Useful Tips to keep your Child Healthy

Parenting is not an easy job. It involves your decision regarding how to provide them the nourishment required for their mental and physical growth, how to provide correct values and discipline in your children and many other aspects. A lot of effort, planning, and thought goes behind taking the right decision for the overall development of your child. In most of the cases, you can consult your paediatrician in the family clinic Nashville regarding the same.

Health Tips for your child - 

The following are some of the effective tips your paediatrician would advise to keep your children healthy.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to provide your child with all the necessary nutrients. Additionally, it is also a great way to bond with your child. Various healthcare organisations always advised to keep your child, exclusively on breast milk for the first six months and continue providing the same up to two years. However, a lot of time, dedication and all hour feeding is involved in breastfeeding, it can take a toll on the mothers. As an alternative, you can pump your breast milk and store it so that your child can have access to it whenever they require it. You can discuss with your paediatrician in the medical clinic in Nashville regarding the right breastfeeding habit and decision for your child.

Develop healthy eating habits

Diets play an important role in the growth and development of your child. Hence, it is important to be healthy eating habits in your children. In this regard, you should maintain the following

• Avoid processed food - Processed foods are always high on sugar, unhealthy fats, sodium, calories, etc. Since they do not provide any nutritional values; it would be in the best interest of your children to exclude them from their diet. 
• Include natural foods - Try to include natural food in your child's diet. Some examples can be fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fishes, lean cuts of meat, whole grains, fibre-rich food, poultry, etc. 

Essential vitamins

Ensure that your child’s diet should include all the vitamins - A, B, C, D, E and K. Usually, children do not require multivitamins, as natural foods are sufficient enough to fulfil their daily vitamin requirements. However, if you still feel concerned, consult your paediatrician regarding the same. 

Don’t force-feed your kids

When it comes to your child's meals, it is normal to feel concerned. Similar to your previous generations, you too might feel worried if your child doesn't finish the food on their plate. However, paediatricians usually advise against force-feeding. As per their opinion, your child knows when they are full and when they can't eat anymore. If they are denying eating further, you should not presume that they are skipping their vegetables. They might be telling you the truth about them feeling 'full'. Overeating can cause unwanted weight gain and you too should avoid the same. If you are still worried, you can take the help of your paediatrician in Cape Sierra Family Healthcare Clinic to understand whether your kids are getting their regular nourishment or not.

Encourage them in carrying out lots of physical activities

As per the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of children and adolescents suffering from childhood obesity has been doubled and quadrupled respectively in the last 30 years. This is truly a fact to worry about. Childhood obesity puts the children at the risk of developing diabetes, heart-related issues and various other health complications in their adulthood. If you take notice of the same in their childhood, you can avoid the risk of them getting obese or overweight.

For this reason, encourage them to participate in various team or individual sports activities. Even public health experts also recommend at least 60 minutes of daily physical activities for children. You can involve other family members as well. Seeing others actively participating in various fun-filled physical activities, your child too will feel motivated to do the same. Decide on activities that your child will enjoy as well. You can also encourage them to go for swimming or cycling etc.  

Take care of their skin

Children are a powerhouse of energy. Therefore, irrespective of the weather outside, they will enjoy their time outdoor. As a parent, you can't stop your child from having fun outdoor but can take necessary precautions to protect them from harmful UV rays. Usually, babies who are younger than six months should avoid direct sunlight at all costs. However, if that is unavoidable, use sunscreen that is specially designed for babies. Babies of six months and older must use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30. While playing outdoors, cover their arms and legs to avoid insect bites. You can consult your paediatrician in walk-in family clinic Nashville to understand whether insect repellant creams will be beneficial for them. Take note of the factors they are allergic too and take necessary protection.

Oral health care

Maintaining oral hygiene goes beyond keeping their teeth cavity-free. As per the opinion of the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, tooth decay is one of the most common diseases affecting most children. Untreated tooth decay can further lead to issues concerning speaking and learning. Generally, fluoride can help in eliminating tooth decay in young children. You can consult your paediatrician to understand whether they need fluoride treatment during their teeth cleaning or not. If your tap water doesn't contain enough fluoride, you can ask your doctor where from you could procure them. 

Thus, you can follow the above-mentioned tips to keep your child lead a healthy and active life. The right healthcare steps taken in the early phases of childhood can help in preventing various health complications in the later stage of their life.