Blogging Parent

Quick Links - 28 July 2009

Isaak Kwok — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:44:08 +0000

Hmmm … Matthew has just started school (Early Learning Centre) about a week ago and he seems to be enjoying himself quite a bit. At least he doesn’t cry himself to sleep like when he was in childcare. Or kicks up a big fuss in the morning. He also didn’t cry when we sent him to school on the first day which was quite a big surprise for us and for his teachers. This was because he made quite a big fuss when he went in a couple of times for orientation in the previous term.

So, that’s a little update from our family.

Well, besides parents sending their children to formal school like we have done for Matthew, there seems to be an increasing number of parents in South Australia who have decided to homeschool their children. An AdelaideNow news report states that “more than 830 children stayed at home” for their studies. As for us, we haven’t ever thought of homeschooling Matthew as we prefer him to go to school and mix with other children. But I’m aware that homeschooled kids have combined activities (social and sports) as well through homeschooling support groups. So what do you think about homeschooling?
Do note that homeschooling might not be legal in where you live. So, do check with your respective education departments for more information.

In health news, children who take plenty of dairy foods are expected to live longer, a study highlighted in BBC News | Health. Although the report didn’t say by how much longer, but it does say that taking milk and cheese (with its high dairy and calcium) helps to protect against stroke and other causes of death. So, ensure your children take lots of dairy products. Matthew has at least a bottle of milk in the morning and 2-3 slices of cheese. Hopefully, that is enough dairy and calcium intake for him so that he can live a longer life.

And now for a good cause! Sara Wilson from The Fresh Air Fund has been sending me emails with regards to putting up information about the Fresh Air Fund, which I haven’t done. So, if you are in the United States and Canada, do click on the link and see if you are able to assist by hosting “The Fresh Air Fund” children in August or by donating. Help to change some children’s life.

Quick Links - 02 March 2009

Isaak Kwok — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:26:45 +0000

Having neglected Blogging Parent for quite some time, I guess now is the time to start blogging here again.

The first one is about the effects of the parents’ eating habits directing affecting the child’s habits. The children’s food habits tended to echo the parents’. This has implications on how obesity prevention programs are run to maybe including the whole family in it. In addition, they found that it is much easier to change the dietary habits from a much younger age than when the child is older.

The second report also has to do with obesity though this time is when the mummy is pregnant. Mummies-to-be who are overweight has double the chances of having babies with abnormalities such as spina bifida. Other abnormalities include heart defects, cleft lips, and other neural tube defects. It must also be noted that obese mummies-to-be increases their own risks of other health problems. So, be very careful with your weight as it affects you and your baby.

The third report is about the linkage between family stress and a child becoming obese.Some stress factors could be a family accident or illness, death, divorce, unemployment or exposure to violence. It could even be worrying about the child’s health and development. So, if you are facing high stress, do seek support from family and friends to help reduce the stress levels. (via Inside Motherhood).

And finally, never leave your child in a parked car, particularly in summer. This is because temperatures within the car can reach fatal levels within eight minutes to the dangerous level of 40 degrees Celsius. Anyway, besides the heat, it is simply not safe to leave your child in the car as someone might just break in and drive the car away with your child in it. Has happened a couple of times across Australia, but thankfully none of the children were harmed. Why take that risk?!

Quick Links - 04 January 2009

Isaak Kwok — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:27:33 +0000

Sorry that I have been away from this blog for quite some time. Was a little busy with moving the whole family Down Under to Adelaide. We have finally settled in nicely and I guess it’s time to revive this blog.

So, to start of, here’s some quick links that I’ve accumulated over the past month:

Why parents are unsure how to control their children
We are facing some of these same issues that is highlighted in this news article. But we will try our best to ensure that Matthew has a healthy and acive lifestyle as well as strong family relationships.
Light drinking ‘no risk to baby’
Well, I still believe that once you are pregnant, there are just some things you’ll need to give up. And one of them is alcohol.
Cut caffeine, pregnant women told
Well, I guess the researchers needed to add in other caffeinated drinks, such as Coca Cola, into their study. The study shows that the caffeine results in babies with low birth weight. And children born with low birth weights have a higher incidence of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
Lungs ‘boosted’ by breastfeeding
Guess this gives even more impetus to promote breastfeeding.
Stress hits even before pregnancy
So, even stress before pregnancy can be a big cause of preterm delivery. Guess for anyone who is trying to be pregnancy, it’s good to manage your stress levels way before you become pregnant.

Fan in Baby’s Room May Help Prevent SIDS

Isaak Kwok — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:49:05 +0000

A buzz was generated a couple of days ago in the US when a study was released to claim that having a fan in the baby’s room may reduce the risks of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, by up to 72%.

According the researchers, having a fan in the room helps improve air circulation and thus preventing the infant from rebreathing exhaled carbon dioxide, which can pool up in the space between the baby’s face and the mattress.

Though this might be interesting news, pediatricians still recommend that babies should be put to sleep on their backs as that is currently the most effective way to prevent SIDS.

(via Inside Motherhood)

Babies Benefit in Child Care

Isaak Kwok — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:32:37 +0000

A Belgian professor, who specialises in early childhood education, has said that children who attend good childcare centres can reap social and employment benefits later in life.

I have got to agree with the professor. We put Matthew into infant care when he was 3 months old. And we can see that he’s much better in socialising and he knows how to interact with others. He learns how to share and communicate with his friends and teachers. Of course, he’ll still have the occasional tantrum, but which kid doesn’t. And we make sure that we communicate and spend time with him.

However, it must be noted that it is quite important to choose a quality childcare centre for your child. Otherwise, the kid might be picking up the wrong messages.

P.S.: Do read the comments in the news article. They are quite interesting and provide alternative views.

Am I Ruining My Child With Day Care?

Breastfeeding is Good for Mummy As Well

Isaak Kwok — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:23:21 +0000

Besides being good for the baby, breastfeeding can have healthy effects on the mother as well. In a recent study done by the World Cancer Research Fund, mothers who breastfeed for at least a year over the course of her life reduces the risk of breast cancer by up to 4.8%. However, the actual reduction is about 0.5% as one in nine women has a chance of getting breast cancer in their lifetime.

So, mummies out there, go ahead and breastfeed your child. It’s good for both you and the baby.

Infection Cause of Cot Death

Isaak Kwok — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:01:29 +0000

Previously, I talked about SIDS. But a recent study by The Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the UK and the University of Adelaide in Australia have found that bacterial infection could be the cause of some cases of cot death in the UK.

The researchers found that the babies who died without apparent reasons carried potentially harmful bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. And these bacteria could have triggered a chemical reaction that overwhelms the baby, resulting in sudden death.

It definitely sounds quite scary!

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

A Little DIrt is Good for You

Isaak Kwok — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:52:18 +0000

Sometimes it’s good to have a little dirt in the house, according to a research that would be published in Nature soon.

The American scientists in the research found that mice living in a germ-free environment developed type-1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease.

So, having a totally sterile home is instead not too good for your kids. However, don’t go into the opposite extreme and have a super dirty house. The kids and you will have a different set of health problems then.

As for Matthew, we are not too particular about him getting a little dirty. And he has been a rather healthy kid so far other than the occasional flu, cough and fever.

A baby’s smile is like a drug

Isaak Kwok — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:04:25 +0000

Now I know why my wife goes into a trance when Matthew smiles when he was a baby. Anyway, I’m just kidding about the trance part. But she’ll be totally engrossed.

Apparently, a new mother gets a high like a drug hit when her baby smiles back. And it can be as addictive as taking drugs. The research showed that the brain regions, called the substantia nigra, the striatum and the frontal lobe, light up when the mother looks at a photo of her smiling baby. These brain areas are also activated in experiments related to drug addiction.

Well, I’m sure the same applies to fathers as well. I know I get a high when Matthew smiles or when I look at his smiley photos. Maybe they should do a similar research on fathers.

Pregnancy Stress Affects Child’s Development

Isaak Kwok — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:56:06 +0000

Most of us know that a mum’s postnatal depression causes babies to develop more slowly than other children. But a recent study shows that antenatal depression can have the same effect.

The research, reported in the BBC News article, says that antenatal depression can cause up to a third greater chance of cognitive or behavioral problems. In addition, a depressed mum-to-be is more likely to give birth prematurely.

So, for the fathers or soon-to-be fathers, do look out for signs of depression in your pregnant wives. If they do show symptoms of depression, it is critical to bring them to the doctor so that early treatment is sought.