A couple of days ago my kids woke up sneezing, coughing and with very runny noses. As you probably know by now, Halloween is a BIG deal at our house, so it couldn’t have happened at a worse time. And with another big Halloween party happening tomorrow, and trick or treating on Tuesday, the mission was clear - I had to get them better FAST.

So apart from our Pediatrician, Dr.J’s usual measures of regular over-the-counter meds, I have a tried-and-tested arsenal of “alternative” methods which I use on my kids and husband, as well as myself. So at the risk of sounding like a granola-organic Mom (which I am fast becoming), here it is:

Vitamin C - I have found a high-dose pediatric syrup, so when the cold symptoms set in, I give around 500 mg to my 20 month old, and about 1,000 mg to my 4-year-old. The regular ones with lame amounts like 100 mg and are really just sugar, are a waste of time in my book. Don’t be afraid of large amounts of C - it REALLY does work.

Zinc - I give them a multivitamin daily with this anyway, but increase the dosage when they have a cold.

Echinacea - The drops I have have both echinacea and goldenseal, which I give 3x a day.

Honey Turmeric - This is my Mom’s remedy for a cough. My kids have gotten used to the taste and now ask for it when they feel a cough on them. Its basically 1/2 tsp each of ground cinnamon and ground turmeric, mixed in a tablespoon of virgin honey (use the runny kind for easy swallowing). For adults, a raw garlic clove, chopped and heated for 10 seconds in a pan, should be added in. This is a really potent antibiotic and should be taken 2-3x a day. If I do the garlic bit I give some to my husband too and vice versa. You get the idea.

Bioplasma - These homeopathic tissue salts are just amazing. My Aunt’s homeopath highly recommended this, saying we could even take it everyday (ill or not) for optimum good health. And when its for a cold or other malaise, you can take it every 15 minutes for acute conditions and it will NEVER cause an overdose. He even said it would be good for our 10 year old Basset Hound….so, now my kids are taking it every hour.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Bioplasma “….is a combination of all 12 of Schuessler’s Cell Salts“…whatever that is. I’m a big fan of Homeopathic remedies, which gives me an idea that I should post more about that…. But anyway, I’m crossing my fingers now….

[tags]kids colds,kids health,homeopathic remedies kids,alternative health,echinacea,halloween[/tags]

If you haven’t worked out your childrens’ Halloween costume yet (which is highly unlikely), you may be needing some last-minute-ideas. As our society is sadly at the whim of Hollywood, some of the favourites this year are in the film category. So think of Pirates of the Carribean, Superman (this one is a mainstay really), Princesses, Angels and Devils.

If you already have stuff at home you can recycle, all the better! As my daughter has three Halloween parties over the weekend, two of them on the same day - I didn’t want to spoil the “Jessie” costume for the later event, so I made her a “makeshift” angel costume from what we had at home. Namely:

1 pair of feathered angel wings (bought about 3 years ago and still in good condition)

1 “magic” white shirt (her Grandmother got this in Vegas, its “magic” because its as tiny as a doll’s shirt but expands to fit everyone - even my husband, who is a pretty big man- it also has an “icing-like” texture which goes perfectly with the look)

1 white crinkle skirt with silver sequined garter. (the Issey Miyake crumpled look complemented the rest of the outfit well)

1 pair of Dorothy’s ruby slippers (ok, this did not really go, but it probably wont fit her next month, and she loves it, so hey)

It took about 5 minutes to assemble, then topped off with a nice bubbly white hair accessory - voila!!

[tags]Halloween costumes,kids costumes,Toy Story,Angel costume[/tags]

Upon hearing the unsettling news of my kids’s condition (my four-year-old was
also developing the rash and complaining of “owies” in her mouth), I dutifully rang my friend M, whose kids were scheduled to come to my place that afternoon for playgroup.

Funnily enough, she was really cool about the entire “Hand Foot Mouth” thing, and said her kids probably had it too by now so another day wouldnt make a difference anyway, so would it be ok if they came over as planned? Oh, ok then.

But for Moms who are probably more OC about hygene like I am ( and I can name a couple), it pays to know how to prevent this kind of thing from happening.

Here’s what I found, also useful for any other infectious disease our kids are exposed to in this big wide world of ours, courtesy of the National Center For Infectious Diseases:

“Specific prevention for HFMD or other non-polio enterovirus infections is not available, but the risk of infection can be lowered by good hygienic practices. Preventive measures include frequent handwashing, especially after diaper changes (see “Handwashing” in: An Ounce of Prevention: Keeps the Germs Away), cleaning of contaminated surfaces and soiled items first with soap and water, and then disinfecting them by diluted solution of chlorine-containing bleach (made by mixing approximately ¼ cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water. Avoidance of close contact (kissing, hugging, sharing utensils, etc.) with children with HFMD may also help to reduce of the risk of infection to caregivers.”

[tags]Hand foot mouth disease,infectious diseases children, kids health, coxackie[/tags]

Playgroup is the lifeline of a lot of moms. New moms, old moms, expat moms, native moms…whatever. If you have kids who don’t go to “big school”(read:full time elementary), a playgroup is the answer to not just keeping the little ones busy, but the best way to spend time with kindered spirits of the “hood”.

The problem is, some members of the “hood” can’t help but take advantage of the situation. I just got an email from the coordinator mom of one of my kids playgroups with list of guidelines and rules. Very necessary, she said because of the certain way things were going lately. There were rules like:

“No leaving your kids without supervision. This is NOT a daycare. If you cannot be around, you must okay it with the host first”.

These new rules were especially pertinent when at a playgroup at my house the other day, one mom texted me at 5.00 pm (the set time for pick-up) and asked if it was ok if she left her 2 kids (4 years and 2 years) with us until “around” 8.30 pm because she and her husband had gone to some far-off place to buy fish for their aquarium and would “probably” be stuck in traffic. Grrrrr….

First of all, I didn’t know her that well (our kids are Kindergarten classmates), and second of all, anyone with young kids should know that from 6-9 pm is the “crunch” time of the day to get your kids fed,bathed and put to bed - and not still be in playgroup. I was seething. Probably because I knew in my heart that she probably could get them earlier if she wanted to, but decided to go shopping instead with the hubby. Double grrrr.

[tags]parenting,kids,playgroup,protocol,toddlers,kindergarten,moms[/tags]

Here is small selection of divorce books for parents worth checking out at your local bookstore.

1. Child Custody: Building Parenting Agreements that Work
by Mimi E. Lyster

A practical guide for dealing successfully with this touchy issue. Checklists and worksheets make the whole process with its somewhat daunting legal implications a lot simpler to face.

2. Its Not Your Fault Koko Bear
by Vicki Lansky

This is a heartwarming storybook for parents to read together with young children when facing a divorce. Parents with young kids have given this book glowing reviews saying how it helped their child get in touch with and understand their feelings when going through this difficult time. Kids really relate to this one. Highly recommended.

3. Dinosaurs Divorce
by Marc Brown

This time its dinosaurs taking on the emotional turmoil of divorce, but in a way that will engage kids and hopefully have a positive influence with its cheerfull illustrations. Its on the long side (31 pages) and the different chapters tackle issues from “What is Divorce” to “Living in Two Homes”. A good way for parents and children to open up honest dialogue.

4. Difficult Questions Kids Ask And Are Afraid To Ask About Divorce
by Meg F. Schneider

Parents with older kids (after preschool) were reassured with this book and claimed that the questions hit very close to home. The subjects and ages vary though, so an overall good range for parents.

To continue from the last post, a good way to get started on daily lunchbox planning is to do it based on the 4 vital ingredients. I’ve given some ideas too below.

1. Protein

Try sandwiches filled with chicken, eggs, tuna, cheese or ham (try the turkey kind). My daughter also likes pasta or rice with chicken or tuna.

2. Complex Carbs

Complex carbohydrates, as opposed to refined carbs, release energy slowly, ensuring that your child has enough energy to last the day and wont need a coffee after lunch. Find this in whole grain breads, pasta, brown or red rice and the good old banana.

3. Calcium

Kids simply need calcium for their growth, so do remember cheese, yougurts, fromage frais and milk (including milkshakes). Experts say kids above 5 can go low-fat, but personally I’ll keep mine on whole until they hit puberty. It just seems they should enjoy whole as long as they can.

4. Fruit and Veg

Heres where they’ll get their all-important vitamins, anti-oxidants, minerals and other lovely things. I sneak the veg in pasta sauce (tomatoes and carrots), chicken meatballs (with spinach) and even cake (carrot & pineapple). My kids love raisins, oranges, mangoes apples (with cinnamon sugar - the brown kind) and broccoli too, so I count myself lucky. Oh, and corn too. Does that count as a vegetable?

5. The Treat (entirely optional)

Ok, this bit is optional depending on how much of a health-obsessed Mom you are. But even if you are, you can kinda cheat. As a treat, you could throw in one of those fruit leather things (or fruit roll ups if you’re lazy and feeling indulgent) or some cake or cookies (homemade is better, but a raisin oat variety or wholewheat teddy grahams from the store is ok too).

On Martha Stewart’s site, she drew funny faces on fruit with edible markers or better yet, do as my Mother did when I was little and make faces on top of brown rice using grapes and veg slivers. It got me to eat my complex carbs, and made me the envy of my 1st grade class.

Like billions of Moms everywhere, every morning (or the night before for the more organized ones) I have to come up with what to put in my daughter’s lunchbox. Quite a challenge as each day must have 3 important factors:

1. Yum factor (she’ll eat it)

2. Health factor (to diminish any guilt on my part that I’m feeding my kid right)

3. Variety factor (kids thrive on this in waves, after one particular fave is no longer a fave you’ll have to experiment to find a new one so variety does matter)

And now that my child has both snacktime and lunch at school, I have to be extra creative.

It is extra difficult to succumb to temptation at the supermarket in the name of convenience, where there are miles of aisles devoted to pre-packaged biscuits and crisps, all brightly coloured with kid-ogle-worthy characters but unhappily laden with all the scary mono-poly-whatever fats, salts, refined sugar, msg and other frightening dyes.

I’m no granola Mom (and occasionally buy oreos and take them to yikes- Mac Donalds) but I do like to think that I’m not filling my kids with scary things that will pop out and haunt them later on. And that the rosy glow of health is also a look I like to see on them.

According to a nutritionist a healthy lunchbox should have the capability of improving your child’s attention, behaviour and learning throughout the day and into the afternoon, providing 1/3 of your child’s daily requirements of nutrients.

So to simplify:

1. Protein: to keep them alert

2. Complex Carbs: for slow-release energy

3. Calcium: for growth, healthy bones and teeth

4. Fruit and veg: for vitamins and minerals

More on my next post on ideas for this. Stay tuned Moms.

What better reason to celebrate than the birth of a new baby? Of course, along with the celebration comes the gift-giving. Whether you opt for one of the classics — baby clothes, bedding, or a silver keepsake (rattle, spoon, frame, etc.) — or something a little more creative, the new arrival is sure to appreciate it, even if he may not be able to send you a thank-you note just yet. Here are some great gift ideas:

1. A personality write-up based on his zodiac sign or birth date will be a one-of-a-kind keepsake for his baby book

2. A kit filled with all the necessities. Just bundle a car seat with a sun shade, car toys, and a pair of baby-sized sunglasses, and she’ll be ready to go.

3. Create your own gift kit with a comforting nightlight, an entertaining mobile, and some soothing music made just for babies .

4. A good supply of soft, resilient chewable toys will let her explore safely with her mouth.

5. Baby-friendly board books in with the traditional hardcover variety — that way she can truly appreciate the sound of your gift and the taste as well!

Nat now seems to be recovering, and the phlegmy cough is at least far less scary that the high fever she had yesterday.

While doing research though I stumbled upon an article which may be interesting for any Moms out there experiencing the same thing (new moms - dont worry you will!). I’ve condensed it.

Fever in Children by Len Leshin, MD, FAAP.

Fever is the body’s reaction to infection. Through mechanisms that aren’t known well, some aspect of infection and/or inflammation causes the brain to reset its “thermostat.” There are many theories for why this happens, including the idea that most germs can’t replicate well at higher body temperatures and that some parts of the immune system works better at higher temperatures. When the body has reset its thermostat, any temperature below that is considered by the body to be cold; so if the thermostat has been reset to 104 F, a temperature of 102 F will actually seem cold, and the body starts shivering to increase body heat: that’s why we get “chills.”

While fever is considered a rise in body temperature, not everyone’s body temperature is the same. The common average cited is 98.6 F (37.0 C), but your actual “normal” temperature may vary. Regardless, in infants and small children, fever is regarded as anything 100 F (37.8 C) or higher; in school-aged children and above, 99.3 F (37.4 C) or higher.

Here’s the important point: Fever is NOT dangerous! The amount of temperature required to hurt the human brain is over 107.6 F (42 C). Fever due to infection very rarely goes over 106.2 (41.3 C), and while scary to parents, is not harmful. (Temperatures over 107.6 F are usually due to heatstroke, head trauma, toxic ingestions or anesthesia side effects.) Seizures due to fever can occur in the age range of 4 months to 6 years, but is most often associated with an abrupt rise in temperature, rather than an extremely high fever. And while seizures due to fever are frightening, they are short (less than 5 minutes) and are very rarely harmful to the child’s brain.

Important note: while fever is not dangerous, it is a sign of infection, and there are some infections that are dangerous to children. How high the fever gets may not tell you how dangerous the infection may be. Infants 3 months of age and younger may not show serious signs of infection until it is too late, so these infants should always be seen by a doctor when febrile. For older infants and children, they should be seen by a doctor or other health care provider if you feel the symptoms may indicate that your child may have a serious infection, or if you are unsure if your child’s symptoms are serious or not.

Although I am a Mother of 2, no matter how many times one of my kids get a fever, it always still goes like this.

1. I semi-panic,
2. Give parecetamol
3. Call the doctor
4. Make a special soup dish
5. Get the DVD’s ready and spoil them to death.

Well today my 4-year old woke up with a real scorcher. 39.1 degrees. And the weird thing was she was outside playing all day yesterday, wolfed down 2 bowls of pasta for dinner with nary a symptom. And today she woke up burning and with all sorts of owies (and license for Mommy to attend to her bidding).

After paracetamol and more ibuprofen, she’s now happily watching the Grinch and although still definitely not fit to go to school, she’s snatching her little brother’s Barney book away from him again, so things have normalized somewhat.

Just in case, here are some useful fever reminders:

* Give your child plenty to drink to prevent dehydration (not enough fluid in the body) and help the body cool itself.
* Keep your child still and quiet.
* Keep the room temperature at about 70°F to 74°F.
* Dress your child in light cotton pajamas so that body heat can escape.
* If your child is chilled, put on an extra blanket but remove it when the chills stop.

Tips on giving medicine

* Don’t give more than 5 doses in 1 day.
* Don’t give a baby younger than 4 months old medicine unless your family doctor tells you to.
* Read labels carefully. Make sure you are giving your child the right amount of medicine.
* If using drops, fill the dropper to the line.
* For liquid elixir, use a liquid measuring device to make sure you give the right dose. Get one at your drug store or ask your pharmacist.