Daily dose for kids

Monday, August 15, 2011

When can I fly with my newborn baby ?

Ideally your healthy newborn should be around 2-3 months old before being exposed to the recycled air, germs and the large number of people on flight.

However for most healthy babies, 2-3 weeks is a reasonable time frame in case you cannot wait.

Get her examined by your pediatrician, including the ears, and carry medicines like Crocin (Acetaminophen) for any fever/ pain/ irritability, and you should be good to go !

Many parents worry that the changes in air pressure that happen when you fly can harm their baby's ears. It's true that "popping ears" during takeoff and landing can be a bit painful for some infants, but it won't cause any lasting damage. Your baby will feel more comfortable if he has something to suck on during takeoff and landing, so you may want to breastfeed or give him a bottle or pacifier. You can give him some infant pain reliever (such as acetaminophen) if his ears really seem to bother him.

Get more tips for traveling with babies here

1. http://www.babycenter.com/404_at-what-age-is-it-safe-for-my-baby-to-fly_7258.bc

2. http://pregnancy.about.com/od/newbornbabies/a/babyairplane.htm

3. http://www.ivillage.com/babies-it-safe-travel-plane-newborn/6-n-137695

Saturday, August 06, 2011

Vaccination health news from India - Depressing Statistics, Innovative solutions

That India ranks low globally in its rate of vaccinating its population probably comes as no surprise. In 2010, only 72% of Indian babies received the three doses of the DPT vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. This was quite poor when compared to 95% for Bangladesh and 83% for Indonesia. The reason for this dismal statistic has been attributed to weak, decentralized public health infrastructure and inadequate monitoring. And so, in a bid to make sure that there is extensive coverage of babies that would require vaccination, India's health minister has come out with a new initiative. This would involve collecting mobile phone numbers of all pregnant mothers to monitor their babies' vaccinations. While this project has already begun, the quantum of funds invested for this project is not known. That said, one wonders whether this plan will really solve the problem that confronts India. For starters, there could be discrepancies in the mobile numbers themselve s, a problem that the health ministry is also facing. What India could probably do is make healthcare a priority at the Centre rather than relegating it to states.

Saturday, June 04, 2011

Should my child take sports drinks/ energy drinks after exercise?

The short answer is NO. Plain water is the BEST rehydrating solution for most children doing routine exercises / activities.

For a longer version, read on ...

In India, the fad of sports drinks and energy drinks is fast catching on. For starters, is there any difference between the two?

Yes, Sports drinks contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes, and flavoring, and are intended to replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating during exercise. Although they may be useful for young athletes participating in prolonged, vigorous physical exercise, they tend to be overused and are usually unnecessary. Some brands available in India include Gatorade, Stamina (Amul) and Sofit (Godrej).

Unlike sports drinks, energy drinks contain stimulants including caffeine, guarana, and/or taurine. Rigorous review and analysis of the literature suggest that energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents. Because caffeine has been associated with harmful neurologic (brain) and cardiovascular (heart) effects in children, caffeine-containing beverages, including soda, should be avoided. Energy drinks can make a normal child restless and anxious.The excessive sugar present in these drinks not only adds to the calorie counts, but also acts as a laxative. Energy drink brands available and aggressively marketed in India include Red Bull, XXX & Cloud 9.

For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is the best form of rehydration. Use of sports drinks can increase the risk of obesity and tooth decay, and is not required for routine activity.

Specific AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommendations regarding use of sports drinks and energy drinks in children and adolescents include the following:

Pediatricians should educate patients and their parents regarding the potential health risks of energy drinks and sports drinks and explain the significant differences between these types of drinks. The terms should not be used interchangeably.
Energy drinks should never be consumed by children or adolescents, because the stimulants they contain pose potential health risks.
Children and adolescents should avoid and restrict routine consumption of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks, which can increase the risk for overweight, obesity, and dental erosion.
For pediatric athletes, sports drinks should be consumed in combination with water during prolonged, vigorous physical activity, when rapid replenishment of carbohydrates and/or electrolytes is needed.
For children and adolescents, water, not sports drinks, should be the principal source of hydration.

Given the increased awareness and easy availability of these drinks in the Indian Market, pediatricians and parents need to be aware of the potential risks of these drinks.

So what should an active child take if he indulges in vigorous activity?

It's better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals. The recommended intake of juice is 6 oz (~ 180 ml/ 1 small glass) for children 1-2 years, and up to 2 glasses (6-12 oz/ 2 glasses) for older children only.