Article by

                 DR. VAIDHYALINGAM

                 Consultant Pediatrician

Raising healthy children can be a challenge. Mothers have no difficulty doing what’s right for their child if they know what’s required of them. But in learning and implementing good health habits, like everything else, there are obstacles. When parents adopt scientifically & medically researched information, they serve to protect their child from common health problems born through misconceptions. They also to serve to protect their child from potentially grave health risks!  When receiving advice, especially regarding your child’s health or upbringing, always consider the source.  Many parents are misguided (with no malicious intent) by the elders of the family, neighbors, friends or even friends of friends!  Once again, I cannot emphasize it enough:  Consider the source.  Instead of following the wrong advices, here are some basic tips and information that you can also verify from other respectable sources such as your doctors or health care professionals.  Read on to secure your child’s growth and health.

• The complexion of your child is not under your control.  It depends upon your genes. Consuming saffron and/or iron tablets during pregnancy won’t change your baby’s skin colour.
• Newborns should be fed breast milk only.  Do not feed him/her anything else.  Cow’s milk, tinned milk, sugar syrup etc. are not recommended.
• Do not give your child donkey’s milk for throat congestion.  Any throat problems warrant an immediate consultation with your pediatrician.
• ‘Till 2 years of age, an oil bath should be avoided. Oiling the nose, eyes & ears can lead to pneumonia.
• While bathing your child don’t blow through the nose and/or mouth to remove any blocks.  This can also lead to pneumonia.
• Any dirt found in the eye must be immediately consulted with a doctor.
• Grandmothers or household treatments such as gripe water, onam water, rasambu, kasakasa jathikaai, maasikai, kashayam are not suitable for your child’s health.
• After the umbilical cord has been shed do not try to heal the wound with mud. Cow dung or talcum powder.
• If you are able to breast feed, it is sufficient without any supplementation for four months, and it is recommended that you not supplement with food during this time. When your child reaches six months of age, don’t feed exclusively with breast milk.
• Under circumstances where cow’s milk is your only choice after your baby has turned a month do not adulterate with water. Cow’s milk with water has the potential to cause stomach problems.
• Always boil cow’s milk first to lower the chances of contamination.  Remember, if you are feeding cow’s milk due to your unusual circumstances, the milk was produced by a cow and could very well be contaminated by the same diseases the cow might have!  Three words of advice:  boil, boil and boil!
• Coffee & tea leads to loss of appetite in children and is hence not recommended.
• Always give your child a balanced, satisfying meal.  Do not abruptly change diets unless recommended by your doctor.  There may be times your child might need to eat less due to certain conditions or diseases.  During these times, it might be OK to lessen the amount of food, but remember to increase frequency, and see your doctor for advice.
• Bathe your child daily.  This simple act prevents a lot of diseases.  Even when your child seems clean, do not skip their daily shower.  Not taking showers daily is NOT recommended.
• Do not give medicines without checking with your doctor first.  Purgatives to clean the stomach such as castor oil are NOT recommended.
• Do not supplement your child’s diet with tonics.  Doctors advise a healthy diet. Do not believe everything you see or hear via media advertisements.  They do not care about your child’s health.  Those ads are there to boost their company’s business! When in dilemma about buying drink mixes, ask your doctor! Milk (pre-boiled) and unadulterated is sufficient.
• Do not self-treat your child!  A crying child can be an indication of something far more significant than meets the eye.  See your doctor.  Children communicate through crying.  Have your doctor evaluate your child.  Do not guess!  Your child is worth far more than that!
• If you get in trouble giving medicines on other’s advice and notice your child get more critical.  Stop!  Take your child to the doctor immediately and inform him/her of all the medicines your have given your child, the times given and the doses.  Do not forget to inform your doctor about your child’s usual prescriptions, even if it’s vitamins!  The more timely information you can give your doctor, the better your chances are of saving your child.
• Once again:  Do NOT give medicines to your child without consulting a doctor.  Your child could potentially become critical and the medicines you may have given, could potentially limit a doctor’s ability to treat.  Do not take advice from some self-proclaimed child specialist or some one you consider broad-minded!  Taking advice from such persons could be very dangerous to your child’s health. With that said, also remember NOT to give advice to your friends or family.  And do NOT wait to take your child to the doctor.  Do not wait ‘till your child is critical.  Be a good historian and when you do take your child to the doctor, accurately describe everything!
• Buy all prescriptions promptly and give them to your child as directed.  Some medicines may make your child feel better soon after.  Do not stop taking the medicine even if your child is feeling better or looks very healthy.  Follow the advice given by your doctor.  Stopping medicines in between treatment or using only half can cause the disease to return and be more severe than the first time.  Finish all medicines as per the prescription.
• Inform the doctor if your child has a documented allergy to any medicines or products. This will help the doctor and in turn help your child.  Don’t expect your doctor to “predict” an allergy.  If you do not inform your doctor about your child, this could be dangerous for your son/daughter.  And don’t blame your doctor for an unfavorable outcome.  Take responsibility.  Tell your doctor about all the symptoms your child is experiencing.  Your doctor does NOT live with you, so do not expect him/her to guess!
• Request pills instead of syrup when your child can tolerate them.  Dose calculations are 5 times more effective with pills.  If you child can only do syrups, remember to shake the bottle well before opening and giving your child the medicine.  Remember - if your child vomits the medicine, s/he will not get a proper dose but do NOT give them another dose to make it up.  Call your doctor.
• Do not store medicines in the refrigerator. Most medicines can be used at room temperature, unless advised by your doctor.
• Some medicines are dispensed in powder form in a bottle. Carefully follow the directions as given by your doctor or written on your medicine instruction sheet.  Mix the powder with water (pre-boiled and cooled). The syrup is ready for use later.
• Do not buy medicines from an old prescription unless advised by your doctor.  And do not give the medicine of one of your children to your other child.
• Do not send your child for advice and counseling with your parents (the child’s grandparents).  You, the parent, needs to be there.  Grandparents tend to partially or completely censor information!
• Do not keep your child from school for small reasons like a cold or sneezing.
  
• There is a mistaken belief that the birth of another child at home causes fortune.  With this belief people give importance to the new child and ignore the other.  Do not treat your child based on this superstition.  It may create jealousy.