Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

Tag: Child development

Feed your baby’s brain

March 2nd, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your baby might not be able to read yet, but you can improve his brain development during feeding time. Babies are especially vulnerable while they’re growing and developing, so it’s important to include the right foods in his diet. No one single food will give your child all the right nutrition and vitamins, so make sure to give them a variety of fresh foods.

Good to know

Before you get started with solid foods, keep in mind:

  • Talk to your doctor before introducing a new food into your baby’s diet as there may be possible allergies.
  • Babies are usually ready to start having solid foods between the ages of four to six months when they’re able to swallow (ask your doctor’s advice).
  • Check for other clues. Can he hold his head up straight, sit upright without support, and is he interested in what you’re eating?
  • Only offer one new food every seven days. If there’s an allergic reaction, you’ll be able to detect the cause more easily.

Brain helpers

Greek yoghurt

When it comes to a healthy snack for kids, Greek yoghurt is king. It contains complex vitamins that help the growth of brain tissues and neurotransmitters. This super brain food also keeps the brain’s cell membranes flexible, which helps it to send and receive information. Yoghurt is easy to digest, and has double the protein and half the sugar of regular yoghurt. For a sweet treat, blend soft peaches or strawberries along with a serving. Don’t give Greek yoghurt to babies younger than six months.

Avocados

Avocados are filled with good fats. This green fruit has high levels of B-complex vitamins which helps reduce the risk of hypertension. Blend avocado with breastmilk or water to create a creamy puree. You can also add banana for a sweet kick. If your baby is older than 10 months, mash up the avo with a fork for a chunkier texture.

Eggs

Egg are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and choline. These all help with concentration. Choline also helps produce memory stem cells. Research found that babies who have at least one egg a day after the age of six months, have higher levels of choline than other babies. Egg is a possible allergen, so check with your doctor if your baby is ready to have egg in his diet. Only the yolk can be served to a baby until the age of one. To serve, hard-boil an egg and pop out the yolk, then mash it with some breastmilk, Greek yoghurt or applesauce.

Fish

Fish might not cross your mind when it comes to baby food options, but it should. Fatty fish like salmon, sardines and tuna contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Think of these as the building blocks of brain tissue. Adding fish to your baby’s diet will help improve his mental skills. You can start feeding your baby fish as early as six months. Serve it pureed or mashed with vegetables like sweet potato.

Berries

Berries contain Vitamin C and antioxidants; all good for brain function and memory. Besides that, it makes a healthy alternative to other sweets. Choose strawberries, blueberries, cherries and blackberries. The brighter the colour, the more nutrition in the berry. To serve, puree berries with applesauce, yoghurt or bananas. You can also stew berries to make them softer by simmering and then blending them with a little water.

References:

Why is my baby not talking yet?

November 13th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Whether your baby is hungry, tired, ill, or even throwing a tantrum; crying lets you know she’s communicating – loudly! But what happens when all is silent? Should you worry? Not necessarily.

The late talkers

Don’t stress. All babies develop at their own pace. For some, speaking comes at the tail-end, while others start babbling sooner than expected. Soon enough your baby should be able to express herself with gibberish. Experts say that if by 18 months your little one isn’t chatting yet, then you can check in with your paediatrician to look for solutions. Boys typically tend to develop language skills slower than girls (especially under the age of two). And babies with more reserved personalities may only start to speak when they better understand what they hear.

Remember, your baby crawls before walking. The same applies with talking. Babbling comes before big chats! Think of babbling as an important milestone. It’s a sign of the beginning of communication. Your baby will start to experiment with sounds. Listen for a reaction and respond.

Is baby talk helpful?

The more you chat to your toddler, the more she learns how to talk. According to research by the University of Washington, the more words babies hear the faster their vocabulary grows. When parents exaggerate vowels, like “How are youuuuu?”, and raise the pitch of their voices, the more a baby babbles, which helps with word production.

Remember – there is more to communication than talking!

1. Understanding: If your child seems to understand a great deal of what you’re saying, she’s well on her way to talking.

2. Pointing: When your child shows you something she wants, it’s closely related to the beginning of actual speech.

3. Gestures and facial expressions: Whether it’s a cry or nonverbal communication; gestures and facial expressions can tell you a lot about how your baby feels. It’s either time for a nappy change or she’s uncomfortable or intrigued by what she sees. Until about 24 months, it’s more important that your child is making some kind of effort to communicate.

4. Grunting: Little grunts can be a type of commentary. Children who aren’t talking yet and don’t grunt are more likely to later be diagnosed with a language delay.

Language stepping stones

  • By 9 months, your infant babbles and understands simple commands.
  • By 12 months, s/he understands keywords in familiar situations.
  • By 16 months, s/he babbles short sentences and starts to point at people, animals or request toys.
  • By 24 to 30 months, s/he starts to speak in two-word phrases and understand explanations.
  • By 36 months, s/he uses 200 or more words. Grammar may not be in place and speech sounds won’t necessarily be pronounced correctly.

The treatment of language disorders is early intervention. See a doctor if your baby’s language development is delayed by three to six months. It’s also advisable to have their hearing examined to know what may be causing speech and language delay.

References:

Could changing the way we manage autism help curb the “epidemic?”

October 31st, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s hard to put a number on exactly how many children in South Africa are affected by autism, but it’s fair to say that that number is high, and its growing. For example, in the Western Cape alone, up to 10 children a week are diagnosed with the condition. Over the years, autism has gathered some bad press, especially when it comes to what causes it. Traditionally believed to be caused by poor parenting and then by vaccinations (it’s not!), the “unknown” element of the condition has created a negative stigma against those who suffer from it.

It’s an area of great interest to many specialists in the field. The challenge is to ensure new developments and breakthroughs are filtered down to the doctors who are interacting directly with their patients. And this is where things can get a bit “muddy”. Autism is conventionally considered a “neurological disorder” and doctors at medical school are trained to manage it as such. But what if it’s NOT that simple? What if there are other factors involved, and with a change in how we treat autism, many of its symptoms could subside?

A holistic view of autism

One of the more popular views about autism is that it could be a whole-body disorder that affects the brain, and that a toxic environment triggers certain genes in people susceptible to the condition. In other words, “unhealthy” immune function or gut health could impact the way the brain works, producing the symptoms of autism. Thinking about autism in this way opens a myriad of different and alternative treatment options. The underlying goal here is to look at the body at the cellular level, and try to treat the root cause, rather than simply managing symptoms.

Here’s a good example:

“A child wouldn’t concentrate and shakes his head from side to side. Regarded as ‘unteachable’”. On closer examination, doctors discovered:

  • The child had reflux, which prevented him from sleeping well at night
  • The child had abnormal gut bacteria and was in constant pain, which interfered with sleep and regular eating patterns
  • Together, the poor sleep and feelings of being uncomfortable led to hyper-activity and head shaking
  • Treating the problems in the gut improved the child’s sleep, behaviour and attention span and autistic symptoms “disappeared”

Often, the reverse happens. Reflux or stomach pains are thought to occur because of autism, not the other way around. So, medication may be given to correct the symptoms, but the underlying problem is never addressed. This is just one example of many, where doctors have delved deeper into an autistic patient, only to discover problems at the biological level. Evidence suggests that amongst those who have been diagnosed with autism, there are several common physical challenges. Some of these include:

  • Immune system difficulties
  • Mineral deficiencies (zinc, magnesium, selenium)
  • Malabsorption/malnutrition
  • Impaired neuronal development
  • Gluten sensitivity
  • Impaired secretin signalling (to assist liver and pancreas function)
  • Impaired detoxification (by the liver)
  • Impaired antioxidation
  • Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency
  • Significant food allergies
  • Impaired pancreatic function (has implications to digestion and glucose regulation)
  • Frequent viral and bacterial infections
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Autoimmunity

 

Every child is unique

What’s important to remember is that no two children are the same. What is possible is that some children are simply “primed” for certain environmental factors to trigger symptoms. For example, they may have very weak immune systems, or an auto-immune condition. The combination of this with regular infections, antibiotic use, food allergies, etc., may cause, in some children, a “shut down” of certain systems in the body. It’s clear that there is no SINGLE, and obvious, cause for the condition, but rather the possibility of an accumulation of several different factors. By digging deeper, and identifying what these factors are, you can take steps to address them.

 

What can you do?

  1. Trust your gut instincts. The earlier a diagnosis can be made, the sooner the appropriate treatment can begin
  2. Eliminate any known allergens (dietary or environmental)
  3. Always be open and honest with your doctor. Never make any changes to treatments or medications without first consulting them
  4. Be realistic, a few changes to your and your child’s lifestyle is not a fool proof “cure” for autism. No two children are the same, neither are the treatments
  5. Get informed. Know all there is to know about alternative approaches to managing autism and be prepared to question your doctor!
  6. Be open to new possibilities around autism. Consider approaching the condition with a more holistic view and delving deeper into immunity, nutritional deficiencies and gut health
  7. Ensure your entire family lives a healthy, and well-balanced life

References

http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/6915/5045
http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/19/why-current-thinking-about-autism-is-completely-wrong/
Jepson B, Johnson J. Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians. Boulder, Colorado: Sentient Publications, 2007

How best to handle a temper tantrums

October 31st, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Its every parent’s worst nightmare: the temper tantrum. It could be in the middle of the shopping centre when your child realises that the models in the windows aren’t real, at a friend’s house when they figure out that they can’t fly, or at home when you give them their peanut butter sarmie cut into squares and not triangles. Regardless of where you are, or what it’s about, dealing with a tantrum is not for the faint hearted.

Tantrums are normal… at any age

Tantrums are, unfortunately, a normal part of childhood. They occur most frequently amongst 1 to 4 years olds – the age where young children become increasingly frustrated with their environment. They come to the startling realisation that they simply can’t get what they want. Even IF they get bitten by a radioactive spider, they still won’t become Spiderman, and OMG did you know that not every girl grows up to be a princess? Can you imagine how their world must come crashing down around them? Drama!

The truth is that everyone gets frustrated with their environment. Think about how you felt when that taxi cut you off this morning. The difference between a toddler and an adult, is that an older person has both the emotional maturity (hopefully!) to deal with a frustrating situation, and the experience to draw on of having dealt with it before. Children lack the communication skills to express how they really feel so they give in to their physiology. They go into “fight or flight” mode and screaming, kicking, crying and red-faced anger ensues.

Tantrum triggers

While every child will at some point throw a rip-roaring tantrum, there are some children who are more prone to these fantastic displays of emotion (e.g. children who are very sensitive, intense or who don’t adapt well to change). That said, for most toddlers, tantrums are just an effective way of releasing frustration and testing their parents’ limits (will I get that snack if I scream like a crazy person?). Throw hunger or fatigue into the mix and you literally have the recipe for a perfect storm. There is literally NOTHING that a child won’t throw a tantrum about… wanting to swim, but not wanting to get wet; wanting a biscuit, but crying when its broken; you “losing” the old piece of chewing gum he picked up off the pavement; you saying “hello” in the wrong tone of voice… you get the picture!

Your 3-point plan of action

Of course, the easiest thing to do would be to give up and give in. Easy if what they want is a biscuit, difficult if what they want is to be Spiderman. Also, not a very effective long-term plan if your goal is to stop the tantrums! While there is no guaranteed way of preventing tantrums, aim to take control of the situation by using this 3 point strategy: anticipate, wait and validate.

  1. Anticipate: Key triggers for tantrums are hunger, anticipation, loneliness and fatigue
  2. Wait: make sure you keep your own temper in check. Having both of you screaming and shouting isn’t going to solve the situation (plus you might just find yourself on Youtube)
  3. Validate: regardless of the age, everyone just wants to be heard! Ensure your child knows that you feel their pain by saying things like “I can see that you’re upset” or, “I know that you’re angry”. Resist the urge to laugh or ridicule, as hard as that might be!

Though you worry that you might be raising a tyrant, take heart. Young children don’t throw tantrums on purpose or to be manipulative. They just don’t have any other way to express themselves. Perhaps you should consider tantrums a good thing… when they’re teenagers instead of screaming at you, they might steal the car instead!

References

https://blogs.babycenter.com/parenting/the-reasons-behind-your-kids-funniest-most-ridiculous-tantrums/
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/preventing-temper-tantrums-in-children#1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/tantrum/art-20047845
https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/relationships/temper-tantrums

Communicate with your baby without talking

October 31st, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Wouldn’t life be so much simpler if your baby could just tell you what was wrong?  Hearing your baby cry and not knowing why can be distressing. Most often, it can leave you feeling completely helpless. Figuring out what your baby wants, often comes down to a process of elimination: Is their nappy full, is it nap time, are they too hot, or could they be hungry?

Well, now you can learn to communicate with your baby.

Replacing crying with communication

Sign language has been used for years to assist those with hearing difficulties to communicate. In the late 1980’s, a doctor who also happened to be a sign language interpreter, noticed that the children of his deaf friends were communicating with their parents at 6 months old using sign language. These same children, by the age of 9 months had many different words they could sign. Most importantly, he also realised that these children were less demanding, as their needs were met much faster.

Can babies really sign?

A baby’s understanding of language and movement develop much faster than their ability to speak, so that’s why sign language makes so much sense. What’s more, a baby finds it easy to copy signs and signals. In other words, your baby will be waving long before they can say “good bye!” Teaching your baby to sign, could give them the “edge”, and make your job as a parent much easier between ages 8 months and 2 years, when children begin to know what they want, need and feel but don’t necessarily have the words yet to express themselves.

How to get started

Teaching your baby sign language takes a bit of patience, so just keep these things in mind:

  • Most babies won’t be able to sign until they’re 8 months old, but you can start teaching them signs as early as 6 months
  • Get to know a few basic signs that you would use the most often: nappy, drink, more, done, hot, cold, mommy and daddy (see examples below)
  • Practise these signs often with your baby at the same time as saying the word. Signing shouldn’t replace language for you or your baby!
  • Make sure your partner and your baby’s caregivers also know the signs and practise them with your baby too
  • Use this as a special bonding time with your child. Try holding your baby on your lap, with his or her back to your stomach. Hold your baby’s hands and arms and show them how to make signs
  • Be patient. Don’t be discouraged if your baby doesn’t start using signs right away! The goal is to make things easier for both you and them, not the opposite!

Some signs for you to try

  • “food” – put your finger tips to your lips
  • “all gone” – move your hand, palm up, backward and forward
  • “scared” – tap your chest again and again
  • “hot” – put out your hand and withdraw it quickly
  • “where?” – shrug your shoulders, with your palms held out
  • “rabbit” – wrinkle up your nose or hold up two fingers
  • “car” – steer an imaginary wheel
  • “book” – hold hands flat with palms up

References

https://www.babycenter.com/0_signing-with-your-baby-or-toddler-how-to-communicate-with-yo_1449533.bc?showAll=true
https://www.babysignlanguage.com/basics/history/#garcia
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/baby-sign-language-does-it-work
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/baby-sign-language/faq-20057980

Watch out for toxic toys

October 24th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Kids usually want everything they see in stores. And whether it’s their birthday, Christmas or just the fact that the neighbour’s child has one – our little ones can become very persuasive to get what they want!

Before you give in to their pleas, though, make sure you’re not purchasing something that could be dangerous to your little one’s health!

According to Safe Kids Worldwide a non-profit organisation, each year throughout the world, almost one million children die of an injury. Almost every one of them was preventable.

Toys are meant to be fun, but if your child needs to be taken to hospital for choking on an object, it’s time to reconsider his favourite toys. The most effective way to ensure the safety of your child is to also supervise while he plays. It’s always a good idea to read instructions on toys more carefully as well. Buy brands that you trust and that meet safety standards.

Avoid toys with these materials

Lead: Children’s bodies are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. A small amount of exposure can harm their brain development and nervous system. New research by Greenpeace finds too that almost one in every three toys made in China contains heavy concentrations of metals and lead.

Phthalates: Is a group of chemicals used to make plastic flexible and harder to break. This hazardous chemical has been linked to birth defects, premature puberty in girls and a reduction in sperm quality in males.

PBDEs (polybrominated diphenylethers): Is a group of chemicals used to slow or stop the spread of fire or reduce its intensity. The chemicals in baby products pose a threat to the development of the child’s body and brain.

Bisphenol A (BPA): Is a chemical found in many hard plastics that we use every day. It’s a hormone-disrupting chemical linked to reproductive disorders, Down syndrome, premature puberty and cancer.

Mercury: This naturally-occurring chemical element is widely used in a variety of devices and products. It can impair your child’s neurological development.

Before you plan on surprising your little ones, always do a smell test on products. Have you ever noticed that “beach ball” smell in plastic products? That is toxic softeners in plastic. The strong perfumes can aggravate allergies or asthma. Opt for products that are made with natural and non-toxic materials.

Checklist before you head to the till

  • Does it have sharp points or edges?
  • Does it look cheaply made?
  • Are the batteries easily accessible?
  • Does it have small parts that look easily detachable?

If yes, consider another toy.

Help at hand

  • Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
  • Stuffed toys should be washable.
  • Art material should read non-toxic.
  • Old toys from family and friends will hold a sentimental value, but can be a health hazard as they could further break down and cause more harm.
  • Be mindful of musical and electronic devices that may be too loud; these can damage your child’s hearing.

All said and done, don’t stress too much about getting the perfect toy: Chances are that your child will end up playing with the box anyway!

References:

Starting big school!

January 6th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Is your little one starting school this year? Meeting the teachers, making new friends and learning all sorts of new things makes going to school such a great time for children. We bet they’re already excited to go! In a few years they will be dreading it, but that’s another topic. Although starting school is a happy time, it’s important for you and your child to go over a few simple rules to help them cope and adjust to school-life. Here’s a handy infographic that will help:
Continue reading “Starting big school!”

Real toys for kids

November 16th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Even though electronic games and gadgets are all the rage, remember that the way kids develop their motor skills has not changed. So, between the iPad and the games consoles, include some real toys that help your kids to learn and (bonus) don’t drain the power-grid! Continue reading “Real toys for kids”

Hello Doctor Services Terms & Conditions

Hello Doctor is part of Momentum Health Solutions (Pty) Limited, a subsidiary of Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited.

Legal and Compliance Security and Fraud Terms and Conditions Access to information Privacy Policy