The Paediatrician's Corner
Pets are sweet, friendly housemates who bring love and joy into everyday life. They are loyal and know how to be supportive at any time, whether it is a celebration or an unexpected disappointment. They are often so central to people's lives that when you find out that you are expecting a baby, you don't know what to do. There are so many questions, such as whether the four-legged friend will accept the baby, whether they will get along well or whether it could become potentially aggressive. These are the same questions you ask yourself when your child asks for a pet, with cheeky soft and tender eyes. The time has finally come to answer all these questions and to understand how best to manage living with a child and a pet.
Taking care of a child is a path of continuous discovery. Especially in the first few months, any progress made is clear to see and, with time, you will learn that one of the greatest satisfactions is to accompany your child each step of the way. Along with giving up a dummy, their first words and first steps, one of the most important moments is when they no longer need a nappy. How can we help them in the right way? The secret is to follow these three steps.
How often do you wake up in the morning with a dream still fresh in your mind and eagerly rush to tell someone about it and ask what it means? We often find ourselves with relatives or friends who know all the symbolism of dreams and so we can discover details and feelings that we might not have expected to feel or still have in our head.
Senses are the means by which people explore the world and this also applies to children. Thanks to these senses, they discover objects, people and spaces in the home. To nurture their curiosity, games can be used as the best way to learn. In order to understand how to help your own children and what activities to do, you must first understand when these senses are enhanced and how they are used.
One of the most frequent questions asked by children is: “can I have a sweet?”. Unless the answer is yes, this moment is always followed by crying, shouting and a tantrum. Whereas if you give in to the sweet eyes of your children, you’ll end up cuddling them in bed while they complain about their tummy ache.
Taking care of your child involves many different things, one of the most important of which is nutrition. In some cases, choosing one food rather than another may make all the difference so being aware of the benefits of different foods and the importance of a varied and balanced diet is essential. Especially at this time of year, where bugs are just around the corner, choosing foods that strengthen the immune system can certainly help. Let's take a look at what these are.
Summer means playing outdoors and going to the beach where children are out in the sun, exposing them to sun allergy rashes. If this happens you need to use a sun cream, above all for your kids, which means you need to know something about the precautions and remedies that will protect your child. If you are concerned, call your paediatrician.
This situation, which is so difficult for us as adults, also has repercussion for our children. So here is a guide to explain to the little ones what is happening, with simple preventive tips suitable for children!
The first time baby has a fever may be very worrying. Don’t panic: it’s usually nothing and happens to all children, you just need to know what to do!
Here’s what you need to know about fever in babies.
Autumn is here bringing colds, coughs, high temperatures and flu. But how can we prevent these seasonal illnesses getting to our little ones?
Dear mums, if you’re about to start weaning, we know the problems and doubts that you may be having in this period!
Today we want to talk to you about how to introduce a fundamental food into the diet of your little one, a food that is essential for their health: fruit.
Going to the beach is a blessing for children. Sunbathing in the right way helps them absorb vitamin D, stimulates growth, and promotes the development of the skin’s immune system. Unfortunately, sometimes after a day at the beach, your little ones might notice some irritating red marks over their bodies: sunburn.
Let’s see what to do!
In a cone or a cup? Fruit or creamy? What’s the best flavour? Everyone loves ice cream especially kids who ask for it all the time in summer. When can kids start eating eat ice cream?
Thumb sucking, a comfort blanket or object, nail biting and nose picking ... these are just some of the little habits your kids may have that may be annoying and sometimes even a little embarrassing.
How much time have you spent talking about weaning? How many forums or specialised magazines have you read or been on? How often have you spoken with other mothers or a pediatrician?
You have become a real expert in baby food and how to spoon feed your.
We, at Falcotto, know how very important your child’s first steps are! Choosing the size and shoe model for your child has a huge impact on the correct development of growing feet. When parents choose shoes for their child (above all that all-important first pair of shoes), they need to consider many different aspects.
Have you ever noticed how, in the space of 3 years the way your child falls asleep, and how they sleep, changes radically?
Children are often an easy target for viruses and bacteria because their immune system is not yet fully developed.
Most parents will agree that nurseries and school are breeding grounds for coughs and colds. This happens above all in winter when children are forced to stay indoors, often in overheated rooms with lots of other children.
The festive season has officially begun, with all the magic it brings. Snow, fairy lights, presents and, of course, sugary foods!
Not all children are outgoing and sociable. Lots of children are shy and hide behind Mom or Dad when they meet someone they do not know for the first time, or even refuse to play with other children at the park or nursery school.
The arrival of a new baby in a family is always a happy event, but it is also a huge adjustment for the older child, who may feel that the new baby is taking over their role in the family, and this can lead to sibling rivalry.
It’s summer! And summer is hot; but heat can be dangerous and difficult to cope with. The first thing people tend to do is stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day with the air conditioning on, even in the car.
Paediatricians no longer have any doubts about air conditioning: use it! Everyone feels uncomfortable when it’s stuffy and hot, even kids. Young children have more difficulty in regulating their temperature and so can be more at risk from extreme temperatures.
But air conditioning, which is so useful when it’s hot and stuffy, needs to be used properly. Here are some simple rules to follow to keep your children cool and healthy!
Bees, wasps, mosquitoes and insects can turn summer into a nightmare. Children are almost always more susceptible to inspect bites, but with just a few simple precautions you can prevent and treat these problems yourself without having to go to the paediatrician.
Let's take a look at the pesky critters to be aware of and how to prevent being bitten and the natural remedies we can use, and not just for bites.
We have all seen the wrinkled feet of a new-born baby, that are so soft and flawless, with toenails that seem to be painted on those tiny feet: they are the symbol of a new life that is beginning its journey through the world, on a path that your child still has yet to explore.
Although it seems an obvious thing to say, water intake is very important, above all for children, because it keeps them healthy, helps digestion and eliminate toxins, and helps organs to function properly.
We have all experienced lethargy and sleepiness, above all in Spring. The same applies to children, who may be a little crotchety and even down in the dumps in Spring.
This is what is known as “Spring fatigue” that produces different symptoms. Let's take a look at the symptoms, understand the causes and defeat them.
Spring brings longer days, sunshine and warmer weather, making us want to be outdoors after spending so much time indoors during the winter months. But Spring also brings the very annoying problem of seasonal allergies of which so many people suffer, including children.
Snack time is probably the best time of the day for your kids! A snack is a small amount of food that is eaten between meals, but it just as important as any other meal and should be chosen carefully!
Snacks help to ensure a correct allocation of calories and nutrients throughout the day, making us feel less hungry, and helping keep your child’s weight well balanced.
Mothers are often concerned about whether or not their baby’s speech is developing normally. The problem is that some babies just don’t want to start talking!
At more or less 21 months of age, babies say several simple words and their vocabulary expands rapidly. By the age of 2 your baby will know more or less 300 words and string together a few words in short phrases of two to four words.
As soon as your baby’s first tooth comes in, get him used to the idea of tooth brushing, which must be done very thoroughly.
Although milk teeth fall out to make room for permanent teeth, you should not think that they don’t need brushing, and remember that proper dental hygiene right from the start ensures the correct development of dental arches.
I know, summer is here at last, and you just can’t wait to go to the beach with your kids. Soft sea sand to walk on, iodine-rich sea air and sunshine ... there are so many reasons why the seaside is so good for our children.
Summer is all about beach games and outdoor fun, but your should not allow your children to spend too much time in the sun, in order to avoid problems caused by heat.
Heat stroke may occur from prolonged exposure to high temperatures -- usually in combination with high levels of humidity and dehydration -- which leads to failure of the body's temperature control system. Children are particularly susceptible to heat stroke because their bodies have not yet developed a temperature control system, namely the physical ability to control body temperature.
Summer is finally here: and the time has come to go to the beach.
The sun is very good for children, because it keeps bone healthy and boosts the immune system. Moreover, sea air is a natural nebuliser that nature has given us; and salty sea air by the coast does wonders for the respiratory system.
But while your children are building sand castles and swimming with Mummy or Daddy, don't forget to protect your child's skin from one of the most common dangers of the summer: sunburn!
Playing is a fundamental experience throughout childhood: as children play not only do they have fun, but they also express their emotions and learn, they put themselves to the test, make discoveries, create, learn rules and how to socialise.
For children, just like adults, sleep is a normal and natural physiological need that must be met. Some children are sleepyheads while others need to sleep less: in both cases however parents should ensure that their child sleeps well in order to avoid distress to both parents and children.
December is the month of Christmas, meals with the family and travelling. Many families are starting to pack their bags for a short but well deserved holiday together. Besides ski jackets, pants, jumpers and scarves, very often there is another item you need to add to your "holiday list": how to cope with small children on a long car trip? That is what we will be talking about today, giving you suggestions on how to better enjoy this experience.
As many Moms and dads know, lots of children are afraid of the dark and sometimes it makes bedtime complicated. Let's find out where this fear comes from and how to deal with it in a constructive manner.
As fine sunny days are alternated by sudden showers we get ready to face the cold winter months ahead. We must be very careful with babies and children when there are frequent temperature fluctuations, to prevent colds and flu.