Author: Dr. Sunny Kurian

Dr. Sunny Kurian is a Consultant Pediatrician at Dr. Sunny Medical Centre, caring for children across Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and the UAE.

Halloween Safety Tips for your Kids

Halloween Safety Tips for your Kids

Halloween equals costumes and treats and kids eagerly wait for this night of the year. But sometimes if you fail to take safety measure the occasion can turn out to be dangerous. Keep the following tips in mind to ensure that your children have a happy and safe Halloween.

Plan costumes & makeup in advance:

Halloween costumes and makeup are the most exciting part of the celebration for the children. As parents you should make sure that the costumes fit well. If the costume is too long it can cause your child to trip. If your child wants to experiment with their look and try out a scary make-up, make sure that you test it for any reactions or allergy on a small patch of your child’s skin to make sure that there are no unpleasant allergic reactions on the big day.

Never allow small children to carve pumpkins:

Your child may want to carve the pumpkin, but allowing them to do so may end up in a mishap. Carving needs a sharp object and kids might hurt themselves while using a blade. Allow them to draw a face with markers but carving should be parents’ responsibility.

Use glowstick instead of candle: To light up your pumpkin using a candle may not be the safest option. It is always better to use a flashlight or glowstick to avoid any mishap.

Restrain pets:

Although most animals are friendly but still there are chances of children getting bitten by them. If you have pets at home, they might jump or bite the trick-or-treaters coming to your house, so it is advisable to restrain them.

Remove tripping hazards:

Many trick-or-treaters might visit your house on Halloween day, make sure you clear anything that a child could possibly trip over, including lawn decorations or garden hoses.

Never leave young children alone:

With younger children it is advisable to plan Halloween activities earlier in the day. Do not let the children visit the neighborhood after it is dark. If your older children insist on going alone, review the route they take and make sure they have extra flashlights with them and agree on a specific time for their return.

It’s Better to Avoid Conventional Cow’s Milk

It’s Better to Avoid Conventional Cow’s Milk

The dairy industry has been feeding our mind with the benefits of having cow’s milk since several years. Believing this, many people have adopted the practice of adding a glass of cow’s milk in their daily diets without ever pondering or questioning if it is really providing with them with sufficient nutrients as advertised by the dairy companies. In this blog post let us see why it is better to avoid conventional cow’s milk.

Hailed as a healthy drink from generations, frequent consumption of cow’s milk is now found to cause many health issues. A few of them include:

  1. Presence of saturated fat: Whole milks are known to contain high levels of saturated fats which increase the risk of heart disease.
  2. Obesity: High consumption of cow’s milk has been linked to weight gain in children. Consult a pediatrician and check how much milk is safe for the healthy development of your children.
  3. More Chances of bone fractures: This will come as a complete surprise for you, as many people include cow’s milk to their diet thinking that it will make their bones strong. Contrary to the popular belief drinking too much milk can deteriorate bone health and lead to fractures.A study found higher fracture rates in women who consumed over three glasses of milk.
  4. Prevalence of acne: Overconsumption of dairy products can worsen acne. Artificial growth hormones given to cows to increase milk production as well as whey protein and casein found in milk can act as a trigger for acne.
  5. Risk of ovarian cancer: Many studies have found that milk consumption could double the risks of ovarian cancer. A study published in 2000, showed women who consumed more than two glasses of milk per day experience a 44% increased chance of developing the disease.
  6. High cholesterol: The presence of high saturated fats found in full-fat cow milk can elevate the blood cholesterol level. This can increase the risk of heart diseases and stroke.

Tips for Infant Skin Care

Tips for Infant Skin Care

We all know that a newborn’s skin is delicate and needs special care. Just like adults, even infant skin may not be perfect. Many newborns are prone to skin irritations due to various common skin conditions. In this blog let us take a look at common skin problems in newborns and discuss a few tips to prevent these conditions.

Common skin problems

  1. Eczema: Eczema appears as a red, itchy rash mostly on baby’s face and scalp. Usually it doesn’t appear for the first month or two. It could be prevented if you follow a few simple tips:
    1. Minimize the use of soap and don’t stretch the bath time for more than 5 minutes.
    2. Try to use only soft clothing, preferably cotton clothes for your newborn.
    3. Limit the use of scented skin care products for baby. Always check with your pediatrician before using lotions or creams to treat eczema.
  2.  Diaper Rash: Most new mothers find it difficult to prevent diaper rash in their babies. It is often caused due to wet or soiled diapers. It can also occur if baby’s skin is not dried properly after bath. Most diaper rashes don’t require medical care. To prevent diaper rash you can follow these tips:
    1. Check diapers frequently and change immediately if found wet or soiled.
    2. Wash diaper area with water or use non-perfumed wipes to clean the area thoroughly.
    3. Let the diaper area air-dry before getting your baby into a new diaper.
    4. See your pediatrician of the rash doesn’t clear up in 2-3 days.
  3. Baby Acne: You may notice pimples on baby’s nose or cheeks but these usually clear up on their own. If you see little white bumps it may be a condition known as Milia caused by oil glands blocked by skin flakes. Skin care for milia is easy as baby’s glands open up over a few days or weeks, the bumps disappear.
  4. Irritated Skin: If you see small red bumps on your baby’s skin it might be caused due to heat. It usually appears on the neck, armpits or skin folds of your baby, following these tips may prove helpful:
    1. Avoid making your baby wear tight fitted clothes, it might cause more irritation.
    2. If it flares-up consult your pediatrician before using over-the-counter medicines.

Ensuring the health and well-being of your baby is of utmost importance, and we are here to provide you with the best possible care. If you observe any other skin conditions in your baby, such as rashes or irritation, please do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with our experienced pediatrician at Dr. Sunny Medical Centre.

How Fast Food Affects Children’s Health?

How Fast Food Affects Children’s Health?

Your children’s doctor must have often told you to avoid giving junk food also known as fast food to your kids. Though junk foods are rich in energy but they are relatively low in providing other important nutrients such as protein, fiber and essential vitamins required for the healthy development of your child. Most of the kids take an instant liking towards fast foods such as burgers, chips or a cheese laden pizza. Some parents often allow children to have junk food without realizing the negative impact of such food on their child’s overall health. In this blog we will discuss some of the reasons why you should avoid giving fast food to your children.

  1. Risk of obesity: Regular intake of junk food can give rise to problems such as obesity in young kids as a single fast food meal could add 160-310 extra kilocalories in your child’s daily diet. Obesity can later result into lower self-esteem and may even result into depression. It can hamper your child’s social skills as well as academic performance.
  2. Constipation: A diet consisting of high fat, sugar and other carbohydrates will make your child skip healthy food options such as fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber. This can increase the chances of constipation.
  3. Risk of dental problems: Higher sugar intake can result in dental problems at a young age like dental caries.
  4. Risk of deficiency diseases: As mentioned earlier, junk foods lack essential vitamins such as Vitamin A and C as well as minerals like calcium and magnesium, this can cause deficiency diseases as well as there are chances that your child may have weaker bones. Consult your pediatrician if you see any symptoms of deficiency diseases.
  5. Lack of concentration: Essential fatty acids including Omega-3 and Omega-6 are missing in fast foods. They are essential for manufacturing cell membranes and are required for high concentration. Poor concentration levels can lead to difficulty in achieving tasks that need extended focus, hence this may also result in poor academic performance of your child.

If you feel your child is addicted to junk food you may consult your pediatrician and seek help.

Why Childhood Immunizations are Important?

Why Childhood Immunizations are Important?

Vaccines have been termed as one of the safest and most effective ways of protecting our kids from several perilous childhood diseases. The immunization record is as important as the birth certificate of your child. Vaccinations given to children all around the world have made several common diseases rare today.

A vaccine is a dead or weakened version of the bacteria/virus that causes the disease. When children take the vaccine, it triggers their immune system, which is the mechanism of fighting bacteria/virus. The immune system produces antibodies that can protect the child from contracting the disease if they are exposed later to the actual disease causing bacteria/virus.

Vaccines not only protect your child from diseases like polio, diphtheria etc. but also stop the spread of these diseases in the community and help in protecting other children. Most of the vaccines need to be given more than once at different stages and in combinations. As a parent you need to keep a track of the jabs received by your child.

Tips for immunizations:

The following information will help you to navigate smoothly with your responsibility of getting your child vaccinated against various diseases:

Always carry the immunization record of your child when you visit the pediatrician and make sure that during every immunization your child’s doctor signs and mentions the date in the record.

Check if your pediatrician’s office provides with immunization reminder system. This will help you in case you forget the next immunization date or if your child has missed an immunization.

Your child may show common side-effects after immunization such as fever, swelling at the site of injection or soreness. Your pediatrician will tell you about these side-effects before administering the vaccine but if you feel that your child is showing any symptom other than these common side-effects don’t hesitate to discuss it with the pediatrician.

A Handy Guide for First-time Parents

A Handy Guide for First-time Parents

Parenting is certainly one of the most magical experiences and can definitely be termed life-altering. Once you get discharged from the hospital after your delivery you might feel clueless about few things as a new parent. We are going to share few tips that will help you feel more confident while taking care of your little one.

Handling Newborns

If it is your first time around a newborn, their fragility may be a nerve-racking experience for you. Here are few things you need to keep in mind:

  1. Support baby’s head and neck: You need to support their neck while carrying them upright. Even while cradling or laying them down on their bed you need to do the same.
  2. Never shake your newborn: Many parents tend to shake the baby in frustration or while playing but it could prove fatal for them as shaking can cause bleeding in the brain.
  3. Make sure your baby is safely fastened to the car seat, stroller or carrier while taking them out.

 

Bathing Basics

Many first time mothers are nervous while handling their babies during bath time. Keeping a few things in mind would make the job much easier.

  1. Give a sponge bath until umbilical cord falls off and navel heals completely. It may generally take 1-4 weeks.
  2. If your baby has a dry skin, avoid giving baths daily.
  3. Keep towel, fresh diaper and clean clothes ready before you take your baby for bath.
  4. Make sure to test the water temperature, it should not be too hot or cold.

Feeding and burping your baby

A newborn needs to be fed every 2-3 hours, if you are breastfeeding give your baby a chance to nurse about 10-15 minutes at each breast. If you are formula feeding your baby is likely to take 2-3 ounces (60-90 ml) during each feed. If your baby is hungry, they may be giving you a cue by crying, putting their fingers in mouth or making sucking noises.  Talk to your paediatrician if you have any concerns about the feeding schedule.

Babies often swallow air during feeding making them fussy at times, to prevent this burp your baby at the end of each feeding.

Diapering

Use wipes to clean your baby’s genital area before getting them into a new diaper. Diaper rashes are a common cause of concern for new parents. To prevent and heal them don’t hesitate to use an ointment prescribed by children’s doctor.

Sleeping Basics

Babies should always be laid on their back to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Newborns need to sleep about 16 hours or more. Make sure there are no soft toys or blankets in your baby’s crib or bed which can pose a danger of suffocation. There is nothing to worry if your baby is not sleeping throughout the night. Like adults babies need to develop their own sleep cycles.

Seek opportunities to bond with your baby and keep making memories we are sure that in a few weeks you will definitely become a pro at parenting.

Advice from the Paediatrician: What to do about Picky Eaters

Advice from the Paediatrician: What to do about Picky Eaters

Is your toddler refusing to eat vegetables that are powerhouses of essential minerals and vitamins? If so, you are not alone, giving your children a balanced diet that would help in their growth and development can be sore topic for many parents. Until your child’s food preferences mature, you can consider the following tips to make your picky eater in your family to eat a balanced diet.

  1. Making Meal Time Fun

Children tend to eat things that look appealing to their eyes. To attain this, you can try to serve a variety of brightly colored food. Go for different shapes, for example your toddler might like eating a teddy shaped pancake rather than a normal round one. While serving veggies offer them their favorite dips or sauces.

  1. Lead by Example

Your choices are keenly observed by your young ones, so if you include healthy food options in your diet your child will follow suit.

  1. Set a Routine

Try to serve the meals and snacks at same time every day. In case your child missed a meal, the snack time will offer a window to provide food with some nutritional value to your little one. In between meals and snacks you may also introduce fruit juices, but be careful not to fill them up on fluids just before meal time.

  1. Accept your Child’s Appetite

Never try to force a meal or snack, rather than helping this will deepen the power struggle over food. Along with this always try to serve small portions; it will help to avoid overwhelming your child. It will also give a chance to your child to ask for more.

  1. Be Patient while Trying Out New Food

Children need repeated exposure to food in order to develop taste, keep serving them healthy choices along with their favorite foods till they become familiar and preferred.

Even after trying out these tips if you feel that picky eating is hampering your child’s growth and development, consult a paediatrician near you.