Not sure? Let’s find out!

Hello mommies and daddies. Today I will be taking up an important question which bothers a lot of parents. Especially those whose children are fussy eaters. They really worry about their child’s growth due to their fussy eating habits. And in the hope to support their optimal development they sometimes offer them health supplements like Pediasure. But does PediaSure help growth in fussy eaters?

I know some of you will jump up and say, ‘Yes, it does!’ Well, that’s great. 

But what about others? What stops them in believing that? It’s definitely the lack of knowledge and the right information. Or maybe they are not in that category of parents with fussy eaters. Well, a few years ago, I was in the former category struggling to understand how PediaSure helps growth.

Nemit is not a fussy eater by habit. But his cold and cough episodes would turn him into a picky eater for that duration. It didn’t bother me much since that used to happen once in a while.

Everything was fine until he started his preschool when his immunity got compromised and such episodes got intensified. And each episode would last for 12-14 days. We were really worried since every time Nemit catches a cold, he stops eating or demands comfort food. And, he was losing weight as well.

Some of our well-wishers suggested allowing him to eat whatever he likes even if that means giving him unhealthy comfort food. Luckily, before taking their advice we met our pediatrician to ask her opinion.

Of course, a doctor is always a better choice for health-related advice rather than a bunch of experienced family members. But to our surprise, she at that time recommended PediaSure once a day for 3 months.

Obviously, I was doubtful and she sensed it. But what she explained changed my whole perspective towards PediaSure as a health drink and nutrition supplement.

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How does PediaSure help your child grow right?

She started by explaining the importance of nutrition during the initial years of a child’s life. If your child is getting a nutritious well-balanced diet and is gaining optimal height and weight then there’s nothing to worry about. But if your child shows a lack of interest in eating, falls sick often, and is not attaining optimal growth then it’s a matter of worry.

She further added that these initial years of a child’s life are the most crucial when the rapid growth and development takes place. PediaSure consists of 37 vital nutrients which helps them to grow right by supporting their brain development and immunity. She shared some of the links for reference which I’m adding at the end of the post.

Source – www.pediasure.in

So, when a child is a fussy eater or the period of fussiness overstays (like in our case), it may create a risk of nutrient deficiency. This, in turn, may lead to an impact in the future. To cover this gap, pediatricians all over the world recommend PediaSure. There are many studies which support that nutrient deficiency may lead to many serious complications in children at a later age.

Why take that risk when there’s a solution available? We can only help our kids develop good eating habits from an early age. But can’t force feed a child if he’s a fussy eater.

I realized giving PediaSure is a much more sensible choice rather than offering unhealthy comfort food to the child. Comfort food may fill their tummy but it can never fill the nutritional gap. 

References –

• https://nutrition.abbott/za/continuing-education/child-nutrition/toddler-picky-eating

• https://nutrition.abbott/za/continuing-education/child-nutrition/healthy-eating

• https://pediasure.in/about-pediasure/pediasure-formulation

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5118732/

All content here, including advice from the doctor, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek direct advice from your own doctor in case of any questions related to your health.

This is a sponsored post, however, all opinions are that of the author.

The post Does PediaSure help growth in fussy eaters? #GrowRight appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hi mommies, today I want to talk to you about child growth and development. Mothers have a really bad habit of always worrying about their child’s health & growth. When I was a kid, I used to get really angry with my mom for worrying about me unnecessarily. Her biggest concern has always been if I had eaten properly or not. That time it was hard for me to understand her concerns but now that I am a mother myself, I know how she felt. My child’s health is my top most priority and I try my best to make sure my child is ‘Growing Right‘. And, I’m sure it’s the same with you as well.

When I say grow right, I don’t just mean growing physically, that is, visible growth. But, it also means proper brain development. Somehow, we keep shifting our focus toward physical growth, especially in the case of infants & toddlers. Because if a child is gaining weight & height, we consider he/she is growing well. But that is not right, we need to ensure that our child is also achieving cognitive milestones.

Here are the 4 ways to ensure that your child is growing right, physically as well as mentally

During pregnancy, I read a lot of articles on child growth & development to prepare myself for the biggest responsibility of being a mother. I thought I had read it all and I was ready to take care of a new life. But I was wrong, I am learning something new every day. I’ve learned some of the most important lessons from my mommy friends. And, today I want to share my experience with you all.

• Food

We all know that food plays the most important role in a child’s growth and development. But only healthy, nutritious food and a balanced diet can help in proper bone growth. A balanced diet must contain carbohydrates, high-quality protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and fiber in the required amounts¹.

Young children don’t understand what’s nutritious and good for them, their fussy eating habits may lead to nutritional gaps which may affect their overall growth². And, that’s why I trust, Pediasure, a nutritional supplement prescribed by doctors all over the world. It is clinically proven to give visible growth in 90 days. Not just that, it also supports immunity and brain development.

• Play

Just like nutrition, physical activity is as important for the physical and mental growth of a child. And, being physically active requires energy which comes from the right blend of nutrients from food. So, the right balance of nutritious food plus physical activity ensures the right growth in young children. I would suggest limiting screen time and replacing that time with outdoor playtime for kids, it can work wonders for them.

• Stimulation

When it comes to a child’s brain development, stimulation plays the most important part. Just like physical activity is good for visible growth, stimulation activities are essential for optimal mental growth. Babies are born with a biological need and desire to learn. And, it’s up to us how we help them in their learning phase. Stimulation acts as food for mental growth.

• Environment

Another main aspect of growth and development that gets ignored easily is the right environment. It is every parent’s responsibility to provide a positive stimulatory & nurturing environment for their child.

A study by neuroscientist Audrey van der Meer shows that neurons in the brains of young children increase in both number & specialization when they are exposed to a positive and challenging environment³.

So, you see, it doesn’t take much to ensure our child’s optimal growth & development. Nutrition, physical & mental activities, and the right environment is the key to Grow Right.

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References:

1. https://pediasure.in/child-nutrition/child-growth-and-development
2. https://pediasure.in/about-pediasure/pediasure-overview
3. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170102143458.htm

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Hi guys, today I want to take up another important topic related to babies i.e Cognitive Milestones in Early Childhood. 

In simple words, cognitive development is the brain’s ability to act and think. And cognitive milestones help keep a check on baby’s brain and intellectual development.

Just like any other new mom, I was also obsessed with the term ‘milestones’, when Nemit was a little baby. I used to keep a check on his physical growth every month and sometimes even every week since babies grow really fast.

For the first 30 days after birth, my complete focus was only on his physical growth. At that time I was not aware that there are cognitive milestones as well. And came to know about their importance only at a later stage.

At around 2 months, when a baby smiles for the first time, it is a growth milestone. And around 3-4 months, when the baby responds to our facial expressions with a smile, it is a cognitive milestone.

Keeping a track of cognitive milestones is as important as other developmental milestones.

Many parents are not aware of the different categories of developmental milestones. These are basically a bundle of physical, cognitive, social, emotional and communication milestones. And each one of these plays an equally important role in a child’s overall growth and development.

Physical milestones involve the development of gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills such as rolling over, crawling, sitting, standing and fine motor skills like mastering pincer grip, drawing, writing, eating etc.

With cognitive milestones, the focus is more on thinking, learning, exploring and problem-solving skills.

There are many ways in which a mother can assist her baby in achieving cognitive milestones. And further helping in infant cognition.

One of the best ways is through nutrition!

Source – Gooey Brains

You will be amazed to know that a baby’s cognitive development starts from the time of conception. And that is why during pregnancy, mothers are advised to take proper care of their health and nutrition intake. DHA and Natural Vitamin E are the most important brain-building nutrients responsible for baby’s cognitive development.

Many studies and research conducted by Abbott, reinforce nutrition’s impact on cognition.

Only a mother can provide these essential nutrients to the baby during pregnancy and later through breastfeeding.

I always say that each baby is unique and they achieve their milestones at their own pace. However, this is also true that parents play an important role in their baby’s growth and development. Cognitive development is directly influenced by the quality of time parents spent with their babies. Cognition is the most important part of a child’s development as it lays the foundation for lifelong progress.

Another best way to help your baby achieve cognitive milestones is through stimulation!

Source – www.essentialbaby.com

It’s important that parents provide the right environment and stimulation activities right from the birth. There are many benefits of stimulation for the development of baby’s thinking and intelligence, auditory and visual senses and also helps in improving their social and emotional skills.

To know more about the age-appropriate (0-2 years) stimulation activities check out this post here!

A baby’s brain doubles in size in the first year. And by the age of two, the brain has up to twice as many nerve connections as it will have in adulthood.

Babies are way smarter than we think. For the first 2 years after birth, they use their senses to learn about the world around them. They are constantly learning, thinking and exploring their surroundings. And working towards developing remarkable intellectual skills.

Hence, it becomes crucial for parents to keep a watch on their cognitive milestones. And take immediate action if they notice any red flags. As early intervention always help!

Check out the below chart for an age-wise list of cognitive milestones 

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I hope you find this post informative and helpful. Do share your experience with me related to developmental milestones in the comment below. And don’t forget to share this post!

Reference:

http://static.abbottnutrition.com/cms-prod/anhi.org/img/Cheatham.pdf

http://www.abbott.in/live-healthy/thrive/infant/boost-your-babys-development.html

https://anhi.org/education/course-catalog/B880EF2D92BB48A1AE80277F1B36C0C4

https://www.nap.edu/resource/19401/ProfKnowCompFINAL.pdf

https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2012/05/21/Abbott-Nutrition-Cognition-research-is-one-of-our-top-global-priorities

‘I am taking my Alexa rank to the next level with Blogchatter’

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Screen Time – Educational or Distracting?

Updated on Dec’19: This is one of the most loved posts from the time when I’d just started blogging. Just like any other first-time new parent we had no idea about the ill effects of screen time. Or you may say we didn’t know whether it helps or hampers the child’s growth.

It was Nemit’s vaccination at 15 months when we met his pediatrician after a gap of 3 months. While asking some general questions about his health, she asked us how many words does he speak and how much screen time we are offering him.

Well, we were happily showing him 1-2 hrs of daily rhymes thinking that he is learning something good while watching TV. And I was using that time for myself. But I simply failed to observe that he was not learning any words from those songs. He would be glued at one place for 2 hrs, eyes on the screen with a blank expression on his face.

According to the doctor, at around 15 months he should be speaking at least 7-8 meaningful words and that list should keep expanding with each month. Now, this was alarming for us because Nemit was hardly speaking any words except for Mumma & Papa.

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“It is recommended to avoid any screen media (TV, mobile phones, tablets, computers) for babies 0 to 18 months old” – WHO

She explained to us that the human brain is the least developed of our organ systems at birth. Most of its development occurs in the first two years of life. Neurologists have identified three types of stimuli that helps in brain growth.

(1) Babies need interaction with parents and other humans.

(2) They need to manipulate their environment (to touch things, to feel and move them).

(3) They need to do “problem-solving” activities.

Of these three critical forms of interaction, television provides none.

Our doctor then advised us to reduce his screen time gradually & bring it to zero in 10-15 days. Now, this was a BIG TASK for me. Because hey, I needed a break too & I had no help at home.

But being a mother, I know there is nothing which we can’t do for our little ones. We can fight the greatest battles for the well-being of our kids. Hence I took this challenge to see if it actually works or not. And alongside I started doing my research on screen time.

And I found out that there was already a lot of debate going on this topic.

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Is staying away from screen really the best approach?

There is research that shows when parents make screen use an interactive, shared experience, it can become a tool for learning and the potential negative effects can be reduced.

But moderation is the key. Let us understand a bit about Screen time.

There is Passive Screen Time which is like watching cartoons or rhymes or movies. Kids’ TV has become little more than a tool for keeping children from tearing up the living room.

And then there is Active Screen Time which is like communicating via Skype or playing an interactive game but it should not take the place of activities and games that should happen in the real world of a child.

We can move from a “no screen time” recommendation to “mindful screen time” in today’s media-manic world

But How?

Simply by following the 3C’s mantra- the Content, the Context, and the Child.

• This means being choosy about the type of content (apps, games, TV shows) you let your child see, such as electronic picture books, interactive apps or personal videos of family.
• Be aware of the context as to how their usage may be affecting other interests or activities, such as outdoor play.
• And be alert to the needs of the child as an individual: A child will react in unique ways to what he or she sees and plays with.

In comparison to the high stimulation that media screen offers, real-life can seem slow and children can respond to it with boredom and inattentiveness.

Eliminating screen time is a choice for engagement over stimulation and activity over passivity. The choice is ours.

As per my experience, achieving zero screen time is possible but if you can’t do that try interactive screen time. I tried to involve Nemit in fun and interactive stimulation activities using the DIY approach.

Here is a list of 30 age-wise Stimulation Activities which you can do with your baby – 30 Stimulation Activities

After 3 months –

It’s been 3 months after that visit to the doctor and since then we are following ‘zero screen time’. Within a month Nemit started speaking 5 new words, there is an improvement in his understanding of things, he happily copies the actions we do while singing rhymes.

I believe it’s not just the baby who is growing it is also ‘the parents’ who are growing & learning with them each day.

This post was first published on Babychakra. To read this article, Click here!

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