There is a lot going around on the news about the worldwide “outbreak” of a new influenza A virus known officially as H1N1 and colloquially as the “swine flu.” Even here in BC, the news is reporting that there are outbreaks occurring at some private schools. With all this information, it can be difficult to separate rumour from fact. The following is summarized from the World Health Organization(WHO) website.
Many parents ask – what is the best way to start brushing my baby’s teeth? Well we have some answers for you!
Begin brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as their first tooth appears. Use a soft, baby toothbrush with just a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste. Brush twice a day; brushing before bed is especially important. Don’t miss brushing where the teeth and gums meet! Lift your baby’s lip regularly to check for white or brown spots on their teeth. Look closely along the gum line. Call your dentist if you notice anything unusual. Take your baby to see a dentist once their first tooth comes in or by their first birthday.
What are some fun and simple ways to get excerise outdoors this Spring with my baby?
Summertime! The park! The beach! The campground! Uh oh! The bee sting! The sunburn! The knee scrape! Summer brings lots of outdoor fun but also the possibility of outdoor injuries. No need to keep the kids inside, just follow these environmentally-friendly tips. Recommended products are available at Whole Foods Market.
Do you have any information or advice on keeping children safe this summer around the pool?
Guilt – that feeling as a parent that hangs over you at times, feeling inadequate and sometimes lost, wondering if you really are the answer to your child’s needs. If somehow you could only find the right parenting book that could show you the way through and provide the answers, because really, something must be terribly wrong if you feel so guilty? Right?
It is difficult to avoid the use of all prescription drugs while breastfeeding – especially if you are having multiple children and nursing for a length of time with each one. And then there are the street drugs that nobody speaks of. If you are in the habit of using these when you become pregnant, you may need assistance and some honest research to prove how harmful they can be. As with any medical questions in pregnancy and during breastfeeding, your doctor or midwife will know more about your personal history and circumstances than any website, but it is always good to gain as much knowledge as possible in order make the ultimate decision about the health of your baby.
What to do when a toddler falls on his face and your see the first blood EVER?!? Or nothing will stop the baby’s crying and you’re starting to wonder… The BC Nurseline is a great resource! Now, you can just dial 811 from anywhere in the lower mainland, and you’ll be connected. Make sure you have your child’s care card ready when you dial. They keep your child’s history on file so that each time you call, you are not starting from scratch. Our time is very valuable, after all.
Influenza virus probably originated in birds, and moved to people thousands of years ago when people began to domesticate fowl. Influenza, in other words, was an “emerging disease”, much like SARS today. Over the centuries, influenza epidemics have had dramatic effects on human populations. For example, the 1918 pandemic, is estimated to have caused some 50 to 100 million deaths, and influenza (and smallpox) devastated the first nations peoples of North America with the arrival of Europeans.
Early speech and language skills help your child to tell others about their ideas and feelings, wants and needs. Difficulties in communicating can lead to frustration and social or behaviour problems. Learning to communicate is the foundation for learning at school. Research has also shown that early development of language is important for academic success, for understanding the teacher, learning to read, write and do math, and for developing relationships with teachers, peers, and others that come to be a part of the lives of our children. One in ten children in Ontario will need help developing their speech and language skills to get ready for school.