Following a healthy eating routine is what everyone should do to maintain proper intake of nutrients. When you are pregnant, the body requires more of certain nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, potassium, folate, protein, iron, choline, and iodine. Making smarter food choices can ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. In this article, we aim to give you some quick dietary tips to help you eat healthy while pregnant. 

Before we get started, the basic principles of healthy eating remain whether you are pregnant or not. Make sure that you consume plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. A few nutrients during pregnancy deserve special attention, though. To maintain a healthy pregnancy, the following components come into play:

• A balanced diet
• Regular exercise
• Appropriate and timely vitamin/mineral supplementation
• Appropriate weight gain

Get The Right Amount Of Calories

The amount of calories you need will change during the course of your pregnancy. Generally speaking, most pregnancies require the following caloric needs:

• First trimester (first 12 weeks): no extra calories
• Second trimester (13 to 26 weeks): about 340 extra calories per day
• Third trimester (after 26 weeks): about 450 extra calories per day

Weight gain is completely natural during pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat everything in sight. How much weight you’ll need to gain, in addition to the number of calories, will depend on a few things. Ask your doctor or midwife how many calories you need and how much weight is necessary for you to have a healthy pregnancy. 

Follow A Healthy Eating Routine

Ideally, you want to consume a wide range of healthy foods while pregnant. Choose a mix from the following food groups to enjoy daily:

• Whole fruits: berries, apples, mango, bananas, and more
• Whole grains: such as brown rice, bulgur wheat, millet, oats, and multi-grain bread
• Vegetables: sweet potatoes, okra, beets, spinach, bell peppers, jicama, broccoli, and more
• Healthy oils: olive oil, avocado oil, and virgin coconut oil
• Lean protein: eggs, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, tofu, salmon, lamb, and skinless chicken
• Low-fat or fat-free dairy: yogurt, lactose-free dairy, cheese, soy yogurt, or fortified soy beverages

Should You Take A Prenatal Supplement?

Most health care providers or midwives will prescribe a prenatal supplement either before conception or shortly thereafter. This is to ensure that you meet all of your nutritional needs. Please note that a prenatal supplement does not replace a healthy diet. Whether or not you decide to take a prenatal supplement is up to you. Just make sure that you get enough of the following nutrients: 

• Iron: Many women do not get enough iron during pregnancy. Iron helps your baby develop, so consult your healthcare provider to see if you need a prenatal supplement with iron, or a separate iron supplement. 
• Choline: An important nutrient for the developing baby’s brain. Foods that contain choline include lean meats, seafood, beans, lentils, eggs, and fat-free dairy. Most prenatal supplements do not have choline, so if you don’t think that you are consuming enough, consult your healthcare professional.
• Folic acid: Keep in mind that folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, which exists in many dark leafy vegetables, beans, peas, and nuts. You can also obtain folate from oranges, lemons, strawberries, melons, and bananas. If you take a prenatal supplement, make sure that it contains 400 to 800 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid. 
• Iodine: Another nutrient that is integral for the baby’s brain. If you use salt to season your food, make sure it is iodized salt. Prenatal supplements typically do not have iodine, so ask your doctor whether you need an iodine supplement or not. 

Avoid Certain Foods

During your pregnancy, please note that you should stay away from certain foods. The following foods may contain bacteria that can harm the baby:

• Lunch or deli meats, smoked seafood, and hot dogs
• Raw (uncooked) or rare (undercooked) meats, poultry, or eggs
• Raw sprouts, including clover, radish, alfalfa, and mung bean sprouts
• Unpasteurized juice, cheese, or milk. Make sure you see “pasteurized” on the label.
• Raw or rare fish or shellfish, such as sushi or raw oysters. (You can eat fish because it contains healthy fats, but some seafood is high in mercury. Generally speaking, you can eat eight to 12 ounces of seafood per week, so long as it is low in mercury and high in healthy fats).
• Refrigerated pate and meat spreads

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If you are a parent, or someone with sensitive skin, you probably look at the ingredient lists of skin care products with a critical eye. Fragrances are just as suspect as natural flavors. The last thing you want to do is apply a skin care product that leaves your skin itchy, dry, or irritated. Because finding safe, natural products can be a challenge, making your own skin care products is often the best choice. Such is the case for this all-natural homemade baby lotion.

DIY skin care products are having a moment because more and more people prefer natural ingredients to harmful chemicals. Some people think that making skin care products is too much of a commitment. There are some recipes that take a lot of time to make, but a recipe like this homemade baby lotion is quite simple. Although it isn’t so easy that a baby could make it, the lotion is perfectly safe for sensitive skin and babies. Continue reading to learn how the ingredients are perfectly safe for sensitive skin.

A Quick Note: make sure to do a patch test of each of the ingredients on your baby prior to using it regularly. If there is no reaction within 24 hours, the ingredient is generally safe for use. 

Cocoa Butter

High in fatty acids, cocoa butter has a creamy texture that the skin can easily absorb. It melts at body temperature and can be a great option if the baby has dry skin. If the baby has oily skin, cocoa butter may not be a great option, as it can be too heavy and oily for their skin type. Cocoa butter contains a lot of antioxidants, which work to fight free radicals that can cause early signs of aging. These antioxidants also help protect the skin and keep it as healthy as possible. Cocoa butter also contains cocoa mass polyphenol, a substance that inhibits the production of immunoglobulin (IgE), which aggravates symptoms of eczema. 

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer and is a completely safe ingredient to help protect your baby’s delicate skin. Skin experts concur that coconut oil is an easily accessible remedy for a range of skin and hair issues in both babies and people with sensitive skin. Coconut oil contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help moisturize the skin and provide a protective barrier, keeping the baby’s skin safe from dryness. Plus, coconut oil contains vitamin E, which plays an important role in skin repair and the prevention of premature wrinkles.

Vitamin E Oil

As a natural antioxidant, vitamin E oil works to neutralize free radicals. Your little one is probably not too concerned with early signs of aging, though. The main reason that this homemade baby lotion contains vitamin E oil is because it helps form a barrier between the skin and the environment. That helps to seal in moisture and protect the skin from things like sun damage.

Homemade Baby Lotion

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup organic cocoa butter
• 1/4 cup organic coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp vitamin E oil
• 3 drops therapeutic grade lavender essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

• Place the cocoa butter and coconut oil in a heat-safe glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup in a small saucepan with an inch or two of water in it. 
• Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat down to a low simmer. Stir the cocoa butter and coconut oil frequently until melted. 
• Once fully melted, remove from heat and then stir in vitamin E oil and optional lavender essential oil. 
• Place the measuring cup in the fridge and remove once the mixture has hardened. 
• Remove from the fridge and whip the mixture with a hand mixer with one whisk attached. It will take about five minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Scoop into a glass jar, screw on the lid, and then store in a cool, dark place. Use when ready.

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The back-to-school season is a time for new opportunities and beginnings. For some students, especially those with compromised immune systems, the susceptibility to illness increases. Protecting your child(ren) and yourself against common colds or other infections that circulate the classroom can be a lot easier with the right steps in place. 

Developing a back-to-school routine is a challenge in and of itself. Waking up earlier, establishing a quick and efficient routine, and leaving the house on time can prove difficult, especially after summer vacation. Many health officials state that immune health is tied to diet, sleep, and exercise. Building a healthy diet and establishing movement and proper sleep hygiene can enhance immune function, which your child needs as they face the new school year. Hopefully, the following tips can help better prepare your child’s immune system for the back-to-school reality.

Get Plenty Of Sleep

The Sleep Foundation encourages school kids between the ages of six and 13 to get nine to 11 hours of sleep every night. Without sufficient sleep, the body has a more difficult time regulating biological rhythms. Not to mention, insufficient sleep makes the body more susceptible to sickness. If you or your child has trouble sleeping, there are practices that have proven to be quite effective. Click here to learn more about methods that help you fall asleep.

Drink Water

Water is essential for a healthy life because it has many roles in the body. Not only does it help with waste elimination, but it also helps the immune system function optimally. If the body is in a dehydrated state, it cannot effectively produce white blood cells, which help fight off bacteria, pathogens, and viruses. Drinking plenty of water can also help flush toxins from the body, which keeps the immune system functioning optimally. Need help getting your kiddos to drink more water? Spice it up by adding fresh fruit to the water, or consider blending some fruit with water to make a healthier rendition of a punch.

Eat The Right Foods

Dietitians agree that one of the best ways to boost the immune system is to eat the right foods. Focus on fruits and vegetables because they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that boost the function of immune cells. High-fiber foods also work to maintain a healthy digestive system. What foods do you eat to encourage better immune function? Consider packing the following snacks in your child’s lunch: 

• Oranges: One orange can have up to 75% of the daily value (DV) of vitamin C. 
• Mandarins: Mandarins pack a considerable amount of vitamin C and make for the perfect lunch snack. They are easy to peel, easy to put in lunches, and their seedlessness makes them easy to enjoy!
• Sunflower seeds:  Make sure to opt for the unsalted, shell-less sunflower seeds because they are very easy to eat. Sunflower seeds are also rich in vitamin E, which exhibits antioxidant effects in the body. 
• Almonds: Similar to sunflower seeds, almonds are naturally rich in vitamin E, which helps to fight off free radicals and boost immune function. They also contain heart healthy fats, protein, and lots of fiber. 
• Broccoli: It may be very difficult to get your child to eat broccoli, but it is an excellent source of vitamin C and sulforaphane, both of which encourage immune function. Sneak broccoli into meals like broccoli tater tots or fruit smoothies!

Exercise Regularly

It’s no secret that kids like to run amok like they haven’t a care in the world. The important thing to remember is to not let your child immediately plop on the couch or bed and watch TV or play video games from the time they get home to the time they go to bed. Even if your child is active in school sports or playground activities, make sure they remain active outside of school hours. This is especially important as they progress through the year and the weather starts to cool off. 

Maintain A Healthy Weight

Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, and it puts children and adolescents at risk for poor health. Between 2017-2020, 19.7% of children between the ages of two and 19 were affected by obesity. Obesity prevalence between two- and five-year-olds amounted to 20.7%, and 22.2% among six- to 11-year-olds. Data revealed that obesity prevalence was higher in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children than it was in non-Hispanic White children and non-Hispanic Asian children. Aside from decreased immune function, obesity increases the child’s risk of other health problems. Consult your family doctor if you notice the child’s weight is becoming a problem.

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The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a serious respiratory infection that can affect people of all ages. Recently, many children’s hospitals across the country experienced an increase of pediatric patients hospitalized with the RSV, in addition to influenza. In most cases, RSV may only cause symptoms like difficulty breathing, lethargy, and cough, but it is most serious when it occurs in babies. 

What Causes RSV?

RSV is spread from person to person via close contact with an infected person via secretions from coughing or sneezing, or touching objects like toys or door knobs that have the virus on them. According to health experts, it takes between two to eight days from the time of exposure for someone to become sick. In most cases, symptoms last for three to seven days, during which time the infected patients are most contagious. Because it can spread so easily, health experts encourage you to isolate and limit contact with other people. The peak season for the RSV is between fall and spring. 

Symptoms Of RSV

People who become infected with RSV usually show symptoms within two to eight days after exposure. The most common symptoms of RSV include:

• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Decrease in appetite
• Fever
• Wheezing

These symptoms tend to appear in stages and not all at once. Very young infants who contract RSV may only experience decreased activity, irritability, and breathing difficulties. Surveys confirm that almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday. 

RSV Can Cause Serious Health Problems

In more serious cases, RSV can cause serious infections like bronchiolitis, which is inflammation of the small airways in the lung. RSV can also lead to pneumonia, a lung infection. Health experts say that RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under the age of one. 

Healthy adults and children don’t usually require hospitalization. Some people with an RSV infection, especially infants under the age of six months and older adults, may require hospitalization if they have trouble breathing. In the most severe cases, a patient may require oxygen or IV fluids, if they have difficulty breathing or become dehydrated. Some patients with RSV have been in need of intubation with mechanical ventilation. In most of those cases, hospitalization only lasted a few days. 

Take Additional Steps To Prevent RSV Infection

The best way to protect yourself from RSV infection is to keep the body as healthy as possible. Eat a healthy diet, exercise, wash hands, and consider the following tips when trying to prevent the spread of the virus. 

• Avoid kissing your baby on the face if you have cold symptoms. Additionally, keep your baby away from older siblings, relatives, or anyone else with cold symptoms. 
• Wash toys and the baby’s environment regularly.
• Ask people to first wash their hands before holding or touching your baby. And you do the same if you want to hold a friend’s baby.
• Limit the time that high-risk children or babies remain in daycare or play settings, especially between late fall and early spring.
• Keep your baby away from high-risk settings, for example, crowded indoor spaces. 
• Avoid environments with smoke.

As a final note, it is common for babies to make a full recovery from RSV within one to two weeks. Most babies recover from RSV without receiving treatment in a hospital setting. More often than not, you can treat symptoms at home. You can use a cool mist humidifier to introduce moisture to the air to aid breathing, or use a bulb syringe to clear thick secretions from your baby’s nose. If you think your baby has dehydration or is in moderate to severe distress because of RSV infection, you should seek medical care.

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If you have school-age children, there’s a chance that they have already talked with classmates about the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. How do you mold the conversation or inform your children about what happened? Every parent will handle the conversation differently, as the pain of the grieving families is every parent’s worst nightmare. It triggers fear 

in both the children and parents. Could it happen at the school your children attend? This is why having an open dialogue about the situation is necessary. 

In case you haven’t seen the news, nineteen children and two adults were killed during the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The Uvalde shooting came just 10 days after a shooting at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people died. These horrific events brought trauma and anxiety to many people around the country. Unfortunately, these incidents are not the only two that have happened this year. According to Education Week, there have been 27 school shootings with injuries or deaths in 2022. On top of that, the United States surpassed 200 mass shootings this year, counting 212 shootings since January 1st, 2022. 

How Do You Talk With Kids About What Happened?

The key to talking with kids about this type of situation is communicating relational safety. This can only happen if you listen to their fears and co-regulate their responses to what you say. But first, parents will have to process their own feelings and work through emotions related to the tragic event. If your kids come to you with questions about the event, though, ask them about things that they heard about. Tell them to tell you what they know and do your best to provide simple facts that are age appropriate. 

If you have teens or tweens, it’s possible that they received information via TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram. Not all of the information on these platforms accurately depict the situation, and this can be confusing, conflicting, and incomplete, in regards to news coverage. When you communicate with teens, stick to facts and answer the questions they ask. If you don’t have the answer to one of their questions, it’s perfectly acceptable to tell them that you don’t know the answer. No matter the age of the children, though, take a break from social media and the news to decompress. Nobody benefits from that much exposure to information about tragedy. 

Talk To Your Children

It can be scary to discuss school shootings with your children. You don’t want to scare your children, even though many children are aware of school shootings nowadays. The attention that the media brings to these events makes them ever-present, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Discussing the topic in a relaxed way can help alleviate anxiety and make your children feel more at ease. 

If you aren’t sure how to start the conversation, ask your children if they have any questions about the event. Because children, especially young children, have a wild imagination, you should not use fuzzy language or euphemisms. Be clear with what you are saying without stepping over the line into the inappropriate realm. For example, truthful answers are direct and clear, but use discretion when necessary. 

For The Kids Who Were Present Or Heard On The News

19 children being gunned down is an unacceptable situation, and there are no rules about how to grieve. It may take some time to process the situation. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the symptoms you experience, as symptoms of trauma can often mimic those of depression. Anxiety, sleep disturbances, changes in eating habits, or mood swings are all common things to experience after a traumatic event. If your children start experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to them about what’s going on. They may occur immediately after the event or several weeks later. Children can experience gains and loss as they work through a tragic event. You may even want to seek help from a licensed child psychologist to better handle the situation.

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There’s an excitement that kids experience when the time comes to return to school. This is an interesting phenomenon considering the elation kids feel when summer break rolls around and they get to leave for a couple months. The start of the school year, however, gives kids the opportunity to catch up, reconnect, and share all sorts of germs. That’s great news for parents, right? 

Back to school is a challenging time for families, and the 2021 fall semester is no different. With delta variant surges occurring all over the United States, sending kids back to school can be a terrifying thought. Millions of students are preparing for fully in-person education for the first time in over a year. In addition to shopping for school supplies, there are health issues to consider. Ensuring that children understand the importance of hygiene and masking policies is one primary job. While the physical health of children is something that parents need to worry about, mental health may also be a topic of discussion. 

Returning To School: A Mental Struggle

Clinical psychologists have been receiving calls about assisting children with their reentry to in-person classes. Each child has their own set of concerns, worries, or fears about heading back to school in general. Lack of enthusiasm to go to class, developing a morning routine, and cementing an after-school homework ritual are all things that require work, but this year presents a different challenge. The coronavirus is still in the air, spreading rapidly with the newer delta variant. Kids may feel worried or nervous to be around their peers. Will kids abide by masking guidelines and practice proper hand-washing? Kids who are old enough understand that it’s much easier to get sick, and that worry may make it difficult to head back to the classroom. 

Whether you are an educator, parent, administrator, or counselor, the following tips may help students start the year off right. There will be inevitable challenges, but you can tackle them as they come. 

Create A Morning Checklist

Heading back to in-person school involves a much different routine than heading to the dining room table to start Zoom classes. Aside from equipping kids with a mask, hand sanitizer, and lunch, there may be other things to pack. Consider after-school programs, sports, or musical instruments that also have to go with them. Create a daily checklist for children to reference every morning. This will be interactive and fun, and it will help get them ready for each day. 

Refresh Proper Coughing & Sneezing Etiquette

Everyone coughs and sneezes, which can make people nervous in today’s day and age. Remind children to sneeze and cough into their bent elbow, not their hands. This is to help prevent germs from clinging to their hands, which can inevitably touch their face. 

Prioritize Mental Health

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that mental health can dictate how you feel overall. Encourage your children to speak up if they experience too much stress, pressure, or anxiety about returning to school. Remind them that counselors and educators are there to help. Tackling mental health problems in their early stages is the best way to combat the issue. Children have demonstrated incredible resilience during the pandemic, so make sure they know to speak up about anything and everything. There may be learning gaps or loss, but children became resilient and learned to cope with how the world changed. 

Read School Emails

This tip is for parents because there will undoubtedly be more emails this coming school year. Schools will most likely update parents via email about events, COVID-19 concerns, or learning opportunities. Always keep an eye out for new information, especially before classes start and during the first month of schooling. 

Remind Them Of Proper Hand-Washing

A classroom is a breeding ground for bacteria, even if kids are wearing masks. Touching any surface in school, even if there are enhanced cleaning measures, means that germs end up on hands. Failure to keep hands clean can cause anything from pink eye to COVID-19. Make sure children have hand sanitizer and that they wash hands after dirtying them. Encourage frequent hand-washing by practicing this at home. In fact, making children wash their hands upon returning from school is also a healthy reminder and good idea. 

Know When Staying Home Is Best

Now more than ever, staying home during sickness is paramount. If you notice the subtlest hint of illness, keep the child at home and away from other kids at school. If a fever, cough, or congestion develops, consider getting a COVID-19 test to confirm whether or not that is the cause. Determining this will dictate how soon or if they go back to school or not. 

Always err on the side of caution with children, especially this year. Be the voice of reason and roll with the punches, just like we’ve been doing since the beginning of the pandemic. Your kids are resilient and they will persevere. 

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People thought they could start relaxing about COVID-19, but then the delta variant came along. As with any virus, future mutations that are more contagious are bound to occur. In the case of this delta variant, people resumed their worry about potential infection, especially if they did not receive the vaccine. What does the more transmissible delta variant mean for unvaccinated children? This article aims to offer advice and information on the matter. 

For the majority of the COVID-19 pandemic, children have mostly avoided serious COVID-19 complications. Although an estimated four million kids contracted SARS-CoV-2, the majority of cases were fairly mild. Rare cases resulted in hospitalization and death. Now that summer camps are open, playdates are happening, and school will soon be back in session, parents need to understand the risk for unvaccinated children. 

What Is The Delta Variant?

Researchers first noticed the delta variant in India and found it to be 60% more transmissible than the alpha variant from the United Kingdom. The alpha variant was 50% more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. A mere month ago, the delta variant only accounted for about 25-30% of all cases in the United States. Currently, the delta variant accounts for more than 83% of all COVID-19 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

What Does This Mean For Children?

Within the past week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that all children over age 2 wear masks upon returning to school. This advice comes regardless of vaccination status. COVID-19 vaccines have only been authorized for children 12 and older in the United States. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see case rates among young unvaccinated children to rise after resuming regular activities like summer camp and school. That being said, these organizations and programs are doing their best to implement strategies that keep children safe from infection. 

Is Delta Worse For Children?

Although infectious disease experts expect to see an increase in cases where vaccination rates are low, children still have a low risk of getting seriously ill. The most recent data states that children make up about 1.3 to 3.6% of the total reported hospitalizations. Additionally, 0.1 to 1.9% of all COVID-19 cases in children resulted in hospitalization. A variant that is more contagious will naturally result in more hospitalizations, which explains the rise in rates. The good news is that child hospitalizations are not increasing as a result of the delta variant. Ultimately, though, parents who have children with underlying health complications need to take more precautions. If the child is immunocompromised, for example, more protective measures need to take place. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation for children in regards to COVID-19 defense. 

What Should Parents Do?

The delta variant may not affect children the same way that it affects adults, but an adult can still infect a child. Adults with children have to be extra careful, especially if they live in an area with low vaccination rates. The disease currently spreads like wildfire in those areas. Health experts advise adults with children to get the vaccine, as all of the current FDA-approved vaccines have proven efficacy against the delta variant. Additionally, consider a slower reopening for the household. There may be an urgent “need” for normalcy, but supporting children’s health is the number one priority. Do not be careless about get-togethers or mask wearing. Try to keep gatherings small and outdoors whenever possible. Lastly, reconsider travel plans because exposure to the delta variant is much higher when traveling. 

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Any woman who has experienced pregnancy knows that a ravenous hunger can come out of nowhere. From one minute to the next, you go from relaxing on the couch to demanding a full buffet in front of you so you can stuff your face. As much as we want every pregnant woman to have whatever she wants, it’s important to monitor the food you eat during pregnancy.

It’s not just about the ABC’s of vitamins for pregnant women; rather, other superfoods deliver necessary nutrients for the optimal health of growing babies. Folate, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium, and iodine are essential nutrients that contribute to healthy fetal growth and development. While the occasional bowl of ice cream or slice of pizza won’t derail your pregnancy, try your best to include the following nutrient-dense foods in your daily diet.

Broccoli

As a rich source of calcium and folate, broccoli needs to be a staple in every pregnant woman’s diet. The fiber helps to encourage healthy digestion and it keeps you satiated between meals. Broccoli also contains vitamin C, which works to fight harmful free radicals. Additionally, vitamin C aids the absorption of iron, so make sure to eat broccoli with iron-rich foods for optimal nutrient absorption.

Lentils

Whether you’re pregnant or not, lentils are excellent to include in your diet. Containing lots of protein (one cooked cup contains 17 grams) and fiber, lentils help keep the digestive system running smoothly, reducing the all too common constipation during pregnancy. Lentils also contain folate, an essential B vitamin that encourages healthy brain and nervous system development in your baby.

Leafy Green Vegetables

Vegetables are beneficial, but green vegetables are where it’s at. Get a super blend of nutrients when you include kale, spinach, chard, arugula, and collards in your pregnancy diet. All of these leafy greens contain vitamins, A, C, & K, folate, potassium, calcium, iron, and other antioxidants. An added bonus is that leafy greens help you meet your daily fiber goals, staving off pregnancy constipation.

Nuts & Nut Butters

You don’t want your baby to be fat, but you need the right fats for the baby’s healthy brain development. Health experts advise pregnant women to replace saturated fats (in meats and butter) with unsaturated fats, which are abundant in nuts. Unsaturated fats are beneficial for both heart and brain health. Since nuts contain a lot of calories, stick to a one-ounce serving of nuts or two-ounce serving of nut butter at a time. Great varieties include pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, and Brazil nuts.

Sweet Potatoes

If you want your baby to grow healthy tissues, it’s time to load up on some vitamin A, which is present in sweet potatoes. One medium sweet potato satisfies 300% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, and it also offers lots of potassium and vitamin C.

Bananas

It’s very common for pregnant women to experience fatigue, and the carbs in bananas help to fight that lethargy. If you feel nauseous, eat bananas because they are very easy on the stomach. Bananas are also excellent sources of potassium, which works to regulate blood pressure and decrease your risk of preeclampsia, or other pregnancy complications. One study found that pregnant women with balanced blood pressure levels had a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome up to ten years later.

Avocado

They are creamy, dreamy, and loaded with healthy fats that help keep cravings at bay. The monounsaturated fats and folate help to build your baby’s tissues, brain, and skin. Just like bananas, avocados contain potassium (they actually have more potassium than bananas), which helps to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

Pumpkin Seeds

During pregnancy, a woman must eat foods that help repair muscles on a regular basis. The uterus grows and abdominals and hips stretch in unfamiliar ways as a result. When you consume protein-rich foods like pumpkin seeds, your muscles have an easier time keeping up with the daily changes the body goes through. Pumpkin seeds also contain zinc, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and other nutrients that hydrate the muscles.

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Most adults understand that facial coverings are necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. The mask has become an extension of your being when you leave the house. You have to double-check yourself for a mask, as though you are patting your pockets to ensure you remembered your keys, wallet, and phone. And while it may be frustrating, the act of wearing a mask helps to keep you and other people safe.

It’s hard to get children to do a lot of things. Putting on clothes, brushing teeth, washing hands, saying “please” or “thank you,” or eating meals are all uphill battles. Now, we have to get children and teens alike to understand the importance of wearing masks. Challenges may present themselves depending on the child’s age, but expect there to be a long learning curve.

A Quick Note: If your child is under the age of two, do not make him or her wear a facial covering. The risk of suffocation is very high.

When Do Children Need To Wear Masks?

If you plan to have your child return to childcare or school, face coverings/masks are necessary. Most schools will require kids to have them in order to keep all them safe. Additionally, masks in schools or childcare facilities helps reduce the spread of the virus between children, or between children and the present adults. Children also need to wear masks anytime they cannot maintain a safe distance from others. If you take them to the grocery store, park, or doctor’s office, they also need to wear masks for protection.

It Will Take Time And Practice

Just like breaking in a new pair of shoes, it takes time to get comfortable when wearing a mask. As adults, we are now comfortable with them, but it may take more time with children. Explaining the reason for wearing masks will be easier or harder, depending on the age of the child. Since there are many asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, wearing masks helps reduce your risk of contracting the virus. Now, every child won’t understand what the virus is or how it spreads, but the best thing to do is to practice wearing masks with them. Start by wearing masks with your child(ren) for increasing intervals with each passing day. Eventually, your child(ren) will be able to wear a mask without any issues.

Explain The Importance Of Masks

It’s important to speak in terms that your child will understand. The words “pandemic” and “respiratory disease” may not mean anything to your child. Try to focus on germs, and explain how some germs are good and some are bad. The bad ones can make people very sick, and masks are necessary since you can’t tell the difference between good and bad germs. If the germ explanation does work, try to use the superhero analogy. Superheroes have to wear masks and special suits to keep them safe from bad guys, and masks are like superhero shields that keep bad, invisible germs away.

Have Your Kids Decorate Their Masks

A personal touch always helps a child feel better or more confident. Let them take a little ownership of the masks and it may help them get more comfortable wearing them. Depending on the material, you can let your kids paint the masks, draw on them with markers, or place stickers on them.

Model Good Mask-Wearing Behavior

Kids often learn by example, and they are more likely to get excited about something if they see others doing the same thing. You can explain that you also wear a mask to keep yourself and your friends safe from germs. Kids, especially kids between the ages of four and eight, have a better understanding of caring for others. They want to do the right thing, and if they see your good mask-wearing habits, they’ll follow suit.

It will take time for children to become accustomed to facial coverings, and they may get upset or react negatively towards them at first. Accept this reaction and let them express themselves. They’ll eventually warm up to the new way of life.

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The post How To Talk To Kids About Wearing Masks appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Babies all around the world experience diaper rash. It’s nerve-wracking for parents and painful or irritating for the baby. As a parent, you don’t want to see your child in pain, so you try to remedy the rash with healing lotions and ointments. Since many of those lotions contain harmful chemicals, it is better to use natural ingredients to soothe irritation and get rid of the rash.

Understanding Why Diaper Rash Occurs

You have to understand the causes of diaper rash if you want to prevent it. The most common cause of diaper rash is the containment of moisture, warmth, and growth of organisms within the diaper. Candida or yeast, which is present in stool, is typically the growth. This is not always the cause of the rash, though. Some children have food sensitivities or allergies to certain materials. Chronic diaper rash, for instance, is most commonly attributed to a food allergen. Finding the allergen can take time, but there are ingredients that can remedy the situation in the meantime.

Beeswax For Diaper Rash

Beeswax has numerous benefits, one of the primary ones being that it nourishes the skin. Loaded with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and germicidal properties, beeswax can help fight diaper rash and soothe the skin. While there are dozens of lotions that contain beeswax, go straight to the source and incorporate it into a homemade salve.

Calendula For Diaper Rash

The recipe for this DIY diaper rash salve calls for infused calendula oil. Traditionally, calendula flowers have been used in herbal remedies for their medicinal properties. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties are especially beneficial for wounds, burns, rashes, infection, and inflammation. Research suggests that calendula is better for diaper rash than aloe vera gel, but some children may be more sensitive to it.

DIY Diaper Rash Salve

Ingredients For The Calendula Infused Oil:

• ½ cup dried calendula flowers
• 1 cup sweet almond oil

Ingredients For The Salve:

• 1 cup calendula infused oil
• ¼ cup beeswax
• 1 tablespoon marshmallow root
• 1 tablespoon chickweed
• 1 tablespoon comfrey rot
• 1 teaspoon barberry root powder

Instructions For The Calendula Infused Oil:

• Add the calendula flowers and sweet almond oil to a pint-sized mason jar.
• Make sure that the flowers are completely submerged in the oil.
• Cover the jar and allow it to sit in a sunny windowsill for one month.
• Strain the flowers and reserve the oil in a jar for your diaper salve.

Instructions For The Salve:

• Add the infused oil, marshmallow root, chickweed, comfrey root, and barberry root powder to a small saucepan over low heat. You do not want to cook the herbs, so make sure that it is very low heat.
• Let the herbs infuse for 10 minutes and then add the beeswax. Stir the beeswax occasionally until it is completely melted.
• Strain the herbs through a cheesecloth into a glass measuring cup with a pour spout.
• Quickly pour the mixture into jars or small tins for storage. Allow the mixture to harden in the tins before screwing the tops on. Store in a cool dry place and use as needed.

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The post Homemade Herbal Salve To Get Rid Of Diaper Rash appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.