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Child Health
Child Health
Child health is obviously a prime concern for parents - we all want our kids to be fit and healthy. There are basically four ways that we can do this from the earliest age.
1. Immunisations/Testing
Make sure that your child has all relevant immunisations as and when they are due. You will usually be notified when your child needs an immunisation/booster by your doctor's surgery. Children are immunised at various stages from around 2 months of age up until they are 4 or 5. The immunisations here will protect them against serious diseases such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, a type of Meningitis, Measles, Mumps and Rubella. They will have a final booster in their teenage years which gives further protection against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio.
As your child develops you may also find that your Health Visitor/Doctor gives a range of formal/informal tests to check their hearing and sight.
2. Diet/Exercise
Obese and overweight children are more prone to certain illnesses (which can get very serious when they reach adulthood) and can suffer from problems with their peers and self-image. The easiest way to teach a child good eating habits is to get them early. Don't give out too many unhealthy snacks and drinks. If you have to give them at all then restrict them to occasional treats. Encourage your child to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and give them healthy and balanced meals. And, make sure that they get plenty of exercise. Try to encourage them to take up sports or simply take them to the park to run around with their friends.
3. Keep them happy and safe
Child health is not just about their physical wellbeing. It's about their mental health as well. Children need to feel safe as they get older and they need to feel confident. It is important therefore to talk to your child regularly, to do things as a family and to have fun! Try to help them out when they get stressed about their problems but try to help them learn how to manage their own problems. At earlier ages it is also important to keep them safe on a practical level. This usually involves child-proofing your home to make sure that they cannot hurt themselves!
4. Look after their teeth
Make sure to visit your dentist regularly with your child - most dentists will see kids every six months. Get your child used to visiting the dentist by taking them as early as you can (i.e. when teeth first appear) and don't make it a big deal (especially if you are nervous of dentists yourself). Be matter of fact and honest and they'll soon get used to going.
Finally, there's no telling when your child will get ill - it's a good tip to invest in a children's medical book to help you work out what may be wrong with them and what you need to do.