As a parent, keeping your child safe and healthy is your goal.  You can help your child avoid many illnesses and accidents by providing a basic framework of good health care and teaching safety rules.  This framework should consist of a well-balanced diet, plenty of exercise, reasonable safety precautions, and regular medical checkups.  You can not always prevent your child from getting sick or injured but you can provide them with a foundation for good health that should help them recover quicker from illnesses and injuries.  All children should be taken for regular doctor check-ups and most important is your child’s immunization against a range of infectious diseases.

 

A child who eats a well-balanced diet that contains sufficient essential nutrients is likely to grow at the expected rate and will be less susceptible to, and more likely to recover from many of the minor illnesses of childhood.  Children are notorious for their peculiar eating habits.  One day peanut butter sandwiches, nibble on fruit the next, and wolf down a balanced meal the third day.  Over the course of a week they will get all the nutrition needed.

 

Exercise is essential for children.  It helps develop strong muscles and a healthy heart and lungs.  Give your baby/child a safe environment so they can play freely on the floor.  Take the toddler on frequent playground outings and walks, do not confine to a stroller.  Many children develop sedentary lifestyles from watching television all day, encourage older children to spend more time outdoors in active play.

 

Accidents are a common cause of injury and death in children and account for a high proportion of visits to the hospital ER.  You can prevent many accidents by taking steps to keep your child’s environment safe.  Here are some basic precautions. 

 

Take a course in child safety and infant CPR.  Keep all medicines, chemicals, and sharp objects out of reach.  Post the numbers of your doctor, fire department and poison control center.  Be aware that even common house plants such as philodendrons and poinsettias can be poisonous if swallowed, keep plants out of reach.  Crawl around the floor to get a kids-eye view of your home.  Remove small objects that can be swallowed accidentally, pad sharp corners, and secure any wobbly bookshelves and tables.  Secure the cords of any blinds so that they do not dangle.  Place non-skid stickers on the bottom of showers and tubs.  Turn pot handles to the back of the stove, use back burners, and teach the meaning of HOT.  Use childproof covers on all exposed electric sockets.  Make sure no electrical cords dangle from appliances.  Install safety latches on drawers, doors, and toilet lids.  Toss out plastic bags or store them in a safe place to prevent suffocation.  Lock or remove doors from unused appliances such as freezers and refrigerators.  Place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.  Put stickers on clear glass at child level to make it easily visible.  Children need to be placed in an approved car seat EVERY TIME you ride in a car.  Teach your child safety rules for crossing the street.  Make sure your child wears a safety helmet when riding a bicycle.  Helmets, kneepads, and wrist guards should be mandatory when skating or skateboarding.  Teach your child to swim.  Teach fire safety rules and how to dial 911 or your nearest ambulance, police, or fire numbers.

 

Keep them safe and healthy, children who establish good habits often continue them as adults.

See ya pam