Mom & Me

Tips mencegah keringat buntet pada balita

2008-12-25T23:22:00.000-08:00

Balita sering kali mengalami gatal-gatal yang disebabkan keringat buntet. Ada suatu cara untuk mencegah keadaan ini yaitu dengan merebus beberapa helai daun jambu klutuk/jambu biji dengan air dan kemudian dicampurkan pada air yang akan dipakai mandi oleh balita anda. Pemakaian air jambu ini hendaknya dilakukan sesering mungkin apalagi bila balita anda adalah tipe balita yang aktif, mudah berkeringat dan sering mengeluh badannya gatal-gatal. Mudah-mudahan tips ini berguna.

Disiplin berawal dari kebiasaan

2008-11-21T18:57:00.000-08:00

Sebagai orang tua tentu ingin sekali memiliki anak yang disiplin, tapi bingung bagaimana menerapkannya ke anak. Disiplin tidaklah selamanya identik dengan kemarahan, bentakan ya tergantung bagaimana pendekatan yang orang tua berikan. Kalau penerapan disiplin dengan gaya militer bagaimana hasilnya nanti?

Mengajari anak disiplin bisa melalui kebiasaan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Orang tua mengharuskan anak cuci kaki dan menyikat gigi sebelum tidur, yang kita inginkan bukannya semata-mata gigi anak akan bagus nantinya atau kaki anak akan bersih, karena ini adalah tujuan jangka pendeknya, tapi yang kita inginkan adalah bagaimana anak ini memandang hidupnya di masa depan, yang membuat masa depannya hitam atau putih adalah anak sendiri, orang tua hanya mengarahkan dan bukan memaksakan.

Mulailah menerapkan disiplin dengan kebiasaan, jika sudah menjadi kebiasaan maka anak akan merasa ada yang kurang jika tidak melakukannya. Hilangkan image bahwa disiplin identik dengan bentakan dan paksaan tapi dengan kebiasaan lambat laun akan timbul kesadaran sendiri untuk menerapkan kebiasaan yang telah dikerjakan. Dari kebiasaan ini akan terbentuk pola pikir dan bagaimana si anak memandang hidupnya.

Mengajarkan Anak Mengendalikan Emosi

2008-08-28T19:39:00.001-07:00

Bulan suci Ramadhan identik dengan pengendalian diri. Mulai dari menahan diri terhadap makanan, minuman hingga amarah. Momen itu sangat tepat mengajarkan anak mengenai emosi dan pengendalian diri.

Peneliti dari Univesitas Pennsylvania, Amerika Serikat Cynthia Stifter Ph.D, menyebutkan dua ciri pengendalian diri pada anak.

Pertama, kemampuan untuk mengendalikan dorongan-dorongan melakukan sesuatu dan mengendalikan keinginan akan sesuatu. Kedua, kemampuan anak mematuhi norma sosial tanpa pengawasan. Kedua hal itu dilakukan karena adanya kerelaan.

Dalam penelitannya, Stifter mengungkap, kemampuan mengendalikan diri pada anak membentuk fleksibilitas dalam beradaptasi dengan berbagai situasi.

Pengendalian diri, yang termasuk di dalamnya menunda kepuasan, berkaitan dengan prestasi belajar anak di sekolah dan pergaulan.

Konsultan pendidikan dari Amerika dan penulis buku Building Moral Intelligence: The Seven Essential Virtues That Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing, Dr. Michele Borba mengatakan, pengendalian diri merupakan salah satu aspek kecerdasan moral. Disamping aspek lain seperti menolong orang lain dan berempati.

“Dalam penelitian saya lebih dari duapuluh tahun ini, anak-anak muda yang melakukan kejahatan sangat kurang cerdas dalam hal moralitas,” ujar Borba.

Stifter menambahkan, keterampilan mengendalikan diri berkembang melalui tiga fase. Fase pertama, yaitu sampai anak berusia sekitar 18 bulan, disebut fase kontrol. Anak-anak usia itu perilakunya masih dikendalikan dari luar, oleh orang dewasa di sekitarnya.

Fase kedua, disebut fase pengendalian diri (self control), ditandai dengan kesadaran anak melakukan kewajiban tanpa pengawasan. Fase ketiga atau yang terakhir, adalah kemampuan anak menyesuaikan dan mengatur diri dalam berbagai kondisi.

Dia menuturkan, pengendalian diri dapat dilatihkan pada anak-anak sejak usia bawah lima tahun (balita). Misalnya, anak usia empat tahun dapat dilatih memahami isi pembicaraan orang lain. Saat dia menginginkan sesuatu, ajak anak berpikir apakah keinginannya itu hanya keinginan sesaat, ataukah kebutuhan jangka panjang.

Tips Mendukung Perkembangan Emosi Anak

Buah hati Anda butuh dukungan bagi perkembangan emosinya. Ada beberapa prinsip yang perlu diketahui orang tua untuk mengembangkan emosi anak, antara lain:

* Tetapkan waktu bermain setiap hari dengan anak. Beri kesempatan pada anak untuk menentukan apa yang ingin dia lakukan bersama Anda.
* Luangkan waktu untuk memecahkan masalah bersama anak. Ketika dia merasa sedih karena tidak diajak bermain oleh temannya, bantu anak mencari penyebabnya, kemudian cari bersama pemecahannya. Hal semacam itu membantu anak belajar berpikir logis dalam mengatasi masalah emosinya.
* Melihat masalah dari sudut pandang anak. Kalau orangtua sungguh-sungguh mendengarkan dan berempati terhadap anak, maka dapat memahami alasan tindakannya. Saat Anda paham betul perasaan si kecil, Anda mungkin sekali tidak akan ikut-ikutan marah.
* Minimalkan masalah. Saat si kecil merasa jengkel karena gagal menyusun balok menjadi bentuk gedung yang dia inginkan, Anda dapat menunjukkan penyebab kegagalannya.
* Berikan batasan untuk memberi bimbingan dan rasa aman kepada anak. Menetapkan batasan dapat dikombinasi dengan waktu bermain bersama anak, khususnya ketika anak menunjukkan perilaku buruk.
(Republika)

Outbound Bisa Cerdaskan Anak

2008-08-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

Akhir-akhir ini, kegiatan di alam terbuka atau yang sering dikenal dengan istilah outbound banyak diminati berbagai kalangan. Baik oleh karyawan di perusahaan, LSM, maupun sekolah-sekolah. Tidak hanya di sekolah menengah, bahkan anak-anak usia TK pun sudah diajak melakukan aktivitas semacam ini.

Di lokasi outbound ini tersedia media belajar alami yang lengkap dengan ukuran yang proposional untuk anak-anak TK meliputi hutan tropis, danau, sungai , kolam ikan, stasiun klimatologi, pembibitan ulat sutra dan tentunya kampung kecil yang bersih dan nyaman.

Desain aktivitasnya divariasikan sedemikian rupa sehingga seluruh aspek pembelajaran tercakup, meliputi permainan ice breaking, permainan kompetisi antar kelompok, pengembangan motorik anak secara individual, pengenalan unsur alam sekitar dan lain-lain. Kesemuanya dikemas dalam suasana yang fun khas anak-anak. Aktivitas semacam ini merupakan pengembangan seluruh potensi kecerdasan anak yang disebutkan dalam multiple intelligence (kecerdasan jamak).

Menurut Thomas Amstrong PhD dalam bukunya yang berjudul Setiap Anak Cerdas!, ada dalam diri seorang anak dapat dikembangkan 8 kecerdasan yang meliputi kecerdasan linguistic, logis-matematis, spasial, kinestetik-jasmani, musical, antarpribadi, intrapribadi dan natural. Kedelapan kecerdasan ini satu sama lain tidak ada yang bisa dikatakan lebih unggul dibandingkan dengan yang lain.

Metode pembelajaran yang memungkinkan tumbuhnya kecerdasan jamak seperti ini adalah Metode Pembelajaran Tematik. Dengan mengambil suatu tema tertentu, keseluruhan jenis kecerdasan akan diasah dan dikembangkan. Kegiatan outbound menjadi salah satu tema yang menarik untuk dipilih adalah sebagai metode belajar.

Ketika murid-murid TK tersebut di atas mengikuti outbound, rangkaian kegiatan merupakan implementasi pengembangan multiple intelligence yang lengkap. Pada awal kegiatan, anak-anak diajak untuk melakukan kegiatan ice breaking terlebih dahulu. Contohnya adalah permainan membentuk huruf-huruf dengan badannya merupakan suatu bentuk melatih kecerdasan linguistic.

Kecerdasan logis matematis dilatih dengan permainan menangkap ikan di kolam dan menghitung jumlah ikan yang ditangkap. Permaianan soft orienteering dilakukan dengan cara anak-anak diminta mengikuti tanda arah panah untuk mencapai suatu tujuan tertentu, akan mengasah kecerdasan spasial.

Untuk menumbuhkan kecerdasan kinestetik jasmani, berbagai permainan dilakukan seperti misalnya panjat jaring, meniti tali, flying fox, merayap, berayun bak tarzan, dan small climbing. Sedangkan kecerdasan musical dilatihkan ketika sedang hiking, anak-anak diajak menyanyikan lagu yang sesuai misalnya lagu naik-naik ke puncak gunung atau menanam jagung.

Pada kegiatan outbound, permainan tidak hanya dilakukan secara pribadi tetapi juga kelompok. Ada permainan kompetitif yang seru dan membuat anak saling membentuk kerjasama kelompok. Contoh-contoh permainan kompetisi yang dilakukan seperti transfer bola, busa berjalan dan karpet terbang akan menumbuhkan kecerdasan antarpribadi dari anak-anak.

Di sela-sela aktivitas yang menguras tenaga, anak-anak diminta untuk membuat kolase dengan menggunakan bahan-bahan dari alam sekitar. Kegiatan ini akan membuat anak memahami betapa beragamnya ciptaan Tuhan di tengah lingkungan yang alami. Pada jenis kecerdasan yang disebut oleh Thomas Amstrong sebagai kecerdasan natural, tentu saja ini adalah the last but not the least at all. Karena alam terbuka itu sediri merupakan media belajar. Ketika anak-anak berinteraksi langsung dengan tanah, air, daun, dan ikan adalah saat yang tepat bagi anak-anak lebih mengenali dan menghayati alam melalui seluruh panca inderanya.
(Republika)

Manfaat minuman isotonik

2008-08-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Beragam merek minuman isotonik dapat ditemui di pasaran bebas dengan harga yang cukup terjangkau. Berdasarkan pengalaman banyak khasiat yang ditimbulkan dengan mengkonsumsi minuman isotonik ini terutama untuk memulihkan tenaga setelah beraktivitas.

Bagi ibu hamil yang sering merasakan keram kaki dapat dikurangi dengan mengkonsumsi minuman ini sesering mungkin, selain itu sangat efektif untuk penderita diare dan demam berdarah.

Dibalik manfaat tersebut, bagi yang mempunyai gangguan lambung minuman ini tidak cocok untuk dikonsumsi.

Bila si kecil demam

2008-08-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

Anak dikatakan demam bila suhu tubuhnya lebih dari 38ºC, tindakan yang dilakukan adalah:

- Kompres anak dengan air hangat;
handuk yang telah dibasahi air hangat diletakkan di dahi, ketiak dan selangkangan, ini cara yang lebih efektif untuk cepat menurunkan panas. Selain itu ada cara tradisional yang dapat dilakukan untuk menurunkan demam anak yaitu dengan kompres buah belimbing sayur dan bawang merah yang diremas-remas hingga hancur.

- Minum sebanyak-banyaknya
susu, jus buah, air putih dll dengan catatan bukan minuman dingin/es dan lebih baik jika minuman hangat, ini dapat memacu pengeluaran panas melalui urine.

- Berikan anak pakaian yang tipis
Jangan dibiarkan anak memakai baju atau selimut tebal karena tindakan ini tidak mempercepat turun panas dan bila ingin anak diselimuti berikan anak selimut yang tipis.

- Minum obat penurun panas
Obat penurun panas banyak dijual bebas.

- Suhu Kamar
Suhu kamar tempat anak ditidurkan sebaiknya jangan terlalu panas yaitu dengan cara menghidupkan kipas, ac ini dapat mempercepat penurunan demam anak.

Baby Massage

2008-07-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Preparation

Choose a moment in which you and your child are relaxed and calm. A half hour after the baby has eaten is recommended.

Be sure that the room temperature is warm (78 degrees Fahrenheit). Undress the baby completely, if the weather is cold or humid cover the areas of the baby's body that are not being massaged.

Put the baby on a soft surface so your baby will feel comfortable and secure. Keep some little pillows handy.

It is a good idea to put some cream on your hands and rub them together so they will be soft and warm.

Basically the massage flows from the head to the toes. With soft and gentle touches you will work on the head, face, shoulders, arms, chest, stomach and legs.

While you massage your baby look tenderly at him/her. Doing this you stimulate all the senses of the baby and establish a more intense visual and tactile communication. Feel free to speak to your baby, do not inhibit yourself.

Remember that your touches should be tender do not make mechanic motions. Try to be flexible by not keeping a rigid routine.

If the baby wants to change position let them do so. Do not force your baby to keep a position, you can go back to these areas later on.

Technique

Pressure to use:
Close your eyes and press your eyelids. The pressure you should use is the same as pressing your eyelids without any discomfort.
In the small areas use your fingertips. In bigger areas use the palm of your hand. "Little strokes" mean to touch your baby's skin gently and "massage" is to softly move the muscles under the skin.

Step by Step Description
The head:
Touch the forehead, temples and the base of the cranium
Eyebrows and eyelids
Nose
Cheeks
The area around the mouth
Ears and surrounding area

Jaws:
The frontal part of the neck
(Remember doing this very gently)
Make small strokes and massage the posterior part of the neck with slow movements down to the shoulders.
Softly put both hands on his/her shoulders. Caress the baby from the neck to the shoulders in the direction of his chest.

Shoulders and arms:
Form a ring with your fingers and thumb around your child's arm. Begin to caress around the armpit and then go down along the arm. Be very careful when you arrive at the elbow, it is a very sensitive region. In the wrist you can gently practice turning motions using. Remember to take great care with all these motions.

Stomach:
Massage the stomach in a circular way (the genitalia area is excluded from the massage). Caress the abdomen moving your hands clockwise beginning below the ribs.

Legs:
Caress each leg with your whole hand, press gently on the thighs. Slightly flex the legs and knees pressing the thighs gently against the body.
Heels and feet:
A foot massage is very relaxing. Begin by putting a soft pressure on each toe, then the foot and return to the toes again. Sometimes a foot massage can help reduce stomach pain. Caress gently all the toes. Apply circular movements at the heels.

Back:
Turn your baby around.
Begin with large and slow movements that include head, neck, back and legs always in one direction.
Give your baby soft strokes on the shoulders and back and massaging with your fingertips with circular movements. Do not massage the spinal cord, only put your hands over it and let the baby feel the warm sensation. You can even make small circular movements on your baby's back.
Put your hands at the top of the legs and begin gently caressing while working your way down towards the foot.

When you arrive to the feet start again from the top. With soft and slow movements finish the massage starting once again at the head and back to the toes.

REMEMBER:

* Repeat these exercises when you want to have a few special moments with your
baby.
* Do them when you have adequate time for you and your child.
* Do not feel impatient if the baby does not cooperate...simply try again later.

Finally: There are many ways to express your love, this is ONLY ONE of them...

Calcium May Cut Pregnancy Problems

2008-07-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

The food you eat should be your first choice for getting proper nutrition. However, you have the added burden of being intolerant of one of the best sources of calcium. Therefore, it is good that you are taking supplements. Between the foods you eat and your supplements, you should aim to get around 1,000 milligrams to 1,300 milligrams of calcium daily, especially during the last trimester.

Getting enough calcium during pregnancy might keep moms-to-be and their babies healthy. Studies reveal that women who supplement with calcium during pregnancy have a reduced incidence of high blood pressure and preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is marked by high blood pressure and a high level of protein in urine. It’s often accompanied by swelling in the legs, feet, and hands.

If untreated, preeclampsia can become more severe, possibly prompting seizures and even the death of the mother and baby before, during, or after childbirth.

The U.S. Institute of Medicine recommends that during pregnancy, calcium intake should be 1,000 to 1,300 milligrams per day from diet and supplements. The researchers gave participants chewable tablets containing 1,500 daily milligrams of calcium carbonate or a placebo that looked and tasted like the real thing.

Women taking calcium who were up to 20 years old had a lower risk of preterm delivery.

Calcium interferes with magnesium absorption, so take additional magnesium. It is not critical that you take the magnesium and calcium together. I recommend 500 mg. of magnesium for every 1000 mg. of calcium. It is best if you take the magnesium supplement in smaller doses throughout the day, since the body can only absorb a small amount at a time. (Milk naturally has the right balance of magnesium and calcium.)

Bringing up baby: emotion's early role

2008-07-01T22:38:00.000-07:00

Three-month-old infants may not be able to walk and talk, but by that age they appear able to differentiate among several of their mothers' emotional expressions, according to psychologists at Rutgers--The State University, in New Brunswick, N.J. This is the youngest age at which such discriminations have been shown, say investigators Jeannette M. Haviland and Mary Lelwica, and it suggests that the regulation and shaping of emotional responses begins in the early weeks of life.

information,' report the researchers in the January DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, "leading to an emotional expression and an emotional state in the infant.' While each emotional display had a specific effect on the infants, their behavior was not merely an imitation of the mothers' expressions.

A number of studies have shown that by 6 months most infants can tell the difference between posed versions of several facial expressions, and that they preferentially look at happy poses rather than sad, neutral or angry poses.

Haviland and Lelwica tested 12 infants(6 boys and 6 girls) at 10 weeks old. The infants' mothers were trained to display happy, sad and angry facial expressions. Each expression was presented to the infants in four 15-second periods, with the mother turning her head away for 20 seconds between periods. While facing their babies, mothers were instructed to speak continuously, saying, "You make me [happy, sad or mad]' and matching their voices to the facial expressions.

Videotapes of mothers and infants were independently analyzed by the researchers for second-by-second changes in behavior and emotional expression.

The researchers were easily able to identify each mother's emotion display over a 15-second interval, although most mothers did not continuously hold to the precise expression they were trained on. Nevertheless, consistent patterns of infant responses to the three emotional displays were apparent within 1 second following the mothers' presentation of an expression.

Infants initially reacted to their mothers'happy presentations by matching the joyful expression. Over the four presentations, however, infants' facial movements and the amount of time they gazed at their mothers became increasingly expressive of interest and less expressive of happiness. Infants faced forward continuously during these sessions.

Anger expressions increased and physical movement and expressions of interest decreased over the mothers' four angry presentations. Infants frequently looked toward the side during these sessions. Crying was rare, except in four infants who were not included in the final sample because the anger display caused intense crying.

In response to mothers' sad expressions,infants predominantly engaged in "mouthing' behavior that included lip and tongue sucking and pushing the lips in and out. This appears to be a "self-soothing' response to the sad expressions, note the researchers. Infants tended to gaze down during these sessions.

Raising confident kids

2008-06-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

It takes confidence to be a kid. Whether going to a new school or stepping up to bat for the first time, kids face a lot of uncharted territory.

Naturally, parents want to instill a can-do attitude in their kids so that they'll bravely take on new challenges and, over time, believe in themselves. While each child is a little different, parents can follow some general guidelines to build kids' confidence.

Self-confidence rises out of a sense of competence. In other words, kids develop confidence not because parents tell them they're great, but because of their achievements, big and small. Sure, it's good to hear encouraging words from mom and dad. But words of praise mean more when they refer to a child's specific efforts or new abilities.

rightTime.gifWhen kids achieve something, whether it's brushing their own teeth or riding a bike, they get a sense of themselves as able and capable, and tap into that high-octane fuel of confidence.

Building self-confidence can begin very early. When babies learn to turn the pages of a book or toddlers learn to walk, they are getting the idea "I can do it!" With each new skill and milestone, kids can develop increasing confidence.

Parents can help by giving kids lots of opportunities to practice and master their skills, letting kids make mistakes and being there to boost their spirits so they keep trying. Respond with interest and excitement when kids show off a new skill, and reward them with praise when they achieve a goal or make a good effort.

With plentiful opportunities, good instruction, and lots of patience from parents, kids can master basic skills — like tying their shoes and making the bed. Then, when other important challenges present themselves, kids can approach them knowing that they have already been successful in other areas.
Stay on the Sidelines

curiosity.gifOf course, supervision is important to ensure that kids stay safe. But to help them really learn a new skill, it's also important not to hover. Give kids the opportunity to try something new, make mistakes, and learn from them.

For instance, if your son wants to learn how to make a peanut butter sandwich, demonstrate, set up the ingredients, and let him give it a try. Will he make a bit of a mess? Almost certainly. But don't swoop in the second some jelly hits the countertop. In fact, avoid any criticism that could discourage him from trying again. If you step in to finish the sandwich, your son will think, "Oh well, I guess I can't make sandwiches."

But if you have patience for the mess and the time it takes to learn, the payoff will be real. Someday soon he'll be able to say, "I'm hungry for lunch, so I'm going to make my own sandwich." You might even reply, "Great, can you make me one, too?" What a clear sign of your faith in his abilities!
Offer Encouragement and Praise

Sometimes, it won't be you swooping in when your child falters, but your child giving up. Help by encouraging persistence in the midst of frustration. By trying again, kids learn that obstacles can be overcome.

Once kids reach a goal, you'll want to praise not only the end result but also their willingness to stick with it. For instance, after your son has mastered making that peanut butter sandwich you might show your confidence by saying, "Next time, want to learn how to crack an egg?" Sandwich-fixing and egg-cracking might not seem like huge achievements, but they're important steps in the right direction — toward your child's independence.

Throughout childhood, parents have chances to prepare kids to take care of themselves. Sure, it's great to feel needed, but as kids steadily gain confidence and independence, their relationship with you can be even richer. You can be bonded, not just by dependence, but by love and shared pride in all they've achieved. Eventually, your grown-up kids just might say thanks for how prepared they feel for the road ahead — a road they can take with confidence.

Fever and your kid

2008-06-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

Most parents have experienced this scenario: You wake up in the middle of the night to find your child standing by your bed, flushed, hot, and sweaty. Your little one's forehead feels warm. You immediately suspect a fever, but are unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Call the doctor?

In healthy kids, fevers usually don't indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child's temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it's often the body's way of fighting off infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and aggravate problems such as dehydration.

But it's easy to learn how to correctly take a child's temperature when it's a little higher than usual. Read on for more about fevers, how to measure and treat them, and when to call your child's doctor.

What Is Fever?

Fever occurs when the body's internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (usually around 98.6? Fahrenheit, or about 37? Celsius) and will send messages to your body to keep it that way.

Most people's body temperatures even change a little bit during the course of the day: It's usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening and can fluctuate as kids run around, play, and exercise.

Sometimes, though, the hypothalamus will "reset" the body to a higher temperature in response to an infection, illness, or some other cause. So, why does the hypothalamus tell the body to change to a new temperature? Researchers believe turning up the heat is the body's way of fighting the germs that cause infections and making the body a less comfortable place for them.

What Causes Fever?

It's important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it's usually a symptom of an underlying problem. Fever has several potential causes:

Infection: Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. Fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating natural defense mechanisms.

Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they're overbundled or in a hot environment because they don't regulate their body temperature as well as older children. However, because fevers in newborns can indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be evaluated by a doctor if they have a fever.

Immunizations: Babies and children sometimes get a low-grade fever after getting vaccinated.

Although teething may cause a slight rise in body temperature, it's probably not the cause if a child's temperature is higher than 100? Fahrenheit (37.8? Celsius).
When Can a Fever Be a Sign of Something Serious?

In the past, doctors advised treating a fever on the basis of temperature alone. But now they recommend considering both the temperature and the child's overall condition.

Kids whose temperatures are lower than 102? Fahrenheit (38.9? Celsius) often don't require medication unless they're uncomfortable. There's one important exception to this rule: If you have an infant 3 months or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4? Fahrenheit (38? Celsius) or higher, call your doctor or go to the emergency department immediately. Even a slight fever can be a sign of a potentially serious infection in very young infants.

If your child is between 3 months and 3 years old and has a fever of 102.2? Fahrenheit (39? Celsius) or higher, call the doctor to see if he or she needs to see your child. For older kids, take behavior and activity level into account. Watching how your child behaves will give you a pretty good idea whether a minor illness is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doctor.

The illness is probably not serious if your child:

* is still interested in playing
* is eating and drinking well
* is alert and smiling at you
* has a normal skin color
* looks well when his or her temperature comes down

And don't worry too much about a child with a fever who doesn't want to eat. This is very common with infections that cause fever. For kids who still drink and urinate normally, not eating as much as usual is OK.

Your Child will have a higher IQ

2008-06-29T21:45:00.001-07:00

Children that are breastfed have a higher IQ than children that are fed formula? Is this some sort of unsupported statement by radical breastfeeding supporters? Has our support of breastfeeding outstripped the facts?

Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps one of the most important stories that hasn't made your local paper (but has been on the newsfeeds) is that there is a demonstrated direct relation between a child's intelligence and cognitive ability and how long that child was breastfed. Some studies show an increase in intelligence for each additional month the child was breastfed.

Could you give your child a more important gift than a better brain? The findings are hardly surprising when we consider that the brain is only 1/3 formed at birth, and that breastmilk has been evolutionarily honed over millions of years to complete building the brain during the first two years of life. Cow's milk has been evolutionarily honed to.., hmm.., maybe build big bones? Whoever heard of a smart cow?