Veganism is different from vegetarianism. Vegetarians don’t eat meat, but they may eat fish, dairy and/or eggs. It all depends on the category.

If you are a vegan, then to you it probably makes sense to want to raise your child that way as well. Therefore for a child’s nutritional safety, you must know what to consider in a vegan diet so they stay healthy.

Vegans are opposed to eating any animal products of any description, and many vegans consume only fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and legumes.

It can be a challenge to eat in this manner, but for children of parents who have done it, there is usually little issue. What can be most challenging is making sure that all of the required nutrients for a child are met with the vegan lifestyle.

Many foods don’t take much tweaking to make them vegan friendly. For instance, babies usually drink breast milk or formula. You can buy formula that has no milk solids in it. Experts say that breastfeeding is better for infants because they pick up extra immunity from their mother.

When it comes to introducing solid foods, rice cereal is often used. It doesn’t contain meat or dairy so it is just the same as what any child would eat.

When your child is ready to move on to solid foods, choose mashed fruits and veggies. Mashing your own can avoid the extra sugars added to store-bought varieties. Usually the most important nutrient that causes concern is protein. Without meat, it can be hard to get enough protein each day for proper body function.

Introduce nuts, legumes and soy. Soy is a plant protein. It has less fat than animal protein. Beans are also a low-fat protein alternative. Tofu is a soy material that can be used as a meat substitute to make dishes.

Know what your child needs to eat every day. This includes examining the FDA food pie (formerly the food pyramid) for children to be sure you are keeping their diet healthy.

Vitamins and minerals are also crucial to proper development:

* Calcium – Eat green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, beans and even soy milk.

* Vitamin D – This vitamin helps synthesize calcium in the body. It is normally found in dairy but you can get it from fortified soy milk and also from time spent out in the sun.

* Vitamin B12 –The B vitamins are great for boosting metabolism.

With a vegan diet, your child will enjoy the tastes of whole foods such as grains, vegetables and fruits. They get all of the nutrition with very little fat as long as you plan well.

Having a colicky baby is the nightmare of every new parent. Even though the baby feeds and is otherwise healthy, a baby with colic is defined as one who cries for no apparent reason, for three hours a day, three days a week, for three weeks. Among doctors, this is known as the “rule of three.”

There are a few different causes for baby colic, all having to do with the digestive system. Baby colic is usually caused by gas, by an immature digestive system, by the baby swallowing air or by trace substances passed through the mother’s digestive system and into breastfed milk.

Here are a few tried and true methods to remedy baby colic:

Colic Calm Gripe Water

This is the main product on the market. It is completely homeopathic, meaning that it doesn’t contain any unnatural chemicals; its primary ingredients are baking soda and essential oils. Mothers who have used grip water have found its success rate to be quite high. Gripe water can relieve your baby’s discomfort in just a few minutes after ingestion. Keep in mind that it should only be used when necessary, as baking soda can upset the acidity balance of your baby’s stomach.

Cleaning Up Your Own Diet

If your baby is breastfeeding, try cutting dairy, cruciferous vegetables, nuts and chocolate from your diet. Your baby could be intolerant of cow’s milk or other forms of dairy products. Trace amounts could be making their way to your baby through your breast milk. The same applies to cruciferous vegetables, nuts and chocolate, which can turn into gas in your baby’s stomach, causing distension and discomfort.

Switch Baby Formulas

If you are using baby formula for your baby, consider switching formulas. Make sure to talk to your doctor before making any decisions.

Give Your Baby a Massage

Get a book on administering baby massages. Giving your baby’s tummy a nice, relaxing massage can really help calm your baby down. Also try giving your baby a warm platypus to hold. Put warm to hot water inside the platypus, wrap them in soft blankets and let it lie next to your baby’s stomach. This should always, always be done with adult supervision. Platypuses aren’t baby-safe, and can leak and be toxic if chewed. The warmth can help relieve your baby’s discomfort, but never leave a baby unattended with it.

White Noise CD

Get a white noise CD, which is basically a recording that sounds like what your baby heard while it was in the womb. This will help calm your baby down. These CDs can be purchased online, or at a baby store.

Any one of these techniques can help to alleviate your baby’s colic; however, it is also possible that none of them will work and you will have to wait it out. Start by trying gripe water; if that doesn’t work, experiment with some of the other techniques.

One of the oldest recorded childhood diseases is chickenpox, which just about every child has been exposed to at one time or another. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. An itchy red rash occurs all over the body, including the face, and usually spread over the body through scratching of the rash and then touching unaffected areas

If you look closely, the red bumps resemble pimples. They are filled with clear fluid that turns cloudy. When they eventually pop, they crust and produce scabs as they dry out.

Symptoms of Chickenpox

Those with chickenpox notice the rash and itching more than anything else. But, there are other symptoms that children may experience, such as fever, sore throat, headache or abdominal pain before the rash shows up. In rare cases, chickenpox can lead to serious bacterial or viral infections that affect the brain, joints and bones.

Chickenpox is highly contagious. If one child is afflicted, some parents expose other children so they all suffer together. If your child has chickenpox, don’t let them go to school as they can pass the virus to others until the bumps pop and scab over, which can take about a week.

Chickenpox can be both itchy and painful. Scratching seems to bring some relief, but then the pain starts from all that rubbing and scratching. Children and parents are miserable as they endure the five or seven days it takes for the condition to run its course.

Stopping the Itch

Here are some ideas to stem that itch and keep your child cool and comfortable.

* Use calamine lotion – This works for other itchy rashes such as poison ivy by drying out the skin. Rubbing your child down with it can provide temporary relief from pain and itch.

* Administer antihistamines – The itching is a result of the body’s reaction to the disease. The body releases histamine which lead to itching. Ask your pediatrician about medications that can block the release of histamines.

* Oatmeal baths – This is an old but very good remedy for chickenpox itch. Fill a tub with cool, but not cold water. Hot water can increase the pain and itch. Fill the tub with baking soda and oatmeal. If you have it, use pre-packaged colloidal oatmeal remedies. Allow your child to soak for about 15 minutes until they feel better.

* Use socks on the hands – It will be hard to keep children from scratching when they itch. Placing mittens or socks on their hands prevents scarring damage done to the skin

Chickenpox can become that much more unbearable when the itching begins. Above are some tips to help reduce the itch.

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It mostly occurs in children, but can affect adults who were never exposed to it as a child.

Chickenpox is one of the oldest recorded childhood conditions. It can begin with just a fever, but it always ends up with contagious red bumpy rashes that spread from head to toe. For about a week, your child is covered in blister-like bumps that are red, itchy and painful. It can be the worst nightmare of parents, especially if they have more than one child or diaper-wearing infants.

A new vaccine for chickenpox, the varicella vaccine, has been available in the United States since 1995 to inoculate against the disease. Some states require the varicella vaccination or an exemption before entering elementary school, and many healthcare facilities require the vaccine for employees. Protection from one dose is not life-long and a second dose is necessary five years after the initial immunization

Parents have had conflicting views and are puzzled by whether they should they give it to their children or allow nature to take its course.

For hundreds of years, children have lived through chickenpox. When the body encounters childhood diseases such as chickenpox, measles or mumps, it builds up immunity. Antibodies are produced as a result of the body fighting the invading antigen. A high level of these antibodies in the body (titers) can ward off future incidents of the condition from occurring.

In the past, if one child was exposed to the virus, parents would deliberately expose all of their children because it almost guaranteed that the healthy children would contract the disease while still in childhood.

However, we now know that the future problem of having had chickenpox is shingles, which is caused by the dormant chickenpox virus and is quite painful. It can also cause serious problems in those who have never had chickenpox before.

Adults who have had chickenpox as children have a greater incidence of contracting shingles as adults. For non-immune adults, the varicella vaccine can help lower their risk of contracting chickenpox, especially in elderly people, where it can be life threatening.

Stuttering does not have to derail your child’s learning or social development. If you notice that your child is suffering from a stutter, there are ways that you can help.

Stuttering is a disorder that involves obstacles to the flow of speech. It can involve repetition of sounds, prolonged sounds or even periods of silence between words. Another word used to describe it is stammering.

There are many different causes for stuttering. The first is genetics. Those who have relatives who stutter are more likely to suffer from the impairment themselves. Second, research shows that people who stutter process speech differently in their brain from people who do not have a stammer. Developmental delays of other kinds can influence stuttering. Problems with language may be secondary to other problems that the child is facing.

Many children stutter. It can be a part of the process of learning language for some children. Just because your child shows this abnormality early on doesn’t mean that it will stay with them into adulthood. However, scientists believe that children who stutter after age three and persist for more than six months may not grow out of it.

There is still much that can be done, however. Early intervention can help to eliminate or reduce the prominence of stuttering in children.

Tips to Help Children Who Stutter

One of the ways stuttering children are negatively affected is in the area of self-confidence. They may see themselves as unattractive or unpopular because they do not speak like their friends. Methods to assist a child are geared towards showing them acceptance.

* Speech therapy – In school, therapy of this kind can teach children to speak more slowly to reduce the incidence of their stutter. Even if the stutter doesn’t disappear, knowing that they are actively doing something to improve their speech can build confidence.

* Speak slowly to your child – The pressure to answer quickly can bring on a stuttering episode. Show calmness in your speech to encourage your child to slow down and think first.

* Listen to them speak – If you ask multiple questions of your child, it can lead to anxiety and confusion when it comes to giving the answers. Ask an open-ended question and wait for their response. Try to minimize interruptions so they can process thoughts clearly.

* Set aside time with your child – When things are hectic and rushed, it is harder for stuttering children to communicate. Give them time to be themselves by setting aside some time to talk and listen to their issues. Don’t draw attention to their stutter by trying to hurry them up or asking them to speak slowly. Even good-natured advice like this can cause anxiety.

If your child show signs of stuttering, early intervention is the key to building self-confidence as you work towards a solution.

It is a common misconception that you have to be an adult to experience stress, but stress is our reaction to situations in life, and it can happen at any age.

Stress at school is not just academic, however. Children have to maintain their studies while participating in school activities, sports, nurturing friendships and working. It can be a tough load if they don’t know how to handle it. Many adults don’t even have to juggle that much on a daily basis.

Tips to Manage Stress

* Stay organized – From the beginning of the school year, make sure that your children are staying on top of their homework and other assignments. Keep a separate notebook for each class so nothing gets lost or misplaced.

* Study a little each day – One way that many children study is cramming. They will have all their knowledge in their heads for the exam, but it will evaporate afterwards. That means it will be harder to study for the next test if it builds on the information they have already learned. Instead, advise your children to read over their notes each night so that the information is still fresh in their minds.

* Get a good night’s sleep – Sleep is a hard task for many students. With all of their activities, sleep time is usually cut short. Over time, lack of sleep can increase stress levels by decreasing concentration and memory retention. Try to set a specific bedtime each night so that they get at least eight to ten hours of sleep.

* Talk to your children – When children get stressed, it helps to get them talking. Voicing your concerns allows others to offer suggestions for solving them. Armed with solutions, your children can better cope with whatever comes their way throughout the day.

* Enlist the help of others – If your children are having trouble in a particular subject, find a tutor. Getting help at the beginning can avoid homework and exam stress.

* Begin early – If there is a project due in three weeks, waiting until the last week could pose a time crunch, especially if other assignments are also due around the same time. If they begin now while they have time, they can address any obstacles they might face and finish early. This can reduce the amount of worry they have to deal with.

* Limit after-school activities – Colleges want to see well-rounded applicants, but too many activities can be counterproductive. Children should choose a couple that they like and concentrate on increasing participation instead of increasing the number of activities.

School can be just as stressful as work in the adult world. Here are some tips to avoid it in your children.

Children are not immune to feeling the effects of stress. but often overlook the signs because we don’t expect to see it. If you suspect that something is wrong with your child, here are some of the symptoms.

Think of all that children have to deal with: classwork, school activities, friends, self-image and growing up. Going through the changes that occur with each age level can bring about enough anxiety to lead to stress in children.

Symptoms of Stress

Here are some ways to recognize stress in children:

* Change in appetite – Children love to eat. If your children are showing less than their usual interest in meals or they skip meals due to a stomachache, it could be stress related.

* Irritability – When children have a hard time figuring things out, it can lead to frustration. This may show itself in the simplest of tasks at home. After only one try, they may throw their toy or project aside and storm off.

* Sleeplessness – Your children may wake up early in the morning or come to the breakfast table with dark circles under their eyes. This is more than likely because stress is leading to insomnia. Another symptom of sleeplessness can be an increased incidence of nightmares.

* Withdrawal – Stress can lead to a withdrawal from friends or pleasurable activities. Children rarely stay inside if they have a good reason to be outside.

* Whining – Children may do some of that but as they assert their independence, less and less is exhibited. Children who seem needier than normal could have a stress issue.

* Mood swings – Children experience these, too. A generally happy child may become angry or manic for no reason. If the change continues to occur, they may be overwhelmed in some area of their lives.

* Dropping grades – This is almost a sure sign that something has changed, especially if your children are used to achieving high marks. Talking to a teacher may shed some light on the cause. Also, check their book bags for hidden test papers with low grades that they may have been keeping from you.

Children are people pleasers. They do not want to disappoint their parents or their teachers. Trying to live up to expectations placed on them can be a catalyst for stress. Talk to your children. Assure them that you want to help them avoid stress as much as possible.

Your children are ready for school. You have bought clothes and supplies, but you should ensure that they get proper sleep the night before.

During sleep, the body repairs itself. Each day’s activities place wear and tear on the body. At night, the body shuts down all non-vital systems so it can get to work. Repair to damaged cells and organs are attended to during the sleep cycle. Different brain chemicals are secreted to ensure that you get to sleep and stay that way.

The average person needs about eight hours of sleep each night. For children, teens and older people this number can vary depending on age, but most aren’t getting even the minimum requirement.

Without enough sleep, the body begins to show visible signs of wear. Your brain can’t focus and concentration at school and at work becomes an issue. The immune system can become compromised. Lack of proper time to repair can lead to increased illness and stress-related problems.

Following are guidelines for how much sleep children need:

Preschoolers

Preschool age children are attending an educational setting at least half a day. With the increased activity, they may need longer periods of rest. In this age group, 10 to 12 hours a night is recommended. Since this is almost half the day, they may not need to nap in the middle of the day.

Young School-Age Children

Attending school for a full day can be a shock to their system. Your child may come home tired and sleepy after their first few full days of class. At this age, children require about the same amount of sleep as when they were preschoolers. A nap time is built into many school schedules. You can compensate by lowering their nightly sleep regimen by an hour or so. The nap can leave them ready for activity when they come home. This period of time is important as it lets them wind down from school before bedtime.

Teenagers

Teens still need at least eight to nine hours of sleep a night. Often, activities keep them from achieving this on a regular basis, but it is a must. Trying to catch up on sleep on the weekend never works and can leave a permanent deficit that affects their waking activities.

For all school-age children, set a regular bedtime and try to stick to it. This will ensure that enough sleep is received to promote health, concentration and a positive mood.

Immunizations are what have made the difference between life and death for so many children in the world. Starting in infancy, children are vaccinated against certain common illnesses that at one time caused fatalities. In many cases, a dead inactivated form of the virus in question is given to the child so that the body can create antibodies to it.

Since there are no cures for viruses. we just have to treat the symptoms. While vaccinations can reduce the incidence of these diseases, reactions from the vaccines are not uncommon..

Side Effects of Immunizations

Whenever you take your child to get an immunization, the doctor makes you aware of the risks and potential reactions your child might have, which are mostly mild and related to the process.

* Headaches – Your child may develop a headache from certain vaccinations. For a baby this may be characterized by high-pitched crying. Doctors recommend using over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol to ease the pain.

* Injection site reaction – There can also be a localized reaction on the skin at the point of injection. This can include swelling, redness, rash and pain. Again, you can give them Tylenol for the pain. A soothing bath may also stop the swelling.

* Fever – A child may also experience fever from one or more of their vaccinations. A cool bath can make them feel better, and cool compresses on their forehead may help break the fever as well.

* Diarrhea – If this occurs, try giving your child more fluids to avoid dehydration. Babies that breastfeed often will feed more after reactions to immunizations. If they are not breastfed and can’t keep down formula, try Pedialyte to replenish fluid levels in the body. Sometimes, plain water in the bottle can work to introduce more fluids back into the body.

If there is a reaction to an immunization, it will occur usually within one to three days after the injection. Call your pediatrician and let them know what is going on. They can advise what dosage of pain reliever to administer based upon their age and medical history.

Vaccinations have been tested and are safe, and serious side effects are not common. If your child suffers from many allergies, however, be sure to make your doctor aware before vaccinations occur. If an adjustment needs to be made they can do so, but the chances of anything serious occurring as a result of being vaccinated are extremely rare.

Some of us are born with a problem called lactose intolerance, which means that the body displays a negative reaction to the sugar lactose, found in milk and other dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. Because the body lacks the enzymes to break it down, it has to be eliminated.

Those who are lactose intolerant often find out after repeatedly eating dairy products and suffering the ill effects, which diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, bloating and gas. It can occur anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours after eating a dairy product.

This can eliminate a lot of foods from your dietary list. It also means reading a lot of food labels to see what contains any form of dairy and what does not. For children, this can mean watching their friends enjoy pizza and knowing that they can’t have any or they will suffer its effects.

Healthy Delicious Dinners

Children still can enjoy some of the same foods that their friends eat, but without the lactose sugar that can make them sick. It takes a bit of creative thinking, but it will be beneficial to your child and the entire family.

Members of the family need to watch what they buy when there is a lactose intolerant child in the house. Any dairy products need to be clearly labeled so the child doesn’t eat them. This is also an opportunity to get your child involved in cooking. You are not only having fun, but showing them how to create meals that they love that won’t make them sick.

If your children have been diagnosed, here are some ways that they can still enjoy delicious meals.

Lactose-Free Dinner Meals

* Macaroni and cheese – Instead of using regular milk to make the cheese sauce, try plain soy milk. Instead of cheese, there is a product on the market called nutritional yeast. It has a nutty flavor and is the consistency of a powder, and can be used as a kind of thickener for sauces. It can also be added to cheese substitutes for better flavor.

* Pizza – You can make your own pizza dough for the crust. Add pizza sauce to your dough. For a cheese-less topping, create a cheese sauce using soy milk and nutritional yeast and then cover the pizza sauce. Add your favorite toppings and bake.

* Lasagna – Your cheese sauce will come in handy again. There is also dairy-free ricotta cheese to add as a filler between the layers. In addition to pasta sauce, add meat and/or vegetables to the layers of the lasagna.

Just because your children can’t eat dairy, doesn’t mean that they can’t eat delicious foods.