• What is travel sickness?
• What are the symptoms?
• Top tips to preventing travel sickness in the car
• Top tips to preventing travel sickness in the air
• Top tips to preventing travel sickness on the sea
• General advice

What is travel sickness?

Travel or motion sickness occurs when the brain receives mixed messages from small and repetitive movements. The inner ear balance mechanisms tell the body something different than the eyes do and it is this confusion about body positioning that causes a feeling of sickness during travel.

Motion sickness is extremely common. Almost everyone would suffer from symptoms of travel sickness in extreme conditions but around 3 in 10 people feel ill when traveling in normal conditions.

Children between the ages of 3 and 12 are the most likely to get travel sick.

What are the symptoms

Symptoms can include:

• Dizziness
• Feeling queasy
• Feeling sick
• Increased production of saliva
• Headaches
• Cold sweats
• Pale skin
• Vomiting

Top tips to preventing travel sickness in the car

If your child is suffering from travel sickness and is old enough to sit in the front passenger seat, allow them to do so. Having a clear view of the road and focusing into the distance will help .

Try to avoid having young children in the back of the car looking down at their laps often. Reading a book or playing a game whilst they are looking downwards will only increase symptoms.

Instead, have them sing along to songs to distract them. Keeping the car well ventilated will also help ease symptoms.

Take plenty of rest stops to allow them to stretch their legs and have a few plastic bags handy in case of vomiting.

Top tips to preventing travel sickness in the air

A seat over the wing of the plane is the most stable area to sit meaning less turbulence. With less jittering around, your little one should feel a little less dizzy and nauseous.

For flyers who are always sick no matter what, it is best to be seated by a toilet and have sick bags handy just in case of a queue.

Ensure your little one is drinking sips of water to keep hydrated. Put your child’s seat back and have them close their eyes and try to sleep if possible.

Top tips to preventing travel sickness on the sea

When feeling sea sick, fresh air is the best cure. Stay up in the fresh air as much as possible but don’t allow your little one to look down at the waves. Instead have them focusing on the horizon in the distance as it isn’t moving.

If going on the deck isn’t possible, choose a seat in the centre of the boat as low as you can, this is where the boat will move less.

Closing eyes and lying back still will help to ease symptoms.

General advice

No matter how you’re traveling, these pieces of advice will help keep your little ones happy on your journey.

• Keep a spare change of clothes, a towel and baby wipes handy just in case of vomiting.
• A headrest or pillow may help to minimise head movement
• Tell your child to focus on one fixed object or close their eyes
• Avoid large meals or drinking lots before traveling
• Keep cool by getting plenty of fresh air
• For older children, doctors can prescribe medicine to help relive the symptoms of travel sickness, seek advice from your GP

Photography: Jim Champion @Flickr

You may also like:

1. Can I have travel vaccinations during pregnancy?
2. Morning sickness
3. How to ease morning sickness

In severe cases, a deficiency in Vitamin D can lead to bone problems, such as rickets in young children and aches and pains in adults.

The at-risk group

Pregnant and breastfeeding women, young children and adults over the age of 65 are at the highest risk of having a deficiency in the vitamin, though people who are housebound or have darker skin are also at risk. Figures up to a quarter of the overall population have low levels of Vitamin D.

Although being in the ‘at-risk’ category, figures show most pregnant women neglect to take Vitamin D supplements throughout pregnancy.

The Chief Medical Officers involved in the campaign are urging nurses, doctors and hospital staff who are in regular contact with people who fall into the ‘at-risk’ category to advise them on how to top up their levels of the Vitamin. Advice on supplements, vitamin benefits and the risks of deficiency will also be offered from health professionals.

Further information and support

If you are worried about your child’s intake of Vitamin D, see our article on is my toddler getting enough Vitamin D?

Source: Nursing Times

Photography: Jody Digger @Flickr

You may also like:

1. Are pregnant women entitled to free NHS prescriptions?
2. How to find perfume for a pregnant women (redirect)
3. Why should pregnant women avoid sheep during the lambing season?

The study looked at the eating behaviour of 155 children ranging in ages from 20 months to six years. It found that babies who used their fingers to feed themselves favoured carbohydrates such as toast to sweet things.

Dr. Ellen Townsend took various factors into account including birth weight, how long they were breastfed for and if their parents were rich or poor when looking into the weight difference between the spoon fed and the finger fed babies.

The results

The weight different between the two remained even after the above factors were taken into account, though most babies in both control groups were of normal weight.

The study involved questionnaires which suggested that children who were introduced to finger foods early favoured foods such as pitta bread and pasta compared to sugary, fruit purees.

Youngsters who started with spoon feeding were offered a variety of carbohydrates, proteins, fruit and vegetables and whole meals such as lasange more often than the baby-led counterparts but still opted for sweeter purees. Spoon fed babies were more likely to be obese than baby-led weaning babies.

Dr. Townsend believes giving babies the opportunity to choose how much they want to eat gives them the power to choose when they are full. She said, “It could be an age of introduction effect that we are seeing. Carbohydrates are ideal finger foods.

“But self-control of feeding may also be a factor. You are handing over control and letting the baby decide how much they want to eat.

“With spoon feeding there is the temptation to get into them whatever is left in the bowl or the jar.”

More Information and support

Our nutrition expert, Charlotte Stirling-Reed, says, “This is another interesting article from the BBC but one that may add to the current confusion around feeding practices for mothers and their babies, especially with such a bold title!

“Whichever way you choose to feed your baby is fine and everyone is entitled to their own opinion around what is best for their own baby. However the most important thing to remember is that it is important to ensure that baby is getting enough variety in the foods that they eat each day. Fingerfoods are especially important when weaning to encourage self-feeding from a young age but it is also a good idea to teach your baby how to take solid foods from a spoon. Offering plenty of different foods, as purees or fingerfoods will help your baby to accept foods in the long run as preferences for certain foods are developed from a young age.”

Source: BMJ

Photography: Leon Brocard @Flickr

You may also like:

1. Bottle Feeding
2. Baby Breast Feeding test
3. Bottle feeding problems

• How to choose childcare
• Nurseries
• Childminders
• Nannies
• Grandparents, friends and family members
• More information

How to choose childcare

Things to consider when choosing childcare include your child’s needs, cost, your working pattern, other family member commitments such as clubs etc, whether you wish to have your child with other children or cared for alone, whether you wish for someone to care for your child in your home, theirs or in a school or community building and dietary requirements.

Some forms of registered childcare offer extra Working Tax Credit to help with affordability. To check your eligibility and the differences between Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales, have a look at this guide.

There are a wide range of available options to cater to every family.

Nurseries

There are a number of nursery options for children. Nurseries offer a safe and structured environment for children to learn through play and experience with their peers. All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year. These places at nursery are available until the child reaches their fifth birthday as they will begin school in the term following their birthday.

The nursery your child will attend can depend on your catchment area and the needs of your child. If your chosen nursery fills up, you may be offered a place at another State nursery or have the place at a private nursery paid for by the government.

There are a number of different types of private nurseries to choose from if you wish to pay for your child’s nursery education or if you wish to have them attending from a younger age than provided. Some nurseries cater for a wide range of ages, including babies and are sometimes split into different rooms depending on ages. Other nurseries can specifically cater for children with special or additional needs.

Outdoor nurseries are becoming increasingly popular with parents. The benefits of having children learning outdoor and using natural materials for play is evident. Allowing children to assess their own levels of risk in an outdoor environment can help to prepare them for the school. From an hour in a forest play area to spending the full nursery day outdoors (including hammocks in the trees to nap!), the types of forest Kindergarten and outdoor nurseries can vary.

Specialist nurseries who nurture creativity in children and allow them the freedom to explore what they want to learn. Nurseries following education methods such as Montessori and Steiner, nurture the whole child including academic, physical, emotional and spiritual development.

Nurseries are good for developing essential skills such as sharing, playing together, communication and spending time with their peers. There is opportunities to explore music, art, books, cooking, role play, basic counting and alphabet, drama and games amongst other activities.

Childminders

Childminders often care for a range of children at different ages and from different families. They are cared for in the childminders home and snack time/meals are provided by the childminder. As food and activities are set by the minder, parents have less control on the structure of their children’s day. In England, childminders must be registered with Ofsted, in Wales they must be registered with CSSIW and in Scotland they must be registered with the Scottish Care Commission.

Some childminders can be paid using the free nursery grant from the Government if your children are three or four and many offer Early Years education for that age group. Childminders often work within a network so if they are ill, another minder may be able to step in as cover.

Childminders charge per child, per hour, but often offer sibling discounts. Their homes are checked for suitability and safety and all members of the household are background checked before any registration is granted to the childminder. Some childminders may offer a pick-up drop of service however in most cases, the parents must drop and collect their own children from the childminders house. If there are other children of school age being cared for, younger children may be taken along on the school runs with the childminder.

Nannies

Nannies differ from childminders in that they come to your home, care for only your children and charge a flat rate, regardless of how many children you may have. For larger families, nannies are more expensive than paying per child, per hour at a childminders. The food consumed during Nanny time is provided by you so you can have greater control on what your little ones are eating whilst you are out. Nannies will often take your children out on walks, to activities or out to the doctors when they’re ill etc.

Nannies provide tailored childcare to suit your needs and hours. A nanny will get your child ready in the morning and many offer housework services including general tidying of children’s bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms, ironing, washing and hoovering.

Grandparents, friends and family

Having family, friends and Grandparents who are willing to lend a hand with childcare can help out enormously with the financial side of things. With little to no cost, many families might be quick to ask their relatives to step in as acting childminder/nanny.

Having a familiar face looking after your child brings not only you great comfort, but your children too. A day out with Granny and Granddad is a great adventure in your child’s eyes. As Grandparents or aunties and uncles of your child, spoiling is sometimes unavoidable and your children might be given a few too many treats in your eyes. This is something that can become difficult to control when your family is your child’s care provider.

As they have a relationship to your child, they may feel they have enough authority to discipline and treat your child in ways you might not agree with. As your close family members, it may become difficult to explain to them why you want them to follow your methods and only your methods for consistency for your child.

Many parents prefer to use childcare outwith their parents and other family members as they fear their children may be too much hard work and they want to avoid the awkwardness of parenting style clashes but for others, free childcare is the perfect solution.

More information

For more information on Government funded nursery placements for your three-four year olds please Direct Gov.

Childminder and nanny information can be found at the National Childminder Association.

Photography: Kate Lundy @Flickr

You may also like:

1. Types of childcare
2. Making a decision about childcare
3. The cost of childcare

Research collected by the clinic suggested that of the children they followed, those who had at least two surgical procedures requiring anaesthesia before the age of three were almost twice as likely as their peers to develop ADHD by the time they were 19.

Of the group of infants, 7.3% of those with no exposure to anesthesia and 10.7% of those with a single exposure to the drug went on to develop ADHD though researchers from the Mayo Clinic deemed the difference to be negligible, statistically speaking. They concluded that one surgical procedure with anesthesia had no increased risk of developing ADHD.

Conclusion

Infants who had two or more encounters with the drug had a much higher chance of developing ADHD with 17.9% of the group being diagnosed with the behavioural disorder.

Senior study author, David O. Warner, said that the research does not mean anesthesia causes ADHD and that parents should not be concerned about necessary surgery their child required.

Source: Mayo Clinic Proceedings

Photography: CMRF Crumlin @Flickr

No related posts.

I have since learnt that her reactions were probably more to do with how ‘new’ the sounds were that she was hearing. Depending on how well she understood the sound would have had an effect on how much she responded.

Research

Research has confirmed that babies respond noticeably to sound from about 5 months. Not only are they aware of the noises inside the womb, like your blood rushing and heart pumping, they can also hear noises from outside of the womb and they ‘learn’ to recognise them. To ‘learn’ the unborn baby must use their memory. How can that be?

Dr. Peiper was one of the first scientists who believed that unborn babies had the capability to form memories. In his experiments, he observed that unborn babies reacted intensely when they first hear a car horn, but that after they heard it several times, they reacted less and eventually stopped moving around. He proposed that the sound of the car horn left a ‘trace’ that was an early form of memory. This ‘memory trace’ is now called ‘habituation’ (getting used to things), which is considered one of the simplest, yet essential, learning processes.

Common sounds

When I was using the same sounds (i.e. favourite nursery rhymes, the sounds of a drum, clapping etc), these will have quickly become familiar to my baby and will have left a ‘memory trace’. My baby won’t necessarily have responded to hearing those sounds. On other days, when I was playing new instruments and listening to new repertoire, my baby will have been hearing ‘new’ sounds and will have been encouraged to respond with great vigour!

There is still a lot to learn about the processes involved in memory and learning in the uterus but, early exposure to different sounds and music seem to go a long way to forming another foundation for a head start at birth.

Photography: Martin Lindstrom @Flickr

You may also like:

1. Your child’s hearing
2. How does music help us learn to speak?
3. Why does my newborn baby need a second hearing screening?

• What is Milad un Nabi?
• How is Milad un Nabi celebrated?
• How will you be celebrating with your child?
• Watch a video of a Milad un Nabi parade

What is Milad un Nabi?

Milad un Nabi is the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. While many Muslims don’t celebrate birthdays (as there is no evidence of the Prophet doing this), Milad un Nabi is a joyous occasion, as the birth of the Prophet is considered a great blessing for humanity.

How is Milad un Nabi celebrated?

Milad un Nabi is a public holiday in most Muslim nations. It is common for Muslims to gather in public and listen to religious leaders talk about the Prophet’s deeds, telling stories about his infant and his adult lives. The Prophet’s memory is also praised with songs and salutations, and people often decorate their homes and mosques with lights and flags. It is also common for families to donate to charity and prepare food for the impoverished and sick.

While Milad un Nabi is a happy occasion, celebrations are relatively low-key, as it also marks the anniversary of Muhammad’s death.

How do you celebrate Milad un Nabi with your child?

Do you put decorate up at home, or attend a mosque service or public reading? At Mindful Mum, we’re keen to learn more about Milad un Nabi, so please feel free to start a discussion in the comments section at the bottom of this page!

Watch a video of a Milad un Nabi parade

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photography: Arian Zwegers @Flickr

You may also like:

1. New Year’s Day for kids
2. Sangha day for kids
3. 10 learning song videos

Ingredients:

• 40 tomatoes chopped in half
• a splash of olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 onions, peeled and chopped roughly
• 1 celery stick relieved of mud and slugs and roughly chopped water, from the tap

Method:

1. Take the halved tomatoes, with skin on (I cannot be bothered to skin tomatoes though I am sure the end result would be smoother if you did. Let’s rename the soup ‘rustic’ as way of explanation) and pop seeded side up on baking trays.
2. Artistically drizzle olive oil over them, then add salt and pepper.
3. Pop in an oven for around 8 hours on Gas 1. Needless to say, we went out whilst the tomatoes were doing their sun blushed shrivelling act.
4. Once suitably shrivelled, pop the tomatoes and the oily juice they’ve produced into a large saucepan and put in the fridge. At least overnight, 24 hours if possible. They seem to produce more juice when left to sit and weep.
5. When you’re ready for your soup, fry the onions and celery in a splash of the oil from the tomato mixture until soft. I leave the lid on and keep the heat low. The smell should remind you of Heinz, but fear not, it isn’t that sweet.
6. Then add the tomato mix from the fridge and let the pan get nice and warm, but don’t boil.
7. Add half a pint of tap water, stir, remove from the heat and blend with a hand held blender. Check the consistency. I’m more a purée fan than thin consommé adorer, but add whatever amount of water suits you, remembering that the more you add, the more you dilute the flavour.
8. Heat through and give it a final blend just before you serve. This soup has some texture but I like that. You could peel and de-seed the tomatoes to remove the texture if you so wish. You could also add some fresh basil or some chilli, depending on your disposition.

No related posts.

Deaths in the first year also fell to a record low at just 3.7 per 1000 live births compared to 4.3 per 1000 in England. The results also found links between obesity and stillbirths as well as death during infancy and smoking and deprivation.

The number of stillbirths in England and Wales in 2010 was slightly higher than Scotland sitting at 5.1 per 1000 live births.

Continuing to push stillborn and infant deaths down

Health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, welcomed the news but said Scotland will continue to strive to push the figures down even further.

She said, “The death of even one baby is a tragedy. The report shows that the rates of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, perinatal deaths and infant deaths were the lowest ever recorded in Scotland.

“The rate of post-natal deaths equalled the lowest ever recorded. However, we want to drive the number of deaths down further.

“We have been aware of the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes in the more deprived areas and are working to reduce antenatal inequalities.”

The report also shows a buck in trend from 2002-2009 with the total number of births falling to 59,082, down by 281 from the previous year.

Source: ISD

Photography: Catherine Scott @Flickr

You may also like:

1. Scottish boys names
2. Scottish girls names

Click here to view the embedded video.

No related posts.