PARENTING 101: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a set of characteristic symptoms that develops after being directly or indirectly exposed to a traumatic or terrifying event where a physical harm was threatened, witnessed, or actually experienced. It can also occur after an unexpected or violent death of a family member or a close friend, or after a serious harm or threat of death or injury to a loved one. the people with PTSD often avoid any situations that will remind them of the trauma, but often re-experience the affliction through flashbacks, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts especially when they are re-exposed to events or objects that remind them of the trauma. They also feel the Survivor's guilt, the feelings of guilt of having survived the event in which friends or family died.

Causes:

• Assaults such as Rape
• Fire
• Physical or Sexual abuse
• Senseless acts of violence (school and neighborhood shootings)
• Natural disasters (flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption)
• Car accidents
• Military combat (often called "shell shock")
• Witnessing another person experiencing these kinds of traumatic events
• Diagnoses of life-threatening medical illness
• Psychological/mental abuse
• Negligence
• Friend's or family member's suicide

Risk Factors:

• Severity of the trauma
• Social support
• Levels of cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine - Important for the "Fight-or-flight" response of the body to stress
• The distance of the child to trauma
• The parent's reaction to trauma
• The number of traumas that the child experience

Signs and Symptoms:

Re-experiencing the event

• recurrent and intrusive (unwanted) memories of the event 
• distressing dreams or nightmares of the event 
• acting or feeling as though the event were happening again (flashbacks) 
• distress and fear when reminded of the event 
• physiological reactivity (feeling jumpy, startled, or anxious) when reminded of the event 

Persistent avoidance of any reminders of the event 

• avoiding thinking about or talking about the trauma 
• avoiding activities, places, or people that are reminders of the event 
• no memory of an important aspect of the event 
• lack of interest and participation in activities (due to wishing to avoid cues of the event) 
• feeling detached or estranged from others 
• limited range of emotions 
• sense that they will not live to graduate college, get married, have kids, etc. 

Persistent feelings of anxiety or physical reactivity

• difficulty falling or staying asleep 
• cranky, irritable, or angry 
• problems paying attention or concentrating 
• overly aware of noises or other cues that remind them of the event (smells, visual cues) 
• exaggerated startle response 

Treatment:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
 CBT is the most effective approach for treating children. One type of CBT is called Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT). In TF-CBT, the child may talk about his or her memory of the trauma. TF-CBT also includes techniques to help lower worry and stress. The child may learn how to assert him or herself. The therapy may involve learning to change thoughts or beliefs about the trauma that are not correct or true. For example, after a trauma, a child may start thinking, "the world is totally unsafe."
 Some may question whether children should be asked to think about and remember events that scared them. However, this type of treatment approach is useful when children are distressed by memories of the trauma. The child can be taught at his or her own pace to relax while they are thinking about the trauma. That way, they learn that they do not have to be afraid of their memories. Research shows that TF-CBT is safe and effective for children with PTSD.
 CBT often uses training for parents and caregivers as well. It is important for caregivers to understand the effects of PTSD. Parents need to learn coping skills that will help them help their children.
Psychological first aid/crisis management

Psychological First Aid (PFA)
 Used with school-aged children and teens that have been through violence where they live. PFA can be used in schools and traditional settings. It involves providing comfort and support, and letting children know their reactions are normal. PFA teaches calming and problem solving skills. PFA also helps caregivers deal with changes in the child's feelings and behavior. Children with more severe symptoms may be referred for added treatment.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
 EMDR combines cognitive therapy with directed eye movements. EMDR is effective in treating both children and adults with PTSD, yet studies indicate that the eye movements are not needed to make it work.


Play therapy
 Play therapy can be used to treat young children with PTSD who are not able to deal with the trauma more directly. The therapist uses games , drawings, and other methods to help children process their traumatic memories.

Other treatments
 Special treatments may be needed for children who show out-of-place sexual behaviors, extreme behavior problems, or problems with drugs or alcohol.

The Parent's Role

Most kids will need a period of adjustment following a stressful event, so during this time, it's especially important for parents to offer support and love, and to monitor their kids carefully.

• Let them talk about the traumatic event when and if they feel ready. It's important not to force the issue if kids don't feel like sharing their thoughts. Praise them for being strong when they do talk about it. Your child may prefer to draw or write about their experiences. Either way, encouragement and praise can help your child get their feelings out. 
• Reassure them that their feelings are normal and that they're not "going crazy." Support and understanding from parents can help kids process difficult feelings. 
• Some kids find it very helpful to get involved in a support group for trauma survivors. Check with your pediatrician, school, or local library to find groups nearby. 
• Get professional help immediately if there's any suspicion that a child has thoughts of self-harm. Thoughts of suicide are serious at any age and require prompt and effective intervention. 
• Help build self-confidence by encouraging kids to make everyday decisions whenever appropriate. PTSD can make a child feel powerless, so parents can help by showing their kids that they have control over certain aspects of their lives. Depending on their children's ages, parents might consider letting them decide things like what's for dinner, what to wear, or select a weekend activity. 
• Tell them that the traumatic event is not their fault. Encourage kids to talk about their feelings of guilt, but don't let them blame themselves for what happened. 
• Stay in touch with caregivers. It's important to talk to teachers, babysitters, and other people who care for kids with PTSD. 
• Do not criticize regressive behavior (returning to a previous level of development). If children want to sleep with the lights on or take a favorite stuffed animal to bed, it's perfectly normal and can help them feel better. 
• Also, take care of yourself. Helping your child cope with PTSD can be very challenging and may require a lot of patience and support. Time does heal, and getting good support for your family can help everyone get past difficult life events.

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Source: Kidshealth, ptsd.va.gov

Credit: PTSD in Children

PARENTING 101: Child Depression

Depression in Children often are not diagnosed because it is normal for children to be moody, feel sad and lonely especially in some situations where they feel disappointed, rejected, and unappreciated. The feeling of sadness often lessen and will be totally diminished with time, but when these bad moods interfere with the child's ability to function, lingers for weeks, months, or longer, or they always have angry behavior, that must be the time to seek professional help.

Symptoms:

• Having bad moods or irritability that persists for a long time
• The feeling of "being in the dumps"
• Low Self-esteem
• The Feeling of Hopelessness and Helplessness
• Social Withdrawal
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in sleep
• Lack of energy
• Inability to enjoy the things that use to bring pleasure
• Inability to concentrate
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Aches and Pain that don't respond to treatments
• FREQUENT THOUGHTS OF DEATH AND SUICIDE

Causes:            

• Lowered levels of neurotransmitters in the brain
• Genetics/Hereditary
• Death of a loved one
• Separation/Divorce of parents
• Breakup with girlfriend/boyfriend (teens)
• Stress (School, Home)
• Chronic Illness
• Bullying
• Disability

SUICIDAL WARNING SIGNS

• Many depressive symptoms
• Social Isolation
• Talks of suicide, hopelessness, helplessness
• Increased acting out behaviors (sexual, behavioral)
• Substance abuse
• Increased crying or reduced emotional expression
• Focus on morbid/negative themes
• Giving away possessions

Treatment:
   
     Consult a pediatrician first to rule out any physical illness. If depression is suspected, your pediatrician may refer you to a Psychiatrist, a medical doctor who can diagnose, perform treatment, and prescribe medicines;  or a Psychologist, A health personnel who can diagnose and treat depression but unable to give prescription. It is important to seek medical advice immediately because early detection and diagnosis is important in treating kids with depression. The psychiatrist or psychologist can perform a complete evaluation and start a treatment plan that may include counselling, medicine, or both. The counselor might prescribe some sort of group counselling where the family works with the child in therapy.

THE PARENT'S ROLE

    As a parent, it is our responsibility to ensure that our kids are always happy and comfortable with their lives, but there are things that are beyond our control. It often make us feel guilty and frustrated because our child's depression maybe caused by the things that we do or didn't do. These are the ways that we can help our children cope with depression.

• Make sure that the child adheres to the medicine and treatments
• Incorporate physical activity in the daily activities of living to alleviate the symptoms of depression
• Talk and listen to the child. Let him express what he feels and offer love and support
• Accept the situation and never tell the child to snap out of it
• Watch out for suicidal warning signs at all times

Discipline

• Don't shame or punish the child, it can make the child feel less confident
• Allow the child to make mistakes. Overprotection can be perceived as lack of faith in the child's abilities
• Don't expect the child to do exactly as you say all the time
• Don't force your child down the path you wanted to follow. Avoid trying to relive your youth through your child's activities and experiences.

      My heart goes out to all the kids who suffer depression because of the situations that they shouldn't have experienced at this very young age. Enough of the embarrassing, enough of the bullying, enough of the rejection, these kids deserve to be loved, deserve to be accepted, and deserve to be happy.

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NOTE: The owner of the image here is a kid who suffered from depression because of her disability (she has a clubbed foot). As of now, she's recovering from her depression, she's into continued counselling which helped her a lot, and thanks to her mom, she seek for professional help when she have noticed that her child was feeling depressed. You can check out her blog Unbroken Skyscraper. 

Credits: Medicinenet, Kidshealth, The Depressed Child, Unbroken Skyscraper                                                     

Carl's Summer Class

I've enrolled Carl last month in Special Education Institution in Pasig City, a school run by the government for special children who can't afford to go to a private special school. I'ts great that there's a school like this  for poor Filipino special children so they will have access to the kind of education that they need. The tuition fee for a year is only 300 pesos. The shoes, notebooks, books, and PE uniform are all provided by the government. The school accepts Hearing impaired children (just like my Carl), Autistic children, children with down syndrome, and children with learning disabilities (dyslexia, to name one). The teachers are graduates of  BS education with special education major, and are all friendly and approachable. The school has a security guard and never let the children go out of the school premises if not picked up by the guardian. This Summer, the kids are taught how to write, to perform activities of daily living, to do some house chores (within the scope of the child's capacity), and to socialize with other children and the society. I'm planning to transfer Carl in a private school if our budget permits but as of now, I'll just let my son enjoy this school and the privilege of studying for a very affordable price. I'm so thankful that there are teachers that are willing to give education to these children in exchange for a modest salary. You are like an angel to parents who have a special children because without you, who will impart knowledge to the child aside from us parents? KUDOS TO ALL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS!! 

Childproofing

A lot of Moms including me, protect our kids from harmful things around them. We protect them from stranger abduction, germs, dirt, and accidents outside our home. But we sometimes overlook one of the important places that should be safe for our children - our home. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About 2.3 million children are accidentally injured every year and more than 2,500 are killed, and children between the ages of 1 and 4 are more likely to be killed by fire, burns, drowning, choking, poisoning, or falls than by a stranger's violence. The best way to prevent accidents and injuries is supervision inside and outside of our home, but even the most watchful parent can't keep the kids out of harm every second. Here are the tips to childproof our home.

Prevent Falls. Falls can happen in the stairs, open windows, or if the child climbs up in the table or chair. The best way to prevent falls in the stairs is to install safety gates in the child's room so the child wont be able to access the kitchen, bathroom, and stairs.. The gate shouldn't be easily dislodged by the child but easy for the parent or guardian to open. Keep furniture away from the window to prevent the child from climbing the window sill. The window should be installed with window guards which fits snugly but not too tight so that in case of emergency, it will be easy to remove the guard from the window.

Prevent Fires. In case of a brownout (which normally happens here in the Philippines), lighted candles and lamps should be placed where the child can't reach them, and away from flammable things like pile of papers, near the curtain, and things made of rubber and paper. The electrical wiring should be checked to prevent short circuits. Low quality Christmas lights can cause fire so be sure to check the ICC (Import Commodity Clearance) mark to ensure that it is tested first for quality before purchasing. Keep away flammable materials such as gas, matches, and lighters from the reach of children.

Prevent Poisoning. Lock all cabinets and drawers that holds poisonous materials like insect sprays, detergent, bleach, cleaning products, medications, and other potential poisonous substances. There are also hidden poisons which have direct contact with our children. The toys which our kids play may contain lead which is enough to poison our kids. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, kidney disease, brain damage, delayed growth, and other problems.

Prevent Drowning. Infants and toddles can drown in a few inches of water. Never leave a bucket of water unattended or put a lock in the door of the comfort room to prevent the child from entering and peering into the toilet or bucket of water because if they do and lose their balance, they may fall head first which may result to drowning. Never leave the child unattended in the bath tub and supervise the child while inside the bathroom. ALWAYS keep an eye to the child while in the swimming pool.

Prepare for Emergency. It is important that we have a knowledge of first aid procedures if emergency arises so we can save the child from impending death. First aid supplies must also be available at our homes.

CREDITS: Babycenter, Kidshealth

Potty Training for Toddlers

I'm quite having a problem in potty training my youngest kid because he don't want to wear diapers anymore but he doesn't know how to tell me when he's gonna poop so I end up cleaning his poop in his underwear and on the floor. (smells so gross, really.) My two older kids have been successful in potty training and now they go by themselves in the comfort room to poop. Now I'm reviewing some info's about potty training and there are several sites online who give information about the steps in potty training and here are the steps that I find useful and that I've already proven to be useful.

The Child's Readiness. A child may show readiness to start the potty training as early as 18 months of age to 3 years. The signs are: staying dry for up to two hours, uncomfortable with wet or dirty diapers, being able to follow simple instructions, asking to wear a regular underwear, or asking to use the potty chair. We should tell by the child's facial expression or stance if he is going to urinate and poop. We should also not pressure the child to learn right away for it will be counter productive.

The Right Equipment. The potty chair should of course be appropriate to the child's size. We can let the child pick his potty chair and let him put a name on it, or decorate it so he can get used with the potty chair. Whenever he show signs of urinating or having a bowel movement, take him to the chair and explain to him what he should do.

The Routine. Establish a daily routine in the potty seat. Let the child sit at least once a day, every morning, afternoon, or anytime of the day that he usually poops so he will get used to the potty seat. Tell him that removing the pants before using the toilet is also done by mommy and daddy and other siblings because its a grown up thing to do. If he feels a little scared in using the potty seat, don't push it, just give him some time and then when he's willing to sit there, then he's ready to try again.

Demonstrate. The child will learn to sit in the potty seat by seeing his other older siblings do it, or if parents demonstrate and explain how to use the toilet. hand washing after using the toilet, wiping the potty seat before using, and flushing the toilet. Children learn by imitation and by seeing this routine everyday, he will get used to the routine and learn to use the toilet.  

Encourage and Appreciate. Encourage the child to use the potty seat whenever he has the urge to poop or urinate. If there are "accidents", handle it gracefully and tell him to tell you early next time when he has to go to the toilet. Appreciate and praise the child for every successful use of the toilet, and appreciate also every attempt that he made in using the potty seat.

* I'm gonna have an update post on this next time for other useful tips in potty training.

CREDITS: Babycenter, keep kids healthy

Care for Children During Hot Weather

We now begin to feel the tropical weather and that means summer is just around the corner. The time for beaches, Pools, and summer fun is fast approaching and summer means EXTREME HEAT. Children, though they enjoy the summer season, should be watched out carefully during this hot weather for they are more susceptible to Dehydration.

WARNING SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION

• Sunken fontanels (in babies)
• Sunken and dark eyes
• Tired and lethargic
• Irritable
• High temperature
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Dry and hot skin

Another condition a child can suffer if exposed longer under the sun is Heat Exhaustion.

SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Generalized discomfort

The worst condition a child may suffer under extreme hot weather is Heat Stroke, which is more serious and can lead to brain damage and death if not treated immediately.

SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE

• Red, blue, or mottled looking skin tone
• Rapid pulse
• Headache
• Chills
• Nausea
• Lack of perspiration
• Temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW/DO

Hydrate the child often. Child are more susceptible to heat stroke because Children’s thermoregulatory systems warm three to five times faster than an adult’s. Breastfeed the infant often or offer drinks to young children. WATER is the best.

The child's clothes should be appropriate for the hot weather. Light-colored cotton loose fitting clothes should be worn by the child so air can flow freely to the skin, cool the heat and absorb perspiration. 

Use Sunscreens. An spf 15 sunscreen should be used to areas not covered by the clothes to avoid sunburn. Apply the sunscreen 20 minutes before going out and reapply often. A chemical-free sunscreen made with zinc oxide or titanium oxide is advisable for kids since it only sits on the top of the skin and blocking the sun's rays. Sunscreen is NOT advisable for use in infant younger than 1 year old. Appropriate clothing to cover most skin areas in an infant should be worn when going out. 

Care inside the car. Never leave the child inside the car especially during the hot weather because the car's temperature is hotter than the outside temperature, and can increase rapidly. Travel during the coolest part of the day. Open the windows while traveling or use the air conditioner. 

Open windows. An open window can be a danger of falling for small children so install a safety window guard and move furniture away from the window to avoid injury and falls.

Immediate action. When early warning signs are recognized, act immediately. Give the child fluids and keep him cool by proper ventilation (air-condition, electric fans) and seek professional help.

CREDITS: Babycenter, Primetime schools, Kids Travel Doc, Better Health Australia

How to Handle Temper Tantrums

One of the problems we, moms face is our kids' Temper Tantrums. Its kinda unpredictable especially when we were out, We thought that it was a very fine and peaceful day until our kid began crying, kicking, and screaming, throwing every stuff which comes his way, at times, lying down the to the ground. Tantrums can be very frustrating but we can treat tantrums as opportunities for education. 

Causes of Tantrums
There are several causes of tantrums which are very familiar to parents: The child is hungry, tired, or uncomfortable. Tantrums are often the result if the child can't get what he wants or if he can't get the things or the parents do what he wants. It also happen because toddlers have the sense of autonomy and want things his way.

Here are strategies for handling Temper Tantrums as written by Dr. Robert G. Harrington, PhD of University of Kansas.

Prevention for Parents and Teachers
It is much easier to prevent temper tantrums than it is to manage them once they have erupted. Here are some tips for preventing temper tantrums and some things you can say:

• Reward children for positive attention rather than negative attention. During situations when they are prone to temper tantrums, catch them when they are being good and say such things as, “Nice job sharing with your friend.”
• Do not ask children to do something when they must do what you ask. Do not ask, “Would you like to eat now?” Say, “It’s suppertime now.”
• Give children control over little things whenever possible by giving choices. A little bit of power given to the child can stave off the big power struggles later. “Which do you want to do first, brush your teeth or put on your pajamas?”
• Keep off-limit objects out of sight and therefore out of mind. In an art activity keep the scissors out of reach if children are not ready to use them safely.
• Distract children by redirection to another activity when they tantrum over something they should not do or cannot have. Say, “Let’s read a book together.”
• Change environments, thus removing the child from the source of the temper tantrum. Say, “Let’s go for a walk.”
• Choose your battles. Teach children how to make a request without a temper tantrum and then honor the request. Say, “Try asking for that toy nicely and I’ll get it for you.”
• Make sure that children are well rested and fed in situations in which a temper tantrum is a likely possibility. Say, “Supper is almost ready, here’s a cracker for now.”
• Avoid boredom. Say, “You have been working for a long time. Let’s take a break and do something fun.”
• Create a safe environment that children can explore without getting into trouble. Childproof your home or classroom so children can explore safely.
• Increase your tolerance level. Are you available to meet the child’s reasonable needs? Evaluate how many times you say, “No.” Avoid fighting over minor things.
• Establish routines and traditions that add structure. For teachers, start class with a sharing time and opportunity for interaction.
• Signal children before you reach the end of an activity so that they can get prepared for the transition. Say, “When the timer goes off 5 minutes from now it will be time to turn off the TV and go to bed.”
• When visiting new places or unfamiliar people explain to the child beforehand what to expect. Say, “Stay with your assigned buddy in the museum.”
• Provide pre-academic, behavioral, and social challenges that are at the child’s developmental level so that the child does not become frustrated.
• Keep a sense of humor to divert the child’s attention and surprise the child out of the tantrum.

Intervention for Parents and Teachers

There are a number of ways to handle a temper tantrum. Strategies include the following:

• Remain calm and do not argue with the child. Before you manage the child, you must manage your own behavior. Spanking or yelling at the child will make the tantrum worse.
• Think before you act. Count to 10 and then think about the source of the child’s frustration, this child’s characteristic temperamental response to stress (hyperactivity, distractibility, moodiness), and the predictable steps in the escalation of the temper tantrum.
• Try to intervene before the child is out of control. Get down at the child’s eye level and say, “You are starting to get revved up, slow down.” Now you have several choices of intervention.
• You can positively distract the child by getting the child focused on something else that is an acceptable activity. For example, you might remove the unsafe item and replace with an age-appropriate toy.
• You can place the child in time away. Time away is a quiet place where the child goes to calm down, think about what he or she needs to do, and, with your help, make a plan to change the behavior.
• You can ignore the tantrum if it is being thrown to get your attention. Once the child calms down, give the attention that is desired.
• Hold the child who is out of control and is going to hurt himself or herself or someone else. Let the child know that you will let him or her go as soon as he or she calms down. Reassure the child that everything will be all right, and help the child calm down. Parents may need to hug their child who is crying, and say they will always love him or her no matter what, but that the behavior has to change. This reassurance can be comforting for a child who may be afraid because he or she lost control.
• If the child has escalated the tantrum to the point where you are not able to intervene in the ways described above, then you may need to direct the child to time-out (see “Resources”). If you are in a public place, carry your child outside or to the car. Tell the child that you will go home unless he or she calms down. In school warn the child up to three times that it is necessary to calm down and give a reminder of the rule. If the child refuses to comply, then place him or her in time-out for no more than 1 minute for each year of age.
• Talk with the child after the child has calmed down. When the child stops crying, talk about the frustration the child has experienced. Try to help solve the problem if possible. For the future, teach the child new skills to help avoid temper tantrums such as how to ask appropriately for help and how to signal a parent or teacher that the he or she knows they need to go to “time away” to “stop, think, and make a plan.” Teach the child how to try a more successful way of interacting with a peer or sibling, how to express his or her feelings with words and recognize the feelings of others without hitting and screaming.

Post-Tantrum Management

• Never, under any circumstances, give in to a tantrum. That response will only increase the number and frequency of the tantrums.
• Explain to the child that there are better ways to get what he or she wants.
• Do not reward the child after a tantrum for calming down. Some children will learn that a temper tantrum is a good way to get a treat later.
• Never let the temper tantrum interfere with your otherwise positive relationship with the child.
• Teach the child that anger is a feeling that we all have and then teach her ways to express anger constructively.

When to Get Help

For parents. If, despite the use of these interventions, the tantrums are increasing in frequency, intensity, or duration, consult your child’s doctor. You should also consult your child’s doctor if the child is self-injurious, hurtful to others, depressed, showing signs of low self-esteem, or is overly dependent on a parent or teacher for support. Your pediatrician or family physician can check for hearing or vision problems, chronic illness, or conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome, language delays, or a learning disability, which may be contributing to your child’s increasing temper tantrums. Your physician can also direct you to a mental health professional who can provide assistance for you and your child.

CREDITS: kidshealth, nasponline

Snoring in Children

I only had snoring problems with my husband until i had my youngest child. When he was a baby, i never heard him snore but when he turned 18 months old, that's when his snoring started. It was never a big deal for me before until the snoring became persistent. I was kinda alarmed and researched for this condition and so i learned that snoring in kids is not really cute and is NOT NORMAL.

Snoring happens when the air that enters the nose was blocked by several structures in the throat. The sound is the result of the rubbing structures in the mouth and throat as the air passes. There are some causes of snoring like colds, allergies, obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the leading cause of snoring in children. It is due to the enlarged tonsils and adenoids which blocks the passage of the air and cause the snoring sound. The child with OSA have disruptions of sleep with pauses which lasts for 10 or more seconds and happens several times in their sleep. The child usually wakes up feeling grumpy, irritated, and tired. The child may also have growth and behavioral problems, and may have poor performance in school. Some children with OSA may be misdiagnosed with ADHD because of hyperactivity and restlessness as a result of disrupted sleep.

How to manage snoring?


Proper sleep position. Proper placement of the child's head may lessen the snoring. Elevating the child's head while sleeping could help clearing air passages.

Alleviate the Allergy. If allergy is the problem then remove all the things which trigger the child's allergy (cats, dogs, stuffed toys, flowers, dust). Also, a PRESCRIBED medication for allergy from the pediatrician may control the allergy.

Lose Weight. An obese child should start to lose weight slowly by having a proper diet and exercise.

Treatment for OSA. If the problem is an enlarged tonsils and adenoids, you should start discussing with your doctor for the best treatment for OSA. The usual treatment for OSA is Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy (surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids)

One of these days, We will visit my children's pediatrician to have him examined for the cause of his snoring and seek treatment before the condition becomes worse and may affect his growth and development.

CREDITS: about, Babyzone, Whattoexpect

German Measles

During the first trimester of my pregnancy, i contracted the Rubella Disease or commonly known as German measles. As someone with a background in medical studies, i knew the possible effects of this disease to an unborn child, which my 4 year old Carl have today. But what really is Rubella? what is its causes and effects? what are the methods to prevent the disease?

Rubella is a common communicable disease in children and young adults caused by the rubella virus. Its name was derived from latin meaning "little red". It is called German measles because it was first discovered by German physicians in the eighteenth century. The incubation period is from 14 - 21 days. It is acquired/transmitted through the respiratory route (can be passed along by the breath of a person sick from rubella).

Signs and Symptoms 

• Enlarged Cervical and postauricular lymph nodes (lymph nodes behind the ears)
• Low grade fever
• headache
• runny nose 
• sore throat
• cough
• joint pains
• Faint pink to red rashes which develop on the face that spread down to the trunk and extremities 1-4 days after the onset of the first symptoms.

 Prevention for the Rubella Virus is usually given as part of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Vaccine. The first dose of the vaccine should be given to children at least 12-18 months of age and the second dose at 36 months of age as recommended by The World Health Organization. It is also recommended that adolescent girls should be given another shot of the vaccine so that they wont contract the disease when they got pregnant. There is no specific treatment to rubella because this disease is self-limiting however, management of the symptoms are done to minimize discomfort. Isolation of affected person is usually done to avoid transmission of the disease.

Congenital Defects caused by Rubella

• Congenital heart defects (Patent Ductus Arteriosus is the most common)
• Severe to Profound bilateral hearing loss
• Unilateral or bilateral congenital cataract
• blindness

The rashes from Rubella are usually faint pink to red in color which spreads from the face down to the trunk and extremities.

Credits: wikipedia, Understanding Pathophysiology, 3rd edition

Things I remember my mom told me.

Being a mom is indeed a very rewarding job. It pays nothing but hugs, kisses, and love from our kids. I remember the things that my mom told me/want me to do when i was a kid that are exactly what i'm telling my kids today.

My Beautiful Mom and My adorable kids.

1. Don't Go Far! My mom always held on me when we were out in the mall. I wonder why she wont let me go and roam around, look at the things around. Now i know why. She's just afraid to lose me as I am very scared of losing sight of my kids when we go out.

2. Taking a nap in the afternoon. My mom told me that if i sleep in the afternoon, i will grow tall. Well, i did that but i never grew tall. Now I know the reason behind the "nap in the afternoon". Well perhaps for me, I send the kids off to sleep in the afternoon because toddlers need 10-13 hours of sleep at night and 1-3 hours nap time at day time to add up for their growth, physical, and mental development. Complete hours of sleep in children also lessens their mood swings and irritability. And it also gives the parents time to do the house chores or have sometime for relaxation.

3. Eating Vegetables. Getting Children to eat vegetables could be a very tiring battle between Parents and kids. That was also one of my mom's problems when i was a kid, and also my problem now that i have kids. But we should get our kids to eat vegetables because vegetables are great source of vitamins and minerals that are needed for growth and development. We Should introduce vegetables to our kids as early as 6 months by incorporating it to baby cereals, or other baby foods that they eat. We should also show them that we are eating vegetables as a way of convincing them because what we eat will also influence the kids' food preferences.

4. Don't talk when your mouth is full. My mom told me I should never talk when eating or with my mouth full because it may choke me to death. SERIOUSLY. Choking is when something, a liquid or a foreign body entered our air pipe where the air passes to our lungs, and blocks this air way. If this foreign body is not removed within seconds, it could result to death. Another case is when a foreign body entered our air pipe down to our lungs which could result to Aspiration Pneumonia.

5. I Love You! Of course our parents love us much more than we love them, and they want us to know how much they love us not only by saying these words but also by showing us through simple but thoughtful ways. Now that i already have my kids, i will never get tired of telling them and showing them how much i love just like my mom never got tired of showing me how much she loves me up until now.

Do you also remember things that your parents once told you which are exactly the things you're telling your kids now?

Grandparents

Yesterday, my Parents-in-law came to visit the kids. They brought food and snacks for the kids and they just want to bond with them. Grand Parents are God's way of telling us that we, parents, have someone to turn to if we are not sure of some things about parenting. That Grand parents are the people whom we can entrust our children with when we are out at work. And that Grand parents are the ones who will love us, the parents, and of course our children unconditionally. The only problem is the kids become spoiled. :)

Another Year Over

2011's now coming to an end and were entering a new year, new challenges, new opportunities, and new experiences. We are all looking forward to a prosperous year ahead. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My Superstitious Mom bought 12 kinds of fruits that is said to bring good luck for the coming year.

Our Favorite Filipino food, Pansit Malabon. Topped with Boiled eggs and chicharon baboy (pork)

Carl and Daniel Waiting for the fireworks display

Carl, Daniel and Stephen, with our entire family watching the fireworks display at our home's terrace.

Penguins!

Last November 30, I took the kids to Manila Ocean Park as a treat for my son Daniel's 3rd birthday. This time, we chose the Trails to Antartica exhibit. This was the first time the kids would see a live penguin. They were so happy because  they had the chance to see what penguins really looked like aside from what they have watched on happy feet movie and penguins of madagascar TV show in nickelodeon. The attraction is so cold that we have to wear 2 jackets. We've experienced winter for the first time! 

Fun at Manila Ocean Park

Last October 24,  I took the kids to Manila Ocean Park together with my mom and my in-laws for a post celebration of Carl's 4th birthday. I planned the visit a month before his birthday and have chosen the oceanarium attraction so the kids will see live sea animals. On our way to the place, we have driven to a fast food chain so we can order meals we would eat at the parking area. When we were there at the attraction, the kids were so happy to see live fishes swimming in the aquarium. The first we saw was a giant arwana about 10 feet long and 5 feet wide. The kids were ecstatic! then we went to another set of aquariums filled with different kinds of fishes like angel fish, milk fish, sea horses, sharks and many more. They were so happy and mesmerized by the beauty and wonder of the sea creatures. It is important that we take our kids to educational places like this so they will have a knowledge what are the other sea creatures look like aside from what they usually see on TV. They should know that the sea is a home to millions of sea creatures like corals, planktons, sea urchins, jelly fishes, and other species of fishes and that they could help in taking care of the sea by not throwing garbage to the sea. Also, it is also important that we educate them about the possible effects of water pollution to sea creatures.

My Carl waving to a diver. :)

My Daniel and Stephen awed by the wonders of sea creatures.

A view of Manila Bay 

Congenital Cataract

Last June 10, 2011, my eldest son was submitted to cataract surgery due to his congenital cataract that affected his left eye. For 3 years of his life, his left eye was blinded by the cataract and left him with only one eye to see. I could tell that he was having a hard time watching TV or looking at things because he was tilting his head to see clearly or rubbing his left eye in hopes of seeing clearly. Until that day, when we’ve finally brought him to the hospital for his scheduled operation after a series of checkups, after treating his primary Koch’s infection, and after earning the money that was needed to pursue the operation. We’re so glad that finally, he can see each and everyday with two clear eyes. I would like to share what is a congenital cataract, its causes and its treatment.

What is a cataract?

• ·         It is a marked opacity of the lens.
• ·         May be present at birth, or become apparent in early childhood

What are its causes?

• ·         Steroid use
• ·         Radiation exposure
• ·         Galactosemia (inability to metabolize the lactose in milk)
• ·         Rubella Virus (if the mother contracted the infection on the first trimester of her pregnancy)

Signs and Symptoms

• ·         The pupil opening appears to be white (leukocoria)
• ·         Older children may report blurred vision
• ·         In infants, this could be detected by lack of response to a smile or inability to grasp or reach a nearby object.

Therapeutic management

• ·         Surgical removal of the affected lens, followed by the insertion of internal intraocular lens
• ·         Surgery should be done as early as 3 months of age. If not done before 6 months of age, amblyopia may result.
• ·         After the surgery, introducing of fluids and food should be done cautiously to avoid or prevent vomiting as this may increase intraocular pressure (the pressure in the eye) and may injure the suture line in the eyes.

 source: Maternal and Child Health Nursing, 5th ed.2007 (Adele Pilliteri PhD, RN, PNP)