First thing in the morning, we took baby Edward to have his jaundice checked at the government clinic. Good thing the clinic is barely 5 mins drive from our house. Baby Edward jaundice level was 9.9 and the nurse said he need not be admitted.

By noon, my husband felt like vomitting and so did Clarisse. She was rudely woken up from her afternoon nap by the urge to throw up and she vomitted on her bed. Two hours later, she threw up again. This is the first time she experienced nausea and vomitting. The feeling of discomfort made her really uncomfortable as I’ve never seen her cried so terribly.

Later in the evening, Clarisse developed fever and by night time her temperature was quite high. We gave her Voltaren suppository before she sleep as the dose of ibuprofen given an hour earlier wasn’t enough to bring down her fever.

After a night’s sleep, my husband was feeling way better and pretty much recovered. But we can’t say the same for Clarisse.

This morning we brought her to a paediatrician as her fever is still lingering. The paediatrician also did a rapid test to check for the likelihood of influenza A(H1N1). She called 30 minutes later to inform us it’s not influenza A type so that rules out H1N1. I was so relieved to hear that.

We’re now praying baby Edward doesn’t get the flu bug. In fact, I’m hoping I myself doesn’t get it as I’m breastfeeding him. I’m suppose to get as much rest possible during my confinement month but things just won’t let me have it my way.

How does one get infected with chicken pox?

Chicken pox is caused by a highly contagious virus known as varicella-zoster. It spread easily through droplets from an infected individual when he or she sneezes. You may not realise you have caught the chicken pox virus until two to three weeks later. Chicken pox virus requires 10 to 21 days incubation period after exposure.

Even before the rashes start to appear, an infected individual can spread the virus to surrounding people two days before chicken pox rashes are seen developing.

An infected invidual who appears to have recovered from chickenpox recently may still be infectious until all the scabs resulting from dried up fluid filled vesicles are completely dried.

Symptoms

A person who is infected by Chickenpox develops fever, cough and runny nose. Followed closely by rashes that turns into vesicles filled with fluid in a couple of days. The fluid filled vesicles spread throughout the entire body including the scalp and mouth.

Complications

Rarely does chicken pox takes a turn for the worst. In such cases, complications due to chicken pox usually starts with infection of the lesions which causes it to produce pus. A recurring fever may be triggered.

Haemorrhagic varicella is a condition when bleeding into the lesions occur. The virus compromises the body’s immune system of an individual. It makes him/her more susceptible to bacteria which causes infections. There is a risk where bacteria enters the bloodstream and infects other organs in their body. This in turn gives rise to a condition where the individual experiences widespread bleeding. Fatality resulting from widespread bleeding may occur.

The lungs, for instance, when exposed to the virus might risk developing pneumonia. In some cases, “empyema” occurs when the lung cavity may be infected to the extend of producing pus.

The virus may affect the brain by the widespread infection resulting in encephalitis or cebellar ataxia. Encephalitis symptoms include fever, headache and photophobia with weakness and seizures. Cebellar ataxia causes the individual to have problems balancing in an upright position.

Treatment

Barring any complications, most children requires only calamine lotion to relieve the itch. Fever medication will also be administered to bring temperature under control.

For individuals who belongs to the high risk category, they are advised to consult their doctor immediately. They will be prescribed acyclovir, an oral drug to contain possible infection during the course of chickenpox rashes. In some severe cases, chickenpox patients may be admitted to the hospital for observation where intravenous acyclovir, administered by injection, is needed.

These days, fast food is a big part of modern life. It might seem to be a losing battle as fast food joints come up with all sorts of gimmicks and marketing ploys to attract our kid’s attention. Even baby Clarisse, now twenty months old, recognises the golden arches and associate McDonalds as a fun place. She’d make a fuss while pointing her finger whenever we drive by a McDonald outlet. If you let your child the alternative between healthy food and junk food, you usually will not like the answer. As parents we have to stick to guns and hopefully our kids adopt a healthy eating lifestyle.

Although it is not possible to make a child to like all healthy foods, there are many methods to make your child taste them and hopefully like some of them. Try to be as creative as you can.

• Sneak the healthy food in. Even though it would be good if your kid realised the importance of fruits and vegetables, this isn’t always workable. If you can not make them to consume good food willingly, there are methods to sneak them in, such as making muffins out of pears or bananas, or pizza with spinach on it.
• Give fruits and vegetables a funny names. For example you can refer cauliflower as “little flower”, make your child having more fun to eat. You can use many different funny names on fruits and vegetables. In this way, most kids choose to eat
  foods that sound amusing.
• Cook foods with better taste. Ranch dressing is great for broccoli, while peanut butter is a great topping for celery. There are various combinations for vegetables that can get them taste better. Try let your child pick a topping for a vegetable, even if it’s something you would not usually like yourself.
• Make the vegetable look nice with some decoration. Just as much as calling them names help kids eat healthy foods, making them look funny also helps. You can do this by creating humorous designs on the plate, or marking them up to look like people. Although some parents do not like their kids playing with their food, but sometimes it work to get them to eat healthier.

There are few methods to make your kids eat more healthy, but the key to effectiveness is for it to be fun so that they will enjoy it. This definately is not an easy task, I grant you, because kids usually do not like healthy food but it can be done with a bit of creativity. Good luck!

It may simply be her sudden discovery of a new physical sensation by grinding her teeth. I have even asked the paeditrician why Clarisse is doing it and would it be advisable to bring her to a dentist. According to her experience, dentists have yet to determine what cause toddlers to grind their teeth. At least the mental and emotional side of it. But I was also told that teeth grinding, as horrible as it can sound, would never be severe enough to cause much worry. Baby teeth are only meant to last for a span of few years so long lasting problems are negligible. Even so, it would take much more severe grinding to wear out their teeth.

What to do

Dehydration may be linked to teeth grinding. Make sure your toddler drinks lots of water to prevent dehydration.

Massage and stretching exercises tend to relax their muscles. Stress in children of school going age may cause teeth grinding.

With the case of preschool toddlers, bear with the annoying sound of teeth grinding no matter how horrible it can sound. I am lucky Clarisse is barely 15 months old and with her tiny set of teeth, doesn’t make such an unbearable scratching noise. It was the thought of her teeth exposed to the damage of grinding that worries and annoys me more than the sound.

Does your child’s teeth gnashing indicates tension or anxiety? Rarely because of their young age. What you should be worried about is evidence of significant jaw discrepancy that is the cause of toddler’s teeth grinding. In this case, a dentist’s help and monitoring is required. A dentist’s intervention is usually required for school going age children if teeth grinding becomes a pro longed occurance.

Either way, it doesn’t matter. I have yet to been to a dinner where someone doesn’t poke their utensils into the dish. As a result, I always strive to be the first off the block when the dishes arrive on the table. I would dash forward to grab a portion before everyone else stick their chopsticks into the dish. It’s ugly I know but far less disgusting than eating from a dish where there’s bits of their saliva from everyone at the table.

Start your child off to good dental health practise. Cultivate the habit of good daily dental care and to ensure it lasts a lifetime. Therefore, it is never too early to get your toddler into habit of brushing their teeth regularly each day.

When my baby Clarisse’s first pair of teeth came out a few months ago, I started to clean her teeth and mouth when she her teeth started to grow. I used a small wet handkerchief, damp it with some warm water to wipe her teeth and tongue instead of a baby toothbrush.

When more teeth sprouted, I started to introduce her to the toothbrush. She was hesitant initially but it didn’t take long for me to tempt her into brushing her teeth. Just like a particular character in her favourite TV show “In The Night Garden”, the Tombliboos who sang and danced their way while brushing their teeth in one of the episodes. “Let’s brush your teeth like Tombliboos” I used to say to her, she would gladly open her mouth wide and let mommy brushes her teeth.

Here’s a few pointers on toothbrushes, toothpaste and overall good practises when brushing your toddler’s teeth:

• Do select a toothbrush designed for young children which specify the age group on the box. A small head and soft with rounded bristles is most suitable for young children
• Never use toothpaste until your toddler is able to rinse and spit out the residue. Instead, I’d put a very small amount of mineral salt in a small cup of water and dip the toothbrush into the diluted salt water to brush my baby Clarisse’s teeth.
• Rinse toothbrush thoroughly after each use and keep it in a holder. Remember not to put the tooth brush lying around where it can easily pick up bacteria.
• It is advisable to replace the brush every three months or when it looks worn. On top of that, if you’re the extremely cautious sort, some people replace toothbrushes after their child has recently been ill. This is to avoid reinfection whereby germs may hide in the bristles.
• It’s more important to focus on the molars than the front teeth, therefore always remember to brush from back to front. I gentle brush Clarisse’s teeth with back and forth motion across the chewing surfaces. Then use a circular motion along the sides and the outer gum lines, a back-and-forth motion on inner surfaces. Gums where teeth has yet to erupt should be lightly brushed or wiped with a gauze pad.

Again, one of your biggest hurdle is to get your toddler sit still long enough to get the entire job done. My baby Clarisse would stand still for a few seconds for me to brush her teeth, then walk about here and there. It takes a bit of complimenting and persuasion to get her back standing still for me to finish the job. Hopefully, as time goes by, she’ll get into the habit of having her teeth brushed every day and won’t make a fuss about it.

It’s never too early to instill good dental habits in your toddler. Happy brushing!

This morning we went for Dim Sum with my in-laws in an open air restaurant. When I arrive, my father-in-law walked toward us and wanted to amuse baby Clarisse. Seeing him with a ciggarette in hand, I just walked pass him (I know I’m a bit rude but I have no choice) without a care. Its situations like these when I’d rather hurt his feelings than baby Clarisse’s health.

This is not the first time I’ve been in such a situation. I remember 2 years ago while I was pregnant, he chain smoked at the table when we were having lunch together. That time I would just walk away from the table, waited until he’s done with it and walk back to the table. I don’t know whether he felt it or not but he just couldn’t be bothered seeing it time and time again he lits up within close proximity to the family. From then on, whenever we are to dine at non-air-conditioned places, I’d avoid going altogether because I’m certain we’re all going to be second-hand smokers.

Advising him? Let’s just say we’ve known him long enough to realise he’s not someone who take criticisms well. In other words, a person who easily gets offended.

Everytime my father-in-law lits up near baby Clarisse, my mind boggles at how inconsiderate and ignorant he can be to the harm second-hand smoke can do to people around him, let alone a one-year-old baby. It is very inconsiderate of him to smoke in front of children.

The risks of tobacco smoke are many. It can weaken the air-ways, making them more vulnerable to germs, poisons and pollutants and also reduces blood levels of vitamins C. Children who are often exposed to second hand smoke are more susceptible to asthma, tonsillitis, respiratory infections, ear infection and bacterial and viral infections which is severe enough to land them in the hospital or even kill them. On average, one study found, they are more likely than other children to be in fair or poor health. There is an increased risk down the road of developing lung cancer or cancer of the cervix, brain, breast, or thyroid.

Besides that, smoking in front of young children would sets a bad example. Children who see someone smoke, they would risk becoming smokers themselves (although my husband begs to differ) and with all the shortened life span that the habit involves.

If you do not want your children to have all these risks, try not to let your child exposed to tobacco smoke.

Kind of unfair to single out sushi as the main cuisine to have raw meat and fish I admit. Sickness contracted from uncooked food can be especially harmful to pregnant women. Food poisoning can cause diarrhoea which reduces your body’s ability to absorb nutrient. On the other end, it can cause severe complications and lead to foetal abnormalities.

Cold cuts

Make sure to put pre-packed lunch meat in the microwave before eating them. Pre-packed lunch meat usually sold at supermarket deli counter are known to carry the risk of containing listeria. Listeria can survive despite being heated before you buy them.

Cured Meat

Sausages and bacon are full of nirates and preservatives. Something pregnant women should try to avoid as these substances may be linked to foetal abnormalities. Like pre-packed meat, they should be consumed when steaming hot to ensure no risks of possible listeria contamination.

Soft cheeses

Brie and soft cheese such as blanco, queso and Camembert are considered high-risk food group for listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne bacteria which is known to cause serious health problems for pregnant women.

Energy bars

Energy bars are great as they are powerhouse when it comes to multivitamin contents. So much so that it could be detrimental and potentially toxic to pregnant women who are on regular prescription of pre-natal vitamins. Pregnant women already consuming pre-natal vitamins are adviced against taking extra supplements to prevent overdosage.

When you’re pregnant, your hormones relaxes your bowel muscles. Slowing down your bowel muscles also hampers intestinal movements. Hence, limiting your muscles’ ability to push food and waste down your intestines.

Here are some tips to keep your bowel movement moving along:

• Fluids, and lots of them. Drink more water regularly.
• Keep your feet up in an elevated position whenever possible. Preferrably when you’re lying down because sitting down too much is unadvisable.
• Supplement your daily cup of hot cereal with a dash of molasses or grounded flaxseed. Adding them to hot drinks if much preferrable to drinking it straight with a warm cup of plain water.
• Being pregnant doesn’t mean you are banned from exercising. Regular, gentle exercise like walking, swimming, stationary cycling, yog a or pilates (watched by a professional trainer of course) improves bowel stimulation. You’ll find your body able to digest food better. Kegels (floor exercises for pelvic) also benefit bowel movements by improving blood flow to the bowel area.
• Go whenever you feel the urge to pass motion. Don’t wait or you’ll risk having your stool become dry and hard.
• Certain fruits and nuts contain natural laxatives. Go with olive oil, watercress, soybeans, apricots, almonds, mangos and perhaps best of all: prunes.

With a little careful planning, even air travel can be organised into a manageable logistical mess. The word is manageable at the very best because frankly, you’d never know what to expect.

Before embarking on your overseas trip, have your baby checked for vaccinations that might be needed in the country you’re visiting, particularly third world and developing countries. A visit to the doctor a few weeks beforehand is advised as some vaccinations require separate doses over several weeks.

Never leave packing your luggage, both hand-carry and suitcases, should be packed at least 2 weeks before your trip. You have another huge checklist now, your baby’s stuff – bottles, towels, feeding utensils, infant formula (may I suggest in carefully pre-measured scoops). And last but not least, your baby’s medical kit which should consists of the following items:

• Thermometer
• Acetaminophen to relieve your baby of pain and reduce fever
• Saline drops to thin and loosen mucus in your baby’s stuffy nose
• Anti-inflammatory cream for bug bites
• Antibiotic ointment to any cuts and bruises

A baby sling will come in very handy throughout your entire trip. Put your baby in the sling so that both your hands are free. Trust me, you’ll feel like needing another pair of hands all the time when travelling.

Some airlines are what you would call baby-friendly. They provide diapers, cleansing wipes, creams and various baby supplies on the plane. Furthermore, flight attendants are trained to help service whatever you might need to care for your baby during the flight from setting up baby cots (yes, some airlines do provide cots for infants) and booster seats for kids to heating up your baby bottle upon request.

As for departure schedule, try not to pick the busiest times at the airport. Give yourself plenty of time to leave for the airport, check in early and prep your baby up before boarding the flight. A change of diapers for your baby just before boarding is highly recommended. Choose the most ultra-absorbent ones you can find. Diaper pants can be more convenient than normal diapers during the flight as changing diapers in restricted spaces is always a hassle.

Try to request for front-row seats for more legroom. It’s a lot easier to have room to maneuver when tending to your baby’s needs.

During take-off and landing, try feeding or nursing your baby to help clear your baby’s plugged ears due to changing cabin air pressure.

Most importantly, bring along your sanity and remain calm throughout your trip. Things do go wrong no matter and you find yourself in trying situations. Do not panic and always ask for help.