BabyWorld

Pine cones, source of health

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 14:34:00 +0000

For those who believe nature has so many to offer and is a great source of health, it is good to know that pine cones are benefic to many health issues, properly prepared and harvested in time.

I haven't been aware of the importance of health until the moment I've gave birth. Since then, I've realised that my children need to be treated naturally when getting ill, and only after exhausting all the resources, to be treated medically. I'm one of those mothers supporting the alternative medicine, and I'm not absurd to say that only natural cures can heal our children, but this is another story.

Anyway, I've recently found, when having a weekend escape in our countryside, in a heavenly place, where mountains could be seen from our backyard, that the surroundings are a great source of natural remedies.

I realised that people in the area are so lucky to live right near the source of so many plants benefic to our children's health.

I've found from our neighbours that the PINE CONES are used as a remedy for various health issues. First of all, I didn't have a clue that they could be useful to anything. They could be found in pine trees on the river sides in the mountains, and the favourable time to harvest them is in June.

Benefits:

1. Immunity - it is known that the pine cone consists of aconsiderable amount of Vitamin C, essential for our immune system, stimulating the production of white blood cells and having antioxidant qualities.

2. Vision - it improves the vision health, consisting in a considerable amount of Vitamin A and carotenoids acting also as antioxidants, reducing the oxidative stress in the ocular system.

3. Skin and hair care - the Vitamin A in it also reduces the oxidative stress in your skin, and both vitamin A and C reduce hair loss and dandruff.

4.Pathogen protection - it has antiseptic qualities,preventing infections or pathogens from entering the body. It could be used mixed with oils directly on the skin, or consumed directly as a tea, to eliminate pathogens and microbes from the body.

5. Anemia and circulation - it increases the production of red blod cells, increasing the oxigenation of body's organ systems and preventing anemia.

6. Respiratory health - it is recommended for soothing the inflammation of the respiratory tract and helps to relieve caughing, sore throats and more serious respiratory conditions like asthma. It is good in expectoration, helping to eliminate excess mucus and neutralize bacteria and pathogens found in sinuses.

Attention: before using pine cone preparations for various health issues, please see your doctor if you are pregnant or have a baby who is too small to use this kind of remedies.

I prepared pine cones for my children, who love taking a spoon of something sweet like syrup in wintertime or when getting ill.

My recipe:

Pine cone syrup:

- 1 kg of fresh pine cones (harvested at the beggining of June)

- 1 kg of sugar (if you have honey, it is even better and healthier)

- vanilla (liquid or stick)

- 1 or 2 lemons

1. Wash the pine cones

2. Boil them (cover them with water) until they get whitish

3. Keep them in cold storage until the next day (in the pot you've boiled them, with the water inside)

4. The next day, filter the remained liquid and try to press them, so that the liquid be more concentrate

5. Keep the liquid on the simmer mixed with the sugar and lemon

6. Try it on a spoon to see when it gets thicker, and in the end add the vanilla.

Mommy, you are my rainbow

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 12:30:00 +0000

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I miss us, my first child

Dear child, you grow so fast like a little seed I've planted years ago and now it became a beautiful flower. I miss every moment spent alone with you, and I know sometimes you don't like having a little sister. I completely understand you. I know you want your mommy only for yourself, and I know how difficult it must be sometimes for you to share your precious moments with your sister.

Yesterday you were just a little baby, now you are a big girl, and I just want to make the time stop, to enjoy more time in your childhood, your smiling face, your child voice, your lovely way of being, acting...

I feel guilty that our time together must be shared with your sister. I miss our moments together, my first child, I miss our happiness, our relaxing time spent outside till late hours in the summertime, our hugs in the evening, when falling asleep in my arms, and there are much more...It seems like yesterday you were as little as your sister, and I remember so clearly every moment, every thing you've learned, every step you've done, every word you've said for the first time. Our happiness was special, but now is complete. Sometimes you feel it's unfair to share everything with your sister, but I know now you have a special bond with her.

Mommy, you are my rainbow!

My first child, your words are so soft, and touch my soul everytime you tell your mommy how much you love her, how beautiful she is to you, how happy you are for having a sister. Your misbehavior is faded away when you tell me "Mommy, you are my rainbow, my velvet love!".

I love you telling me sweet words, I love your moments with your sister, I love when you hug eachother, when you play together, when you don't argue, and I wish all these moments last forever. So, my dear child, don't hurry to grow so fast, cause I simply adore your memorable childish actings, moments, laughs...

Moms are so easy to be emotionally manipulated, so, every word of their children is melting their hearts, and all the troubles are gone.

Childhood adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 12:54:00 +0000

Childhood is a true adventure. Every child has imaginary friends or wants to be himself like the characters from his favourite stories. So why don't we make childhood more funny and adventurous, offering our little ones the possibility to develop their brain and imagination by role-playing.

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Mommy, I loved when I was your only child

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:58:00 +0000

New family member and acceptance

The jealousy between brothers/sisters can't be avoided. It comes from the day the second child is born. It is a hard work for the parents to explain the first born child how much they love him but that they have to pay attention to the newborn child, too. There are so many tough moments, and we can't judge our children for their reactions to changings. But, also, our approach is very important, as the child sees the world through our eyes. Our goal is to keep their feelings safe and give them double love when a newborn comes into any family.

In theory, things are quite simple. Unfortunately, in practice, we fail to do things perfectly. Children are so sensitive and parents are humans, and there are so many issues coming out from the first day of living as a four member family (or more).

Mommy, I loved when I was your only child

As any mother who gave birth to more than one child, I experienced difficult moments when my second daughter came into our lives. As a family, we felt we were complete in a four member family. Our first daughter was extremely excited to have a sister, but, unfortunately, things seemed more complicated than we've ever imagined, especially because our first daughter is not a pacifist, but more a warrior and very temperamental. A child accepts his sister/brother until the moment of sharing (sharing toys, things and even his own parents). So, this is the beginning of an everyday battle and later, reconciliation. Things go wild when both of the children grow older and their spirits are more powerful. As a mom, it is very difficult to balance things, because each child has his own point of view, and, sometimes, they feel unjustified and jealous. "Mommy, I loved when I was your only child!" came like a knife in my heart when my older daughter told it to me. I understood that she needed her own moments with me, that she missed me, literally. Every mother makes mistakes, and one of them is that it pays more attention to the youngest child, which the eldest doesn't understand. It is a titanic work to struggle every day with the same problem, explaining the eldest child why it is so important to take care of the youngest one, as you did in the past with him. I'm sure mothers with temperamental children understand what I feel and they have to work hard to equilibrate things in their families, with the hope and endurance that one day, their efforts will lead to results.

Is co-sleeping benefic or not?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 15:07:00 +0000

Will you ever sleep in your bed or in your own room?

This is the question I ask my 6 year old daughter every day. She's been sleeping in bed with me or her daddy since her 1st year of age. And my second daughter does the same. And I don't regret it at all. Because when I look at them, I see two peaceful little angels, full of joy and with no frustrations, no fears, no nightmares. Most of people say that this is wrong, that the children will be spoiled or with a wrong behavior towards everything, or they won't be self-dependent at all. Will they sleep with her mom or dad until the age of 18? Of course not. They will need space at some point, so, like every other issues that come into our lives and simply go away at a moment, our children will become more and more self-dependent. Of course our role is to help our children become the adults they want to be, and to guide them in life to be good people from any point of view.

What is co-sleeping

Co-sleeping means sleeping in the same room or same bed with your child.

According to James J. McKenna Ph.D. and Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C. Chair in AnthropologyDirector, Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory University of Notre Dame and Author of Sleeping with Your Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Cosleeping "the term cosleeping refers to any situation in which a committed adult caregiver, usually the mother, sleeps within close enough proximity to her infant so that each, the mother and infant, can respond to each other’s sensory signals and cues. Room sharing is a form of cosleeping, always considered safe and always considered protective. But it is not the room itself that it is protective. It is what goes on between the mother (or father) and the infant that is. Medical authorities seem to forget this fact. This form of cosleeping is not controversial and is recommended by all." They also say that "roomsharing is a form of cosleeping and this form of cosleeping (as at least three epidemiological studies show) reduce an infant’s chances of dying by one half."

I shared bedroom with my two daughters when they were new born. First of all, because it was safer and easier for all of us, and breastfeeding was the main reason I did it. It was easier for us to sleep better, I could better watch the babies over the night, and I felt more protective to share the bedroom with them. In the first months of life it is important for the babies to sleep in their cribs, not in bed with their parents, to avoid the newborn dying from SIDS (when parents have a deep sleeping or they use drugs, alcohol or any other meds that could influence their mental health), although mother-infant cosleeping saves infants lives and contributes to infant and maternal health and well being, according to researchers. This is ok when talking about responsible, healthy and conscious parents, because cosleeping could be dangerous when talking about parents who take drugs, drink alcohol or smoke in the same room with their babies.

Bedsharing

Bed sharing is sometimes argued about as a wrong thing, and there are pro and contra opinions about it.It's not dangerous at all for older infants and toddlers, especially if you create a safe space for them. They need affection and comfort, and, moreover, they need to feel connected especially with their mothers.

As the researchers mentioned above said, "the adults should not bedshare if inebriated or if desensitized by drugs, or overly exhausted, and other toddlers or children should never be in a bed with an infant. Moreover, since having smoked during a pregnancy diminishes the capacities of infants to arouse to protect their breathing, smoking mothers should have their infants sleep alongside them on a different surface but not in the same bed."

If practiced safely, bedsharing is extremely important for the babies, especially after their first months, when mothers and babies have already known eachother, and breastfeeding contributed not only to their physical but to their spiritual approach, too.

The researchers say that in any way, babies are exposed to certain risks. They say that "just as unsafe cribs and unsafe ways to use cribs can be eliminated so, too, can parents be educated to minimize bedsharing risks....In Japan where co-sleeping and breastfeeding (in the absence of maternal smoking) is the cultural norm, rates of the sudden infant death syndrome are the lowest in the world. For breastfeeding mothers, bedsharing makes breastfeeding much easier to manage and practically doubles the amount of breastfeeding sessions while permitting both mothers and infants to spend more time asleep."

Co-sleeping until 3 years or more

I admit that my babies have been sleeping in their cribs for several months since their birth, but, in time, they needed more and more affection. They've started to feel unsafe over the night, and I've been walking several times between our rooms over the night, because of this, and because of breastfeeding (breastfeeding in my second child lasted 2 years). So, we've continued to co-sleep in the same bed until the present time, and I see the happiness on their faces when sleeping, I see them peaceful and careless, and, most of all, I feel happy when they still need me to hug them. What could be more peaceful than that? If a child feels more comfortable this way, than parents should think and take into consideration their emotional state.

As a conclusion, there are risks anyway: if a mother agrees with co-sleeping, than she feels she's responsible enough and ensures the safety of her child at every moment. A mother knows better according to her child's physical and emotional needs. On the other hand, if a baby sleeps alone in his bed or room, he could be exposed to certain risks that involve his health. So, at every corner we meet risks, and it depends on us how we approach all the situations.

Atopic dermatitis in children

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 15:06:00 +0000

How did we handle with the atopic dermatitis

Everyone dealing with this health problem knows that life's not easy when having skin rash, eczema, poor sleeping, irritability, etc. According to the specialists, the atopic dermatitis is an affection that begins in the early childhood or within the first months of life. Although the doctors say that the progress of this affection is somehow stopped or slown as the child grows older, it is different from case to case. My daughters had it from their first months (one is 2 and the other 6 now), and they still have it, because it never goes away, but the quality of their lives improved as all you can do regarding the atopic dermatitis is to keep it under control.

There were so many things that I didn't know about concerning this affection. In the beginning, distracted by the overwhelming moments with the first newborn, I overlooked it for a while, as I thought it was a transitory issue. But things proved to be more complicated, as the skin problems were getting worse. My baby was irritated and crying alot, and the skin was looking awful. I was lucky that she couldn't scratch, but, unfortunately, it was bad for her, as I could only imagine how uncomfortable was for a baby to live with that.

There are some features met in this affection:

it is a chronic inflammatory affection (with moments of ingravescence alternating with remission) of the skin.
it develops red injuries on the surface of the skin (on face, extremites, and rarely on other parts of the body) with intense itching.
it causes irritability, the high risk of the lesions to be infected (as the skin becomes very dry).
it is not contagious (which is a positive feature, especially for the kids who will go to the kindergarten later).
it occurs more often in children living in the urban environments, and more often in girls.
it is supposed to occur as a genetic factor (it could have been present in one parent or brother/sister or grandparent, on the background of an alergic affection).
it is closely related to the environment factors: which activate and feed the disease (detergents, whiteners and other cleaning agents; toxins produced by some bacteria, allergens in foods like milk, citrics, chocolate,eggs, peanuts or fruits like strawberries). And the list can continue.

Healing my children's skin

In our case, the problem was not related to the food allergens, as the pediatrician adviced us (after an accurate examination and diagnosis) to make some more tests to find out a possible source of the affection. After all, we had to find out the cause to treat and heal the effect. So, the immunological tests proved to be negative (and quite expensive, but we've excluded a possibility) and we looked further to find solutions and treatments to repair the skin barrier and to keep the affection under control.

This is what doctors have prescribed us and what really worked for my children:

Creams with cortisone - the most effective as main treatment (used not longer than 7 days); my doctor prescribed me Advantan Milk, a very good cream, used from the first months of life. Using it longer than 7 days could be harmful, as it consists of cortisone, so, the secondary effects could appear.
Creams for skin repairing - after 7 days of using cortisone cream, it was absolutely necessary to use creams for repairing the skin barrier (for us, the most efficient was CICAPLAST from La Roche-Posay.
Emollients for bath and daily care - very useful to remove the dryness of the skin; the emollients and eau thermal from Avene were so useful to us.
Bathing - it was very important to attenuate washing my children's body every day, because this is very important in atopic dermatitis. I observed that doing it more than three times a week could worsen their skin condition (not to mention that it is very important to remove all the alergenic factors like detergents, whiteners, balms, and other solutions for air refreshing, or house cleaning).
Breastfeeding for at least 6 months according to pediatricians (I don't know if this was the reason the affection has healed at least for a while, but it happened to breastfeed my youngest daughter until 2 years old, and until 7 months the older daughter).
Cotton clothes are important to keep the skin healthy after all the creams and emollients applied, as the children with atopic dermatitis are very sensitive to all the environmental factors.
Breathing air - is also important especially when speaking of moulds or dust mites. Keeping the air fresh no matter what season is outside will help children feel more comfortable, having a good sleeping or help them reduce their irritability caused by this affection.

Keeping children healthy will improve the quality of their life, and, implicitly, the quality of family life.

I am your best friend, sweet child of mine

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 14:35:00 +0000

The age of 6, the tween age

My sweet child, sometimes I'm not the best mother for you, and neither the best friend you dream of, but I know I try to be. Sometimes I don't have self-control and raise my voice, and sometimes I don't seem understanding, but I really try to. I blame myself for not being the perfect mother, but all I know is I love you with all my heart. You're just the perfect child, but now that you grew older, things became more difficult than I thought and you are such a strong spirit. You know how to support your own point of view, even if you think you're right. I love teaching you things, but it's just complicated when you're going against it. I'm not a bad mother if I want to teach you things, and you're not a bad child if you don't want to learn at the moment. But let's find a resolution together. It is not easy, but remember I am your friend, and you have to trust me. I am also your mother, and my love for you is infinite.

So, my sweet child, remember that, everytime you feel you're in trouble, I'm there for you in any moment, because I'm your mother and your friend;

Here are my promises, and don't forget I always keep them:

I'll be there for you, no matter what
I'll teach you things no matter how much you'll go against it
I'll love you as much as I love your lovely sister
I'll forgive you everytime you do something wrong, because you're part of me and this won't change
I'll give you credit even if the other's don't, because I know you better
I'll be your best friend whenever you need to
I'll find solutions to your problems
I'll keep the secrets you have

Now, here are some things I'm asking from you, too:

Let me be part of your life, cause I want all the best for you
Love your sister, cause she'll be your best friend when you grow up
Respect people, be empathic, cheerful, positive, devoted to all good things, people and moments
Be proud of yourself, say "hello", "thank you", "you're welcome"
Always trust your parents, even if you think they are so intolerant sometimes
Don't trust strangers
Always tell me about your problems, and don't be afraid to do it
Keep your promises no matter what,or,if you think you can't, don't promise things
Make me proud of you for all these, and I'll make you prod of me

Dear stranger, mind your business

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 13:30:00 +0000

Strangers think they know better

Children need to feel safe in every situation. And we are there to protect them. Also, a child is not self-dependent and has no judgement until certain ages. Every parent knows better which are the needs and likes or dislikes of his child. He also knows everything about his moods and feelings.

Now, I'm telling you, STRANGER, why do you think you know my child better, or why do you even try to talk to my child when he's playing in the park, or in any other place? Why do you think your approach is better than mine, or your advices are good for me? Do I know you? Do you know me? Do you think your life experience makes you a better parent than I am? Every child is different, and education has different perspectives for everyone.

Here are some things you, STRANGER, should not do:

Don't ask my child what's his name, especially when I'm not around. Don't you know that first you should introduce yourself? Will you tell your name everytime a stranger asks you to?
Don't tell my child "Oh! You've lost your voice? Do you even know what's your name?". First of all, my child knows that he/she should not talk to strangers. Don't judge a child because he/she refuses to do it; a child doesn't feel safe when a strange person comes around.
Don't offer him candies or any other things to eat from your pocket, or portion any other aliments with your hands that could not be clean. Don't you know this is not sanitary? And, do you think is ok doing that before asking the parent or adult looking after the child?
Don't ever say to any child "Oh, you are big now! It's a shame to stay in your mommy's arms!". When you're tired you sit down; well, a child feels better in his mommy's arms, because he/she's tired, or suffers a discomfort, or has any other problem which his parent understands it better. So, nobody needs your opinion.
Don't advice me how to dress up my child in any season. I know better than you what are my child's needs, and, if he/she doesn't wear too much warm clothes, than it is because he/she doesn't need them. Every mother knows everything about her child's condition.
Don't look spitefully when my child has a tantrum in the park, supermarket, or any other public place. Every child has it, and every parent has different approaches on the situation. My child is not naughty if he wants something and starts crying when he/she is being refused. And a parent is not mean if he refuses his child at the moment. Although, this doesn't mean the child is spoiled. There are different stages of development, and each child has different manifestations through the stages. Moreover, don't be mean and not ask me to make my child go quiet. I have my own methods, and it's my choice of how I decide to grow him/her.

None the less, I'm open minded and I do not refuse any advice from people I know. I learn from the others, and every mistake is a chance to change the way I see some things, or the way I grow my own children. So, STRANGER, before doing all the things mentioned, please ask me before.

Happy children in a dangerous world

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:27:00 +0000

Raise happy children

Every mother's desire is to have happy kids and provide them with all that is necessary to live a good life, with no fear, constraint, stress and affection. Although it is almost impossible to fully achieve this goal, we do everything in our power to protect this tiny angels from the unkindness of the outside world.

God knows what mixture of feelings is inside a mother's heart, and how her concerns are intensifying as time goes by; and at every moment, we realize that little by little we must let them go, and not necessarlily because we have to, but because they want to and need it.

We are like lions from the day they are born, and since that moment, we promise to ourselves to make them happy no matter what.

But what is happiness for our children? We are sometimes tragic, because we've learned that people around us are mean and evil minded, and, from our anxiety to protect them, we forget that their world is so inocent and it is so unfair to break it down. I've created a world of fantasy for my children since the first day of their life. I've put magic in every little thing, in every conversation with them, in every toy they had. Everything we've done together was connected to little magic stories, fairies, characters...And I've also teached them and still do it that, every little thing, toy, plant, person, has something good in it, and that, if we want to, every little thing could take shape.

This is the world I wanted to create for my children and I think that, with every stage, a part of these features should stay there, in their minds, because the world is cruel anyway, and the pureness should live forever. This is childhood and if we want to have self-confident, self-controlled, auto-motivated and positive children, it is necessary to build for them a positive world. Maybe it sounds wild, but, with every stage of development, we could point with examples from the real world, so they could understand there are bad things happening, too, like in the stories we are reading in the evening (with witches, princesses, good or bad characters).

Dangerous world out there

Am I the only one who feels this world is so dangerous for my little ones? I guess every normal parent worries about the safety of his children and there are so many bad things happening, that you feel like going crazy only to the thought that your child could get hurt or be involved in something unimaginable.

Today, you can't trust anyone, from the staff in nurseries, to the people you actually know. There are so many sick minds, that it actually make you think "Can I even trust the authorities?". There are so many horrible news about rapists who seem so normal people when you see them on the streets, and ask yourself how can you raise a normal child in a dangerous and defective society.

The other day I saw some news about a rapist who was actually a police-man. What's wrong with this world? It is intolerable. You send your child to kindergarten and hear news that some boy or girl has been abused by some employee, or by some sick person on the streets, when older. Then, what should we tell our children about this atrocities?

Is it good or bad to teach them about this from their early childhood? My older daughter of six already knows the theory about bad people: "Don't talk to strangers!", "Don't trust the strangers!", "Strangers don't have good intentions!", "Ask for help when needed!", "Always ask for the help of the people in uniforms!", etc. But, practically, she is only a child, and, I'm not sure she understands the cause and effect of the examples I give her in the everyday life. I feel bad that we have to blur the image they have about this world. Children are inoccent, and childhood is the most beautiful part of life.

Unfortunately, it is our duty, as parents, to make them feel secure, but, in this way, we clip their wings, as we become too protective, and here comes the question: IS IT GOOD OR BAD TO RAISE SELF-DEPENDENT CHILDREN from early childhood? How can we raise positive, self-esteem and auto-motivated children in this world?

Mommy, I love winter but I hate it

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 15:47:00 +0000

When winter comes, I know there's the beginning of a new struggle with my daughters. Too much clothes are pretty troubling for them, and there are stressful moments when starting the whole process of getting dressed, explaining over and over again that it is cold outside and it is really impossible to walk out in t-shirt. We all get nervous (I know I suppose to be calm, but it's impossible having an eye to the idea that my children could catch a serious cold): "Mommy, why do I have to get dressed? I hate winter!". This is the eternal question when winter is coming, and from year to year, I realize that nothing is changed, except from my children growing-up. Who says that the child will be more empathic from one year to another, and all the development stages will be less frustrating for parents?
There are behavioral differences between my two daughters, but I trully understand that a child of 2 years old can not fully control himrself when it comes to do certain activities, but as a parent you expect that a child of 6 years old be more receptive and open to changes. I think many parents have some expectations from their children at certain ages, and they believe their children change some of their habits, if we have to say so, at some points in their development stages. But what happens if they don't? And here is the topic I'm approaching: the problem of getting dressed (especially in winter), and the children's receptivity at different ages.

It is a nightmare when it's time to go out in winter, and have to dress up my daughters. The little one hates clothes as much as her older sister. I'm not sure who's more receptive, the little one or the older one? The little one is crying for all she is worth (saying "Mommy, the coat/trousers are hurting me!!!") when putting on the trousers and the coat (it's a dream and almost impossible to put on the gloves even when going out to play with snow), so I have to stay calm and keep things under control, but it is frustrating and difficult, and mothers know what I'm talking about, except the lucky ones. Finally, her reactions are manageable, and, after forwarding her attention to other things, and hugging her for about 5 minutes, everything is ok. The older daughter is very selective, and doesn't bear to put on leggings, blue-jeans, trousers, scarfs, hats, some tshirts, blouses, etc, but she loves dresses (even in winter). At 6 years of age, a mother expects that this kind of behavior will go away (of course, I'm not absurd and understand that each stage of development has new challenges), and she tells me: "Mommy, it is so annoying to put on so many clothes! Please, I want a dress!!"(in the middle of winter).

And here we are, in wintertime, with two children, weepy and crying "I love winter, but I hate it". Now, I'm asking myself, what is worse: the fact that they are not receptive when getting dressed or when explaining them it is cold outside, the fact that their negative reactions are repeating over and over again, or the fact that, a parent has normal expectations from each stage of development?

Virosis in wintertime

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 15:03:00 +0000

In some parts of the world, the cold season has already come, and, it is known that winter is a good home for the viruses. No matter how hard we try to immunize our children against colds or other severe illnesses, it is not sufficient, because there is a continuous forthcoming of new viruses that pull down their bodies. I often heard some voices saying: "Her immunity is not good enough". I think it has nothing to do with this, since the body is not prepared for new viruses, and it's impossible to stay strong against new illnesses. I mean, it's a matter of luck. Very few people are immune against new viruses, never mind a child. So, I don't know if immunity means to be invincible against the illnesses, but for sure it helps our children to go through affections easier.

I don't have unhealthy children, I didn't keep them inside in wintertime or windy weather, I didn't overdo it when putting clothes on them, and I always insisted on eating healthy food. I consider them immunised against illnesses, and I know that because they have never got severe manifestations of illnesses (when other children were down).

One mother,one approach

I hate when other mothers, or older people on the street tell me: "You'll better put her a scarf over mouth" or "Hey, it's a windy day, I'll sugest you should go inside with your child", or "It's so cold, it's not good for your little one!", or the most ridiculous one is when I hear mothers saying: "Oh, and you don't give her antibiotic? Look at her, she's runny nose! I don't chance is with my baby, even if it's a virosis! ". I don't want to upset some mothers, but the antibiotic is useless when talking about a virosis. I know some children go through illnesses with difficulty, and it is so scary when they have high fever, although high fever is a sign that the body fights against the viruses or bacteria, but this is a wholy different discussion. Afterwards, every mother knows what is the best for his baby, and knows better how to deal with their sickness. But, sometimes, it is good to balance things.

As I said before, my children got ill, too, especially in wintertime (just with runny nose most of the time). I don't know if they were lucky, but I know some of the things I've done brought in a way or another a little contribution to it. So, in winter time or the whole year round I tried to:

go out with them as much as possible (in my case twice a day and even if they had runny noses).
immunize them with fruits (and not juice, I consider the pulp more important and healthy), tea (especially ribwort or rose hip tea, that gives alot of vitamin C, and I have to mention I insist on tea only after 1 year old), honey (all types of honey, homemade dandelion honey and many other plants that I find in countryside in my homeyard).
immunize them with vegetables (I insist on eating soup everyday with all kinds of vegetables) and some other plants added in meals like sorrel, parsely or other spices.
immunize them with seeds (when possible, without knowing it, as they don't agree with all of them; for example I try to mix the flaxseed or chia seeds with the cereals).
make aromatherapy before sleeping (I prefer the eucalyptus and lemon essence as it helped my children to breath better; and if it doesn't work, I put a drop of it on their pillows).
use nebulizers when they accepted (with saline solution mostly, or other solutions recommended by the doctor).
not insist upon too much clothing (my children hate putting on too much clothes so I tried to understand that this is their way and they know better what their bodies need; of course I'm not absurd to let a child go in t-shirt outside in winter).
clear the air in our home daily (and when I say that it means that when we leave the house we let the windows open, even if there are -0 degrees outside).

I have to mention that this is my way of approaching things, which it did worked with my own children, even if, in spite of all that, my children had runny nose or had some caughs. Do not follow some of those mentioned by me until you talk to your doctor. Every child is different, every mother has different approaches and they know better their child manifestations during illnesess.

The age of kindergarten

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 14:56:00 +0000

The bond between moms and children

It is clearly known that children have a strong attachement to their mothers, as they are the first who hold them in their arms, who feed them, who offer them all the comfort when in pain, or give them the feeling of safety whenever they need. The bond is so strong that is almost impossible for the children to get apart from their mothers, and, implicitly, for their mothers to detach themselves from their children. When it's time to start going to kindergarten, there are difficult moments for both of them.
The separation is like a fresh shower, as they have to start a new routine. And the concerns are bigger, especially for mothers (I remember the first day of kindergarten of my first little girl, which was a torture for both of us, as my little girl cried all the time, and I started moving the furniture in the house, to replace her absence :)). But things go easy after a time, even if mothers have new concerns regarding illness or any social problems of their child in colectivity.

Anyway, there are also good things to happen. The age of kindergarten is interesting, as children go more independent, less self-centered and more interested in children of the same age and the activities outside their home. They are in a countinuous need to discover new things, and this is why they will pelt you non-stop with questions, involuntary. This is normal,too.

The age of inflexibility

As they grow older, they understand better the meaning of the causes and consequences, or the concepts of justice, good or bad. They will expect that you keep your promises no matter what. They will be preoccupied with all the promisses that you should keep, and for this reason, if you can not keep a promise, they will always be right.

You have to set some important rules and do not deviate from them, if you want your children to have strong principles even from the early ages. Just be patient! I know it seems a little bit hard to accept their tempers, but, after a while, be sure that they will become more flexible and more empathic. Just be proud and trusting that, at some point, they will follow all the ideas you inoculate them with.

Love between brothers/sisters

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 14:16:00 +0000

Families with two children will surely understand the "problems" that may occur between sisters and brothers. The waters are still calm until the arrival of the second newborn, and, apparently, your first child accepts the situation pretty well. But, in time, when they both grow older, things are completely different, beacause they define their personalities, behavior, and actually know what they want. Jealousy can't be actually avoided, it is normal, and all we can do is to help them feel comfortable one to another, or help them get away from all the frustrations and angers they feel towards anything related to the new member of the family.

It depends on us to make things work better between our children. It is a difficult task but the results are the most important part of it.

Children between 1 and 2 still don't get the difference between "mine" and "yours". The concept of sharing is new for them, and they want everything. At the same ages, it is impossible for you to explain why to is it good to share things with his sister/brother . I think nothing it's impossible. The problem is we do not have the endurance to do it, and, sometimes, time is our enemy. But things can work out.

Love is the key

Usually, the little ones do not love their new-born brothers/sister from the beginning. They feel or are pushed for doing it, and this is wrong. And even if they love them, this feeling is mixed with the anxiety that the baby brother or sister could take their place and they would be abandoned. Sometimes, these feelings are so extreme, that they could heart the baby on the side. This attitude is normal as long as you manage it, and help the older child to go through the mixture of feelings and acting.

Problems between sisters/brothers

When they grow older, they could argue for everything, for a toy, for their loving parents, for books, pencils and every little thing that seems insignificant to us. My little girls, for example, don't want to share me, their mother. When I'm giving hugs to one of them, the other comes into my arms, too, and says: "Mommy is mine" and the other one says the same thing (even if she is 2), and they keep saying it non-stop until I start explaining them (especially to the older one who is six and is supposed to understand it better, although she is still a child, too) how things should work between sisters, how they should support one each other, and how mommy loves them both, with no differences. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but I know that if I insist upon it, one day I'll see the results. The harmony between two children is different, and I see that, in most cases, children of the same sex argue more; and this is because they have common activities, they have to share specific toys, and, there's an endless competition between them.

Finally, you have to explain to your children what attitude is normal or not, and, most of all, to remind them every time how loved they are. Supporting them, giving them approbation, hugs and positive attention is a good method to reassure them that they are still special to you, and, on the contrary, if you get angry and yell at them, you'll get the things worsen.

Playing, reality and fantasy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 15:25:00 +0000

Children love playing, and this is the only job they have during their childhood. Playing comes naturally in their lives, and is good to know that this is the way their brain makes connections. When playing, children develop themselves from a social, physical and intelectual point of view. That is why is very important to play with our children. Spending time with them seems to be difficult sometimes, as the adults have duties to carry out, jobs, housekeeping duties, etc. But the time spent with our children is precious, and if we want them to have a "beautiful" development, than we must do all the efforts.

Support their games

By the age of 3, they've already developed their imagination. The imaginary playing develops their creativity, and gives them the opportunity to be the "boss" in a world they could have control in stressful situations.

Sometimes their imagination is exagerated, and parents don't get it, considering it a little bit strange, and that is why they sometimes set up some limits concerning their children, in order to insist upon them to play in a more realistic way. Don't do that to your children! You could hurt their feelings and they will become introvuted or frustrated. What you shall do is to support their games by observations, paying attention and approbation - but without taking over, giving them guidance or trying conclusions with them. Doing the possitive things, you will encourage your child to learn and you will consolidate his self-consideration and the relation between you. If, during his imaginary games, you help your child to have more control upon his imaginary world, he will be more cooperative and disciplinable to you in the real world.

The capacity to discern between reality and fantasy develops along with their age. We should accept that little children hardly remember the real facts or the events that were part of their games.

Also, it is normal for a child between 3 and 5 to have an imaginary friend. It will get away in time.

Let imagination run its course

As for myself, I've experienced the positive and the negative way, too. And looking back, I could say that some behaviours of mine were probably wrong in the relation with my children. Sometimes I did well, sometimes I did bad, and the past can't be changed. But I know that the present and the future can. So, personally, I'll try to be a better mother, by changing the way I see, and accepting the way my children see. I will definitely give them the chance to express themselves, to share their own points of view, to let their imagination run its course, and, moreover, to get into their world. Because I know in this way they will progress as individuals, and will grow up like confident children. I just know it is difficult to do this, but my own motivation is that, someday, my children will become grown-ups, and they need to have all the support from their parents to face the real world.

Don't forget! Your child will appreciate when they have all your attention, but they will also feel appreciated even when you are homemaking and, despite it, you encourage them. Your words have a huge meaning for them - in a positive or negative way - that is why you should consider the tone of your voice or comment.

Not all the children are the same

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 13:43:00 +0000

Behavior problems

It is good to know the way your child's behavior could change during his growth, in order to appreciate what is normal and when is the case to worry about. Many types of behavior could be questionable, and your level of tolerance may vary - depending more on your state of mind than the child's behavior itself. I have two girls, one of 2 years old and one of 6 years old, and I know how difficult it is to manage this situation. And I've learned that most of time it's up to us to manage the types of behavior, and tolerate it or not when it is the case.

Not all the children are the same

First of all, you should know that not all the children are the same and each of them has a different way of development. Your child could be different in comparison with the children of his age, but his normality depends on the expectations of the people around him. So, don't worry if your child is interested more in sports than in lessons, for example; he could be considered a hero in his community (sports, arts, etc), even if he doesn't get good appreciation from school. It's your child and you should be his support anyway. If he is not tolerated because he is different, than the answer should be the change of environment.

Differences between cultures

The normality may vary from a child to another and from a family or culture to another. Today is so difficult to face this kind of problems, because a minority is strangely seen by the others. For example, in some cultures and families, the normal behavior of a boy could not be acceptable in a g irl.

The normal stages of development

Since early ages, you should pay attention to your child's behavior (physical and psychological). For example, when they first learn to walk, you should pay attention to any problems that seem strange to you. And if you observe something abnormal, than ask for medical advice; or, when they first learn speaking, and you consider something is wrong, also ask for special advice. When it is the case of older children over, 2 or 3 years, at kindergarden or school, ask for the advice of a teacher or doctor or other professional person within the institution. It is very important to know that, usually, children with development problems have behavior problems, too.

What you should observe to a normal social development

at any age - any regression of cleverness or language
until 12 months - the lack of attempt of verbal or gesture communication (for example, to finger)
until 18 months - the absence of speaking simple words,
until 24 months - the absence of spontaneous pronunciation (not immitation) of two grouped words

Real indications to ask for professional advice

from the age of 2,3 years - problems of communication (verbal or non-verbal), like the lack of smiling or social reactions
low social abilities, like the lack of sharing happiness
low playing imagination
lack of interest in the people around them (living in an imaginary world)
the lack or insufficient visual contact
extreme emotional reactions and agresivity towards the others
rigid or difficult adaptation to changings
high or low sensitivity to stimuli ( for example, to light, sounds, taste, touch)
unsusual behavior like hand waving

Source: Dr. Dinah Jayson

Hand Foot Mouth Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 14:18:00 +0000

Hand Foot Mouth Disease

Motherhood is the most beautiful job of all times, if someone could say that, but from the moment you become a parent, you become an emotional part of your child; you fell that everything your child feels should actually be taken upon yourself, all his worries and pains should be passed over yourself. So, even it is the best job in the world, it is obviously the most difficult one, too, especially when our children are ill, and we make the worst of it.

There are so many moments of childhood when illness takes away the hapiness of our children, and we just want them to get well sooner. But what if sometimes we don't get how that our children are getting worse, when the fever is persistent, the child is lethargic, and, more, his hands, feet and mouth are full of eruptions?

Well, this is a less common disease, which is known lately as Hand-Footh-Mouth Disease. Maybe it was known before, too, but, as the information is available today in all the environments, online and media, than it became familiar to more and more people.

As many other mothers, I experienced myself the hard way, when my second baby girl encountered the symptoms which led to Hand-Footh-Mouth Disease. It's been a mild Hand-Footh-Mouth Disease. She had some eruptions in her mouth, which could hardly be seen (it was confirmed later by the pediatrician), and a persistent fever. First, I thought it was just a flu (she had also a runny nose), but her age was 6 months and I was worries that all her symptoms were persistent. Anyway, her older sister, who was at kindergarden at that time, could have had the virus without any other manifestations.

Medical information

There is some medical information below, which could be helpful to other moms who experience this kind of disease with their children. Remember, this is helpful information only in first instance before getting to the doctor. You should know the manifestations to inform the doctor and get the right medical advice from your pediatrician.

Hand-Footh-Mouth Disease is a viral disease, very contagious, which could be met in children between 1-6 years old, but in adults, too. You should pay attention to the eruptions wich may occur in hands, feet and mouth.

It is determined by the Coxsackie Virus A 16 and A 71, and it may occur in the warm season. It could be easily passed over from child to child, by mouth, through the nasal-farynx way, cough, sneeze or the direct contact with the infected objects (toys, plates, spoons, towels, etc). The disease is commonly met in kindergardens, nurseries and family environments.

Signs and symptoms:

- high temperature between 39-40 Celsius degrees

-sore throat because of the water blisters in the mouth (this leads to dehydration, as the child refuses drinking liquids)

- hands, feet and mouth eruptions

- irritability, lethargy

-inappetence

-dehydration

The incubation (the period between infection and the first symptoms) runs between 3-7 days. The children develop immunity to the disease, but they might get infected to other Coxsackie stems in the future.

First, the child has fever, than he has sore throat because of the eruptions, and then his commonwealth is changed.

If you encounter this manifestations, go and get some medical advice.

Here are the preventive actions you should take in order to avoid the infection of your child:

-toilet training, food hygiene, personal hygiene

-learning children from early ages about hygiene (washing hands, cleaning and cleansing hands and toys with special gel, etc).

Source: Dr. Giosanu - www.doctor.giosanu.ro

Hashimoto's disease

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 14:44:00 +0000

Pregnancy and Hashimoto's tyroiditis

Although pregnancy is the most beautiful period in our lives, and everything seems ok for us and our babies, there are so many changes that affect our bodies, including hormonal problems. After the baby arrives, we feel overwhelmed and we become tired, get some weight, sleep less, and all these together lead to serious problems, and the emotional stress is the main factor which causes problems with our tyroid.

As a mother of two little gorgeous girls, one of 1 year old and the other of 5 years old, I experienced problems with my tyroid after the second birth, more precisely, I've found about it by mistake, as my family doctor advised me that I should do blood tests for tyroid too, because, sometimes, after pregnancy, this kind of problems may occur. There are many symptoms that occur after pregnancy, but sometimes, if we do not know our bodies well enough, we can misunderstand it and put it on the stress and the lack of sleep. Personally, I thought everything was ok, but, you know, it was normal to be stressed when having two little babies. Mothers of two completely understand what I'm talkig about, I' m sure of it. So, it is extremely important to know better our bodies and the signs it sends us. It would be the first step to reveal the tyroid issues and only the doctor would decide what blood tests should be done, tyroid ultrasounds or, when worse, biopsy.

As a result of general blood tests, I've found my TSH was very high, so, my doctor asked for more blood tests, to decide what kind of tyroid problems did I have. The results showed I had high antibodies, so, the diagnosis was Hashimoto's tyroiditis, an autoimmune problem of the tyroid, in which the immune system gives antibodies that attack the tyroid. It's difficult to find out you suffer from tyroid problems, especially when you do not have symptoms, and you put the stress on the two babies you take care of (the only symptom was constipation, but I had it from pregnancy, so I put it on it, hoping that there was just a matter of time for the body to recover after pregnancy).

Now, if untreated, Hashimoto can lead to hypotyroidism. I remind that this made me to research about it, and I also took medical assistance from my doctor and specialists. I'm not a doctor, so, each woman has different symptoms for this disease. As for myself, I didn't get weight (this should be one of the symptoms), but, instead, I ironically lost weight.

Anyway, the next step is to find out when the disease occured, which is very difficult, and this is of high importance, because it could be genetic, and, in conclusion, your children could have the disease, too. Doctors say that pregnancy starts the tyroid problems in women who have a genetic component to this disease, or at least the symptoms occur after pregnancy.

Factors playing a role in Hashimotos's:

The causes of Hashimoto's are not known, according to the doctors, but there are some factors with high influence on the disease:

- Genes: if there's one family member who has tyroid disease or other autoimmune disease, then the genetic component has a high influence.

- Iodine: if you have an excessive amount of iodine in your body, than this could lead to serious autoimune diseases like Hashimoto's. It ia known that iodine is needed by our bodies to make tyroid hormones, but too much iodine affects us.

- Hormones: Sex hormones may play a role, that is why some women develop tyroid problems during the first year after pregnancy, and, even if it usually goes away, some women develop Hashimoto's years later.

-Radiation: People exposed to radiation develop a high risk to have tyroid problems like Hashimoto's.

Treatment for Hashimoto's:

The doctor is the only one who could advice you what medicine is benefic to each of you, but there are many studies who show that alternative medicine is successful, meaning that food has a great influence in our lives, but this is a topic that deserves a great attention.

In conclusion, as a person who has Hashimoto's, why shouldn't we treat the the real cause and not the effect?

Life after two babies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 14:22:00 +0000

New life, new start

Photo source: Pinterest

Welcome your new baby and get used to your new family life, because now you are four and everything will change. Your mental health should be strong, as you need to be prepared for a new lifestyle, and there's a battle inside of you which will never end..you have to accomodate your first child to his new baby sister/brother (and believe me, that's the hardest thing of all), you have to take care of your second baby, your mind faces so many contradictions, between the love you share with your children and the love for your partner; and, there are so many frustrating things regarding your new kilos, your physical changes, and the balance that is gone in your intimate life...
How do you take care of this aspect? If until baby no.2 things were pretty easy, now how do you manage to share your intimacy or romantic evenings with your partner? There is not enough time, the children have their needs, the babies are crying and you feel so anxious, stressed and tired enough to postpone your romance with your partner. But I can assure you need it. Because, above all, you are an individual, a woman who misses all this, even though you are focused now on your babies, but you still need romance and sex life..

You need it

So, from now on, you'll feel like two lovers, at the beginning of their relashionship, looking for quiet places to spend time together, like two teenagers who don't want to be caught, sending naughty messages to eachother, behind the eyes of the others...I tell you that this is a new beginning for you, as a couple, and you'll love it, because once you make efforts, you see you'll love it and I think every couple need to feel like in the beginning..When children go to sleep, put on your new catsuit and remember your partner how beautiful you are to him, and remember him what he could loose if his eyes are looking in other directions...he has his needs, too, you know? And if you think your new romance with your partner has no chance, be more optimistic, even if the children are crying all night long, or you need to breastfeed all night long, there's a new morning, too..So, wake up when everyone is still sleeping, and make your partner start his day with the "after" smiley face.. So, ladies, renew yourself and your sexlife, and I assure you that if you'll make it possible, you'll be happier in your life with your partner, and you'll be more relaxed in your life as a mom...

Pregnant and famous

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:43:00 +0000

Pregnant like a celebrity!

Photo source: Pinterest

When we are pregnant, we start feeling strange concerning our body, because there are so many changes that take place, and everything starts from our hormones. It is a continuous change from the first day we find out the great news: having a baby! We start planning and changing our future plans, we are happy and excited, we imagine how our baby will be, how beautiful our lives will be, and there is plenty of time to do that amongst the nine months we are carrying the pregnancy. But those changes are not comfortable all the time. Some women feel sick at the beginning of the pregnancy, or the entire 9 months period, they have physical disorders or bad moods all the time. Of course there are women who don't even feel they are pregnant, and we talk here about women who had a really healthy lifestyle before getting pregnant, and who did sports with regularity.

Photo source: Pinterest

My point is that, even if the pregnancy is gettting good or worse, we should follow examples and have models, as no matter how difficult it is, we should try to change our lifestyle (from food to sports and mental attitude). We should have positive examples around us, and think that all the 9 months worth the entire rest of our lives.

We know that celebrities look gorgeous when talking about moms-to-be. But they have their bad days, too. They are human, too! But we do not see that! When reading a magazine, we see celebs that look amazing in pregnant dresses, when going shopping, sexi in swimsuits when going in vacations, with amazing make-ups and positive spirits. This is the example we should follow. Our pregnancies are good or bad according to our state of mind. It depends on how tragic we are and how positive and negative we are. It is true that our hormones are playing games with us, but sometimes everything is up to the universal attraction: think positive and you'll feel positive!

So let's be pregnant like celebrities: even if we feel sick and have various pregnancy disorders, let's look positive, change our lifestyle, do some pregnancy sports, eat healthy food, change our state of mind. You'll see you fell different! I did it, and it worked for me!

Feel sexi and proud of your belly

There are so many conflicts in our minds during our pregnancy, and our hormones challenge our spirits, and this is perfectly normal. When the baby bump is visible enough, we do not feel sexi anymore. People say "You look gorgeous! You are such a beautiful pregnant woman!", but you do not feel that way. I think it's important the way our men look at us when we are pregnnant. We are not sick, but only pregnant, so, they should keep looking at us in the same way they used to do, and make us feel sexi. Some of them are reserved, and, honestly, I think they should ignore the visible changes that take place concerning our bodies. We need to feel sexi, positive and happy, because the entire 9 months period is not easy at all, and we must keep self confident and energized for the after birth period.

Photo source: Pinterest

So, why wouldn't we look like pregnant Angelina, feel like pregnant Shakira and live like pregnant Beyonce or Jessica Alba? Does it sound good? If they can, we can, too!!! Go shopping, walk wherever you feel to, put a sexi pregnant dress, try a beautiful make up, meet positive people, energize yourself with things you love to do, be happy, forget the bad moods of pregnancy, do sports (your baby bump will be just fine), go to the beach, eat healthy and fresh food (spoil yourself whenever you feel to), change you attitude and feel sexi! You'll see the effects and how people will look at you. It's all about your attitude!

Healthy Sweetness for Children

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:13:00 +0000

Since my little girl has been born, I realized that I am obsessed of everything that comes from nature, and, as a mother, I want what's best for my child. I just want to confess that, personally, I'm a fan of healthy and organic food, natural herbs and remedies for my child's health, all that comes from nature, from fruits to meat, eggs and milk. Today is so difficult to find such natural resources, but we should really try to raise our children in the best way possible.

I remember that, when I was a child, I spent my summer holidays in the countryside, and all the food resources were there, thanks to my grandparents who took care of this aspect. I remember I ate honey and honey kills all day long, fresh vegetables and fruits from the garden, wild berries from the hills, drinking fresh milk from my grandparents' cows, goats and eating healthy and hormones free eggs and meat. Our generations were surely healthier thanour children. Today, everything is full of chemicals, hormones and our duty is to avoid the artificial food, medicine, remedies, for the sake of our children.

Going back to the subject, this summer I've discovered two natural fruits, wandering on the hills of my childhood together with my little girl. Our countryside is in the mountain area, so we take advantage of so many healthy resources, from fresh air to wild fruits, herbs and vegetables.

Wild Strawberries

The wild strawberry is one of the fruits we've found on the hills, and my little one ate it all day long. And I've decided to prepare for the winter a healthy sweetness, full of vitamins.

Did you know that wild strawberries can be harvested starting in June and they last until October? They have so many properties and benefits, and they have such an aromatic taste! Don't forget they are a great remedy between food and medicine, but you should also know that they could cause allergies. So, alot of attention for those who suffer from allergies! Also, their therapeutical power is given by the small yellow dots that cover the fruits. Enjoy their benefits all summer long!

You can use wild strawberries and give them to your children as remedies for:

Rheumatism.
Skin rashes.
Skin diseases - the wild strawberry has an excellent effect in the treatment of skin diseases like: dermatosis and psoriasis or acne. This cure detoxifies the body,as the wild strawberries eliminate toxins.
Intestinal transit can be adjusted with wild strawberries.
Respiratory complaints.
Leucorrhoea.
Nervousness.
Excessive menstrual bleeding (for mommies).
Water retention.
Diabetes, high cholesterol levels and arteriosclerosis (12-day cure with wild strawberry).

Did you know that consuming wild strawberries in summer could give more resistance to high temperatures? Why? Because they have a cooling effect and they stimulate the nervous system.

Mommies, here is a secret: you can use wild strawberries for face treatments and they have an excellent effect.

It is a good remedy for immunity as it consists in Vitamin C, and, also it is rich in tannins, which help your little ones treat the diarheea, indigestion and dysentery.

Personally, I use wild strawberries all the time when they are available, and most of the time, I prepare from them tea and sweetness. That is why each summer we collect the plant with fruits and leaves to dry them for the winter season. For the winter season, too, here is a sweetness preparation from wild sweetness for little ones:

Wild strawberries sweetness

2 kg wild strawberries

2 kg brown sugar (or honey)

20 g vanilla flavour

1 lemon

2 glasses of water

First you should prepare the syrup, mixing the water with the sugar on a low heat, until you see the mixture has a thick consistency (you can try it by cooling a small quantity). After washing the wild strawberries, dry them, then, when the syrup is ready, add the lemon juice, the vanilla, then the wild strawberries (after you stop the cooker). Put the mixture into warm jars, seal them and turn them upside down to create a kind of vacuum. Keep them in cold places. Your little ones will love it!

Green wallnuts

Did you know how many properties and benefits have the green wallnuts? They could be collected in June, but, before deciding to prepare green wallnuts sweetness, you should know that it is a difficult process, because they must be peeled and they stain your hands so much that, if you do not wear 2 or 3 pairs of plastic gloves, you'll hate you did it (your hands will stay black for about 2,3 weeks).

Walnuts are high in: protein, vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, trace minerals, lecithin and oils.

Green wallnuts are healthy resources consisting in a high quantity of iodine, which is very good for children, and they have great properties for the nervous system. That is why you should give them to childrem suffering from various nervous problems.

Here are their benefits:

Mineral Resources - they contain minerals and essential nutrients, such as manganese, potassium, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, and copper that serve a variety of purposes including the development of sperm and acid synthesis.
Anti-inflammatory - the omega-3 fatty acid are good for inflammatory diseases such as asthma, psoriasis, eczema, and rheumatism.
Good for skin - they are rich in vitamin E, good for skin problems.
Enhance the immune - they have antioxidant properties for immunity that protects against aging, cancer, and neurological disorders.
Good for pregnant women -they contain a lot of vitamin B-complex, such as folate, riboflavin, thiamin, good for pregnant women.
Good for the heart - the Omega 3 fatty acids are good for heart disease, stroke, coronary artery disease, and other diseases related to the heart.
Lose weight (for mommies) - they can help increase metabolism.
Constipation - use them to treat constipation.
Beauty -they can protect the skin from dryness. They are also used for a long time for therapy, aromatherapy, massage and cosmetic products.
Benefits for hypertension and various types of cancer.

Green wallnuts sweetness

1000 g green walnuts

1200 g sugar

300 ml water

2 lemons (juice)

30 g vanilla flavour

It could be prepared in the same way as the wild strawberries, but before it, you must peel them until you reach the white kernel, and keep them in water for 1 night with a slice of lemon in it to prevent oxidation. The next day they are ready for preparation. My little one adores it!

What to avoid during pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 May 2015 09:33:00 +0000

There are 9 months to wait until the baby will be born, and it's such a long period of expectation for mothers-to-be, and all they should do is to take care in each moment of their own health and their unborn baby. During pregnancy, mothers-to-be ask questions and try to find out new things from the experiences of other women. But we should not forget that pregnancies are different in each woman, and sometimes we should only follow our instincts if we do not agree with some opinions or experiences. There are so many myths regarding pregnancy, changed from generation to generation, and all we must do is listening to experts, to doctors or proven studies, and not to advices from other people.

As doctor Oz mentioned, we can control genes of intelligence or waist size. It is true that we can not control some features like eye color or receding hairlines, as they are the result of DNA, but we can control which genes get turned on or turned off by staying fit and healthy during pregnancy, because it dramatically influences how your child's genes function throughout life.

10 things to avoid during pregnancy

Here are 10 things to avoid during pregnancy, according to specialists:

Smoking- should be avoided during pregnancy because it affects the development of the fetus.
Medication - There are some drugs forbidden during pregnancy, like antibiotics and antiinflamatories which could cause serious birth malformations in new-born babies. You should not take medication without medical approval.
Stress - try to avoid all the events and situations that put pressure on your life.
Extreme sports and intense physical activities - they could be dangerous for the evolution of pregnancy, as they could cause overheating of your body, or you could risk to have an abortion, etc.
Alcohol - while some specialists consider that small quantities of alcohol could not harm the baby, others consider that even a small amount could be dangerous and risky.
X-Rays - are known to be very dangerous during pregnancy, because they use some toxic substances that could cause malformations.
Fish consisting of mercury - try to avoid eating shark meat, tuna, bass, mackerel or swordfish, as they are big fish that could contain a bigger amount of mercury, toxic for you and your baby.
Dehydration - drink at least 2 l of water daily, as dehydration could cause contractions and premature birth.

Enjoy your pregnancy!

Health in Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 May 2015 09:54:00 +0000

Do's and Don'ts in pregnancy

ivillage.com

It is believed that pregnancy is one of the most beautiful periods in a woman's life. Some women enjoys it, and some don't. Why? Because there are so many reasons and factors that influence our lives and, generally, pregnancy is not pink all the time. It is not a general rule to feel sexi, comfortable and happy during pregnancy. Sometimes this is a myth, or, it depends on how each woman faces difficulties. It is true that everything is up to the state of mind and motivation. When a woman has a difficult pregnancy everything seems so blue and she hardly waits the baby to be born. But when she has an easy pregnancy, she feels like moving the mountains and she's positive all the time. It is difficult to take care of your own health or baby's health during pregnancy, when you can hardly eat something or get yourself hydrated enough. If you have enough resources before getting pregnant, it could be easier for the baby to have a normal development during intrauterine life, because he consumes from your resources.

Aliments needed in pregnancy

Anyway, no matter how difficult a pregnancy is, but how much attention we pay to our baby's health during pregnancy. Firstly, we should make efforts and pay attention to the food we eat, as a life grows inside us and needs alot of nutrients to have a good start, and have a good mental and physical development. So, everytime we eat, we should think twice before consuming one aliment or another.

But what is good and what is wrong to eat?

First of all, you should know that the quality of food is important and not the quantity. Some women feel like eating twice more food than usual during pregnancy. This is wrong! On my own personal experience, eating frequently little food is helpful to you and your baby, too. Personally, I didn't feel well when eating too much food at a time. Secondly, as long as you respect the principles of a consistent and healthy diet including fish, lean meat, lacteous aliments, cereals, fruits and vegetables, than everything would be ok with your pregnancy, as most of doctors recommend it.

Fibers

It is also important for pregnant women to consume aliments rich in fibers daily, in order to avoid problems related to constipation and hemorrhoids. Fiber consisting aliments are: fruits, vegetables, bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta. Don't forget to consume much more liquids, as fibers without liquids could cause contipation.

The folic acid is extremely important for a healthy pregnancy. It is good in the formation of the red blood cells, it's a good heart protector and could prevent some malformations of the fetus. It is known that pregnant women having a deficiency of folic acid present a greater risk to have children with NTD (Neural Tube Deficiency). It would be great if you take the folic acid from aliments and not from supplements. Here are some aliments consisting of folic acid (Vitamin B9): vegetables with green leaves, cereals, eggs, cheese, green beans, peas, chickpeas, citrus and red fruits.

Iron is important, too. There are so many women with iron deficiency. Try to consume much more Vitamin C for a good iron absorption. Here are some aliments constisting in iron: red meat (pork, lamb or beef), eggs, cereals, green vegetables like bean, spinach, broccoli, whole weat bread, dried apricots, plums, etc.

Vitamins must be always present for a good immune system. Don't forget to consume fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin A like mango, carrots, apricots and tomatoes; fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C like green vegetables, capsicum, red fruits, citrus, kiwi, etc; aliments rich in Vitamin D like oily fish, eggs, dairy, etc. Vitamin D is very important for a good bone and teeth development. Don't forget to take your Vitamin D from the sun, too.

Aliments to avoid in pregnancy

Seafood - it could be contaminated with Listeria
Raw eggs or aliments containing raw eggs - in order to avoid the infection with Salmonella
Soft cheese - could contain some bacteria called Listeria (which could cause abortion)
Caffeine - some studies proved that a moderate consumption of caffeine is safe, but some of them proved that abortion could be caused by it.
Green or black tea could be consumed with moderation, otherwise it could cause abortion, infant withdrawal or lightweight at birth.
Unwashed vegetables - it could cause toxoplasmosis
Raw meat - if insufficiently prepared it could be a source of trichinella, salmonella, toxoplasmosis or E-coli.
Sausage - they contain a great quantity of additives dangerous for pregnancy
Artificial sweeteners and preservatives - could cause the premature birth; avoid E621 (it could cause headaches and abdominal discomfort
Pineapple and papaya - pineapple is rich in bromelain which could cause the softening of the cervix, leading to the premature labor. Papaya consists of seeds rich in latex, which could induce the uterine contractions
Sesame seeds - they've been traditionally used as medication to induce abortion.

Dandelion Honey for Children's Health

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 May 2015 11:54:00 +0000

Nature is magical for our health

Mothers want what's bests for their children and their health. Nowadays, when everything is so unorganic, we are looking only for healthy food and a healthy lifestyle. When it comes about our children, we do our best to offer them healthy aliments especially in the first three years of life, when they gather the needed nutrients for a good start. That is why we should not forget that nature is magical and we should get from it as much as we could. There are so many plants that nature offers, and we should be thankful that we still have this choice for us and for our kids. I didn't appreciate nature until I've had my own child. Now, I'm trying to be more selective regarding the food from supermarkets, and I also try to prepare some goodies in my own home (like all sorts of sweetness, sauce or syrup made of various herbs benefic for different diseases, etc).

How I found dandelion

My daughter Tania

A couple of days ago, walking in my garden at the countryside (in a mountain region), I met a countrymen who saw me picking some yellow flowers for my little daughter. He told me that the yellow flowers called dandelions are extremely useful in certain diseases, especially in pulmonary ones. And he adviced me to make a dandelion honey. Happy that I found an interesting information, I searched on the internet to know more about this herb and its benefits, and how could I use it in my home.

Isn't it amazing? All the fields are covered with this amazing herb like dandelion, and only few of us know how magical it is for our health, under various forms (tea, honey, tinctures, etc). That is why today, when everything is so unorganic in supermarkets (or the organic foods are extremely expensive), we should take advantage of all what nature is giving to us.

Dandelion and its benefits

When my baby girl is ill, I try to give her as many natural syrups as possible, and avoid medicines as much as I could (and it worked for her, and I have to say this is my own opinion about my child's health; I don't blame mothers who use antibiotics, because each child is different and some are less immune than others, and a simply syrop won't get him well).

I truly believe in nature's power, and, especially in this herb...

I should say that dandelion is good to be picked up from the mountain regions, or from wild places, where you know they have not been treated with pesticides or other chemicals.

Dandelion is a very rich source of beta-carotene which we convert into vitamin A. Besides, we should know that it is rich in vitamin C, which is extremely important for our children's health, as well as fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus. It also contains a great complex of vitamin B. What we didn't know is that dandelion contains more protein than spinach, interesting, isn't it?

Here are some benefits of dandelion for your children's health:

Immune System - Dandelion fights off microbes and fungi;
Kidney – It is like a diuretic that helps the kidneys clear out waste, salt, and excess water.
Liver – Dandelion removes toxins, reestablishing the hydration and electrolyte balance.
Antioxidants – Dandelion is rich in antioxidants that prevent free-radical damage to cells and DNA, slowing down the aging process in our cells.
High Blood Pressure – The fiber and potassium in dandelion regulate blood pressure.
Digestive Aid – Dandelion is a laxative for digestion, stimulating the appetite for your children, and balancing the natural and beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
Diabetes – It regulates blood sugar and insulin levels.
Cholesterol – It lowers and control cholesterol levels.
Cancer – Dandelion acts against cancer to slow its growth and prevent its spread.

I'll give you bellow some details on the dandelion honey prepared in my home, and already used by my daughter (who really liked its taste) and which was a successful remedy for her throat.

Dandelion Honey Homemade

Collect the dandelion flowers from safe places, not treated with chemicals (I recommend you the mountain regions). It is important to know that the flowers should be collected in the morning, until 12 o'clock, when they are fresh. I used more than 1 kilo for the resulted quantity of dandelion honey (about 10 small bottles);
Gently wash the flowers, then put them in a large pot and boil them for about 30 minutes with 2,5 l of water;
When the boiling is ready, keep them in the pot with the resulted tea until the next morning.
The next morning, press the flowers with your clean hands, filter the tea, than boil the resulted dandelion tea (2 l) with 3 kilos of brown sugar (I used white sugar), for about 45 minutes or more;
When the composition becomes thicker (you should try it cooling a small quantity in a spoon, and see if it looks like honey);
When almost ready, add 1/2 lemon, sliced, and let it boil for 10 more minutes. Lemon is good for a long lasting dandelion honey.
Put the dandelion honey in small glass bottles (or jars) and keep them in dark and cold places. I hope your children enjoy the dandelion honey!

Source: www.sunwarrior.com

Stem Cell Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 12:21:00 +0000

The importance of stem cells from the cord blood

The umbilical cord contains powerful stem cells that have been used to regenerate healthy blood and immune systems. Cord blood stem cells have been used in more than 35,000 transplants worldwide. Doctors are also researching cord blood as potential treatment for conditions that currently have no cure. Stem cells are able to transform into other types of cells in the body to create new growth and development. They are the building block of the immune system. The transformation of these cells provides physicians with a way to treat leukemia and some inherited health disorders.If parents do not decide to collect the stem cells, they are discarded as medical waste, if not collected at birth. Usually the volume of stem cells collected is quite small, so these cells are usually used for children or small adults. So, the stem cells are frozen and stored by cord blood banks or programs until they are needed.

In some hospitals, pregnant women are asked (or if they already know about the stem cells collection, they are already decided if they should do it or not, and have already chosen the cord blood bank) if they would consent to having their cord blood cells collected.

The umbilical cord is clamped and cut immediately after a baby is born. Cells can be collected from the umbilical cord before or after the placenta (afterbirth) is delivered. The collected cells are sent to a cord blood bank chosen by the parents, where specially trained technicians test the cells and freeze them until needed for transplantation (when parents chose a private bank, the cells can be used only for family members which are compatible). These precious cells that may otherwise have been thrown away can potentially save a life. Unfortunately, not everywhere on the globe, this method is used, and just a few hospitals do this practice if they are financially supported.

Anyway, there are pros and cons regarding this procedure, because people have different opinions and do not believe in their benefic role, or, do not believe in the banks that stock them, because of the collapse risks. People need insurances, but we don't know in our lives if we'll ever get sick or we'll need the stocked cells we've paid for. For me, it's like a life insurance, or a car insurance: we never know if we'll have an accident, but we still pay for that insurance.

Should we collect stem cells from the cord blood at childbirth, or not?

Parents usually think of alot of aspects, and here we talk about their financial possibilities (stocking the stem cells involves great costs, the enrolment fee and the collection and storage cost for at least one year, then, the annual fee, depending of each stocking bank), the trust in the respective bank, etc. It is important to read carefully the contract between you and the bank, to know what are its conditions, and also, it is good to check if the cord blood bank has any accreditation. Otherwise, parents should donate the stem cells to other families who need it and have serious health problems.

Read here for more details:

http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/cord-blood-banking/

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Dandelion and its benefits

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Stem Cell Collection

The importance of stem cells from the cord blood

Should we collect stem cells from the cord blood at childbirth, or not?

Do's and Don'ts in pregnancy

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