Benefits of Breastfeeding

Benefits of Breastfeeding

By:  Roxanne Edwards

 09/10/18- The consumption of breast milk continues to provide researchers and pediatricians with strong evidence of it being sustenance for newborns, babies, infants and even toddlers.  Not only does it provide your growing baby’s body with all the essential nutrients, but there are also additional benefits which correlates with a woman’s body being naturally able to produce milk.  According to the National Institute of Child Health and Development, “research shows that breastfeeding offers many health benefits for infants and mothers, as well as potential economic and environmental benefits for communities.”

In a study of 5 mothers who fed their premature babies breast milk, at least 9-10 times a day, 3 out of 5 experienced rapid weight gain and growth of their newborn. Though 2 of these mothers did not observe an increase in body weight and or growth, the reasons were due to adverse medical effects and circumstances.   

Studies have also shown that babies exclusively breastfed are less prone to contracting infectious diseases such as the common influenza or cold.  The National Institute of Child Health and Development confirms this by stating, “among its other known health benefits are some protection against common infections and better survival during a baby’s first year, including a lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.”

Breastfeeding also provides families with an economically sound way of providing all the right nutrients for their baby, and the most fun part is, they can continue this process throughout the remainder of a child’s infant life through to their early toddler years.  In a study of 3 moms, breastfeeding was the preferred way of providing nutrition for their toddler, while supplementing with small meals to introduce and reinforce a child’s natural ability to chew using those first few teeth they gain during early infancy.  The Department of Women Infant and Children also are very pro-breastfeeding, as its representatives see it as the perfect food babies need.  In-fact, breast milk is found to have so much value, that the Department of Women Children and Families' first and most important objective is to assist new mothers with the process of breastfeeding before issuing benefits for purchasing formulas and other baby foods at supermarkets.

Other benefits of breastfeeding according to experts are:

1. Breastfeeding speeds up the process of losing those extra pounds after giving birth and helps the uterus contract and return to its normal size.
2. Most importantly, breastfeeding provides a natural bond between mother and baby which is important as babies need to feel connected, protected, safe, and loved.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states“breastfeeding is the one parenting behavior that only the mother can do for her baby, creating a unique and powerful and physical and emotional connection.”

Breastfeeding is certainly a powerful resource for new moms and the rest of the family in the general outlook and context of economics, and health and how these factors contribute to reducing costs within a community.
There is no wonder why they call it liquid gold!”
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Nappy Time: Most Relevant Activity Inside A Preschool Curriculum

Picture credited to Learning In Motion a Montessori early learning center
By:   Roxanne Edwards 
                     
                     

                         Nappy Time: Most Relevant Activity Inside A Preschool Curriculum


1/27/2018- There is a reason all babies do is poop, eat and sleep; this is because these are the 3 critical processes for healthy development and growth, states pediatricians.  Inside the uterus, babies are cocooned and nourished with such complexity that all they really do most of the time is rest says maternal specialists. This is why sleep is the single most important activity for infants and toddlers, and early educators should ensure preschoolers are getting sufficient nappy time to support a healthy learning environment, specialists have said.

If we think of all the things the brain has to process during activities, we can understand why putting aside a couple of hours for preschoolers to nap is important.  As parents, guardians and educators, we want our kids to be happy, active, and healthy with a good balance of educational structures to cultivate the whole child.  This is why understanding learning patterns is essential because the brain signals the body, telling it when it is time to rest, and resting  helps to recharge the mind and body for healthy memory and continued learning, experts have said.

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy  of Sciences found that infants demonstrated higher levels of learning and memory the day after being taught if they took a long nap right after the information was presented.

According to Parents.com, children who sleep fewer than ten hours a night before age 3 are three times more likely to have hyperactivity and impulsivity problems by age 6.  For school-age kids, research has shown that adding as little as 27 minutes of extra sleep per night makes it easier for them to manage their moods and impulses so they can focus on schoolwork.

In addition to this,  we have all heard lack of sleep in infants, toddlers and older kids leads to obesity, and guess what...this is true! Dr Wang's research suggests children with short sleep have low caloric intake expenditure.  Sleep deprivation often leads to changes in the structure of sleep stage, states Bout Kids Health.com. Sleep loss also leads to changes in several hormones including leptin, ghrelin, insulin, cortisol, and growth hormone, shares the article presented by About Kids Health.com  These hormonal changes may contribute to energy and lead to overweight or obesity, it further reveals.

Experts provided some much needed tips on what parents and educators can do to make sure their child is getting enough rest at home and during nappy time at school.

1.  Set strict bedtimes rules.  Put your child to bed early; a good 10-12 hours is necessary for younger kids says specialists.
2. Ensure your child is doing physical activity that is significant each day, this usually should be done right before mid-day nappy time, just enough to make them feel sleepy after lunch, as well as feel the need to go to bed early when they get home, maybe a few hours after dinner.
3. Avoid doing home work late at night, computers, phones, games and other gadgets.
4. Dim lights at bedtime and when waking up in the mornings
5.You may use soft music or instrumentals to soothe young children to bed.
6 Try massaging your child if he or she fights sleep.  A combination of soft instrumentals(example rain forest music), coupled with a good back rub should  do the trick.

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Roxanne is a writer, blogger and visual media host of kids and moms health, lifestyle, fashion and food features.  You can contact her at: mommylifestylebyroxanneedwards@yahoo.com

Like her on Facebook at Roxanne Edwards

Follow her on Instagram at ennaxor.roxanne

and visit her Blog at: http://roxannepedwards.blogspot.com/

4 Healthy and Delicious Snacks for Kids

We all would agree you need not be a rocket scientist to develop one's creative skills in the kitchen. But when it comes to feeding kids who are picky eaters, the process may be very daunting, many parents and guardians would agree.

 According to PBS.org (2003-2016), small modifications in the way you prepare meals and snacks can make a big difference in improving your child's diet... Snack and meal-time activities should be introduced and reinforced in creative, colorful and playful ways.

Here are some examples and ingredients straight from my kitchen on how to modify meals, and make meal preparation a fun activity.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Nutty Bar 

If your child loves nutty, crunchy textures, try this delicious home-made oatmeal, mixed nuts, dark chocolate and peanut butter bar.  This snack provides your child with the right amount of grains, fiber and proteins, and makes for an excellent snack to pack in a lunch bag.

Ingredients  

2 cups of rolled oatmeal (Quaker Oats)

1/2 cup of chopped nuts (almond, cashew, pecans)

1/4 cup of honey

 1/4 cup of chopped dark chocolate

 1/4 cup of almond milk

 1 tbs cinnamon powder

 1/2 tbs sea salt
  1/4 cup peanut butter/ almond butter

Place oatmeal, almond milk, and honey in bowl...mix until oatmeal sticks together.  Add cinnamon and chopped dark chocolate...add nuts...mix all ingredients then spread in 1-2 inches thick square pan....spread until ingredients is 1 inch thick all over pan...bake for 45 minutes to 1 hr until golden and crispy (350 degrees)...spread peanut or almond butter on top when done and still hot...cut in rectangular shapes and serve when cool for better crisp.

Carrot Sticks

Some kids prefer simpler meals, and typically avoid meats.  A child with more specific preferences will lessen the time you spend preparing meals, so try plating vegetables such as carrots and broccoli with dips such as hummus. According to Livestrong.com, hummus with 140 calories per 1/3 cup serving, is not a low-calorie food, but it is a nutrient defense source of calories.  Nutrient defense foods are foods that contain nutrients you need for good health in a fairly small amount of calories reveals livestrong.com.  

Ingredients
Cut carrots to preferred size or use pre-cut carrots or baby carrots

Boil until firmly cooked for 5 to 10 minutes
Serve with hummus or preferred dip


Ingredients for hummus

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (roughly 2 cups drained, cooked  

chickpeas; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin  olive oil   

3 tablespoons tahini                  

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon), plus more to taste                                                        

1 small clove of garlic, roughly chopped 

1 teaspoon salt

Lightly Toasted Honey Wheat Bread, Peanut/Almond Butter and Fruit

Many parents have agreed that turning meal preparation time into a fun activity increases the probability of kids actually eating the meal.  If your child likes fruits and you want them to try other foods, try making funny and cool faces with the fruits over foods they typically refuse.  These lightly toasted honey wheat bread slices, with an all natural spread of almond butter, decorated as faces with a ripe banana make for a great lunch or snack for 2 to 3 kids.

Ingredients
  Bread slices

  Almond Butter/Peanut Butter (Try more natural alternatives) 
  Your preferred fruits for decorating (peaches, blueberries, strawberries etc.) 

Home-made Fruit Bars

Summer is the perfect time to let your little ones indulge in these healthy snacks, and why run to the store just  to grab a pack when they are so easy to prepare.  Besides, when you make them at home you know what exactly is inside it, less sugar and more fresh fruits.  This snack also promotes the opportunity to cut back on costs by storing fruits for great fruit bar making.

Ingredients 

Fresh frozen fruits of your desire ( melon, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

Boil fruits until liquid becomes thick but still runny
Place in popsicle making containers; place in freezer for 2 hrs or so

   

                                                                            

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Roxanne is a writer, blogger and visual media host of kids and moms health, lifestyle, fashion and food features.  You can contact her at: mommylifestylebyroxanneedwards@yahoo.com

Like her on Facebook at Roxanne Edwards

Follow her on Instagram at Roxanne.P.Edwards

and visit her Blog at: http://roxannepedwards.blogspot.com/

Learning Language Early

 Learning Language Early:  

Brief Feature Article and Video

By: Roxanne Edwards

6/3/16- Learning to identify words as an infant may give your child an early start with reading says many early childhood educators. 

 As your baby develops, exercising her cognitive abilities is essential because the brain goes through changes and significant growth during this stage, but slows between ages 3 and 4.  

 The brain is a makeup of sensory areas such as touching, seeing and hearing, and creating learning activities for infants that will give them the opportunity to incorporate all the senses as they learn language is significant, studies have confirmed.  

So don’t forget to add some learning activities to your child’s daily schedule, one that enables observation, and prompts them to touch body parts, see new objects, and link words as they go along.  

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Roxanne is a writer, blogger and visual media host of kids and moms health, lifestyle, fashion and food features.  You can contact her at: mommylifestylebyroxanneedwards@yahoo.com

Like her on Facebook at Roxanne Edwards

Follow her on Instagram at Roxanne.P.Edwards

and visit her Blog at: http://roxannepedwards.blogspot.com/

For Baby’s Delicate Skin

For Baby's Delicate Skin 

By: Roxanne Edwards

5/2/16- Every child is born delicate, and as parents we want to ensure we are nourishing baby’s skin as much as possible.  But what if you knew the truth about certain brands we have established long-lasting cultural ties with? 

As a mother of 2, I had experienced on both occasions the different changes an infant’s skin goes through, and this can last way beyond infant years depending on how sensitive your child’s skin is. 

When I was admitted post giving birth to my first child, I was assured by nurses Johnson and Johnson should work as my son grew, much like it did the entire week we were at the hospital.  It turns out my son’s skin reacted to the chemicals and coloring used as ingredients in Johnson and Johnson’s products, and for the first 3 months he would break out with tiny red bumps on his back and arms.  I was sure not to confuse this with infant acne, since this is a common skin condition in newborns along with peeling of the skin.  After consulting with his pediatrician, she recommended changing his skin care line to a product consisting of more natural ingredients.  This is when I switched to Aveeno, and while there were improvements the effects of this lasted for only a month or 2.

As a first time mom I was often confused, and felt I wasn't doing enough to care for his skin.

On our next visit, our pediatrician recommended Aquaphor, Eucerin or Dove for sensitive skin and the results were remarkable.  Never again did I experience break outs with my son, unless of course I used something on his skin that has strong chemicals, was scented and had coloring; he is now 3.  At this stage of his life, the results were in and were definite; he has really sensitive skin and must steer clear of products with scents created from certain chemicals.

It turns out this is where it gets tricky for many parents; some brands will market infant and children skin care products as natural, when in fact they contain ingredients that are harmful and may  result in skin allergies.

In a survey of 10 moms, 8 complained about their babies developing some type of skin allergy that gradually cleared up as they introduced more natural or unscented products.  In my experience, though Eucerin, Aquaphor or Dove worked extraordinarily for my son, it may not for other babies.

 After I had my second child, I learnt she had even more sensitive skin compared to my son.  This was when I made the decision to change to organic or all natural ingredients products.  After searching through the skin care isles I came across several that were so gentle on skin, they can be used on just about anyone, and for almost all types of skin ailments, and some of these products are shown in the image above. 

Burt’s Bee -First I discovered Burt’s Bee-Baby Bee Original; this product has a light sweet scent and the ingredients are natural with a texture that easily spreads over the body with minimum shine but leaves the skin feeling very soft.

Seventh Generation – After discussing skin allergic reactions of my newborn baby girl with a friend who had experienced the same issue with her child, she provided some much needed insights into what detergents were best, and through that conversation I learnt of Seventh Generation.  Seventh Generation has no scent, but that of nature, it is clear and pours easily from the container providing for even and easy distribution over fabrics.  The fabric softener has a light natural scent that reminds me of a little girl in a white night gown hugging a brown teddy bear.  It does its job; clothes are soft to the tough after washing and drying. 

Pure Castile Soap Bar – Helmp Baby Unscented Soap – These bars are inexpensive substitutes to liquid organic baby soaps; one bar lasts a long time and lathers your child with creamy goodness that leaves your babies skin feeling nourished and extra clean.

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Roxanne is a writer, blogger and visual media host of kids and moms health, lifestyle, fashion and food features.  You can contact her at: mommylifestylebyroxanneedwards@yahoo.com

Like her on Facebook at Roxanne Edwards

Follow her on Instagram at Roxanne.P.Edwards

and visit her Blog at: http://roxannepedwards.blogspot.com/

Zika on the Rise!

Zika on the Rise!

By:  Roxanne Edwards

2/10/2016- If you haven’t heard about Zika, you can read about it here! Zika- a mosquito borne virus that was discovered in Uganda in 1947, but was first found in humans 5 years later in Brazil has reemerged, and reports are that more than 4000 cases have been found across the Americas and the Caribbean.

Among the many cases, Zika which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes is believed to have more adverse effects on fetal development when passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby.  Reports are that a serious birth defect that results in a neurological disorder and an undersized head known as microcephaly has been linked to pregnant women carrying the Zika virus.  Researchers are using evidences to tie in how the virus is linked or contributes to the disease. 

Another source has confirmed 404 cases of microcephaly in Brazil in newborns, and these cases have been linked to the Zika Virus. To date, 15 babies have died from microcephaly, and five of the cases have been traced to Zika, authorities have reported.

Researchers also believe the virus can be caught from having sexual intercourse with a partner already infected, and WHO said the virus could affect up to 4 million people this year.

 “I think we’ll discover a lot of parallels,” said Dr. Mark R. Schleiss, the director of pediatric infectious diseases and immunology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, affirming that findings so far should be sufficient for making a reasonable conclusion in the future.

Now, authorities are faced with a challenge in ensuring the virus does not spread to other regions. So far, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of February 3, 2016 has reported a total of 35 travel associated cases of the Zika virus within the U.S, with Florida and Texas carrying the highest numbers - 9 and 8 cases respectively.

Authorities are asking individuals and particularly pregnant women to put off travel arrangements to South and Central America, the Caribbean and Pacific Islands until further notices are given.

In the meantime, remember to report any appearance of fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes), muscle pain and headache to your primary care physician (PCP), as these are known symptoms of Zika.  The virus is usually not fatal and symptoms may last for a week.  There is currently no cure for the Zika virus.

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Roxanne is a writer, blogger and visual media host of kids and moms health, lifestyle, fashion and food features.  You can contact her at: mommylifestylebyroxanneedwards@yahoo.com

Like her on Facebook at Roxanne Edwards

Follow her on Instagram at Roxanne.P.Edwards

and visit her Blog at: http://roxannepedwards.blogspot.com/

Recent Woes With Tap Water

Recent Woes With Tap Water

By:  Roxanne Edwards

 2/4/2016- Do you ever wonder why your tap water runs brown or has a chemical or sulfury fetor? Well, it could be that your water supply is contaminated, as lately this has been a growing problem among many U.S residents as well as people living in other parts of the world.

Water impurity poses a serious threat to population health, and can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio causing as much as 842, 000 diarrheal deaths each year, states the World Health Organization.

Given the nature of these reports, many would find such water conditions uninhabitable.  Jennifer Mason, mother of 2, Flint resident and  and English teacher says some days the chlorine smell was so strong "it would burn their eyes, and on days when she would full the tub for her kids the water would give off an earthy smell."

Though recent cries of Flint residents have led to social uproars, from a more global perspective it seems this is certainly not where all issues with contaminated water will end, as WHO has informed that by the year 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas, due largely to re-use of waste water to recover water, nutrients, or energy.

So how much damage can contaminated water cause?  “The health effects of drinking contaminated water can range from no physical impact to severe illness or even death,” states Halton Region.   According to Halton Region, Nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea are some examples of gastrointestinal and stomach illnesses that can manifest as a result of consuming contaminated water.   

Other health threats are: cancer, tooth skeletal damage and schistosomiasis (a disease caused by parasitic worms) which has affected over 240 million people worldwide.  In addition to this WHO has reported that of the 842, 000 diarrheal deaths each year, 361, 000 are children under the age of 5 and these deaths could have been avoided if risk factors were addressed.

“I can’t imagine being a parent of a child whose health has been affected in a way that is irreversible,” expressed Jennifer. 

Since 2014, WHO has been testing household water treatment products against WHO health-based performance criteria through the WHO International ‘Scheme’ to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies...WHO works closely with UNICEF in a number of areas concerning water and health.  For example, the integrated global action plan to end preventable child deaths from pneumonia and diarrhea by 2025 (GAPPD) sets out several prevention and treatment targets, including achieving universal access to drinking water in health care facilities and homes by 2030 (WHO, 2016).

In the meantime, city authorities implore residents to consume safer water alternatives, such as prepackaged bottled water which are being issued at no cost by representatives in affected cities; they also encourage residents to purchase water at nearest stores. 

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Roxanne is a writer, blogger and visual media host of kids and moms health and lifestyle features.  You can contact her at: mommylifestylebyroxanneedwards@yahoo.com

Like her on Facebook at Roxanne Edwards

Follow her on Instagram at Roxanne.P.Edwards

Or visit her Blog at: http://roxannepedwards.blogspot.com/