Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
BOOK
Republic of Serbia
Ministry of Health
Paediatric Association
of Serbia
ongratulations, you have a new baby! You are overjoyed and a little bit
anxious: How will I manage in this new role? Will I be a good Mum? Will I
be a good Dad? Quite normal reactions. And before you can answer, the
baby starts crying. What is he trying to tell me now? Is he hungry? Is my milk good
enough? Is he suering from colic? Lots of questions, and plenty of people around
you to give advice: Grandma, a female neighbour, a woman friend, a man friend. All
of them are well-wishers, all of them would like to help by sharing their experience
and knowledge, each of them has advice on what is best for your baby. But how can
you be sure its the right advice? We were not taught anything like that at school.
Without attempting to oer solutions to all the situations in which you may nd
yourselves, we have tried to answer the most important questions and dilemmas you
might have in the rst years of your childs life. We have tapped into the experience
of mothers and fathers all over our planet and gathered knowledge from those
whose job it is to take care of young children. The result is a large package of
information, from which we have extracted the most important facts that we now
want to share with you.
For example, we now know that stimuli in the rst three years of life are the most
important factor in the childs entire development, that clear rules on behaviour
and praise (never spanking) are most important in the childs upbringing, that
breastfeeding is the only food and drink that should be given to the baby in the
rst six months This, and much more (basic) information on childcare in the
rst three years, on growth and development, proper nutrition, the prevention of
injuries to children and childhood diseases can be found in this handbook. All the
more reason, therefore, for you to take the time to study these tips.
The knowledge you gain and the love you feel are the best investment in your babys
health and development. And a broad smile and the look of contentment on your
babys face will be a sure sign that all of you are on the right track.
Judita Reichenberg
UNICEF Area Representative
for the Republic of Serbia and for the Republic of Croatia
Contents
1. Parenthood
3. Communication
5. Child safety
8. Appendix
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1.
Parenthood
Love,
Luke and Maya
Dads support is indispensable to both mother and baby. Mum may be tired,
in need of sleep, sometimes probably confused and frightened of this new
life. She is still feeling the after-eects of the birth, she is getting used to
breastfeeding, she is getting to know her babys needs, and she is probably
worried about whether she will be a successful mother. Fathers, try to
imagine how she is feeling. Take on part of the housework. Be tender and
caring towards her. Your support is crucial for her. A rested and contented
mother will be a better companion to both you and the baby.
Dads love and encouragement are important for the childs development.
Children whose fathers have been actively involved in care of the baby since
their birth, are better achievers at school, are more mature, and have fewer
behaviour problems. Fathers are equally important for both girls and boys.
Dont wait for your daughter to reach girlhood to nd out what kind of role
model you have been in her life. Dont wait for your son to grow up before
playing football with him. Pick up your baby, play with him, and take him
for a walk The more time you dedicate to your child, the more successful
your childs development will be, and you will be even more strongly
attached to your child. Development of a healthy and united family ready
for the challenges of life starts here.
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2.
Childrens
growth and
development
Dear Mummy,
At rst, I wasnt sure what was Luke doing in our family. Beside you,
Daddy, Auntie, Grandma, Grandpa, and Yeller, Luke seemed to be a totally
unnecessary extra. But, I must admit that Ive slowly been changing my
mind. Every day he gets sweeter and smarter. I sometimes ask myself how
I managed without him before. If you only knew what fun weve had today
playing together. I laugh, he laughs. I stick my tongue out
and he sticks his out, too. I say aaaaaa, he repeats aaaaaa after me.
I tell you, hes so clever! Hes already learned to
hold a rattle. When I let him choose between an old and new
toy, he always chooses the new one. I think he LOVES my rubber teddy
bear. Whenever he sees it, he starts waving his arms and kicking his legs in
the air. If I hide it behind my back, he immediately becomes
sad and almost starts to cry. He likes the bear so much that I am
thinking of giving it to him. Anyway, Im
too big for rubber toys.
I can hardly wait for Luke to grow up and play hide-and-seek. Im fed up
with making Daddy hide around the house. Besides, when he hides under
the blanket, he immediately falls asleep and then I have to get
Yeller to help me wake him up.
I have to stop here. Luke is calling me to play.
I want to teach him to show me your clever little head.
Love, Maya
Observe your babys habits and based on these design a daily routine of activities
and sleep. A newborn baby sleeps about 20 hours a day, but the sleeping time
decreases with age. The room in which the baby sleeps should be well ventilated
and protected against noise, bright light and contaminated air. Never allow
smoking in the room in which the baby spends time.
Raise the dropside of the crib while the baby is in it. Do not cover the sides with
blankets or other overlays so that air can circulate freely. Move pillows, stued
toys and plastic boxes away from the crib. Make sure that the toys hanging
above the babys head are xed rmly. It is important that the baby cannot
reach up and grab them.
Never leave your baby alone on the changing table or in an unfenced bed. He
can turn over and fall in no time at all.
Your babys clothes should be simple, pleasant, comfortable, and made of natural
materials.
Bath your baby every day. Bathing improves the skin and has a benecial eect
on circulation, breathing, functioning of the nerve cells and on his health in
general. Never leave your baby alone in the bathwater or near it, even if the
water is quite shallow.
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Do not leave balloons, plastic or paper bags near the baby. If a child puts
them on his head, the airow can be interrupted and he might suocate.
Babies and young children can swallow coins, beads and other small objects.
Popcorn, sweets, peanuts, chewing gum, etc., should be kept out of the reach
of young children. Throw away sharp-edged toys. Remove toys with tiny parts
to prevent the baby from swallowing them. Nothing should be put around the
babys neck (bands, ribbons, necklaces, little chains, etc.). Every now and then,
wash the objects the baby plays with.
Take your baby out regardless of the season. In this way, the childs general
condition, appearance, appetite, sleep and mood are improved and resistance
to infection strengthened.
In the rst days of a babys life when everything is new for you and your
baby, a health visitors help is invaluable. She will show you how to bath
your baby, how to make sure that the environment in which the baby is
cared for is pleasant and safe, she will give you advice on nutrition and
hygiene and help you maintain care of your babys navel. Take the health
visitors advice, use her knowledge and experience, and ask her anything that
interests you. Take down her phone number and that of your paediatrician
and ask for their advice whenever you are in any doubt about how to care
for the child.
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Your baby is unique. Watch her closely. Babys sounds, facial expressions
and movements will tell you a lot about her needs. Some babies are easy to
pacify and some are more dicult. There are babies who have no trouble
sleeping, and others who would rather stay awake. When you learn what
your baby likes and dislikes, you will nd it easy to satisfy her needs. Dont
wait for the baby to start crying in order to tell you something. Stay close
at hand and try to discover how your child is feeling. Find out what calms
your baby when she is upset. Is it your voice, milk, water, a hug, a lullaby?
Or all of these put together?
Your babys tears are not your enemy but an important signal that helps you
understand your child. Do not just stop your babys tears. Try to nd out
what caused them. The sooner you react, the sooner your baby will calm
down.
MAYA: Mummy, how do you turn Lukes
sound o? Didnt they give you
a remote control for him at the
maternity hospital?
MUM: Maya, there isnt a remote
control for babies.
MAYA: So how are you going to turn him down?
MUM: Like this, look! If a babys
crying, take him in your arms,
lean him against your chest
and youll feel his heart beating
Sometimes, the baby may suddenly become upset, start crying inconsolably,
tensing or lifting his little legs, and breaking wind. This indicates colic
(stomach cramps). Colic occurs most often between the rst and fourth
month, and usually indicates that the babys digestive system is developing
or that something in the food the baby is taking does not agree with him.
The pharmaceutical industry has developed a whole range of teas and other
therapeutic agents, which supposedly soothe the colic. None of these
cures has been proved eective and most of them disrupt the established
breastfeeding rhythm. You will help your baby best if you pick him up,
lay him across your knees facedown, and gently massage his back. In this
way, his little stomach will be under slight pressure, which reduces the pain.
Remember that colic stops naturally after the fourth month.
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In the second and third month, while lying on her back and watching
some object, the baby is making undirected movements. In the fourth and
fth month, she observes an object and rmly holds a toy in her hand. In
the fth month, the baby moves both hands closer to the object and touch
it. In the sixth month, she can hold an object in each hand.
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Sight
As soon as he was born, the newborn baby had a developed sense of sight. If
you hold him in your arms, he can see your face. He can distinguish colours
and contrasts (light and dark), but he is not yet able to notice ne detail.
When only two days old, most infants recognize the shape of their mothers
face and they recognize their mothers whole face around the eighth week.
When the baby is in a good mood, he will be like imitating his mother
sticking her tongue out.
Babies prefer looking at human faces to watching objects, pictures, patterns,
etc. Six-month old babies remember new faces very well. If they stare at a
persons face for two to three minutes, they will probably remember it a few
weeks later.
Hearing
The infant turns his head and eyes towards the source of sound. The newborn
can distinguish his mothers voice. When the baby hears a pleasant sound,
he will calm down and his face will brighten. When the newborn baby hears
other babies crying, he often begins crying at the top of his voice. The upset
baby will be quickly pacied by his parents gentle voices. A baby can be
calmed down by your heartbeats when you lean him against your chest,
and his crying can be stopped if you sing a soft lullaby. Lullabies around the
world have a soothing eect on infants.
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Touch
Sensitivity to touch develops immediately at birth. Newborn babies respond
positively to touch around the mouth, on the palms of the hands and on
the soles of the feet. Infants are more sensitive to stimuli that are lower
than body temperature than higher. Like you, infants are sensitive to pain
too. Gentle touching is important for both the physical and emotional
development of babies. So caress your baby as often as possible!
While holding your baby in your arms, support the neck until the neck
muscles develop.
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Intellectual Development
The intellectual abilities of infants are greater than previously thought.
Infants are able to understand the simple relationship between cause and
eect as early as ten weeks old.
When your baby is two months old, she usually chooses a new object rather
than a familiar one. This ability is very important as it helps the baby to
become aware of her environment. The baby perceives an object by looking
at it and touching it. If an object is not close to her, the baby does not think of
it. However, as early as three to four months, the baby begins to understand
that objects exist even though they are not in her eld of vision.
The most important element in the overall development of a child is
stimulation (reading, singing, playing) and parents should begin these
activities from birth. Talk, sing and recite rhymes to your baby. Imitate your
babys facial expressions and the sounds she is producing, as this is a good
way of starting a dialogue with the baby. Study your babys body language
and see what attracts her attention and interests her in her surroundings.
Placing objects and toys around her provides a very important stimulus for
the baby. Objects put within the babys eld of vision help her to look at
them carefully, feel and touch them. But babies are more interested in your
face than in any of these objects. The way you smile and talk while holding
her will be the most eective stimulus for your baby. Soon, your baby will
try to smile back. This is one of the key steps in learning communication
with other people.
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LUKE: Guuuu...
MAYA: Ill translate what he said
for you: Mummy, thank
you for singing me Husha-bye, Baby seven times. I
dont want to be a nuisance
because I know that youre
sleepy too, but it would be
great if you could sing it at
least another eight times.
You know, I really like that
lullaby VERY MUCH. Oh,
and one more thing I love
you VERY MUCH. too.
Lets play!
Sense and sensory motor development enable the baby to gradually explore
the world around him (he sucks his thumb, tries to kick something, grabs the
toys hanging above the cot, etc.). Visually, the baby learns to follow objects,
people and sounds. The baby enjoys playing with his body and watching his
reection in the mirror. As their new motor functions develop, so babies
learn how to handle objects. They experiment with sounds and exchange
coos with their parents.
A baby needs interesting objects and a safe, clean room to play in. Watch
your baby play and encourage him. Play with your baby yourselves. The baby
will enjoy your voice, touch, smell. Touch your babys forehead with your
nger; follow the contour of his nose, tickle him behind his ears, take hold
of his arm or leg. Watch his reactions, Talk to him in a calm voice. Name
each part of his body you are touching. Repeat the games your baby loves
and invent new ones that your baby will enjoy. Do not miss the pleasure
of playing with your baby in a few years time you will miss those lively
movements, smiles and little arms sticking out of the cot.
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Rattles with dierent sounds, soft toys, balls, large building blocks, rubber
toys that make a sound when squeezed, musical boxes, etc. all of these
are suitable toys for babies. Turn your babys bathtub into a sea throw
seashells, starsh, plastic sh, and toy ships into the water And remember:
never leave your baby alone in the bathtub!
While outdoors, let your child touch a ower, tree, leaf, or stone. Let him
discover his feelings with his own two hands. Anything around can be used
to learn a new experience.
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Breastfeeding
Breast milk is the healthiest, best and cheapest food for babies in the rst
six months of life.
LUKE: While we were waiting for our
appointment at the doctors, some
babies told me that their Mums
dont breastfeed them, but give them
formula from a bottle. I was really
surprised. I thought that all babies
drank breast milk. I cant even
imagine what its like drinking from a
rubber teat instead of Mums breast.
All recommendations related to breastfeeding can be summarized in a few
simple tips:
- Put your baby to the breast immediately. Nurse your baby in the
rst hour after birth. That is your right and that of your baby. The
nurses and doctors are responsible for helping you to exercise that
right!
- Breastfeed your baby only (adding no other food or liquid). Nurse
your baby on demand.
- Keep breastfeeding into the second year too, along with suitable
complementary nourishment.
In order to follow these golden rules, DO NOT:
- give any liquids or food except breast milk in the rst six months of
life,
- restrict the number of feeds or limit the duration of active
breastfeeding.
Giving your baby a dummy does not help breastfeeding. On the contrary,
this might confuse the baby and spoil the established nursing rhythm.
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The most common mistake in feeding babies during the rst six months.
is adding water, tea or other liquids. Mothers milk is rich in essential
nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are perfectly acceptable and digestible
by the baby. Like any liquid, a high percentage of breast milk contains water.
Therefore, the baby should not be given water or tea during breastfeeding
or immediately afterwards.
Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world, but it can be hard at the
beginning. Until you establish a breastfeeding routine with your baby, until
you master this skill together, you will need time and patience, sometimes
even the professional assistance of a health visitor or paediatrician.
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The baby is not well positioned if her mouth is fully open, if her lower lip
is turned outwards, if her chin touches the breast, if she is sucking and
pausing alternately, and/or if she makes a loud sound swallowing the milk.
If you experience pain in your nipples during and after breastfeeding or if
your milk ducts are blocked and your breasts hard, these are also signs that
the baby is not suckling properly.
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You should neither restrict the duration of active breastfeeding nor add
some other food or liquid (above all, avoid bottles with teats).
It may happen that the baby refuses the breast. Possible causes for this are
the babys or mothers anxiety, pain due to an uncomfortable position, or
being given a dummy. If your baby refuses the breast, help him overcome
the problem. Hold him quietly, close to your breast, and do not make him
take the breast longer than a few minutes. If the baby starts to cry and
resist, stop trying to breastfeed him and try some time later, when he
calms down. Do not hold your baby in the breastfeeding position while
he is being given an injection or when he is exposed to some other painful
action so that the baby does not associate this position with the sensation
of pain. Until the baby starts suckling again, you should give him milk
you have expressed from your breasts (in a teaspoon or from a glass).
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Mums Corner.
Breast care
Wash your breasts with water only. The use of soap, lotion, oil, cream or
vaseline may be harmful. Do not wash your breasts immediately before
breastfeeding to prevent washing o the natural protective oils and scent
by which your baby recognizes you. If your breasts remain painful, sprinkle
some of your milk on them and expose them briey to the air. Bras are
not needed (a tight bra can block the milk ducts), but you may wear a bra.
This should be made of cotton and the correct size (synthetic bras restrict
airow to the nipples).
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Sore nipples
Breastfeeding does not hurt. If you put your baby to the breast correctly,
you should not feel pain while he is sucking. Soreness of the nipples may
disappear when the cause of the soreness has been discovered (the baby is
attached to the breast incorrectly, the baby does not suck often enough, the
baby does not latch on properly, etc.). In addition, after breastfeeding you
can sprinkle your milk over the nipples to relieve the nipple tissue. Put a
warm annel on your breasts before breastfeeding to encourage milk ow.
Start feeding on the less painful breast. If your baby falls asleep during the
feed, remove him from your breast. Do not limit the number of feeds.
Should you have any trouble or hesitation concerning breastfeeding,
ask your health visitor or paediatrician for advice. Seek professional
assistance until you are sure you can continue breastfeeding.
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If, for any reason, the baby does not receive all the required vaccines in
the rst year of life, it is very important that vaccination be carried out
as soon as possible.
Coughs, diarrhoea, a slight temperature or some lighter ailments are not
reasons for your baby not to be vaccinated.
If the baby is undernourished, if he has some physical injury or some
other developmental impediment, protection against the most common
contagious diseases is also necessary. If the doctor thinks otherwise, insist
on a specialist opinion and vaccinate your child anyway.
Some undesired eects may appear after vaccination, though rarely:
temperature, rash or minor swelling. These are short-term temporary
symptoms, which, with your care, regular nourishment and additional
liquid, disappear without any harmful eects on the childs health. If these
occur, (intensied) breastfeeding is especially useful.
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Washing your hands is the most vital and simplest measure of personal
hygiene. It prevents the spread of disease. Wash your hands with soap and
water:
- Before and after preparing food
- Before and after eating
- Before and after changing nappies
- After using the toilet
- After handling a childs potty
- After handling rubbish
- After touching animals
Baby teeth
There are a lot of stories about teething, and also quite a few unknown facts.
Primary (deciduous) teeth most often come out between the fth and seventh
month, although this may vary a lot. They may appear in the rst month
or even after the rst birthday. Most often, the lower central incisors come
through rst, followed by the upper central incisors.While the teething process
runs smoothly for a certain number of babies, it may be very dramatic for
others. Parents are upset because their baby has diarrhoea, a temperature, she
cries, she is irritable and refuses to eat, or she has trouble sleeping - a whole
range of symptoms that are due to teething. And it is true that even doctors
argue over whether these two events (teething and the symptoms mentioned
here) are inter-related. To ease your babys discomfort temporarily, you may
give her some clean, hard, safe object and she will put it in her mouth at once.
Some people recommend giving small doses of painkillers. This can be very
dangerous you should not forget that every medicine has side-eects and
you are never sure when they will appear. It is not recommended to give
medicines without a paediatricians approval. What is important to know
is that these are all temporary symptoms, which will disappear very soon
without any ill eects. However, do make sure you write down in your babys
diary when and how her rst tooth came out.
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Remember:
A babys senses function well from birth.
The intellectual abilities of infants are greater than
previously thought. Infants are able to understand the
simple relationship between cause and eect as early as
10 weeks old.
Breast milk is the healthiest, best and cheapest food for
babies in the rst six months of life.
Put your baby to the breast immediately after birth.
Breastfeed your baby on demand.
In addition to food and security, a baby needs love to
grow and develop properly. Cuddle your baby, sing to
him and talk to him. You cannot spoil your baby with
love and attention.
The more you talk to your baby and the more carefully
you listen to him, the better his speech will develop.
A babys tears are not your enemy but an important
signal that helps you understand your child. When
your baby is restless, soothe him with your presence, a
hug and loving words.
Play with your baby.
The most vital and simplest measure of personal
hygiene is washing your hands.
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Children are very inquisitive. They cannot recognize danger. These little
explorers need a lot of encouragement. Respond to the signals your child
is sending. If he wants to touch something, help your child do so, provided,
of course, it is safe. Objects and toys must not be too small (the baby may
swallow them), nor too big (the baby may hurt himself). Move all potentially
harmful objects out of the reach of children (medicines, disinfectants, small,
fragile and sharp objects, etc.) and let the child crawl. When the child starts
crawling, you should kneel down yourself to make sure that the room is safe
from the babys perspective.
In the sixth month, the child rst touches an object, and then grasps it with
his whole hand. In the ninth and tenth month, the child holds the object with
its ngertips and thumb clearly separated (the pincer grasp). Encourage
your child to grip various objects. Pass him a cup, a toy objects which are
not fragile and which are suitable for the babys age. Play with your child
(Bye-bye,Baby; Pat-a-cake; Give me the ball), leaf through picture books
Teach your baby what he can do with an object: grasp it, throw it, open and
close it, put it on top of another object, bang it against another object.
At this age, the baby puts everything he can lay his hands on into his mouth.
Of course, you will not let you baby put in his mouth any objects that might
aect his health (small, sharp objects and the like). Wash all objects and toys
before giving them to the baby.
MAYA: You see, Luke, in this picture Im
stretching out my arm but in
this one, Ive caught my teddy
bear in this one here, Ive
thrown my teddy bear in this
picture, Im taking my teddy
from Mummy in this one Im
throwing my teddy again, and
then Mummy claps her hands
and says Well done!.
LUKE: Just look how many
photos you have!
MAYA: I only have photos,
but you have me.
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When your baby is about nine months old, he is able to follow your nger
when you are pointing at something, and he himself will learn how to use
the same skill. By pointing at an object, he is inviting you to discover the
world together. Eye contact with you will no longer satisfy your baby. He
wants you to look at the same thing together. Your facial expression will tell
the baby whether something is scary, funny, or sad. This will help your baby
to learn about the world around him more easily.
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Lets play!
In the rst year of life, infants are also ready to play dierent games: hiding
and showing their faces, searching for a hidden object, mimicking your
actions, imitating animal noises, and so on.
MAYA: If you cant nd your
teddy bear, take Daddy.
You can see that
theyre the same.
LUKE: Good idea. Only Im
not sure he can
t into my cot.
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Play with your child and help her focus her attention. For example, Ill show
you how to open this box, and then you will try on your own. Look through
picture books and assemble jigsaw puzzles together. Give your child tasks
that are slightly more dicult than the task she already knows. If you are
doing something, keep telling your child what you are doing. Children are
always fascinated by what adults do.
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In the eleventh month, introduce peas, beans, cabbage, onion and minced
beef. You can now add a little salt in the food.
In the twelfth month, your child should be eating all the basic foods, but,
of course, not under compulsion. Foodstus can be divided into four basic
groups:
1) cereals (rice, wheat, maize, rye, barley, oats) and cereal products
2) fruit and vegetables
3) meat, sh and eggs
4) milk and dairy products
For children to develop properly, it is important that their meals contain
foods from these dierent groups. For example, you can prepare a meal
combining the following:
- sweetcorn + spinach + carrots + chicken
- rice + veal + spinach
To ensure healthy child development, food must contain enough proteins,
vitamins and minerals. The best source of proteins is meat. Aside from fruit,
vitamin C is also present in leafy vegetables, tomatoes, capsicum peppers,
and potatoes, while calcium and iron are present in spinach, lettuce, carrots
and pumpkin.
Unfortunately, foodstus may lack some vitamins and minerals essential
for the proper development of infants (e.g. iodine, iron, uoride, zinc,
and vitamins A and D). Paediatricians recommend a daily supplement of
vitamin D drops for babies (200 to 400 IU)1 in the rst year, to prevent
rickets. Dentists recommend uoride pills for 6-month-old babies (0.25 mg
daily) to prevent caries. Paediatricians prescribe the appropriate treatment
for anaemic children (anaemia is diagnosed at medical examination when
the baby turns 6 months). In any case, the problem of possible vitamin and
mineral deciency should be addressed individually and any deciencies
noted should be corrected exclusively on the advice and under the
supervision of your paediatrician.
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Due to the possible occurrence of allergies in the rst year of life, children
should not be given the following: fresh tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries,
blackberries, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, tangerines, kiwis, honey, yeast,
walnuts, almonds, hazel nuts, peanuts, chocolate cream spreads, egg white,
shellsh, tinned sh, and all food containing preservatives.
A healthy diet largely depends on the childs eating habits and behaviour. It
is precisely at this age that children acquire the correct eating habits. Your
baby will often give you dierent signals, so observe them carefully. The
babys negative experiences (hunger before starting to eat, choking during
eating, vomiting after eating, etc.) may result in his rejection of food long
after the problem has been eliminated. This usually creates a vicious circle
the baby refuses food, recalling a former unhappy incident, you go on
forcing him to eat, and the end result is the childs even more adamant
refusal to eat. As soon as you alter your behaviour, ignoring the childs
negative reactions and praising the positive ones, you break the chain and
re-establish a harmonious relationship.
During the period of complementary feeding, children wish to eat unaided. In
the course of the meal the child plays by throwing his food all over the place
Dont stop this game. Instead, try to encourage your child to feed himself.
This is a very important stage in developing the childs independence and
self-condence. Your task is to teach the child through positive example
(how to sit properly at table and how to use cutlery correctly).
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Remember:
Cuddle your baby, sing and talk to him.
Never leave your baby alone.
The more you talk to your baby and the more carefully
you listen to him, the better his speech will develop.
The baby realizes the principle of communication
while he is speaking, you are listening, while you are
responding, he is listening (we adults seem to have
forgotten that principle).
A baby gets bored quickly, even with the most
attractive toy, but he will never tire of your attention.
Play with your baby.
In the sixth month, babies begin to sit up.
You should breastfeed your baby on demand.
Begin giving complementary food in the sixth month,
but do not stop breastfeeding.
The baby should be rst given a puree made of
vegetables, fruit or cereals.
Washing your hands is the most important and
simplest measure of personal hygiene.
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Childrens development
in the second year
n this period, big changes take place. The child starts to walk and talk. All
of a sudden, he goes on his own wherever he wants.
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get discouraged. Since they cannot verbalize their feelings, children start
crying, screaming or throwing themselves on the oor. It is your job to
help the child express her feelings in a constructive way. For example: You
are probably mad because you have to stop playing. I suggest you to take your
building blocks with you and continue building the castle as soon as we get to
Grandmas house. But now we have to leave. This approach provides a good
foundation for successful conict-solving throughout their life.
MUM: Your tantrum is
a bit late today!
MAYA: I decided to
skip this one,
but youll
get a double
dose tonight.
At this age, children become increasingly interested in their peers. They
often imitate the behaviour of their playmates. Their attention span is short.
At rst, they play happily together but very soon arguments break out,
usually over toys.
LUKE: Why is Mummy
arguing with that lady?
MAYA: I dont know. Sasha
wanted to grab my little
spade, so I hit him on
the head. Then we made
peace and built this
castle with a moat
together.
LADY: Your daughter started rst!
MUM: My daughter certainly
didnt start rst.
Your son did!
Never smack or punish your child for hurting another child during play.
Physical punishment teaches children bad behaviour.
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At this age, children have a limited idea of what is good and what is bad.
This means that they do not fully grasp the concept of rules or warnings.
You may say, If you pull the cats tail, shell bite you, but the toddler will not
understand the real implication of such a warning. So, whether they are
refusing to go to bed or turning away from a loving kiss, they are not
deliberately behaving badly. They are simply acting on the impulse of the
moment. It will take years and years of rm but gentle guidance before they
can fully understand what is expected of them. And it depends on your
reactions whether some behaviour will disappear or appear more often.
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At the same time, try to understand what the child does not express in
words but in gestures (hugging, cuddling, kissing, making sts, stamping on
the oor, etc.). Also, try to read what is written on the childs face.
Lets play!
At this age, various functions are developing: standing, walking, catching
with the ngertips, etc. Therefore, play is based on functional abilities.
Games with object are becoming more and more complex. Toddlers can
classify objects by quantity (one many), by size (small big), by colour
(red yellow).
In the second year toddlers begin playing symbolic games they pretend
to cook, eat, go to the doctors, rock their dolls to sleep, and travel. Although
toddlers begin to notice other children of the same age, they most often
play alone.
Suggestions on games to play: put an object into a magic bag. Let toddlers
guess what is inside. During the game, use make-believe hats, bags, cars,
airplanes, etc. You can use other materials for creative activities: sand, water,
dough, plasticine, paints
Play games with rhythmic movements and singing (Here we go round the
mulberry bush, Run, rabbit, run, Prick, prick hedgehog!). Children love games
involving squeezing through an obstacle, climbing and running. They like
games with sounds and speech: the melodic repetition of words, chanting,
building sentences.
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The beginnings of drama are born at this age. Toddlers can connect several
dierent actions: we are doing the shopping, we are cooking lunch, the
postman is coming, we are visiting someone, etc.
Objects in games acquire new meanings. Toddlers nd it amusing to
combine objects and learn their characteristic features.
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Older toddlers eat more solid food and drink less milk. It sometimes
happens that they prefer eating one kind of food to another. So it is a good
idea to oer them a variety of foodstus. Ideally, they should eat meat or
sh, vegetables, fruit, bread or other starchy food. At this age, the toddler
may eat the same as other family members, i.e., combined food from all four
basic groups of foodstus.
Warning: If your toddler has been eating only one type of food, some
deciencies may occur in her organism. Children not taking enough milk,
dairy products and meat may experience a shortage of calcium, phosphorus
or iron. If there is too much milk in the toddlers diet, a lack of iron and zinc
may result.
Here are some practical tips on how to balance childs food intake:
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Remember:
Big changes the child begins walking and talking.
Children are tireless walkers at this age and have a
constant need to walk. Arrange your furniture so that
your toddler can walk freely without hurting himself.
Your childs vocabulary is increasing fast. Talk to your
child, answer his questions, listen to him when he is
talking, read to him.
Certain aspects of your childs behaviour may appear
spontaneously, disappear or may be retained. Your
childs actions will be inuenced by your approval,
disapproval or disregard.
Children often express their feeling by saying no and I
wont. At this age, the child has a limited idea of what
is good or bad. Verbal and physical punishment is
harmful for child development. A clear explanation of
what to do, rm rules for donts and praise these are
all essential in a childs upbringing.
Monitor your childs growth
Have your child vaccinated against measles, mumps
and rubella.
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Childrens development
in the third year
n the period between two and three years, children are becoming more
and more independent. Now that toddlers have become more developed,
we should not forget that they are still young and that they still need
care and attention.
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Learning through imitation brings joy both to children and everyone around
them. Taking on someone elses role is a great achievement for a child. (e.g.
mimicking the way Grandma walks, imitating a doggy or a kitty). This is a
good way to understand another person and to put oneself in their position.
These are lessons for life.
DAD: Maya, show Grandpa
reading the paper.
MAYA: He isnt reading it, he cant
nd his glasses.
DAD: Well then, when
he nds his glasses
MAYA: Then he doesnt know where
he left his paper.
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To learn control of the hands, children should play with dough, plasticine, and
sand, as well as leang through books, tearing up and squeezing paper, etc.
Somewhere in her third year, the toddler tends to use one or other part of
the body more often (arm, leg, ear, and eye). It is important to encourage the
toddler in the free use of that part of the body which is more agile, stronger,
and more precise. For example, if the child does most things using the left
side of the body, then she should later draw and write with her left hand.
If the left-handed childs parent forces the child to use her right hand, this
may seriously aect the childs development. When this happens, children
can begin to stutter or to exhibit other behavioural diculties.
Let your child be herself. Do not force her to be like you.
Potty-training
Control of physiological needs requires the full development of the childs
nervous system (normally after the eighteenth month). So be patient and
consistent. Some toddlers simply prefer nappies to sitting on a potty. They
feel comfortable in nappies and do not understand why they have to sit on
a potty. It often happens that older siblings revert to nappies when a new
baby comes home. Let them follow their own rhythm, and encourage them
to take on part of the responsibility. If it turns out that there are problems
using the toilet, wait for a while until the child is older.
Take o your childs nappy and put panties on her. After she has had a
nap and eaten, sit her down on the potty. Let dolls and teddies sit on the
potty, too, and get used to these new requirements.
Even after the child masters potty-training, there will be times when she
will again pee or poop in her pants. These mishaps usually occur when the
child is sick or upset about something. For a while, the toddler loses her
recently acquired skills and abilities. If such situation persists, consult your
paediatrician.
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59
and so on). Make toys out of various materials together with your child.
Play make-believe games (we are ying by plane, we are feeding your doll, we
are bathing your teddy, we are visiting somebody) - such games develop the
childs imagination and help her to practise language. Be as creative as you
like and, if necessary, introduce new characters and objects.
Some childrens behaviour patterns may appear and disappear spontaneously
or be retained. You can inuence your childs actions by your approval,
disapproval or disregard.
At this age, children are speaking with increasing uency. They pronounce
some sounds as clearly as adults do. Children have already gained
considerable experience of objects and their environment. They can focus
their minds on people who are not present and understand an event that
happened in the recent past. They begin using time adverbs, but in their
own childlike way (this day, the other day, that other day). They will learn the
terms yesterday, today, tomorrow at a later stage.
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Lets play
Functional games in the third year are connected to more advanced
development of the motor system (keeping their balance, balancing,
standing on one leg, running, walking, etc.). Children of this age are most
interested in so-called didactic games (stringing beads, matching small
pictures, tting geometrical shapes into the correct holes, tying shoelaces),
symbolic games (including other children in their games), and games in
which children build or make something (using building blocks, plasticine,
sand, water, paper, dough). Warning: at this age children should not play
with small objects that can be swallowed.
From the third year onwards, symbolic games become increasingly
sophisticated. Children create imaginary heroes, construct plots, and assign
roles. They can follow the course of the drama, adapt dialogue according to
their playmates, and perceive the world from someone elses perspective.
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Remember:
Children are becoming increasingly independent and
condent. Use every opportunity to praise your childs
independence.
The child is walking more steadily now and tending to use
one or other side of the body more often. Encourage your
child to make free use of that side of the body which is
more agile, stronger, and more precise.
Children like copying adults be a good role model.
Study your child, nd out what she can and cannot do.
Help your child. Encourage your child and explore things
together.
This age is characterized by conict and emotional
outbursts. By your presence, hugs, tender words and
smiles, show your child how much you love her and that
she is safe with you.
Some childrens behaviour patterns may spontaneously
appear, disappear or may be retained. Your childs actions
will be inuenced by your approval, disapproval or
disregard.
In the third year, children test limits, so they often want to
do something they cannot or are not allowed to do. Help
them accept rules of behaviour, set limits and encourage
them to respect values. Do not punish your child
physically or verbally!
Children of this age cannot take care of themselves. That is
your job.
Provide your child with the right conditions for play and
play with her.
Let your child be herself. Do not force her to be like you.
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3.
Communication
64
Dear Grandma,
When Mummy hugs and kisses me, a kind of sweetness goes
through my whole body. That sweetness makes me run around the
house. Besides running, I start shouting AAAAAAAAA. Then, my Daddy
jumps up in front of me with outstretched arms. I have nowhere to go
but to his embrace. Then he kisses me on the neck, and it feels like a little
trumpet playing. The little trumpet tickles me and I have to giggle. Then
Daddy starts laughing. His arms move upwards and I end up
in the air and start giggling even louder.
When Daddy sets me down on the ground again, I run to
Grandpas lap. He dandles me on his knee and recites:
Gee-up, gee-up, four legs,
All of them sti!
Gee-up, gee-up, were riding
To a far-o cli
Grandma, now Im on my way to you for a hug. As soon as you kiss my
hair, the two of us set o for the market. I like it most when we go from
stall to stall choosing what to buy. First, well go to Auntie Zlatas stall to
nd out if shes got those pink hairslides with the teddy bears. Okay?
Love Maya
Principles of good
communication
rom the very rst day, babies are equipped with various skills to
help them communicate with other people and draw attention
to themselves. They cry, smile, and make movements and facial
expressions. They wait for responses from the people around them and
respond to them. They are interested in the human face, voice, and touch.
You know intuitively how to communicate with your baby you look at
your babys face from a close distance with wide-open eyes, you move your
head, imitate your babys voices and movements and choose simple games
where your baby can join in. Whether you want to or not, you automatically
adapt to your babys mood. You show joy when the baby is lively, whisper
when the baby seems sleepy, etc. In this way, you create a harmonious
relationship.
What you think is the most natural form of communication with your
child is probably the right one - one that your child will understand.
Good communication requires taking turns. This means that you are
watching and listening to your baby while he is communicating a message.
While talking to your baby, take breaks to give him a chance to answer to
smile, to stretch out his little arms, to coo Games like Wheres your clever
little head? and Where does Bunny drink water? are a good way to learn about
turn-taking.
These principles of good communication are not designed as rules to be
followed to the letter, but more as reminders in the daily care and upbringing
of children. Maybe you are already familiar with these tips. Nevertheless,
read them and respect them so that you establish good communication
with your child.
66
You can never spoil your child with love and attention!
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Crying is an important signal that can help you understand your baby. A
baby never cries without a reason. Try to listen to your baby and understand
what he is communicating through his tears. This is how a baby shows his
feelings. The baby needs your help to calm down. The sooner you react, the
sooner the crying will stop.
-
Very soon after your babys birth, you can start communicating with him.
Look into his eyes, smile, and make gestures. Answer your babys sounds
with a happy expression and positive comments. The baby is now attaching
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himself to you and learning how to interact with others. Older children
also need close contact. Encourage you child to unburden himself to you.
Maintain non-verbal communication (exchanging positive body language,
eye contact).
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70
UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child
Article 29: The child shall be
prepared for responsible
life in a free society, in the
spirit of understanding,
peace, tolerance, equality
of sexes, and friendship
among all peoples, ethnic,
national and religious
groups, and persons of
indigenous origin.
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Remember:
Show love and positive feelings towards your child
Follow your childs development
Talk to your child about things that interest her and
try to establish emotional communication
Praise your child whenever she does something well
Help your child to focus her attention, so that you can
enjoy shared experiences
Give signicance and meaning to your childs
experience
Help your child to broaden her experience
Help your child to learn self-control by setting limits
in a positive way
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4.
Disciplining
the child
Dear Mummy,
I love it SO MUCH when you praise me and say: Well done, Maya!
Then I dont nd it hard to do what you tell me for the second and third
time. But when you start yelling at me: Maya, why do you have to play
in the middle of the room? Why are you barefoot? Put your slippers on
quickly! Ive told you a hundred times not to touch the shoe polish! and
stu like that, I get all confused and do the opposite. I understand you
better when you talk to me slowly and when you explain to me why some
things should or shouldnt be done. You remember once when
you warned me nicely: Maya, dont throw the ball around
the room. You might hit Luke! I obeyed you at
once. No way am I going to hurt him.
I can understand that youre not always in a good mood and that I
sometimes go too far when Im naughty, but I really dont see
why I have to put a sweater on when youre cold.
Love, Maya
e all want our children to gain self-control and obey the family
rules. However, it often happens that children are disobedient
and we ourselves are overwhelmed by everyday stressful
situations. We feel helpless and confused. We lose control of our emotions,
react impulsively, or rely on our instincts.
The root meaning of the word discipline is teaching, training. It is a process
of guiding children towards an acceptable form of behaviour, a non-violent
method oriented towards resolution, and it implies setting clear rules of
behaviour. Discipline is based on trust and tenderness.
Teach your child to control himself and plan his actions. This is usually
achieved by guiding and praising the childs positive behaviour. Explain
to your child why something is inappropriate or dangerous. For example,
instead of the stern warning, Dont do that, explain to your child why he
should obey you Watch out, its hot! You might get burnt! Instead of giving
an order, Dont pull your dolls hair, oer a constructive suggestion and turn
your childs attention to the positive side Look what nice long hair your doll
has. Why dont you comb it for her!
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What is your relationship like? At that age, is your child kind, honest and
a wise decision-maker? Setting goals will help you inuence the way your
child grows up.
However, the challenges of daily life occasionally direct us towards shortterm goals, to what we are trying to accomplish right now. Imagine the
following situation. It is early in the morning. Your daughter woke up late
for nursery school. She is sleepy and is moving slowly. She hasnt dressed
or washed her face yet, and it is about the time you usually leave the house.
You start yelling. You slap her on her little bottom. At this moment in time,
your goal is very short and simple you want your child to get ready as
soon as possible and leave for nursery school. But what happened to your
long-term goals? Have you taught your child to solve problems by yelling
and slapping?
Children copy you. If you do not want your child to be selsh, you yourself
should be open-handed and generous. Children learn how to cope with
stress by watching how you do it. When you cope well with some daily
problem, you will be a role model for your child and show her how to manage
her own frustration, consider other people feelings and communicate with
respect.
If your child constantly misbehaves, it might be a cry for help. Try to nd out
what is troubling your child by or what she is lacking. If she is hungry, thirsty,
sleepy or upset, the child will be irritable and will hardly obey the rules!
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No parent is perfect
Do not despair if you are not always successful. Children repeatedly test the
limits, so be consistent. If your child behaves in an unacceptable way, point
to your childs actions, and not her personality. Let your child know that you
love her, regardless of her behaviour. It is important for children to feel safe
and protected near their parents. If you want to build a permanent, positive
relationship with your child, based on love and trust, you must share those
pleasant experiences.
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UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child
Article 19: The state shall take all
appropriate, legislative,
administrative, social, and
educational measures to
protect children from all
forms of physical or mental
violence, injury or abuse,
neglect or negligent treatment,
maltreatment or exploitation,
including sexual abuse
Terms abuse and neglect describe various types of violence against children.
Abuse is a forceful act, while neglect is a failure to provide adequate care
for the child.
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Remember:
There is no single, right way to raise a child. However,
this does not mean that all ways are equally good.
Positive discipline is a non-violent method oriented
towards solving problems.
Be your childrens role models for permitted and
desirable behaviour. If you do not want them to be
selsh, you yourselves must be open-handed and
generous.
If the child persistently misbehaves, it might be a cry
for help. Try to nd what is troubling him or what he
needs.
Think carefully what kind of person would you like
your child to be when he grows up!
Be consistent, even if you nd it easier to give in.
Choose a small number of clear rules.
Reward good behaviour with lots of praise. Children
need approval and encouragement.
Be positive! Focus on what the child should do instead
on what the child shouldnt do.
Admit it when you have made a mistake.
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5.
Child safety
Dear Mummy,
I saw my best friend Helen yesterday. She was all bandaged up.
I was terried. She told me that it wasnt so bad and that we would
play together soon. She told me how it happened.
Helen was sitting on her Mums lap. They were playing Gee-up, gee-up
and were having a great time. Then her Mum reached towards the table to
pick up her cup of coee. She just wanted to take a sip and go on playing.
At that moment, Helen laughed and suddenly waved her arm. The cup
turned over and the boiling hot coee spilled over the tablecloth, carpet,
her Mums dress, but mostly over Helens arms and legs. All that could be
heard in the house were shrieks and screams. Fortunately, everything
ended happily. The doctor did everything that was necessary. Then
he patiently explained to them how many accidents
can be prevented. Lets see how together!
Love Maya
Safety at home
Children have inquisitive minds and like exploring new objects and places
in the house. However, they are not aware of the possible dangers. Therefore,
you have to keep watching them and remove anything that might hurt them.
Accidents mostly happen at home, mainly in the kitchen, bathroom, on the
stairways, and in the garage. There is danger lurking around a hot barbecue,
a medicine chest and a slippery oor. Move the following objects out of the
reach of children: matches and lighters, all kinds of medicines, cigarettes and
alcohol, tools, sharp objects (scissors, knives, needles, saws, etc.), rubbish
and cleaning agents, disinfectants, insecticides, and rat poisons,
From time to time, check that household appliances and heaters are in good
working order. Replace damaged cables and cracked plugs and switches.
Turn the backs of the TV and hi- sets towards the wall so that your child
cannot reach them. Every wire should be insulated.
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It is recommended that you set the water heater at 60C to prevent the child
getting scalded by hot water. Do not forget to check electronic toys. If you
see sparks and notice that a toy is getting hot or smells of burning, repair it
at once or throw it away.
Do not leave your children alone in the room with a heater or other heating
device switched on. You must block access to the stove so that the child
cannot approach it.
Walls in the at must not be painted with a paint containing lead. Poisonous
plants must be taken out of the reach of children.
Smokers, if you really have to smoke, go out of the at and smoke a cigarette
on the balcony or in the entrance to the building. Save your child!
There must not be any possibility for your child to lock herself in. Secure
windows. Raise pulls, ropes and drawstrings for window blinds to prevent
children from reaching them. Remove fragile objects from shelves. Do not
buy furniture with sharp edges. If you have furniture like this, then, protect
the sharp edges. Lock drawers and chests to prevent children from crushing
their ngers.
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children, be extra careful. Do not drink alcohol. While driving in the car,
children should be sitting on the back seats only, on an adults lap, or in
special childrens car seats. The car door should be always locked, no matter
whether the car is in motion or parked.
Do not let your child walk across the street alone before she is ten years old.
Make sure that the childs tricycle/bicycle is in good working order. Insist on
your child wearing a helmet and kneepads while riding.
LUKE: Maya, let me try
to ride your trike.
MAYA: I darent. You might fall down
and break your teeth.
LUKE: But I dont have any teeth,
they havent grown yet.
MAYA: Sorry, even the toothless
are forbidden to ride.
You should encourage your childrens love of animals, but teach them not to
touch animals they do not know. You should also explain to them that they
should not provoke animals, pull their ears and tails or take a bone or toy
from their mouths. Never leave children under ve alone with a pet. Keep
your child at a distance from a dog with puppies.
MAYA: When Yeller is eating
or sleeping, no one
must touch him.
LUKE: Why?
MAYA: He might bite.
LUKE: Lucky him! If only I
had some teeth
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Accidents happen
89
If you call 94 when it is not an emergency, you are denying access to help to
someone else who may need it badly.
f the child has been hurt in a car accident, has been seriously burnt, is
drowning or unconscious, choking or bleeding, you should immediately
seek professional help. Until help arrives, it is essential to assess the
situation and react appropriately.
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Do not shout at the child! Do not spread oil, butter or any other fatty
substance on the burn. Do not immerse babies and infants with more
extensive burns in cold water.
When drowning, the child holds her breath for the rst two minutes, as
infants have a dive reex, and then she inhales water, which enters the
airways. Grass and sludge are often inhaled with the water. The heartbeat is
slow and irregular.
Suspect drowning if you see a child waving her arms and legs uncontrollably
on the surface of the water and then slowly disappearing under the surface.
If this happens, immediately proceed as follows:
- Shout for help as loud as you can.
- Jump into the water and pull her out to safety.
- If the child is not breathing, start reanimation (mouth-to-mouth
ressuscitation, external massage of the heart)
- When the child starts breathing, take o her wet clothing and
cover her with a dry blanket or towel.
- While waiting for the ambulance, talk to the child in a calm voice.
Do not enter the water if you can pull the child out from the riverbank, edge
of the sea or swimming pool. When drowning, a bigger (stronger) child
may grab you and pull you down with her into the water. This makes the
rescue more dicult.
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93
- Turn the babys face downwards, lay the baby face downwards
over your forearm and rest your forearm on your leg for support.
Hold the babys head in your hand.
- With the heel of your free hand, hit the baby on the back between
the shoulder blades 5 times.
- Turn the baby over onto his back. Cradle the baby on your
forearm, but this time with his face turned upwards facing you.
Keep the babys head lower than the rest of his body.
- Press down on the babys breastbone 5 times. Each time, the
pressure lasts for 3 seconds.
- If the object becomes visible after you take these steps, it should be
removed.
Aid to older children is administered in a standing position. First, encourage
the child to cough. Then bend his head down and give him several blows on
the back, between the shoulderblades.
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Remember:
When the childs life is in danger, you must react
promptly. Call the doctor as soon as possible.
If the child has been hurt in a car accident, he
must not be moved unless he is in a dangerous place.
If the child has burnt himself, rst remove the
cause of the injury, i.e., the heat source.
If the child is drowning, pull her out onto the riverbank or
beach. If the child is not breathing, start reanimation (mouthto-mouth ressuscitation, external massage of the heart)
An unconscious child can be recognized by the fact that he
looks as if he is sleeping, but cannot be roused in the usual way.
Coughing something up is the best way to remove an
object from the airways.
Do not wash the wound! If there is a foreign body in the
wound, it must not be removed. It is best to leave this
particular treatment to the doctor.
Smokers, if you really have to smoke, go out of the at in which
young children and/or pregnant women live. Smoke outside!
Encourage your childrens love of animals, but teach
them not to touch animals they do not know.
Never leave your children alone in the car, in the
street, in a restaurant or shop.
MAYA: What about a toy shop?
DAD: Not in a toy shop either!
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Your paediatrician
Pharmacy
97
6.
Care of sick
children
Dear Mummy,
You usually panic and overreact, but you were right
this time. If you hadnt taken me to the doctor in time and if I hadnt
started taking the medicine immediately, I think I would still be sick now.
And that means that Id be in bed for New Years Eve. I wouldnt be able to
go and see that show weve booked and who knows if Id get a present from
Santa Claus. In fact, I think Id get worse just thinking
about it. I darent even imagine it.
Its all the snows fault. It looks like whipped cream, but when you taste
it, it isnt sweet at all. Im a hundred per cent sure of it. I rst ate the snow
that was on my trike, and then I swallowed three snowballs in the park,
and last of all, I licked Mr. Snowman. There wasnt a bit of sugar. Actually,
snow has no taste. Its just cold. VERY, VERY cold. Im a hundred per cent
sure of that, too. But what I dont understand is how something so VERY,
VERY cold can suddenly turn into a high temperature and throat infection.
And, worst of all, it turns into awful nightmares.. Whenever I closed my
eyes, something big and ugly appeared before me. I havent found out what
it was as I had to keep running away from it. And when you have to run so
much, you sweat. So no wonder I kept waking up all soaked in sweat.
Love Maya
Respiratory infections
oughing, sneezing, a runny nose, a sore throat these are the most
common indications of a minor infection in children. Such infections
usually disappear in a short time without aecting the childs health.
However, they can sometimes be symptoms of far more serious illnesses,
e.g. pneumonia. These illnesses are most commonly caused by viruses and
bacteria. The illness is spread by little particles and droplets in the air from
an infected person coughing or sneezing nearby or from touching hands or
objects contaminated by secretion from the airways.
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Place the sick child in a well-aired, warm room (22-25C). Naturally, smoking
is not allowed in that room. Let your child drink as much liquid as possible,
particularly if she has a high temperature. You will prevent dehydration
in this way. Dress the child warmly, but do not overdo it. As sick children
may lose their appetite, try giving smaller amounts of food, but more often
than usual. Do not stop breastfeeding! Babies under six months should be
breastfed more frequently than usual. If the baby cannot suckle, squeeze
milk into a clean cup and feed your baby with a teaspoon from the cup.
Relieve your childs cough lay the child over your knee face downwards
and slap her gently on the back. Let the child inhale steam (above hot, not
boiling water) or moisture (let hot water run in the bathroom and sit your
child on a chair next to the bath). Damp air makes breathing easier.
As often as possible, clean the sick childs nose, particularly before feeding
or sleeping. You can clean the nose blocked with secretion with cotton buds
moistened with a saline solution that will soften the secretion in the nose.
Cool down a child with a temperature using a wet sponge or you can bath
her in warm (not hot) water.
When the child recovers, give her an additional meal a day for a week. The
child is considered fully recovered when she regains the weight she had
before the illness. If the child does not want to eat and loses weight, take
her to the doctor. Proper treatment reduces the childs pain and suering,
and also any possibility of complication. Incorrect or delayed action may
result in serious disability (e.g., deafness after inammation of the middle
ear, otitis media, or heart disease after a throat inammation caused by
streptococci).
Today, there are many medicines used for the treatment of coughs and
colds. Some are not very eective, while others are actually harmful. Do not
give any medication to your child without consulting the doctor in order to
avoid possible complications and prolonged illness.
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102
103
Diarrhoea
he child has diarrhoea if she has more than three watery stools a day.
The more stools she has, the more serious the diarrhoea.
104
As soon as the diarrhoea starts, give the child more liquid to drink and
continue with normal meals (breastfeeding).
Some people think that the intake of liquid makes the diarrhoea worse. This
is not true. The child with diarrhea should be given more to drink as long
as she has diarrhea. The intake of additional liquid helps compensate for the
uid lost due to the diarrhoea.
Breast milk is the best source of liquid and food for an infant suering
from diarrhoea. It is nutritious, clean and helps protect against disease. The
baby fed solely with breast milk seldom gets diarrhoea. Breast milk prevents
dehydration and malnutrition. It replaces lost uid. Mothers are sometimes
advised to reduce breastfeeding during diarrhoea, but this advice is wrong.
In fact, you should breastfeed the baby who has diarrhoea more often than
you usually do.
When older children or infants who do not suckle any more have diarrhoea,
it is best to give them oral rehydration salts mixed with the correct amount
of water (as advised by the doctor or according to the manufacturers
instructions). Loss of uid during diarrhoea can be compensated for by
soup, rice water, freshly squeezed fruit juice, weak tea with very little sugar,
even clean water (if you think that the water is not clean, lter it or boil it
and cool it before use).
If the child is aged between six months and two years, give her a drink
after each stool between one quarter and one half of a large tea cup.
THE SMART BOOK FOR MUM AND DAD
105
Give older children half of a cup or a whole cup of liquid. The cup from which
the child drinks should be clean. The child should be drinking additional
liquid as long as she has diarrhoea. If the child is vomiting, wait for ten
minutes, then give her a drink, which she should take slowly, in small sips.
The child with diarrhoea loses weight and may suer from malnutrition. So
it is vital that the child continues eating regularly. Food helps stop diarrhoea
and aids faster recovery.
The child will soon regain his body weight and energy if he eats small
amounts of food more often (ve to six times a day).
The best food for a baby is breast milk. You should give older babies and
infants pureed food because they can eat it easily and it contains more water
than solid food. A pureed combination of cereal, beans, sh, thoroughly
cooked meat, yoghurt and fruit is recommended.
106
You can add one to two teaspoons of oil to cereals and vegetables. The meal
should be salted and freshly prepared. The diet of older children should
include yellow and orange vegetables (carrots or pumpkin, for example), as
well as cooked green, leaf vegetables (spinach, chard). Give children fruit.
While cooking, add some oil to the food for energy. Since the child has a
reduced appetite, try to persuade him to eat. Give the child his favourite
food in pureed form..
During the recovery period, it is recommended that you give your child at
least one additional meal or feed for at least than two weeks.
Diarrohea generally stops by itself within a few days. Pills, antibiotics or
other medicines are not advisable, unless prescribed by a doctor. The child
is not considered fully recovered until he regains the weight he had before
the infection.
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Remember:
Immunization is the fastest and most economical measure
to prevent serious contagious diseases.
The child who coughs or has a cold usually has a minor
infection, which disappears quickly and spontaneously.
Proper care of the child at home shortens the period of
infection and speeds up the childs recovery.
Sometimes, coughs and colds can be the rst signs of
a more serious illness. The child with rapid or heavy
breathing may have pneumonia. In this case, immediately
take the child to the doctor.
Respiratory infections can be prevented (by breastfeeding,
vaccination, regular hand-washing, and by making sure
the room is free from cigarette or other smoke).
Never give medicines to the child without consulting
a doctor, as complications may arise or the illness be
prolonged.
The child has diarrhoea if she has more than three watery
stools a day.
While the child has diarrhoea, she should be given
additional liquids and fed regularly.
The child needs prompt medical attention if she has
several watery stools within one to two hours or has blood
in the stools.
Babies fed solely with breast milk seldom get diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea is most eectively prevented through the
proper hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water
after contact with the childs stools, before preparing food,
and before feeding the child.
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7.
Dear Daddy,
I am so sad that Yeller has gone. Grandma told me that he ran away
to the village. I dont think thats true.. What would Yeller want in the
village without his kennel, his little bowl of water, and Luke and
me? Hed be bored. Who would he play with there? Chickens are too small
for him, cows are too big, and piglets prefer rolling in the mud to chasing a
ball. Besides, Yeller would never leave without saying goodbye. So I think
youre right Yeller just got old and died. Though, Im not sure what that
means exactly. So please answer these questions for me:
-
Love Maya
Protecting children
against stress
Support
At lifes tough moments, children should not be separated from their parents.
Mummy and Daddy inspire condence. If separation is unavoidable, a
person who is familiar and close to them should stay with the child.
Anything unclear and unknown induces fear and increases the feeling
of insecurity and anxiety. Explain to your child any unexpected events
that disrupt the normal course of life. It is very important that children
understand what has happened. Transmit the information as precisely as
possible in a language the child can understand. Try to create a relaxed,
warm atmosphere in which the child can express her feelings freely. Listen
to what your child has to say and try to clear up any misunderstandings.
Check whether your child has understood the explanation. Answer your
childs questions patiently. If your child keeps repeating the same question,
repeat your answer each time, taking care not to depart from the previous
version.
Give your child time to revert to the topic when she is ready. It is important
to relieve the child of guilt and fear. Convince her that other children have
similar experiences in similar situations. Help your child to accept her fear or
sorrow as normal reactions. Let your child express the experience in dierent
ways: through play, painting and drawing, or make-believe role-plays.
112
Show your feelings in front of your child. If you hide your feelings, your
child might think that you are indierent and that you are not feeling the
loss. Put your feelings into words so that your child can understand your
reactions.
When your child comes to understand what has happened, she will be
able to cope successfully with these and similar experiences in the future.
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114
Remember:
Protect your children from unnecessary exposure to
scenes of destruction, injury and death, both in real
life and on TV.
At lifes tough moments, children should not be
separated from their parents.
Mummy and Daddy inspire condence. If separation
is unavoidable, a person familiar and close to the child
should stay with him.
Explain to the child any unexpected events disrupting
the usual course of life.
Children need your help to understand the meaning of
death.
Encourage your child to express and share his
experiences with others.
After sudden, unpleasant and distressing events, the
child needs to return to his usual activities as soon as
possible. In this way, the child will regain his sense of
order and normality.
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8.
Appendix
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
Growth chart
124
125
10
11
10
11
2
6
Birth
10
11
12
13
14
15
15
50
85
97
16
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Months
Weight (kg)
126
10
11
10
11
2
5
Birth
10
11
12
13
14
15
15
50
85
97
10
11
12
13
14
15
Months
Weight (kg)
127