Conversation with Children

When a baby is tired, hungry, stressed and frustrated, one of the only ways to let us know is through their cries. But what if you don’t know what your baby is trying to tell you? How can you respond to his cries appropriately?

To begin, feed your baby on demand, yes on demand. If you were hungry, how do you think you would feel? Would eating change your mood? Then feed your baby when they are hungry.

Feeding on demand does not create spoiled children. It is not always safe to assume that your baby’s cries indicate that she is hungry. Just give the baby your breast and see what happens. If he still cries, check her diaper and if that’s not it, then try some of the following:

Speak Gently:

Try speaking in a soft gentle voice or maybe even better, try singing. Your baby will recognize the tone of your voice and will respond to it. Even if you are a little off tune the baby won’t mind. Research has proven that many babies enjoy the sounds of female voices but that does not mean daddy can’t give it a try too!

Relaxing Strokes:

Often, when a baby wants to be comforted, they cry for this loving attention. Maybe they’ve woken up abruptly or something frightened them. A nurturing stroke can make a world of difference. Try holding your baby and gently stroking his back.

Make a Move:

Absolutely! Get up and try moving around. Babies love motion as it reminds them of being in utero. But what kind of movement? You might try walking, rocking, jiggling or swaying.

Swaddling:

If you are not sure how to swaddle, ask your pediatrician, a nurse or experienced mother how to swaddle the baby. For many infants, being wrapped tightly in a blanket makes them feel safe and secure.

“Shushing” Sounds:

Many babies are soothed by white noise. Some things to try: a washing machine, electric fan, vacuum and humidifier. It is important to be sure the “shushing” sounds are as loud as your baby’s crying.

Fresh Air:

Try going outdoors. For many babies just being outside in the fresh air can soothe them. Maybe it’s the sounds of the birds, the wind or the sun, whatever it is, many babies will calm down by being outdoors. Maybe this will even calm you, too.

Have a Break:

Have you been trying and trying to soothe your little one to no avail? Try giving dad, grandma, grandpa or even a good friend a try. They may have their own unique way of helping the baby to getcalm and quiet.

Wondering how you might comfort and soothe your baby? Find infant massage resources, information and ask all your questions about infant and children’s massage. With over a decade of service to children and families, Tina Allen, founder of leading children’s health and nurturing touch organization

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Dear Parent,

Did you know, Dr. Joseph Mercola states, “Most Americans are aware of the obesity epidemic facing the nation, but what you may not know is that obesity is also a major concern for American children? In the last two decades, the prevalence of overweight adolescents has nearly tripled, and now one out of every four American children are seriously overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

Overweight and obese children are not only faced with increased health problems–heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal and orthopaedic problems, and type 2 diabetes to name a few–but they are also likely to suffer from low self-esteem and depression as a result of their weight. Being overweight or obese can take a huge emotional toll on a young child.

Further, overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese as adults, and that chance moves closer to 80 percent if the child has a parent who is overweight or obese. An adult who was an obese child has an even greater likelihood of developing serious health problems than if the obesity developed in adulthood.

Child obesity has only has a few major causes:

• Inactivity (watching television and playing video games rather than playing outside to get exercise)
• Drinking soda and juice instead of water
• Eating sugar, bread, cereal and other grains

Adding to the problem is that parents of overweight children don’t always recognize that their child is overweight. According to one survey, only three percent of parents of severely obese children considered their child overweight, and eight percent of the parents actually considered them to be underweight.

Fortunately, obesity in children (and adults) can be prevented–and reversed. The future health of our country is clearly related to having our children eat healthy. If we want to save them incredible needless grief and suffering then it would be wise to encourage them to eat properly.

The first step is to have your children drink nothing but water. This will drastically cut down on the amount of sugar your child consumes from soda and fruit juices. For every soft drink or sugar-sweetened beverage a child drinks each day, their obesity risk appears to jump 60 percent.

Next have your child gradually incorporate a nutrition plan into their daily eating habits so they are eating a healthy diet of whole, nutritious foods rather than the processed ones that line most grocery store shelves. This includes cutting out grains and sugar, as these are two of the major culprits behind weight gain.

Exercise is another extremely important factor. Overweight and obese children will need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, and major studies have shown that 60 minutes a day is actually best. Any activity that gets your child up and away from the television set is a good idea. At first you can try walking with your child, and then gradually increase the intensity to include activities such as jogging and using an elliptical machine.”

Tip: Out of sight, out of mind, so keep it out of the house.  Do not buy soda or other high calorie low nutrient foods that lead to obesity and disease for your child! 

In health,

Thomas Von Ohlen, MS

Thomas Von Ohlen, MS is a clinical nutritionist and developer of Plasma Pro software for doctors. After suffering for many years as a child and young adult with his own health ailments, he dedicated all his time to finding the truth about health. Today he continues that same dedication to helping others who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. In his 15 years in private practice he has helped thousands of people, from all over the world achieve their health goals through education and specific product recommendations. His FREE newsletter is available at http://www.healyourbodynow.com

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