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Teach the child to use the bathroom in a healthy way

Age of teaching a child to use the bathroom:

Many parents are confused about when to start training their children to use the toilet or bathroom because children are different and are not ready for this training at the same age, so it is important to monitor your child to find signs of his readiness and because civilizations differ in teaching the child to use the toilet, as there are those who start at the age of months and there are those who wait until three years But it is better, according to doctors, to start this stage between the ages of 18 months and up to three years, depending on the child's readiness.

Signs that your child is ready to start:

Instead of looking for the right age, look for signs that your child may be ready to start, such as:

Follows your simple commands and instructions.
He understands your words and knows the meaning of Nuno and Kaka.
His nappy stays dry for two hours or more.
Show interest in using the potty or the bathroom.
Wants to take off the diaper or put on the underpants.
He stops for a while or turns away when he relieves himself with the diaper.

Most children start showing these signs between the ages of 18 and 24 months, while some children stay longer than that.

How to teach a child to use the bathroom:

You can follow these steps after you make sure your child is ready to start potty training or even while preparing for it:

Use words for the act of urinating and defecating ("pee," "poo," "bath," and "potty").
Ask your child to tell you when he wets his nappy.
Identify the behaviors your child is doing ("Are you going to poop?") so that your child can recognize the urge to urinate and defecate.
Buy him a potty seat base or potty that your child can sit on with his clothes and nappy on until he gets used to it.
Take the time to potty train.
Do not force your child to sit on the toilet.
Show your child how you sit on the toilet and explain what you do because your child learns by watching and imitating you.
Establish a clear, comfortable routine. For example, you might want to start making your baby go to the bathroom after waking up with a dry nappy, or 45 minutes to an hour after drinking plenty of fluids.
Put your child on the potty for just a few minutes a few times a day, and let your child get up if he wants to.
Have your child sit on the potty within 15 to 30 minutes after a meal, but your child may not poop during this time. People are different.
Take your child to the bathroom if you see clear signs that he needs to go to the bathroom.
Remove the stool from your baby's nappy and throw him into the toilet in front of him, telling him to get in the toilet.
Dress your child in clothes that are easy for him to remove.
Give your child small rewards every time your child goes to the potty such as stickers or stories to read on the topic and let him choose and buy his own panties.
If you are working, ask Grandma or the nanny to use the same techniques and words you use for potty training so that your child does not get confused.
Praise all attempts to use the toilet, whether with success or not.
It is important not to punish children who are potty trained or to show disappointment when they wet or soil themselves or the bed. On the contrary, tell your child that it was an accident and then reassure and support him.

Teaching a stubborn child to go to the bathroom:

People consider that training stubborn children to use the potty is difficult, but in reality it is not impossible, and each child has a key, so the following tips will help you to pass this stage with your child. But first, the first question that you must ask yourself is: Is your child really ready for potty training ?

Steps to teach a stubborn child to use the bathroom:

In addition to the methods we mentioned earlier, here are some steps:

Do not compare your child to any other children or peers.
Don't think about what your family and friends say that your child should be potty trained. Just ask yourself if your child is ready for potty training now.
Tell your child and get rid of all the nappies there.
Bring a toy When you are potty training a stubborn child, you need to get him more involved. Follow the 3-day potty training method to get things started. Plan a potty training schedule, print a colorful potty training chart, and bring your own colors and stickers for a special potty time.
Give him treats and think about what really motivates him.
Stay calm and be patient This can be a tedious process, but you must remain calm, patient and supportive of your child.
Celebrate with your child the job done: It may take longer than other children, but at some point your stubborn child will be potty trained. So get ready to celebrate.
Your child probably won't fight you about potty training, he's just not ready, and if you wait until he's ready, he'll be like all other potty-trained children in three days.

Steps to follow while waiting for a child to potty train:

Waiting doesn't mean you should ignore potty training, just let your child wear diapers for a few more weeks, months, or years. If you decide to wait, you can follow these steps while you wait:

Sing potty training songs.
Give your child a potty training doll Your child will be responsible for teaching his doll how to use the potty and will encourage her in case of any accidents.
Read potty training books and articles.
Allowing your child to wear underwear over his diaper for a while.
Force and cruelty will not give you any positive results, so stay away from them.

Teaching the child to leave the diaper at night:

After completing your child's potty training, it will be a little more difficult to teach your child to leave the nappy at night, but with these tips and a little patience, it will make potty training at night easier:

Let your child urinate before bed:

Introduce this habit early in the potty training routine just as we generally use the bathroom before bed to avoid having to get up in the night to do so.

Use special tarpaulins and sheets to avoid wetting the bed:

As long as you start the process of toilet training at night, it is better and more important to be prepared for accidents to happen, so prepare a set of pajamas to change your child's clothes in case such accidents happen at night.

Reduce drinking fluids in the evening and after dinner:

Not all people can get all the fluid out of their bodies before bed so experts recommend that limiting fluid consumption until dinner time can be very beneficial except on very hot days and exceptional cases.

Waking your child to go to the bathroom:

Wake your child up just before bedtime and make him or her urinate.

Dress your child in cotton underwear so he can feel himself when urinating.

Simplify the process of using the toilet at night.

Sometimes the main hindrance to nighttime potty training is that the child gets anxious or scared so make sure the bathroom light is on or easy to reach and you can keep a potty seat in the room for the early days of training.

Praise and encourage his efforts:

Don't forget that accidents can happen to anyone, but the fact that your child is trying deserves your appreciation.

In the end, every stage will end, so do not stress yourself, do not frustrate and annoy your child, wait for him until he is ready, laugh with him and be happy, because your child is growing. Love him, educate him, and cooperate together, and you will pass this stage in peace.

Proper cleaning of the bottle and other baby utensils

Breast milk offered directly to the breast is the ideal way to feed babies, but this is sometimes not possible.

Bottles are used to feed babies when it cannot be done naturally, however they require proper handling, conservation and cleaning, since they are an element that comes into direct contact with the baby and feeds her.

Similarly, all other utensils that have contact in one way or another with the baby such as toys, bottles, objects, among others, must be kept properly cleaned.

Why is it important to properly clean these utensils?

It is the only way to prevent the proliferation of harmful microorganisms in containers, toys and other objects.

Microorganisms generate diseases, compromising the health of children, especially those whose immune (protective) system is affected.

How can I do the cleaning?

Sterilization of utensils: the first time any utensil (bottle, toys, objects, among others) is going to be used, THEY MUST BE BOILED (sterilized) to eliminate all the germs present in them, even if they are completely new.

Sterilization is done as follows:

Fill a large pot with water.
Submerge the utensils in the water once they are clean, making sure that they are completely covered by the water.
Cover the pot with a lid, place the stove over high heat until the water boils for one minute.
Keep the pot covered until you need the utensils.
After each use, it is not necessary to continue boiling them, although it is not bad, IT IS ENOUGH WITH A GOOD WASH WITH WATER AND SOAP.

safety precautions and protection against possible burns with hot liquids

Keep in mind that for this sterilization process, safety precautions and protection against possible burns with hot liquids must be taken. The person performing the sterilization must:

Use pot holders or cloth gloves to protect your hands.
Keep the pot of hot water away from your body.
Ensure that the kitchen floor is clear of spilled appliances and liquids.
Do not leave hot water in unsafe places, such as the edges of furniture or tables.
Be aware that there is no other person around you who could cause a burn, especially a child or older adult.

Cleaning of utensils:

It is advisable to clean the different utensils that the baby uses with hot water and kitchen soap.

When washing them, the smallest areas of the objects, such as inside edges and threads, should be insisted on, because that is where residues accumulate more easily.

They should be rinsed with plenty of water to remove all the soap and left to air dry and not with a cloth.

In the case of baby bottles, clean as follows:

Clean the bottle immediately after use, so that milk residue does not stick.
For washing, use special bottle brushes.
These are very useful because they adapt to the long and narrow container and to the shape of the pacifier, allowing you to reach all the corners where waste accumulates more easily.
Let the bottle dry in an airy and clean place, with each piece separately and upside down, so that the drops drain off.
Store all the parts of the bottle (container, nipple, safety disc and lid) without fitting them together and when they are completely dry.

Never forget the following: it is not enough to clean the baby's utensils, it is important that the person who handles them always wash their hands very well.

Home Monitoring Project for children with complex congenital heart disease

In Colombia, congenital malformations are the second cause of death in children under 1 year of age and were responsible for 23% of deaths between 2005 and 2017.

In 2015, approximately 8,000 children per year were born with congenital heart disease (heart malformation) and by 2006 there were a total of 2,349 heart surgeries per year, many of them high risk (RACHS 3 and 6).

Some of the newborns may need a palliative or compensatory procedure through surgery, a catheterization procedure (using wires through the veins and arteries, without opening the chest) or mixed or hybrid (surgery plus catheterization), with this The aim is for the child to gain weight and be stronger for a second surgical time.

The time after going home after the first procedure until the second, it is called interstage and in this period situations such as common viral infections, a fever, an episode of diarrhea, can seriously affect children.

To face these risks, developed countries have created programs to monitor children at home during the interstage, achieving significant reductions in mortality.

The foregoing motivated the development and application of a similar program in our environment, but adapted to Latin American conditions, planned on education and the extensive use of telecommunication tools in order to extend the scope of monitoring with the limited resources available.

It was developed jointly by the Cardiovascular Foundation of Colombia and the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Bucaramanga branch.

This program was endorsed by the ethics committee of the FCV

PROMESA Home Monitoring Program:

Participating parents were given training and equipment for monitoring at home, always with the support of nursing, psychology and cardiology.

70% of the patients who participated in outpatient monitoring managed to reach the second stage of surgery, which was remarkable considering the high degree of complexity of heart disease aggravated by the COVID pandemic, in addition to the socioeconomic difficulties of our country.

The average number of days of follow-up per patient was 217 days, on average each patient recorded 486 oximetry tests, 113 weights and 167 intake records.

A total of 1,381 calls were made in routine follow-up, with an average of 77 per patient, where alarm symptoms were identified in 984.

There were 550 successful video calls and 102 face-to-face controls.

A total of 2,382 alerts were verified and 40 of these required hospitalization to handle the alert, in many cases avoiding serious complications.

The PROMESA project, with its adaptations and despite the limitations, including the COVID19 pandemic, managed to take about 70% of the patients to the second intervention, and also allowed continuous guidance in various aspects, as can be demonstrated with a 100% of the patients complied with the complete basic vaccination schedule, another positive aspect was the possibility of maintaining emotional support measures for parents or caregivers through the various telecommunication resources used.

Currently, the home monitoring and education program continues to be active as part of the Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology service of the FCV and after a few months of restarting a new cohort, it already has 25 patients under follow-up.

Conclusions:

The PROMESA project is a pioneer of its kind in Latin America and is an innovative solution to provide support to children and their families during complex phases of the management of congenital heart disease that they suffer from, demonstrating that this type of program does not only occur in countries of the first world, here you can too!

EarlystimulatIon In The creative Field

To begin with, what is creativity?

It can be understood as a way of thinking, which develops when facing an obstacle.

It is important to see how your child creates a solution to said problem, it must have special characteristics, such as fluency, flexibility, originality and independence.

But what is fluency?

Fluency is the amount of ideas and solutions that your child gives to the problem in a given time.

The more ideas that come into your head, the more fluid you are.

And what is then, flexibility and originality?

Flexibility is the way your baby adapts to the obstacle.

If this requires an unusual solution, or redefine your already proposed solutions to overcome the obstacle. Originality, on the other hand, determines that the solution is unusual, new, and unrepeatable.

And finally, independence, is how your child manages to free himself from that problem or obstacle that has arisen.

What can I do to stimulate my baby in the creative realm, and what could frustrate or slow down my baby's creativity?

Independence plays a major role as your baby grows. Although you have to take care of them so that nothing bad happens to them, allowing them to know the environment that surrounds them will allow them to encounter problems and obstacles and that is what will begin to encourage them to look for different options.

Take care of your baby, but don't over-protect him for no reason.

The implementation of games or toys that allow the development of fine motor skills. And learning, how to know and distinguish shapes and colors. (Paint, color, etc.)

Imitation play, role play or acting will always allow your child the freedom to explore different situations and promote open thinking and the avoidance of stereotypes.

Allowing fantasy is essential.

It is completely normal for your child to invent and create new scenarios or stories.

Fantasy is very different from lying and you must respect your baby's perception of things. Over time, the child will understand how reality can dismantle his fantasies, and he will constantly ask questions that must be explained in order for him to better understand the world around him.

Finally, the stimulation processes in the creative field can be short or long depending on the time and place.

There are institutions that dedicate at least an hour in extracurricular hours with games that achieve creative development.

It is also important to identify what preferences your baby has, it is possible that you will not see results in a single activity or field, we recommend that you try different options.

Massage Technique, Rest and Sleep

Infant massage facilitates affective bonds because it includes the main elements to establish them: gaze, skin-to-skin contact, smiles, sounds, hugs, smell, voice emissions and response.

They also improve the functioning of all systems, drastically change behavior patterns, facilitate relaxation allowing the child to release tension, sleep and rest peacefully.

The technique for performing massages is as follows:

Remove rings, watch or any other accessory.
Before performing the massage cut the nails if necessary.
Choose the right and quiet time of day.
Position the baby in a position that is comfortable for him and you.
Remove the clothes in parts avoiding air currents.
Use oil to massage and avoid irritating the skin.
Take into account the temperature of the hands and the oil, keep it at a temperature that the baby can tolerate.
Control the pressure, direction and speed of the massage.
If the baby manages to fall asleep, allow him to rest enough and do not interrupt his sleep.
Duration of the massage only the one that he tolerates.

Massage techniques: According to Femenías (2009), Vimala Schneider is the creator of infant massage techniques, collected from the following main sources:

1- Traditional Indian massage:

It consists of making movements from the center of the body towards the extremities. Its objective is to relax and eliminate tensions.

2- Swedish technique:

Unlike the Indian massage, it is applied from the outside of the body to the inside. Its objective is to tone and activate the body.

3- Reflexology or foot massage:

It is that massage that is performed, as its name indicates, on the feet, in a very gentle way.

Gas in infants

How to avoid gases?

Breastfed babies swallow less gas because of the tight junction between the mouth and the mother's breast.

After eating, the indicated position would be upright to allow feeding to continue its normal course.

In this way, you will also prevent reflux.

Why is it important to get rid of gases?

The gas in the stomach occupies space that should be occupied by the milk, for this reason, while it is released, the baby must again be placed on the breast.

The gases that are not expelled cause great discomfort, generate pain and prevent the baby from sleeping peacefully.

Techniques to eliminate gases:

- Technique 1:

Drink vertically and give small back massages.

- Technique 2:

Place the baby in a vertical position, where the stomach presses against our shoulder and gently pat the lower back.

- Technique 3:

Place the baby in a sitting position, securely holding his back and head, turning him in a circular motion.

- Technique 4:

Place the baby face down lying on our legs and perform small back massages.

Early stimulation of the child with Down syndrome

What is early intervention?

It is the set of stimulation exercises that are performed with the child, to reduce the maturational delay associated with Down syndrome.

It can start days after birth, up to about six years old.

The areas of development that are favored with stimulation are: psychomotor, cognitive and linguistic, social and affective areas.

What is the important?

The family is a key element in early stimulation, since it is the main support in the progress and achievements of the child.

For this reason, in addition to performing the stimulation exercises, it is VERY IMPORTANT to maintain good relationships in the family environment with support, patience and the enjoyment of leisure time and simple day-to-day activities for the whole family.

How do we work early stimulation from home?

The exercises described below can be performed on children from birth to the first year of life.

For the psychomotor area, we will reinforce fine and gross motor skills as follows:

1- With the child lying down, take him by his hands and rock him from side to side counting to ten. Do it 3 times.

2- With the child lying down or sitting, show him a striking object or toy so that he follows it with his hands and eyes, getting him to change position.

3- Give him several safe toys and objects of different types of textures, so that he can manipulate each one for about 2 minutes. They can also pass through your body.

4- Sit the child on a ball or a large roller, support him from the back and very carefully move from side to side and from back to front.

For the cognitive and linguistic area:

1- Sing the child nursery rhymes, looking him straight in the eyes, calling his full attention as much as possible and motivating him to clap his hands or wave his hands.

2- Read children's stories to the child, actively, imitating voices. It is preferable that the book has colorful drawings, to show them to the child.

3- Perform massage on the child's face: on his lips from right to left, on the cheeks in circles.

For the social and affective area:

The child with Down syndrome must interact with other children.

However, for our children from the PROMESA Project, given their heart condition, it is not recommended that they visit common places, such as shopping centers, parks, etc. For this reason, the family must be the most beautiful company for our children, to make them happy, protect them and take care of them, carrying out practices such as good hand washing before caressing them, pampering them or helping them with feeding and bathing.

Surgical wound management:

The skin protects the body against infection.

The incision (cut) in the skin made for a surgical intervention (operation) is an unnatural event, which breaks the defensive barriers of the body and has the risk of becoming infected.

The health team takes precautions to prevent infections, from scrupulous hand washing and the use of sterile procedures and instruments (without microorganisms) to perform wound dressings and, when required, the appropriate administration of antibiotics. In good general health, all wounds should heal.

What is a surgical wound?

It is an opening or interruption of the continuity of the skin, produced by an incision, made by a surgeon, for diagnostic or treatment purposes.

The wounds of cardiovascular surgery performed on children with congenital heart disease are of the closed type by means of sutures (sewing with sterile thread of various materials, especially for surgery).

What should a normal wound look like?

The wound almost always bulges slightly and there is noticeable redness (mild swelling) during the first two weeks after surgery, without this being a problem.

After approximately the first week from the date of surgery, the edges should feel united, free of secretions and not feel heat, excessive pain, hardness or pus on it or generalized fever.

What should you do to care for your surgical wound?

1- Follow all basic wound care instructions given to you by your doctor and nurse upon discharge.

2- Perform wound healing as follows:

- Wash your hands very well and clean the table where you are going to put the materials (sterile gauze, - liquid soap, gloves, dressing, Micropore) with alcohol.

A- Remove the Micropore tape or the dressing that covers the wound gently, in the direction of the wound, if it is very stuck moisten with water and with the other hand hold the skin.

B- Observe if there is separation of the edges, if there is pus, if there is excessive inflammation, if the skin is red, there is a fever, or any other sign that alarms you, you should go to the emergency room.

C- The cleaning of the wound must be done with water and liquid soap, with gentle movements and without rubbing in the direction of the wound.

D- Remove excess soap with clean water, you can also use bottled water, saline or sterile water.

E- Once the wound is clean, dry it gently with sterile gauzes and cover it with its dressing or gauze or leave it in the air, according to medical indications.

F- Lastly, wash your hands again and store the materials in a clean and cool place.

3- Prevent other people from handling the child's wound.

4- Surgical wounds do not require the application of medication, unless they are infected.

5- It is important to keep in mind that the use of plants, panela-type sugars, hydrogen peroxide, iodized solutions or chlorine, delay and complicate the healing process in wounds.

6- It is important that the child stays well fed, to promote healing.

Early stimulation of the newborn

It is a tool for the baby to learn to be interested in what surrounds him, (mobiles in cribs favor the development of sight; ambient music, hearing and emotional tranquility; textured toys, learning of the environment by through touch, among others), through activities that must be developed constantly, trying to make them fun and interesting for the child.

If there is no consistency in the activities, the child will not appropriate them or learn them.

Here are some forms of stimulation with songs and games:

1- Raise the arms:

up, down, in turns, movements in rotation of the shoulders. Raise the forearms up, down, in turns, movement above and below the shoulders, coordinated with grimacing movements of the face.

2- With closed hands (fists) or open or semi-closed:

perform wrist movements up or down and rotation movements alternately.

3- With the legs:

do movements in the form of a bicycle, exercises to shrug and stretch the legs.

Other activities that help stimulate the child are sounds, music, bright colors, teaching him to insert, remove, assemble and disassemble objects, repeat monosyllabic words such as Pa, Ma, Bu, No, among others, teach him to turn around, sit, be in a position for a period of time without forcing or hurting with the exercises only as far as the baby tolerates the activities, take into account his age.

Method and recommendations for the bathroom:

The bath is a moment of direct contact between parents or caregivers and the baby, which allows tactile stimulation helping to establish neural connections, in turn the interaction creates trust.

Touch is a highly developed sense in babies and infants, the skin has a direct embryological relationship with the central nervous system and therefore participates in an important way in the development and neuronal maturation of the child.

When carrying out the daily bath of the baby, keep in mind:

1- Have what you need at hand:

do not fill the bathtub too much, 10 or 15 cm of water is enough.

2- The water temperature should be comfortable:

Make sure it doesn't burn by inserting your elbow or the back of your hand.

3- Use mild soaps and in very little quantity:

taking advantage of the same water to clarify. If you are a girl, clean the area between the genitals and the anus (from front to back) to avoid possible infections.

4- Carefully remove from the water, wrap it in a dry and warm towel, dry gently.

5- After the bath we can take the opportunity to hydrate your skin well while giving you a massage using a moisturizing cream or lotion or oils appropriate for your age.

Coronavirus in boys and girls

How does contagion occur?

The virus is spread by close contact with diagnosed patients, by infected family members, or by traveling to areas where it is present.

This happens in two ways:

When the infected person sneezes or coughs, it disperses small droplets of water into the air. These droplets can land in the nose, mouth or eyes of children who are nearby; or, they can inspire them.
Also, it is possible for children to become infected by rubbing a surface covered with infected droplets and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

What are the symptoms of the COVID-19 virus in children?

Boys and girls, although they have mild symptoms, are also infected and can end up sick.

Therefore, it is necessary to act immediately and go to the emergency room if they have high fevers, cough, sore throat, runny nose and diarrhea.

However, an infected minor is likely to be asymptomatic , that is, infected but without symptoms.

In adults, there may be different symptoms, including: anosmia (loss of smell), loss of taste (ageusia), lightheadedness, choking, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and disorientation.

The virus can take from 2 to 14 days to show symptoms.

Diagnosis:

Based on clinical analysis of hospitalized pediatric patients in Wuhan, China, rectal swab testing and gastrointestinal tract testing are the most effective methods for diagnosing children with COVID-19.

In adults, on the other hand, infection is identified by a nasopharyngeal swab test and chest x-rays to determine possible pneumonia.

Treatment:

At this time, there is no vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

However, when a pediatric patient tests positive, he or she should receive immediate medical care in a hospital with respiratory support, IV fluids, and other types of treatment.

Patients who are discharged will undergo follow-up tests according to the case - evolution.

Finally, we must not forget that antibiotics are not useful to treat viral infections, that is, they are not useful to treat coronavirus infections.

Medicines used against the flu also do not work because they are different viruses.

That is why it is necessary to be attentive to the symptoms that children may present, and more so if they previously have congenital heart disease, as this makes it more difficult and dangerous to be infected by the new coronavirus.

develop Safe Attachment in your children:

The factor that will determine how they do in school and in life is the strength of the relationship he or she has with the primary parent or caregiver.

1- Transmit protection and security:

It is necessary that there is a main figure in charge of the most important care, as well as meeting their needs and giving them love.

2- Promote autonomy:

At first, they will show their curiosity with their eyes, but months later they will begin to turn around, crawl, crawl, walk, etc. Everything around him catches his attention, since he has never seen, touched or explored it.

3- Explain events that they do not understand:

We must take into account the age and situation of the child to adapt our response.

4- Be seen:

They ask the authority or attachment figure to observe them and give them feedback on how they are doing. It is essential that our children are seen and that we dedicate enough quality time to them.

5- Impose limits in a sensible way:

“I don't let you do this or that because I love you”. Although it is difficult for us to deny them something, it is essential to establish limits for their correct development and self-esteem.

6- Emotionally tune in:

We must identify well and precisely what they need or the emotion they are experiencing

7- Act Responsively:

This step is done right after you tune in with your child emotionally. For example: If something bothers her or scares her, and you identify it (tune in), it is important to try to give her a solution to her need.

8- Respect and allow the expression of their emotions:

Any emotion that our children feel is legitimate, but not all associated behavior should be allowed or accepted.

9- Be available:

It is important to show a positive and respectful attitude with the minor, understanding that the learning process is a long-distance race that requires a lot of patience and perseverance.

10- Be predictable and consistent:

For example, in anxious-ambivalent attachment, a type of insecure attachment, one of the most outstanding characteristics of these parents is that they are very ambivalent, that is, they respond to their children irregularly based on many variables beyond the children's control.

11- Empowerment:

It is very important that the baby feels supported in what he does. And that she feels that her parents trust her to do well.

12- Unconditional love:

There is no condition that makes our affection or love towards them rise or fall.

The Importance Of YourR Baby Sleeplng, Sleep Disorders

Sleep is a state of relaxation in the body that is closely related to the health of your baby. Just as you read it! Sleep can influence your child's growth, development, behavior and emotions.

And that's not all: your baby having a good sleep habit can help strengthen the immune system, memory and synaptic efficiency.

irregularity in your baby's sleep

So that you better understand your baby's sleep; Keep in mind that sleep stages are constantly changing. For example: in the first 3 months, sleep begins with active sleep or REM (where the baby sleeps deeply, without whining or movement) but then between 3 and 6 months it is more common for your baby to have shallow sleep, where you wake up easily.

Sleep lasts 14 hours at 6 months, but by one year it decreases by one hour. And as he grows older, the number and duration of naps decreases by 82%, and children at 18 months are no longer napping.

Now, if you notice any irregularity in your baby's sleep, it is very important that you mention it to the pediatrician to attend to this problem as soon as possible. Navarro (2020), in his congress on sleep disturbances, mentions that your baby's sleep problems can be classified into 3 different ones: your child has a hard time falling asleep, abnormalities happen during sleep or he sleeps significantly during sleep. day.

However, you have to take into account what stage your baby is in to properly identify the problem and the sleep needs according to age.

An easy and quick way to know if your baby has slept well is through observation. If your son / daughter wakes up spontaneously and happily, she carries out the activities appropriate for her age, without looking exhausted or sleepy, she probably slept well.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS:

Dr. Eduard Estivill , a pediatrician and specialist in Clinical Neurology, answers these frequently asked questions about babies' sleep *(to read the full interview, follow the link at the end).

What is the most appropriate place for the baby to sleep? It is recommended that the child has his own room and sleeps in her crib.

Is it beneficial for the family that the baby sleeps with his parents?

It is much better for the baby to get used to sleeping in her own space. Parents believe that they need affection at night, when in fact, this affection is achieved while the child is awake.

At what age should a child be changed from crib to bed?

6 months is the ideal age at which to make such a transition.

Because at 6 months the mother returns to her working life and the child begins with her complementary feeding.

How can we teach our baby to sleep?

Maintaining your daily sleep routine. Through "sleep hygiene" we can better understand how to promote healthy sleep for our baby and prevent sleep disturbances.

Recommendations on fever:

Fever is one of the most requested reasons in the pediatric emergency room as it is alarming for parents. This condition is a defense reaction that the body has against viruses or bacteria.

It is important to have a thermometer at home, if the child has some signs of fever it is important to go to the pediatrician.

This sudden change in temperature can be caused by:

Infections: respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, among others.
Because of vaccination
excess coat
There are other pathologies that cause fever that must be diagnosed by a specialist.

Body temperature does not always have a proportion with the severity of the disease for this reason medical attention is necessary.

It is important to observe changes in the child's behavior. In this way, the doctor can be given details that lead to an easier and more accurate diagnosis.

What to do when fever occurs?

Fever can be caused in less severe cases by a virus that can lead to a flu.

It is recommended to keep the child cool, hydrated and in light clothing, however, it is important to recognize that if the fever persists, you should go to the emergency room immediately.

It is essential to respect the appropriate dosage recommended by health professionals so that the child responds adequately to treatment.

Important notes:

It is essential that the father of the family learns to recognize when his baby has a fever, below are signs that may be alarming:

When the baby's skin is warm to the touch, here it is important to go to the thermometer.
The baby is not active or in the mood to play.
Presence of drowsiness.
noticeable loss of appetite.
cold symptoms.
skin redness.
heavy breathing.
Excessive sweating at rest.

Lacrimal duct stimulation.. lubricate, provide oxygen and perform antibacterial work to protect the eye

Lacrimal duct stimulation:

lacrimal system function:

The function of the lacrimal system is to lubricate, provide oxygen and perform antibacterial work to protect the eye.

Canalization of the duct is completed during the 8th month of gestation, although it can occur during the first days of life.

As parents we must be alert to:
Irritation in the eyes
glued eyelashes
Laganas
Inflammation
Pain

GLIGER TECHNIQUE:

The index finger should be placed and pressure exerted on the area of the common canaliculus to avoid regurgitation of material through the punctum.
The finger is moved down firmly on the bony plane to increase hydrostatic pressure within the lacrimal sac and lacrimal duct.
The massage will be performed 3-4 times a day and on each of these occasions pressure will be exerted 5-10 times.

Avoid infections in the Lacrimal duct:

They can start hygiene measures: Hand washing always before handling the baby. Cleaning of the objects that are placed in the hands.
Clean the eye with water and sterile gauzes (one for each eye) to prevent the transmission of microorganisms from one area to another.

What is constipation in infants?

Constipation is an alteration of the intestine, caused by an excessive retention of water in the large intestine and the consequent hardening of the stool, which makes it very difficult to expel it.

Causes of constipation in infants:

The incorporation of solid foods.
The abandonment of the maternal night.
dehydration
Formula milk.
Lack of fiber.
Non-compliance with meal times.

Tips to relieve baby constipation:

1- BREAST MILK:

It is one of the most accessible and healthy remedies to prevent constipation in a baby.

2- INCREASED FLUID INTAKE:

Give small amounts of water to drink from time to time.

3- MASSAGES:

This helps stimulate transit.

Massages to relieve constipation:

1- Crawling movement:

You should lay the baby on his back and use the two palms of your hands to make movements from the ribs to the lower part of his abdomen, exerting gentle pressure.

2- Clockwise Twist:

Lying on your back, hold onto your ankles with your legs partially bent.

Then, draw a clockwise circle with your fingertips.

You must do it with slow and smooth movements for a few seconds.

Stop and go again.

3- Knee movement:

Also on your back, hold your legs at the ankles and fully extend them.

Then bend them until your knees touch your belly

Routines for a peaceful and comfortable sleep:

Timely habits in the sleep cycle:

Intimate contact with the mother at the time of lactation. A comfortable position for both is recommended.
A short bath with lukewarm water before taking him to bed will allow him to enter a state of relaxation.
It is important that you wear clean, comfortable and fresh pajamas.
The room must be free of wind currents, be ventilated, and be at room temperature and away from noise.
After the bath, you could apply cream on the baby's body and perform small massages.
Play soft music and dim lighting so that your baby associates the environment with bedtime.
Pick a set time each day to do all of the steps above.

Prevention of physical injuries in girls and boys:

Children during their development need to actively explore their environment.

Therefore, it is natural for them to observe, touch, grasp, put in their mouths, taste, ingest, examine, disassemble, hit and throw objects.

Also, as motor development progresses, they begin to move under their own power.

Initially, with the dragging and crawling; then they walk, run, jump, climb and swim. In older ages they use tricycles, bicycles, cars and other children's vehicles.

In the absence of adequate supervision by caregivers, these activities could lead to accidents and physical injuries.

Prevention of unintentional physical injuries:

“Prevention is better than cure”, this phrase sums up and expresses the ideal when it comes to avoiding physical injuries.

Some general measures to prevent accidents in children are:

Take them in the back seats of the vehicles, with their respective seat and seat belt .
Use special lids for medicines , with lock, which are not easy to open.
Install non-slip floors.
Install smoke detectors.
Use plug protectors.
Store dangerous substances such as soaps or poisons in a locked place out of the reach of children.
A complementary strategy is to walk around the house in a crawling position.
This makes it possible to detect hazards that would otherwise go unnoticed. For example: sockets behind tables and shelves that are never used.

At any of the ages, nothing replaces the presence of a committed and attentive adult with safety. Many times, accidents happen when adults are distracted, not paying attention to injury prevention. Remember that accidents happen in the blink of an eye.

Prevention of physical injuries by age range:

Newly born:

Newborns are in special vulnerable conditions that require greater care by adults.

Some dangerous situations to be aware of are:

1- asphyxia:

Drowning or near drowning is one of the most frequent situations during this period.
Special care should be taken at bath time; the depth of the water cannot exceed 4 centimeters.
Blankets, pillows, cushions, and toys should be avoided in bed as they can cause suffocation or suffocation.
Newborns should not sleep in the same bed with their parents, but in a crib close to them They should lie face up.
Pets should not sleep in the same bed.

2- falls:

To avoid them, the crib must have a mattress that is well adjusted to the edges of the bed.
Also, it must have railings of more than 60 centimeters in height.
The separation of the bars should not exceed 6 centimeters.

3- Other accidents:

Shaking babies roughly or throwing them up can cause bleeding from intracranial blood vessels. These activities should not be performed.
At bath time, the temperature of the water should be monitored. Burns from very hot water are common at this stage.
The use of mittens or booties can compress the vessels and hinder blood circulation. For this reason its use is not recommended. However, in babies with some pathologies it is necessary to use these garments. If this is the case, it is important to make sure they are not tight and constantly monitor circulation. Also, monitor the temperature of the member where it is placed, it should not be cold or change color.
Rings, bracelets and chains should not be used on newborns because they can become entangled with other objects and cause injury.

Infants: (age between one month of birth and two years):

- asphyxia:

Take into account the following recommendations:

Accompany babies during the bath. NEVER leave them alone.
Avoid play with very small objects and pieces of broken rubber balloons.
Babies should not play with objects that can be easily disassembled and put in their mouths.
Do not offer fruits with seeds or small, hard foods, such as peanuts. The small caliber of the airway in babies can cause choking.

1- falls:

Take into account the following recommendations:

Do not neglect babies during diaper changes.
Keep floors dry and free of obstacles. Use non-slip mats on smooth floors.
Protect terraces, windows and other high places.
Avoid the use of walkers.
Playpens should not be near curtains, ropes, wires, or anything that babies can use to climb out.

2- Burns:

They are common especially in the kitchen . Therefore, this place should not be a children's playground. Cooktop pots and pans should be placed on the cooktop with the handles facing backwards.
Before offering any drinks to babies, assess the temperature .
It is necessary to previously test everything that is offered to the child to feel the temperature.
When hot food is transported, notify the other adults in the house. Place hot food in the center of the table.
Other burn hazards include: bath water, fire, electricity, hot irons, and flammable liquids. Electrical injuries can be prevented by ensuring the proper functioning of electrical installations and appliances. Plugs must be protected to prevent children from inserting their fingers.
Fire burns can be prevented by keeping lighters, matches, and flammable liquids in safe places.
Avoid leaving candles or candles lit.
Gunpowder as fun should only be used by experienced people.

3- Other accidents:

In infants, the risk of poisoning due to drug ingestion must be taken into account . Also, caution should be exercised with poisons.

These should be stored out of reach and packaged securely.

"Children are unpredictable and reckless, watching over them is our duty as parents and caregivers"

Oral health:

Oral health is fundamental to the enjoyment of life so that you can speak, eat and socialize without being hindered by pain, discomfort or embarrassment from your mouth.

Good oral health is important for children's physical and emotional development.

In addition, it has repercussions on health in general and is a determining factor in the quality of life.

Importance of breastfeeding in oral health:

For a better development of the jaws, it is necessary to support and encourage breastfeeding, since the sucking of breast milk that the baby does is the perfect gymnastics for the jaws and also helps the development of the temporomandibular joint, with which it is acquired the muscular tone necessary for the arrival of the first teeth (baby teeth).

However, there are circumstances that do not allow the baby to perform the sucking reflex through breastfeeding, such as: Babies with swallowing disorders, with gastrostomy and/or mothers who do not produce breast milk.

In these cases there are therapies to stimulate the baby's sucking reflex, which are performed by qualified personnel and taught to parents/caregivers.

oral hygiene:

A few days after birth, start cleaning your baby's gums with a damp gauze pad or washcloth daily, remembering to wash your hands carefully before cleaning.

Then brush your teeth twice a day as soon as they come in, with fluoride-free toothpaste no larger than a grain of rice. It is important that the water used is previously boiled and at a suitable temperature when cleaning the gums.

Implement the use of floss or dental floss from the age of 3. To be used at least once a day, every day. It is the parents who must do this procedure to the child up to 9 YEARS.

Periodically evaluate the child dentally, at least every 6 months.

Avoid the use of medicines with sugar content at night without cleaning the teeth after supplying them.

IMPORTANT:

Fluoride in toothpaste is suggested for children over three years of age, always using a small amount and making sure that no residue of the cream remains in the child's mouth at the end of brushing.

Bottle feeding after the first year of life:

When there is difficulty with breastfeeding, the bottle or bottle is used, which is of great help to feed the child, however, AFTER the year, it is suggested to switch to a training glass to facilitate the transmission to eat with the family, encourage chewing, reduce the risk of middle ear infections when the child takes a bottle lying down (should be avoided) and reduce the risk of dental caries, which increases when the child falls asleep with the bottle in the mouth.

Also, you should avoid adding sugar, panela or honey to milk.

Dear parents, promoting the dental health of children is an act of love and care, this produces in the child the strengthening of self-esteem and facilitates autonomy in eating, sleeping and personal hygiene, thus contributing to their good quality of life.