PARENTING TIPS

Important tips for parents

(1)Protect your child from passive smoking

• Passive smoking is breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke,which harms your health.


• When you or others smoke anywhere in your home,your child smokes passively the same as smoking 60-150 cigarettes per year.


• Children who live in a smoky home have greater risk of…

1. Admitted in Clinic


2. Asthama attack and chest infection


3. Coughs and colds


4. Being absent from school


5. Taking up smoking themselves

(2)Burns and Scalds

Run cold water over the burnt area at once.Keep water running for five minutes.Do not take off your child’s clothes-Run the water over the clothes over the burnt area.Call your doctor or take your child to the Clinic if the burn is serious.

(3) Constipation

Constipation is infrequent bowel actions with hard stools that are difficult to pass and are causing distress.Young babies often strain when they pass their stools; As long as their stools are soft this is quiet normal.

Breastfed babies may pass a stool after each feed;but by the age of four to six weeks they will develop their own pattern.This can vary from several times a day to less than once a week.If you are breastfeeding and are worried your baby may be constipated contact your health advisor/doctor for advise.

(4) Reduce the risk of sudden infant death

• The safest place for your baby to sleep is on their back in a cot or a crib in theroom with you for the first six months.


• Place your baby in the ‘feet to foot’ position (with their feet at the end of the cot )


• Keep your baby’s head uncovered.Their blanket should be tucked in no higher than their shoulder.


• Don’t smoke in pregnancy –fathers too! And don’t let anyone smoke in the same room.


• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.


• Do not share a bed with your baby if:

1. you have been drinking alcohol


2. you have taken medication or drugs that make you sleep more heavily


3. you are very tired


4. you or your partner is a smoker


5. your babies was born premature (before 37 weeks)


6. your baby was low birth weight(less than 2.5 kgs or 5 lbs)

(5) Fevers

If you think your child has fever,watch out for other signs of illness and contact your doctor if you are worried.A febrile child needs plenty to drink,may not want food and may want more sleep.Keep your child cool by taking off clothing and bedding,and give paracetamol and plenty to drink.
Do not sponge your child with cool water as this is uncomfortable and causes shivering that may only keep the heat in. Do not add more clothes or bedding,this can be dangerous.

(6)Fits or convulsions

• A child who is having a fit needs to be in a safe place,such as on a floor.


• Lie the child on its tummy with its head turned to one side.


• Do not put anything into the child’s mouth.Get help.


• Fits may sometimes happen when your child has a high temperature.

(7) Tummy upsets

Tummy upsets are not often serious.But small babies can get short of water(dehydrated)if not treated properly.
Diarrhoea:If your baby or young child has more than five loose or watery stools in 24 hours:

• Continue to give food/milk in the normal way


• For every watery stool give an extra drink of cool boiled water or rehydration fluid


• Diarrhoea should get better by 10 days


• If Diarrhoea lasts longer or your baby is otherwise unwell get medical help

(8)Vomiting 

If your baby is not usually sick…

• Stop food for 3-4 hours


• Give small amounts of cooled boiled water.


• When vomiting stops give usual milk or food in small amount to begin with


• If breastfeeding,do not stop feeding