As an Arab proverb says, it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Here is a set of candles for parents.
1. The umbilical cord
Keep a baby's cord stump clean and dry. Salt, oil, powder and antiseptic mixtures all help cause infection of the navel and problems we can do without. Follow your doctor's or midwife's advice on cleaning it.
2. No sugar water for newborns
Some families give a newborn sugar water. Start breast milk (or formula) straight away instead: a baby who gets used to the sweet taste may refuse breast milk, which is less sweet.
3. No cow's milk before one year
Never give cow's milk as a drink to a baby before their first birthday: it causes many problems in infants.
4. Fever
When a child has a fever, many parents call the doctor to the house, afraid that going outside will give the child a chill. In fact a feverish child can safely be taken out to the doctor. Don't pile blankets on them: light clothes, a cool room and fever medicine in the right dose help. Don't use cold water, which can make a child shiver.
5. Medicine is not sweets
Some parents coax a child to take medicine by calling it juice or sweets. The child believes it, may later sneak the medicine and drink it, and can be seriously poisoned. Tell your child: "This is medicine, and only someone who is ill takes it", and keep all medicines out of children's reach.
6. Chickenpox and mumps
Chickenpox and mumps are milder in children than in adults, which is why families used to let children catch them early. Today there are vaccines for both, which are a much safer way to protect your child. Ask your doctor.
7. Teething
Some parents believe teething causes fever, diarrhoea, cough and other symptoms, and many children have suffered because of this way of thinking. Teething causes no more than extra drooling, putting things in the mouth and biting on them, and a temperature no higher than 38 °C. The teeth are innocent of any other symptom.
Diarrhoea during teething happens because the gums itch, so the child puts anything in their mouth, such as their hand. If it isn't clean, it can cause a gut infection, and the teeth get the blame.
8. Baby teeth matter
Some parents neglect their children's baby teeth because they are temporary. But neglected baby teeth fall out too early, so the permanent teeth come through too early as well, which can make them weak and less likely to last a lifetime. Look after baby teeth as carefully as permanent ones.
9. Don't force food
Some parents use unhealthy ways to get their children to eat, with promises ("eat a lot so you grow big and strong") or threats ("eat a lot or you'll get ill"). Over time the child comes to believe it, which leads to overeating, obesity and the diseases that come with it. Let children eat according to their own needs, which they know best. We should only decide what they eat, not how much.
10. Obesity in children
Obesity in children is very serious and may be harder to reverse than in adults. Childhood obesity increases the number of fat cells, and that number doesn't go down with dieting, while obesity in adults mostly increases the size of fat cells, which can shrink. So parents shouldn't be pleased that their child is fat: a sound mind lives in a healthy body, not a fat one.
11. Lazy eye
This candle is important and could save someone from disaster. A child may have a lazy eye, which can be corrected if found early, ideally before the age of six. To check, cover each of the child's eyes in turn and hand them something. If they take it easily, all is well; if not, see an eye doctor. After this age the damage may become permanent, and losing the good eye would then be a disaster. Remember: if you want to know how precious your sight is, close your eyes.
12. Don't compare
Many parents compare their child with another child of the same age and decide their own is not growing well. This is a big mistake that causes the child and parents needless worry. There are internationally recognised growth charts for height and weight: if a child's height and weight fit the charts, the child is normal, whatever the comparison.
13. Poisons in drink bottles
Never put poisonous substances in containers that held food or drink. Many cases of poisoning with paraffin and other petroleum products happened because they were kept in mineral water bottles.
May God keep all children safe.
By Dr Yassin Mohammad Bilal
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