How Vitamin D Can Help Your Child

Nobody can ever forget a time in their childhood when they were wheeled into hospital due to a broken arm, but for those that are active and getting hurt on a regular basis, the reason may be down to a lack of Vitamin D.

A lack of Vitamin D can result in stunted growth, arms and legs that don’t grow straight and brittle bones.

“A vitamin D deficiency in growing children can keep their bones from growing straight or it can make bones too weak to support a child’s body weight, resulting in broken bones,” explained Ellen Raney, Medical Director of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Portland.

The reason that it may happen is a decreased amount of outdoor activity and an intense use of sunscreen whilst outdoors. Whilst it is good to use sunscreen, a substantial amount can prevent a natural source of Vitamin D: the sun!

A lack of Vitamin D in diet however, is sometimes the problem. It is usually found in foods such as salmon or cod liver oil, but is also partner to foods such as milk, certain types of juice, yoghurt, breakfast cereals or margarine.

It seems almost typical that the things that are good for you are the ones that taste unpleasant. Naturally, coaxing your children into having an acquired (but healthy) taste is wonderful in the long-run, but there is always another way.

It is recommended that a child has a daily Vitamin D intake of 400 IU a day during the first year after they are born. As they grow into becoming adolescents, they need an intake of 600 IU instead, which just requires a little more tweaking.

Alternatives to diet however, are very prominent, in the form of adorably-formed gummy sweets and liquids. Children’s multivitamins are also a way of acquiring Vitamin D, but bear in mind that taking several multivitamins is not wise. For a good dosage, consult your doctor on what to do.

Growing children need Vitamin D in their diet to keep them as active, healthy and wonderful as you know them to be.

How Vitamin D Can Help Your Child

Categories: child health, Children, diet, Multivitamins, vitamins

Autism Vaccination Scare Put Aside

A growing concern about American vaccines causing a severe rise in autism was addressed by U.S health officials.

Through an analysis of 1,000 toddlers, there was found to be no difference between those that developed normally to those who developed autism. The findings, published by the Journal of Pediatrics suggests that the average 2-year-old should have up to 10 jabs in order to protect themselves against such diseases such as rubella, measles and mumps.

Alongside the vaccines, the aforementioned illnesses were also thought to individually cause autism, following parental concerns that children were being given too many vaccines as toddlers, some of which were administered at the same time. Overall, there were concerns that this was unsafe. As a result, parents delay or even refuse the vaccinations out of fears for their child’s mental health.

“This is a very important and reassuring study,” said Geri Dawson according to NewsMaxHealth; Dawson is the chief scientific officer of Autism Speaks, an advocacy organization. She wasn’t involved in the study. “It’s going to be very helpful in addressing some of the concerns parents have had about vaccination schedules.”

The research concluded that 256 of the children had autism, whilst 752 did not; there were no differences in the vaccinations that the children were exposed to in their first years.

When you are injected, you receive antigens – dead forms of the virus. When this happens, your body creates antibodies, which defend your body from the virus. Should you ever get a live version of the illness, then the body knows how to defend itself.

The concerns are due to the antigens that are being injected too quickly into the body and harming children’s growth however, if the discovery is correct, then the administration of antigens is not the cause of autism. The reason that concerns are raised is because of the symptoms that develop during the toddler’s growth. As such, there is particular scrutiny as to the causes. The research proves that it is not the vaccines that are at fault.

Vaccinations are a necessity. By protecting your child from serious diseases, there will be far less to worry about than premature deaths and unwanted illnesses. The only issue is the timing.

Autism Vaccination Scare Put Aside

Categories: child health, children's wellness, Injection, Mental Health, Vaccination, Vaccine

What To Do When Your Child Is Injured: Six Tips

Kids have absolutely no fear or caution; they go boldly where no adult would go, so they’re going to get hurt. Parents need to know some first aid first, and then ascertain if a doctor in a walk in clinic or ER is in order. Parents also need to know when an injury means an attorney is required. These are a few things parents need to know.

 

1. What Happened?

Did the child fall? Is there blood? Is the blood squirting like a fountain or oozing? Fountains mean arterial blood and need an ambulance. If there are broken bones, they need an ambulance. If the child is unconscious or lethargic with dilated wandering eyes, call an ambulance. In most cases, stanching the blood and keeping the child still until help arrives is all that is needed to ascertain the extent of the injury. If someone else or a product is the cause of the injury, contact a child attorney.

 

2. Cuts and Burns

Press the cut until the bleeding stops. If it’s not serious, disinfect the cut and bandage it. If it’s deep enough to need a stitch, a walk in clinic or ER will be needed. For burns, place the burn under cold running water to take the heat out of the skin. Wrap the burn in a clean cloth to avoid infection. See a doctor for treatment.

 

3. Swallowing Something

If the child has swallowed pills, find the bottle to know what it was. If the child has swallowed a chemical, perhaps a cleaning fluid, get to an emergency room immediately. Do not induce vomiting. Wait for a doctor to treat the child. Take the pill or chemical with you to the ER.

 

4. Fits or Convulsions

Fits are usually caused when a child contracts an illness, raising his fever. Bring the fever down using lukewarm, not cold, baths and children’s aspirin. If this process doesn’t work, get him to a doctor. Convulsions have to last more than half an hour to do brain damage, but get to the ER quickly.

 

5. Comfort the Child

In all instances of injury, comforting the child will prevent further damage. Keep the child calm and immobile and get medical help.

 

6. Document

If the wound is caused by a product or negligence, get pictures on your phone. Contact an attorney following medical aid, and keep all medical records.

Categories: child health, Family Wellness, Injury