How to Go About Your Underweight Toddler

February 18, 2014 By: Bril

An underweight toddler is one of the biggest worries amongst many mothers today. It may be depressing and stressful at the same time, but finding an appropriate way of dealing with it is quite necessary.

The first step is to actually find out if the toddler really is underweight. This is the work of the doctor, precisely a pediatrician; they take the measurements of the toddler’s weight and height. Both of which are used to determine whether the child is underweight or not.

The doctor also takes into account the readings of the toddler’s earlier measurements and determines whether the measurements have changed positively or not. An acute drop in the weight over a short period of time will more often than not prove that the toddler is indeed underweight.

There are a couple of reasons why toddlers may be underweight.

• A child may be naturally slim because the genes inherited from his parents influence the weight. If parents are skinny, then the child is most likely to be the same; this should not be perceived as an underweight case.

• Illness; if a toddler undergoes a certain disease or sickness, he may lose weight and become very skinny. Putting on weight after he has recovered is appropriate, as it will help him regain his lost weight over a certain period of time.

• Worm infections; presence of worms in a toddler’s alimentary canal may also be a great factor contributing to a child being underweight. This is because the worms consume almost all the food, which the child has taken in. De-worming, on a doctor’s prescription, is a good solution to this.

• Digestive problems; your toddler might be undergoing some serious underlying problems in his igestive system, this needs to be checked as soon as possible so that the toddler does not entirely lose appetite, which could be fatal to the child’s development and health.

Giving your toddler a healthy and balanced diet is the most important thing when addressing the toddler’s weight.

What is a healthy and balanced diet?

• High starch content and carbohydrate foods

• Lean protein such as soft meat

• A dose of calcium at least three times a day, which can be obtained from milk, cheese and even beans

• Six portions of juicy fruits and fresh vegetables a day

• Water or healthy fruit juice

Increasing the content of calories in the diet of an underweight child is also very essential. Here are a few ways to achieve this:

• Add margarine and oil to the toddler’s food

• Apply mayonnaise in the toddler’s vegetables

• Make sure that the dairy products that you give to your toddler are full-fat rather than the low-fat usually consumed

• Add grated cheese to most of the toddler’s foods.

Studying your toddler’s eating habits or patterns is also quite helpful when trying to ensure that your child eats a lot more.

Find out when the toddler wants to eat most and maximize this period. Most toddlers are hungry after being very active such as moving around and playing. It is at this time that a mother should incorporate as much fat content as possible in the toddler’s meal as he will eat comfortably.

Most of the times, toddlers are not comfortable with the places where they eat such as the dining table or kitchen. It is, therefore, mandatory for you to find out where the toddler is comfortable with eating. Be it outside or in front of the television, knowing this will definitely increase the amount of food that the toddler consumes. When at work or unavailable, do not leave your child unattended to; having a well informed house cleaner or baby-sitter is highly recommended.

As much as an underweight toddler may be depressing, do not put too much pressure on the child to eat. This may have even worse effects than you probably imagined. The toddler might be even more repulsed when it comes to eating.

Do not give your toddler a bottle of milk every time. If they get used to this, they may get addicted and find solid foods less fulfilling. In addition, giving toddlers high fiber foods such as bread and rice is highly discouraged. This fills the toddler’s tummies, which are quite small as compared to those of adults. It therefore leaves little space for the rest of the nutritious food.

Having extra vitamins, which are necessary for the toddler’s age bracket, is also very essential. There should be high content of vitamins A, D and C. Vitamins tend to increase the amount of iron in a toddler’s body. High content of iron largely increases the toddler’s appetite for other foods. Do not supplement your toddler with iron directly though, as it may have dire consequences. Excess iron in the system may bring about constipation.

It is advisable to consult a dietician on what is perfect for an underweight child. Before listening to other mothers, it is important to consult a doctor because what worked for their children may not necessarily work for your toddler. Specialized doctors give accurate advice on how to improve the state of your underweight child and hardly do their recommendations ever fail, if followed with the utmost dedication.

Lastly, having underweight children is not unusual. Therefore, you do not need to be worried or get stressed about it because it can be dealt with by necessary action after good and suitable consultation process.

7 Most Common Reasons Why Babies Cry

February 18, 2014 By: Bril

Every baby cries at one point in time or another. This behaviour is quite normal. Most toddlers cry for around one to three hours every day. It is important to understand that a baby completely depends on your for warmth, comfort and food. Crying is your baby’s most common way of communicating her needs, and ensuring a clear response from you. Sometimes, it can be quite hard to figure out what your baby’s trying to tell you. However, as time passes by, you will learn to recognise exactly what your baby needs.

When your baby grows, she will learn many other ways to communicating with her parents. Her eye contact will be much better, smiles would be more prominent, and noises would be loud. Thus, the need for crying to grab your attention will be reduced. In the meantime, you need to learn some common reasons why your baby’s crying. In this post, we’ve discussed 7 such reasons to help you take necessary steps.

Hunger

This is one of the most common reasons for your baby is crying. When your baby is young, she’s more likely to be hungry. Since a small baby’s stomach is unable to hold a lot of food, you should offer her milk when she starts crying.

Even if you fed her just a while ago, she could still be hungry. When you’re breastfeeding your baby, she may be hungry on a frequent basis. However, if you’re formula feeding, she won’t be hungry if she’s been fed within the last couple of hours.

Nappy Change

In case your baby’s clothes are too tight or she’s being bothered by a soiled or wet nappy, she may protest. Some babies don’t mind a full nappy. In fact, they enjoy the warm feeling. However, if your baby has tender skin, she may get irritated and start crying.

Too Hot or Cold

Most of the babies hate being bathed or getting their nappy changed. A baby may not be quite used to the feeling of cool air on the skin. She would rather want to be warmed up and bundled. However, it won’t take long before learning to change your baby’s nappy quickly. Here are some excellent tips to make sure your baby is neither too hot nor cold :

● You should not overdress your baby. However, she will still need one more layer of clothing to feel comfortable.

● You need to use cellular blankets and sheets as your baby’s bedding. If you want to check your baby’s temperature, you should feel her tummy. In case it feels too hot, you should remove the blanket. Similarly, if it feels cold, you should add one.

● Since your baby’s hands and feet would mostly feel cool, you should not be guided by them. The temperature of your baby’s room should range between 22-25 degrees Celsius.

● In case your baby is sleeping with you, you need to keep her in contact with you. This will raise her body temperature and keep her warm.

● If your baby is sleeping on a cot, you should let her sleep on her back. Her feet should be at the end of her cot. This way, she won’t get entangled in the blankets or feel too hot.

Physical Contact or Reassurance

This is another common reason why your baby may be crying. Babies need a lot of physical contact, reassurance and cuddling. Your baby may just want to be held. You should keep her close to you, and sing to her. It may calm her down.

Many parents are worried about spoiling their babies because of holding them too much. However, it’s not possible during the first few weeks of her life. Babies need a lot of physical contact to feel safe and secure. In fact, your baby may even be calmed by listening to your heartbeat.

Proper Rest

Most of the time, babies are unable to sleep because they’re very tired. It won’t take long before you learn the baby’s sleep cues. Crying and whining over menial things, going quiet, staring blankly into space are some common indications that your baby wants rest.

In case your baby received a lot of cuddles and attention from visitors, she may have been over stimulated. Therefore, when it comes to taking rest and sleeping, she won’t be able to just settle down. You should carry your baby to some place quiet, calm and cosy. You should try to establish some good sleeping habits.

Feeling Sick

It is important to be aware of certain changes in your baby’s psyche and physiology. If your baby is unwell or sick, she’ll cry in a different tone. Her crying may seem more urgent, weaker, high pitched or continuous. Similarly, if your baby cries a lot, but suddenly went unusually quiet, it may be a sign of sickness.

As a parent, there’s no one else who would know and understand your baby better than yourself. If you think there’s something wrong, you should consult a doctor and talk about your concerns. If your baby shows difficulty breathing or the crying is accompanied by vomiting, constipation, fever or diarrhoea, you should immediately call a doctor.

Need Something, But Not Sure What

At times, you may be unable to figure out what’s making your baby cry. There are many newborns who go through some rough patches. It is very hard to comfort these babies. Their unhappiness may be caused by a lot of different factors. They may cry for several hours at a stretch. This constant state of crying is called colic. Colic is a common state in which a baby cries for at least 3 hours per day, minimum 3 days in a week.

Most of the parents find it very hard to deal with this condition. In fact, it can put the whole family under stress. It is worth mentioning that Colic does not have a magic cure. However, in most cases, it does not last for over 3 months. You need to accept this condition and understand that it will be resolved in some time. You can look for some valuable information to cope up with Colic. There are many strategies which can help you accept and manage this condition in your baby.

Raising Thankful Kids

February 13, 2014 By: Bril

With a silver spoon or a silver lining?

As the year comes to an end, give your child the gift of gratitude. What am I talking about, you wonder?! Well, as a parent and as a professional working with parents and kids, I often come across parents saying ‘kids today are so hard to satisfy…when they want, they want it now..AND when they get it, it holds their attention for a bit and then they want something else….” Am sure you get the picture!

So, here is something to think about…do you think we are raising a generation of “I NEED…I WANT…ITS NOT ENOUGH’ kids? I think to some extent we are. Part of that is a reflection of our own values as a society where we are so invested in acquiring more and wanting more…be it a new gadget, a bigger car or the latest fashion trend. We seem to be in a constant rush and frenzy as we live life by our ‘wish lists’. Think about it, when was the last time you took a pause and put on the brakes, to appreciate all the things you already have?

So, in case you are thinking, ‘Okay we get that, but apart from the obvious reasons, why should we teach our children to be grateful and thankful?’ Here is WHY! Research has proven that when we teach our children to be thankful and count their blessings, it develops resiliency, happiness and a positive attitude to life. While having a thankful outlook will not change the events in their lives, it definitely changes the way they perceive them. As children learn to find and acknowledge their blessings, even in the midst of difficult times, they learn that problems can be conquered and difficulties can be solved.

So, now that we know why it’s important for our kids to learn to be grateful and thankful, the next questions to answer is, ‘How do we help our children develop this life skill?’

The answer is closer than you think, as it starts with you! Here are some tips:

Model Being Thankful – while this seems obvious, how many times do we take the time to verbalise that we are thankful and share that with our children? When parents express thankfulness for things in their life, children learn to do the same thing. Remember there is no better role model than you!
Be a Thankful Family – made a concerted effort to help your children identify all the things you are thankful for as a family, starting with having each other! Gather your family together and create a ‘Thankful Tree’. It’s simple – each of you draws an outline of your hands and then writes/illustrates what you are thankful for. Discuss and process this as a family. Encourage the kids to think beyond their new toys, and look at other things like, “I am thankful I can draw well’ or ‘I am thankful that I have good friends’. Creating your ‘Family Thankful Tree’ is also a great way to bond and have fun as a family! Here is an example of one we did…the kids will love it and so will you!
See Gratitude Everywhere – it’s easy to be grateful when the going is good, right? So, as you develop this habit of gratitude, take it to the next level by showing your kids how to be grateful even when things appear less perfect and not so rosy. For example, “Yes, the rain means your field trip gets postponed and I know you were looking forward to having fun with your friends, but the rain is great for the trees and the crops, and the earth really needed that! And you will still get to go to your field trip next week…”

So, parents rather than raising children ‘born with a silver spoon in their mouth’, lets raise our children to be the ‘silver lining’ kind of children that can focus on the positive, even as stormy clouds enter their lives today or tomorrow!

Happy Parenting and see you in the New Year with a Thankful and Grateful Heart!

Re-published with permission from the blog of ParentEdge, a bi-monthly parenting magazine that aims to expose parents to global trends in learning and partner with them in the intellectual enrichment of their children. This blog was written by Aparna Balasundaram, Psychotherapist and Life Skills Expert.

5 Strategies To Put Your Baby To Sleep

January 24, 2014 By: Bril

“I rock my baby to sleep, she has slept like that ever since she was an infant”, says a mother of a 10 month old. Another says, “Nothing works like a drive in the car, the gentle rocking motion puts my toddler to sleep in no time” and yet another harried mother claims she has to carry her 3 year old in her arms and pace the room, crooning songs that her child likes.

Whatever your method of putting your child to sleep is, it should not turn into a bedtime battle. We commonly meet mothers who complain that their kids just refuse to understand the fact that they are tired and it is their bed time. What ensues is a battle between the child and the mother, where the child invariably takes a long time to sleep, leaving the mother physically and mentally exhausted. If you have a similar bed-time scenario with your child, it is time to change the dreaded bed-time routine into a more peaceful one, where the child learns to soothe himself/herself to sleep.

Develop a flexible attitude when you decide to help your child to self soothe and sleep

Treat sleeping like any other activity that your child engages in. Just like eating and playing, you can’t force your child to sleep. Just like how a child learns to recognize hunger and demands food or milk, similarly you have to help him discover sleep. For that to happen, the setting has to be consistent and soothing. Following a routine helps in the long term as children learn to pick up the pattern and expect sleep to come at the end of the routine.

Be vary of sleep tactics that work for other children

Your child is unique and only he/she can show you what works in their case. Take all advice with a pinch of salt. You may try it once or twice with your child but never force it. Sleep time should be pleasant for your child, not distressing.

Deciding where to sleep

Sleeping arrangements vary from co-sleeping, to cribs to bassinets. Decide which one is best for your child. Based on your routine and lifestyle, pick one that suits you and baby the best in the long run.

Take one step at a time and remember, the initial month is always the hardest

Whatever routine you decide for your child, it will seem not to work in the initial few days. Hang in there. The child is also figuring out and forming patterns in his brain. However, if the routine is obviously causing distress to the child or is doing the opposite of calming the child down, dump it. Stay flexible and implement another routine.

Sleep association in children

Let your child associate sleep with self soothing. This means that the baby is put down when awake. Parents provide a comforting environment but do not help baby to sleep by any external stimulation such as rocking, singing or patting. The child learns to recognize sleep and sleeps without any intervention. Subsequently, you will discover, that night time waking will reduce as the baby learns to put herself to sleep without any help from you. As hard or impossible as this may sound, it is possible.

Remember, consistency and self soothing techniques are key to help your child sleep peacefully.

Fighting The Flu Through Vaccination

January 17, 2014 By: Bril

“When we think of the major threats to our national security, the first to come to mind are nuclear proliferation, rogue states and global terrorism. But another kind of threat lurks beyond our shores, one from nature, not humans – an avian flu pandemic.” – Barack Obama, June 2005.

I remain a proponent of vaccination irrespective of the controversies that keep coming up. I think anybody who has seen a child with a tetanus infection will be. India continues to have killer infectious diseases and though I admit that there is a need for the health
ministry to delve into the storage and administration of vaccines with a little more vigilance I cannot agree with withholding any of the mandatory vaccines. The Indian Academy of Paediatrics makes recommendations only after a review of current published literature on various parameters that include need for the vaccine, its efficacy and safety. Having said that I do acknowledge that there are contentious issues involved – we cannot inject a plethora of microorganisms and chemicals into the bodies of our young children without considering the strain on their immune systems. Therefore, while certain vaccines are imperative, others can be administered as per the physician’s recommendation.

The vaccination for influenza falls into the second category. Flu is a seasonal occurrence and yet pandemics occur because a virus emerges and starts spreading easily because we have no pre-existing immunity. This is one characteristic of the flu virus, which mutates rapidly into new forms. So we have H1N1, H3N2 and so on. Sometimes two flu viruses can attack the same animal and their proteins get mixed up and re-assorted to form new forms. That is why we can never predict what the next pandemic will bring forth-a benign selection or a lethal one. Once a fully contagious virus emerges, its global spread is inevitable. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but they cannot stop it.

A flu vaccine takes two weeks to produce an effective protective response in the body. Protection decreases by about 50% over the next six months (the decrease is less for older adults), and remains stable for two to three years. Antibodies made by the immune system in response to vaccination with one strain of influenza viruses can provide protection against different, but related strains. But eradicating flu altogether is not possible.

Serious side effects with modern vaccines are extremely unusual. Some people experience a slight soreness at the point of injection, which resolves within a day or two. People who have never been exposed to influenza, particularly children, may experience one to two days of a slight fever, tiredness, and muscle pain.

What does this mean in terms of choice?

Vaccinations will not protect against all forms of the flu unless the same viruses that are contained in the vaccine infect the child. Considering the nature of the flu virus, this is not likely to happen. Since we do not know which virus will attack next we cannot be complacent thinking that since we have been exposed to milder attacks we are protected from danger. Other precautions cannot be sidelined during the episodes just because a child has been vaccinated. But vaccination can offer some protection from the flu becoming life threatening and from being prolonged.

There are certain vulnerable groups in whom influenza has a propensity to become lethal. Annual vaccination is compulsory for them, so that even if they are infected, the infection will not become life-threatening. This group includes:

Children under age two (but not under six months of age where the immune system is unlikely to produce a sufficient response by itself)
All people 65 years and older
Residents of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities (regardless of age)
Adults and children who have chronic heart or lung problems, such as asthma, heart malformations
Adults and children who have chronic metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obese children
Children and teenagers who are on long-term aspirin therapy
Children with blood related disorders
Pregnant women who will be in their second or third trimester during flu season or women who are nursing
Anyone who is immunocompromised (HIV-infected persons, cancer patients, organ transplant recipients)
Anyone in contact with the above groups, such as teachers, care givers, healthcare personnel, and family members
Travellers to foreign countries

For the others, it is a question of choice based on finance and the surrounding environment. Anyone wanting forego the discomfort and inconvenience of an influenza attack may receive the vaccine by choice. Simply put, you lose nothing by vaccinating your child but you cannot expect complete protection from influenza. I haven’t vaccinated my ten month old with a flu shot yet but she will get one before she enrols in her playgroup.

Re-published with permission from the blog of ParentEdge, a bi-monthly parenting magazine that aims to expose parents to global trends in learning and partner with them in the intellectual enrichment of their children. This blog was written by Dr. Krishna Mahathi holds diplomas in Pediatrics and in the management of allergies and asthma.

Image courtesy: Google Images

What to Do when Kids Ask Tough Questions

January 1, 2014 By: Bril

Kids ask questions. Whenever they want, wherever they like. They ask because they are curious. They ask because they think you know.

If they knew that they can get those answers somewhere else, they would do that. (Let us face it, sooner or later that is bound to happen.)

The reason why we get irritated with kids and their questions is that, often, we do not know the answers. In addition we do not want to admit that we do not know. Either to the kid or to ourselves.

But there is a nice way out.

Let us imagine a scenario – my grandson has asked me a question about the stars. And I do not know the answer.

“Arhan, Thatha does not know the answer. What should we do?”

“I don’t know”

“Should we ask Amma about it? Or should we look up some book? Or may be the computer?”

“Computer?”

“OK, let us check the computer.. “

We sit together and I enter his question in my search window in the browser. As I type I keep talking about what I am doing.

“I now open my laptop and I click on this red, yellow, green and blue button. (That is the Chrome Icon). And now I have to type your question here..”

We search couple of sites and let us say we found what he wanted. The matter need not stop there.

“OK when Daddy gets back from work we will tell him about your question & how you found the answer. Shall we do that?”

“Yes”

“Will you tell him? Sometimes Thatha may forget things.”

“OK I will tell him.”

“What will you tell him?”

The experience is still fresh in his mind and Arhan would describe what we did, in his own words. Therefore he will remember it well

I could follow this up with a question to Arhan that evening, for which Arhan has no answer. So I ask “What do we do? You want try the computer?”. If he says yes, ask him tell you what to do.

Every time a child asks a question, there is a great opportunity to bond with the child and discover something together. It will be a shame to miss it.

5 Christmas Movies to Watch with Your Family

December 14, 2013 By: Bril

Christmas is coming soon! You can feel the excitement in the air – the love, the goodwill, the peace, the fun and the Christmas spirit! Get into this festive spirit with magical, mystical and feel-good movies that you can watch with your family. What better way than movie nights to spend time with your family? Bring out the popcorn and hot cocoa and enjoy Christmas flicks that are sure to warm your hearts and teach your children about kindness, love, sharing and other such good traits.

Here is a list of our five favourite Christmas movies which one can watch over and over again:

Miracle on 34^th street:

A six year old girl doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. So, she doesn’t expect to get any important gifts as Christmas gift. Sounds kind of sad and disappointing right? But, then the story takes a magical turn as she meets a departmental store Santa Claus who believes he is the real deal. Watch this heart warming story of a little girl who finally starts believing in miracles.

All I want for Christmas:

This holiday season, two kids (brother and sister) make an elaborate plan to get what they want for Christmas – spending Christmas with their parents and grandmother. But, the best laid plans as we all know never quite works out the way we want! So what ends up is a hilarious flick. Add a little touch of Santa’s magic and you have the perfect Christmas movie.

The Polar Express:

With beautiful animations and exhilarating graphics, this movie takes you on a wonderful ride (on a train!) to the North Pole. A young boy who is doubtful about the existence of Santa Claus boards the train for a journey that he will remember all his life!

Elf:

An elf born in the North Pole one day realises that he may not be an elf after all! And that he was born in New York City – so off he goes in search of his real parents. What follows is a heart warming comedy and a Christmas adventure. Watch this with your family for tons of laughs!

Scrooged:

A selfish TV executive gets haunted by three spirits on Christmas Eve teaching him the lessons of life! A modern take on the classic tale ‘A Christmas Carol’, this movie is as magical (even with ghosts!) as the story. Watch as the protagonist breaks free of his selfish and arrogant ways and mends relations with everyone. This is a movie that will definitely fill you and your kids with the true Christmas spirit!

What parents can teach their kids about Mandela

December 10, 2013 By: Bril

The world is mourning the death of Nelson Mandela, an extraordinary man, a symbol of strength, dignity, leadership, survival and courage. Our children’s generation (many of whom were born after Mandela was freed), cannot even comprehend the 27 years of imprisonment he suffered and how he was able to win freedom for his country, the last remnant of European colonialism and the symbol of the dreaded apartheid. In telling the story of this great man to our children, there are several lessons we can impart:

1. The courage to hang in there: what you think is difficult is almost negligible compared to what Mandela went through. Unlike most political prisoners, Mandela was treated as an ordinary prisoner and given hard and menial tasks, and even contracted TB as a result. But as Mandela himself said, “Difficulties break some men but make others.” About his persistence, he said, “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

2. Do not hate: Mandela would have been fully justified if he can come out of prison filled with hate. What is extraordinary is that he bore very little ill feeling towards his captors, saying, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” This is so true for us parents, and we should use the story of Mandela to show how hate and bigotry should be shunned.

3. The importance of education: If Mandela could get a law degree in prison, in spite of working under back-breaking conditions breaking rocks in the lime quarry, clearly he saw tremendous value in it, realizing that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” We should teach our children to make education a priority, and that is only long-term and peaceful way to change the world.

RIP Madiba.

5 Tourist Places to Visit in India with Your Children

December 3, 2013 By: Bril

It’s December and holiday season is here which means it is family vacation time! It is time to pack yours and your children’s bags and head out for an adventure. Vacations are a great way for you to de-stress and bond with your kids and at the same it can be a great learning experience for them. Learning about a new place, new language, new food and new culture will be exciting and enriching for them. They will even get a great topic to write about in their next essay assignment – ‘What I did over my winter break’! But, more than anything else vacations are a great way to reconnect with your family – school, work and other chores usually take up so much of our time and effort that is difficult to find room for special family moments. A trip is a great way to make up for lost time. There are no distractions on a vacation – just you and your family having a gala time!

So, here is a list of places that you can head to this December:

1) Pondicherry: If you are looking for a place that is quiet, pristine, and beautiful and has beaches, then Pondicherry is the place for you! It was host to the largest French colony in India which means this place has a rich cultural heritage as well. Your kids can have fun while getting to learn something new! Visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram for a spiritual experience where you can learn about the great guru’s practices and vision. And when it comes to food you must go to the quaint French restaurants and cafes!

2) Kanyakumari: Also known as Cape Comorin, Kanyakumari lies at the southernmost tip of India and is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Famous for pilgrimage, its temples are well-known all over the world. People don’t just come here for religious or spiritual purpose, but also to witness the beauty and the stunning architecture of the temples. Make sure you watch the spectacular sunset and sunrise during this month!

3) Kullu Manali: If you want to experience true winter with snow fights, snow angels and snow sports, then head to Manali. Bathed in snow, the Himalayas makes for a magical tourist destination. The snow-capped mountains will take your breath away! Have an adventurous holiday with your family with rafting, paragliding, rock climbing and skiing.

4) Puri: One of the Char Dhams, Puri is a great destination place for some spiritual learning – for you and your children as well. Not only is it a great place to learn about our heritage with historical temples and shrines, but it is also a great place to revel in the beauty of nature. Especially in the month of December, this city is full of greenery. Beaches are an added benefit! A must-visit place is the Chilka Lake which is the biggest inland salt-water lagoon.

5) Jaipur: Old forts, palaces and other heritage structures – experience India’s rich culture in this beautiful city of Rajasthan which is known for its hospitality. This pink city is also known for its great shopping and delicious food! Make sure you visit Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal and JalMahal for an exotic trip!

The Common Cold

November 26, 2013 By: Bril

My adored English teacher in primary school inspired most of us in her class to become fascinated with poetry. I remember one particular poem “The Common Cold” written by A.P Herbert that she taught us, and I always take my cue from it while speaking to my patients and their caregivers. So here goes….

The Common Cold, the Common Cold

The doctors really must be told

It’s really time that they controlled

The horrors of the Common Cold.

It’s quite true that colds and coughs are humdrum to us doctors. They arrive when the weather conditions allow viruses to thrive, and will continue to spread as long as there is going to be clustering and companionship. Watching the patterned episodes does make a physician think that it’s not much of a hassle. Personally, only after I became a parent could I see how a blocked nose ( nothing to doctors) could make a child out of sorts, uncomfortable and cranky. We do take charge though, when we see a change in the scenario, like when the common cold becomes the flu.

I love the doctors – they are dears;

But must they spend such years and years

Investigating such a lot

Of illnesses which no one’s got?

When everybody, young and old

Is frantic with the Common Cold

And I will eat my only hat

If they know anything of that

I think an interlude of common cold is tackled very well by the body’s natural defences and we are recharged after rest and TLC. This does hurt the wee little ego we doctors manage to develop after our long abiding study of the human body, that the body can take care of itself. But I have to contradict the poet a bit here. Research in the medical field is slow and tedious and these days we make statements only based on clear sustained evidence.

For instance, we know that warm water, juice, clear broth ,ginger teas or warm lemon water with honey help loosen secretions in the air passages and prevent dehydration. That’s why they bring relief.
The age old chicken soup remedy definitely works. It acts by inhibiting the movement of “neutrophils” (immune system cells) that participate in the body’s explosive defensive response. Second, it temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus secretions, helping relieve congestion and shortens the time viruses are in contact with the nose lining. Chicken soup also improves the function of protective cilia, the tiny hair like projections in the nose that prevent contagions from entering the body.
Several over the counter medications give symptomatic relief and are therefore listed as cures. For example the popular Vicks VapoRub doesn’t relieve nasal congestion. But the strong menthol odour of VapoRub tricks your brain. As a result, you feel like you’re breathing through an unclogged nose.
There is also a lot of speculation over the role of vitamin C in cold. One proven effect of vitamin C is in preventing colds among people engaged in extreme physical exercise in extremely cold conditions. Although for the average child who suffers about 28 days of cold illness a year, taking daily high-dose vitamin C would still mean 24 days of cold illness.

But our patients aren’t always happy to pay a consultation fee to hear us telling them to relax, and we are deemed ineffective.

Mark with what long and patient care

The doctor studies what is rare

He cannot do too much for you

If you have something strange and new.

Nor can he quite conceal his bliss

If it should chance to end in ‘is’.

But there are fortunately few

Who suffer from the strange and new.

I do not know a single case

Of Indian Itch or Persian Face.

Nor do I think that I have met

A man with sleeping sickness yet.

Doctors usually don’t like to miss out on anything serious. We know that all colds aren’t benign and the situation might be harbingering complications. Paediatricians are therefore, always on the lookout for the infection spreading to the eardrum (that’s “otitis” for you), the sinuses (‘sinusitis”) or the airways leading to croup or “bronchiolitis” in kids. There is also a bacteria called “streptococcus” which, entering through the throat (the event is termed“pharyngitis”) can, when untreated, affect the heart’s valves (heard of rheumatic fever or “carditis”?). Doesn’t the doctor deserve to pat himself on the back if he picks up on one of these early? There are certain disorders with immunity wherein a cold can endanger life.The doctors examine your child looking out for these things as well.

But all of us have one disease —

We all sniff, snuffle, cough and sneeze.

This is the universal plague

And here I find the doctor vague.

I guess somewhere all doctors renounce the need to be acknowledged for our efforts or for refraining from superfluous prescribing. So like A.P Herbert many will claim….

But if, in fact, you chance to meet

A specialist on Harley Street

And say to him “Look here. Behold!

I have – again — the Common Cold.”

The gentleman will only stare.

He really does not seem to care.

He then remarks, without remorse

“Oh, Well, the thing must take its course.”

I hope this gives an insight to most doctor’s seemingly perplexing behaviour. So if your child catches the common cold this season do see your doctor, keep calm and see him or her again if your child are not better by three days. Your doctor will brief you on the warning signs that suggest a different diagnosis. Meanwhile (like your parents must be saying), go to bed and take plenty of fluids.

Re-published with permission from the blog of ParentEdge, a bi-monthly parenting magazine that aims to expose parents to global trends in learning and partner with them in the intellectual enrichment of their children. This blog was written by Dr. Krishna Mahathi.