Baby's and Beyond™ Issue 14 - July to September 2017

Baby’s and Beyond July – September 2017

babys beyond TM

and

a family lifestyle magazine

Dads: A child’s first hero

Mastering

motor development www.babysandbeyond.co.za

Jul – Sep 2017 ISSN 2311-5467

9 772311 546706 www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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The body’s ability to heal itself

Hormone vitality

Stem cells: Banking your future

INSIDE: Features Competitions Kicks for kids Recipes 2017/06/27 7:04 PM

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babys beyond TM

and

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a family lifestyle magazine

CONTENTS FEATURES

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Waste not, want not...............................................................8 Hormone vitality....................................................................12 Banking your future...............................................................14 Mastering motor development...........................................17 Your role in your teenager’s success..................................20 Breastfeeding in public restrooms: Is it safe?..................... 22 Beat pregnancy night sweats.............................................24 What’s in your hospital bag?...............................................26 Keeping the connection – the nature of time.................. 28 A child’s first hero..................................................................30 Appearance and self-acceptance...................................32 Rules of the road...................................................................34 The buzz about honey..........................................................36 Acne action...........................................................................38 Supporting your child suffering from dermatitis................. 42 Baby skin vs adult skin: Why are they so different?........... 45 Healing help for scars...........................................................48 More than just paint..............................................................50 Top tips for flying with kids....................................................52 Save water.............................................................................53

HEALTH

The spotlight on sugar...........................................................54 Being a paramedic..............................................................56 The truth about mucus and phlegm...................................60 The safe use of OTCs for children........................................62 Unlocking the body’s ability to heal itself...........................66 The effect of smoothies on milk teeth................................68

EDUCATION

How to get the best out of your children...........................70 Superior language skills from an early age........................74

REGULARS

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Kicks for Kids: Fun puzzles and activities............................ 76 Grab Some Grub: Chicken schnitzels with parmesan crumbs and cheese sauce..................................................80 Potato and mince mice.......................................................81 Promising Products: Babe-Eeze silicone teething necklaces, Manage eczema with Buchu, Eco-friendly bubble bath Survive colic with Colief® Infant Drops, Little Lumps launches winter range, NRF family cold and flu supplements..........................................................................84 Book Review: This edition’s recommended reading........ 87 www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Baby’s and Beyond

CREDITS babys beyond TM

July – September 2017

Publishing Director: Elroy van Heerden elroy@babysandbeyond.co.za

and

a family lifestyle magazine

Dads: A child’s first hero

motor development

Hormone vitality

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

Stem cells:

Jul – Sep 2017 ISSN 2311-5467

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

Editorial Contributors Annemarie Gouws Barbara Eaton Bryden Morton Christine Marincowitz Dr Adel Rossouw Dr Diana du Plessis Dr Ian Webster Gavin Sutton Guy Ashburner Ina Engelbrecht Ina Paarman Kheyrne Danu Marene Jooste Megan Pentz-Kluyts Ross Barrett Sue Petrie Susan Gregor Welna Buys

The body’s ability to heal itself

Mastering

9 772311 546706

Editor: Emma Dawson editor@babysandbeyond.co.za

Banking your future

INSIDE: FEaTurES CoMpETITIoNS KICKS For KIDS rECIpES

Content Manager: Melanie Taylor artwork@mediaxpose.co.za Design and Layout: CDC Design carla@cdcdesign.co.za

Pictures: 123rf.com

Advertising Sales: Wendy Scullard wendy@babysandbeyond.co.za Vicky Rose vicky@babysandbeyond.co.za Allison Davids allison@babysandbeyond.co.za Lorraine Beneke lorraine@babysandbeyond.co.za Chief Financial Officer: Shaun Mays shaun@mediaxpose.co.za

babysandbeyond @babysandbeyond

Marketing & Online Advertising Coordinator: Maurisha Niewenhuys marketing@mediaxpose.co.za Distribution and Subscriptions: Janine Mays distribution@mediaxpose.co.za Printing Novus Print Solutions www.novus.holdings

Published By:

babys beyond TM

and

a family lifestyle magazine

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404 Commerce House, 55 Short Market Street, Cape Town, 8001 PO. Box 15165, Vlaeberg, 8018 Tel: 021 424 3625 Fax: 086 544 5217 E-mail: info@babysandbeyond.co.za Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or its agents. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, the publisher does not accept responsibility for any error or omission contained herein. Consequently, no person connected with the publication of this journal will be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of action following statements or opinions expressed herein. The publisher will give consideration to all material submitted, but does not take responsibility for damage or its safe return.

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ED’S NOTE Lifelong learning

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y the time you receive this edition of Baby’s and Beyond, the mid-year holidays will be upon us and school work temporarily abandoned. However, that’s not to say that learning stops here – this is a time for more fun learning opportunities.

This kind of learning is known as experiential learning, which is defined as children (and adults) learning by exploring, experiencing, creating, discovering, relating to and interacting with the world around them.

While adults should always be on hand, this is generally unstructured time for playing and creativity with little interference. These are important opportunities for children to experience their environments, to learn to think for themselves, and to develop a sense of achievement. It’s also a chance to gain self-confidence and deepen family relationships.

I’m passionate about learning in all its forms, which is why each edition of Baby’s and Beyond is always such a pleasure for me to edit. I genuinely get excited when our contributors send me their articles and I get to read them. I always learn so much from their expertise and, I’m sure you’ll agree, this edition is no exception…

For starters, do you know what all our (women’s) hormones do and how they impede or enhance our vitality? If not, don’t miss Kheyrne Danu’s article on page 12.

How about the benefits of stem cell storage? Do you understand the potential life-saving applications of storing your new-born baby’s cord blood and tissue, and what this could possibly mean for your child at a later stage? Read the article on page 14.

I also learnt a lot about finding a balance when it comes to the significant changes involved in parenting a teenager (page 20). And, while talking about teenagers, Dr Ian Webster’s take-home message about effectively dealing with acne is not to wait – start proper treatment earlier rather than later (page 38).

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what fascinated me in this edition. I hope you enjoy the read and learn as much as I have.

But in the meantime, and back on the topic of experiential learning… I’m off to Vietnam for two unstructured weeks of expanding my horizons, extending my cultural knowledge, and enhancing my culinary abilities with cooking courses, exploring on bicycles, cruising in a bay of descending dragons, and paddling through the Mekong Delta. Two weeks, travelling through Vietnam, from south to north, will no doubt fill my experiential tank and tick off a longstanding bucket-list item. I guess it’s safe to say that experiential learning gets a big thumbs-up from me!

Until next time, be safe, whether travelling or staying home for the holidays.

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FEATURE: FOOD SECURITY

Waste not, want not

By Emma Dawson

The statistics are staggering. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year – approximately 1.3 billion tonnes – gets lost or wasted.

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hen considering these studies, lost or wasted food means vital nourishment that doesn’t reach someone who is hungry or starving. Food waste refers to food that would be fit for consumption but doesn’t get consumed because it is discarded, at some point in the value chain, whether or not it is left to spoil.

With 50% of South African households experiencing hunger or food insecurity, we need to take food loss and waste very seriously for many reasons.

The FAO’s statics reveal that in developing countries, 40% of losses occur at post-harvest and processing levels while in industrialised countries more than 40% of losses happen at retail and consumer levels. For example, large quantities of foods are wasted at retail because of high quality standards and over-emphasis on product appearance.

Worldwide enough food is produced to feed everyone, yet this food and the technology to produce it do not always reach those in need.

Between 2014 and 2016, the FAO estimated that about 795 million people of the 7.3 billion people in the world, or one in nine, were suffering from chronic undernourishment. Even if just one-fourth of the food

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currently lost or wasted globally could be saved, it would be enough to feed 870 million hungry people in the world.

Another important reason we need to take this issue seriously is that nourishment for children begins in utero, and malnourished children often have stunted growth and delayed physical, emotional and mental development. According to the World Hunger Education Service, nutritious foods in adequate amounts are essential for everyone but particularly for children. In early childhood, adequate nutrition can ensure healthy growth, proper organ formation and function, a strong immune system, and neurological and cognitive development.

Nutrition, too, is increasingly recognised as a basic pillar for social and economic development. Wellnourished people can learn new skills, think critically, and contribute to their communities. Improving child nutrition impacts global, national and regional child survival, primary education, women’s empowerment, and maternal and child health rates.

On the flip side, child malnutrition hurts cognitive function and contributes to poverty by impeding people’s ability to lead productive lives. Despite the www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: FOOD SECURITY importance of childhood nutrition and significant progress in the last 25 years, global childhood hunger is still rampant.

And financially, particularly with South Africa’s recent credit rating downgrade to junk status, the negative effect on our wallets will be felt by everyone. Petrol prices will rise and with that food prices will follow – in fact, higher transport costs affect everything that’s moved by trucks – and food (rice‚ maize‚ sunflower oil‚ wheat and sugar, for example) is traded on international markets in dollars.

Additionally, food losses during harvest and in storage translate into lost income for small farmers and into higher prices for poor consumers.

As with many issues that are exacerbated by extreme poverty, it’s often the youngest and most vulnerable who are hurt the most. The world’s children are disproportionately affected by food and nutrition shortages. In 2015, 90 million children under the age of five (one in seven) worldwide were underweight. Ninety percent of the world’s hungry children live in just two regions – southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Another key factor to consider is the environment.

Food loss and waste amounts to a major squandering of resources – water, land, energy, labour and capital, and needlessly produce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change.

Top tips for reducing food waste at home So, what can we do to reduce food waste at home?

The Think.Eat.Save campaign of the Save Food Initiative encourages us to: • Think – Be a smart shopper and think about what you are buying and when it will be eaten.

• Eat – Become a more mindful eater. Eyes bigger than your stomach? Request smaller portions and become a leftovers guru.

• Save – Save your food, save your money and save the environment. Donate to food banks and become a conscious consumer.

Top tips include: 1. Think before you shop – more than a third of us go shopping without a list.

• Check what you have at home before you shop • Make a list – it saves time and money • Shop with meals in mind – you’ll end up throwing less away

Lost or wasted food means vital nourishment that doesn’t reach someone who is hungry or starving.” www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Worldwide enough food is produced to feed everyone, yet this food and the technology to produce it do not always reach those in need.”

2. Use or lose your food – 60% of us end up throwing away food because it’s passed its ‘use-by’ date.

• Plan your meals with the ‘use-by’ date in mind – it will save you money • Know your fridge – keep an eye on what’s inside.

Be mindful of the perishable food you have and plan meals to fit in with their ‘use-by’ dates. This will prevent unnecessary waste.

3. Befriend your fridge – 70% of our fridges are set at too high a temperature.

• Store food according to the instructions on pack – leaving food out of the fridge can cut the life of foods such as milk, cooked meats and salad by up to 100%.

• Keep your fridge between 1 and 5°C – this helps you get the best from your food.

4. Love your leftovers – more than half of households say they throw away food because they’ve cooked too much.

• Using leftovers to make delicious meals is a smart way to ensure you eat everything you buy.

5. Feed your garden – on average, more than 70% of household waste is landfilled each year.

Composting reduces the amount of rubbish you put out for collection and creates a free, nutritious fertiliser that will help make your garden more beautiful.

• Compost your kitchen and garden waste.

Everything from uncooked vegetable scraps to fruit peelings, teabags, coffee grounds, eggshells and small amounts of paper and soft cartonboard can be home composted.

And, if you buy too much or harvest too much from your garden, food preserving (drying, freezing, canning, vacuum packing, sugaring, salting and pickling) is an excellent method of storing both raw and cooked food for an extended time.

Take the time to teach your children not to waste food. Lessons learned early in life can prompt a lifetime of smart habits. And remember, next time you’re about to throw food away, consider this: The food currently lost in Africa alone could feed 300 million people.

For more information, visit www.fao.org; www.thinkeatsave.org and www.worldhunger.org.

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FEATURE: WOMEN’S HEALTH

Hormone vitality

By Kheyrne Danu, creator of SuperThrive

Hormones are currently a hot topic in the health world and for good reason. Hormonal issues such as infertility, obesity, adrenal fatigue and premature aging are hitting epidemic proportions. The good news is that we have access to the tools needed to turn this story around. By learning to leverage these biochemical messengers you can ramp up your vitality from surviving to thriving.

How hormones influence our lives Hormones conduct your genetic switchboard; if your hormones are happy they ensure only the good genes are running the show. Working alongside the nervous system and our gut bacteria, hormones conduct the exquisite orchestra of your body and emotions.

While our adrenal glands may be small, they have two important roles – they make the grandmother hormone, pregnenolone, which is the precursor to DHEA and progesterone. They also produce the stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol is used daily to keep our blood sugar and blood pressure stable, and to regulate inflammation. Chronic stress can ramp up cortisol and lead to issues such as fatigue, insomnia, high blood pressure, slow thyroid, premature aging and brain fog. ‘The emotional centres in the brain profoundly influence the neurological and hormonal processes of the stress response,’ explains Dr Gabor Maté, author of When the Body Says No. Female hormones have a big impact on our mental and emotional health; simply ask any woman who suffers with PMS! But they also influence our physical wellbeing. Apart from growing a baby, progesterone also enforces healthy nerves, regulates neurotransmitters and thyroid function, metabolises fat, makes cortisol and oestrogen, protects the heart, and prevents osteoporosis and cancer, to name but a few important jobs. The essential and

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rather impressive surge of progesterone production is triggered by ovulation. Lack of ovulation during our reproductive years impairs our ability to buffer stress damage. According to the study on absent menstruation (amenorrhea) published in the journal Fertility and Sterility (August 2001), ‘Women with FHA (functional hypothalamic amenorrhea) report elevated rates of eating disorder symptoms, potentially maladaptive cognitive traits, and depressive symptoms.’ A breast cancer study published in the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science is one of many that shows that, ‘Progesterone inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in breast cancer.’

Oestrogen is the hormone responsible for our gorgeous feminine curves and glowing skin. The dance of oestrogen and progesterone needs to stay in balance. Unfortunately, many environmental and stress factors inhibit progesterone and feed oestrogen.

If progesterone drops to less than 200 times that of

If your hormones are happy they ensure that only the good genes are running the show.” www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: WOMEN’S HEALTH oestrogen we can expect symptoms such as weight gain, slow thyroid, anxiety, insomnia, depression, food cravings, mental instability and reproductive disorders.

It is well documented that high oestrogen increases the risk of blood clots and can activate cancer cells.

Additionally, early hormone imbalances lay the ground for a difficult menopause.

Androgens such as testosterone and DHEA are important hormones but too much of a good thing can cause havoc. Hirsutism (female facial hair), male patterned baldness, and polycystic ovarian syndrome are common disorders produced by high insulin and high androgens.

The thyroid is our rhythm centre. It has the important job of conducting the speed of our metabolic processes. Even though a hormone imbalance can slow the thyroid, most thyroid disorders are autoimmune in nature, such as Grave’s disease. In fact, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is responsible for 90% of underactive thyroids. The good news is that with the right support, such as functional medicine, hormonal disorders and autoimmune diseases can be reduced.

What factors affect our hormones?

It usually takes more than one element to disrupt our delicate biochemical balance, activate inflammation, and turn on genetic predispositions: Stress ‘Progesterone steal’ happens when consistent stress robs vital progesterone from the rest of the body to make cortisol. Long-term stress can lead to a slower thyroid and increased oestrogen or androgens.

Women’s physiology is simply not designed to handle consistently high levels of stress.

Toxicity There are over 80 000 chemicals in our environment known as endocrine disruptors (ED’s) or xenoestrogens. According to a study published in the International Journal of Endocrinology in 2013, ‘Xenoestrogens can disrupt the estrogen/androgen balance and alter the development or the function of reproductive organs. Xenoestrogens generally act in 100 to 1 000 fold greater concentrations than estradiol (oestrogen).’ ED’s are found in skin, hair and baby products, cleaning agents, pesticides and plastics, as well as chlorine pools.

Proper hormone production is prevented when harmful trans-fats, found in margarine and cooking oil, replace essential fatty acids. The endocrine

system’s prime directive is to keep the blood glucose level balanced. Sugar and refined grains destabilise the blood glucose, which dysregulates hormones.

Low nutrients More and more people are being diagnosed with a deficiency in magnesium, zinc, vitamin Bs, selenium, omega 3, vitamin D3 and other essential nutrients needed for hormone production. With modern farming techniques, we are now finding less nutrient density and diversity in our food.

How do we ensure good hormone health?

There are many simple tools that can turn the hormone story around: Sleep Contrary to popular belief, everyone needs a minimum of eight hours of sleep a night according to the World Health Organization. This prevents stress hormones from hijacking your day and suppressing homeostasis.

Regular organic meals Oestrogen found in conventional meat, dairy, soya and eggs has been found to trigger hormone dysregulation. An organic plant-based diet with fish, grass-fed meat and pasture-reared eggs creates a good hormone foundation. Keep your blood sugar stable with protein snacks and high-quality meals.

Organic body, baby and cleaning products ‘Green’ or ‘eco-friendly’ products do not mean body-friendly. If you can’t eat it don’t smear it on your skin!

Mindfulness Learning how to set boundaries, pace your day and have quiet time will help you to reframe your relationship to stress. It simply isn’t worth getting caught up in the rat race.

Adaptogen Herbs Adaptogens help the body to adapt to a stressful environment. Today functional medicine physicians are using these incredible herbs to help regenerate stress damage and rebalance the endocrine system.

These tonic herbs also increase energy and can be taken daily.

Kheyrne Danu is the creator of the SuperThrive adaptogen and superfood mixtures. This range was created to help men and women with hormone regulation, cellular repair and stress support. The children’s product gives kids a good high-quality nutrient boost, while the digestion formula supports sensitive digestive systems. Kheyrne also runs WomanThrive.com workshops, designed to impart the vital information all women need to look after their health and wellbeing. For more information, visit http://womanthrive.com/.

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FEATURE: STEM CELLS

Photo credit: Cryo-Save

Banking your future

By Christine Marincowitz, on behalf of Cryo-Save South Africa

Awareness is growing about the potential life-saving applications of storing a new-born’s umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cells, and more parents are now making use of this opportunity. Here’s what you need to know.

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istorically, a bone marrow transplant was the only way to make use of stem cells for potentially lifesaving treatment of specific blood-related diseases.

However, in 1988 the first successful umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplant was performed in Paris, France. Since then, more than 36 000 transplants have been completed worldwide.

What is cord blood and why is it so important?

Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after your baby’s birth and the umbilical cord has been cut. It is rich in stem cells that have a high proliferative and differentiation potential.

Often called master cells, stem cells form the foundation for your entire body as building blocks for the blood, immune system, tissue and organs. They can replicate or regenerate themselves and can differentiate into any kind of specialised cell in the body.

Stem cells are the body’s internal repair system – they continuously replace dead or diseased cells with

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new, healthy cells to ensure normal body functions.

Blood-forming stem cells continuously produce new and healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to ensure normal function of the blood and the immune system (like a factory producing new cars every day).

Why should parents consider storing their babies’ cord blood?

If the blood forming stem cells cannot produce healthy cells or if they stop producing cells completely, we cannot function normally and our stem cells will have to be replaced with healthy ones that can be found in the bone marrow or umbilical cord blood.

Storing your baby’s umbilical cord blood at birth provides a valuable source of stem cells, should a stem cell transplant be required either for your child or, depending on the degree of matching, for a sibling. One of the contributing factors is that partially matched cord blood stem cells can be used for www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: STEM CELLS transplantation, increasing the chances of finding a suitable match. Today, umbilical cord blood stem cells are used in more than 20% of all blood stem cell transplants in the world.

What is cord blood used for and why?

Just as some people need organ transplants to treat or cure diseases, stem cells can be transplanted for the same purpose. Sometimes these stem cells are your own, and sometimes they will come from a donor.

Today, blood stem cell transplants are used in the treatment of nearly 80 diseases, including bone marrow failures, blood cancers, blood disorders, metabolic diseases, immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases. In a cord blood transplant, blood stem cells are used to replace stem cells that have been destroyed, for example through chemotherapy or disease, or if they’re not functioning normally. The new, healthy stem cells then act as the body’s internal repair system and begin producing new and healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to ensure normal function of the blood and immune system.

Why does cord blood need to be collected at birth?

A blood stem cell transplant replaces damaged or destroyed blood stem cells with healthy ones. These blood stem cells are available from circulating blood, bone marrow and a new-born baby’s umbilical cord blood.

Based on the diseases currently treatable, the chances of needing a stem cell transplant is one in 217. Depending on the disease and the treatment options, these stem cells could be from one’s own stem cells or from a donor.

If donor cells are needed, matching becomes an issue. Depending in a person’s tissue type, the chance of finding a stem cell donor using bone marrow as a source may be less than 1 in a 100 000.

In most cases, bone marrow transplants require a perfect tissue match and there are only around 75 000 healthy donors registered on the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

Using the stem cells from umbilical cord blood for treatable diseases holds many benefits over other sources: • Like with any organ transplant, the donor and recipient’s tissue must match for a successful transplant. If they do not match, the donor’s cells will attack the recipient’s body resulting in graft versus host disease, a serious transplant related complication.

• Cord blood transplants do not necessarily require a perfect match. This reduced requirement for matching means that the likelihood of finding a donor is increased when choosing cord blood stem cells over that of bone marrow.

• Umbilical cord blood stem cells are young and flexible, which means they have better regenerative abilities in comparison with stem cells from other sources and can differentiate faster.

Stem cells with this high proliferative potential are present in greater numbers in cord blood (more than eight times higher than in bone marrow). www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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How is cord blood collected?

Collecting stem cells from umbilical cord blood is quick, painless and non-invasive – posing no medical risk to mother or baby.

Once a baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut as it normally would be in any birth. It is only after this that the blood and tissue are collected from the umbilical cord for stem cell processing. The stem cells are collected from what is usually discarded as medical waste after the birth of a baby.

What happens to the cord blood once it’s collected?

Once the cord blood collection kit arrives at the laboratory, the sample is checked and prepared for further storage.

During examination and preparation, the stem cells are preserved using state-of-the-art technology and their quantity and quality are determined.

Flow-cytometry testing ensures that the stem cells are viable prior to storage in bags within aluminium cassettes. The stem cells are then conserved below 196°C in the gas phase of liquid nitrogen – this is known as cryopreservation.

How long are the cells stored for?

Since cord blood banking has only been in existence for just over 25 years, no scientific data is available to prove cord blood stem cells can be stored for longer than that. However, scientists have reported that cryogenically preserved cells have no expiration date, and frozen cord blood can possibly be stored indefinitely. Because these cells have such potential, it is important to store your baby’s stem cells with a reputable organisation. Cryo-Save South Africa is implementing a 100-year stability programme to ensure ongoing preservation at international standards. Additionally, Cryo-Save South Africa is owned by two publicly-listed companies, providing unmatched security for your investment.

If a family chooses to no longer store the cells, they can inform the bank of their wishes.

Who can use the stored stem cells?

Your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells are a perfect match for your baby and have a strong probability (25%) of matching siblings in case of a life-saving stem cell transplant. Using stem cells from biological parents will always be at least half a match. Additionally, with cord blood stem cells, it is not always necessary to have a perfect match for a transplant.

Who has access to this service?

Are there cost options?

This service is available to anyone who would like to store their baby’s umbilical cord stem cells. There are multiple cost options, and interest-free payment plans from as little as R250.00 per month to store cord blood and R350.00 per month for storing cord blood and tissue.

For more information, email info@cryo-save.co.za or call 087 8080 170.

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FEATURE: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

Mastering motor development In the third of a series of articles, Marene Jooste, Kinderkineticist, provides an overview of motor development and fresh ideas to help young children fully develop the most important motor skills.

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here is no question about the importance of motor development. In addition to its critical role in a child’s ability to move successfully, it is also widely believed to be the basis for perceptual and cognitive function. The definition of motor development is the changes in a child’s movement behaviour across his lifespan.

There are three important skill categories when it comes to motor development: stability skills, locomotor skills and manipulative (or object control) skills. These are observed throughout all phases of motor development, from birth to adulthood.

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Stability skills Stability is a key element required for every human movement – it is necessary for all locomotor and object control skills. Stability skills focus on gaining and maintaining balance, which your child is constantly seeking to achieve throughout the day. This means he needs to be sensitive to how his body changes posture, and then he needs to be able to make the necessary changes to be stable again. Stability skills in a baby can be observed by him controlling his neck, head and trunk while sitting and standing.

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FEATURE: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT In older children, this skill includes static balance (maintaining the body in the same posture/position) and dynamic balance (maintaining postural stability while the body is moving). It also encompasses bending and curling, turning, twisting, stretching and transferring weight.

These stability skills are refined throughout childhood until a child reaches the sport specialisation stage of motor development at around seven years old. Static balance is one of the most important stability skills used in sporting activities.

To help your child develop static balance, ask the following: ‘Can you balance like a dragonfly on a leaf?’ ‘Can you stand on one leg with your eyes open/closed?’ ‘Can you balance while swinging your arms like a helicopter about to take off?’ ‘Can you balance on one foot while the other foot is placed on a soccer/netball ball?’

Locomotor skills The second category involves locomotor skills where the body moves from one location to another.

Many are used daily (running, leaping) and in many games and sports (jumping). To move with control, your child needs good balance and an awareness of the environment in terms of effort, space, and in relation to people or objects. This is because body movements often occur in relation to at least one of these factors.

Locomotor skills include walking, running, jumping off a height, jumping for height, jumping for distance, galloping, hopping and skipping. While children learn the different locomotor skills at their own pace, many learn to walk at about a year old and progress to running and jumping about two years old. From about three they start to explore sliding, galloping, hopping and skipping. To master these skills, children need instructions at an early age and lots of fun opportunities to practise them.

Running is one of the most basic movement skills required in our everyday life. It is also a foundational skill required in many dynamic activities, games and sports (tag games, athletics, hockey, rugby).

Mastering good running techniques for different situations enables your child to move successfully and confidently. To help your child develop good running

skills, ask the following: ‘Can you run heavily like an elephant?’ ‘Can you run funny like a clown?’ ‘Can you run in a quick-slow-quick rhythm?’ ‘Can you run on the spot like a hamster on the wheel?’ You can also combine these suggestions to get more fun, silly ideas!

Object control skills Object control skills require children to control an object using a part of the body or equipment, such as a bat. There are two types of object control skills: propelling skills (sending an object away by throwing or kicking) and receiving skills (catching). In daily life, and in many games and sports, there is often a need for both these skills, which include underarm rolling and throwing, overhand throwing, catching, kicking, dribbling and bouncing, to name a few.

Catching is an important skill in most ball games.

However, it is challenging for many young children as the child that is catching is not in control of the speed of the incoming object. The child must track the object (keep an eye on it) and move his body and hands in response before catching it. Because of the level of difficulty for beginners, we see the avoidance tendency that is common in younger children. They instinctively turn their faces away or close their eyes to avoid being hit. When practicing catching with beginners, start with objects that are bright, light and travel slowly (scarf, stuffed toy, balloon). This skill may also need to be taught together with throwing skills.

To help your child master his catching technique, you can ask him the following questions (and do the actions): ‘Can you catch a floating scarf or a big, soft teddy bear?’ ‘Can you catch a balloon with sugar inside it?’ ‘Can you catch a pair of socks or a bean bag tossed by your brother or sister?’ ‘Can you catch while jumping in the air or standing on one foot?’

Now that you know the most important categories of motor skills, you will be able to come up with more creative ways to stimulate and develop these skills.

Remember, through practice a child lays a strong foundation for any movement later in life. A child will only be able to participate and specialise in a sport when he has been introduced to all these categories early in life.

Until next time, happy moving moments!

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Photo credit: Kwanda Kinetics

Marene Jooste has a masters’ degree in Kinderkinetics and serves on SAPIK’s board as one of two vice-presidents. She is also an integrated learning practitioner and the founder of Kwanda Kinetics, an innovative development centre in Gauteng. For more information, visit www.kwandakinetics. co.za. To find a Kinderkineticist practicing in your area, visit www.kinderkinetics.co.za.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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2017/06/27 1:32 PM

FEATURE: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

Your role in your teenager’s success

By Ross Barrett, principal of Pecanwood College High School

The teenage years will always be a challenge to navigate as a parent – finding the balance between wrestling and releasing, holding tight (to your dearly beloved offspring) and never letting go, and letting go and holding on for dear life (as they face the challenges of life). Your role, though different from their formative years, is crucial.

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y definition, success is ‘the accomplishment of an aim or purpose’. However, some successful CEOs describe success as, ‘To find and fully live your purpose in life, and to leave an enduring legacy of having made a difference in the world’ – Ron Cordes, founder of the Cordes Foundation; or ‘My definition of success is knowing that what you are doing is helping you and others lead a better, happier, healthier life.’ – Kara Goldin, CEO of Hint Water.

The most significant change in your involvement in your teenager’s life is the conscious and deliberate decision to not get involved. High school years are the transition from dependence to independence.

Dependence was when your child’s basic needs – what they ate, when they slept and how they worked or studied – was planned, provided and implemented by you. Johnny may have been aware of the hours of conversation and deliberation you went through before you decided that he was going to play the trombone at age eight but, for the most part, he was oblivious to your research, phone calls, troubled sleep, and how close you got to trolling the best trombone teacher in the country!

As a parent, you need to create and allow moments where you allow trust to grow.”

It is difficult to close the sluicegates, deliberately stepping back and redirecting your energy because all you simply want is the best for your child. But, Mom and Dad, you must! This is a gradual process, one where you’ll need to pace yourself – plan your Letting-Go Plan. There are two important areas that you begin to address as you let go. Firstly, you grow and develop a strong relationship of trust; and secondly, you reinforce and build powerful selfconfidence markers in your adolescent child’s life – your actions powerfully say, ‘I love you’, ‘I care for you’, and ‘You can do this’.

Trust Trust anchors in character. I know I can trust you because your character is one of integrity. I know I can trust you because you are a man or woman of your word. I know I can trust you because you know your own strengths, talents, weaknesses and shortcomings. I know I can trust you because you have demonstrated to me that you make wise, considered and consistent decisions.

As a parent, you need to create moments where you allow trust to grow. Start with small insignificant moments and decisions but, as confidence and success occur, gradually increase the stakes. Growth in trust often takes the form of stewardship – looking after the things (personal belongings or pets) that are under their care and responsibility. If they show good stewardship in small things, extend and grow the area and value of their stewardship.

This is a tremendously rewarding experience as you begin to see how the years of ‘sowing’ into your child’s life begins to bear fruit. It is a liberating experience as you see your next generation begin to wear the mantle of adulthood and responsibility.

Self-confidence Self-confidence is the source of courage. It is the inner-resolve and belief that you will be unshakeable,

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FEATURE: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

despite circumstances and challenges. As we look to the world and environment around us, more than ever we know we need to raise generations who will show courage and resilience.

I am not encouraging a complete abandonment of your teenager, to be left to his own devices – to toughen him up to build some ‘backbone’. Your Letting-Go Plan must gradually increase the times that allow for tough moments, challenging decisions – the space and time for the consequences of their decisions to play out. You want them to succeed, you want them to experience success – you want to reinforce their confidence. But, let them go because you will be ‘holding the bandages’, as Alan Paton once wrote.

Failure should never be linked to their character and who they are. They are dearly loved – period.

They are not loved because… There are no

Your involvement during your child’s high school years needs to be a strategic plan of withdrawal.”

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Self-confidence is the inner-resolve and belief that you will be unshakeable, despite circumstances and challenges.”

strings and conditions attached. As a parent, this is very challenging because the slightest hint of disappointment in your voice or on your face is often interpreted as, ‘I don’t love you because…’, or ‘I am disappointed in you because…’.

Parents, your involvement during your child’s high school years needs to be a strategic plan of withdrawal. This does not include your care, concern and most importantly not your love. They are at their most vulnerable time of their inner growth but they are also navigating a period of their lives that could sling-shot them on a remarkable trajectory that you and I will benefit from in our golden years as they implement wise decisions and fiercely mentor the next generation. Maybe then we will be able to comment on how successful they are.

ADvTECH Schools Division, www.advtech.co.za.

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2017/06/27 1:33 PM

FEATURE: GROWTH & Development

Photo credit: South African Breastmilk Reserve

Breastfeeding in public restrooms: Is it safe?

Modern society has stigmatised breastfeeding, and mothers are frequently harassed in public spaces and forced to retreat to restrooms to breastfeed in peace.

The South African Breastmilk Reserve reiterates that this is an extremely unhygienic environment in which to nurse infants.

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undreds of scientific studies on the subject are unambiguous: breastfeeding a child for the first 12 months of its life is vital to an infant’s development and is the best way to ensure it grows up healthy. Yet nursing mothers are often subject to shaming and verbal abuse if they dare to breastfeed in public.

‘It’s an indictment on our society that we tolerate topless models in fashion magazines but that breastfeeding mothers are chased out of public spaces on a daily basis,’ says Stasha Jordan, breastfeeding activist and executive director of the South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR).

‘Many mothers are forced to use public bathrooms to feed their babies rather than face this kind of abuse. A public toilet is one of the most unhygienic and dangerous places to nurse your infant,’ she adds.

When a toilet is flushed without first closing the lid, fine droplets of excrement are sprayed into the air.

These can drift around the room for up to two hours after each flush before finally settling, invisibly, on surfaces throughout the area. These droplets carry pathogens, including viruses and bacteria, many

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of which could prove deadly to an infant’s fragile immune system.

Know your rights Breastfeeding at work is already protected under South African law. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) stipulates that employees with infants must be allowed two breaks of 30 minutes each, every working day, to allow for breastfeeding or expressing milk. These breaks are mandatory for the first six months of the child’s life.

This protection may, in time, be extended to mothers breastfeeding in other public spaces.

The Normalise Public Breastfeeding in SA (NPBSA) movement represents hundreds of women from across the country. Together, they have drafted the Breastfeeding and Related Matters Bill, a proposed law that will protect mothers from discrimination in public, and have submitted it to the office of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

‘Breastfeeding is vital to the wellbeing of our future generations,’ Stasha insists. ‘Whether in public or at home, babies deserve the best chance at healthy lives, and that means breastfeeding for at least the first six months of their lives. Our responsibility is to encourage and support mothers, not to harass or shun them.’

The SABR was founded in 2003 as the first registered human-milk bank in South Africa.

SABR’s main objective is to establish humanmilk-banks in as many communities as possible with the aim of providing human milk (and the necessary equipment and funding) to babies in need. For more information, visit www.sabr.org.za.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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2017/06/27 1:33 PM

FEATURE: PREGNANCY

Beat pregnancy night sweats with these top tips Everyone is likely to experience night sweats at some stage in their lives but waking up in the night with sweat-drenched pyjamas and bed linen – and bad body odour – is the last thing any new or expecting mom needs to worry about.

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uring pregnancy, particularly in the first and third trimesters, hormone levels and blood flow increases, causing mom’s body temperature to rise. The body naturally balances this increase in temperature by over-producing sweat. The role of sweat is to cool the body down, and over-sweating in this case returns the body to thermal equilibrium (normal body temperature).

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Jennifer Cromie, R&D director working with the Shield Germ Defence team at Unilever, says that increased sweating during pregnancy is common and normal but it’s not often spoken about because most woman feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. ‘When someone asks a new or expecting mom how her pregnancy journey is going, no one wants to admit to being affected by night sweats and bad body odour,’ she notes.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2017/06/27 1:34 PM

FEATURE: PREGNANCY ‘Talking of body odour, it’s important to remember that sweat has no smell. Germs living on the skin metabolise sweat and the by-products of this process is what causes bad body odour.’

Jennifer explains that it is important for women to know that they are not alone, and that there are ways to reduce night sweats and bad body odour during pregnancy.

Stay hydrated and always have a glass or bottle of water with you at night and during the day.”

Her tips include: • Wear loose-fitting clothing and opt for natural fibres such as cotton that allows the body to breathe and not stick to the skin – it’s ok to give up the sexy satin number for a few months.

• As your sweat glands are less active at night, applying an anti-perspirant to clean, dry underarms before bed allows it to work while you sleep.

Shield Germ Defence is a new anti-perspirant that

WIN

Change your bedding to lighter fabrics or a thinner duvet.”

provides 10 times more protection and fights over 90% of odour causing germs.

• Stay hydrated and always have a glass or bottle of water with you at night and during day.

• Change your bedding to lighter fabrics or a thinner duvet, and ensure that your bedroom is cool and ventilated at night.

• While most medications are restricted during pregnancy, ensure that any prescription and over-the-counter tablets you take are suitable for pregnancy and don’t cause excessive sweating as a side effect.

‘These tips can be incorporated into anyone’s basic hygiene routine, but are particularly effective in helping to reduce sweating during pregnancy. Shield Germ Defence is a formulated solution that provides lasting protection against germs, ensuring bad body odour is the least of any mom-to-be’s worries,’ Jennifer concludes.

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2017/06/27 1:34 PM

FEATURE: PREGNANCY

What’s in your hospital bag?

By Dr Diana Du Plessis, Philips Mother and Child Division

What to pack to make your baby’s arrival a breeze.

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he time has finally arrived and the emotional rollercoaster of the last nine months of your pregnancy has come to an end. However, before the big day arrives, you need to make sure you’re ready for action and your hospital bag is packed.

Hospital bag? Yes, while this might not seem too important it’s a vital part of making your hospital stay as pleasant as possible – as well as ensuring you have everything you need when your baby arrives. Make sure you think about all aspects of your stay – from arrival to the birth and even receiving visitors.

For labour • Dressing gown – this will keep you covered when you need to take short walks around the hospital to ease the pains.

• Slippers – something quick and easy to put on.

• Socks – in case your feet get cold.

• A night gown – make sure you don’t use a new one because giving birth can get messy, or pack about two or three gowns.

• Massage oil – a good massage can help alleviate pain during the birth process.

• Birth plan – you don’t want to forget this.

After giving birth • A going home outfit is essential – make sure it’s something loose and comfortable.

• Nursing bras – pack a couple of these. They make feeding easy, even while still in the hospital and when you have visitors.

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• 2-in-1 thermogel breast pads (warm or cold reusable breast pads) – these are comfortable when used cold and help sooth sore breasts, or when warmed up can help stimulate milk flow.

• Moisturising nipple cream – will help you prepare for breastfeeding by moisturising and softening dry, cracked, and sensitive nipples.

• Comfort electric or manual breast pump – if you baby doesn’t take to the breast immediately a breast pump will help you with feeds.

• Toiletries – this is an obvious one.

• Pyjamas – make sure you have a separate top and bottom. A strappy or button down top is a good option for breastfeeding.

For baby • A few vests and sleep suits are a must.

• Nappies – newborns go through a lot of nappies in a day, so pack a few packets.

• Baby toiletries – bum cream, wipes, nappy bags (to dispose of dirty nappies), baby wash, and comfy baby towels.

• Don’t forget a baby blanket or two for the crib and a wrap for swaddling.

• Feeding/burping blanket.

• Just like you, don’t forget a going-home outfit.

• Last, but not least, a car seat to transport your baby home safely.

Many private hospitals provide expecting moms with a gift bag containing a few essentials. Before purchasing all these items, check what’s included to avoid duplications.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2017/06/27 1:35 PM

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2017/06/27 1:35 PM

FEATURE: FAMILY

Keeping the connection

– the nature of time

By Susan Gregor, Harlen Grade R teacher and parental coach at Trinityhouse Pre-Primary Randpark Ridge

Life is fast and furious and all too often we don’t know whether we are coming or going – the work/home balance can be a real tight-rope walk for many of us… So how do we ensure that we stay connected to the ones we love, especially our children, when they so desperately need this connection?

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t comes down to time. We sometimes get so caught up in our guilt as working parents that we think buying things for our children will show them we care and that this will keep us connected. However, it does the opposite. If you calculate how much time you allocate to certain activities in your day – work, meetings, driving, gym, etc – how much time would there be under children?

We think our children need a lot of our time when really they just need uninterrupted time. So how then do we give them that time? How do we ‘fit’ it into our schedules? We don’t have to change our whole day to fit this time in, and if we really want something we find a way, don’t we?

Five easy was to do this: 1. Hug and kiss your child often.

2. ' Driving in the car: This is a wonderful space and time to connect with your kids. However, the only real way to get the best out of this is to turn the radio off. Then just simply talk to each other. By having no other noise, they feel that they have your undivided attention and even though you perhaps can’t always see them at the back of the car, you are listening.

3. Bedtime: Make a commitment to read to your child in bed at least twice a week, either in the morning or night. By being in that small space they feel they have your

We think our children need a lot of our time when really they just need uninterrupted time.”

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attention. Read the story and then give them five minutes where you just lie next to them and talk, about anything they would like to talk about.

4. Get them to teach you to play a game on their iPad or a game they know.

5. Get physically active with them.

However, the biggest thing is putting away your phone and not looking at it at all when you are engaging with your child. That way they feel connected, not disconnected.

I really believe these five simple tips will go a long way to keeping you connected with your children.

ADvTECH Schools Division, www.advtech.co.za. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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2017/06/27 1:35 PM

FEATURE: FAMILY

A child’s first hero

By Welna Buys, principal of Maragon Pre-Primary Raslouw

While almost any man can father a child, there is so much more to the important role of being a dad.

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ccording to Dr Gail Gross, studies show that if your child’s father is affectionate, supportive, and involved, he greatly contributes to your child’s cognitive, language, and social development, as well as academic achievement, a strong inner core resource, sense of well-being, good self-esteem, and authenticity.

Every child is looking for a hero, and what a privilege it is for every dad to be that first hero.

Children learn through example and, from their early years, begin to mimic the role players in their lives. Their perception of behaviour is formed by the examples set at a vulnerable age. As many studies have shown, it is impossible to over-estimate the importance of a dad’s positive involvement.

Fathers are key role players in forming their children’s identities. A mother is there to nurture and to fill up their emotional tank.

In my 26 years as a teacher, I have experienced different scenarios of a dad’s involvement. The dads who attend most of their children’s sport events, praising and encouraging them with words of affirmation, generally have the least stressed children in the game. The children whose dads are screaming and shouting at them are the children who are anxious and constantly looking at their dads for approval, afraid to play their own game.

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As a principal at a pre-primary school, I enjoy watching the children arrive at school. The boys whose dads chase them into the classroom with lots of laughter and joy are the children who take the initiative and start new games. And, the dads who are protective over their little princesses, carrying them in and talking softly to them, have daughters who will almost immediately turn away and start playing when dad leaves.

Girls tend to model their future male relationships on their relationships with their dads. If dad was supportive, kind and loving, they will look for these characteristics in their future relationships. Boys tend to model themselves on their dads and the perpetuating cycles of violence we see in South Africa can often be attributed to the modelling they see at home.

These days divorce and separation is common, with children living with their mothers; fathers can feel left out or less involved, especially after a bad break up. However, by dads staying regularly involved in children’s lives, a good balance can be achieved, leading to adults capable of building healthy relationships.

Dads, give your child the best gift that money can’t buy, your undivided time and positive attention.

ADvTECH Schools Division, www.advtech.co.za.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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2017/06/27 1:36 PM

FEATURE: SELF-ACCEPTANCE

Appearance and self-acceptance

By Ina Engelbrecht, deputy principal of Abbotts College Centurion

Sometimes you see a teenager and know immediately that this is a young adult who is 100% comfortable in her skin, even if she is not the prettiest person around. Then again, in the same class you may have a teenager who is extremely unsure herself, even if she is indeed very pretty. Here are the concepts of self-acceptance and appearance.

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he Cambridge Dictionary describes acceptance as an agreement that something is satisfactory or right. Self-acceptance would then be to tell yourself that you are satisfactory, good enough or pretty enough – accepting yourself fully as the person you are. It is the result of accepting the things you like about yourself, and the things

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you don’t. When a child is self-accepting, she embraces all facets of herself, not just the positive parts. Dr Leon Seltzer states in an article about the path to unconditional self-acceptance, ‘that a person’s awareness of his weaknesses, limitations, and foibles must not interfere with his ability to fully accept himself’. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: SELF-ACCEPTANCE

When a child is selfaccepting, she embraces all facets of herself, not just the positive parts.”

It is ironic that most people think that, in this chicken-and-egg situation, a person’s appearance is the starting point that will either lead to selfacceptance or self-rejection. However, the truth is that a teenager must be guided towards selfacceptance no matter how thin or fat, pretty or ordinary in appearance.

Where does the general lack of self-acceptance come from? In an article entitled, ‘How to accept yourself’, Martha Beck says that you must practise accepting yourself while chatting with peers, colleagues or people who normally intimidate you.

How sad it is then that she recommends, when doing this exercise, that you leave your family for last or leave them out because ‘much protective selfcriticism stems from growing up around people who wouldn’t or couldn’t love you’.

The role of parents Children can accept themselves only to the degree they feel accepted by their parents. Up to the age of eight, children mostly take on the sense of self that is transmitted by their caretakers. Therefore, if parents are unwilling or unable to communicate to a child that she is unconditionally acceptable (despite appearance or behaviour) that child will grow older and become a teenager and young adult that sees herself as inadequate. This situation is worsened by disapproval and criticism from siblings, other relatives, teachers and peers. Peers can often not resist making fun of the appearance of others, and these remarks, especially when there is also little acceptance from parents, form a solid foundation of self-doubt and an inability to accept oneself.

The role of schools and teachers Schools and teachers also play an important role in self-acceptance or self-rejection. At Abbotts College Centurion we consider respect as the cornerstone for most of our other values. Clearly, self-acceptance falls in the realm of self-respect. If learners respect each other they will not say mean things about each other’s appearance that, in turn, reinforces a lack of self-acceptance in individuals. If learners and teachers respect one another, teachers will address actions and behaviour without judging the individual.

Individuality is another core value of Abbotts College Centurion and we strive to acknowledge each learner’s strengths while also guiding them to accept whatever can be seen by the world as weaknesses. Only by accepting them first, can a learner start to handle the specific weaknesses appropriately. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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The truth about self-acceptance For students with a serious lack of self-acceptance, we have an educational psychologist who provides therapy on an on-going basis. Each learner also has a mentor with whom they can discuss their own uncertainties. The mentor can help them to understand the importance of accepting themselves in general, and specifically their appearance, by reiterating the following truths about self-acceptance: • Self-acceptance will keep us from constantly judging ourselves. There is a difference between being aware of the reality and accepting it, and being judgemental about it. After all, for most aspects of our appearance, we cannot blame ourselves – it is a given. If a teenager is uncomfortable with a certain part of her body, she can accept that she does not like the way it currently is and then recognise that, for the time being, it is what it is.

• Self-acceptance is not about doing anything, it is about changing the way we look at ourselves.

Accepting yourself as you are today does not mean you will be without the motivation to make changes or improvements that will make you more effective. However, self-acceptance must not be tied to such alterations.

• Self-acceptance allows a person to grow and reach their maximum potential in life. Nonacceptance of certain features of your personality and/or appearance can act as a mental block and will prevent self-development and growth.

• The power of self-acceptance lies in you telling yourself that you are satisfactory, good enough or pretty enough – you will act accordingly, and you will also be seen by others as satisfactory, good enough or pretty enough. The opposite can also happen – if you tell yourself that you are not satisfactory, not good enough or not pretty enough – you will also act accordingly and will also be seen by others in the same way. Self-acceptance is crucial to our happiness and state of well-being.

The mentor will encourage the student to stop reinforcing negative limiting beliefs about themselves, and will weaken these ideas over time until they eventually die out on their own.

Being 100% comfortable in our own skin is the ultimate goal.

Appropriate expression It is also falls to parents and the schools to teach learners a sense of occasion when it comes to appearance. If I am already comfortable with myself and my appearance, it does not mean that I can walk around with inappropriate clothing in a more formal environment, such as at school. If we do not help our children to develop this sense of what is appropriate, we are exposing them to a situation that can lower their level of self-acceptance in future because they were not taught how to correctly express their own self-acceptance.

Ultimately, we want every learner to believe the words of Amy Bloom, an American psychotherapist: ‘You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful.’

ADvTECH Schools Division, www.advtech.co.za.

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2017/06/27 1:37 PM

FEATURE: ON THE ROAD

Rules of the road In the last edition of Baby’s and Beyond, we looked at choosing the right child restraint or car seat. Now, with the holidays rapidly approaching, Emma Dawson provides some recommended rules for young passengers in the car, and a few driving tips.

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orrectly installed and properly used child car seats and booster seats, or seatbelts – depending your child’s age – are the first line of defence for protecting children on the road. These, coupled with defensive driving habits, will ensure your kids travel safely. However, children also have some responsibilities. They should be taught these simple rules that should always be followed, whether they’re in your car or someone else’s: • Standing up on a car seat, sitting on someone’s lap or sharing seatbelts is an absolute no-no.

• Seatbelts must be worn by everyone in the car on every trip – one seatbelt per person. These should be fastened before the car starts and remain fastened until after the car is parked.

• Teach children how to secure their seatbelts as soon as they’re old enough to do so, and check that they’re correctly fastened until you’re certain your children can do it correctly. Nevertheless, a quick double-check is always best practice.

• Children under the age of 13 should always sit in the back seat as this protects them from possible injury when a passenger-side air bag deploys.

• Driver distractions can be fatal. Ensure children understand the importance of staying in their seats with their seatbelts on. Don’t allow children to fight or climb around in your car – too much noise can easily distract your focus from the road.

Studies reveal that correctly-installed child safety seats, for children aged 0 to 4 years, can reduce the need for hospitalisation by 69% after a road crash.

Restraining children and other passengers will:

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• Reduce the risk of contacting the interior of the vehicle or reducing the severity of injuries if this occurs • Distribute the force of a crash over the strongest parts of the body • Prevent the occupant from being ejected from the vehicle on impact • Prevent injury to other occupants (for example in a frontal crash, unbelted rear-seated passengers can be catapulted forward and hit other occupants)

Safe driving tips: 1. Focus on driving – keep 100% of your attention on driving – no multi-tasking, or using cell phones or other electronic devices while driving.

2. Slow down – speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident.

3. Drive ‘defensively’ – expect the unexpected and be aware of what other road users around you are doing.

4. Keep a two-second gap, also known as a safe following distance, between you and the car in front of you. Increase this to a four-second following distance in bad weather.

5. Don’t drive tired – schedule stops for food, rests and phone calls. Also, be aware that some medication causes drowsiness – a well-known cause of fatal accidents.

6. Secure items – make sure items in the car are secured and can’t move around while you’re driving. Don’t attempt to pick up items that fall to the floor.

7. Never drive drunk or under the influence of drugs. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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2017/06/27 1:38 PM

FEATURE: GOOD FOR YOU

The buzz about honey From soothing a sore throat to healing wounds, since ancient times people have used raw honey for its natural medicinal properties and health benefits.

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hroughout history honey has been an important food. For centuries, it was considered sacred because of its wonderfully sweet properties and its rarity. It was used in religious ceremonies and to embalm the deceased.

Apiculture – the practice of beekeeping to produce honey – dates back to at least 700 BC and honey was used by runners in the Olympic Games in ancient Greece as an energy source.

According to Dr Axe, a US-based certified doctor of natural medicine, in addition to its notable history, raw honey has many health benefits. But he’s also quick to point out that these benefits depend on the quality of a specific honey. ‘When raw honey is overly processed and heated, the health benefits are largely eliminated.’

What is raw honey? It’s a pure, unfiltered and unpasteurised sweetener made by bees from the nectar of flowers. Most of what’s consumed today is processed honey that’s been heated and filtered after it was gathered from the hive. Unlike processed honey, raw honey maintains its incredible nutritional value and health powers. It can help with everything from low energy and sleep problems to seasonal allergies. Switching to raw honey may even help weight-loss efforts when compared to diets containing sugar or high fructose corn syrup.

Raw honey nutrition facts Honey is one of nature’s purest foods and is far more than just a natural sweetener. It’s a functional food, which means it’s a natural food with health benefits.

Raw honey nutrition is impressive – it contains 22 amino acids, 27 minerals and 5 000 enzymes. Minerals include iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and selenium. Vitamins found in honey include vitamin B6, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin. In addition, the nutraceuticals

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contained in honey help neutralise damaging free radical activity.

One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, yet it has a healthy glycaemic load around 10 for one tablespoon, which is a little less than a banana. Raw honey does not cause a sugar spike and elevated insulin release as white sugar does.

Bees spend thousands of hours collecting pollen from around two million flowers to make 454g of pure honey. Honey is typically about 18% water, but the lower the water content, the better the quality of honey. Best of all, honey does not need special storage or refrigeration – use it by the spoonful straight from the jar.

Possible allergies and potential side effects Honey is considered safe when eaten in normal food amounts or recommended dosages. However, it should never be given to children under 12 months old because raw honey is a potential source of botulism spores. Raw honey is not a danger to older children or adults, just to infants. However, if you have a compromised immune system or are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer, you should speak with your doctor before consuming raw honey.

If you’re allergic or sensitive to celery, pollen or have other bee-related allergies, you should not consume raw honey. Honey made from plants in the Rhododendron genus can also cause allergic reactions because of toxicity.

Although honey is one of the healthiest sweeteners, it still should certainly be used in moderation. Mild intoxication side effects can include weakness, dizziness, vomiting, sweating and nausea. Other more serious side effects are unlikely unless you consume way too much. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: GOOD FOR YOU Health benefits of raw honey Dr Axe provides these eight benefits of raw honey: Healthy weight management Research has linked honey consumption with weight loss. A San Diego State University study found that replacing sugar with honey can help prevent weight gain and lower blood sugar. The results also suggest that in comparison to sugar, honey may lower serum triglycerides.

Another study from the University of Wyoming found that raw honey can activate hormones that suppress the appetite. Overall, researchers concluded that honey consumption offers potential obesity protective effects.

Counters pollen allergies Raw honey contains bee pollen, which is known to ward off infections, provide natural allergy relief and boost overall immunity. Honey’s ability to prevent allergies is based on immunotherapy.

Your neighbourhood bees go from flower to flower collecting pollen that causes you to suffer. However, when a you consume local raw honey, you also consume that same offending local pollen. After some time, an allergy sufferer may become less sensitive to this pollen and experience fewer seasonal allergy symptoms.

Natural energy source Thanks to its natural make up, it’s not surprising that honey has been called ‘the perfect running fuel’. It provides an easily absorbed supply of energy in the form of liver glycogen, making it ideal for energetic morning starts and as a pre- and post-exercise energy source.

Studies at the University of Memphis Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory show honey to be one of the best choices of carbohydrate to consume right before exercising. Additionally, studies reveal that as a sporting fuel, honey performs on a par with glucose, which is the sugar used in most commercial energy gels.

Antioxidant powerhouse Studies show that a daily dose of raw honey raises levels of health-promoting antioxidants in the body.

Antioxidants help block free radicals that cause disease. Honey also boosts the immune system, acting as a preventative against any number of debilitating diseases. It contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Sleep promoter Raw honey promotes restorative sleep in two ways.

By consuming honey before bedtime, it restocks the liver’s glycogen supply and prevents the brain from triggering a crisis search for fuel, which can wake

you up. Secondly, eating raw honey fosters the release of melatonin in the brain by creating a small spike in insulin levels, which stimulates the release of tryptophan in the brain. Tryptophan converts to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin.

Melatonin also boosts immunity and helps rebuild tissue during periods of rest. Poor sleep, by comparison, has been shown to be a risk factor for hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and arthritis. As honey is a proven natural sleep aid, it naturally lowers the risk of all these health problems.

Wound healer Honey-infused bandages are known to aid healing.

In multiple studies, Peter Charles Molan at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, found that honey is a natural antibacterial with wound-healing effects. He also found that honey reacts with the body’s fluids to make hydrogen peroxide, creating an inhospitable environment for bacteria.

Diabetes aid Consumption of raw honey can reduce the risk of developing diabetes and help aid medication used to treat diabetes. The combination of raw honey and cinnamon can be especially beneficial to healthy blood sugar management, as well as many other health concerns such as gingivitis and acne.

Natural cough syrup Raw honey has been shown to be as effective in treating coughs as over-the-counter commercial cough syrups. Increasing scientific evidence shows that a single dose of honey can reduce mucus secretion and coughs.

For a cough, half to two teaspoons of honey at bedtime is a studied and recommended dosage for anyone over the age of one.

Identifying and using raw honey • Expect raw honey to be opaque rather than that sparkling, clear, golden colour that’s achieved through heating.

• Never cook with raw honey because that will destroy its good properties. Also, do not store it near a heat source. If you enjoy honey in your tea or coffee, wait until the drink is just tepid enough to sip comfortably, and then add honey to taste.

• Drizzle it on breakfast cereals, over grain toast or on yogurt. It’s also a great addition to smoothies and salad dressings. Raw honey can be a healthy alternative to highly-processed sugar in recipes that don’t require heat. For every one tablespoon of sugar in a recipe, you can typically use two teaspoons of honey instead.

Ed: Always seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist before self-medicating.

Dr Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS is a US-based certified doctor of natural medicine, doctor of chiropractic and clinical nutritionist with a passion to help people get healthy by using food as medicine. In 2008, he started Exodus Health Center, which grew to become one of the largest functional medicine clinics in the world. He also created the second-most visited natural health website in the world, with over 10 million monthly visitors, where the main topics include nutrition, natural medicine, fitness, healthy recipes, home remedies and trending health news. For more information, visit www.DrAxe.com.

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FEATURE: SKINCARE

Acne action Dr Ian Webster, a dermatologist in private practice and the founder of the first cosmeceutical online store in South Africa, Dermastore®, explains how acne develops, the different types of acne, and the best treatments to manage and minimise this condition.

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ost teenagers develop acne – some in a mild form for a short time and others more severely for a longer time. All acne is hormone dependent and at puberty both girls and boys produce the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone acts on the skin causing oiliness, blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.

More severe forms of acne often run in families.

It has also been shown that a high intake of dairy products and an excessive intake of refined carbohydrates aggravates acne. Unfortunately, the more severe cases often start at a younger age and may persist well into adult life.

Comedonal acne For young teenagers, acne often begins as an oily skin with lots of small blackheads and whiteheads, and this is what we call comedonal acne. This is the best time to begin with proper treatment for teenage acne.

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I generally recommend a mild, foaming cleanser with no toners or scrubs. Every blackhead and whitehead will eventually become a pimple, so I usually prescribe a topical Retinoid gel, (such as Adapalene Gel) that can be applied to the blackheads and whiteheads at night. I also prescribe a topical gel containing Benzoyl Peroxide to be applied as a spot treatment to any pimples in the morning.

Testosterone acts on the skin causing oiliness, blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.” www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2017/06/27 1:41 PM

FEATURE: SKINCARE Papulopustular acne Acne’s next stage is what we refer to as papulopustular acne. In addition to the blackheads and whiteheads, teenagers develop red bumps and pustules. At this stage, I often introduce one of the more modern oral Tetracycline capsules that helps with skin infection. The capsules are generally safe but we do not recommend using the capsules for longer than about four months because prolonged use may develop bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.

Hormonal treatments In mild to moderate acne in girls, one can also use hormonal treatments in the form of an oral contraceptive pill. Fortunately, we now have more modern, low-dose contraceptive pills at our disposal that may help for pre-menstrual tension and acne.

This is unfortunately only a suppressive treatment – just keeping the acne at bay – so teenage girls may have to be on the treatment for a number of years.

Teenage boys obviously cannot have hormonal treatments so if the oral antibiotics are not effective the next step for them is Isotretinoin (Roaccutane).

IPL treatment A helpful new adjunctive treatment for acne is the Acleara/Theraclear Acne Clearing System. This device produces Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) that has an anti-inflammatory effect on acne – it helps for the red papules and pustules. It also has a suction/ vacuum attachment that extracts blackheads and whiteheads. This is a useful adjunctive treatment for patients with more severe acne or patients who don’t want to take oral antibiotics. Unfortunately, this

Photo credit: Dermastore

The more severe cases often start at a younger age and may persist well into adult life.”

Start effective, proper treatment for acne earlier rather than later.” treatment is only available at a few centres in South Africa. To find out where, visit www.dermalaser.co.za.

Medication There is only one drug that can put acne into remission and that’s Isotretinoin (Roaccutane).

Roaccutane is the best treatment for acne as it cuts back on oil gland production and alters how the dead layer of the skin is formed, making it less sticky and reducing blackheads and whiteheads. It also has an anti-inflammatory action to reduce redness and infection.

This medication is generally given over six to seven months and at the end of this time the teenager’s skin will be clear. On stopping the Isotretinoin, there is an approximately 85% chance that the acne will be in permanent remission.

Roaccutane does make the skin more sensitive to the sun so I often prescribe it over the winter months.

It may also rarely affect the liver and push up the cholesterol in the blood, so blood tests need to be taken before the Roaccutane is commenced and during the treatment.

It is very important that the patient is properly assessed, preferably by a dermatologist, and that during the pre-Roaccutane consultation, sideeffects and risks – such as alcohol and excessive sun exposure – are discussed. The patient needs to be properly managed with regular consultations while on this medication.

Take home message We have very effective treatments for acne and noone should suffer the psychological consequences of severe acne, or end up with permanent scarring.

The take home message should be: Start effective, proper treatment for acne earlier rather than later.

Dr Ian Webster is a dermatologist in private practice and the founder of the first cosmeceutical online store in South Africa, Dermastore®. For more information, visit www.dermastore.co.za.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: SKINCARE

Supporting your child suffering from dermatitis

Photo credit: Epi-Max

Social and emotional wellbeing is imperative for your child’s development, but skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis can have long-term consequences on a child’s physical and social development if not managed properly. Annemarie Gouws, a GP with an interest in allergic diseases, offers advice on supporting your child suffering from this skin condition.

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topic dermatitis, also known as eczema, refers to a chronic inflammatory skin condition that often commences in early childhood and varies in severity and duration. Dermatitis is estimated to affect 245 million people globally per year and is a common condition in children: 45% of infants younger than six months struggle with dermatitis, 60% during their first year and 85% before the age of five. This is a critical period for a child’s physical and social development, therefore extra care and attention is important to support a child suffering from this skin condition.

How can dermatitis impact a child’s emotional development?

Dermatitis can contribute to a negative self-esteem and poor self-image. Children may exhibit frustration, irritability, unhappiness, loneliness, self-consciousness

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and emotional sensitivity, which is why it’s important to pick up on these signs and provide emotional support. Children can also show signs of frustration by being more prone to crying and exhibiting feelings of anxiousness and insecurity.

How can parents provide emotional support?

By helping a child to build emotional resilience – the ability to ‘bounce back’ and recover from a physical or psychological setback. High resilience is associated with high self-esteem and positive relationships. Children suffering from dermatitis – especially if it is very visible, extensive, or if they are prone to scratching – usually exhibit higher levels of dependency and fearfulness.

This can lead to disturbed sleeping patterns that can further inhibit a child’s performance and self-esteem. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: SKINCARE

Children suffering from dermatitis – especially if it is very visible, extensive, or if they are prone to scratching – usually exhibit higher levels of dependency and fearfulness.”

How does sleep deprivation exacerbate the situation?

Sleep deprivation can play a major role. It occurs during flares and can persist during remissions.

The lack of proper rest results in daytime fatigue, irritability, impaired concentration and behavioural problems.

How else can dermatitis affect a child?

Parents often report that children suffering from dermatitis participate significantly less in sports and group activities and are less likely to stay over with friends. Children may even want to avoid school from a fear of rejection. Misconceptions around dermatitis, including fear that the disease is contagious and related to poor hygiene, leads to sufferers being victimised and excluded. Despite these difficulties, and although a child may try to avoid certain situations, sufferers still have a strong desire to participate and belong to a group and be valued as an individual.

How can you help your child to build resilience?

By incorporating the seven essential building blocks to foster resilience: • Connection: Establishing a strong bond between child and primary caregiver in early childhood is important and should become a springboard to

healthy relationships with family members, peers and teachers. Effective communication (both talking and listening) is the basis of satisfactory relationships. ompetence: A repertoire of physical, intellectual, • C emotional, social and practical skills is essential to navigating life’s challenges.

• C onfidence: A child who perceives him- or herself as competent will develop a positive self-image and have the courage to face challenges with a positive attitude.

• C haracter: Consistent and rational discipline establishes boundaries and moral values. ontribution: Children should be involved in age• C appropriate chores within the limits of their abilities, and should also be encouraged to be empathetic and helpful towards others.

• C oping: Healthy coping strategies (cognitive reappraisal, positive attitude, acceptance, and distraction from scratching) are associated with improved outcomes.

• C ontrol: The child should be included in ageappropriate decision-making, encouraged to share responsibility for their own health according to their developmental level, and be allowed to experience the consequences within safe and reasonable limits.

Leading dermatologist, Dr Hetesh Pitamber, provides advice on how to care for your child’s skin:

What skin treatment is recommended?

Treatment of atopic dermatitis is typically with moisturisers and steroid creams. Although some children outgrow dermatitis, others continue to have symptoms on and off throughout adult life. With proper treatment, dermatitis can often be controlled.

Avoid irritants to the skin and other triggers wherever possible. Apply moisturisers and emollients every day to help prevent inflammation from developing. Use other topical treatments as instructed by your doctor when inflammation flares up. Avoid scratchy materials, such as wool. Reduce stress. But most importantly, moisturise your skin adequately with a reputable product as frequently as possible. Moisturising remains the foundation of all skin conditions and a good emollient moisturiser may be all that is required.

What is an emollient moisturiser?

An emollient is a type of body moisturiser that is formulated with very specific ingredients to add moisture to the skin, strengthen the skin barrier to keep the moisture in, and restore any weak patches to stop irritants from penetrating the surface.

Epi-max is a range of emollient moisturisers that has been proven to reduce and combat dermatitis in a gentle and harmless way. Epi-max Baby & Junior is a range of gentle all-purpose moisturisers for babies and children. It can be used as a soap substitute that doubles up as a moisturiser and is gentle and mild enough to use from birth. The Epi-max Baby & Junior range has just won Product of the Year 2017 in the Baby Care category. Epi-max is available at Clicks, Dis-Chem and selected pharmacies. For more information, visit www.epimax.co.za.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Photo credit: Annique

FEATURE: SKINCARE

Baby skin vs adult skin: Why are they so different?

Safe and sound After months in the safety of mom’s belly, a baby’s skin hasn’t been exposed to the environmental challenges of the world beyond the womb. With no contact or exposure to anything at all, including sunlight and free radicals, a baby’s skin is still wholly moisturised and brand new on delivery. This also means their skin is very sensitive. To help make the transition to the big wide world a little easier, why not wash your baby’s clothing and bedding with a laundry detergent and softener that keep materials soft and adds extra caring benefits? Annique Health and Beauty’s Baby Fabric Softener and Detergent infuse bed linen and other washing with the hypoallergenic qualities of the Annique Rooibos extract, which is known to have health benefits that include its anti-allergic, antibacterial and anti-viral properties.

Defences up From infant to elderly, the skin is the body’s biggest organ and one of its main purposes is to protect the body and keep out infections. As an adult, your skin www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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It’s impossible to resist a baby’s chubby cheeks, wonderful scent, ticklish feet and inquisitive fingers, and we marvel at how soft an infant’s skin is compared to adults’. But why is a baby’s skin so different?

has had plenty of time to shore up its defences to keep out any undesirable elements. Your baby’s skin hasn’t had the same opportunity to strengthen and develop sufficiently to protect itself against infections and diseases. Because babies’ skin is so delicate, it is also much more susceptible to damage that might break the skin, which is an unnecessary invitation for infection. Treat any scrapes and scratches as soon as possible. If you don’t have the necessary treatments on hand, consider bathing your baby in Rooibosinfused water, which has anti-bacterial properties and helps to soothe skin conditions such nappy rashes and itching. Annique’s Baby Rooibos Tea is an anti-allergic and nutritional supplementary drink and can help prevent skin rashes and sensitivity by consuming and bathing in it.

Healing An interesting fact we don’t hear about very often is that a baby’s skin heals a lot better and faster than an adult’s. It’s like a short-term superpower. A wound that would leave a scar on adult skin will leave no

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FEATURE: SKINCARE mark on a baby after it has healed. This is because infants do a lot of growing, which requires the skin to keep up and continuously support these changes.

That doesn’t mean you should ease up on taking care of your little one’s scrapes or allergic reactions.

Nappy rash, miliaria, eczema and even sunburn can be helped with Annique’s Resque Crème, recommended for babies six months and older.

Hormones Hormones kick in when we hit puberty and we’re stuck with them for life. Granted, our bodies need them because they tell our cells what to do, but they also introduce a whole range of skin challenges we could really do without, such as acne. Babies do not have to deal hormones and their side effects, but what about the breakouts and baby acne we occasionally see?

It has been noted that these may result from exposure to the mother’s hormones, meaning her skin problems might reflect in her baby. With the right treatment to manage these conditions, they will pass. Annique’s Rooibos Baby Lotion’s gently moisturising action cools and calms the skin while the Rooibos extract prevents further irritation from heat, handling and other irritants.

Temperature Have you noticed that babies don’t sweat as much as adults do? It’s because they have fewer sweat glands and don’t regulate their temperatures as well as grownups do. A good way to determine a baby’s temperature is to touch her hands, feet and forehead. If you are unsure if your little one needs to

be more warmly or lightly dressed, subscribe to the general rule that infants only need one added layer of clothing than what you’re wearing when in an environment of the same temperature. Interesting fact: Infants can’t shiver, another reason why they can’t regulate their temperatures well.

Be proactive There is plenty you can do to take care of your baby’s skin until it can sufficiently take care of itself.

A great place to start is to use products for your baby, as well as for her bedding and clothing, that are geared toward equipping her skin to fight off the environmental baddies she is exposed to. Annique Health and Beauty’s baby care products are formulated to do just that. The Baby 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash’s formula helps to leave baby’s hair fluffy and soft, and gently cleanse the skin.

Formulated with Rooibos extract for its anti-allergic properties, and its ability to soothe cradle cap and sensitive skin, the Annique Baby 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash is perfect for everyday use.

Fun fact Did you know that the appearance of a baby’s skin varies in texture depending on the week it was born in? The shorter their time inside the womb, the thinner, more transparent-looking the skin is, which means your baby needs extra care and attention until she has grown strong enough to withstand life’s daily challenges. For more information, visit www.annique.com.

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www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2017/06/27 1:43 PM

ADVERTORIAL: HEALTH

Bones and breastfeeding: advice for new moms Calcium is important for supporting your bones and the developing skeleton of your newborn baby. But there’s calcium and there’s calcium – the choice can be confusing.

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s a breastfeeding mom, your diet may not be supplying the calcium your body needs and a supplement may be advised. But which one is best?

Calcium supplements are based on two compounds – calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate is an alkaline-based compound that contains a high concentration of elemental calcium and is generally the cheapest option. But your stomach needs to produce extra acid to absorb it and it’s not easily assimilated into the bloodstream. Calcium citrate contains less elemental calcium and requires less stomach acid to be absorbed. It’s also more expensive.

Although calcium supplements are generally well tolerated, gas, constipation and bloating have been reported. Calcium carbonate appears to be the most constipating.

Relatively new on the market is Flora Force DensiMAXTM. A plant-based form of calcium, DensiMAXTM’s prime ingredient is Aquamin®, a product made from the ground skeletal remains of a mineral-rich marine alga. Added to the formula is vitamin D3 that helps the body to absorb calcium. Sustainably-harvested Aquamin® contains 74 health-promoting minerals and trace elements. Because they’re all derived from a single plant source, they’re easily absorbed by the body.

DensiMAXTM directs calcium to the bone, where it’s needed, and won’t cause constipation.

Keeping milk flow strong Illness or stress can affect breast-milk production but proper eating will help to get your supply back on track. Add oats, salmon, fruit, leafy greens, carrots, fennel seeds, basil, garlic and barley to your diet, and try time-honoured supplements such as fenugreek and brewer’s yeast. Fenugreek has been used since biblical times to increase breast-milk production, although scientists have yet to confirm its effectiveness or its reputed effect on hormones. No harmful sideeffects have been noted, but use it with caution if you’re a diabetic as it may lower blood sugar.

Always speak to your healthcare provider before taking natural remedies. For more information about Flora Force products, visit www.floraforce.co.za. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: SKINCARE

Photo credit: Mederma

Healing help for scars If you have a scar from your C-section or your little one has a nasty fall, don’t worry, the visibility of scars can be reduced by taking a few simple steps. Annemi Strydom, Genop Healthcare’s brand manager, shares some insights about the scarring process and how you can care for your scar.

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odern therapy and daily skin care allow scars to become smoother, suppler and altogether less visible. It is best to start the therapy as quickly as possible after the stitches have been removed or the wound has closed. However, even with older scars, skin texture and appearance can be improved over time.

How do scars develop?

Our body has an ingenious way of healing wounds.

If the injury reaches the hypodermis or deeper, the wound is automatically closed with a blood clot. The blood clot stops foreign particles from penetrating into the organism and prevents infection. Gradually, the wound is filled with connective tissue. As blood vessels form, the fresh scar will frequently redden at first but, because the tissue lacks structures for pigmentation, lighter tissue is left behind when the redness fades.

This resourceful self-healing mechanism to maintain skin functionality is normally accompanied by a visual side effect, one that is frequently considered to be a blemish: a scar – the visible outcome of skin repair.

What factors influence scar formation?

1. Age – The older a person is the slower the skin heals, making scars more likely. But also between the ages of 10 and 30 an overproduction of connective tissue can lead to the development of larger scars.

2. Skin Type – In general, people with darker or very light skin are more susceptible to noticeable scarring. Hereditary factors also play a role in wound healing.

3. Hormones – Pregnant women and teenagers who have an altered hormone balance are more prone to prominent scarring.

4. Location – In places on the body where the skin is subject to tension such as at the joints or shoulders, more noticeable scars are likely to form.

5. Complications – Infections always mean a higher risk of scarring.

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Recommendations for treating scars?

A topical treatment with a formula containing active ingredients such as cepalin, allantoin and Aloe Vera (such as Mederma’s Proactive Gel) is highly recommended as it effectively cares for both old and new scars. This type of formula is best used directly after the wound has closed or the stitches have been removed to support the healing process, reduce skin redness, and making the scar softer, finer, more elastic and less visible.

How will I know the product’s formula is effective?

You will feel the effect before you can see it: a slight itching during the first week or two of use is a good sign that the healing process is underway. The first visible result of success is usually a decrease in redness. To ensure this, allow your skin a bit of time.

At least eight weeks is recommended in the case of fresh scars or three to six months for older scars. Scar therapy always requires patience!

Can scars be exposed to the sun?

Whether at home or on holiday: scars must be protected against strong sunshine. Sunscreen with a high protection factor or sunblock should be part of the daily skin care programme because the new skin normally lacks pigment cells for melanin production.

Whether at home or on holiday, scars must be protected against strong sunshine.” www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE: SKINCARE Melanin is the pigment that protects the skin to a certain degree against UV light.

The best dress code for scars is always light and loose.”

Should cold weather and extreme heat be avoided?

Generally, mild temperatures will have a positive effect on a scar’s reconstruction processes.

Therefore, be careful about extreme heat (for example in the sauna) or very cold weather.

Can I also use Mederma on my face?

Dress code for scars?

Scars should not be irritated by tight clothing, or a watch or shoe rubbing against the wound. This can lead to redness or hardening of fresh scar tissue. The best dress code for scars is always light and loose.

Yes. But it is not recommended that you use it too close to your eyes. As soon as the gel has been absorbed by the skin you can apply make-up as usual.

What can I expect Mederma to do?

Will children’s scars heal better using Mederma?

Children are prone to scrapes and wounds that can leave ugly scars. Mederma is safe and mild enough to use for babies and toddlers. This helps to ensure that small wounds don’t leave lasting visible scars.

Nothing can make scars disappear completely but you will find that you no longer need to worry about people seeing them. Mederma helps to soothe discomfort, promotes healing and, with regular and consistent application, makes scars so faint that you can forget about any remaining traces.

Mederma is a clinically-certified scar gel and is recommended by physicians and pharmacists around the world. It is one of the leading products for scar therapy. The combination of proactive substances makes scars softer, suppler, more elastic and less visible. This effectiveness has been scientifically certified in clinical studies. Mederma is available from Clicks, Dis-Chem and selected pharmacies without a prescription. For more information, visit www.mederma.com/mederma-advanced-scar-gel.

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FEATURE: HOME FRONT

More than just paint 50

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Among the most popular ‘to do’ items when preparing a baby’s nursery or child’s bedroom is painting. These days, there’s much emphasis on eco-friendly options.

Versus Paint specialists explain what you should look for in an eco-friendly paint. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2017/06/27 1:45 PM

FEATURE: HOME FRONT

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co-friendly paints don’t only make buildings energy efficient, they also greatly contribute to the health of a building’s occupants. Did you know that paints and finishes are among the leading causes of indoor air pollution, and that indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air? With growing focus on the environment, eco-friendly paint is becoming increasingly popular.

When purchasing environment-friendly paint, it is important to pay attention to these three main factors: Low VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) refer to a class of chemicals that evaporate readily at room temperature.

Many paints contain these chemicals, which can cause a variety of health problems including nausea, dizziness, eyes and respiratory tract irritation, heart, lung, or kidney damage, and even cancer.

VOCs are the main solvents in oil-based paints, meaning they are used to dissolve and disperse the other ingredients. Although water-based paints use water as the main solvent, they still often contain five to ten percent VOCs. As a general rule, low VOC paints marketed by reputable paint manufacturers usually meet the 30g/L VOC threshold. Paints with the Green Seal Standard (GS-11) mark are certified lower than 30 g/L. Low biocides Eco-friendly paint should have low biocide content.

Water-based paints have low biocide content compared to oil-based paints that have much higher VOC content levels.

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Natural pigments Some of the toxic chemicals in paints come from pigments used to colour them. Make sure that only non-toxic pigments are used.

An eco-friendly choice Versus Paint specialists have formulated a coating that meets all the requirements of a durable and cost-effective eco-friendly paint. Its coatings have less than 16 grams/litre of VOCs, contain non-toxic pigments, and have minimal biocide content.

And, new to the market, Versus Paint has also introduced: • Anti-mosquito paint – that is proven to reduce mosquitos in your home • Anti-bacterial paint – that protects your family from as many as 95% of all known germs • Eco bébé – a safe, non-toxic paint that protects your young family from the harmful chemicals associated with paint. Only zero VOC colourants are used in this paint. White and five pastel baby colours are currently available in this range.

From a neutral-toned nursery to bright colours that help to create stimulating environments for children, as your children reach their developmental milestones they’ll soon be telling you what colours they want their rooms! Luckily, repainting is an inexpensive and easy task.

For more information, visit www.paintswithapurpose.co.za.

2017/06/27 1:45 PM

FEATURE: FAMILY

Top tips for flying with kids For parents who’ve never flown with youngsters the prospect of boarding an aircraft with one or more children can be daunting. As an experienced family traveller, Sue Petrie, British Airways’ commercial manager for southern Africa, suggests a few proven hacks to make flying easier.

Before you fly Prepare ahead by checking in online. While convenient for travellers of any age, this also decreases the likelihood of youngsters becoming tetchy while waiting in queues. If you’re travelling internationally, check the Department of Home Affairs’ website (www.dha.gov.za) for the documentation you need.

If necessary, reserve equipment such as bassinets and children’s meals, and check regulations on decanting liquids into small bottles so you can plan accordingly.

Boarding ‘Flying with kids can feel daunting. It may seem like everyone on the plane is watching you and your family and expecting a noisy meltdown. However, flight attendants are there to help and will do all they can for families with kids, as well as other passengers.

Enlist their help wherever you can.’

Sue urges travelling families to take advantage of preferential boarding and being allowed to take strollers onto the air-bridge and to the aircraft’s door.

While you want to pack enough supplies – you might need nappies, pull-ups and wipes, for example – she advises against weighing yourself down with more than you can comfortably carry.

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‘Avoid toy weapons or those with small parts.

Everyone knows you can’t harm anyone or anything with a rubber Pirates of the Caribbean sword but airport security is likely to confiscate it anyway. Lego, and other toys with small parts, also isn’t a good idea as it is difficult to retrieve if dropped on a plane,’ she notes.

On board Few parents will allow their kids unfettered screen time, but in-flight movies, portable CD players, smartphones and tablets can be a godsend for air travel as the right app or game can keep a child occupied for hours. But be aware that small children may struggle to understand why they have to switch off their devices for take-off. Packing a good portable charger, or power bank, and headphones can also help.

Sue also advises against seating small children on the aisle as they may be snagged by trollies.

When it comes to food, naturally you’ll pack what’s appropriate for your child in terms of dietary needs and choking hazards. However, bear in mind that chewy snacks – biltong, nuts or fruit-rolls – can help equalise uncomfortable pressure in the ears. Also, to manage sugar and overly energetic children, dilute fruit juice with rooibos tea. For more information, visit www. britishairways.com/en-gb/information/family-travel.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2017/06/27 1:47 PM

FEATURE: ENVIRONMENT

Save

water

By Emma Dawson

Cape Town’s overall dam levels are at the lowest seen in many years and the continuing drought crisis means that everyone needs to cut their water usage even further. If you aren’t already doing your bit, here are some water-saving tips to get you started.

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he City of Cape Town urgently requests that you only use municipal drinking water for drinking, cooking and essential washing; and that you limit your usage to 100 litres per person per day.

The stringent Level 4 restrictions, that came into effect on June 1, 2017, include: • No irrigation with municipal drinking water allowed • No washing vehicles, trailers, caravans or boats with municipal drinking water allowed – use only non-potable water or waterless products • No topping up or filling of residential swimming pools permitted, either manually or automatically • Irrigation from boreholes or alternative water sources within seven days of rainfall discouraged • All exemptions granted under Level 2 or Level 3 restrictions are revoked, and only certain reapplication will be allowed • Higher water tariffs Here’s what you can do to save water and money:

At home • Take shorter showers and turn off the water while soaping, then turn it back on to rinse.

• Put a full load into your washing machine and dishwasher before starting a wash cycle.

• Reduce the amount of water flushed down the toilet by placing a two-litre plastic bottle full of www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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water in the cistern. This could save you up to 7 300 litres of water each year.

• Do not leave the water running to rinse dishes. If you have a double basin, use one for washing and the other for rinsing.

• Install a system to pump grey water (from the washing machine, basins, shower and bath) to the garden.

In the garden • Plant indigenous plants that tolerate extreme heat and require little watering.

• Group plants with the same water needs together so that you don’t overwater plants with varying needs.

• Put a covering layer around trees and plants to slow evaporation and discourage weeds.

• During Level 4 restrictions, irrigation with municipal drinking water is forbidden. However, if using grey water, the best times to water your garden is at sunrise and sunset.

• Fix faulty taps. A dripping tap (one drop per second) could waste up to 30 litres of water an hour – a total of 10 000 litres a year.

Help the City of Cape Town save water. Report water issues (burst pipes or faulty meters) and restriction offences to 0860 103 089 (choose option 2: water related faults), SMS 31373, or email water@ capetown.gov.za.

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HEALTH: SUGAR

The spotlight on sugar

By Megan Pentz-Kluyts RD (SA)

As a nation – and even around the globe – we are eating far too much sugar every day, and our children are no exception.

How much sugar are children really eating?

include added sugars but exclude fresh fruits and vegetables, and sugars naturally present in milk.

Children typically consume approximately 10 to 15 teaspoons (40 to 60g) of added sugar a day, possibly rising to as much as 25 teaspoons (100g) a day in adolescence. The main sources of added sugar are white sugar, sugar-sweetened cool drinks (squash type) and carbonated soft drinks. It has been found that overweight and obesity is associated with higher added sugar intakes in four to eight-yearold children, and that higher sugar intake dilutes children’s vitamin and mineral intake.

So, it’s no wonder that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults and children reduce their daily intake of ‘free sugars’, which includes added sugars, to less than 10% of their total energy intake. A further reduction to below 5% or roughly 25g (six teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits. That’s half the recommendation amount suggested in 2002. We have solid evidence that keeping free sugar intake below 10% of total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay.

Go slow on added sugar

Free and added sugars Free sugars are energy-providing sugars such as monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, galactose) and disaccharides (lactose, maltose, sucrose) that are added to foods and drinks during processing by the manufacturing companies, cook or consumer. They are also sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates. Free sugars

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Children mimic the dietary habits that they observe.

Your baby does not need sugar, sweeteners or salt added to food. Reduce the amount of sugar you use in recipes. Opt for plain yoghurt and, if preferred, sweeten with whole fruit. This trick works with cereal too.

For beverages, drink water, milk or unsweetened tea. If unsweetened juice is used, ensure that it is limited and diluted.

Become food label savvy Make label reading a habit. Check ingredient lists for names such as glucose, sucrose or other words ending in ‘ose’, syrups such as corn syrup, and molasses. Ingredients are listed by weight. The ingredient listed first is present in the largest amount while the ingredient listed last has the least amount.

The total sugars mentioned under ‘glycaemic carbohydrates’ includes all sugars – those found naturally in the food and those that have been added.

Make the choice as a family to get educated about the sources of hidden sugar. However, rather than obsessing over grams and teaspoons, focus on reducing added sugars by limiting products that contain them. Or, an even better option is to choose whole foods that provide nutrients that support health.

For more information, call Rialto Foods on +27 021 555 2160/1/2. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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2017/06/27 1:47 PM

HEALTH: THROUGH THE EYES OF A PARAMEDIC

Photo credit: Be Safe Paramedical

Being a paramedic…

With 28 years’ experience in the ‘paramedic world’, Gavin Sutton, COO of Be Safe Paramedical South Africa, tells us what it’s like to see the world through the eyes of a paramedic…

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hat’s it like being a paramedic? A good question and one I have been asked more times than I can remember. Most often the question comes from a starry-eyed youngster who just witnessed us working on a scene or perhaps even watched us treat a member of his family. He usually had the latest episode of some paramedic TV show still fresh in his mind. You know those shows, where all the paramedics are drop-dead gorgeous and do the most incredible things. To this day it still amazes me how they always somehow manage to pull the patient from the burning wreck just before the entire car explodes. Each episode usually ends with a bunch of equally gorgeous paramedics getting together at the local pub for a few beers and a laugh. You know the type of show, right? It would be fantastic if it were really like that in real life, but Hollywood wouldn’t sell many programmes if they portrayed paramedics as mostly very average looking people who border more on ‘scarylooking’ after an 18-hour shift! So, getting back to the answer… Well it is always better to err on the side of diplomacy and simply say it is a tough and demanding job but equally rewarding. Of course, being a paramedic is so much more than that and I think after you read this article, you’ll understand what I mean.

Real world vs the paramedic world I always believed that life as a paramedic took place in a world that was, well, completely opposite to

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the ‘real world’ everyone else existed in. Most often I would be on my way to work when everyone else was arriving home for the evening and vice versa.

The world seemed like it changed quite dramatically as we progressed through the night. Every now and then, the ‘real world’ would collide with the ‘paramedic world’ and we would interact at an incident affecting their lives. I know that this sounds very abstract, but sadly there is never anything abstract about our interaction with the ‘real world’.

People in the ‘real world’ often get snippets of news from the ‘paramedic world’, while watching the evening or early morning news at home. If I look back on the past 28 years, there were some pretty dramatic events that took place in South Africa, events that I witnessed first-hand. The attack at the St James Church in the 90s… I was there. The Planet Hollywood bomb blast… I was one of the first paramedic units on the scene. Nelson Mandela’s historic presidential inauguration speech… I was there.

But if only…

There were also many incidents that never made it onto the news in the ‘real world’. These were the calls that were probably the most life-changing for me because they affected ordinary people and families.

I call these the ‘but if only’ calls, which usually ended up with a heart-breaking event. An event that was usually a direct result of another event that could have been avoided altogether. When debriefing the call with colleagues, someone in the group would www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH: THROUGH THE EYES OF A PARAMEDIC many calls I have been to where we received either the incorrect information or no information at all.

Some of these cases ended in absolute heartbreak and they didn’t need to. We are all human and as such, we do slip up. Never let pride become something that can never be reversed. Tell us what we need to know and always be 100% truthful.

always add the dreaded ‘but if only’ when discussing how the end result may have been avoided. ‘But if only the school had taken the bullying a bit more seriously.’ ‘But if only the parents had locked the gun away in the safe.’ ‘But if only the mom had placed her anti-depressant medications out of the reach of her son.’ ‘But if only the dad had not allowed his daughter to stand up on the front seat of his car.’

It’s quite amazing how deeply these calls are still imbedded in my memory. I can recall almost all of them in vivid detail, especially the effects it had on the families. They shaped me as a dad, and they played a pivotal role in my quest to convert bad incidents into bad incidents with successful outcomes. I am still actively on this quest…

Lessons learnt I have learnt many lessons from my experiences as a paramedic, so let me share a couple of things with you: If you own a firearm, never disclose this information to your kids. Keep it locked in a safe at all times and make sure your kids do not know where the key is kept. I put this lesson at number one because I have sadly seen far too many kids killed because of irresponsible parents. This is a point I will never accept as an ‘I forgot to put it in the safe’ accident. Be extra responsible for the things you know can take a life.

It’s as simple as that…

Always read the label on medications you bring into your home. Take special note of the overdose information. Never ever leave medication in places that can be accessed by kids. Never believe that because a medication is an over-the-counter medication that it cannot take a life. Trust me when I say they can and they do.

If you own a swimming pool and have a child who is mobile, whether crawling or walking, make sure that access to the pool is blocked off at all times.

Pool fences with self-locking gates may not add to the aesthetic value of your garden, but it could save your child’s life. Toddlers are determined little beings when it comes to exploring their surroundings.

Accidents happen when you least expect them to.

Please never forget the swimming pool.

There is so much more I could say, but I fear I would end up taking up half the magazine. Perhaps someday, when I eventually join the ‘real world’ I will jot down my experiences, thoughts and views on life in a book.

Life is very different when you see it through the eyes of a paramedic, which is perhaps not such a bad thing…

The will to survive Fortunately for every ‘but if only’, there were an equal number of calls where the outcomes were better than we could possibly have hoped for. I guess life has a way of balancing itself out naturally; well this is what I believe anyway. I have come to realise that human beings have an incredible will to survive. They fight the hardest when everything is against their survival. It is something I have witnessed in even the tiniest and most fragile of patients. Take premature neonates for example, I have seen these little people fight the toughest of fights. All they needed was a little help and a push in the right direction. This was often all we had to do. Keep an eye on them, keep them warm, keep them well-oxygenated, and their will to survive, with a dash of help from Mother Nature, completely changed their destiny. I cannot really put into words what a huge privilege it was for me to have been part of so many of these amazing survival stories. I have an immense amount of respect for the inherent survival skills in babies. They are truly in a league of their own.

It’s a team effort

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Gavin is a paramedic and previous head of training for the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services. He is currently the chief operating officer at Be Safe Paramedical South Africa. www.be-safe.co.za

Photo credit: Gavin Sutton

However, paramedic care can only be effective if a team approach is used. The team doesn’t only consist of paramedics but also includes the patient, the patient’s relatives and anyone else who is able to share vital information about the incident or the patient’s past medical history. Whenever we arrive on a scene, we use a systemic approach to locate life-threatening conditions or injuries, which we treat first. While we are ruling out potential causes for the patient’s condition, we will generally ask a number of questions. The answers to these questions play a vital role in what direction our examination may potentially take. For example, if we were to arrive on the scene of an unconscious five-year old child and while managing him our examination leads us to believe that he is showing signs of drug toxicity, we will ask if he is on any medications and, if not, what medications are accessible in the home. The chances are that we will name a number of drug groups that we believe may have caused the signs and symptoms we are seeing in the child. If we get an honest answer it may mean that we are able to administer a medication to counteract the medication the child ingested. This may potentially reverse the adverse effects of the drug on crucial areas such as the respiratory centre. There are so

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HEALTH: ADVERTORIAL

Protection from infection From the moment children take their first steps, they are bound to have some tumbles. While you can’t always prevent your little daredevil from getting hurt, there’s plenty you can do to make them feel better and ensure they are protected when harm comes their way.

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nfections can develop in any type of wound, whether a cut, laceration graze, or even a wound after a surgical procedure.

An infection means that germs have got into the area where the skin is broken. The infection may be limited to a small area around the edge, or throughout the wound, or it can even be spreading further.

With Betadine®, you can treat wounds early to protect against infections, help in wound healing, and keep your family at play. Betadine® wound care is a range of povidone-iodine-based medicated products that can effectively stop bacteria, fungi and viruses from infecting the injuries caused by minor daily accidents.

You can either use Betadine® Antiseptic Solution that helps disinfect the wound, or you can use Betadine® Antiseptic Ointment or Betadine® First Aid Cream. Betadine® Antiseptic Ointment is recommended for treating common skin infections and for preventing infection in minor burns, cuts and abrasions. Betadine® First Aid Cream is recommended for treating minor burns and scalds, blisters, cuts and scratches, and for preventing infection. With the cream and ointment, just apply liberally to the injury site and cover with a bandage or dressing.

If you suspect that your child may have a more severe injury, or if you see signs of infection while the wound is healing, see your doctor immediately.

To learn more about wound care and what you should have stocked at home for your little emergencies, visit www.betadine.co.za.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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2017/06/27 1:49 PM

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2017/06/27 1:49 PM

HEALTH: winter woes

The truth about mucus and phlegm With cold and flu season upon us, it’s worth noting that as much as nobody likes to cough, it can actually be good for you.

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o better understand why coughing can be good for you, it is important to understand what mucus is, how it is different to phlegm and the role that both play in our bodies, especially in relation to coughs.

What is mucus and what function does it serve?

Mucus is the slippery liquid made by our mucus membranes or mucosa, which lines passageways (the nose, mouth, airways, digestive tract, the reproductive tract, the white part of the eye and on the inside of the eyelids) that contact the outside environment.

Mucus acts as a thin, protective blanket, preventing tissue from drying out, and trapping and killing unwanted substances (bacteria and dust) before they get into our bodies.

The respiratory tract is a mucus-making machine, producing over a litre of mucus a day. Many cells lining the airways have long, tail-like hair called cilia, which beat 10 to 12 times per second. The mucus blanket rests on top of the cilia, which propel it forward like an escalator. Once mucus reaches the throat, it is swallowed, usually unnoticed, and recycled in the stomach. The normal amount of mucus produced daily is cleared by the mucus escalator to prevent it from accumulating.

However, a bad cold or an allergy can throw the body’s mucus production into overdrive. This is the body’s way of flushing away infection, irritants or

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allergens. The mucus escalator may not be able to keep up with the increased volume of mucus, or may become inefficient because of the stickiness of the mucus. As a result, large volumes of thick, sticky mucus accumulate in the airways. Mucus from the lungs is sometimes referred to as phlegm and is produced by the lower airways.

When the mucus escalator can’t keep up, the body deploys other strategies such as coughing. A cough that produces mucus is known as a chesty or wet cough. Unlike a dry cough, a wet cough should be encouraged because it prevents mucus from pooling in the lungs, impairing breathing and the lungs’ ability to fight infection.

This is where mucolytics play a key role. They alleviate coughing, mucus production and airway obstruction, and break the chemical bonds that hold mucus together in a sticky elastic gel. When the bonds are broken, the mucus becomes less sticky and thick, making it easier to move along the mucus escalator and cough up. This also makes it harder for germs to infect the mucus and cause chest infections.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is the most commonly used mucolytic to loosen secretions from the airway. A scientific review shows it is effective for wet coughs with good overall safety in adults and children older than two. NAC is available from your local pharmacy as an effervescent tablet. While suitable for children and adults, the product’s package insert should always be consulted before use. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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2017/06/27 1:50 PM

HEALTH: OTCs

The safe use of non-prescription medication for children When giving children over-the-counter medicines, we need to remember that kids aren’t just small adults. To medicate safely it is important to be aware of the risks.

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esearch shows that the most common over-thecounter (OTC) medicines given to children are analgesics (for pain) and antipyretics (for fever), especially paracetamol, and other cough and cold medicines. These are also the most common preparations that parents usually buy from the pharmacy and already have at home, in addition to vitamin and mineral supplements.

What’s the worst that can happen?

While some OTC medicines can relieve your child’s symptoms, not all products are recommended for children. For example: • large amounts of paracetamol can cause liver damage and liver failure • an overdose of cough and cold medicine can cause seizures and other life-threatening side effects • an overdose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding • alcohol overdose can increase the risk of liver damage and stomach bleeding.

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What are the causes of over-dosage?

Here are some ways in which you could run the risk of over-dosage: • Giving too much medicine at once • Using the incorrect measuring device • Giving more than one type of medicine at the same time • Giving extended-release medicine too often • Sharing adult medicines with children

Never call medicine ‘sweeties’ to get kids to take it.”

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HEALTH: OTCs 13 tips for safely treating kids with OTCs 1. Know how much your child weighs and carefully read all labels and inserts. If they’re confusing, ask a pharmacist for the important points.

2. Be clear on how much to give and how often.

3. Ideally, use the cup, syringe, spoon, or dropper that comes with the medicine. If there isn’t one, ask your pharmacist for one.

4. Be aware that different medicines may contain the same active ingredient. Because this is what makes the medicine work, it’s always listed at the top of the insert. A medicine for a cold and one for a headache could contain the same active ingredient, so if you’re treating a cold and a headache with two medicines, you could be giving twice the normal dose.

5. Don’t give aspirin to children under 12 because of Reyes Syndrome – a rare but serious condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain.

6. Remember that because extended-release medicine lasts longer than regular medicine, it doesn’t need to be given as frequently.

7. Be aware that medicine comes in different forms.

There are often different preparations for children, and adult medicines should never be shared.

8. Keep all medicine in its original package and container.

9. Find out what vitamins, supplements, foods, or drinks shouldn’t be mixed with – or consumed around the same time as – your child’s medicine.

10. Don’t take your own medicine in front of kids as they may copy what you do.

11. Never call medicine ‘sweeties’ to get kids to take it.

12. Teach your child that medicine should only be given to a child by an adult.

13. Put the toll-free Poison Help number (0861 555 777) into your phone. You can also put it on your fridge and next to the landline telephone where caregivers can see it. Remember, the Poison Help Line is not just for emergencies; you can also call with questions about how to take medicine or give medicine to children.

Your pharmacist is always available to answer questions and to help you to appropriately and responsibly self-medicate.”

Is medication always the answer?

Not every situation warrants a visit to the doctor. For instance, your child may experience a symptom that’s unpleasant but doesn’t require a day off school. In that case, your pharmacist is always available to answer questions and to help you to appropriately and responsibly self-medicate.

From a psychological point of view, two health researchers, Doctors Jensen and Zeltzer, are concerned that excessive use of OTC medications can train children to believe that’s the only way to deal with health symptoms. ‘Parents need to be aware that if they give medication every time their child complains about a symptom, their child will learn that the only way to get relief is through medications,’ says Zeltzer. She adds, ‘If children feel there are no other alternatives when they don’t feel well, they won’t learn self-management skills.’

In some cases, experts suggest that bed rest, drinking water, staying indoors or ignoring the symptom may be as effective. But ultimately the ‘best’ method of treating a sick child depends on you, the child’s parent or caregiver, so follow your intuition and get professional advice if and when you need it.

While some OTC medicines can relieve your child’s symptoms, not all products are recommended for children.”

The Self-Medication Manufacturers Association of South Africa (SMASA) aims to promote self-care and to enable consumers to responsibly and appropriately self-medicate and self-treat primary ailments where possible. As such, SMASA represents companies involved in the provision, distribution and sale of healthcare products. SMASA also engages actively in legislative, regulatory and policy development.

For more information, visit http://smasa.za.com.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH: ADVERTORIAL

Understand the signs of pain and fever in your baby A

s you grow up, you develop ways to communicate, but when you are little, communicating is hard. Especially when you have pain. By becoming aware of your baby’s non-verbal signs, you can help you take action when your baby is experiencing pain or fever.

What to look for in your baby 1 • Crying for longer than usual or in unusual manner • Not eating • Diarrhoea or vomiting or both • Skin is hot to the touch • Listlessness

When is it a fever? 1,2 Fevers are quite common in babies for various reasons. If your child’s face feels hot to the touch and they look red or flushed, they may have a fever, but to be sure, you can also check their temperature with a thermometer.

Normal body temperature, measured under the arm is around 36.40C, and slightly higher under the tongue at about 370C. A temperature of over 37.50C is considered a fever.

When to call the doctor 1,3,4 Consult a doctor as soon as possible if your baby: • Has a fit • Turns blue or very pale (in dark-skinned children, check the palms of their hands) • Is very floppy, unusually drowsy or hard to wake • Has a very high temperature (over 390C) but hands and feet feel cold and clammy • Has a purple-red rash anywhere on the body • Has yellow skin and eyes

How to help your child when they have a fever 1,3,4

Photo credit: GlaxoSmithKline

There are things you can do to relieve your child’s fever and make them more comfortable: • Give your child plenty of cool clear fluids to drink • Undress your child to his or her nappy or pants and vest • Cover them with a sheet • Keep the room at a comfortable temperature • Give your child paracetamol in the correct recommended dose for age Paracetamol is the first-line choice for treatment of pain and fever in children. 5 Trust Calpol® with paracetamol for effective relief of mild to moderate pain and fever, and teething pains. 6 References: 1. NHS Direct. Mama Knows, Chapter 6: Illness and Accidents. NHS Direct. [Online] 2007 [Cited 2016 Jan 25]. Available from: URL: http://goo.gl/cfel2i. 2. Sullivan JE, Farrar HC and the Section on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Committee on Drugs. Pediatr 2011; 127:580-587. 3. NHS Direct. Chapter 8: Treating Illnesses, Infections and Injuries. NHS. [online] [Cited 2016 Jan 25]. Available from: URL: http:// goo.gl/dxb605. 4. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Fever in under 5s: assessment and management. [online] [Cited 2016 Jan 25]. Available from: URL: http://goo.gl/23MmbJ. 5. Cranswick N, Coghlan D. Am J Ther 2000;7(2):135-141.6. Calpol® Package Insert. GSK, South Africa. 1989.

S0 CALPOL® (Paediatric Suspension). B/2.7/767. Each 5 ml contains: Paracetamol 120 mg, Methyl Hydroxybenzoate 0,1 % m/v, Propyl Hydroxybenzoate 0,02 % m/v. Sucrose Free, Alcohol Free. Applicant: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare South Africa (Pty) Ltd, 39 Hawkins Avenue, Epping Industria 1, 7460, Cape Town. Reg. No. 2014/173930/07. For full prescribing information see package insert. For any safety information, please contact the GSK hotline on +27 011 745 6001.

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2017/06/27 1:53 PM

HEALTH: osteopathy

Unlocking the body’s ability to heal itself

By Dr Guy Ashburner, Osteopath, BSc(Hons) Ost(UK), DPO (UK)

Every parent wants a healthy child, and a functioning immune system is one of the keys to a healthy child who will resist infections, allergies, and chronic illnesses. A healthy immune system is resilient to disease and infection.

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ome children may be repetitively affected by infections, colds, flu, ear infections and respiratory infections. When the immune system is weakened or compromised, disease and infection are given a chance to manifest themselves. With a poor immune system, the body has difficulty clearing bacteria to which it is exposed through the oral and nasal passages. This congestion may lead to an increase in bacteria and viruses in the respiratory system, and the child is likely then to be predisposed to a reoccurrence of colds, tonsillitis, sinusitis, ear infection, and bronchitis.

Spinal mobility The natural process of birth may leave a negative effect on babies. Considerable mechanical compressive forces and trauma at birth are exerted on an infant’s neck, spine and skull by uterine contractions and extraction. These pressurising forces may result in stress on the neck, spine, nerves, muscles and skull. When spinal joints lose mobility or

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are out of normal position, this may cause localised physiological changes such as poor lymphatic drainage and inflammation that can create pressure on adjacent nerves. This may affect the health and function of virtually every other tissue, organ and system of the body. However, trauma and structural change may not cause immediate noticeable symptoms. When spinal problems are left untreated, the body begins to change and adapt, trying to compensate for the problem. This may affect your child’s future health.

Changes in spinal mobility, bad posture and scoliosis can develop at any age – even in babies, young children or adolescence – and especially during periods of rapid growth. Signs of spinal trouble may include prolonged crying and irritability, difficulty breastfeeding, trouble lying on back, tilting the head, neck sensitivity, signs of swelling or pain and in older children, complaints of headache, backache or pain in the arms or legs. During growth, the spine may receive varying degrees of trauma through falls as

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HEALTH: osteopathy we learn to walk, are thrown up and down in the air by an unwitting parent, falls off a bike, trampolining and sports injuries, or through poor posture. Be watchful for signs of spinal problems. A lifetime of good, or ill, health begins at birth and is established in our childhood.

The immune system The immune system consists of the tonsils, adenoids, thymus, bone marrow, spleen, appendix, Peyer’s patches, lymph nodes, and circulating white blood cells, all of which are reliant on good communication between the nervous system and the immune system.

Interruption to these neural messages may influence the physiology of the immune system. If our nervous system is not functioning properly then the immune system cannot function properly, making our bodies susceptible to viruses, bacteria, and other illnesses that it can normally fight off.

The common cold helps put a child’s developing immune system through its paces. However, complications of colds – sinus infections, bronchitis, ear infections and pneumonia – are the problem.

It is in the prevention of these complications where osteopathic treatment can be so beneficial.

Addressing structural disturbances The common cold may cause enlargement of lymph glands and congestion in muscles, and greater compromise of the lymphatic and venous drainage is more likely to occur if there is pre-existing muscular tension, fascial restrictions and spinal immobility.

Even white blood cells are less able to get to the infected areas when muscles are too tense. This level of compromise in the muscles can lead to spinal joint immobility and rib-head misalignment, further compromising respiratory health. Osteopathic treatment addresses these structural disturbances by allowing the body to mount a much more effective response to illness and a quicker recovery.

When a cold tends to develop into more serious breathing issues, such as asthma, osteopathic treatment can be aimed at restoring rib and diaphragm mobility and improving the lymphatic and venous drainage that allows the cold to resolve without asthma. Individuals who have used medications heavily to address asthmatic symptoms often find that osteopathic treatment addresses the

underlying structural disturbances so effectively that their medication use reduces dramatically.

Ensuring rib and diaphragm motion enhances lymphatic drainage, circulation and immune function, which in turn aids in the prevention and recovery from all respiratory illnesses. If the nervous system is functioning well, the likelihood of your child getting an infection is reduced. Natural prevention is always better than the cure.

A study published in June 2015, illustrates the link between the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) and the lymphatic system*. These connections between the musculoskeletal system, central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) and lymphatic system help to explain how osteopathic treatment may improve the function of the immune system.

The body’s ability to heal itself The body has the inherent ability to heal itself. An osteopath’s role is to unlock the doors and ensure that the fluid channels and nerve pathways are open to potentiate the body’s ability to heal. The health of the nervous system is a major component in maintaining the physiological balance (homeostasis) within the body. Long-term stress can cause the nervous system to become hypersensitive and over react, causing damage to our bodies and compromising our immune systems. Osteopathic treatment can help calm or defacilitate the nervous system.

The guiding principle of osteopathy is that within each one of us are inherent self-healing and selfregulating mechanisms. Osteopaths evaluate and treat spinal dysfunction using detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology. The goal of osteopathy is to find and correct interferences to the body’s own natural state of good health, not just to treat symptoms.

Osteopathic treatment can improve the function of the diaphragm, ribs and lung motion to increase the opportunity for oxygenated blood to move through the infection and promote lymphatic drainage. This helps the body overcome the infection’s imbalance, which can cause fatigue, loss of appetite, pain and shortness of breath. * www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/ lymphatic-vessels-discovered-central-nervous-system.

Dr Guy Ashburner is a registered osteopath who emigrated from the United Kingdom to Cape Town in 2006. Before graduating from the British School of Osteopathy, Guy qualified and worked as a personal trainer in Kensington, London.

It was his interest in babies, children and cranial osteopathy that led him to complete a Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy at the Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy in London where he later worked as a clinical tutor and osteopath. The Foundation, of which Guy is a registered alumni member, is renowned for its osteopathic treatment, quality care and education.

In 2006, Guy established his practice in Constantia, Cape Town.

Osteopathy Cape Town embraces holistic osteopathic principles with focused rehabilitation for people of all ages.

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HEALTH: DENTAL CARE

The effect of smoothies on

milk teeth The nutritionist’s dream but a dentist’s nightmare…

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earing down milk teeth is a major problem in children, and one in five children age five show evidence of eroded milk teeth – teeth worn down on the outside. The consumption of soft drinks and fruit juices are major contributors because they contain acids that cause erosion, as well as pain and sensitivity.

Fruit smoothies are now trendy, and are supported by dieticians because they contain vitamins, antioxidants, polyphenols and fibres. They’re also a great way of getting our five portions of fruit and vegetables in each day. However, smoothies and fruit juices can be potentially detrimental to your health because of the high sugar and acid content they contain.

Why dentists don’t like smoothies Smoothies are extremely acidic and if consumed in high volumes can cause erosion and dental decay.

They also contain a lot of fructose (sugar in fruit) that can cause dental decay if your child’s oral hygiene is not good.

Sugar causes the pH in your mouth to drop far below 5.5, and especially in the case of orange juice.

The bacteria in plaque works optimally in an acidic environment, which is why when sugar is consumed and the pH drops in your mouth, bacteria is most active and takes the minerals out of teeth. This is called demineralisation and is the start of tooth decay.

Research links poor dental health and tooth decay to some serious health conditions, including heart and respiratory disease, and diabetes. 30% of people think that fruit juices are healthy for your teeth but the real damage is done if it’s sipped throughout the day.

So now what? Make your own smoothies. Shopbought smoothies can be worse than a can of coke – the sugars in the smoothie have begun to ferment and produce acids. Freshly made smoothies can be alkaline if made with greener vegetables.

Top tips for tooth protection: • Enjoy your smoothie, but rinse your mouth afterwards.

• Brush your teeth before drinking fruit juice. Fluoride in toothpaste protects teeth against the acid attack.

• Brushing your teeth directly after consuming a smoothie can damage your tooth enamel because it is weakened by the acid content. Wait at least an hour after drinking a smoothie.

• Drink smoothies and juice through a straw.

• Don’t add citrus – the ascorbic acid in vitamin C can cause tooth enamel erosion.

• Add alkaline foods, such as yoghurt, flax seeds and green foods.

• Don’t drink too many too often.

Bright smile smoothie 3 apples 2 kiwi fruit 1 avocado 3 mint leaves 8T of full fat Greek yoghurt

Smoothie for healthy gums 1 kiwi fruit 1 banana ½ cup of frozen berries 1 cup of strawberries 8T of full fat Greek yoghurt

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EDUCATION: LIFE-LONG LEARNERS

How to get the best out of your children

By Barbara Eaton, academic development co-ordinator of ADvTECH Pre-Primary Schools

The aim of raising children is to produce independent, capable and collaborative adults who can communicate well, exhibit self-control, and show good manners and empathy for their fellows. We also want creative, innovative, life-long learners. So how do we achieve this and get the very best out of our children?

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EDUCATION: LIFE-LONG LEARNERS Fill their love tank

Encourage independence

Showing them and telling them you love them sounds so obvious. However, while most parents love their children they do not express that love through physical affection, especially once the child begins to resist those hugs and kisses in an embarrassed manner. Children of any age need plenty of physical affection combined with verbal expression and positive affirmation. But best not in front of peers after the age of eight for boys! Tell them of your love and show appreciation, ‘I just loved it when you helped me wash up/cook the dinner/lay the table.

Thank you’. If parents learn to notice the good and show affection and appreciation, the child will feel loved, learn to be positive, and will not use negative behaviour to attract attention.

By the end of pre-school your child should be able to dress, bath, tidy his room and toys, put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket and have simple daily chores such as laying the table. Some even feel that an eight-year-old should know how to sort laundry and load the washing machine. Independence and chores must increase with age, even if you have domestic help. It is not the parents’ job to lay out clothes for the next day or pack the school bag.

You can help by being organised yourself and set an example, but you must also show your child how to do a task, let them practise it and give support if needed, before expecting it to be done properly.

Living in an organised home and having some responsibility for it will support the child at school. He will be able to plan his desk, school work and locker space and not work in a constant mess. ‘Tidy as you go’ is a good habit to encourage.

Boundaries Children feel safe when they have boundaries. Have weekly family meetings, even with children as young as three, and discuss and formulate your family rules. The whole family agrees to abide by the rules, such as speaking respectfully to each other and keeping their rooms tidy. Write down the rules and stick them on the fridge. Agree on the consequences for breaking rules. Use your meetings to plan outings and holidays, as well as to talk about behaviour and chores. Teenagers will always balk at rules, but are more likely to comply if they have helped to make them in a loving and supportive family environment.

All sports and work environments have rules so don’t be afraid of having them in your family.

Children need your time Modern life is challenging for parents and there seems so little time to just relax and play with the children. However, this is essential to their well-being.

Schedule a time for ball games, walks, playing board games, reading together and just chatting, with phones switched off. Notice TV and tablets are not mentioned. The latter are not true social activities and do not encourage children to learn to make eye contact, read facial expressions or manage the give and take of doing things with others. Use a video link when you are apart, but this is not a substitute for you.

Acknowledging feelings There are so many more emotions than happy and sad, and children learn to identify and manage their feelings by example. If dad yells and throws things when he loses his keys, the children will see this as acceptable behaviour. It’s okay to be angry, but children must learn how to express it appropriately from their role models. Acknowledge feelings verbally, such as, ‘I can see you are upset because your friend didn’t play with you today. Let’s talk about how you can deal with that.’ Give the child autonomy to make a plan and try it out. Phoning the child’s mother or teacher shows the child that you do not trust him to solve his own problems. This leads to dependence and you do not want your university child to be constantly expecting you to sort out his life. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Children need to play with their peers From the age of four, playing with peers, without interference from adults, is as essential as food to a child’s well-being. Through play, they learn to assert their needs while meeting those of their playmates.

Friends just quit the game when a child is too demanding so children learn to sublimate their needs and pay attention to others. This is the most important skill that children need for life, marriage and the work place, none of which will allow you to have all your own way. With other children, they have authentic communication and practise true independence.

They negotiate what and how to play, they discuss and create rules. They modify rules as they play and become more creative as they experiment with variations. ‘Constant adult supervision and interference has been attributed to rising anxiety levels and depression in teens and young adults.’

(Gray P 2011.) Yes, you do have to keep an eye on safety, but don’t remove all challenges and do give them privacy. Read your book or cook with the door open but don’t organise the play or hover. Don’t over organise children in extra-murals – they don’t substitute for free play.

With the lack of safe places to congregate, teenagers have turned to the internet for their ‘play’ with peers. Teach them online safety and impose some restrictions, but they need this space to share thoughts and feelings in privacy.

Grit, perseverance and the ability to delay gratification We are seeing a generation less likely to stick to tasks or to persevere in the face of difficulty. The finest inventions have been created because the inventors tried and tried again in the face of failure. Children need to learn that not everything comes easily and effort and perseverance is necessary. Don’t allow them to constantly change activities when they hit a bump. Praise effort not results. Not every child is an A student but with hard work, everyone can reach their own potential.

Help them learn to delay gratification by not providing everything on demand. From the age of

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EDUCATION: LIFE-LONG LEARNERS five, expect them to do small tasks to earn points towards a desired toy. Later they can save a reasonable contribution from their pocket money.

Don’t replace lost school items instantly but, if you must replace something, deduct pocket money afterwards. Schoolwork becomes more demanding by matric and a child able to delay gratification and persevere to do the studying required will do well.

Teach money sense Start the habit of spending one third, saving one third and giving one third to charity, and your child will develop money sense and learn to plan and budget for her ‘wants’. It is the parent’s job to provide the ‘needs’. If the family understands the share market, twelve-year-olds can be introduced to it and learn from an early age how to invest and grow their income. Your child will be more equipped for adulthood and will make sensible financial decisions. If he has learned to save some pocket money regularly, he may be close to buying a car as he leaves school.

Food and exercise While modern life becomes faster our bodies become more sedentary, setting an example is vital. Taking walks as a family, going to gym, swimming or playing games in the garden all set a habit of activity that should take children through to adulthood. Exercise releases the ‘happy’ hormones, endorphins and serotonin, so screen time needs to be limited, even for the socialising teenagers. Children who have regular exercise also cope better in class and are less likely to

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become obese. This brings us to eating habits.

Teaching healthy eating habits is something that starts from weaning time and requires role models at home.

You can’t say no to chips and coke if dad is having them. Fast food should be an occasional convenience meal and sweets should be one or two after a meal, sometimes, not the whole packet daily. Don’t use either of these as a reward or children will crave them. Cut out the fruit juices and fizzy drinks in favour of water, and make vegetables and fruit a bigger part of the diet than carbs. Children who eat properly have better concentration and don’t have energy slumps, which leads to better school results. Pack sensible lunch boxes and don’t rely on tuck shops unless the school has strict policies about what may be sold.

Lifelong learning and problem solving Once again, this is modelled by caregivers. Enjoy documentaries and good books with the children, model reading yourself, watch the news and discuss it, have conversations at meal times that involve expressing opinions on topics of interest and take courses to improve your own learning. View problems as challenges and demonstrate how you solve them. Stand back when your children encounter challenges and allow them the opportunity to try their own solutions.

Getting the best from your children is at least a twenty-one-year process. It takes planning, patience, dedication, commitment and love but the results are so worthwhile.

ADvTECH Schools Division, www.advtech.co.za.

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EDUCATION: LANGUAGE SKILLS

Superior language skills from an early age For bilingual parents, the decision to speak to children in just one or multiple languages while their children are developing their language skills is a complicated one. Here are two views and some research behind language development…

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shepiso Matentjie, educational psychologist for the Pampers Institute of Experts believes that parents should choose one dominant language in which to communicate with their children.

Although children only start to utter their first words at around 12 months old, they become familiar with language, recognising parents’ voices, while they are in the womb. Because language understanding develops from birth, it is important to begin speaking to babies from day one.

One language from day one ‘Perhaps the most important consideration for parents is that children will use language to identify objects and express certain needs, as well as to think and reason. Therefore, it is vital that parents

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communicate in only one language from the start,’ Tshepiso insists.

‘While toddlers may be able to understand and even speak some words in different languages, this can be confusing for them when they start to develop thinking and reasoning skills,’ she adds.

Spoken language develops much faster than our higher order reasoning ability. For example, a young toddler may identify and name objects around them (a window), but they need to have advanced cognitive skills to express the window’s function.

‘These reasoning skills are only fully developed if your child has a solid foundation of one language and can consolidate it to think,’ she insists.

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EDUCATION: LANGUAGE SKILLS at their child’s crèche. Other languages can then be introduced from about two years old,’ Tshepiso suggests.

‘To give your child the best chance of developing excellent reasoning skills early on, parents need to ensure that they always use the correct form of the dominant language they have chosen,’ she concludes.

Bilingual children focus better Ellen Bialystok, from Child And Family Blog, insists that bilingual children’s brains are more efficient and, later in life, show slower cognitive decline when experiencing ageing and dementia. She adds that bilingualism strengthens the attention system in the front of the brain because constantly selecting from two available languages enhances powers of concentration, which is essential for many other important mental tasks.

The crucial factor is that when bilingual people speak, both their languages are activated. Yet, they rarely make the mistake of choosing a word from the wrong language. That’s because the front of the brain – the prefrontal cortex – focuses their attention on whichever language is required at any particular moment. The mental gymnastics of constantly focusing in this way – for hours every day – builds the attention system, providing vital strengths that can then be used in other cognitive tasks.

This training for the attention system provides a great advantage. All the information that bombards us is filtered first through the front of the brain. We sift through information to focus on what our sensory and cognitive systems should be considering at any moment. In other words, we selectively attend to the information that’s needed for the tasks we’re currently performing.

Building the capacity to concentrate is a key part of children’s development in the first five years of life.

They need the ability to focus on important elements of a problem without being distracted by irrelevant and misleading information. Indeed, the progress that children achieve in their attention capacity during these early years is a predictor of long-term academic success. However, children’s progress around concentration can be slow.

In recent years, neuroscience has found that the neural pathways governing attention aren’t fully connected until later adolescence. As a result, many focusing tasks can be highly challenging for children.

So, the importance for children of concentration – combined with their immature development – helps explain why strengthened attention systems are such an asset to bilingual speakers.

The advantages of bilingualism Some of this advantage might be dismissed as simply accelerated progress – bilingual children excelling at a mental task that their monolingual peers will be able to achieve just as well in perhaps six months or a year. However, studies show that the real advantage is more profound: bilingualism rewires the brain in ways that matter throughout life – even, we’re beginning to understand, into old age and cognitive decline.

Research demonstrates that even when bilinguals perform a task with the same success as their monolingual peers, their brains are functioning in a different way. ‘Firstly, imaging shows that bilinguals’ brains require less activation to achieve the same level of performance and, secondly, the normal cognitive decline that’s characteristic of most people as they age is slower in bilingual people. We don’t know why, but we do know, from imaging, that connections among regions of the brain are different for bilingual people. A particularly interesting research finding that supports this hypothesis concerns dementia. Although dementia occurs and progresses similarly for bilingual people as for their monolingual peers, the cognitive symptoms are typically delayed by four or five years among bilinguals,’ Ellen points out.

The disadvantages of bilingualism However, bilingualism is not a story of advantage only. Typically, bilingual speakers, especially children, have less command of either language than their monolingual peers have over a single language. On average, bilinguals have a smaller vocabulary and more difficulty retrieving words and forming sentence structures. It’s vital that educators understand these potential weaknesses, since norms for standardised test scores were created for monolingual, Englishspeaking children. ‘There is a widespread belief among practitioners that bilingual children who are experiencing language or learning difficulties should revert to being monolinguals. This is empirically false, and better education needs to be provided to practitioners so they can give better advice to families and better services to these children,’ Ellen concludes.

Pampers is dedicated to every baby’s happy, healthy development. The Pampers Unisex pants range has an extra sleep layer that give babies up to 12 hours of overnight dryness for undisturbed sleep and a happy start to every day, contributing to baby’s physical and cognitive development and sociability. When babies are happy they respond better to learning. For more information, visit www.pg.com.

Ellen Bialystok is a distinguished research professor of psychology and Walter Gordon York Research Chair of Lifespan Cognitive Development at York University, Toronto, Canada. For more information, visit www.childandfamilyblog.com.

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KICKS FOR KIDS

babys beyond and

a family lifestyle magazine

Frosty facts about snow Sadly, in most parts of South Africa we don’t get much, if any, snow. But if you’re lucky enough to get to play in the snow this winter, here are some interesting facts: • Snow forms when water vapor in the atmosphere freezes into ice crystals.

• Snowflakes form in a variety of different shapes.

• Snow is a form of precipitation, other forms of precipitation are rain, hail and sleet.

• Light and fluffy snow is called ‘powder’.

• Heavy snowfalls are called ‘snowstorms’.

• Snowstorms with high winds are called ‘blizzards’.

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KICKS FOR KIDS

Word game

a Circle the names of these farmyard animals in this puzzle.

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Join the dots Draw a line from dot number 1 to dot number 2, then from dot number 2 to dot number 3, and so on. Keep going until you’ve joined all the dots.

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Can you help these five giraffes get untangled by matching their heads to their bodies?

Find

the route

KICKS FOR KIDS

Can you find the 10 differences between these two pictures?

Spot

the differences

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Grab some grub

Chicken Schnitzels with Parmesan Crumbs and Cheese Sauce

Add the Chicken Spice and grated cheese. Blend again to mix well.

Decant crumb mixture onto a large dinner plate.

Measure the cornflour onto some baking or greaseproof paper to save washing up.

Beat the eggs in a large soup plate. Line the coating ingredients up: 1) cornflour; 2) eggs; 3) crumbs.

Dip the flattened schnitzel first in cornflour, dust off excess. Use a small pair of tongs to swipe the schnitzel through the egg. Drop into the breadcrumbs. Turn and pat until crumbs adhere nicely.

Put coated schnitzels onto a plate and separate layers with greaseproof or baking paper. Freeze for 15 minutes before cooking, or refrigerate for 30 minutes.

The real secret here is to cook schnitzels in a cool pan. If the meat shrinks too fast, the crumb coating tends to come away.

Melt the butter until it foams over medium heat, add oil and then add the schnitzels, cooking in batches.

Keep the heat down so that the crumbs don’t overbrown before the meat is cooked.

Serve with the gently warmed Cheese Sauce, lemon wedges and chives.

As an alternative to chicken breasts, use pork fillet slices or veal. This is one of our favourite family meals. Uncooked coated schnitzels will freeze very successfully. Defrost before browning in the pan.

Ina Paarman’s Caesar Dressing is an excellent choice to dress a salad.

Ingredients

4 skinless chicken breast fillets ½ ciabatta or short French loaf 1T (15ml) Ina Paarman’s Chicken Spice ½ to ¾ cup (125 to 180ml) freshly grated parmesan or Italian hard cheese ¼ cup (60ml) cornflour 2 eggs, beaten 2T (30ml) butter 2T (30ml) olive oil

Recipes and pictures courtesy of

To serve

1 x 200ml Ina Paarman’s Ready to Serve Cheese Sauce lemon wedges chives

Method

Butterfly the breasts and cut each in half.

Place one half chicken breast in a sturdy plastic bag (medium freezer bag size) and with the flat side of a meat mallet, beat the chicken out to no more than ½ cm thickness – it must be quite thin. The funkier the shape the better – it gives that homemade look.

Cut the bread, with crust, into cubes and feed into the processor while running to make fine, fresh breadcrumbs.

You should end up with ± 2 cups of breadcrumbs.

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Grab some grub

Potato and Mince Mice

These mice are great for a special treat or for a party.

Any leftovers, or if you need a quick meal, bake in individual oven proof dishes. Remember oven baked potatoes will give you a much better result than microwave potatoes because the skin gets crisp and sturdy.

You will need Utensils fork baking tray pastry brush oven gloves vegetable knife tablespoon small mixing bowl measuring jug potato masher grater chopping board serving platter

Put the hollowed out potato skins back on the baking tray or in a muffin pan. Spoon a heaped tablespoon of the Bolognaise Sauce into the potatoes and top each one with mash. Sprinkle grated cheese over and put back in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes to warm through and brown the cheese. Switch off the oven.

Decorate as illustrated to make mice!

Ina’s tip

Use any leftover Bolognaise Sauce and potato mash to make mini cottage pies using small ovenproof dishes.

Ingredients

6 medium/large potatoes olive or canola oil 2T (30ml) butter ¼ cup (60ml) fresh full-cream milk 1t (5ml) Ina Paarman’s Potato Spice 1 x 400ml Ina Paarman’s Bolognaise Pasta Sauce ½ cup (125ml) cheese, grated To dress up the mice 2 large radishes 4 to 6 small cherry tomatoes 1 small bunch chives seedless raisins

Method

Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat the oven to 200°C. Rinse the potatoes and prick them all over with a fork.

Put the potatoes on a baking tray and brush with oil.

Bake for ± one hour until potatoes are soft. Leave to cool down a little before handling. Cut off one flat side of each potato and carefully scoop out the soft potato centres. Put scooped out potato flesh into a mixing bowl. Warm butter and milk for 30 seconds, add to the potato flesh together with Potato Spice. Using a potato masher, or fork, mash together until smooth. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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promising products

Babe-Eeze silicone teething necklaces

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Photo credit: Babe-Eeze

abe-Eeze has extended its range of teething necklaces with a variety of new, fashionable colours and styles.

Worn by mom, these stylish beads give your baby something to chew on or play with while in your arms.

Babe-Eeze teething beads, available in various colours, are necklaces designed to be worn by moms and not hung around babies necks.

Teething babies constantly need something to chew on and the Babe-Eeze silicone teething necklaces are perfect for the job. Your baby can either play with or chew on the non-toxic silicone beads during breast feeding or when being carried around by mom.

Babe-Eeze products are free from BPA, PVC, phthalates, cadmium and lead, and are available from Dis-Chem, Clicks and select pharmacies for around R149. They make wonderful presents if you don’t have a baby!

Manage eczema with Buchu

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Photo credit: Cape Kingdom Nutraceuticals

mprove your quality of life as you wave goodbye to red, irritated and itchy skin associated with eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Introduce Buchulife First Aid Gel to your daily skin regimen and you’ll be surprised at the results.

Buchulife First Aid Gel contains organic buchu oil that is proven for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antihistamine properties – everything needed to help relieve the pain and discomfort associated with eczema while assisting with the management of the condition.

And the good news is that it’s suitable for kids and babies, can safely be used on a long-term basis, and yields no harmful side-effects.

The active ingredient in all product ranges produced by Cape Kingdom Nutraceuticals, is Buchu, an indigenous South African herb with potent natural anti-inflammatory properties. Buchu is recognised as South Africa’s most valuable medicinal plant, and its use and benefits have been documented for over three hundred years.

Buchulife First Aid Gel is available at Dis-Chem, Food Lovers Market and Wellness Warehouse stores nationwide. Price: Approximately R72.55 for 40g and R120.95 for 80g. For more information, visit www.buchulife.com.

Eco-friendly bubble bath

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Photo credit: Cherubs

herubs, one of South Africa’s most established and trusted baby brands, has entered the Kiddies Bath category with fruity and fun Cherubs Kiddies Bubble Bath.

Cherubs Bubbles, a dermatologically-endorsed, 2-in-1 wash and foam, is available in a value-offering two-litre bottle with sturdy handles for mom. Kiddies will have tons of bath time fun while getting clean in the mild and gentle bubble bath.

Eco-friendly and lovingly made in South Africa, Cherubs is proud to bring another innovative product to parents, making lives easier every day.

Cherubs Kiddies Bubble Bath is pH balanced, paraben free, eco-friendly and offers fruity fun and bubble gum fragrances. Products available at Pick n Pay for R49.99 for two litres.

For more information, visit www.unsgaard.co.za.

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promising products

Surviving colic with Colief® Infant Drops

Photo credit: Colief® Infant Drops

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olic is defined as repeated episodes of excessive and inconsolable crying in a newborn baby who otherwise appears perfectly healthy. The condition can affect up to one in three babies. As any parent with a distressed, crying baby knows, colic can be very frustrating and upsetting for all involved and can affect the whole household.

It is thought that colic can be caused by milk sensitivity. In the first months of life, some babies are unable to break down lactose, a complex sugar in breast and formula milk. This is called temporary lactase deficiency. It can produce wind, bloating and cause discomfort, and one of the main symptoms is inconsolable crying – also known as colic. Colief® Infant Drops added to a baby’s milk greatly reduces the level of lactose by breaking it down into glucose and galactose before the baby is fed. Clinically proven studies show that the hours of crying reduce when a baby’s usual milk is treated with Colief® Infant Drops.

The active ingredient in Colief Infant Drops is lactase, a safe, naturally occurring enzyme produced within the small intestine.

Colief® Infant Drops, 15ml or 90 feeds, has an RRP of R163 (price may vary by outlet). Available at Dischem, Clicks and select pharmacies.

Little Lumps launches snuggly winter range

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Photo credit: Little Lumps

ittle Lumps, a proudly South African manufacturer, has launched its extrasnug winter range of clothing and accessories, ensuring high-quality baby products that don’t break the bank.

Launched seven years ago, Little Lumps has proven itself in the South African e-commerce market with its online store at www.littlelumps. co.za, as well as in the increasing number of boutiques that now stock the range.

The winter 2017 collection is made from luxury fabrics sourced in South Africa. The range is fun, comfortable for baby, and of impeccable quality that includes 100% cotton materials.

‘We’ve always focused on producing a small range of highquality clothing and other baby goods that are thoughtful in their design,’ says owner Celia Els. ‘We take our time with each garment, making sure we add finishings that are safe and comfortable for babies.’ For more information, visit www.littlelumps.co.za.

NRF family cold and flu supplments

Photo credit: NRF

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ith winter upon us, NRF health supplements are a sure way to help build up the family’s immunity and help fight colds and flu. These supplements should also be taken as an ongoing, good health maintenance programme all year round.

NRF Vita-C 2000 is a buffered Vitamin C powder that is suitable for children, sufferers of acidic conditions, and those with delicate stomachs. It is easily dissolved in water to drink, or a NRF Vita-C 300 in tablet form may be easier to take. Vitamin C is an important physiological antioxidant that plays a vital role in immune function and in the absorption of some forms of iron.

For best results, adults should take NRF Vita-C together with an NRF Vita-Zinc tablet and a NRF XPS multi vitamin. NRF KiddiVite are chewable tablets for children that together with a glass of NRF Vita-C buffered powder dissolved in some juice will ensure that kiddies immune systems stay healthy during flu season. A combination of these supplements will help to build the immune system.

Each NRF health supplement is made from pure, certified and balanced ingredients that are suitable for the whole family. NRF Health products are available from Dis-Chem, Clicks and pharmacies. For more information, visit www.numerator2000.co.za.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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BOOK REVIEW

Winnie-the-Pooh: The Great Heffalump Hunt Giles Andreae Penguin Random House South Africa | R140.00 When Winnie-the-Pooh sets out to catch a Heffalump he finds himself in a sticky situation. Luckily his loyal friend, Piglet, isn’t far away…

From the author of Giraffes Can’t Dance comes a delightful tale of Heffalumps, deep pits and large jars of honey, inspired by the classic tales of AA Milne.

Pooh ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage.

Whether you’re five or 55, Pooh is the bear for all ages.

Photo credit: Penguin Random House South Africa

Everything, Everything Film Tie-In Nicola Yoon Penguin Random House South Africa | R180.00 You’ve seen the trailer for Everything, Everything – starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson – now read the incredible #1 New York Times bestselling story before you see the movie, in cinemas soon. This edition features stunning film artwork.

Maddy is allergic to the world; stepping outside the sterile sanctuary of her home could kill her. But then Olly moves in next door. And just like that, Maddy realises there’s more to life than just being alive. You only get one chance at first love and Maddy is ready to risk everything, everything to see where it leads.

And don’t miss Nicola Yoon’s #1 New York Times bestseller The Sun is Also a Star, in which two teens are brought together just when the universe is sending them in opposite directions.

Into the Water Paula Hawkins Penguin Random House South Africa | R295.00 The addictive new psychological thriller from the author of The Girl on yhe Train, the runaway Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller and global phenomenon.

In the last days before her death, Nel called her sister. Jules didn’t pick up the phone, ignoring her plea for help.

Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules has been dragged back to the one place she hoped she had escaped for good, to care for the teenage girl her sister left behind.

But Jules is afraid. So afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of knowing that Nel would never have jumped. And most of all she’s afraid of the water, and the place they call the Drowning Pool…

With the same propulsive writing and acute understanding of human instincts that captivated millions of readers around the world in her explosive debut thriller, The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins delivers an urgent, satisfying read that hinges on the stories we tell about our pasts and their power to destroy the lives we live now. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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