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New Parents

Vitamin D helps to ensure that our bodies absorb and retain calcium and phosphorous, which are both needed for building strong bones. The need for vitamin D begins even before a baby is born; insufficient intake can put an infant’s bone development at risk. Why is Vitamin D so Essential? Severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to nutritional rickets, which can cause softened and weakened bones. This disease is most often seen in children younger than 2 years of age. Because recent studies have shown that most infants in the United States have not been consuming enough vitamin D, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends that all infants have a minimum intake of 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin D per day beginning soon after birth. How Does the Body Get Vitamin D? Vitamin D can be obtained in two ways: first, from the foods we eat; and […]

Prebiotics and probiotics are likely words that you’ve come across while reading a magazine, watching the news, or browsing the supplement aisle at the store. But do you know what they actually are or what they do? Prebiotics and probiotics have been recognized through nutrition research as “functional foods.” Simply put, “functional foods” provide benefits that may improve health, wellbeing, and/or reduce risk of disease. An example of a functional food is live-culture yogurt that contains probiotics and prebiotics. Many supplement manufacturer utah companies make probiotics and other supplements that are a source of these “functional foods.” Though keep in mind that this is not the only way to incorporate prebiotics and probiotics into your diet. Prebiotics and probiotics can easily be incorporated into your daily diet with a variety of natural, everyday food sources. In fact, your body is often better able to absorb and digest the prebiotics and […]

It seems like everyone has a story that involves a child, a small object, and an orifice: a bean in a nostril, a pebble in an ear—maybe even a swallowed Barbie shoe or penny. It’s no wonder these instances are so common. Kids are naturally curious, and their worlds contain so many things that fit just so in the body parts they’re learning to explore. So what do you do when your child becomes one of these stories? It all depends on two things: what’s the object, and which opening is it stuck in? First things first: If you know or suspect that your child has swallowed a button battery, get to the emergency department immediately. Swallowed batteries can cause esophageal perforation (a hole in the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach), and other life-threatening injuries—sometimes within hours. It’s also time to head to the ER […]

As summer temperatures continue to climb, be careful to keep your kids out of hot cars. If a child does get left in a hot car or is accidentally locked in while playing, the consequences can be severe, and even deadly. Never leave your child in a car alone or leave your car unlocked around children, no matter what the temperature outside might be. Cracking the windows will not keep the car cool and even “just a few minutes” is too long. Although it may seem unimaginable for a child to be forgotten in a car, it occurs far too often. So know the facts and try out a few prevention tips to keep this kind of tragedy from affecting your family. The Facts It happens: On average, a child dies every 10 days from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Year after year, children are left in […]

Starting your baby on solid foods can feel daunting for any new parent. Hopefully these answers to a few frequently asked questions will help prepare you and your little one for the big transition. Question: When can my baby start solid food? Answer: Babies can have an upset stomach, gas, pain and constipation if their digestive tract isn’t ready for solids. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months of a baby’s life. After that, they recommend that moms continue to breastfeed and introduce complementary foods until their infants are at least 12 months old. After baby’s first birthday, you can keep on breastfeeding for as long as you and your baby desire. Before starting solids, babies should be able to hold their heads up, sit with support, open their mouths when offered food, and be able to move semi-solid food from the front […]

For most infants, spitting up is an inevitable part of life. But for their parents, deciphering how much spit-up (or reflux) is acceptable can be confusing. Is there such a thing as too much spit-up? First, let’s talk about the normal aspects of infant reflux. Normal or physiologic reflux can start somewhere around two to four weeks and occur several times a day. Reflux hits a peak around four months, and usually resolves somewhere between 6 months and 1 year of age. Only about 1% of infants still experience symptoms at 1 year of age. One reason your infant may be having reflux is that the band or sphincter around the lower part of your child’s esophagus has intermittent periods of relaxation. When the sphincter is relaxed, food and fluids are more likely to come back up. If your infant continues to be mostly happy and comfortable, has a good […]