Yucky- Conjunctivitis or Pinkeye in kids, more kids get it than you think!

Conjunctivitis or pinkeye is a common problem in school going kids. The eyes become red, itchy, and swollen. There can also be a discharge of gooey liquid from the eye which can be of the color white, clear, green or yellow. Conjunctivitis is also known as pinkeye because the eye’s white part turns pink or red. When the child experiences itchiness and redness in the eyes, he/she should inform the elders as soon as possible, as pinkeye is very contagious and spreads very easily.

It is possible that only one eye can get affected by conjunctivitis, while the other eye dose not. In usual cases, both the eyes get infected. Conjunctivitis doesn’t hurt usually, but the eyes sure do itch badly. There can be a sensation similar to an eyelash or tiny particle getting in the eye, which can be very annoying. The infection lasts for about a week and usually goes away by itself. But if the itching is very troublesome, it should be treated with medicine. Some children can have conjunctivitis accompanied with ear infections, as the bacteria responsible for causing pinkeye is also responsible for causing ear infection.

Conjunctivitis is caused by virus or bacteria. Viruses which cause conjunctivitis are also responsible for cold. Bacteria which cause conjunctivitis also cause ear infection. Conjunctivitis spreads by touching. If a person touches the hand of the infected person, who has recently touched his eyes, also gets the infection. And since infected children deal with their parents and children, they also pose the risk of getting the infection. The prevention in this case is to wash hands often with warm water and disinfecting soap. Conjunctivitis when caused by bacteria & virus, and is contagious is known as infectious conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis can also be caused due to allergies or because of entry of irritating foreign body into the eyes. Conjunctivitis caused by this medium is not contagious.

A doctor should be approached upon if the itchiness is very irritating. The doctor will check the eyes for redness and liquid discharge. The doctor would ask about the encounter with any friend or known person who seemed to have pinkeye or whether the conjunctivitis was caused because of some allergy or entry of foreign object into the eye. The doctor can also check the ears for the possibility of ear infection. If the pinkeye is caused because of bacterial infection, the doctor will recommend antibiotic eye ointment or drops. Usually infants are given eye ointment, whereas children and adults are given eye drops. The parents should put the drops or ointment into the child’s eyes four to five times a day for nearly seven days or so. The dosage and timings should be maintained to get rid of the infection completely.

If the conjunctivitis is caused due to virus, there is nothing much the antibiotics can do. And if the pinkeye is caused by allergies or any foreign object, the doctor can recommend special eye drops to deal with the allergy symptoms. Warm water can also be splashed on the eyes to ease the itching. A cool or warm washcloth can be used to clean the discharge. Parents can clean the eyes carefully with cotton balls and warm water and remove the crusty stuff which is formed at the ends of the eyes. The towels and washcloths used for cleaning should head straight to the laundry so that the infection doesn’t spread to other family members.

Awesome Advice For Raising Awesome Children - 3

Parenting is one of the most difficult and rewarding jobs anyone will ever have. A little patience and persistence will pay off. When you set rules, make sure they are age appropriate and easily understood. Punishment should be consistent, practical and explained to children. It's imperative to be a parent to your child. They already have plenty of friends. Read on for more tips.

Don't do everything for your kids. Teach them how to do things for themselves. Teach them how to cook, set the table, or do other chores. Not only will you lighten your own load, but you'll teach them valuable skills that they'll need when it's time for them to raise their own families.

It is important to realize that children learn through the games that they play early in life. Simple counting games and shape recognitions can help them learn. There are many games that are available on the market, but if you do not have the money to buy them, you can definitely make some great games yourself using materials you have at home.

When your child is working on homework, make sure to provide a distraction-free environment. Minimize noise and talk around their area, and turn off the TV. If they're on the computer, make sure they're only using programs directly related to the assignment. Distractions make it difficult to focus on the work and turn a quick assignment into a long ordeal.

Whether you are a set of parents living in the same home or separate homes, you are going to need to work together as a team when it comes to everything about your child. Learn to disagree in a civil manner, and find ways to resolve any differences quietly and in the best interest of your child.

Children know more than what you're willing to tell them, so try to save that "You're too young to understand" stuff for only the most serious topics. You don't want to patronize your children in any way. If they are able to understand something, it doesn't hurt you at all to explain it to them.

Never underestimate the power of touch when it comes to comforting your child. Hugs, kisses, pats on the back, or touching their hands all let them know that you love them and care. Make sure that your child gets some physical contact from you every day, because it helps them thrive.

Kids are picky and getting them to eat healthy can be a challenge! Start while they're young! Feed your toddlers fresh fruits and vegetables instead of processed foods. If they do not know about the things that are bad for them they will never want them! Keep sweets for special occasions only.

Putting in the extra work when your children are young will make it easier for you to parent them when they are older. Setting reasonable rules and being consistent in their enforcement are important factors in discipline. Your children should know that you love them and are always on their side.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner - Air Travel Tips for Parents of Young Children

Are you the parent of an infant, toddler, or preschooler?  If you are, are you also in the process of planning a trip that requires air travel?  If you are, you may be dreading your upcoming flight.  After all, complications are all that many parents can think of.  With that said, there are a number of ways that you can make flying with your young children not only easy, but fun as well.

For children under two years of age, you will first want to examine the pros and cons of getting them their own seat.  Many airlines allow children under two to sit on the lap of an adult.  Getting an extra seat for a child under two will cost money, but you may be able to get a small discount when contacting the airline in question.  On the other hand, you will be able to have your own seat, which will be nice.  Most car seats can fit into airline seats.  Speaking of which, if you need to bring a car seat or a stroller, it will need to be scanned by airport security.

As for strollers, they are a good idea, even for children who can walk.  Most parents of toddlers are urged to give them a close look.  Most airlines will require you to handover your stroller before boarding a plane.  Once you arrive at your destination, your stroller should be waiting for you at the gate.  Using a stroller makes it easy for you to move around the airport and quickly.  This is ideal if you must hurry, like if you have short layovers.

Also, be sure to bring some formula, juice, and snacks for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.  Although you will find some restrictions, most airport security officers will allow a child’s drink to pass through, as long as it is a small quantity only.  As for older children, like toddlers and preschoolers, you should be able to buy juice, water, and snacks at an airport store past security checkpoints.  Doing so is nice, as they are no security concerns about doing so.

It is also important to bring a bag for your child.  This bag should be filled with items that interest them.  Depending on the age of your child, great items include books, stickers, coloring books and few crayons, small toys, and flash cards.  These items will have to be scanned through airport security, so try to leave anything, namely toys, at home that may cause complications or delays.

Speaking of airport security, it is important to talk about the screening process and prepare your child for it.  For many toddlers and preschoolers, the whole ordeal can seem a little bit overwhelming and scary.  Your child will likely have to walk through the metal detectors themselves.  If you are traveling with another adult, have one go through first, so that your child can walk towards a familiar face.  You may even want to arrive at the airport early.  This gives and your child the opportunity to watch others go through the screening process first.

As for the flight itself, toddlers and preschoolers may love having a window seat.  If someone in your traveling party is assigned a window seat, try to let your toddler or preschool sit there instead.  As for the bag full of goodies you brought, refrain from giving everything to your child all at once.  This is likely to reduce boredom.  For children who may have their own seats, portable DVD players and laptop computers are advised.  They are a great way to keep a fussy child occupied.  If using a laptop computer, be sure not to choose a movie that will exceed the laptop’s battery life, as this may result in a very unhappy child.

The above mentioned tips are just a few of the many that can help you, as a parent, when traveling by air with young children.  For addition tips, just use your best judgment.  As a parent, you should know what will help to keep your child interested and happy.

Am I the only one that can't get kids to bed? Children and Insomnia

Children of all ages can experience insomnia too; it is not just partial to adults. Often when children experience insomnia it can be for some of the very same reasons that adults experience it, a change in schedule as maybe they are going back to school after summer vacation, too much sugar or caffeine, family or school related stress, or a lack of routine. A lack of routine is a result of parents not establishing a regular routine and defining a specific bedtime.

While insomnia is not a disease but a condition it can have a detrimental effect on children as they are tired and grumpy during the day, often hard for teachers to manage, and this can lead to behavior problems too. If this is something that happens every night then it could be the temperament of the child could be the primary reason. If children know that they can get away with it, they will fight sleep for hours to prove a point.

However, if your child has insomnia that is accompanied with nervousness, irritability, intensity, high strung, excitable, and easily angered then it might be that your child has Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). There is a direct relationship between ADHD and insomnia in children. Monitor your child and see if they are extremely difficult to wake in the morning and it is nearly impossible to turn off their motor at night as this too is associated with ADHD.

Children who have insomnia may actually display signs that are very similar to that of ADHD because they are lacking sleep and their systems are out of whack. Children are really supposed to get 9-11 hours of sleep per night, although studies have displayed that is rarely the case. Parents need to remember that children who are exhausted can actually still appear to have so much energy but what that really is, is their body's way of dealing with the tiredness. In the meantime they will become ornery and misbehaved but it is how they are coping with their lack of sleep and you certainly can not expect a good performance academically either.

Some facts about children and sleep are that sleep in one of the most important factors in a child's development because while a child is sleeping is when he body produces more of the hormones that cause children to grow. Children between the ages of one and five require 10-12 hours of sleep per night and school age children require about 10 hours of sleep per night.

So if you have a child that has a difficult time either falling asleep or staying asleep then here are some handy tips to start off with, do not turn on any lights and speak to the child in a very soft voice, and never let a child sleep in bed with you because in no time it will become a repetitive habit. Later that will complicate any insomnia that your child may suffer from so it is important to keep a routine.