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Protect Your Little Ones from Mosquitos July 17, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Infants- Sleeping and Napping, Nursery, Toddlers, active kids, babies, health, safety, summer fun.
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Mosquitos are an unpleasant nuisance and can ruin an enjoyable summer evening but they also carry West Nile which could be deadly especially to am infant.   An ounce of prevention is much better than a infant howling with itchy red welts.        Understanding what attracts mosquitoes is as important as understanding what repels them.  Mosquitos like humidity such as perspiration and moist plants, dark clothing, carbon dioxide, floral scents, still air, early mornings or evenings and lactic acid which is released after exercising or eating salty or high-potassium foods.  People who eat garlic are often not bothered by insects as much.  Avoid taking your infant out at night and dump all old standing water such as rain barrels and items that have accumulated water. 

You might want to try several of the suggestions below.

 -  Dress your infant or small child in long sleeves and long pants-even if it’s really hot you can easily choose a light fabric which will help cover their bare legs and arms. Mosquitos are attracted to bright colors.
 
- If you have mosquitos in your house your children and infants should wear loose long-sleeved pajamas and sleep under a light sheet.
 
- A moving fan may prevent mosquitoes from landing near a crib but be sure it is not within reach of the baby or small child.
 
- Children should never use a DEET concentration over 10% since beyond this concentration they can get systemic absorption and be more susceptible to the effect of DEET.   Read labels carefully! There are repellents made specifically for infants for purchase in drug stores.
 
-  Lemon eucalyptus mosquito repellent smells nice and has no DEET but you should check the label for suggestions for infants and toddlers.  Organic eucalyptus and lemon balm oils are also both natural and effect.  Two ounces of chopped garlic mixed into a cup of warm water makes a fairly reliable organic spray but it does smell bad. Soybean oil has also been known to be effective. Many parents say that Avon Skin-so-Soft can repel the majority of mosquitoes. Mosquitos may land but not bite.
- Use insect screen with fine mesh on windows and doors in the house and tents.  Use a mosquito net over beds if mosquitos cannot be kept out but be sure the net is secure so that a baby cannot get tangled in it.  A small net is great for a stroller when you have outside events-just drape over stroller and tuck in the edges.  Some strollers even come with a bug net.

 -  Never allow children to apply their own mosquito repellent since they may inadvertently apply too much.

 -  Apply insect repellent to children’s clothing too.
 
-  Plant marigolds around your patio area and places where children play.  Marigolds are a natural insect repellent.  Lemon grass is also a natural repellent.  These plants help but do not completely repel pesky mosquitoes.  Light citronella candles on your porch or patio too in the evenings when the family is out. Citronella candles reduced mosquito bites by 42% and citronella incense reduced bites by 24%.
 
-  Make sure to trim your child’s nails.  If the child has a bite it will keep  it from becoming infected if he or she does scratch.  Cold vinegar helps relieve the itch and sting.
 
 -  Check on the label to see if the makers of the repellent say that it is safe for young children.  If they do not say it is safe, avoid using it on babies and toddlers. Make sure that the bug repellant is DEET free!  DEET has been shown to be harmful to young children. 
 

Baby Bottoms July 7, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in New Moms, Toddlers, babies, health.
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As the weather heats up, so does diaper rash and yeast infections.

Infants are more vulnerable to diaper rash in the summer.  Heat, humidity and perspiration all can aggravate sensitive bottoms. 

Diaper rash is a red, spotty inflamed rash.  To prevent it change your child’s diapers frequently and let baby go diaper-free for 15 or 20 minutes.  A brief sun bath in a sunbeam can also help.  If its too late to prevent it use a squirt bottle with water to cleanse the area and avoid scented baby wipes.  Be gentle and apply a diaper ointment that contains zinc oxide.  This type of product soothes the skin and protects it from getting too moist.  A very light dusting of unscented talc or even corn starch is also good after the ointment is applied.  If the rash does not go away, talk to your doctor or if the rash includes blisters or pus-filled bumps you child might have a yeast infection or even a staph infection.

Candida (yeast infection) normally lives on our skins and usually does not cause a problem.  But in the hot months of summer, children in diapers are targets for yeast infections.  This rash is also red and usually bumpy.  It can itch, burn and ooze a clear liquid.  A child on antibiotics may also be more susceptible because these medications kill the good bacteria that keeps yeast in check.  The rash is usually found in the skin folds of the diaper area and baby girls are slightly more likely to have a yeast infection.  For treatment you can try an over-the-counter antifungal treatment such as Lamisil or Lotrimin AF but a call to your pediatrician is best.

Veggie Lovers? June 11, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Food and Goodies, Food and Nutrition, New Moms, health.
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Do you have a picky eater?  A new study found that babies ate more vegetables after about eight days of tasting them.  Offer small amounts of a new food several times so your child gets use to the taste.  Model good eating habits.  Let your child see you enjoying your spinach and Brussels sprouts.  This same study found that breast-fed babies accepted fruits and veggies when their moms regularly ate them.

Pets and Pills May 30, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Pets, health.
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In this country we like to take a pill for just about anything so it isn’t surprising that we take that same attitude with our beloved pets.  Everyday new pet medications are popping up but here are some ways to avoid trips to the vet and some pet meds.

For car sickness you should start your pet young to get use to a car with short trips.  Avoid feeding them a few hours before the trip and if you are going on a long car trip be sure to stop frequently and exercise them vigorously. 
 
For depression your first step is getting a correct diagnosis.  Using these meds without knowing what is really wrong can be worse than no medication.  Try increasing play time, exercise, human contact or even bringing a new pet into the family to see if that helps before your vet gives you medication for depression.
 
For the overweight pet the routine is the same as with the obese owner.  More activity and less food!  Your vet can help you understand what a healthy diet is for your pet and how much you should actually be feeding the animal depending on what they should weigh normally.  It is a very slow process to take off ounces on an overweight snack loving animal but in the long run they’ll be more active and live longer.
Sometimes our pets seem like our children.  We love them and get very attached to them and they help make a house a home.  Like our family we only want what is best for them.  A good vet that you can talk to is extremely important to the health of your pet.
 
 

What Does a Piece of Cheese and a Stick of Sugarless Gum Have in Common? May 28, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Food and Nutrition, fun products, health.
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Helping your child learn to care for his teeth does a lot more than prevent cavities.  Maybe more importantly it helps guard against gum disease and the problems associated with that -such as heart disease and diabetes. 

 Here are a few habits geared toward a healthy mouth that you might not have heard of:
 
*When you can’t have your child brush or floss, my dentist recommends chewing a stick of sugarless gum.  It increases saliva and whisks away bacteria.  Gum varieties that contain xylitol make the mouth’s pH less hospitable to germs.
 
*Eat cheese.  Scientists think Cheddar, American and other popular varieties contain fatty acids that the bacteria in the mouth do not like.
 
*Bacteria feed on sugar; so brush before you eat sweets as well as after.  This means there will be fewer of them hanging around to do any damage. 
 
A fun  toothbrush will also entice kids to brush better and longer. I just walked through the dental care aisle of my grocery store and saw these.  Each of the four Crayola Games toothbrushes from GUM comes with kid-friendly games in the handles.  Some tooth brushes have timers to be sure kids brush long enough and the Hasbro Tooth Tunes brushes play songs that keep kids brushing for as long as the music plays.  The handle of the Dr. Fresh Firefly Toothbrush flickers on and off for 60 seconds to keep kids at the sink longer.
 
I think I’m going to try the cheddar cheese idea for better dental and gum health and maybe get a toothbrush that Hannah Montana sings on.  Why let the kids have all the fun??