Do you think that fat and chubby babies and children are signs that they are healthy kids and considered cute? Not necessarily!

Many more children between the ages of two years old and five years old are already on there way to becoming the next generation of obese teens, and eventually obese adults and obese seniors. With obesity being one of the leading causes of morbidity, disability, discrimination, and employment problems, it has become one of the biggest public problems since tobacco use and exposure. Although playing a major role, bad eating and exercise habits are not the only culprit; some genetic diseases that can predispose children to become overweight cannot be forgotten.

Professionals are treating this as a major public health concern that is threatening to damage our most precious resources, the children. Introduction of healthy play, healthy food choices, and recreation that promotes physical activity is on the top of the list for discussion and plans of battling this epidemic. Having caretakers take pro active measures to keep the child on the right track and setting good examples are key elements to helping these children to learn a healthier behavior and attitude towards their own health.

A survey has come to the conclusion that as many as one third of U.S. children are overweight or at high risk for childhood obesity. The health problems that will begin to manifest themselves from the heavy weight of such young children will start kids down a road the problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and increased risks of diabetes. These are diseases usually reserved to adults, not children. Combating this troubling condition must however, begin at home with the caregivers for these children. Improving overall diet, not dieting, and exercise is the key to resolving the problem. Protecting children’s health now and in the future will depend greatly on education of parents and caregivers to implement healthy daily living strategies.

On 21 June 2008, Shayna’s school held graduation ceremony for Kindy 2 and art performance for the whole kindergarten students. The theme was Global Warming, with several dances from around the world. Shayna and her other 19 friends got the Indian dance part. The dance was quite dynamic and exciting. And Shayna did her dance very well. We, as her parents, were really proud of her independence and self confidence during her dance performance and during her year of Shayna at Kindy 1.

With all of the varying advice on feeding your baby, you may just want to breastfeed forever.  Though you should always consult your doctor for the latest information on baby food, there are a few things you should expect in the first year.

When to introduce solids

Most doctors agree that solids should be introduced somewhere between four and six months.  However, if you had an especially large baby at birth or a little boy with a big boy appetite, your doctor might recommend starting your baby on solid food as early as 3 months.

What is “solid” food?

The term “solid” food is a bit misleading.  Typically, one of the first “solid” foods you will introduce is rice cereal diluted with formula or breast milk.  This food is extremely runny doesn’t appear to have any solid properties about it.  As your baby adjusts to eating from a spoon, dilute her food with milk or formula.  This will also help your baby adjust to the new flavors in solid food.

How to introduce solid foods

The most important thing about introducing solid foods is that you introduce them one at a time and wait at least 3 days between new foods.  This way you can monitor for any allergic reactions because it can take up to three days for signs of allergy to show up.  Always check with your doctor, some doctors recommend waiting as long as 7 days between new foods.

First Foods

Although your baby’s first food with probably be cereal, you can start introducing fruits and vegetables around 6 to 7 months.  Some good first vegetables are:  sweet potatoes, peas, or carrots.  Try to stay away from fruits that are to acidic like orange or other citrus fruits.  But your baby probably would like banana, peach or applesauce at this stage.

Foods to stay away from

There are few key foods that you should never introduce until after the baby is 1 year old.  These include honey, fish, peanuts and strawberries.  All of these foods can cause severe allergic reactions and if given to your baby too early, she could develop an allergic reaction she wouldn’t otherwise have had.  There are a few other foods that won’t necessarily hurt your child but it is really unnecessary to introduce at this stage while they are still developing their tastes.  These foods include sugar, soda or anything not naturally sweet.

Protein foods

You will want to begin introducing protein foods to your baby around 7 to 8 months.  These foods might include meats, cottage cheese or beans.  Remember that your baby probably still doesn’t have any teeth, or at least not enough to chew anything so your baby’s food should still be mushy at this stage.

Eating for the first year

The most important thing to remember about eating during the first year is to introduce new foods one at a time.  Your baby’s first year is a year of discovery.  As your child tries new foods feeding time will be an enjoyable experience for baby and parents alike.

I don’t with you ladies, but I play golf just for fun. I don’t even go as far as calling myself lady golfer or anything like that. Playing golf is only part of my socializing. Thus, all my golf equipment is usually the prettiest as well as the highest quality and durability. Well, I don’t think that any of my equipment will be broken any time soon.

Anyway, when I was looking for some great golf balls for me and my husband, I just came across this pretty golf balls for women. It is designed for softer feel, improved control and long distance with guaranteed cut-proof durability. And it also comes in pink as well as white colors. It is really great for show off, right?

Babies don’t talk so they can’t tell you when they’re sick or what’s wrong with them when you know they are.  So how do you know how to treat your sick baby?  Or how do you determine if your baby has a rash or a food allergy?  This quick reference guide will help you decide when it’s time to take your baby to the doctor or how to treat them if you don’t.

Diaper rash

Diaper rash can look like small dots of red or severe red bumps with blisters.  There are a variety of causes for diaper rash, but the most common are wetness and friction.  Try applying a rash ointment to the areas of discomfort.  If the rash does not clear within 72 hours, go ahead and call a doctor because it may be a different yeast type of rash that may need to be treated by a doctor.

Ear infections

Ear infections are very common in children under two.  There is a part in the ear, called the Eustachian tubes that allow air to circulate in the ear.  These tubes are often too small in an infant’s ear so they don’t always work properly.  Signs of an ear infection can include your baby tugging on her ears, fever, grumpiness, trouble sleeping and lack of appetite.  Contact your doctor if your baby has signs of an ear infection.  He may wish to treat the infection with antibiotics which help kill off the bacterium that builds up in the ear.  Occasionally, your doctor will have you wait it out, treating it only with pain killers to help reduce the discomfort.  This helps the body rejuvenate itself and learn how to heal itself.

Colds

You know the symptoms of a cold, you’ve probably had one this year.  Colds are characterized by a runny nose, watery or red eyes, a sore throat and possibly a cough.  Always contact your pediatrician if your baby is under 3 months of age or her cold last for more than 10 days. Otherwise the best treatment is rest, lots of liquids and love.

Food allergies

Symptoms of food allergies can range from mild to severe and may cause rashes, hives, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anaphylaxis among other symptoms.  Food allergies are very serious and this is why it is so important to introduce foods one at a time to your child so you can pinpoint the food that caused the allergy and avoid it from that point on.  If you are unable to determine what caused the allergic reaction, your doctor may be able to run tests to help determine your baby’s allergies.  The good news about allergies is that most babies outgrow them by the time they are 3 years old.

Are you frustrated at the way your children communicate in grunts and shrugs without even looking up from the television screen? Is your phone in danger of becoming permanently attached to your daughter’s ear? If so, maybe it is time to turn off the technology. However, staring at a blank television screen isn’t going to draw your family together. You will need to find an activity to enjoy together. Why not give stargazing a try?

If you have never tried stargazing, you may be wondering why anyone would want to go out and stare at the sky. After all, there’s nothing much up there, right? Actually, there are so many amazing things in the sky, that it is a wonder more people aren’t interested in stargazing. Besides stars, you will be able to see nearby planets, the moon, and possibly even meteors. A few nights of gazing at the stars with the family may just launch one of your children on the journey to become an astronomer or even an astronaut.

If you are worried about the expense involved, don’t worry. Your family can pick out some of the amazing stars and other heavenly bodies in the sky without any equipment but their eyes. Believe it or not, a pair of inexpensive binoculars can be useful, as well. Wait until your children are hooked on stargazing before you can decide to shop for a good telescope so that you can look for some of the stars and planets that are harder to see.

You should begin stargazing on a dark, cloudless night. Don’t try to search for stars during a full moon or on a night with an overcast sky, you and your children may come away from the experience feeling a bit frustrated. If you live in the middle of a busy city, it is best to take a trip away from the bright lights before you try to stargaze. Looking for stars in the city is like trying to watch a slide show with the lights on. You may still be able to see stars, but they aren’t as bright and you may not be able to see stars that would be visible in darker conditions.

Before you take your children out to look for the stars, you will need to make a few preparations to be sure they don’t become frustrated by not being able to identify them. Go outside before it is completely dark and face the direction the sun is setting in. This is the western sky, which means the eastern sky is directly behind you. The northern sky will be on your right and the southern sky will be to your left. Once you know which direction to look in, you can use a star map for your area to help you point out the stars and identify them correctly. If you are more high tech, you can use a piece of equipment called a planisphere instead. The planisphere will give you the most up to date information on what stars and planets should be visible and where they are located in the sky.

Are you interested in trying to identify planets? Just remember that you will probably see them in the sky before the stars appear. If the stars are already out when you are ready to begin stargazing, look for the objects in the sky that are glowing steadily. They will be the planets. Stars actually twinkle, just as the song “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” says.

Don’t forget a few other essential items before you begin stargazing with your children. It often is chilly at night, so grab a few sweaters and make sure you have a blanket or tarp to sit on. A thermos of hot chocolate can really add to the experience, as well. Since it will be dark, you may also want to bring a flashlight, but be sure to turn it off when you arrive at your location, since the light will interfere with your night vision. Don’t forget your star map or planisphere, so that you will be able to locate stars and planets and help your children to identify the stars they see.

Finally, don’t forget to have fun as you and your children discover the amazing secrets of the sky.