Instant noodles send thousands of kids to the ER

Are instant soups healthy? What about instant noodles? Both these items are definitely not in the list of healthy foods you should give your child. But even more shocking than their lack of nutrients is the fact that these foods are responsible for sending thousands of kids to ER every year.

20% of childhood scald burns caused by microwaving instant noodles, says study

Recently,
a new study
 conducted by scientists has revealed that 20% of childhood scald burns were caused by microwaving instant noodles and soup.

Unlike normal burns, scald burns come from exposure to hot liquids or steam. Some cases of scald burns may need hospitalization or surgery.

The study estimates that instant soups cause nearly 10,000 scald burns in kids residing in the America. Furthermore, their findings showed that four- to seven-year-olds were likelier to be hurt, with the chest area of the body being the site of injury in 40% of cases.

Dr Courtney Allen, is a paediatric emergency medicine fellow at Emory University in Atlanta. She suspects that parents see food coming out of a microwave as much safer than on a stove. However, the study has shown that young children eating microwave-heated instant soups do need to be overseen by an adult.

Dr Michael Cooper is the director of Staten Island University Hospital’s burn center in New York Cit. He says that the study’s results confirm what happens in reality.

“We do see instant soup and noodle burns with kids in this age group,” he said.

Thankfully, these kids could return home after treatment in the emergency room. They weren’t hospitalised and needed less than 14 days to recover.

“These burns are painful, but most appear to be superficial,” he explained.

Are instant soups healthy? No, and they’re not safe for kids to handle either. Always supervise your kids if they are heating instant soups using a microwave oven. | Image Source: Stock Photo

How do these burns happen?

Most of the time, according to Cooper, the parent pre-heats the instant soup and hands it over to the child in the same container. Often the child will knock over the cup, and its boiling hot contents over themselves.

Overall, the study shows that parents, grandparents and other people supervising children should be educated that these burns can happen. Authors have also suggested thinking of ways of preventing these burns, such as modifications in instant soup packaging, too.

Besides this injury risk they pose to kids, instant soups and noodles fare poorly on the nutrition front too.

Are Instant soups healthy? Not really, says science

According to nutritionist Ms Swati Kapoor, instant vegetable soups are very different to their natural counterparts. Namely, they:

contain less than half of the nutrients you can find in natural soups because nutrients can’t be stored over long periods of time.

are loaded with preservatives. Although preservatives can prolong the shelf life of instant soups, they do negate the antioxidant properties from the vegetables used to make the soup.

are made from ingredients with sub-par quality. Much of the soup consists of starch, sugar and sodium.

hardly have any vegetables at all, aside from the already depleted nutrients.

In particular there are three important ingredients in instant soups that aren’t good for your health:

Are instant soups healthy? Not really, says nutritionists. Eating in moderation is fine, but don’t feed your kids instant or powdered soups everyday, parents. | Image Source: Stock Photo

1. Corn flour

Instant soups often contain a lot of corn flour so that it becomes thick. Corn flour isn’t good for your body because it increases blood sugar levels, and also causes weight to rise and fall – or the “yo-yo effect”. The yo-yo effect isn’t healthy: it can lead to diseases like fatty liver, diabetes, heart conditions,
and many more
.

2. Salt

Instant soups also have a lot of salt. The excessive salt isn’t good for people who already have high blood pressure. Too much salt is also bad for kids.

Having too much salt may bring about a lot of other conditions other than hypertension and a heart attack, such as osteoporosis, asthma, kidney diseases and rarely, stomach cancer.

3. Preservatives

Instant soups also contain a lot of preservatives which are bad for health.

Furthermore, the nutrients that come with instant soups are in powder form. Once these powdered nutrients receive heat, they lose their nutritional value.

Instant noodles, similar to soups, also have many limitations when it comes to health and nutrients. Parents, this doesn’t mean you should ban these foods from your child’s diet altogether if it’s a favourite. Rather, you should exercise caution that burns don’t happen, and not let kids eat these foods too often.

References:
WWLP
,
Practo
,
AAP
,
WebMD,

Healthline

Partner Stories
Child
Sick Children Can Be A Handful, But Not With These Tips!
Child
Parents, Be in the Know With RSV Knowledge To Protect Your Babies
Uncategorized
Children Are Suffering From Diarrhoea: Here’s What You Can Do To Help Protect Your Child
Health
Do Not Take the Rotavirus Disease Lightly!
Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


#tApReviews: Pumpables Milk Genie Plus Review

If you’re looking to buy a breast pump and you’re considering the Pumpables Genie Plus, we’re here to tell you everything about it that we absolutely love. This is the Pumpables Milk Genie Plus review every mum needs to read.

But before we go into it, here’s a little background: I started off using an Eynsham Symphony pump, which is slightly bigger compared to the Pumpables Genie Plus.

I spent about the same amount on both pumps, but the difference in functionality is worlds apart.

This proved to be unsuitable for me due to the wrong breast shield size and since this brand is pretty much unheard of, no one could tell me if there were other compatible flanges I could use. Not only that, for the same price, I got a pump that didn’t have a screen and had only basic functionality.

Then I bought myself a Spectra S1 pump. It worked well for me as a hospital-grade pump. But as it was time for me to go back to work, bringing the bulky pump to work with me was not an ideal situation. As an EP mum, it was crucial for me to have two working pumps anyway.

Enter Pumpables Milk Genie Plus. Whenever I would see other mums posting in Facebook groups about the best portable pump, this pump kept popping up.

Pumpables Milk Genie Plus Review

Price

RM599 (get RM100 off by applying downloading our app and redeeming a special discount code)

Suction Power

Up to 300mmHg

Weight

220mg

Category

Portable

TLDR: It’s light, effective in clearing breasts and relatively quiet.

What we love about it:

1. It is small and light.

Whether you’re travelling or using it as your work pump, it’s perfect because it fits into ANY bag. It’s so light that it doesn’t add much weight to the bag, considering it is only 220gm (that is roughly the weight of a smartphone with a case).

2. The suction power is efficient in clearing.

My usual pump time with a Spectra S1 Plus at home on single-pumping is 15 minutes each side to clear. I expected a smaller pump like the Genie Plus to take longer, but to my pleasant surprise, my pump time remained the same and my yield remained the same.

3. It is relatively quiet.

Compared to the Spectra S1 Plus, the Genie Plus produces almost the same volume. In my opinion, the Genie Plus is only slightly louder. But one huge plus point is that it is easy to find a place to hide the small machine so you can be more discreet when pumping if the noise bothers you, like your pocket or on a seat (to cushion the noise).

4. It comes with three breast shield sizes.

I cannot stress enough how important this is. One of the most painful parts of my pumping journey was finding the right flange size for my nipples. I started off with Spectra’s standard 28mm, moving up to 30mm and then 32mm, after being ill-advised by shop assistants. Later on, I moved down to a 24mm flange and found that it was the most comfortable.

However, after four months, I had actually found my perfect size – 21mm, and this was because I had the option of trying this size out when it came with the Genie Plus. Since then, I could say bye-bye to endless cracked nipples and uncomfortable pumping sessions.

If your size doesn’t fall within this range, additional shield sizes from 15mm to 30mm are also available for purchase separately.

5. Battery life is great.

The breast pump boasts a battery life of up to 2.5 hours. Currently, after having used the pump for about two weeks, the battery life seems to be great. Considering I only pump once a day for half an hour at work, the battery life lasts me all week!

6. It is compatible with many brands.

Besides being compatible with Spectra parts, it is also compatible with YouCup and Freemie parts. Of course, experienced mums would know that this means you can also buy Maymom parts.

7. Memory settings

You can save the settings according to your preferences. This is particularly useful if you’re working and you get distracted from your pump session (as I always do!) as the pump will help you effectively clear your breasts in the way you’re used to without you having to stop what you’re doing to change the settings.

The other side of things:

The only downside to it is that it is only available for sale online.
Partner Stories
Ages & Stages
Discover the Signs and Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance in Children
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Achieve Better Lactation Results with Philips Avent Breast Pumps
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Breaking Norms: Should Breastfeeding Stimulation Only Be Done Naturally?
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
How to Raise Healthy & Happy Children, 5 Easy Tips All Parents Must Know

The only hesitation I had in buying this pump from the get-go was that I could not see, hear or feel the pump at baby fairs as I had been accustomed to. But once I got past that hesitation by reading so many of the reviews on it, I clicked on order and the rest is history. Delivery is very quick, with the pump arriving 2-3 days after the order had been placed. They also use Ninjavan as their delivery service, which updates you on the delivery by text.

Get your Pumpables Milk Genie Plus
here
 and don’t forget to download our app to get a discount voucher for the breast pump.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


10 pain relief methods for a drug free labour


Connect with Your Children: 4 Fun Activities You Can Do at Home to Encourage Learning

With the ever-changing landscape of working and learning environments, families are finding themselves with more time at home – a valuable time that offers opportunities to bond with your kids.

Living in a digital world, it’s easy to keep them occupied with screen time especially during peak working hours, but it’s crucial to spend some time offline with your little ones.

Through daily activities together, you can positively build your child’s self-esteem, strengthen family bonds, encourage communication and of course, fuel their knowledge.  However, the type of kid activity you choose plays a part in strengthening those factors during these bonding sessions.

Tactile learning through experience

HP’s New Asian Learning Experience Study (NALE) revealed 92.7 percent of Malaysian parents value experiential learning as an opportunity to nurture their child’s creative and critical thinking.

The study found that 83 percent of these parents believed bonding with their children through learning activities is a great way to develop interpersonal skills – printed materials, such as worksheets, were the most effective format for learning and writing new words.

With hands-on activities that promote tactile education, children are able to build their physical, cognitive and language skills. This is also especially important for their childhood development, which includes growth from a social and emotional standpoint.

So, choose activities that encourage them to explore their senses such as drawing, writing and expressing actions or emotions.

Here are four fun activities you can try at home.

1.

Story time

Stories can fuel their imagination and can be a precious opportunity to bond with your child.

Stories are much-loved by children, it drives their brain development and imagination. Through storylines, children can be taught a valuable lesson, as well as pick up language, communication and social skills.

 Here are some ideas:

Daily reading:
 Help your kid build their literacy skills by allocating a period of time daily to read to them. Use sounds or acting to associate words to keep the session engaging and ask questions in between to ensure they understand the plot. You can also discuss the moral of the story or encourage them to have their own alternate endings or get them to do a book review! Here is a
free printable book review template.

Create their own story:
 Write an opening storyline or a topic and let them continue their own adventure. You can even print out a picture or a character (here is a
free

robot
 and
superhero
 printable!) and let them build a story around this. This allows them to explore their own creativity in story-telling skills and writing. Parents then can read the story together and ask questions on points in their story, or offer a different perspective to showcase the various ways a story can develop.

2.

A scavenger hunt

Engage your kids with a fun-filled day of finding clues.

A fun time for the entire family, a scavenger hunt is an easy way to educate your kids. Parents can customise this and use themes to challenge their kids. You can also have additional rules, such as allowing one hint which they have to use wisely. One of the easiest rewards when completing the treasure hunt can be their favourite snack! Larger families can even split into teams.

 Here are some ideas:

Things around the house:
 This can teach them about items around the house. Clues can include where a certain chore or action is done daily such as “where dinner is made” to lead to the kitchen. Additionally, you can challenge them with uncommon items such as a painting in the house through an imaginative description, or which country a certain souvenir is from.

Alphabets:
 Create a worksheet with all alphabets and add columns to each letter. Ask your kids to find something that begins with every alphabet and write it down.

 3. DIY study charts

Spend quality time with your kids through interactive worksheets and activities.

Rather than using pre-made study charts, get your child to make their own – this lets them learn as they create! You can hang up their masterpieces in their rooms or around the house to encourage them to continuously learn.

Here are some ideas:

Math charts:
 This can be an addition, subtraction or a multiplication table. Just create and print a template with the equation numbers and leave the answers blank. Get them to decorate the entire chart with funky lettering, colouring and more!

Alphabet charts:
 Create boxes for every letter and ask them to fill in an animal that starts with each letter. You can even print out animal illustrations for them to colour and match with the correct alphabet.

Print & Play with HP:
 Suitable for kids aged between two and 12, HP offers free various printable worksheets and crafts activities for your little ones! These include colouring, puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dots, drawing, paper crafts and more. You can feed your kids with snippets of information or help them count as they go along with the worksheets. Get your printables

here
!

 4.
Join HP’s Little Makers & stand a chance to win up to RM30,000 worth of merchandise!

Here’s a chance to have fun and win exclusive HP merchandise! HP’s Little Makers contest offers four fun printable challenges for your kids to do.

 These are the four challenges:

Paper Building Blocks
:
 Let your child explore their creativity and decorate the individual strips before cutting them out to form paper blocks. Your child will have to arrange them according to the instructions and make sure their building is not collapsible!

Make Your Own Brain
:
 Educate your kids on how the brain functions! Just print out the template and get them to colour each section to form a paper hat that labels brain parts.

Layers of the Earth:
 Explain the structure of the earth to your kids as this template forms a pinwheel that labels each layer.

Building 3-D Shapes
:
 Teach your kids how 2-D shapes can become 3-D! They can decorate these cubes and pyramids as they play along.

Once your kids have completed the four challenges, get them to pose with their paper creations and post the photo up on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtags #HPMY, #HPLittleMakers and #ReinventingLearning.

You can also upload them on the Little Makers site if you can’t post on social media! Start your challenges now and visit

HP Little Maker’s official website
.

Reinvent learning with HP

In a bid to inspire students and evolve the educational landscape, HP aims to equip young children and students alike with adequate information, technology, as well as learning experiences that can offer insight into future workplaces.

With that, HP’s Reinvent Learning narrative addresses these concerns with focus on the importance of tactile learning, especially print-based education.

Printed materials are considered a powerful tool to strengthen the relationship between a parent and child – it encourages active participation from both sides, compared to digital platforms or video-based learning.

According to HP’s NALE study, young Malaysian parents viewed printed materials as an effective tool to nurture their child’s comprehension skills and vocabulary, especially when supplemented with digital platforms that facilitate creative and critical thinking.

Moreover, children who used both tablets and printed worksheets were more engaged – it was found that 12 percent spent longer time on their tasks without signs of distraction or boredom and were more likely to ask questions.

Print with HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 4729

With a library of printable worksheets online and e-learning projects or homework, a printer is an important tool to support your child’s educational needs at home.

The HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 4729 is great for this – it can handle large print jobs with ultra-high-yield Original HP ink cartridges for less. Furthermore, it has wireless connection that can be linked to smartphones or tablets for on-the-spot printing.

If your child uses a tablet, they are able to print their worksheets right away and efficiently – it is also designed for sharper lines, graphics, text and can produce high-quality prints for photos.

Its features include:

Able to print up to 1,500 pages with black ink

Wireless printing with the HP Smart app for users to link to their smartphones or tablet – users can print from anywhere with the remote printing setup

Low-cost ink cartridge

Supports borderless printing

For more information, visit

HP’s official website
, or check out their

HP Malaysia’s Facebook
 and Instagram @HP_Malaysia.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on theAsianparent Malaysia website.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


How to deal with your child's slow eating habit

If your child is a slow eater, he could easily take several hours to finish a meal.

It’s almost dinner time… and your heart starts to sink as you call your 3-year-old child to the table.

Why? Because you know he’s going to take a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of perhaps 2 hours (or longer!) to finish his meal.

Introducing the ‘slow eater’ — the child who takes forever to eat! According to experts, a child’s slow eating habit is a form of picky eating which, if not addressed, could pose a problem for the child’s overall nutrition intake.

For example, if your child takes a few hours to eat her lunch, the meal may not be completed or she may not be hungry enough by dinner time. And so the slow-eating cycle continues.

Your child’s slow eating habit could also result in a strained parent-child relationship as a result of the stress (for both of you) involved during mealtimes.

Some kids actually don’t have an issue with the food placed before them or with eating — they just eat really slowly.

But whatever the reason, watching your child take hours to eat a meal you painstakingly prepared can be extremely frustrating.

Watching your child eat – noodle by noodle – for over an hour can be very frustrating for parents.

The characteristics of a slow eater include:

– Taking more than 30-45 minutes to finish a meal;

– Leaving his meal mostly untouched even after 30-45 minutes of ‘eating’;

– Playing with food;

– Holding food in the mouth for a long time without chewing;

– Chewing food without swallowing for a long time;

– Needing constant reminders to chew and swallow;

– Needing to drink water or juice with each mouthful of food.

Try not to lose your temper with your slow eater as it could only aggravate the problem.

It’s very easy to get annoyed and/or angry with your slow-eating child and lose your temper with him. However, experts say that there may be reasons for your child’s slow eating habit.

These include:

– They get easily distracted;

– They like experimenting with their food;
Partner Stories
Kids
Here’s How You Can Help Strengthen Your Child’s Immunity for a Smarter Future!
Ages & Stages
How to Teach Your Child Good Eating Habits - So They Can Reach Their Optimal Growth!
Ages & Stages
How Building with LEGO® bricks Can Boost Your Child's Creativity & Imagination
Kids
Growing up in KidZania Kuala Lumpur: a safe space for your child to learn

– They are too full from snacking throughout the day;

– They are exercising independence in eating.

Also, most children will go through a phase of slow eating, especially when they come to an age where they find playing much more interesting than eating.

Slow eating could also occur when your child’s rate of growth starts to taper and slow down, which is usually when he is around 2 years old.

Whatever the reason for your child’s slow eating habit, don’t be disheartened.

According to
Karin G. Reiter
, who is a medical nutritionist, certified fitness instructor and lifestyle coach, t
he more we fret and fuss about our kids eating habits, promise and punish them with foods, the more we will get upset… and the less results we will see as parents.

So, with this in mind, we share with you ways to help your child eat faster, as well as tips to keep in mind that will help you and your child get through this phase.

1. Be realistic

Plan enough time for your kid’s meal and be realistic about how long it takes a child to eat.

Sure, we’ve all watched in amazement and awe certain kids wolfing down a meal in 10 minutes. But 30-45 minutes is actually a reasonable amount of time for a young child to finish his meal.

If you find yourself rushing your child to eat any faster than this, adjusting your expectations may help both of you to relax, which in turn, will make mealtimes less stressful.

If your child is snacking on calorie-dense foods such as sweets and chocolates through the day, she might be too full to eat her main meals in a reasonable amount of time.

2. Minimise snacks

Most kids love snacking and, if they had their way, would graze on tiny portions of food all day. But constant snacking could actually ruin your child’s appetite for his larger meals, and make him eat these meals at a snail’s pace.

So keep the snacks to once a day and try to ensure that the snack is not too filling — in this regard, fruit is ideal (and healthier too!).

Also, try to set a fixed feeding schedule with 3 main meals, set 3-4 hours apart.

3. Spend time with your child aside from meals.

While some kids are slow eaters by nature, others may purposely take their time to eat in order to get attention from you. So do try and set aside time outside of mealtime to interact with your child.

4. Set a time limit

Set a reasonable time limit for your child to eat (30-45 minutes) and once this time is up, as difficult as it might be to do,  remove his plate and calmly tell your child that mealtime is over.

If your child can tell the time, tell him before the meals starts how much time he has. If he can’t tell the time yet, try using an egg timer.

You could also set a clock or phone alarm, having it go off 5 or 10 minutes before the expected meal completion time so he knows he needs to finish up fast.

5. Discuss the issue with your child

Do talk to your child about the issue of slow eating, but at a time other than mealtime when your temper may flare, especially if he’s taking extra-long to eat on that particular day!

Talk to your child calmly about the need to put away food after a certain time to keep it fresh, as well as the need to move on to other activities other than eating.

Try to explain to your child that if he eats faster, he has all the more time to engage in fun activities that he likes.

Cut out all distractions such as TV and phone use during mealtimes and try to eat together as a family.

6. Cut out distractions

Turn off the TV and ban mobile phone use and other gadgets during mealtimes.

Young kids are very easily distracted by technology and if you have the TV on during mealtimes, this may actually be contributing to your child’s slow eating behaviour — by moving his attention off his meal.

7. Be mindful of serving portion size

Seeing a plate piled sky-high with food can be overwhelming even for a fast eater. So do be mindful of your child’s food portion size and keep it age appropriate, making it more achievable for him to complete the meal.

8. Use positive reinforcement

When your child does complete a meal within the allotted time, be generous with your praise and encourage him to keep at it. There’s nothing more a young kid likes than to see you pleased with him and be told he’s doing a good job!

9. Be creative with food

Try and make mealtimes fun and interesting for your slow eater. There are some really creative things you could do with your kid’s meal to make it more interesting.

For example, with basic cookie cutter shapes, you could make heart-shaped pancakes or eggs. Sandwiches could be cut into interesting shapes and veggies arranged into colourful patterns.

By being creative with your child’s food, you might be able to encourage him to eat faster.

Karin Reiter shares these tips that might also help your child get excited by food:

– Cut veggies and fruits into stars and shapes.

– Serve your children’s food in plates that have their favorite animated creatures on them.

– Give veggies funny names: powder broccoli, silly billy green beans, x-ray carrots.

– Have your kids participate in food preparation.

Parents, as stressful as it may be dealing with your slow eater (and I know because I have one at home myself!), things will get better with patience and perseverance.

More often than not, your child’s slow eating habit is just a phase and really nothing to be worried about.

But sometimes, according to medical experts, kids may eat slowly due to other reasons, such as food allergies, reflux, oral motor developmental delays or sensory issues.

If your child’s slow eating habit is really worrying you and you think it may be compromising his physical/mental development, do consult your child’s doctor for assessment and advice.

Do you have a slow eater at home? Share with us your tips on helping him/her eat faster by leaving a comment.

References

https://pickyeating.com.sg/sloweater

https://everydaylife.globalpost.com/encourage-children-very-slow-eaters-eat-faster-19710.html

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


5-year-old boy with liver cancer apologises to mum before dying

Watching a loved one suffer from disease and pain is one of the most excruciating things a person can experience, and child battles with cancer experiences are soul-crushing. Here, we share a heart-wrenching story of a little boy and his fight with cancer.

For three years, Charlie Proctor fought against his rare cancer hard. “Now, it’s time to fly, I am so, so proud of you. You fought this so hard,” his mum, Amber Schofield says. | Photo: FACEBOOK/ Charlie’s Chapter

Child battles with cancer: Hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer

Hailing from Church, U.K, Charlie Proctor had been battling Hepatoblastoma, a rare cancer that starts in the liver, since February 2016, according to The Straits Times, as reported by British news outlets.

The 5-year-old had previously undergone a successful surgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in the U.K, and his cancer went into
remission
.

But unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse and Charlie’s cancer returned.

As such, his parents, Amber Schofield and Ben Proctor, took to Facebook in a last-ditch effort to raise £855,580 (S$1.53 million). This was so that they could pay for a life-saving treatment in the United States.

They had reached almost half of the target amount,
raising
 $611,600. Among the donors reportedly was US pop star Pink, who contributed £10,000.

However by then, they were presented with the fact that Charlie’s cancer had “become incurable” and “was too sick for treatment”. The treatment would have included a liver transplant, according to CTV news.

Child battles with cancer apologises to mum before he died

Weighing 9’11 lb at birth, Charlie was “the cuddliest baby ever!” according to his mummy Amber. But after the deadly cancer struck, Charlie’s condition deteriorated.

“His AFP is that high now that the machine can no longer read them. His liver function are the same apart from his Bilirubin, which has doubled causing Charlie’s skin colour to be yellow,” according to Amber. | Photo: FACEBOOK/ Charlie’s Chapter

Along the way, Amber commented many times that her boy “no longer looks like Charlie.”

“He’s so thin, I can see and feel every bone in his tiny body, his sunken face, his rolling eyes.”

“I don’t know what to do anymore” are the main words the little boy said to Schofield. “He’s sad, he’s tired, he’s fed up and depressed.”

After nearly three years after being diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma, Charlie took his final breath on Nov 9 2018, last Friday. And in the most heartbreaking way possible.

“Last night at 23:14 my best friend, my world, Charlie, took his final breath. He fell asleep peacefully cuddled in my arms with daddy’s arms wrapped around us,” said Amber.

Hours prior to his death, Amber shared a Facebook post quoting Charlie’s words.

“Mummy, I’m so sorry for this,” Charlie said in “the most quiet, panting voice”.

Apparently, he had been very agitated that day as he kept shifting positions. He had wanted to “lay down, sit up, lay in bed, then on the beanbag, then on the sofa, then back upstairs and so on…,” she said.

Amber thanked Charlie for not only showing her what “love really means” but because he gave her the chance to be a mum.

A “best friend” and “biggest inspiration,” is what Charlie will always be to her.

Child battles with cancer: “I miss just having a chat, a cuddle that doesn’t cause pain. I miss squeezing him and kissing him all over,” said Schofield. | Photo: FACEBOOK/ Charlie’s Chapter

Read Charlie’s and his family’s story in their Facebook post below:

Questions you may have if your child battles with cancer

Below are some suggestions as to what may go through your mind if your child has cancer. But always talk with your child’s health care team for a better understanding and how to deal with your child’s diagnosis.

1.
Who should tell my child?

The child usually learns of their diagnosis from the doctor at the same time you learn of it. However, if you decide to reveal it to your child, you could get some advice from the doctor or nurse on how to answer his/her questions.
Partner Stories
Kesihatan
Apa Itu Cacar Air & Kenapa Kita Perlu Melindungi Anak Daripadanya?
Fesyen
Kulit Menawan dan Menjadi Seorang Ibu: Bolehkah Kecapi Kulit Mulus Selepas Bergelar Ibu?
Percutian
Aktiviti Luar Yang Mesra Keluarga di Hong Kong
Kesihatan
Fahami Impak Cacar Air Daripada Diari Doktor Pakar

2.
When should my child be told?

Let your child know of this as soon as possible as it could help build trust between the both of you. You could let them into the news bit by bit.

3.
What should I tell my child?

What you share with your child depends on his age and how much they can understand.

Provide clear, simple information, no matter their age. It has to make sense to them

Let them know what to expect using ideas and words that they understand

Explain to them how the treatment will make them feel and when something will hurt

Show them that strong medicine and treatments have helped other children

4. How much should I tell my child?

Give them an understanding of the basic facts about the illness, treatment and what to expect. You don’t have to dwell on the details or letting them know too much in advance.

The key is to start with small amounts of information that they can understand. Try not to let their imagination run wild — especially when it comes to unanswered questions they might have.

Answer their questions honestly and always communicate with each other. It can help greatly. Never be untruthful to them.

5. How might my child react?

Some could worry, others get upset or become quiet, afraid, or defiant. It depends on each child. Some express their feelings in words, others in actions. Expect that some days will be rough, and others will be easier. Tell your child, and find ways to show her, that you will always be there for her.

6. What can I do to help my child cope?

Mums and dads, children take cues from their parents, whether or not you notice them. Being calm and hopeful help. Show them love. You can listen to them speak their mind, some feel better after talking. You can let them engage in activities such as drawing, writing, playing games or listening to music.

Source:
The Straits Times
,
National Cancer Institute

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


Discover How You Can Make Changes For A Meaningful Impact On Our Environment When You Purchase Samsung TV

Samsung is innovating for a better world, where technology exists together with people and for the planet. Through commitments that re-energize our environmental progress to innovations tailored to your unique lifestyle, Samsung is envisioning a future where sustainability anchors innovation and products are customized and connected for every experience.

In Samsung, we want our fans to purchase from a brand that shares similar fundamentals and values as they do, and with our SolarCell Remote Control and Eco-Packaging, we believe we can provide our customers with a new experience that considers the environment as an important way to express themselves.

When consumers buy a Samsung product, we want them to feel confident that they’re not only experiencing our cutting-edge technology and eco-innovation advances, but we’re also making it easy for them to repair, refurbish and recycle their products as well.

Get Creative With Samsung Eco-Packaging And Save The Environment

In 2020, Samsung Electronics introduced eco-friendly packaging across its Lifestyle TV product portfolio in an effort to reduce the environmental footprint which has won the CES 2020 Innovation Awards for its concept for promoting the efficient use of resources.

Samsung Eco-Packaging is a box specifically designed to be repurposed and recycled. It is made from eco-friendly corrugated cardboard where buyers can upcycle or turn the cardboard into magazine racks, build cat houses, and even shelves and furniture to store household items and electronic devices, including the remote control. This year, our eco-packaging uses 90% less ink than before by minimizing text and graphics plus eliminating all staples. With these efforts, we can decrease the amount of waste and make it easier for recycling centres to process.

The Eco-Packaging are applied to The Serif, The Frame and The Sero and it will be included in a wider range of home appliances in future as part of Samsung’s commitment to eliminate all single-use plastics in mobile packaging by 2025.

Reducing Disposable Battery Waste With Samsung’s Solar Cell Remote Control

Every year, around 15 billion batteries are used worldwide – but only 2% of these end up being recycled. In order to find a way to help mitigate this growing environmental issue, Samsung Electronics has developed the innovative solar cell-powered remote control for its TV products, which is now 88% more efficient than 2020 models.

As part of Samsung’s efforts towards creating eco-conscious products and services across all areas of its business operations, the Samsung TV’s solar cell-powered remote control is powered by lighting instead of conventional disposable batteries and can be recharged using sunlight, indoor lighting or USB.

Watch to learn more about the
sustainable – yet high-performing – Samsung’s SolarCell Remote video
here
.

Samsung new owner can get their hands on the SolarCell Remote Control when they purchase product ranges from Neo QLED, QLED, Crystal UHD, The Frame, The Serif and The Sero in Malaysia.

Samsung Electronics strives to incorporate environmental sustainability into everything we do. Our products are thoughtfully designed to minimize the impact on the environment during their entire lifecycle – from planning and manufacturing to consumption and recycling.

To explore more about Samsung’s responsible recycling programs and innovative sustainability efforts, please visit
https://www.samsung.com/us/explore/sustainability/
.

Partner Stories
Kesihatan
5 Healthy Tips to Guard Your Child Against Illnesses
Keibubapaan
Aktiviti Cuti Sekolah Yang Paling Menarik Untuk Anak Anda
Money Parenting
Two Goals In One! Money Parenting Through Fun
Parenting
Starting Your Child on Solids: Is Organic Baby Food Better?
Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


The little-known health risk of giving children bubble tea

Can kids drink tea? There are many debatable answers and reasons as to why kids should or shouldn’t drink tea. Still, especially in Asia, tea is popular among children, and even more popular is bubble tea made so tempting with those chewy little pearls made of tapioca.

However, one mum recently learned in a very scary manner of a little-known risk of this type of tea, particularly related to the tapioca pearls.

Can Kids Drink Tea? Just be Careful of Bubble Tea

Taiwanese milk tea (or bubble tea as it’s popularly known) is loved for its sweet taste and unusual texture given by the addition of “black peals”, or tiny tapioca balls.

However, when giving bubble tea to little ones (even though this might only be an occasional treat), please remember this cautionary story about eight-year-old Xiao Lin from China.

What Happened?

Xiao Lin endured pneumonia, fever and coughing for over six months. His mum, Linlin, didn’t think too much of it and gave him medicine. The medicine helped to soothe his symptoms for a while, but they soon returned.

However, Xiao Lin’s coughing took a turn for the worse, and was coupled with high fever. But strangely, he did not show any classic flu symptoms such as a runny nose. Concerned about the condition of her child, Linlin took him to the local hospital for a thorough medical checkup.

After running some tests, doctors found out that Xiao Lin had suffered multiple attacks of pneumonia in the past six months, which was highly unusual.

They deduced that there was probably a foreign object inside him that led to these symptoms. Only after inserting a probe into his lungs were they able to confirm their diagnosis.

Xiao Lin’s lunch endoscopy showed a foreign object blocking his air passages. | Image Source:
YouTube

Xiao Lin’s endoscopy showed a black tapioca pearl – a common bubble tea topping – stuck in his right lung. Soon after this discovery, the doctors took the eight-year-old to the operating room, where they surgically extracted the tapioca pearl.

The Aftermath

Surprisingly, the pearl looked brand new even after six months – it had not broken down at all!

The doctor in charge explains that as the lungs do not secrete digestive juices, their main mechanism of defense from a foreign object is to wrap it with secretions. This meant that over time, the black pearl was set to only grow larger, potentially becoming a life-threatening hazard.

The pearl looked brand new even though it had been in Xiao Lin’s Lungs for six months. | Image Source:
feedytube.tv

Furthermore, the main danger was related to the fact that the cause of the boy’s illness was so hard to detect. The good news is that Xiaolin is recovering from his ordeal.

What We Can Learn from this Incident

Looking back, Xiao Lin’s mum speculates that her son took a sip of the bubble tea when she took her eyes off it. However, he accidentally sucked in and choked on a tapioca pearl, which eventually lodged in his trachea.

Xiao Lin’s disturbing experience is a warning to all parents to be mindful of even innocent-looking objects children are exposed to – even certain kinds of food and drinks.

Here at theAsianparent we’ve also collated a few tips to help prevent such incident from occurring again.

Preventive Measures to Take with Food and Drink:

Infants and Toddlers

Cut food appropriately:

Dice, shred, or cut up carrots, celery and green beans.

Shred, dice or cut up carrots, celery, green beans, meats and cheeses.

Dont’ feed them high risk choking hazards like:

small, hard foods like
hard candies, cough drops, nuts,
 and
popcorn

soft, sticky foods like
chewing gum, marshmallows, jelly,
 or
gummy candies

Never leave a small child unattended while eating
and always supervise them. This pearl incident was the result of negligence.

Educate caregivers.
 In a situation where your child is left in the care of someone else, teach them about choking hazards and precautions to take to prevent choking. Identify emergency resources and contacts.

Seat your children while they eat
 and stop them from chatting, laughing, or playing while their mouth is still full of food or drinks.

Never feed them huge balls of peanut butter
. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on bread, instead.

Cut high risk items like grapes, cherries or melon balls into quarters
before feeding them to your child, remembering to de-seed it first.

For young children, grapes are a common choking hazard that can kill. | Image Source: Stock photos

Older Children

Occasionally monitor
 your children in case anything happens.

Teach them to alert you if they feel unsafe.
 Tell them about safety risks and to let you know immediately if something bad has happened or if they feel uncomfortable.

Remember that age does not matter.
 It doesn’t matter if your child can already chew his/her food properly. Grapes and tapioca pearls are the perfect size to block a child’s windpipe. Once the grape is stuck, the airway will be blocked completely. Continue cutting food for them if necessary and don’t forget to educate their caregivers as well.

Continue avoiding the choking hazards above, and
discourage your child from multitasking
 — when he’s eating, he shouldn’t be distracted from his meal.

Don’t give older children latex balloons to play with
. Children often breathe in latex balloons while trying to blow them. They can even choke on the torn latex pieces. Unlike other things, latex is smooth and can twist itself to the shape of a child’s throat, suffocating them. First Aid is of no help as the air that pushes through the lungs can completely block the throat.

What Can I Do if My Child Is Already Choking?

First, see if the object can be coughed out. Encourage your little one to cough so that the object is spat out.

When that doesn’t work, you can try to slap it out. So, help your child to bend forward. Then between their shoulder blades, give five sharp back blows using the heel of your hand. After five blows, check their mouth. If you can find anything there, ask your child to spit it out.

Now, if you’ve tried both coughing it out and slapping it out, you can try to squeeze it out. For this, try giving not more than five abdominal thrusts to your little one. Here’s how you do it according to the American Red Cross:

– Stand or kneel behind the child and wrap your arms around his or her waist.

– Locate the navel with one or two fingers of one hand.

– Make a fist with the other hand and place the thumb side against the middle of the child’s abdomen, just above the navel and well below the lower tip of the breastbone.

– Grab your fist with your other hand and give quick, upward thrusts into the abdomen.

If none of the above works, call an ambulance. Continue your efforts to get the object out until the ambulance arrives.

Watch this video for a better understanding on how save a choking baby.
Partner Stories
Tip keibubapaan
Jadikan Waktu Duduk Di Rumah Lebih Bermakna Bersama Si Manja Dengan Menyertai Friso® Gold Mombassador 2021!
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Is Your Child’s Gut Health Causing Tantrums? Here Is What You Need To Know
Parenting
Parents, Let Us Inspire Kids To Dream Big And Change The World!
Child
Connect with Your Children: 4 Fun Activities You Can Do at Home to Encourage Learning

References:
Margaret R. Hurd
,
feedytube.tv
,
Nationwide Children’s
,
WebMD

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


15 Ways To Label You As Parents Who Are Too Strict

There are some parents who are too strict when it comes to
disciplining a child
, without them actually knowing it. Despite most people thinking that strict parenting results in better-behaved kids, there’s a difference between being firm and overly strict. With the latter, parents may face the risk of causing low self-esteem and behavioural problems in children.

Below are 15 signs that show parents who are too strict with their kids.

1. Too Many Rules

Too many rules are never a good sign. There is no way to keep track or enforce them all! Instead, set fewer rules and focus on the important ones. Be consistent in reinforcing and reminding. Following through on the rules is very important.

2. Threats that Don’t Work in Your Favour

Credit: iStock

Save the drama and dish out threats you can actually carry out. What’s the point in threatening to throw them out of the house, when saying that will only make you go back on your own words? Empty threats will only encourage them to misbehave so think carefully before you open your mouth.

3. Overstepping Parental Boundaries

There is a fine line between parental control that is just enough and control that is too much. Sure, parents can and should set rules about how a child behaves in school and at home, especially when it comes to safety issues.

However, parents might need to take a step back when allowing kids to make a choice based on their preference.

Do not be so quick to say no. Instead, discuss and weigh both sides with your child before deciding what to do.

4. Emotional Blackmail

Parental love should always be
unconditional
 even when setting expectations and boundaries.

Do not threaten them using love as a lever, e.g. “You do this because you don’t love me.” Instead, tell them, “I will always love you, but I expect you to behave in this way.”

5. Not Watching What You Say

Credit: iStock

Be careful of what you say because no matter the tone, what you say can still leave emotional scars. Calm yourself down and think things over before confronting your child.

Choose your words wisely so that you do not accidentally say things you do not mean in the heat of the moment. The goal is to correct and guide a learning child, not hurt them.

6. Parents Who Are Too Strict Give Orders But Do Not Guide

When asking your child to accomplish a difficult task, don’t just order them to do it. Children need to know that parents have their back no matter what happens.

So don’t leave them to fend for themselves without chipping in to offer help and provide some one-on-one nurturing.

7. Constantly Cracking the “Whip”

Are you always the one cracking the whip to get things done? Are you always the bad cop, nag, monitor, or reminder-parent?

If that is the highlight of parenting for you, you might be one of those parents who are too strict.

8. Broken Communication
Partner Stories
Parenting
Looking for Fun Family Bonding Activities? Why Not Combine the Power of Play and Creative Problem-Solving with LEGO bricks?
Parenting
Spend Wisely When Shopping For Your Baby
Parenting
5 Fun Ways to Teach Your Children About Giving Back During the Holiday Season
Parenting
Mum Shares A Trick On How She Feeds Her Child Supplements And It Will BLOW Your Mind

Credit: iStock

Does your child even
confide
 in you anymore? You might applaud yourself for getting the kids to do your bidding. But what’s the point if they won’t open up or talk to you?

9. Your Children Don’t Bring Their Friends Over

Did you recently put your child in his place in front of his friends? Or are you one of those parents who are too strict and love asking probing questions when your child is cornered?

Well then, it’s no wonder they don’t bring their friends over!

10. You Don’t Let Your Child Explain

Do give them the opportunity to voice their opinion. It is OK if you don’t agree with them, but you should always hear them out and allow them to speak up.

11. You’re All Work and No Play

All kids need
downtime
 and time away from work — just like adults. Sure, now is the best time to learn everything because children are like sponges.

But the key thing is to encourage learning, not enforce it at every turn. There is a time to play and a time to learn.

12. You’re the Only One Doing It

Are you the only parent who’s not allowing your children to go online even with parental supervision? Then you might fall into the category of parents who are too strict. It’s impossible to avoid exposing your child to technology.

You’ve just got to do it the right, sensible way. By banning all things technological, you’re just encouraging your child to go behind your back.

13. You Say NO to Everything

Credit: iStock

Do not just say NO without giving valid reasons. Explain your concerns about why you are forbidding something. Parents who are too strict usually are not open to negotiations or compromise.

14. The Rules Are the Rules

Yes, there must be
rules
 in place that are clear and consistent so that children know what is expected of them.

But do give a little leeway depending on the situation. And do weigh your options before bending the rules a little.

15. Authoritarian Vs Authoritative

Note there is a difference. Authoritative parents set clear expectations. However, it is done with warmth and with the child in mind.

Authoritarian parents, on the other hand, are controlling, demanding and not responsive. Parents who are too strict always give either-or options — it’s my way or the highway — and relies on
punishment
 to demand obedience or teach a lesson.

Are you a firm believer of
strict parenting
 and what are your thoughts with regards to its side effects? Or are you more relaxed with your rules? Do share your insights with us, we would love to hear from you.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

Read more:
 Strict parents turn children into effective liars, study claims

Read more:
Respect vs. obedience: why parents need respect more than obedience from kids

Read more:
 Asian VS Western Parenting, The Difference Between Two Parenting Styles

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening In Infants, Why This Matters

Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening is an important topic. Parents must be aware of it.

Did you know that 1 in 100 babies are born with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD)? All pregnant women must have a CCHD screening during their prenatal care.

The good thing is, that a simple ultrasound screening test can detect most CCHDs. This article will teach you more about Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening and why it is so important.

Table of Contents

What Is Critical Congenital Heart Disease?

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of CCHD?

What Is Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening?

How Is Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening in Newborns Done?

Why Is Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening in Newborns Important?

What Are the Risks of Not Screening for CCHD in Newborns?

If Diagnosed with Critical Congenital Heart Disease, What Should Parents Do Next?

What Is Critical Congenital Heart Disease?

Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) is a type of heart defect present at birth. These defects can cause serious health problems and may need surgery to correct. CCHD can affect any part of the heart, but the most common type is a hole in the heart. Newborns with CCHD often have other health problems, such as lung or
kidney problems.

CCHD is usually diagnosed before birth. But is sometimes diagnosed after delivery if the baby has symptoms. Treatment for CCHD depends on the type of defect. There is no cure for CCHD, but many babies with this condition live long and healthy lives.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of CCHD?

Critical Congenital Heart Disease is a severe illness. It affects the heart and lungs and can be life-threatening if not treated. The most common symptom of Critical Congenital Heart Disease is shortness of breath. Other symptoms include:

Breathing Difficulty

Breathing difficulty is a common symptom of critical congenital heart disease. A child with this disorder may experience difficulty breathing. This happens especially when doing something as simple as walking or running.

The heart and lungs are not working together as they should, so they can’t provide enough oxygen to keep up with your child’s physical activity.

Rapid Breathing

The most common symptom of critical congenital heart disease is
rapid breathing
. The baby’s breathing will be faster than average, and you may notice that your baby has a fever. Fluid buildup in the lungs can cause this. If this happens, your doctor will want to start treatment right away.

A heart defect characterises this condition. That affects how blood flows to and from the lungs, creating an imbalance in oxygen supply and demand. The body will automatically increase your breathing rate to compensate for this imbalance.

Chest Pain

Chest pain is a common symptom of critical congenital heart disease. It’s a sharp, stabbing pain or dull ache. It may also feel like someone is squeezing the chest or performing CPR. And it can radiate through the upper back or neck. Physical activity and coughing can cause chest pains. But it’s also possible to experience it while resting.

Fainting Spells

Low blood pressure often causes fainting spells caused by poor circulation. Or a rapid heartbeat that’s pumping too much blood at once.

It can happen in children with critical congenital heart disease because their hearts cannot pump enough blood through their bodies.

Distressed Baby

Fatigue or Exhaustion

One of the most common symptoms of congenital heart disease is fatigue, which can occur due to many factors. The first factor is that the heart will have to work harder than usual to pump blood throughout your body.

Also, you may notice that your child is tired when doing any physical activity. Because their body is working harder than it would. It’s usually to compensate for the lack of oxygen-rich blood flow.

Bluish Colour of the Skin

This symptom can occur when there is a problem with the heart’s ability to pump blood. It can happen if there is too much fluid in the body. Or an obstruction in one of the blood vessels. When this happens, blood does not move as it should through the body. It causes blood to pool in some areas and not flow properly through others.

Low Blood Pressure

If you think your child may have critical congenital heart disease, the first thing to look for is low blood pressure. This symptom can be difficult to notice. Because it’s so common in newborns and infants. But if your baby has a lower than normal blood pressure, bring this up with your paediatrician.

Babies with low blood pressure can have trouble getting enough oxygen. This can cause anaemia (low red blood cell count) and an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

What Is Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening?

CCHD screening is a way to identify babies who may have a
heart defect
. The screening includes measuring the baby’s oxygen saturation levels with a pulse oximeter. If the oxygen saturation levels are low, it may show a heart defect.

 CCHD screening is crucial because it can help identify babies needing further testing and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects can improve affected babies’ outcomes.

How Is Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening in Newborns Done?

Critical Congenital Heart Disease screening is typically done using Pulse Oximetry. A soft, painless sensor is placed on your baby’s right hand and/or foot. The sensor sends a beam of light through the skin to measure how much oxygen is in the blood.

Low oxygen levels can be a sign of CCHD. The normal values for CCHD screening are as follows:

Pulse oximetry reading ≥95% and no cyanosis visible.

Initial test results that are abnormal need a repeat test or a diagnostic evaluation.
Partner Stories
Child
Sick Children Can Be A Handful, But Not With These Tips!
Child
Parents, Be in the Know With RSV Knowledge To Protect Your Babies
Baby
Premature Babies: What You Should Look Out for and What to Do?
Child
Parents, Here’s How You Can Help Your Children with Asthma!

Why Is Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening in Newborns Important?

Newborn screenings are important. Because they can help identify babies with certain health conditions. One of the conditions screened for is Critical Congenital Heart Disease.

CCHD can be severe and even life-threatening, so it’s essential to catch it early. Babies with CCHD often need treatment immediately. And the earlier they get treatment, the better their chances of a healthy recovery.

Often, CCHD is curable if caught early enough. That’s why newborn screenings are so important – they can save lives.

Parents must be aware of CCHD testing and make sure their babies undergo the test as early as possible. Don’t hesitate to discuss this with your child’s paediatrician.

What Are the Risks of Not Screening for CCHD in Newborns?

Image Source: iStock

There are several risks associated with not screening for CCHD in newborns.

First, undetected CCHD can lead to serious health problems. Including heart failure and death.
Second, CCHD can be challenging to diagnose later in life. When symptoms may be less noticeable.
Third, treatment for CCHD may be more complex and expensive. If the condition is not detected early.

If CCHD goes undetected and untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including:

Heart failure

Brain damage

Death

If Diagnosed with Critical Congenital Heart Disease, What Should Parents Do Next?

If your child is diagnosed with CCHD, it’s important to take action to protect their health. CCHD can be a serious condition, and it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible.

There are many options available for treatment, and the sooner you start, the better.
The first step is to talk to your doctor about your child’s results. Your doctor will be able to provide you with more information about the condition. And help you create a plan for treatment.

Also, it is important to educate yourself about CCHD and its symptoms. This way, you can recognise if your child’s condition worsens. You’ll be able to take the necessary action.

Finally, stay in close communication with your child’s medical team. They will be able to provide you with the most up-to-date information. And support you through this difficult time.

With early diagnosis and treatment, your child can lead a healthy and happy life.

Source:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (January 24, 2022). Critical Congenital Heart Defects.
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/cchd-facts.html#:~:text=Newborn%20screening%20for%20critical%20CHDs%20involves%20a%20simple%20bedside%20test,placed%20on%20the%20baby’s%20skin
.

National Library of Medicine. (July 2016). Critical congenital heart disease screening.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4922210/

World Heart Federation. (n.d.). Newborn Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in a Low-Resource Setting; Research Protocol and Preliminary Results of the Tanzania Pulse Oximetry Study.
globalheartjournal.com/articles/10.5334/gh.1110/

This article was republished with permission from
theAsianparent Singapore
.

Here at theAsianparent Malaysia, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Malaysia is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

Read more:

What Are Apgar Scores And What Does My Baby’s Score Mean?

Read more:
Is It Wrong That I Give My Baby Cough Syrup As A Sedative While We’re Travelling On A Plane?

Read more:
Teething 101: A Complete Guide – Here’s What Parents Need to Know!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


6 Delicious Instant Porridge Choices for Babies, Perfect For Busy Moms

Once babies turn 6 months old, they can be given food other than milk such as baby rice porridge, fruits and vegetables. Mothers can even choose to purchase baby instant porridge in stores that can help to save time and energy.

Although it is without a doubt that home-cooked food trumps store-bought goods, baby instant porridge today are very well packaged, nutritious and of high quality.

For parents that do not have time to prepare snacks for their children, this would definitely be a good alternative for you as baby instant porridge is extremely easy to prepare.

Guide to Choosing Baby Instant Porridge

Credit: Super Healthy Kids

When choosing a suitable baby instant porridge for your young ones, you should consider things such as shape, texture, taste and safety. In addition, it would also be good to note the following:

Packaging
: Fast food for babies are available in different packages, where some can be packed in plastic, paper or in bottle form. Parents should choose the one that is most convenient for them.

Ingredients
: It is important to make sure the ingredients in the porridge are appropriate for the baby while considering its age. This is as not all foods are suitable for babies under 1 year old. Fortunately, the food packages usually have a written allowable age. (e.g: Suitable for babies over 6 months old)

6 Delicious Baby Rice Porridge Products In The Market

It is perfectly okay to give your child instant baby food as long as you choose carefully. Here are some of our favourites that we recommend:

#1 Natufoodies Organic Japonica & Quinoa Rice Porridge Sweet Potato & Pumpkin

Baby rice porridge from Natufoodies comes with good prebiotic content for children. Prebiotics are important for generating healthy bacteria and boosting a kid’s immune resistance.

Product Information:

Ingredients: Organic Japonica Rice, Organic Sweet Potato Powder, Organic Quinoa, Organic Pumpkin Powder, Fructooligosaccharides (Prebiotic sauce)

Halal

No artificial flavour or colour

No added salt

Gluten-Free

No milk, eggs or nuts

Suitable for vegetarians

Made from premium organic rice with prebiotics

200 gm

 Natufoodies Organic Japonica & Quinoa Rice Porridge Sweet Potato & Pumpkin
Buy From Shopee

#2 Baby Natura Organic Brown Rice Porridge 6m

This product is suitable for health-conscious parents who have babies that are allergic to foods with additives, dyes, artificial flavours, etc.

Baby Natura Organic Brown Rice Porridge can help parents make a variety of different foods for babies as it comes in a variety of interesting and delicious flavours.

Product Information:

Available in a variety of natural flavours: Banana, Carrot, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Oats, Sweet Potatoes

Organically processed with ingredients grown on local organic farms

No cow’s milk

No beans or soy

No eggs

Gluten-Free

No chemicals

No artificial colouring or flavouring

No added preservatives

No added sugar or salt

 Baby Natura Organic Brown Rice Porridge 6m
Buy From Shopee

#3 Heinz First Steps Porridge

Start your little one’s day with a lovely breakfast prepared with First Steps Porridge that comes in 8 interesting flavours.

This porridge is not only tasty but contains 12 key vitamins and minerals. It also includes small chunks that are perfect for babies that are just learning to chew.

Product Information:

Various flavours: Oat, Banana, Oat & Banana, Oat & Apple, Blueberry, Fruit, Oat & Peach, Fruit & Yoghurt

Contains vitamins and minerals

Easy to prepare (just mix with hot water)

Contains a useful spoon inside

No artificial flavours, colours or preservatives

Low salt content

Small lumps

240 g/ pack

 Heinz First Steps Porridge
Buy From Shopee

#4 Izzly Kitchen Homemade Baby Food – Baby Porridge

This homemade product from Malaysia is made from natural ingredients and can be prepared immediately by adding hot water.

 Parents can even add in some extra natural flavour from the same manufacturer as well. This product is extremely portable and ideal for travel.

Product Information:

Travel-friendly packaging

Easy to prepare (just mix with hot water)

Suitable for babies from the age of 6 months

Suitable to be mixed with anise/ chicken/ fruit/ vegetable powder

Made from white & brown rice only

No added sugar, salt, preservatives or dyes

Guaranteed quality

Certified Halal

 Izzly Kitchen Homemade Baby Food - Baby Porridge
Buy From Shopee

#5 NBH Baby Food

Baby Rice Porridge from NBH is a Mulsim product that is guaranteed to be halal. It is also very easy to prepare as you just need to add hot water.

It comes in a plastic barrel container that is easily portable and good for travel as well.

Product Information:

Available in a variety of flavours: Baby’s first cereal (plain white porridge), Carrot, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin & Sweet Corn, Brown Rice with Banana & Pear, Apples & Dates, Pitaya & Dates, Mangoes with Apples & Vanilla, Baby’s first Oat, Roasted Chicken

No Soy

No Dairy

NO Preservatives

No Added Sugar

Easy to serve

Made from 100% fresh fruits and vegetables

100% Halal (produced by Malaysian Muslims)

No artificial colouring of flavouring

No salt or sweeteners

 Nbh Baby Food Homemade -
RM16.20
by

NBH
5
/5
shop now

#6 Heinz Glass Jar Baby Food

This product is also popular as it does not require any preparation, you just need to open the lid and grab a spoon!

Not only is it rich in vitamin C, but is also made up of a pureed food base and comes in a variety of delicious flavours.

Product Information:

Available in a variety of flavours

Available in an easily portable bottle for travel

110 g

 Heinz Glass Jar Baby Food
Buy From Shopee

We hope that this article will be useful in helping new parents pick the most suitable instant porridge for their baby!

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

Read more:

Study: How children prefer to eat based on gender and age


What Is Sound Bath & Why You Should Try It

If you’re new to the concept then know this, you’re not actually bathing. Instead of a literal interpretation, think along the lines of a figurative interpretation – only your senses will be bathing in an immersive experience of sound.

If you’re hesitating to grasp the idea of a sound bath, learn more about it’s benefits to understand why you need a sound bath!

Sound Healing Around The World

Regardless of when or where in the world, every culture utilises sound as a tool for healing, physically and meta-physically. In Malaysia and Indonesia, there’s the gamelan or similar variations of the gong. In Tibet and Nepal, it’s the infamous Himalayan singing bowl. In fact, the earliest bowl dates back 3,000 years ago to the Bronze Age. If you’re thinking it’s just in Asia, think again!

In Ancient Greece, it was believed that music could cure mental disorders whereas in Ancient Egypt, chanting was believed to restore balance to the energy system. Even South America had shamans drumming and chanting as to re-balance the body, mind, and soul. In Australia, the didgeridoo was used to cure anything and everything, from muscle tears to broken bones.

Years of Research

Of course, science in the prehistoric times was not like science now but research into sound healing is not new. In the 1980s, the musician Johannes Heimrath conducted many workshops using gongs and through these workshops, discovered that gongs could especially help to relieve headaches and neck pain. The bioenergetician Fabian Maman also discovered in the early 80s how vibrations can actually transform the human cell structure; his study lasted 18 months. More recently, the US National Institute of Health corroborated Mamans study by finding how certain forms of sound therapy can prompt damaged DNA strands to self-repair.

Just think about it – humans are made of more than 60% water and sound travels more than four times faster through water, as compared to air. A relevant fun fact: bones are a good conductor of sound. Again, this means sound travels directly into your being. Some benefits of this happening would be: alleviates anxiety, alleviates insomnia, stimulates different brain-waves (alpha, theta, gamma etc.), and triggers the release of endorphins (natural painkillers), serotonin, and melatonin.

What To Expect During A Sound Bath

Typically, a certified sound healer will play not just one but several soothing sounds. This depends entirely on the studio you visit, though, but you should expect any of these instruments: Asian gongs, Western gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, crystal singing bowls, wind chimes, chakra chimes, hang drums, and more.

The best part? All you need to do is just lie there with your eyes closed, embracing total relaxation. However, note that if you plan to attend a sound bath as to cure yourself of something, attend at least thrice for optimum results.

Locations

If you’re now curious or just want a new experience, here is a list of studios nearby you:

Studios in KL

OhanaJo Studio

Moon & Soul
Partner Stories
Keibubapaan
Baki Tali Pusat Bayi Ada 5 Masalah Ini? Parents, Ini Yang Anda Perlu Lakukan Untuk Bayi Anda
Penyusuan & Pemakanan
Tips untuk Ibu Sibuk: 5 Cara Mudah untuk Sediakan Sarapan Berkhasiat
Ages & Stages
How Building with LEGO® bricks Can Boost Your Child's Creativity & Imagination
Pregnancy
Staying Healthy For Your Developing Child: 6 Nutritional Diet Hacks for Busy Mummies

Studios in SG

The Singing Bowl Gallery

Space2B

House of Ascend

This article has been republished with permission from
 PurelyB

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


14 tips on how to increase your breast milk supply

Breast milk is the best milk for babies. This is why I definitely plan to breastfeed my third baby after child birth. However, I have this concern that I might not be able to provide enough milk for my baby due to low breast milk supply.

From my past experience in breastfeeding my first two children, I was only able to breastfeed each of them for one month because it seemed that my baby was not getting enough milk. So I turned to formula milk.

1. Get enough rest

I know that this sounds like mission impossible but it is vital that you take care of yourself as you breastfeed your baby. The best way to accomplish this is to get enough rest because tiredness affects breast milk supply. When your baby sleeps, you should sleep too. Ignore non-crucial chores and prioritise sleep. Being well rested will allow you to focus on your breastfeeding journey.

2. Nurse often

The first few weeks after giving birth is a crucial time to establish milk supply. During this time, frequent, thorough emptying of the breasts sets and controls the level of milk production. It is encouraged to breastfeed your baby every two hours. Your baby’s sucking stimulates hormones to produce breast milk. The more your baby demands milk, the more your supply will increase to keep up.

3. Express milk in between feedings

As not all babies require hourly feedings, or some mums experience difficulties with latching, the use of breast pump is highly recommended. Breast pumps work by mimicking the sucking motion that infants do when feeding, which typically results in an improved supply of breast milk. Do pump between 8-10 times a day including through the night.

Purchase an effective breast pump for this purpose. Store your expressed excess milk in the fridge or freezer and it can be bottle fed to your baby when you are at work or out of the house.

4. Massage your breasts gently as you nurse (breast compression)

Another way to stimulate breast milk production is by massaging your breast gently when you are both breastfeeding and also when not feeding. Massaging your breast while nursing can help hindmilk let down more efficiently. In the first 3-6 weeks, babies will often fall asleep at the breast when the flow of milk is slow, even if they haven’t gotten enough to eat. Breast compression helps to continue the flow of milk once the baby starts falling asleep at the breast, so the baby gets more hindmilk.

5. Avoid pacifiers, bottles or formula supplements

If possible, all of baby’s sucking needs should be met at the breast.  If you use a pacifier, make sure that it isn’t used as a supplement for nutritive sucking. Babies who are full of formula will nurse less often. If you need to supplement with formula, try to pump after feedings to give your breasts extra stimulation.

6. Eat a balanced diet with extra calories a day

All breastfeeding mothers should make sure she eats the right amount of food.
The right diet
 should include foods rich in carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. If you are hungry, get a fruit instead of junk or fast food.

You should also eat more than what you usually eat because breastfeeding requires an extra 500 calories daily. A breastfeeding mother should not yet think of going through a weight loss program or getting on a restricted diet for it may affect breast milk production and leave her feeling drained of energy.

7. Create a breastfeeding diet menu

Besides maintaining a balanced diet, there are some traditional food and herbs that are believed to increase breast milk supply. These are called galactagogue.

Herbs such as Fenugreek (Methi) are used by Indian mums across the globe to help  increase breast milk production. It is easily available from health food stores in the form of tablets. Some women do well on just one tablet three times a day, while others need to take more.

Fenugreek is also available as a form of tea or you could mix the powder with milk for drinking. Indian mums also rely a lot on tumeric powder and turi leaves, which can both be bought at Teka market.

Chinese herbs Dang Gui and dates are designed to nourish the body, clear blockages and in the process, improve your milk supply.

Filipina mums swear by malunggay, a popular plant grown in the Philippines. You can find it in speciality Filipino stores in Singapore. In a study of actual pregnant/nursing women conducted in Ospital ng Makati, it was found that those who took malunggay supplements before and continued after giving birth showed earlier onset of milk and a greater volume of it.

Apparently, though only proper and frequent feeding can really stimulate milk production and maintain supply, malunggay as a galactagogue facilitates the process for a new mother.

For other mums, their go-to dish is oats. Although there are no scientific studies that indicate that eating a serving of oatmeal a day can increase breast milk supply, there is no harm in consuming this super food. Oats are easy to prepare, a good source of iron and great for slowly releasing energy to the body.

Some popular Asian dishes and ingredients to increase breast milk include:

Green papaya and fish head soup
Partner Stories
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Achieve Better Lactation Results with Philips Avent Breast Pumps
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Breaking Norms: Should Breastfeeding Stimulation Only Be Done Naturally?
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
How to Raise Healthy & Happy Children, 5 Easy Tips All Parents Must Know

Pig trotter soup

Black bean chicken soup

Fish maw soup

Red bean soup

Lentil soup

Brown sugar and sesame soup

Rice porridge

Frog legs porridge (“tian ji” porridge)

Red date longan tea

Chicken essence

Meals containing seafood (the 5 lowest mercury seafood are shrimps, canned tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish)

Abalone

Green vegetables like spinach, kale, wheat grass, collards

Other vegetables like carrots, asparagus, bitter gourd, potatoes, radish, garlic, artichokes and raw papaya

Tapioca pearls

Chick peas (chana dahl or hummus)

Japanese seaweed

Chia seeds

Nuts like almonds, walnuts and dried figs

Dates

Durian

Lactation cookies (ensure it consists one of these ingredients ; rolled oats, brewers yeast, flaxseeds or fenugreek)

8. Drink plenty of fluids

Fluids does not necessarily mean water. It can be juice, milk or soup.  Drinking lots of fluids will help you replace the fluids lost in breastfeeding. Breastfeeding mums should be drinking at least 2 liters of fluids daily. Some mothers may need to drink more water each day when breastfeeding is well established.

According to the
Singapore Health Promotion board
, “88% of breast milk is water. Breast milk volume increases from as little as 50 ml on the first day, to as much as 750 ml a day, when breastfeeding is well established. So, the most critical nutrient needed for the production of ample breastmilk to meet a suckling baby s demand, is water.

Many mums in Singapore swear by drinking milo, coconut milk, soya milk, alfafa drink, barley green drink and red date tea to increase milk supply.

There are some cultures who believe
that drinking beer also helps to increase their milk supply
. While beer has malt which can increase milk production, alcohol may also cause slow letdown for some mothers. The bitter taste of beer may also turn off some babies. So do proceed with caution.

9. Foods to avoid (Milk killers)

A number of mums on
theAsianparent breastfeeding mums group
, lists the following as milk killers for them – Chives, cabbage, pig’s liver, fruits like tamarind, guava, watermelon, mangosteens, san cha herbs like mint, sage, rosemary, thyme, spearmint, peppermint and parsley. Chinese herbs like dong guai mei/dong guai tail/American Ginseng is also known to be a milk killer.

The Singapore Health Promotion Board also suggests staying away from strong flavours in food such as garlic and onion, which are also known to cross into breastmilk. Some babies, sensitive to the changes in breastmilk flavour, may decrease intake.

10. Continue to take prenatal vitamins

It is also important that you get the necessary nutrients your body needs as you nurse your baby. One way to do this is to continue to take multivitamins or the prenatal vitamins you took while you were pregnant. When nursing, you need 1,000 mg of calcium a day. Unless you’re an avid dairy eater, it can be hard to get that much calcium from food, so your prenatal vitamins can help in that area.

11. Avoid cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine

These are substances you should avoid while breastfeeding because the toxins can get to your milk and to your baby’s body. Remember that whatever you take also goes to your baby.

Alcohol is best avoided as it does pass through to the breast milk and can affect baby’s alertness and ability to suckle.

Caffeine may trigger restlessness in the baby, so it is advised to keep it to less than 200 mg daily.

Mothers who smoke produce less breastmilk than who don’t smoke. It has also been reported that nicotine has direct effect on babies, including causing vomiting, diarrhea, an increased pulse rate and restlessness.

12. Avoid or lessen exposure to stress factors

Research indicates that extreme stress can decrease breast milk production. So keep away from stressors or to at least lower your exposure to them. If it is the household chores that cause you stress, then hire a maid whether part-time or full-time. Have a baby sitter come once in a while. Find some time to relax. Assign tasks to your husband or to another family member.

13.  Placenta encapsulation

The custom of consuming the placenta  is centuries old and practised most often in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is believed that eating your placenta has all sorts of benefits, including reducing postpartum depression and increasing milk supply. However, there is no scientific evidence that ingesting your placenta has any health benefits, but there may be a placebo effect.

14. Ask a breastfeeding lactation consultant

If you have followed some or all of these steps and nothing seems to work, then consult a lactation consultant on other ways to increase breast milk supply. They can also help identify latching or other problems.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!


Best Pregnancy Safe Lipstick for Expecting Mums

Did you know that not all lipsticks are safe for use during pregnancy?
 If you're a huge fan of lipsticks, getting yourself a pregnancy safe lipstick should be your priority!

It is essential for you to know that not all beauty and make-up products are safe for both you and your baby.

Even products that you use daily may not be ideal for use during pregnancy as many lipstick brands contain toxic dyes, heavy metals and harmful preservatives which could be harmful to the baby.

Therefore, it is of paramount importance for mothers to choose the best and safest lipsticks for everyday use. Here are several verifiable lipsticks that you can choose from.

How to Choose the Best Pregnancy Safe Lipstick

The increased or decreased hormone levels during pregnancy, after childbirth or even during breastfeeding, require time to return to normal levels.

This means that mothers not only need to eat healthily, they also need to be conscious of the beauty products they use during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.

When buying lipsticks during pregnancy, you should ensure that they do not contain artificial colours, artificial fragrances and toxic and unsafe substances such as alcohol, lead and so on.

Additionally, you should also choose a comfortable lipstick that moisturises your lips and check that they have natural ingredients that are compatible with your lips.

5 Best Lipsticks Soon-To-Be-Mums Must Try

#1 ECCO BELLA Maternity Lipstick

Why it’s Good:

Formulated with 100% natural ingredients, it is an organic lipstick that is not only very safe but also stylish enough for those who want to look good.

It is one of the best lipsticks that contain natural organic ingredients. Ecco Bella lipsticks are formulated for sensitive and hypoallergenic skin and have been clinically tested to give the best performance.

Features we like:

 Made from natural vegetable waxes, oils and mineral pigments that glide finely for a stain-resistant lip colour

 Moisturizes the lips

 Gluten-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free and FD&C dye-free natural colour

 Paraben-free, lead-free, gluten-free and fragrance-free

 ECCO BELLA Maternity Lipstick
Buy From Shopee

#2 Jane Iredale Lip Fixation

Why it’s Good:

The Jane Iredale Lip Fixation has two ends to provide two distinct looks for different occasions.
It also contains natural avocado oil which is safer, especially for pregnant women.

Features we like:

 Lipstick formula with 2 ends

 One end is a lip colour that contains long-lasting pigments

 Another end is high-shine sheer gloss

 Formulated with ginger root extract to plump up the lips

 Blended with avocado oil for hydration

 Gives a shiny, captivating lip look

 Jane Iredale Lip-Fixation
Buy From Shopee

#3 Sora Organic Butter Matte Lipstick

Why it’s Good:

Sora Organic Butter Matte Lipstick comes in 9 beautiful colours that are pigmented and feel smooth like butter when applied to the lips!

The versatile formula of Sora lipstick allows it to moisturise your lips while giving you a beautiful look all at once. On top of that, the packaging is environmentally friendly and recyclable!

Features we like:

 100% natural

 Neat packaging

 Comes in natural colours of the seeds, flowers, roots and fruits

 Moisturises and heals chapped dry lips

 Feels comfortable on the lips

 Can be used on its own or under a lipstick

 Approved by MOH

 Sora Organic Butter Matte Lipstick
Buy From Shopee

#4 Monae Beauty Lip Tint

Why it’s Good:

Blooming Lip Velvet comes in 4 soft and elegant colours for you to choose from. Formulated with Organic Chia Seed Oil, this product not only gives you a beautiful lip finish but also healthy lips!

Not only is it comfortable to wear, but it can also blend the lip at the lip line so that your lips look full and thick.

Features we like:

 Moisturizes lips immediately

 Soft look

 Blurs lines and smoothes lips (blends well to conceal lip lines)

 Organic chia seed oil helps moisturize the lips while giving them a smooth velvety look

 Does not stain food, cups, or masks

 Long-lasting

 Monae Beauty Lip Tint
Buy From Shopee

#5 Kaydean Organic Cupuacu Moisturizing Lipstick

Why it’s Good:

Kaydean Organic Cupuacu Moisturizing Lipstick is a pregnancy safe lipstick made with organic ingredients and does not contain any toxic ingredients that are often used in cosmetics.

It is also a locally produced product and suits those with sensitive lips!

Features we like:

 Free of petroleum materials such as paraffin wax and microcrystalline waxes

 Fragrance and perfume-free

 No synthetic colours

 No preservatives, silicones and parabens

 Suitable for sensitive lips

 Kaydean Organic Cupuacu Moisturizing Lipstick
Buy From Shopee

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

Read more
:
Best Skincare Products for Pregnant Women That Are Safe & Effective


Toddler Dandruff: Symptoms and Remedies

The haircare advertisements and products lining the shelves would make one believe that dandruff is a very adult issue. But, in actuality, many kids face this problem. Often, newborns, toddlers and young children seem to suffer from this. There are different ways to attend to newborn dandruff and toddler dandruff. Here, we will discuss how to identify, fight and prevent flare-ups of dandruff in toddlers and kids.

What is Dandruff and How to Identify it?

Image: iStock

Dandruff is actually a
build-up of dead skin cells
. Shedding some dead cells is a normal procedure for the skin. But when you see them as white or yellow flakes or patches, there is a problem. There is no singular reason for this build-up.

If your toddler or child has dandruff, you will notice the following symptoms:

Lots of itching and irritation.

Red rashes around the ears, forehead, particularly the hairline, eyebrow and the scalp.

Oily yellow and white patches on the usual areas mentioned above. They may also turn up on the skin above and below the nose, chest, underarms and groin.

Skin dryness.

Alopecia or temporary hair loss.

You may see flakes on hair, scalp and on your child’s clothing. You will find your kid scratching a lot too.

Home Remedies for Toddler Dandruff

For years some
home remedies
 have remained popular. They are easily available, safe on the baby skin and quite effective for a mild problem.

Oils

Image: iStock

Some oils are more effective with a massage on the scalp.

Tea tree oil:
 Shampoos with tea tree oil are good to fight dandruff. Tea tree oil can help dandruff-related rashes too.

Coconut oil:
 Virgin coconut oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Massaging with coconut oil is safe on the skin too.

Olive oil:
 Massaging and leaving olive oil overnight on the scalp has proven a good remedy for dandruff.

Lemongrass oil:
 You can apply this along with a carrier oil on the scalp and leave for some time before washing off.

Kitchen products

Image: iStock

Some easily available kitchen ingredients are good at relieving the issue.

Lemon juice:
 Diluted with water, this is a great product to fight dandruff. Just be careful of any itching scratches that may sting.

Holy basil/Papaya and Yoghurt:
 Here the acidity comes from the yoghurt to act on dandruff.

Egg, Honey and Yoghurt:
 Along with fighting dandruff, this paste will nourish the scalp too.

Ginger:
 Some shampoos with ginger extract seem to reduce the problem drastically.

Baking soda:
 The exfoliating property of baking soda paste will soak oil, remove flakes and fight fungal growth. Apply a few minutes before washing.

Other natural products

Image: iStock

Some natural extracts are known for their medicinal properties. They are good for scalp and haircare too.

Aloe vera:
 The pulp acts as a mild cleanser and is effective in clearing away dandruff. It may need repeated use initially.

Neem leaf:
 Boiled and cooled neem leaf water has anti-infection properties. This makes it a great choice to combat dandruff.

Mild baby shampoos and medicated shampoos, along with some do’s and don’ts, are enough to clear off your child’s dandruff. If these remedies don’t work or if the affliction is severe, you need to visit your dermatologist or paediatrician. Rush to the expert if there are pus formations or bleeding.

Your doctor may recommend one of the following, in severe cases.

Antifungal cream

Steroid cream

Shampoo with salicylic acid

Shampoo with ketoconazole

Shampoo containing tar

Shampoo containing sulphur

Shampoo with selenium sulphide

Shampoo with zinc pyrithione

How to Treat Toddler Dandruff

There are some points you must keep in mind when you start the treatment of dandruff for your toddler. This age is neither too docile to handle nor wise enough to understand the issue. Your consistent approach will matter a lot. Here are some dos and don’ts you have to remember.

To shampoo or not to shampoo

Image: iStock

Some parents have reported that reducing bathing has reduced scalp irritation. Yet dermatologists recommend frequent washing of scalp and hair. You may ask your doctor for advice. In general, if your toddler is an outgoing child, there may be dust and grime stuck to the hair and scalp. Cleaning off is a wise option.

Brush before as well as during washing

Use a soft-bristled brush to loosen the flakes before washing. Apply the shampoo and lather up using the soft brush. The chunks of skin build-up will start coming off.

Take care of hydration

If your toddler is not a great drinker, lure them with juices and flavoured water. Hydration will play an important role in this treatment.

Proper nutrition, avoiding allergies

Leafy vegetables and a balanced diet will take care of the health of hair and scalp. Limit intake of food with yeast and fungi including cheese and bread.

Right hair care products

Image: iStock
Partner Stories
Child
Sick Children Can Be A Handful, But Not With These Tips!
Child
Parents, Be in the Know With RSV Knowledge To Protect Your Babies
Child
Parents, Here’s How You Can Help Your Children with Asthma!
Ages & Stages
5 Ways to Help Boost Your Child’s Learning Potential

Use mild, medicated shampoos and products recommended by the dermatologist. Don’t experiment with any harmful or fancy products.

Causes of Toddler Dandruff

Image: iStock

The experts cite
various causes
 for dandruff. It differs according to individual conditions.

Genetic disposition

Oily skin

Seasonal changes

Allergic reactions

Fungal infection – Malassezia

Seborrhoea dermatitis

Eczema and Psoriasis

Poor hygiene

Heredity, hygiene and skin conditions can all contribute to this condition. Using shampoos and treatment processes for some time will reduce the problem. Use according to individual need – twice a week or alternate days or maybe once a month. If there are related problems along with dandruff such as diarrhoea, inform your doctor about it.

Remember, dandruff is not some disease and it doesn’t cure completely. You can only keep the symptoms under control. With proper care, the problem won’t even get noticed.

This article was first published on
theAsianparent
, and was
republished
 with permission on theAsianparent Malaysia.

Read more:

Woman Almost Dies From Bacterial Infection After Eating Watermelon Left in Fridge Overnight

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download
 theAsianparent Community
 on
iOS
 or
Android
 now!