Category Archives: Lifestyle

Health Habits Parents Need To Start With Early

Every one of us has some bad habits that we would rather not. In fact, you may have experienced how difficult those habits can be to get away from and this can be the case because they have been ingrained in us since childhood. Rather than letting your kids pick up bad habits that they would rather get rid of, here are a few healthier habits that you can ingrain into them while they’re still young.

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Get up and get moving

Exercise is one of the most difficult habits for even adults to pick up, themselves when they’re not accustomed to it. Getting the motivation and getting used to being more active can be quite the hurdle. Your kids are likely to already be quite active, with playtime doing a lot to keep them moving for the first few years. However, as they get older, if they’re not getting into sports teams, then it’s a good idea to find ways to be active together. Whether it’s with bike rides, walks, or anything else, your kids are a lot more to keep up if you’re there taking part with them.

Taking care of their teeth

The impact that dental neglect can have on a child’s self-esteem and confidence in the future can be devastating. Your child isn’t to blame if this happens, it’s usually due to a poor enforcement of dental hygiene habits as a child. Make sure that you visit the dentist with them early and often, taking care of their teeth and getting all of the oral care advice that you need. If they get into the routine of brushing, and then later flossing and rinsing once they have their adult teeth, it’s not a habit that they’re likely to lose as they get older. If they don’t get that habit early, they might not get it at all.

Making good eating choices

A lot of parents feed their kids all manner of unhealthy snacks, like candy, soda, chips, and more, that are going to do very little to give their body the nutrients it needs. It’s easy to use snacks as a reward or a way to placate them. However, these can soon become everyday parts of their lifestyle. You should start making efforts to direct the family’s diet in a healthier direction. Employ some helpful tricks such as offering choices of healthy foods and finding vegetable alternatives to ensure they’re eating better.

Recognizing risks

Children do not have the same sense of risk or danger that adults have. In a lot of cases, they may not truly get the consequences of certain health risks until they experience them. However, while trying not to give them a fearful disposition, you should try to teach them to recognize and avoid potentially harmful things. There are plenty of good kids’ books about these.

If you can turn good health practices into learned behaviors for your kids, they’re a lot more likely to stick with them as they go through life. Keep that in mind with the tips above.

How Runners Can Better Care For Their Feet

If you want to keep healthy, then you will be fully aware that it’s important to exercise. Of course, it’s not always easy to get as much as you should, but there are nonetheless a number of ways you can do this more effectively. One of the simplest and easiest is to just go running on a regular basis. But if you are going to do that, you will need to take care of your body, and in particular your feet. There are a few things you should bear in mind on that front, which we are going to look into right now.

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Listen To Pain

Your running shouldn’t ever cause you actual pain, only discomfort. So if you notice that you are experiencing pain in your feet while running, you should really make sure to listen to that pain rather than ignore it. In other words, you should stop running as soon as possible and attend to the issue. It might be that you have something as simple as an ingrown toenail – and if so, the ingrown toenails treatment you need is simple enough – or you might have a sprained ankle or something. In any case, don’t ignore it.

Warm-Up & Cool Down

You need to make sure you are warming up and cooling down before and after every workout. That is a really vital thing to do, and it’s the kind of thing you notice the difference once you stop doing it. If you are keen to take good care of your feet, this is going to be absolutely essential. All you need to do is stretch and get the body to a good level of limber, and then you can run with ease and without fear of harming yourself, including your feet most importantly of all.

Use Proper Footwear

Another thing you can do which will make a huge difference is to make sure that you use the proper footwear that you need. This is going to save your feet more than you might think, so it’s one of those things that are really worth trying to remember. This means using trainers or runners, some kind of footwear that is going to protect your feet and ensure that you are less likely to damage them in any way. If you do that, you are going to be in a much better place with regard to your feet when you run.

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Allow Space
Speaking of shoes, you should generally follow the rule of thumb of always going half a size above what you think you need, because that is going to mean that you are much more likely to remain comfortable and less likely to damage your feet in any way. This is a really good rule that is worth remembering, and you’ll be amazed at what a difference it can truly make if you do this. So that is something that you might want to think about if you are keen to care for your feet more effectively while running.

Basic Preventive Home Care Steps for Toddlers

Since we all know that preventive care is better than cure, it’s important to start early with our toddlers and teach some basic preventative home care steps right from the beginning. This blog post will discuss some easy-to-follow tips that can help keep your toddler healthy and safe at home. So without further ado, let’s get started!

1) Basic hygiene:

Teach your toddlers to practice basic hygiene, such as washing their hands after every diaper change, before eating and after playing outdoors. Please encourage them to use soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds and also make sure that they dry their hands with a clean towel or paper towel. Furthermore, it is also important to ensure that your toddler does not put anything in their mouth, such as toys or objects that might have been contaminated.

2) Proper nutrition:

Provide a balanced and nutritious meal for your toddlers at regular intervals. Make sure that their meals are nutrient-rich with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also, remember to include dairy products, proteins, grains and healthy fats in their diet according to the recommended dietary guidelines for children.

3) Exercise:

Exercise is an essential part of preventive home care for toddlers. Please encourage them to be physically active by engaging in fun activities like running, jumping, and playing outdoors. Make sure that they get at least one hour of physical activity daily, such as walking, biking or swimming. Limiting children’s time on electronic devices, including television and phones, is also important.

To encourage healthy eating habits, you can involve your toddler in cooking meals and grocery shopping trips with you. Furthermore, make sure that your child gets enough sleep (11-14 hours a day, depending on age) to ensure their physical development and cognitive functioning remain intact.

Mom holding toddler's hand on playground, playing, outside, kids, parenthood

Via Pexels

4) Vaccinations:

Vaccinations play a crucial role in preventive home care for toddlers. All recommended vaccines must be given to your child on time and according to the pediatrician’s advice, as this will help protect them from dangerous diseases. Vaccinating your toddler early can provide immunity from severe infections like measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, etc., and significantly reduce the risk of developing long-term health complications. Make sure that you adhere to all instructions provided by the doctor while giving these vaccinations and examine any potential side effects or reactions that may occur post-vaccination.

5) Clean surroundings:

Maintaining a clean environment at home is an essential part of primary preventive home care for toddlers. Ensure that your toddler’s living space has minimal clutter to reduce the chances of infection and allergies. Regularly vacuum, dust and mop floors, carpets, furniture and other surfaces in your home.

Additionally, bathroom areas should be kept clean with disinfectants to minimise any potential risks from bacteria and germs. Avoid leaving toys or objects lying around the house, which can cause trips or falls. Lastly, ensure that all windows are tightly closed to keep away insects and pests from entering your home.

6) Necessity of visits to the dentist:

Visiting the dentist regularly is a major part of preventive home care for toddlers. Regular checkups help detect and prevent potential issues arising from poor oral hygiene. It also helps to establish healthy dental habits and teach toddlers about proper brushing techniques, proper diet for teeth and gums, limiting sugary foods, etc.

Furthermore, visiting the dentist regularly will also ensure that your toddler does not suffer from cavities, gum diseases or any other periodontal issues due to inadequate dental care. This can help avoid costly treatments and maintain good overall health in the long run.

7) Mental health and emotional wellness:

In order to ensure optimal mental and emotional well-being, it is important to be attentive to your toddler’s needs. Show them kindness and compassion and engage in activities that make them feel loved. Spend quality time with them daily by reading stories, playing games or doing crafts together — this will help foster their creativity and boost their self-confidence.

In addition, try to create an environment of support for your toddler where they feel safe expressing their feelings without feeling judged or criticised. This will help them develop a positive outlook towards life which can go a long way in maintaining good mental health.

In conclusion, providing the proper preventive home care for toddlers is essential to ensure their physical and mental well-being. From providing a clean and safe environment to ensuring that they get enough sleep, eat healthy food, exercise regularly and receive all recommended vaccines on time, these are just some ways you can provide your toddler primary preventive home care. However, it is also important to remember that creating an atmosphere of trust and love is the most important factor in providing good preventive home care for toddlers, so make sure you nurture this bond with your child too!