Then follow these instructions for building a backyard splash pad.
  • There’s more to camping than tents and s’mores, including this whole list of games and treats to get the most out of your backyard.
  • Keep in mind that any major changes you make to your home can have a huge impact on your home’s appraisal value if you decide to sell.
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Nature-Based Outings for the Whole Family

Looking to venture a little further than your own backyard? Well, we have you covered there, too!

Photo by Alexandr Podvalny on Pexels.com

There you have it: a variety of family-friendly activities to get you and your kids outdoors and exploring the natural world around you. Whether you build an outdoor basketball court or go mountain biking as a family, you’ll be exposing your children to the great outdoors while protecting them — and yourself — from nature-deficit disorder. 

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September 21, 2021 · 12:30 pm

5 Most Common Eye Problems in Children

By Aaron Barriga

We consider eyes the mirrors of our soul. Undoubtedly, we know it is the most valuable body part.

A child’s health is always a priority for a parent. Eyes being the most sensitive body part, it is normal for you to freak out whenever your child experiences any kind of eye problem.

Over the years, your child can develop a variety of vision problems. Always consult your doctor if their problems cause them excruciating pain.

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We will discuss the 5 most common eye problems in children:

1. Refractive error

When the eye struggles to focus light on the retina, it leads to blurry vision and other visual problems. This is called a refractive error.

It is an umbrella term for the following eye conditions:

  • Astigmatism: Due to improperly shaped cornea, your child can have astigmatism. This affects your child’s near as well as far sight vision. 

If the cornea (front portion of the eye) has a physical defect in its curve, the retina cannot focus on the light entering the eye. This results in blurred vision.

  • Presbyopia: Translated literally into the ageing eye, it is a condition of reduced elasticity of the lens. Because of the loss of elasticity, the eye cannot focus on nearsighted objects.

Presbyopia is not a disease. It is caused by ageing in human beings, which is entirely normal. It is termed a progressive eye condition.

  • Myopia (nearsightedness): In this eye condition, children can see close objects, but objects at far distances appear blurry. This is a genetic condition, and your child might get affected by it at a young age.

The light cannot focus on the retina, but it focuses on images in front of the retina and hence, this causes blurred vision.

  • Hyperopia (farsightedness): The exact opposite of myopia, hyperopia is an eye condition where the child can see objects at a distance, but things nearby appear blurry.

With this condition, children’s eyeballs are shorter than usual and the cornea has a flatter curve. The focus point of light rays falls far beyond the retina when looking at objects nearby.

2. Amblyopia

Amblyopia is poor vision in children’s eyes because of a lack of proper visual stimulation in the early childhood stage.

This condition is also commonly referred to as lazy eye. It can result from diseases like strabismus, a pediatric cataract, or a high glasses prescription that is not detected early.

3. Strabismus (Eye Turn)

In strabismus, the eye muscles do not work correctly in sync. This means that one eye is turned inward, outward, upward, or downward. Hence, this condition is also called crossed eyes.

It can be that your child is born with this condition or can also develop because of an accident or other health problems.

4. Conjunctivitis

This condition is a contagious viral or bacterial infection. Commonly known as ‘pink eye’, your child’s eye will appear red and inflamed with discharge running out of their tear duct.

5. Cataract

In this condition, the eye lens gets clouded, obstructing light, leading to unclear vision and sometimes blindness in your child.

If your child’s pupil looks white when a flashlight is shined upon their eye, your child has symptoms of cataract. Surgery is required to remove the clouded vision in their sight.

Stay Alert

Eye problems are always a subject of concern for parents across the globe. Although, with proper treatment and early diagnosis, you can avoid any kind of severe damage to your child’s eye.

Keep looking for signs of problems in your child’s eyes and always run to a doctor to avoid further damage.

Author Bio:   

A person wearing glasses Description automatically generated with low confidence

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs with a mission of informing readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care especially LASIK. He loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visits during his travel.

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July 19, 2021 · 1:47 pm

How to Foster Positive Mental Health in Young Children

By Victoria Smith

Photo by Eren Li on Pexels.com

If you talk to most adults who’ve gone through therapy, they’ll tell you that a lot of therapy sessions are focused on what happened during their childhood years. The childhood years are the formulaic foundation for the rest of a person’s life. While you can’t control their actions and decisions, you can provide a good foundation in their childhood years. Consider some of the best ways to foster positive mental health in your young children.

1. Prioritize Adequate Rest, Nutrition, and Natural Light

The H.A.L.T. method is an acronym that helps people monitor their mental and physical health. If you’re hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (H.A.L.T.), you’re more likely to make poor decisions. Especially when children are young, they’re learning how to manage their emotions. This is one of the reasons why the timeframe that’s known as the “Terrible Twos” can be so tough. However, it’s important to teach your children to communicate their needs. Sometimes, a child is having a tantrum because they’re lonely and feel like they haven’t gotten enough quality time with you. If you’re spending hours at the computer, schedule more breaks to read a book with your child, take a walk, or do a different activity that they love.

2. Create a Safe Space for Open, Honest Communication

From a young age, children quickly learn the importance of protecting the feelings of others. They learn how to hide their emotions in order to avoid hurting someone else. While they may not have mastered filtered responses the way adults do, don’t be surprised by how much children can keep to themselves in order to protect the feelings of others. While it’s good to be thoughtful, you do want your children to be honest and open about their feelings. Foster a good sense of communication with each other. If you want your children to be open and honest with you, you also have to make sure you’re non-judgemental. If your children feel as though they’ll be punished if they’re open and honest, they’re less likely to do it.

3. Learn More About Various Disorders

Educate yourself on the various ways different mental health disorders can develop. It’s also important to pay attention to the signs of a developing illness. It’s possible for children to be depressed or anxious. It’s important to recognize it as it develops because it’s often viewed as a child being disagreeable or disobedient. Many mental health professionals like Dr. Ramani Durvasula continue to relentlessly fight against the raging epidemic of narcissism. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is severely underdiagnosed because many people don’t realize the severity of it. However, a narcissistic personality disorder is actually developed in childhood years. By providing a healthy emotional foundation, you may be able help your child avoid the snares of a disorder or a mental breakdown in the future.

4. Prioritize Your Own Mental Health Routine

Your children can learn so much from you. What they see you do, they’ll naturally emulate. If they see you taking time to prioritize self-care, therapy sessions, and a thoughtful way of living, know that it will impact their lives as well. As their parent, you are your children’s greatest teacher. Lead by example. By prioritizing your own mental health, you’ll teach your children to do the same. Whether they recognize it as children or as adults, your habits will influence their future habits.

While these tips can be incredibly effective in creating a beautiful experience for young children, be mindful that there will be times when you make mistakes. If you make a mistake, you can learn from it and try to do better. By utilizing these tips and strategies to provide and foster a healthy space for mental wellness, you’re doing your part to make sure your children can soar as individuals in the world.

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July 12, 2021 · 1:33 pm

Productive Personality Development Activities You Can Do With Your Child This Summer.

By Samidha Raj

Photo by Tatiana Twinslol on Pexels.com

Summer is a great time to plan new activities with your children. With schools off, children have plenty of time for fun and learning activities that you can do together. You can choose from a plethora of activities that are fun for the whole family. Summer can also be a great time to engage in productive activities for a child’s personality development. Such activities are crucial to develop your child’s confidence, communication skills, and most importantly, to help parents understand their child’s dominant personality traits.

Personality development activities are great for parents and children to know each other better and bond with one another. This bonding can be essential for raising your child better while engaging your child in productive activities that don’t rely on technology. So go ahead and try the activities listed below to develop your child’s social and personality skills over the summer break – 

Get Artsy

Art is a beautiful form of expression that brings out the creativity in children. Asking your child to draw something that gives them joy or something they fear can give you insights into their creativity. Art is also an excellent way to stimulate your child’s imagination. Children who speak less find it easier to express their thoughts through art, and in turn, it can help you understand your child better. Art is a crucial part of personality development for children.

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Reading Books

It may sound simple, but reading with your child from a young age can contribute significantly to your child’s personality development. Reading at bedtime can be a routine activity, but you can find more time to read with children in the summers. Experiment with new kinds of books that your child has never read before. New books can give your child food for thought and enhance their thinking. Introduce new concepts through storybooks and discuss them with your child. Reading for kids helps them develop a reading habit for life, builds vocabulary, and improves communication skills.

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Prepare Your Child For the Stage

Play pretend with your child as they are the star of the show on a stage, while you and the other family members are the audiences. Give your child a mic to play with or to sing into. A lot of children get stage fright just because they have never seen a mic before. Such activities will help your children overcome stage fright and encourage them to participate in school-stage activities.

Photo by Budgeron Bach on Pexels.com

Educational Games

Find new games that are not only fun but also help your child learn in the process. There are many games such as puzzles, quiz games, and word games like scrabble that the whole family can play together. Such games help in stimulating your child’s thinking and enhance their problem-solving abilities. If your child needs more practice in a particular subject, pick games that allow children to practice skills in that area, such as math games or science experiments. 

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Journaling

Maintaining a journal is an excellent habit for everyone to sort their thoughts and introspect. Start this habit early by encouraging your child to write a journal describing their day. Encourage them to write about anything new that they did or anything memorable. Journaling can help your child express thoughts that they are unable to say aloud and develop their writing skills. Writing a diary can also be an excellent way for children to unwind at the end of the day.

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Personality development for children is not a goal that can be attained overnight. Parents need to make continuous efforts throughout the child’s schooling years to help them attain the skills they need to become responsible adults. Summer is a great time to focus on other aspects of your child’s learning that are not taught in a classroom. Whatever activity you choose, think about how it can be productive and fun for your children.

Every child is different, and you may need to come up with new ideas that suit your child’s interests. Make sure to try some of the activities listed above and see the results.

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June 14, 2021 · 10:07 am

Foods for Your Kid’s Dental Health

By Dr Anu Isaac

As a parent, you are always on the lookout for nourishing food for your kids. And one of your primary concerns is often your kids’ healthy teeth. So we are here for all the parents who want to ensure that their kids grow up with healthy and strong teeth.

Food is a significant factor for a child’s overall development. Certain foods are beneficial for the dental health of kids, while some are bad for your teeth. Let’s find out more about the connection between nutrition and the oral health of your kids.

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Educate Your Child About Healthy Food

It is better to help kids learn about nutrition rather than merely telling them what to eat and what not to eat. Explain to them that the kind of food they eat directly impacts their dental and overall health.

Try to include food in your kids’ diets with high nutrition and antioxidants. It improves their immunity and provides healthy gums and teeth.

Foods for Good Dental Health of Your Kids

• Fruits & Vegetables

Encourage your kids to eat crunchy fruits and veggies like apple, carrot, and celery. They clean the teeth and stimulate gums with their fiber content. Also, promote veggies and fruits with high water content like melons, cucumber, and pears. They produce saliva, which flushes down remaining food particles and bacteria.

• Green Vegetables

Green vegetables like spinach and kale are great for your kids. They contain lots of calcium, nutrients, vitamins and minerals to strengthen bones. In addition, green leafy veggies are great for your kids’ healthy teeth as they help build up strong tooth enamel.

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• Calcium-rich Diet

Dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, vitamin D, protein, and other nutrients essential for building strong enamel and teeth. Include low-fat cheese, yogurt, and milk in your kid’s diet. Along with calcium, the probiotics in yogurt also help in fighting the bacteria.

• Foods Containing Protein

Protein is also required for generating tooth enamel. Encourage your kids to eat protein-rich foods for good dental health. Chicken, turkey, lean meat, peanut butter, and nuts contain protein in abundance. Include these food items in your kids’ diet.

• Cheese

The raised PH level in your kid’s mouth due to cheese prevents it from bacteria and cavities. So include cheese in a varied diet.

Bad Food for Teeth & Gums of Kids

• Chewy & Sticky Food

Sticky food doesn’t get clean quickly and generates bacteria in the mouth. Keep your kids away from raisins, jelly beans, syrups, and other chewy and sticky food items.

• Sugary Food & Beverages

Sugar lingers onto your kid’s teeth and forms cavities. It’s crucial for your kid’s dental health to stay away from sugary food and drinks like candies, sports drinks, colas, etc.

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• Carbohydrate & Starch

The snacks for kids in the market are full of carbohydrates and starch, like chips, pasta, burgers, etc. The remaining particles of such food can convert into sugar. Limit consumption of these food items.

• Citrus Fruits

Yes, they contain vitamin C, but they also contain acid, which can cause significant harm to the enamel. So give your child citrus fruits like lemon, orange, tomato, etc., in moderation with other food.

Conclusion

Encourage healthy eating in your kids. And tell them to brush immediately after eating any food which is bad for their teeth. Besides nutritious food, maintaining oral hygiene daily and regular dental check-ups are vital for your kid’s dental health.

Photo by Jane D. on Pexels.com

Author Bio:

Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD, runs a successful dental practice in Salem, MA. Dr. Isaac strives for quality on a daily basis and this commitment to quality is reflected in her constant pursuit of advanced training. Her firm belief that even experts need to stay updated about what’s new in the dental field, enables her to provide every patient with optimal oral care. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental communities with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.

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