The Myth of Eating Dairy With a Cold

Many parents believe that feeding a child milk while they have a cold will increase mucus production and make the cold worse.

While dairy products may coat the back of the throat, they do not increase mucus production, and are therefore fine to consume during a cold.

In fact, dairy can offer a good variety of nutrients, including calcium, potassium, and water. It also gives  kids calories and proteins they need to recover. Colds usually make people less able to taste their food/drink  and make them feel sick to their stomachs, so people usually eat less when sick. Every calorie during illness is essential, so milk offers good nutritional value per calorie.

One thing to keep in mind, excessive mucous can cause stomach upset and temporary milk (lactose) intolerance. Kids with colds can develop diarrhea from the mucous as well and lactose can make that worse. If that's the case, soy milk is also a good way to obtain calories, nutrients, and electrolytes to aid a person to a good recovery.

Yogurt is a great way to get the gastro-intestinal tract back in gear when sick. Four to eight ounces of yogurt with some fruit makes for a great and yummy snack.

Per the American Academy of Pediatrics and Food and Drug Administration, kids ages 2-8 years should drink about 2 cups of milk a day. That's 16 oz total of dairy a day.

5 Veggies a Day

The Food and Drug Administration tells parents to get kids to eat 5 veggies a day.

Sometimes, vegetables are the hardest thing to get kids to eat, but there is hope.

Understand, kids' tastebuds are far more sensitive than ours. What's slightly bitter to us is horribly bitter to kids. No wonder they avoid vegetables. They aren't sweet or salty.

To help them get used to these foods, it can take up to 10 exposures before they can tolerate the taste. So, start small. Give them or tell them to take one bite at first. If they like it, give them more. If they cringe, don't quit, try again later, but have them take at least ONE bite.

Pick a few vegetables each week and keep introducing them. Don't worry if your child likes broccoli and not carrots. Build on what they like and work on what they don't.

Keep starchy veggies to a minimum (corn, potatoes, yams, beans), but they are full of fiber so having them as part of a healthy diet is great.

Of course, if you don't eat any veggies, they won't either. The best example is to set a good one.

Excercise, Excercise

As a parent, especially a stay-at-home one, it's difficult to juggle the daily obligations with taking care of yourself. Exercise is a great way to stay in shape, but also to stay sane. If you don't belong to a health club that offers babysitting services, it doesn't mean you can't regularly workout.

Put the child in a stroller and take him/her for a walk, pop in a DVD, or create your own workout from exercise magazines.

Another option is get a child's exercise DVD and workout with your child. It's a great way to get the child up and moving as well as them see you exercise.

Beware of Overbuying

Having a baby can be one of the most amazing processes in the world--it can also be one of the most expensive.

Problem with this is it's hard to know what to buy and what not to buy. Magazines, celebrites, and friends/family will tell you everything you want, but what is truly a necessity?

The easiest thing to overbuy is clothes, but understand this--in the first year, your baby will grow faster than any other time in her/his life. Buying a huge amount of clothes can be expensive and a waste of money. Most babies only go through one to two outfits a day (unless they have conditions such as reflux). It's almost impossible to use up all their baby clothes before they outgrow them.

Start small and spread out people's gifts. There is no harm in exchanging six blue onsies or twelve Dallas Cowboy newborn jersies for store credit. This way, you can buy as you go along and know what you need.

Also keep in mind that your baby doesn't care if it's haute couture or off the clearance rack. As long as it keeps him/her warm and they are getting changed, held, and fed daily, all is well in the baby world.

 

Travel Snacks

Snacks should be an essential part of travelling, even if the distance from here to there is a short one (less than two hours).

Ideal food to take will be determined by the method of travel (car, plane, bus, train), the distance to travel, time of year, and age(s) of the kid(s).

Simple snacks can consist of dried cereal, trail mix, and jerky treats. Dry treats are the best when using public methods of travel such as on a plane, bus, or train. Chocolate covered candy bars, cookies, and/or cake can make a huge mess, even in the hands of a neat child.  

If travelling by car, a small ice chest can hold great snacks like apple slices, berries, oranges, baby carrots, and water. These are especially great foods when vacationing during the hot, summer months. Plus, serving vegetables and fruit can help avoid stomach upset and constipation, which can complicate trips.

Any snacks served with chocolate can melt in the car, even in mild spring weather. Be sure the kids are old enough to not smear it on everything and on everyone around them and the chocolate covered yummies are in containers that won't leak.

Instead of sugar filled drinks (including more than 4-6 oz of juice), serve water. Although it may not be as exciting, it will help the trip go much smoother if the child isn't more hyper than normal because he/she's had juice, tea, or soda.

The last thing available when serving snacks is hand wipes. No matter how neat the child or snack is, it’s never a bad idea to wash hands after eating.

5 Ways to Help with Pregnancy Constipation

Constipation affects at least half of all pregnant women. It comes from the pressure of your growing uterus on your rectum at the same time that pregnancy hormones slow the passage of food through your digestive tract.

Iron suppliments and prenatal vitamins (because they contain iron) are notorious for causing constipation. Additionally, the fatigue many women have during their pregnancy means less exercise and less movement in general. The bowel is as active as the person, so decreased activity means a slower digestive tract.

There are several ways to decrease the chances of constipation.

First, increase water. Although frequent trips to the bathroom are already on a pregnant woman's "to do" list, the body needs to stay hydrated. Everything an expectant mom takes in goes to the baby first, so increasing water does help.

Second, avoid caffeine, since it is a diuretic. This means it causes more water loss than taken in.

Third, increase fresh fruits and vegetables. Raw blueberries, grapes, and apricots are great for keeping a woman regular during their pregnancy. Brad muffins are helpful, but don't always taste great. If a fruit and bran muffin is available, it's a  better choice (although can not be as tasty) as a donut.

Fourth, if constipation is a problem decrease dairy products like milk and cheese. These are big contributors when dealing with constipation. Yogurt can actually help normalize the natural bacteria in the bowel, so a cup of plain yogurt with blueberries thrown on top can be a great snack.

Fifth, consult the health care provider if the constipation is worsening or difficult to resolve. Prescriptions are available and can help alleviate severe symptoms.

If any complications or concerns arise, consult your health care provider immediately.

Comforting Kisses

If your child suffers from separation anxiety and cries whenever he/she is left at a babysitter or daycare, try putting on lipstick and kissing both of his/her hands before leaving, explaining that you are leaving those kisses behind with the child. He/she can "see" your kisses long after you are gone and may find this very comforting.

Another possibility is to kiss the palm of their hand and have them close their fist. Tell them to save this kiss for a later time, when they stressed or worried about something.



 

Cutting Down on Playdough Germs

Playdough is a great way for kids to create and work on their dexterity, but it's also a wonderful way for kids to share germs.

With the kids heading back to school and cold and flu season around the corner, children are going to be bombarded with germs.

To reduce the chance of kids sharing more than playdough, teach the kids to wash their hands prior to playing. If they suffer from a running nose and/or cough/sneezing, have the child use his/her own playdough and not share that particular color. As for the molds, clean between kids (as best as possible) uses.

If the playdough is something that is used repeatedly, place the part the child used and then put into a plastic bag. Label it with the child's name for future use.