Health - Parenting Hub

Expert Advice from Bonitas Medical Fund

Bonitas Talks Babies

When do advise your medical aid that you are pregnant? If you are a prospective member, you need to do so upon application or within 30 days after the completion of your application. If you are already a member with no waiting periods, you can access the out-of-hospital maternity benefits without advising the medical aid that you are pregnant. However, you need to obtain pre-authorisation for the delivery of the baby, which can be done from 20 weeks onwards. Are there waiting periods? Waiting periods may apply to members who join a medical aid while already pregnant. If you join while you are pregnant the pregnancy will not be covered. When do you advise the medical aid that the baby is born and needs to be added onto your medical aid The baby needs to be registered within 30 days from the date of birth to ensure there is no break in cover and your child will be covered from the first day of life. Are there any things you need to know or be cautious about when pregnant regarding medical aid so that you do not find yourself out of pocket We advise members to use doctors and hospitals on the network to avoid out of pocket payments. Bonitas offers a wide range of maternity benefits which includes cover for consultations, amniocentesis and scans as well. These benefits are in addition to savings to give members more value for money. Bonitas advises that any false information or non-disclosure of any material information provided upon application will result in the membership being declared null and void. In addition Bonitas Medical Fund offers Babyline – a dedicated children’s health advice line In 2016, Bonitas introduced Babyline – a 24-hour children’s health advice line manned by paediatric trained registered nurses. They are on the other side of the phone to assist with any parental concerns, or health related issues, 24/7, 365 days of the year. How does it work? Bonitas parents, or their caregivers, simply call the Babyline number on 0860 999 121 to reach a paediatric trained nurse. Through a series of questions asked regarding the health issue, parents will be provided with professional advice on what to do next. Depending on the symptoms, the advice might be to head straight to the ER or to see a doctor or specialist. The nurse will advise which healthcare provider is the most appropriate, given the health issue. The services offered by the Babyline include: Home care advice Clinic/primary care/GP referral for the same day Clinic/primary care/GP referral for the following day After-hours care within the next six hours Immediate referral to the ER The Babyline service is available to members across all the Bonitas plans, for children under 3 years. Sharing our content with parents you know will go a long way to making us smile for the day

January 17, 2018

Medical Aid Made Easy

Access to good healthcare remains a concern for most South Africans and choosing a medical aid to suit your financial status and needs, can be very confusing. Not surprising considering that, according to the Council of Medical Schemes, there are 83 medical aids operating in South Africa. Added to the mix is the recent announcement by the Minister of Health of the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. With all the options offered by medical schemes, which include everything from comprehensive cover to a simple hospital plan, how do you make a choice? Gerhard Van Emmenis, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, provides some pointers to help make the decision easier. He cautions, however, that due diligence and some homework is required ahead of making a final decision. Your needs The most important factor is to know what you and your family need in terms of cover and what suits you best: Reflect on your family’s health history to gauge the number of visits you make to the doctor and the cost of medication Whether anyone has a chronic condition or needs to see a specialist How much you spent – or need to spend – on dental or eye care If you already have a medical plan check what was covered, how much your co-payments (if any) were and whether your savings for the year were adequate. Your budget Once you have an idea of what you might need for the year ahead in terms of healthcare, then it’s time to look at your budget. What can you comfortably afford to spend to get the medical cover you need? (The rule of thumb is contributions should not exceed 10% of your monthly income). ‘Once you have these two scenarios then it’s time to compare the various plans and see which best matches your needs and budget,’ says Van Emmenis. The benefits Benefits vary from plan to plan so check what is covered by the one you are considering and look at whether it offers supplementary benefits which can potentially save significant day-to-date expenses. These could include anything from wellness screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI measurements) through to maternity benefits, flu vaccinations, mammograms, pap smears and HIV tests. All of these are costly if you have to pay for them yourself. In terms of the Medical Schemes Act, there are 26 common chronic illnesses, known as Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs), which all options on all schemes are required to cover for medication and treatment. What are savings? One of the most misunderstood elements of medical plans is how the day-to-day benefits work. ‘Medical savings are a fixed amount that the medical scheme gives you at the beginning of the year,’ explains Van Emmenis. ‘You can use your savings for daily out-of-hospital medical expenses, such as GP and specialist consultations and over the counter medicine. It is imperative that members use their savings and day-to-day benefits wisely to get maximum value for money.’ How can to make the most of savings? Always use partner networks Medical schemes negotiate preferential rates with these partners. This means if you use a network hospital, doctor or pharmacy you will not be charged more than the rate agreed with the scheme. This will also help you to avoid co-payments, deductibles and additional out-of-pocket expenses. Find a GP on your medical aid’s network Using network doctors is an invaluable tool to make your medical aid last longer. It means that doctors can’t charge you more than a specific amount. At present, Bonitas Medical Fund has the largest network of GPs in South Africa – with over 5 500 doctors. Register all chronic diseases If you’re on regular medication to treat a chronic illness (such as Diabetes, hypertension or hypothyroidism) you could qualify for chronic medication benefits. This means that your medical scheme pays for it out of the risk portion of your medical aid and not your medical savings account. All you need to do is register your condition as chronic. Make use of preferred providers Medical schemes often have providers that are contracted to them. Members are then given better rates for specific benefits. For example, Bonitas has contracted the services of DENIS for dental benefits. Use formulary meds All medical schemes have a list of medication they cover called a formulary. Another way to avoid co-payments and out-of-pocket expenses is to ensure your doctor treats you with medication listed on your plans specific formulary. Where applicable, you can also use a Designated Service Provider to obtain your medicine and stretch your benefits even further. Managed care benefits Some schemes offer preventative care benefits, which are paid from the risk portion of your medical scheme and are not funded from your savings account. This includes Oncology, HIV and Diabetes management programmes. Ask your pharmacist Pharmacists too can provide sound medical advice on problems such as rashes, colds or illnesses that are not severe. Buy over-the-counter medicine to treat less serious ailments and consider using generic medicine which is cheaper but effective. What is Gap Cover? Gap cover is an insurance policy you can take out to help pay for the shortfall between what your medical scheme pays and what the hospital or specialist might charge. The amount paid out depends on your policy but most people usually combine Gap Cover with a hospital plan. It is important that note that Gap Cover is not offered by medical schemes and is a separate health insurance product. As of 1 April this year, the same requirements for a medical scheme have been introduced including a waiting period of between 3 and 12 months for certain conditions and payout limit of R150 000 a year for each person. And a hospital plan? This provides you with basic, yet important medical cover and essentially covers all your required in-hospital procedures and check-ups, including the 27 chronic conditions (or PMBs). However, a hospital plan does not provide cover for day-to-day doctors’ visits, prescribed medications, chronic medication

October 13, 2017

Introducing BabyLine

Parenting is a joy but it can also be overwhelming and just a little daunting. There is no degree or diploma, you are simply launched into it and there’s a steep learning curve. You instantly have a new life depending on you and, combined with sleep deprivation, the challenges of adjusting to being a parent and wanting to do the best for your child, you need all the help you can get. Bonitas Medical Fund is doing just that with the launch of the first dedicated toddler’s health advice line, called Babyline, to its members. Here help is at hand, from professionals, as you take the necessary baby steps along the path of looking after the health of your toddler, up to the age of three. Essentially Babyline is a 24-hour children’s health advice line manned by paediatric trained registered nurses. They are on the other side of the phone to assist with any parental concerns, or health related issues, 24/7, 365 days of the year. ‘Parents are often confronted with a host of children’s health issues, particularly in the first three years. In an effort to help educate and support Bonitas moms and dads and to ensure their medical aid benefits last longer, we have partnered with Paed IQ’s babyline service,’ explains Bonitas Medical Fund. ‘The service was developed in conjunction with the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Pretoria and is based on a concept used by the top providers of child health advice in the USA.’ ‘The system of telephone advice, guarantees members instant and real time access to pre-eminent, professional advice and standardised paediatric protocols,’ explains Dr Iqbal Karbanee of Babyline. ‘Our aim is to give parents the best possible resources to help them maintain and improve the health of their child. It’s about giving anxious parents peace of mind when it comes to an urgent health concern and, hopefully, will also alleviate unnecessary trips to doctors or hospitals.’ How does it work? Bonitas parents, or their caregivers, simply call the Babyline number on 0860 999 121 to reach a paediatric trained nurse. Through a series of questions asked regarding the health issue, parents will be provided with professional advice on what to do next. Depending on the symptoms, the advice might be to head straight to the ER or to see a doctor or specialist. The nurse will advise which healthcare provider is the most appropriate, given the health issue. The services offered by the Babyline include: Home care advice Clinic/primary care/GP referral for the same day Clinic/primary care/GP referral for the following day After-hours care within the next six hours Immediate referral to the ER The Babyline service is available to members across all the Bonitas plans, for children under 3 years. ‘We do have to stress that although the Babyline is designed to assist parents with health concerns, nurses do not provide diagnosis or prescriptions. They are on call to offer advice on how best to deal with the current health problem or refer you to the nearest healthcare facility,’ concluded Bonitas Medical Fund.

February 15, 2017

Get bang for your buck

Most medical aids have launched their benefits and premium contributions for 2017 and, as in the past, the increases passed on to members are double figures, which outstrip inflation. Bear in mind that your actual increase may be somewhat different because often these are weighted, vary from option to option or even from dependant to dependant. The medical aid landscape can be tricky to navigate. So now, more than ever, is the time to learn how to ‘box smart’ to ensure that you maximise the value you derive from your medical scheme benefits. Dr Bobby Ramasia, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, provides some insight into maximising the benefits on your chosen medical aid. Understand your benefits Take the time to read the information sent to you by the scheme and/or your broker. If you have access to information sessions at your place of work, or have a consultant who visits your workplace, attend the sessions to get a better understanding. Getting the best out of your hospital cover: If your scheme has appointed a Designated Service Provider (DSP) network for hospitals, you will usually pay a lower monthly contribution in exchange for using a hospital from this network for planned procedures. In the same manner, if your scheme has an arrangement in place for doctors and specialists, there will usually be an incentive (full cover by the scheme) for using ‘these’ providers. The penalty for using providers not contracted with the scheme is usually the payment of shortfalls or co-payments. For planned procedures, it’s also worth checking with your scheme if you will obtain better cover by using contracted providers or having the procedure performed in the doctor’s rooms or day clinic, where possible If you are going to be admitted to hospital for a planned procedure, always check with your scheme, at authorisation stage, if there are any co-payments or sub-limits that will apply. An example here is for joint replacements, where most schemes have specified sub-limits if you do not use their DSP. Chronic Illness Benefits: In terms of the Medical Schemes Act, there are 26 common chronic illnesses which all options on all schemes are required to cover for medication and treatment. However, here too, schemes have the ability to apply measures designed to contain costs. Almost all options on all medical schemes apply a medicine formulary. This is a list of drugs which the scheme will cover in full. If you use medication that is not on the scheme’s formulary, you will be liable for the difference in cost. So it is best to discuss the formulary medication with your doctor to see if this is appropriate for you The schemes can also specify that you obtain your medication from DSP pharmacies. Check to see if you are able to use the scheme’s DSP – if there are none close to you, most schemes also designate a courier pharmacy which will deliver the medication to you at a preferred address. So, the golden rule for chronic illness benefits is to try to utilise the medication on your scheme’s formulary and to obtain this from a specified pharmacy. Many medical schemes also cover additional chronic illnesses – although this is usually from the more expensive options. If your particular condition is not covered on your current option it is worth further investigation. It’s important to understand that this cover is at the scheme’s discretion and the additional conditions covered vary from scheme to scheme. Know your rights! In terms of a High Court ruling, Medical Schemes are obliged to meet the cost of in-hospital Prescribed Minimum Benefit procedures at cost, in full. Make sure you know what ‘in full’ means – so you don’t get any surprises. So if you have been admitted to hospital check with your doctor if it’s for one of these procedures. If so, as a general rule, you shouldn’t be saddled with any shortfalls – so ask for your broker/consultant’s assistance if you are! Why you might have co-payments A medical aid co-payment is a fee that the member is liable for when making use of certain medical services. The medical aid would not cover 100% of the costs and the member would have to pay for a certain percentage of the medical service before the medical aid pays their portion. These co-payments usually apply to specialist or elective medical procedures. This will differ from one medical aid scheme to another. It is one of the reasons why you should always do thorough research before deciding which medical aid scheme is the best option for you. The ideal option would, of course, be the one that does not require many or any co-payments from the member. If your benefits and/or savings were exhausted before the end of the year and you had to pay out-of-pocket for some medical expenses; it might save you money to upgrade to a richer plan with more benefits, albeit at a higher contribution amount. Conversely, if you are young, healthy and generally did not utilise your benefits and/or savings, it may be prudent to downgrade to a cheaper medical aid option Talk to your providers! Talk to your doctor/specialist before being admitted to hospital for a planned procedure. Check what they are going to be charging and what your scheme will cover. If there is a large difference don’t be afraid to approach your doctor to see if they are prepared to adjust their fee, especially if you could afford to pay upfront.

January 16, 2017

Choosing Medical Aid

Most medical schemes have launched their benefits and contributions for 2017 and it is the time when you should be re-looking at your existing medical aid cover or, if you are wanting to join a scheme, investigating which one suits you best. The medical aid landscape can be tricky to navigate so it is important to compare options and schemes to ensure you find a medical aid that works for you and your family’s health and is within your budget. Dr Bobby Ramasia, Principal Executive Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, helps guide you through choosing the best plan, whether it’s through the open market or through an employer. If you are already on a medical aid scheme Before you choose the best medical aid option, you need an idea of what your typical health care costs are. You should also consider the following for you and your dependants over the past twelve months: How much you spent on day-to-day healthcare expenses Where you or any of your dependants admitted to hospital Did you need to visit a specialist regularly How much often do you or your dependants visit a GP Do you and your dependants have any chronic conditions How much do you spend on dentistry, optometry and over-the-counter medicine Did you exhaust your day-to-day benefits and/or savings this year How much did you pay in co-payments and/or deductibles Then consider which of the expenses listed above were once-off and won’t come up again soon (like childbirth) and which are likely to come up again and again (such as flu). You should be able to find a list of your medical claims on your current medical aid’s website. The day-to-day detail: Often the cost containment measures medical schemes apply for the day-to-day benefits are broad. So investigate, or bear in mind, the following: Does your medical aid contract with doctors and specialists and, if so, are you willing to use them? Using contracted or network doctors usually means obtaining full or improved cover levels, while using doctors outside of the network usually results in restricted benefits or co-payments. It also helps ensure you are getting more value for money as doctors on your medical scheme’s network will not charge you more than the rate agreed with your medical scheme. Must you be referred to a specialist by your GP? Does your medical aid offer additional GP consultations, which they will pay for, after you have exhausted your day-to-day benefits? Does your medical scheme offer any additional benefits such as maternity, preventative care or wellness benefits that are paid from risk and not savings or day-to-day benefits? You can also follow these tips to get more value for money: Use generic medication wherever possible – get into the habit of asking your doctor and pharmacist about this Try to keep your claims within any specified sub-limits, e.g. optometry Find out if your option has any day-to-day benefits that are paid by the scheme from risk (not from your day-to-day sub-limits or savings). Two examples where this sometimes applies are dentistry and optometry. Additional benefits: Ask what supplementary benefits might be available to you that can potentially save significant day-to-day expenses. These could include the following; Preventative care benefits, ranging from basic screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index measurements) through to mammograms, pap smears, prostrate testing. In some cases this extends to maternity programs, dental check-ups, flu vaccinations and more. These usually require authorisation from the scheme, failing which they are simply met from your day-to-day benefit limits. A mammogram costs in the region of R900, so don’t look a gift horse in the mouth! Age impacts your decision If you have young children, ensure that the medical aid option you select provides sufficient child illness benefits. For young couples looking to start a family, check that your option provides sufficient cover for maternity benefits. However, if you are slightly older then ensure that the option you select covers chronic conditions and provides sufficient in-hospital cover in the event of hospitalisation. Ensure the affordability of the medical aid plan selected. When comparing the different medical aid options available, consider all the costs involved before you make your final decision, such as: The monthly contributions, as a rule of thumb, you medical aid contributions should not exceed 10%of your monthly income at an individual or household level Other costs associated with your medical aid option e.g. if your option only allows consultations with doctors on a network, then you must ensure that the cost of travel to a network doctor (including hospitals and other healthcare service providers) The cost of co-payments for various benefits claimed. A medical aid co-payment is a fee that the member is liable for when making use of certain medical services. The medical aid would not cover 100% of the costs and the member would have to pay for a certain percentage of the medical service before the medical aid pays their portion. These co-payments usually apply to specialist or elective medical procedures. This will differ from one medical aid scheme to another. It is one of the reasons why you should always do thorough research before deciding which medical aid scheme is the best option for you. The ideal option would of course be the one that does not require many or any co-payments from the member.

November 15, 2016

Hospital Plans

You know that sinking feeling when you go into hospital for a procedure believing you are covered? When it takes longer to recover from the shock of the bill than the actual surgery? Thousands of people who have health insurance are waking up to the fact that the term can be a classic contradiction. Far too many consumers are confused between the terms hospital plan and health insurance. This is not made any easier by the fact that health insurance is available in two forms – GAP Cover and hospital insurance. According to Dr Bobby Ramasia, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, the National Treasury has been approached to make amendments to the Demarcation Act in terms of medical aid schemes and medical insurance. Currently, medical aid schemes and the hospital plans they offer are not considered as insurance because medical schemes are non-profit, strictly controlled and regulated by the Council for Medical Schemes and the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998. However, medical insurance policies are ‘for profit’ companies. The recommended changes to policy will also address when insurance is paid out – the industry is pushing for this to come into effect from day one as opposed to a waiting period of a few days. Medical Aid Hospital Plans A hospital plan provides you with basic, yet important medical cover. They differ from scheme to scheme but in essence this plan – regulated by the Council for Medical Schemes – includes cover for all your required in-hospital procedures and check-ups. So when you are admitted into hospital for a procedure or due to an accident or illness, your expenses are covered – within the limits set by your particular plan. You are required to cover almost all of the other day-to-day out of hospital costs (such as visits to the doctor, specialists and medicine). The law also requires that medication for 27 chronic conditions – known as Prescribed Minimum Benefits or PMBs – must be covered by all medical plans, including hospital plans. These include: Addison’s disease Asthma Bronchiectasis Cardiac failure Cardiomyopathy Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder Chronic renal disease Coronary artery disease Crohn’s disease Diabetes insipidus Diabetes type 1 Diabetes type 2 Dysrhythmias Epilepsy Glaucoma Haemophilia Hyperlipidaemia Hypertension Hypothyroidism Multiple sclerosis Parkinson’s disease Rheumatoid arthritis Schizophrenia Systemic lupus erythematosus Ulcerative colitis Bipolar Mood Disorder However, at times there may be a shortfall between what the Plan pays and the actual tariffs charged by the hospital and specialists. You will be expected to make up the financial difference and this is where GAP Cover or a Hospital Insurance policy can help cover the shortfall. Health insurance The good cop GAP Cover as the name suggests, assists with additional insurance cover to help pay for the difference between specialist charges and the amount paid by the hospital plan. Again the amount of cover differs from policy to policy. Many consumers purchase GAP Cover in conjunction with a hospital plan to provide for additional cover, however it can only be used for specialist service costs and not general healthcare related costs. Bonitas says that the proposed amendments propose that GAP Cover includes any and all shortfall costs for health related services and products, ie, between the costs that medical schemes are obliged to cover and what is charged by the medical practitioner. GAP cover complements medical schemes – it has never been a problem as it covers the costs between medical scheme tariffs and benefit limits. It is legitimate and a good cover for shortfalls. The bad cop Hospital insurance is not a medical aid but rather provides you with cash benefits that are paid to you while you are in hospital due to illness, accidents or intensive care of convalescence. You are able to use the money however you please, to cover your medical expenses or daily household costs. In short, hospital insurance is: Governed by the Financial Services Act (Short-term Insurance Act) Does not cover Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) Can include Personal Accident risk cover such as disability and loss of limbs, inability to work, salary protection, death and/or funeral covers. Paid directly to the Insured Used in conjunction with Medical Aid Not tax deductible So why the bad cop? Firstly it is a set amount which might not cover your hospital or medical bills, leaving you financially short and, in many cases, it does not kick in until a waiting period of three to five days. You will be responsible for settling all your medical bills and although the thought of being paid R5 000 a day while you’re are in hospital sounds appealing, this usually falls way short of the actual costs charged by surgeons, anaesthetists and hospitals. Turning the bad cop good The new amendments propose introducing payment from day one rather than having a waiting period and, as with gap cover and hospital plans, hospital insurance will be far more regulated going forward to ensure the practical protection of a consumer’s medical needs. The best news though is that the guidelines are opening the door for collaboration between medical schemes and insurance providers to offer a broader product range. ‘We have seen a growth in health insurance products over the past few years,’ says Dr Ramasia. ‘This is mainly due to medical aid being prohibitive for low income earners. For those strapped for cash there are healthcare options though. We suggest you shop around for the best plan that covers your – and your family’s – healthcare needs and your pocket.’

September 22, 2016

Advice from the experts

Cultivating Healthy Relationships

Many of my clients ask me “How do other couples manage to have happy relationships?” thinking that they are the only ones in this world that are at loggerheads with their partner. My answer is simple: There is no such thing as the perfect person or perfect relationship. Rather, it’s how perfect can you be for each other and for the benefit of your relationship? Those couples that you think have it all together or have the fairytale relationship have learnt how to deal with the ups and downs, or what I call ‘speed bumps’, in a healthy constructive way. No two individuals are the same. We have different upbringings which influence and shape us into the person we become as an adult and determine the type of relationships we forge with others. This includes elements such as culture, spirituality, beliefs, emotional awareness, values and outlooks on life and more. Couples need to have real honest discussions up front at the beginning of their relationship in order to avoid surprises later. These discussions need to include topics such as: values, beliefs, spirituality, parenting, financial matters, household chores, career aspirations and life goals. This helps to manage the expectations we have from our partners in that they need to take care of our every need and desire and make us happy. They do not. Happiness comes from within. Yes we can help others grow and learn but ultimately we are responsible for our own happiness. If couples do not keep the connection going through communication, spending quality time together, establishing relationship boundaries, working towards common goals and having respect for each other and their relationship, over time there will be no relationship. Every couple experiences speed bumps, it’s normal as your relationship progresses through the different phases of the relationship cycle. As you settle into your relationship you both grow and evolve as individuals and so too does your relationship. Emotional intelligence is integral to having healthy relationships. Having the capacity to understand, manage and verbally express your feelings with your partner is invaluable and key to your relationship success. The good news is these skills can be learned, but if the person you’re with has no interest in developing their emotional intelligence, it will be a bumpy road. Society has stereotyped many of us in to not expressing (let alone acknowledge) our emotions. Particularly men and boys, they are taught to suppress and avoid feelings through labels such as ‘cowboys don’t cry’ and ‘men are supposed to be tough’. Often men withdraw because they are overwhelmed by emotions and don’t know how to talk about them or how to soothe themselves. They withdraw in order to get away from what they are experiencing and what they are feeling. It always amazes me how we are prepared to invest so much time, effort, energy and resources into areas of our lives such as the car we drive, the house we live in, our career and material assets. Yet we don’t think much further than our wedding day as to what it takes to sustain a relationship and only grudgingly invest when the divorce courts are looming…. So what are some of the ways that couples succeed at their relationships? They understand that communication is the key to a successful relationship They accept that relationships involve work and are prepared to do what it takes for the benefit of each other and their relationship They are willing to accept another person for who they are; their views and opinions even if they don’t agree with it They accept that some problems will never be resolved and would rather focus on the good stuff They’re willing to put someone else’s interests before their own and see a different perspective They’re willing to work through the challenges and find a win-win outcome They’re not looking for someone else to complete them, they are already comfortable with who they are as an individual They’ve realised that no one is perfect, not even them They are ready to be real and vulnerable with someone else They’re not prepared to quite or give up each time they hit a speed bump It’s the small steps you take each day that lead to your success in the long term. Everyone can have a happy relationship if they are prepared to do what it takes.

March 3, 2016

Who Can Discipline My Child?

The older our children get, the more they interact with the world at large. And the more they interact with other people out there, the more likely they are to run into other people’s rules and values. So is it ok for someone else to discipline your child? And what should you do if you don’t like how they do that? Well, whether your like it or not, other people are going to react when your children challenge their values or push buttons on their own unresolved stuff. This is neither good not bad – Children will learn that everyone has their limits and they will learn about the natural consequences of interaction with other human beings. Every household will have it’s own rules based on the values of the people living there. This is part of learning how to socialise – seeing that other people have different values and ways of being can help a child to broaden their horizons and see different perspectives. And the same goes for having other people’s kids over to your home – if someone else’s child seriously challenges your values or pushes your own unresolved buttons, you are likely to react whether you want to or not. And obviously if a child is harming you or your child you need to intervene. I think it is totally appropriate to discuss the ground rules of your home with a visiting child or his/her parents. This way everyone is clear from the outset of what is ok or not in your home. It may help to remember that with children under 10 it is most likely that their highest value is around play. Keep the kids busy with good games and suggest new ones when tensions rise or boredom sets in and they shouldn’t get up to too much nonsense! If you disagree with the rules laid out in someone else’s home or even at school, I would simply discuss this with your child as a way of pointing out that other people have different rules based on what is important to them and based on different situations. This is normal, and it does not mean that the same things will be allowed (or not allowed) at home. Obviously if someone handles discipline in a traumatic or degrading way, you will need to address this and/or keep your child away from these people in future. Handling this appropriately comes down to your confidence as a parent and as a human being. You need to learn to speak up for yourself and speak up for your kids. You have every right as a parent to be specific as to how you want your child to be treated. It may help to find out what triggered the discipline in the first place. If you can figure out what boundary was crossed or what value was challenged, you may be able to explain both to your child and the offending adult what just happened and how it can be avoided in future without the need for discipline. It is all about open and respectful communication. An adult who feels that they have been heard and understood is more likely to listen to your alternatives. The other place that you may need to address other people disciplining your kids is at home with your domestic helper, nanny or au pair. It is important to discuss with your nanny what you have decided as a family are the boundaries and allow her to follow through with this. The one thing I would add would be that the nanny should also have the right to her own boundaries and to be treated with respect. I have seen many children speaking abusively to a nanny with the parents watching on and not intervening. Children in these situations will learn to treat some people as less important than others and not to treat all people with respect simply by virtue of them being human. Your children do need to branch out from home and learn to cope in a world where you will not always be there to step in for them, and where the rules are not always going to be the ones that you have agreed upon as a family. This is an important part of their growth and socialisation, and unless it is abusive, it’s time for you to take a nice deep breath and let them go forth and learn!

March 3, 2016

My baby was born before her/his time…now what?

Its 6am, the electric breast pump is going in one hand and I’m sipping my tea using the other. I have had a baby, and the only thing I have to show for this is leaking ducts and a searing stomach cut. No baby cries coming from the room next door, no nosy family members dropping by to see the new baby. Nope my baby that I have come to know as little blob is lying in an incubator 20min drive from our home. Depending on your baby’s prematurity and birth weight, your baby will need to spend time in the NNICU (Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit). This is incredibly hard to endure, as a mother you have gone from carrying this little angel for months and now you have no choice but to leave them in an incubator. Going home is hard, seeing them is hard…but thankfully each day gets better. Different people cope in their own way. I just looked forward to receiving positive news at the beginning of each visit and just being able to wrap her hand around my finger was heaven. My husband on the other hand was all about the numbers and graphs. He had to measure each and every weight increase no matter how small. As annoying as this may seem, this was his coping mechanism. NNICU Equipment Here are a few descriptions on some of the monitors and equipment the NNICU staff may be using on your baby. (It is important to remember that not all premmies use all of this equipment, it all depends on their individual needs). Cardiac monitors: These use stickers on the chest connected to wires (called leads) that hook up to a monitor to make sure that baby’s heart is beating at the correct speed and with the correct rhythm. Respiratory monitors: Often part of the cardiac monitors, these use leads to monitor baby’s breathing rate and pattern. Peripheral IVs: These are the “regular” IVs that go into a vein for medications or fluids. Peripheral IVs may be in the feet, hands, arms, or scalps of premature babies. Although scalp IVs look scary to parents, they are very common in the NICU since premature babies don’t always have good veins for IVs in their hands and feet. PICC lines: Percutaneously inserted central catheters, or PICC lines for short, look like regular IVs. They have longer catheters, or tubes, than regular IVs, and travel through the vein into the large veins that empty into the heart. Insertion of these lines is one of the procedures NICU babies commonly undergo. Umbilical catheters: These are inserted into the umbilical cord stump and travel to the large veins and arteries near the heart. Umbilical lines may be inserted into an artery in the umbilical cord, a vein in the umbilical cord, or both, to allow fluid and medication administration, blood pressure monitoring, painless blood sampling, and other procedures. Nasal cannulas: A nasal cannula is a set of small nasal prongs may provide a higher concentration of oxygen than room air. They may also deliver room air at a higher flow, which helps to keep airways open and encourage babies to breathe on their own. CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, is a mask or a special set of nasal prongs placed firmly on baby’s nose to constantly blow air. The constant pressure encourages open airways and reminds babies to breathe, and higher concentrations of oxygen may be used. Ventilators: If a baby is put on a ventilator, then procedure called intubation will be used to place a special tube called an endotracheal tube in the airway through the mouth or nose. The ventilator, or respirator, is the machine that delivers breaths to babies who cannot breathe on their own or who don’t breathe well. ECMO: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a highly specialized procedure to oxygenate baby’s blood. ECMO is used only in very sick babies at highly advanced NICUs. With ECMO, the baby’s blood is pumped out of the body so that oxygen can be added and carbon dioxide removed. The blood is then returned to the body. Feeding tubes: A feeding tube travels from the mouth (orogastric- called OG) or from the nose (nasogastric- called NG) to the stomach. Infants who are too sick or weak to eat from the breast or from a bottle receive food through these tubes. Inserting the tubes and giving feedings through them are common procedures among premature babies. Incubators: Premature infants have trouble keeping themselves warm, so incubators are used to provide a warm place for baby to rest. Skin probes constantly measure the baby’s temperature, so he or she doesn’t get too warm or too cold. Phototherapy: Preemies are more likely to have problems from jaundice. Phototherapy lights, also called bili lights, are special lights that help the baby’s body break downbilirubin, the chemical that causes jaundice. It may be easy to feel useless when surrounded by all these machines. But don’t worry your baby needs you more than you think. Insist on doing Kangaroo Care as much as possible. Read to your little one. Hearing your heart beat and voice will relax your baby. (Remember your voice and heart beat was the one constant your baby will remember from being in the womb). Ask questions, stay informed. It is your right as a parent to know what’s going on. Good luck with your journey. Please take good care of yourself, and give yourself permission to make the very best of this brand new parenting experience. Support & Preparation Besides relying on support from those around you. Chubby Bunny is there to make the journey a little less stressful. Through education & support, Chubby Bunny’s main objective is to support families whose lives have been touched by prematurity. Chubby Bunny is the first company in South Africa to supply critical starter packs for premmies. We supply high quality goods ensuring the little miracle is well cared for, from organic skin care sensitive for their soft skin, petite clothing small enough to wrap around their tiny bodies, Premmie nappies, a Premmie Support Booklet equipped to help parents understand the NICU and how

February 25, 2016

Sugar Drinks at School, a Leading Cause of Obesity and Impaired Learning

With hundreds of thousands of learners back at school, parents are reminded to restock their fridges and pantries with foods and beverages that provide brain-boosting nutrients to help their children perform at their best. SA’s recently released National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) refers to the poor state of children’s school lunches in the country. Of particular concern is the high intake of sugary cool drinks – about 2 in 3 learners buy sugary drinks at least twice a week, with each soft drink containing up to 55g of sugar. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) that is 40g more sugar than the recommended maximum daily limit for children. Drinking too many sugary drinks is considered to be the leading cause of obesity in adolescents, especially among schoolboys. The study points out that the prevalence of obesity has doubled in teenage boys the past six years, making them more prone to chronic lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. According to nutritional experts, these beverages are loaded with empty calories and provide little or no essential nutrients. They are linked not only to weight gain but also to poor health and tooth decay in children. Nutritionists recommend water or herbal teas as a healthier alternative to fizzy drinks or sugar filled fruit juices, with Rooibos tea topping the list. Ernest du Toit, spokesperson of the SA Rooibos Council says Rooibos is as effective as water for hydrating the body and has additional health properties that water doesn’t have. “Rooibos is affordable, tasty and amazingly beneficial for children. It is rich in antioxidants which helps to protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals and can reduce the risk of a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Rooibos also prevents DNA damage, inflammation and is helpful in combating diabetes. “Added to this, Rooibos contains no caffeine, fats or carbohydrates, is a natural immune-booster and relieves allergy symptoms, which are common in children,” remarks du Toit. Sugary drinks have also been found to have an adverse effect on children’s brains. A study conducted by the University of California revealed that consuming excessive quantities of sugar-sweetened drinks can have a major impact on children’s brain function and impair their ability to concentrate and learn at school. In contrast, Rooibos tea will keep your child’s mind sharp since it shields the brain from stress and it protects against a process known as lipid peridoxation (whfree radicals damage brain cells and nerve tissues.) Du Toit adds that Rooibos is also incredibly nutrient-rich. “It is rich in Vitamin C, calcium, manganese and fluoride, helps to build strong bones and teeth, and is safe to consume without limit.” To help parents pack refreshments that will make the grade, the SA Rooibos Council has compiled the following Rooibos iced tea- and popsicle recipes that will have the kids asking for more. Rooibos iced tea: One litre of Rooibos tea using four to six teabags Sweeten the tea with honey to taste and leave it in the fridge to cool overnight Experiment with this basic iced tea, by adding mint, lemon, orange, granadilla, mango or apple, or a combination of flavours until you find one that your children love. You can even get them involved in mixing their own flavours. Note: Juiced or squeezed fresh fruit usually delivers the best results, but you can also use preservative-free fruit juice. Mixing it with cold Rooibos will make it go further and keeping a jug of it in the fridge should mean you don’t have to keep buying juice. The good news is that cold rooibos can be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks without spoiling. Rooibos ice-lollies: By pouring some Rooibos iced tea into popsicle containers or ice-cube trays and freezing it, you can also make fun, refreshing, healthy after school or sports treats.

February 12, 2016

Headaches – A Leading Cause Of Absenteeism

In a developing economy such as South Africa a healthy work force is vital for future growth. It is therefore not only necessary, but vital to identify causes of absenteeism amongst working-age adults. A recent study found that not only are migraine and tension-type headaches among the most common causes of lost work time, but the prevalence is around the age of 40 – a time when individuals are at the peak of their work abilities. The study was published in Occupational Neurology and examined the substantial impact of headaches on individual work productivity. Furthermore, it found that it also places a burden on the employers and society in terms of medical costs. The research also indicates a difference in demographics which is also reflected in absenteeism: Approximately 18% of females and 6% of males in the general population suffer from migraines. Dr. Elliot Shevel, a South African migraine surgery pioneer and the medical director of The Headache Clinic, says chronic daily headaches (which mean 15 or more headache days per month) are a leading cause for absenteeism and it represents a widely accepted stage of pain progression that occurs in 2-4% of the population. “Treatment of headaches can be acute or preventive. The goals of acute treatment are timely alleviation of pain and associated symptoms without reoccurrence and restoring the ability to function. This also minimizes the use of back-up and rescue medications, and is thus providing the best cost-effective management which will in turn lead to better individual productivity,” he says. “Migraine preventative medications are used to decrease future attack frequency, severity and duration, improving the response to acute treatment, and improving the overall function of the patient.” The current study suggest using preventative medications in instances where patients are reporting migraines either 3-6 or more days per month, especially when these are working days. The burden from letting headaches go untreated also results in societal costs from underemployment and unemployment among those of working age who suffer. Shevel recommends sufferers should seek professional help when headaches or migraines start to interfere with their functioning at work. “We have a multidisciplinary team who can apply both acute and preventative treatment.” Contact us on 0861 678 911 or visit our website at www.theheadacheclinic.net to find out more.

February 5, 2016

Meal planning for the child with ADHD

Ask ten nutrition experts what you should eat and you will get ten, often-conflicting diet plans. Add Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to the mix and you will be even more confused. Firstly ADHD is not caused by diet. There have been numerous studies over the years to support this statement. Does diet affect ADHD children? Of course, Diet, as in “what we eat”, affects each one of us whether we have ADHD or not. If you feel unsteady on a stairway, you grab the banister to steady yourself. Likewise, if your child’s (or your) brain chemistry is off kilter with ADHD, favouring healthy foods engenders equilibrium. By providing a healthy diet and environment is the most pleasurable – and the least invasive – way to care for your loved ones and yourself. The information given in this article need not be exclusively for the use of the ADHD child but all members of the family will benefit from making this subtle yet effective change to their daily eating schedule. The diet for the ADHD child is the bedrock on which you need to build all other therapies. It is no use adding a handful of supplements to your child’s diet if their actual daily intake is not even meeting the basic recommended dietary intakes (RDI’s) for their age. Supplements added to a balanced healthy diet will be much more effective if taken with good food than as an isolated tablet. The ADHD child’s response to therapies like Occupational therapy, physiotherapy etc. will be much better if the child has the necessary energy resources to draw from during a therapy session. If your child requires medication to treat her ADHD symptoms then starting off with a sound, healthy dietary platform will only enhance the effectiveness of the medication. Likewise attentiveness, concentration and participation in class is a lot more probable if your child has eaten a healthy, well balanced breakfast and this is true for all children, not just children with ADHD. Allergies have also been studied extensively with their link to ADHD so let’s just briefly unpack this before we go into the details of some healthy diet tips. Children and adults, who have allergies, be they to foods, additives or the environment are not generally happy people while their allergies are aggravating them. A child who has rhinitis (runny nose) and is constantly sniffing and coughing due to the aggravation of a post nasal drip will struggle to sit still and focus on what the teacher is saying or the work he should be doing. The distinction needs to be made between ‘food allergies causing ADHD versus the symptoms of the allergy exacerbating the symptoms of ADHD. If you suspect your child has allergic tendencies to certain foods then you must get that seen to by taking your child to a specialist or undertaking an elimination diet under the advice of a trained professional. Having said all of this, changing diet is a process and not like taking a pill. It takes time, commitment and patience and more importantly ‘buy-in’ from the family members. When changing eating habits, it is important to involve the family members and give explanations. Children respond well when they understand. Children are also extremely trusting and if the change can make sense they will generally give it a good try. When making changes to the diet it is important to observe the context of the whole change process. For example if you cut out all chicken from your child’s diet, it may not be the lack of chicken that is causing irritability and discontent. It might be that you took away all her favourite meals in one shot and she’s a little upset about it. Looking at the whole picture is a good idea and moderation is always good. Wanting your child to eat well is one thing. Getting him to do so is another. As already mentioned the best way to get your child to eat well is to eat well yourself. That is having good food at hand and minimizing the less healthful choices. Letting your child help prepare food magically whets her appetite. Creating something yummy is empowering no matter what your age. Daily foods to include: Good Starches If you take in a lot of sugary treats such as sweets, fizzy and sugary cool drinks, cakes and biscuits it will cause your blood sugar levels to rise and fall due to the insulin (hormone to break down sugar) levels that will rise and fall. This constant up and down will result in mood changes and irritability. When children get a blood sugar drop, unlike us, they will try and feel better by getting busier and will do what ever it takes to stay alert which often results in over compensation. Offer low glycaemic carbohydrate foods as often as possible, like seed bread, rice, pasta, provitas etc. Foods are well labelled with Low Glycaemic Index labels and these should be foods of choice for your ADHD child. Limit fruit juices to 1 glass diluted fruit juice per day. Eat whole fruits instead. Aim to include 2 – 3 fruits per day. Offer water for thirst. Iced rooibos tea mixed with a little pure fruit juice is also a refreshing option. Remember however that it is the glycaemic (sugar) load of the whole meal that is important so including a protein with the carbohydrate will be an advantage to stabilizing blood sugar levels. This also helps when you offer starches that are a little higher on the glycaemic index, like a white hot dog roll or a tortilla. Good proteins Have a serving of protein rich food at every meal and snack, including breakfast. Sources of protein include eggs, fish, meat, cheese and soybeans, nuts, peanut butter. Eat snacks like cheese sticks and biltong slices. Good veggies For the good of your health, use a wide variety of vegetables and prepare them in diverse ways. Aim daily to include 3

February 4, 2016

Stimulating the Right Brain Can Create a Genius Baby

You can create a genius baby if you understand how the human brain is structured. In most adults, the left hemisphere of the brain is dominant. Left-brained people think in a logical, linear manner, while right-brained people think in a non-linear, intuitive fashion. The left-brained learn best through hearing, while the right-brained learn best through seeing and feeling. Our school system, geared to logical, linear thinking, favors the left-brained. Right-brained children often do only averagely well in school because they are not able to show how they arrived at their answers, having reached them by unusual methods or through sheer intuition. You should therefore not lose heart if your child gets low grades in school. It may be a sign of a genius in the making! A great example of a right-brained person is the scientist Albert Einstein. An acknowledged genius, he suffered from speech difficulties in early childhood. So, is there a genius baby in your house? There may well be. As Glenn Doman and Makoto Shichida, two right-brain educators, put it: accessing the right brain enables a child to learn better and could unlock genius-like abilities. These include speed-reading skills, a photographic memory, the ability to accurately sketch something seen only once, a facility for performing instant math equations, and rare musical talent. The right brain is also responsible for visual and spatial processing, and the ability to see problems in multiple dimensions, as great physicists do. Einstein possessed this ability. If the right brain is so much more intuitive and creative, why is our left brain more dominant? For a very good reason. It does the important job of filtering out a lot of the information bombarding our senses. This helps us to avoid “sensory overload”. If the right brain was dominant, we would constantly be reacting to a host of information being thrown at us. Think of the autism sufferer who, being hypersensitive to sensory stimuli, finds ordinary social interactions overwhelming, and you get the idea. Our left brain helps us hold a conversation while ignoring background noises. It ensures that a great deal of the sensory input we receive remains beneath the radar of conscious awareness. Right-brain teaching helps us to reclaim some of the benefits of right-brain dominance by changing the way we absorb and recall information. Most people memorize data by storing it in their short-term memory in the left brain. Only repetitive use leads to its transfer it to the long-term memory of the right brain. Right-brain teaching helps us bypass the left brain and directly access our long-term memory, helping us learn faster. It allows us to recall information received on a subconscious level – for instance, through speed reading. Unlike left-brain learning, right-brain learning does not require conscious effort. In small children, the right brain is already activated, making learning especially rapid. This is because the right brain develops before the left and is dominant until the age of three and a half. So, if you want your child to be a genius baby, stimulate her right brain. [hr] Author: Madeleine Fitzpatrick. Madeleine Fitzpatrick is the editor for BrillBaby. Go to www.brillbaby.com to learn more on how to make a genius baby.

January 21, 2016

Picking Up The Pieces

Previously we touched on understanding high risk pregnancy and what causes prematurity , this month we will be taking a look at the conflicting emotions we go through when we have given birth prematurely. It can be a trying time for both parents, both emotionally and physically draining. Whirlwind… No one is fully prepared for childbirth let alone a premature one. Depending on the circumstances, it can be a situation of fear, disorientation and overwhelming bewilderment. I believe we all have that moment of realisation…what just happened was no dream. My daughter was born at 3:50am, I was unconscious through most of it. When I finally awoke at 7am, the lack of movement from her was replaced by pain. Alone in my hospital room and unable to move…I will never forget that feeling of devastation and hopelessness. These feelings were short lived as I sprang into action, I had a duty to perform. I won’t lie, I was emotionally numb. My mind accepted that was my little girl in the incubator, my heart on the other hand wasn’t so sure. Slowly my heart warmed, and I finally accepted that I was now a mother to an amazing little fighter. Sixteen months down the line, I am still working through the PTSD, but everyday gets better. Life changing journey… Parents may worry after a year, two years, ten years or twenty, that they have not “gotten over” the traumas and losses of having a premature baby. They may concede that they are more vigilant now. They sometimes find themselves very afraid that something awful will happen to their child. Memories pop up in the most unexpected places. Tears well up without warning. They secretly wonder if they have PTSD or are not moving through the “stages” of grief in the “right” way. They imagine that the premature birth irreparably damaged something in them. In short, they fear that something is terribly wrong with them. Parents who have uncomplicated pregnancies and full-term deliveries have a community of people that they join when they have their babies. More and more, they find the changes that they feel acknowledged and validated. Parents of full-term babies say with a chuckle, “I’ll never be the same again” and most other parents know just what they mean. None of us will ever be the same again — but a lot of the time, we’re not so sure that anybody knows what we mean. Our journey was distinct. Our transformation took a startling path — perhaps a longer road or one with more twists and turns. We are different now. And the unease we feel, I believe, comes in part from our struggle to figure out who we are now, how we fit in to the world we used to inhabit, and how we want to move forward. One thing is for certain. You will never be quite the same, again. But I would like to suggest that this journey leaves us altogether wiser, stronger, tenderer and more human. And it is the lessons that we learn that we pass to our children. What can I do? It’s ok to seek help, rather sooner than later especially if you are thinking of having another baby in the future. Take some time and think about the way things used to be — the way you used to be. Think some more about what this experience has given you. The journey is ongoing. The road you are on will never be the same one that you thought you were entering when you imagined parenting this baby. The parent you imagined that you would be is probably somewhat different than how you developed. But this difference does not mean that you are damaged. It does not mean that you have not “recovered” from the premature birth. What it means is that you are transformed. And that’s exactly as it should be. Support & Preparation Besides relying on support from those around you. Chubby Bunny is there to make the journey a little less stressful. Through education & support, Chubby Bunny’s main objective is to support families whose lives have been touched by prematurity. Chubby Bunny is the first company in South Africa to supply critical starter packs for premmies. We supply high quality goods ensuring the little miracle is well cared for, from organic skin care sensitive for their soft skin, petite clothing small enough to wrap around their tiny bodies, Premmie nappies, a Premmie Support Booklet equipped to help parents understand the NICU and how to care for their Premmies. These hampers can be shipped overnight to main centres South Africa. Visit our online store www.chubbybunny.co.za for more information on the hampers we provide or simply contact Sian at sian@chubbybunny.co.za. Next month…What to expect…my baby was born before her/his time…now what.

December 18, 2015

Happy Families From Colief®

Our growing number of products are there to help your growing family.The Colief infant care range puts a smile on everyone’s face. Colief® Infant Drops – for when nature needs a helping hand… It can be incredibly distressing to hear your baby crying endlessly with colic, yet feel unable to stop it. Fortunately there is a natural solution at hand. Colief Infant Drops contain natural enzymes which help break down lactose in milk, making it easier to digest. Simply add a few drops to your baby’s normal milk (expressed breast milk or formula milk). Colief is the natural way to ease digestive discomfort caused by lactose; proven to reduce the hours of crying. Colief® Baby Scalp Oil is formulated, with naturally derived ingredients, to gently moisturise and soothe your baby’s skin and scalp. Simply massage into the baby’s skin or scalp and the hydrating blend is quickly absorbed, helping soften and clear the scalp of ﬂakes or scaly skin. Colief® Baby Scalp Oil is made with nourishing ingredients gentle enough to use from three months upwards, including Rosehip Oil, Chamomile and Vitamin E. Colief® Vitamin D3 Drops is a food supplement rich in vitamin D3 and can be easily mixed with food or liquids and in the case of young babies, can be given directly by mouth. Colief® Vitamin D3 Drops have been formulated to contain no ﬂavourings, preservatives, sugar or colourings and are safe to use from one month upwards. Why take a vitamin D3 spplement, to assist the development of healthy teeth and heathy bones (and Moms will benefit from vitamin D3 drops too).

December 17, 2015

To Give and To Receive

I think it is time to balance out the season of giving. There is a strange misconception out there that it is better to give than to receive. Some may even go so far as to say that “blessed are those who give”. To complete the sentence then, “cursed are those who receive”! In fact, it takes both sides to complete the equation. In order to give there must be someone to receive. Both are essential sides of the same coin. I find that most people are quite comfortable with giving. It is a nice feeling after all to hand someone a shiny package and see the joy on their face as they open it to discover that you know exactly what they like. Children, too, from a very early age, enjoy giving – they give us stones they picked up on the playground, they give us a lick of their melting ice cream, they give us a favourite teddy to sleep with for the night when we’re feeling sad, they give us beautiful artworks on the walls of our houses! What we tend to do as well meaning parents is to emphasise this joy of giving and imply that this is better than to be on the receiving end. Now children naturally receive well – anyone who has seen their child with a pile of presents on Christmas morning knows that they are only too happy to keep on taking. By adulthood, however, we cower away from such indulgence in receiving. We see it as something for children, or greedy people, or those with no constraint. Our children are watching us as we argue to split the bill instead of graciously accepting our meal as a gift from a friend, as we tell people not to bother buying us birthday gifts but to rather donate something to charity, as we celebrate festivities by enjoying giving our children gifts but not including ourselves on the receiving end. Now I’m not insinuating that we need to rush out and spend a fortune on amassing useless doodads that have been flown in from China. What I’m suggesting is that we learn to enjoy both sides by making both giving and receiving meaningful for everyone. There are many ways to enjoy this without becoming mass consumers. What I would like to see are parents raising their children to continue to enjoy receiving. To learn to be grateful both for what they give and what they receive by watching their parents do the same. Our children can’t possibly become successful in life is they become uncomfortable with receiving. All business transactions require both, all relationships require both, having a healthy spiritual, mental and emotional life requires both. Allow yourself to be part of the festivities this year and know that as you enjoy receiving, your children are learning to honour themselves and their desires and to be open to what life has to offer them. Blessed are those who give and those who receive.

December 10, 2015

Holiday Guilt

Mothers, particularly, are notorious for the amount of guilt they carry around. It starts right from the birth… the natural birthers feel bad that their babies have squashed heads; the caesarians feel bad that they couldn’t not cut-it! Then the working moms feel guilty for not being with their kids and the stay-at-homers feel guilty because their kids are driving them nuts and they wish they were elsewhere, and that they’re not adding to the household income; and the half day moms feel bad because they’re neither properly contributing at work or at home. And on and on it goes. And then come the holidays… Just to compound the guilt a little, the working moms wish they could take more time off, the ones at home wish they could have a break, everyone feels bad because they don’t have the cash to do all the million holiday activities that are out there and screaming for enrolment. At some point we’ve got to all just STOP and accept that we are good enough, we are doing enough and our kids are going to be ok, whether they do the vacation cooking/drama/tennis/pottery class or not. And the real crux of the matter is that, as with most things, it is the quality and not the quantity of time with our children that really counts. If you have 5 minutes or 5 hours with them, make sure that in that time you really connect, on their level, focusing on what they want to do, meeting them where they’re at. Switch off your phone, clear your mind of the myriad other things you need to do, and simply connect. And holiday activities with the kids do not need to break the bank – I bet that your children would be just as happy with a picnic in the park, a visit to a friend, or riding their bikes up and down the road if it meant that they got your full attention for the duration of whatever it was you decided to do together. Let’s all take a break from the guilt this holidays and just do the best we can and let ourselves off the hook when we can’t. As I always say to my clients, it’s about baby steps – if all you can manage is 5 minutes of playing Barbies on the floor, then it’s 5 minutes more than yesterday, and these little moments of presence with our children add up and make for the most special holiday memories they’ll have.

November 26, 2015

Easy Hydration For Breastfeeding Moms

Many of us moms give a lot of thought to eating well while we are breastfeeding, knowing that we are passing on the very nutrients we consume to our precious bundles of joy. However, apart from avoiding alcohol and minimising our caffeine intake, less thought may be given to what we might be drinking on a day to day basis. The nutritional impact of what we drink is one important consideration; the other is that it is also vital for breastfeeding moms to stay properly hydrated. Common advice includes ensuring you get the recommended eight to ten glasses of fluids a day; to drink a glass of water at each breastfeeding session and to give preference to caffeine-free rooibos tea. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices, that are free of preservatives and other chemical additives, also frequently get the nod of approval from nutritionists. However, when it comes to hydration strategies for breastfeeding moms, there’s a new kid on block that is grabbing global attention; and that’s coconut water. Due to its phenomenal electrolyte content, pure coconut water is an isotonic drink which is more hydrating than water. Now more easily available in South Africa, coconut water provides breastfeeding moms with a refreshingly different and completely health-filled option when it comes to avoiding dehydration. Unlike coconut milk and coconut cream which are derived from the meat of ripe coconuts; coconut water is the almost clear fluid contained in young, green coconuts. It’s a traditional, staple drink of islanders in the tropics that has been highly valued for centuries for its restorative and health-giving properties. Coconut water is packed with the essential electrolytes, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium and phosphorus, which our body needs for all major functions, from muscles and nerves to heart and brain. It is common for breastfeeding moms to feel fatigued, and coconut water is the ideal energy-boosting pick-me-up that is free of chemical additives. Coconut water is also rich in vitamins, particularly the B vitamins, as well as trace minerals such as zinc, selenium and manganese. It is full of amino acids, enzymes and health-boosting plant hormones known as cytokinins. It is known for its soothing effect on the digestive system and its active support of a well-functioning immune system. If this wasn’t enough, coconut water happens to be a wonderfully low-calorie option. It is virtually fat free and very low in natural sugar, which is just perfect for moms trying to shed those last few pregnancy kilos. In order to optimise on all the fantastic goodness that natural coconut water offers, it is important to read the products’ labels and be aware of the sources of this ‘elixir of Nature’. Avoid options that are derived from concentrates or that include additives such as sugar or preservatives. Recently launched in South Africa, CocoZone is a brand that offers 100% pure coconut water that is extracted and tetra-packed for freshness at the source, which is a single origin plantation farmed without the use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. If you are feeling bored with yet another glass of water during breastfeeding, or you have resolved to cut high calorie drinks out of your diet while you are breastfeeding, consider reaching for refreshing taste from tropics that is nothing but good for you, and good for baby too! For more information or to find your nearest stockist please visit www.cocozone.com

November 26, 2015

How To Eat Less Salt

Eating too much sodium, most of which we get from salt, can lead to high blood pressure. This in turn can cause heart disease, kidney disease and strokes. So it is worth trying to cut down the amount of salt eaten. Almost two-thirds of the salt we consume are added by food manufacturers when food is processed. Of the remainder, about half is added at home during cooking or at the table and half is naturally present in food. Low salt diets may assist in the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure and The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa (HSFSA) recommends that not more than one teaspoon (6g) of salt per day should be consumed. The average diet contains an average of 9g of sodium. A low salt diet contains 2 – 2.5g of sodium ( +- 1tsp salt) High salt foods to be used in moderation: Processed, smoked and cured meats Polony, ham, bacon, sausages, corned beef, pickled tongue, bacon, salami, pepperoni and smoked pork Pre-packaged and convenience meals Ready meals and take away foods (pies, pizzas, pastas, etc). Stocks and packet, tinned soups Used to flavour or thicken soups, stews or casseroles. Some soups can provide more than half a teaspoon of salt per portion. Cheese Processed cheese, cheese spreads, blue cheese and feta cheese Salty nibbles and snacks Crisps, salted/flavoured pretzels or popcorn, crackers and salted nuts. Sauces Worcestershire, soya, tomato and barbeque sauce Pickles Gherkins, pickled onions, capers, artichokes, atjaar and other pickled vegetables Hard margarine or salted butter Use the minimum amount of salt in cooking: Try not to add further salt at the table. Always taste food before you add salt It may help to gradually reduce your salt intake, so that you can get used to the taste changes Try using more herbs and spices to flavour your foods Don’t use salt substitutes as they are high in other minerals Try to cut down on foods that are high in salt such as tinned, packaged and processed foods, tinned and packet soups, stock cubes, chips, salted nuts and salty meats like ham and bacon Avoid sauces that contain lots of salt e.g. soya sauce Check processed foods to see if salt, sodium bicarbonate, sodium benzoate or monosodium glutamates are mentioned among the ingredients Check labels for sodium content – a low sodium food is one containing less than 120 mg sodium per 100g weight of food Limit sodium intake to less than 2g/day (1t = 2,3g) Healthy alternatives for flavouring foods If you use salt in food preparation, do not add extra salt at the table. Learn to use herbs and spices instead of salt, and to enjoy the natural flavour of food. Here are some ideas: Pork Apple, cider, coriander, ginger, lime, orange, sage, thyme Chicken Coriander, basil, chives, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, marjoram, mint, oregano, paprika, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, white pepper, white wine Beef Curry, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, horseradish, mustard, red wine, tomato Fish Bay leaf, dill, fennel, lemon juice, onion, parsley, tarragon, tomato, white pepper, white wine Ostrich or venison Coriander, onion, pineapple, tomato chilli Lamb Curry, aniseed, basil, cardamom, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, juniper berry, mint, mustard, oregano, redcurrant jelly, rosemary Rice Coriander, onion, red or green peppers, saffron Pasta Basil, black pepper, garlic, oregano Potatoes Black pepper, nutmeg, parsley, paprika, (low fat or fat free) yoghurt Salads Coriander, basil, black pepper, garlic, lemon juice, oregano, (low fat or fat free) yoghurt, toasted flaked almonds

November 25, 2015

Stopping Night Feeds In A Young Toddler

It is important to note that everyone wakes up spontaneously many times during the night. So, even if your toddler is ‘sleeping through’ the fact is that he is probably waking up at least 4 – 5 times a night. Most of the time he will simply stir, turn over or call out, but will be able to go back to sleep. Should he wake fully, he will be able to go back to sleep independently by using comforting and familiar methods that he knows such as finger sucking, holding onto or snuggling down with a security object. Poor sleepers, however, wake in the same way, but are unable to self soothe to go back to sleep without some sort of external intervention from a care giver such as being stroked or tickled, given a drink or having a parent sleep alongside them. These children therefore have difficulty staying asleep and wake up frequently in the night. As long as your child is not ill, it is important to know that toddlers do not need any nutritional support during the night in the form of milk feeds. A bedtime milk feed is always a good idea as it is a lovely end to the day where you can spend some quality “cuddle” time with your little toddler. Try to ensure that the feed is completed before your child falls asleep. Getting rid of night time feeds Remove the expectation of this middle of the night “event”, and he will no longer wake up for it. So, if he is used to breastfeeding or getting a bottle of milk or juice in the middle of the night, stop offering it, and he will soon stop waking for it. As long as weaning off the breast is done with a lot of emotional support from all the child’s parents, nanny etc, it should not interfere too much with his sleep patterns. However, if he has a sleep association with the breast, he will need plenty of reassurance when he wakes in the night expecting a feed !! Stay with him, hold him and rock him until he is asleep (no matter how much he protests!) Do this each time he wakes. Offer him sips of water in case he is thirsty. When he is happy to comforted without a feed, but still needs you to be there, begin sleep training. Be firm and loving, and most of all consistent. Yes, it is as simple as that! It is important to implement sleep training with each waking session no matter how much he protests. If you are trying to break a feeding-to-sleep habit, pick him up if he does not settle, and gently rock him until he falls asleep, no matter how much he protests. Only place him back into his cot when he is asleep. Repeat this each time he wakes. It may take a few sessions (maybe a day or two) for him to learn that he doesn’t need to feed in order to fall asleep. With a bit of luck he will simply stop waking, but he may need some persuasion to go back to sleep totally unassisted, so you will need to move to the next step when you are ready. Getting rid of rocking to sleep habit Sometimes it will be easier for you to settle your little one, then leave the room for short periods of time to enable you to catch your breath and regroup your emotions, so when he wakes you up in the middle of the night expecting to be rocked back to sleep, Pick him up and hold him close until he stops crying. As soon as he is calm and drowsy, but not asleep, place him gently back into his cot. Say some soothing words and walk away from the cot, even if he begins to protest. Stay away from him for one minute, then return to his side if he is still protesting. Pick him up and settle him (no matter how long it takes). Reinforce the sleep object. When he is calm and drowsy, but not asleep, place him gently back into his cot. This time, wait for two minutes before going back to him if he is still crying, then repeat your calming strategies. If necessary, repeat the procedure, each time adding two minutes of crying time before going back in to soothe or settle him. Keep going each time he wakes in the night, starting from one minute of separation at the start of each session. The hardest part, of course, is to follow through with the behaviour management each time he wakes in the night expecting to be fed or rocked back to sleep. Persevere, it will be worth it! BY ANN RICHARDSON

November 18, 2015

Childhood Obesity

Globally, obesity is rapidly on the rise. For the first time in the history of mankind, the number of people who are overweight or obese measure up to the number of people who are underweight due to hunger. It has been estimated that if something is not done about the surge of obesity, half of all people will be overweight/obese by 2030. The most worrying is that this trend is not only seen amongst our adult population but also amongst children. Over a decade, overweight has increased from 10.6% to 18.2% in South African children aged 2 – 5 years. Consistently, girls and female adults are more affected. South Africa further carries a double burden of malnutrition with not only rising rates of childhood obesity but also still high prevalence of child undernutrition. Undernutrition places a child at especially high risk for developing obesity, which then promotes the vicious cycle which we are grappling with in the current socio-economic environment. Being overweight or obese increases one’s risk of heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain cancers. Overweight or obese children have an increased risk of developing these diseases earlier in life and are more likely to remain obese throughout their adult life. Not only does obesity have far reaching health effects for a child, but it also has vast social and economic implications. These can include bullying, teasing and low self-esteem, as well as increased healthcare costs and loss of income later in life. So what then is the cause for the increase in obesity amongst our children? Poverty, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are largely to blame. According to Dr Vash Mungal-Singh, CEO of the HSFSA, “Our children are being brought up in an obesogenic environment where unhealthy foods are aggressively marketed to them, time in front of computers and televisions are increasing and appropriate environments for children to be active, safely, are few and far between.” With urbanisation we have also seen an increase in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, energy-dense, nutrient poor foods and lower consumption of fruit and vegetables. Poor feeding practises early in a child’s life further exacerbates the problem. Studies have shown that there is a link between low birth weight and overweight later in life due to overfeeding as an infant. The introduction of ‘weaning foods’ too early (<6 months of age) is another key driver of obesity later in life. In fact a child’s risk starts even before birth with the health and diet of the mother, a concept referred to as the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life (from conception to 2 years of age). Poverty has an overarching impact within this context. Lower income groups tend to have higher obesity rates as they opt for foods that are cheap and the most filling, which often means high in energy, fat, sugar and salt with very little other nutritional value. The pregnant mother and young child are most affected. It is clear that obesity is in fact a very complex problem that requires a multi-pronged approach. We are therefore very fortunate to have the support of the National Department of Health in tackling this epidemic with a clear strategy and bold target to decrease the prevalence of obesity by 10% by 2020. This strategy builds on the guidelines of the WHO initiative on ending childhood obesity and includes a wide spectrum of activities including policy and legislative change, education, access to healthy foods and safe places to be active. The HSFSA wants to encourage all parents and caregivers to take action and play their part to prevent overweight and obesity in their own children, starting with the pregnant mother. It is imperative for all pregnant mothers to get appropriate care before, during and after pregnancy to ensure the healthy weight and growth of their babies. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life, followed by appropriate complementary foods is a very effective way in reducing the risk of obesity. Providing healthy foods for young children and adolescents, limiting the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and encouraging play time rather than TV time are all great strategies to combat overweight and obesity. Sources: For the first time in the history of mankind, the number of people who are overweight or obese measure up to the number of people who are underweight due to hunger. (Global Issues. Obesity. (2010). URL: http://www.globalissues.org/article/558/obesity) It has been estimated that if something is not done about the surge of obesity, half of all people will be overweight/obese by 2030 (Dobbs, R. et al. (2014). Overcoming obesity: an initial economic analysis. McKinsey Global Institute.) Over a decade, overweight has increased from 10.6% to 18.2% in South African children aged 2 – 5 years. (Shisana, O, et al, & SANHANES-1 Team (2013) South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1). Cape Town: HSRC Press.) Studies have shown that there is a link between low birth weight and overweight later in life due to overfeeding as an infant. (Vasylyeva, T.L., Barche, A., & Chennasamudram, S.P. (2013). Obesity in prematurely born children and adolescents: follow up in pediatric clinic: Nutrition Journal 2013, 12:150, http://www.nutritionj.com/content/12/1/150) Consistently, girls and female adults are more affected. South Africa further carries a double burden of malnutrition with not only rising rates of childhood obesity but also still high prevalence of child undernutrition. (Arington, C. & Case, A. (2013). Health: Analysis of the NIDS Wave 1 Dataset. National Income Dynamic Study. URL: http://www.nids.uct.ac.za/publications/discussion-papers/wave-1-papers) The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) shines a spotlight on ending childhood obesity.

November 16, 2015

How To Teach Children About Appropriate Sexual Behaviour

I recently endured a rather nasty experience with a man who quite clearly did not understand sexual boundaries and the concept of consent. Having left me feeling in turn helpless, bewildered and angry; it got me thinking: If this is how I feel as an adult woman with good communication skills and world experience, how can we empower our children so that they are less likely to be victimised? I don’t think I’m alone when I admit that I have experienced several incidents of inappropriate sexual behaviour right from when I was a child through to adulthood, at work and privately. The trouble is that there’s a stigma attached to talking about it. This is partly because we figure we should just be strong and ‘bite the bullet’ and maybe because we feel partially responsible? Could we have unintentionally encouraged the behaviour by being too open, too friendly, too flirtatious, too provocatively dressed, etc.? There have been a few school incidents I have heard about recently which indicate to me that our children desperately need to learn about sexual boundaries and appropriate sexual behaviour. We don’t want them turning into adults who continue the culture of entitlement, sexual harassment and sexual violence so prevalent in South Africa. Children need to learn: What is regarded as natural, healthy sexual behaviour? When and what is inappropriate sexual behaviour? How are our laws supposed to protect children? What can kids can do if they need help? What is natural, healthy sexual behaviour pre-puberty? The truth is that most children experiment with some kind of sexual behaviour before the age of thirteen. Most of it is normal and healthy. Even very young children experience pleasurable sensations from touching their own genitals and feel sexually aroused, without knowing or understanding what sexual arousal actually is. Many children indulge their curiosity about each other’s bodies by looking (you show me yours and I’ll show you mine) and/or touching in games like playing ‘doctor’ or ‘house’ where they can try out gender roles and behaviours. The key is that healthy play of this kind is usually light-hearted and spontaneous, with children of similar age and size, and participation is voluntary. Also, this curiosity would normally be balanced by curiosity about other aspects of their lives. Even though this kind of sexual exploration may result in embarrassment (especially if caught or found out) it would not normally leave the child with deep feelings of anger, shame or anxiety. Usually if children are discovered and told to stop, the behaviour lessens, at least in front of adults. How adults handle children involved in this sort of healthy sexual play can have a huge effect on the child later in life. Getting angry, showing your shock or disgust or making the child feel guilty is not the way to handle it, even if the behaviour is inappropriate. Distracting smaller children and clearly explaining our societal rules for sexual behaviour is the best way to teach your children. Here’s what you need to cover: Certain behaviours are socially acceptable in public and others aren’t. It depends on one’s age and where you are. e.g. In many cultures it’s okay for small children or babies to be naked in public, but it isn’t okay for bigger children to do this, and against the law for teens and adults. It’s okay to show affection like a hug or hold hands, but it isn’t socially acceptable for teens or adults to French kiss and touch each other’s private parts in public, and in some countries it is even illegal to kiss or hold hands! It is certainly against the law to display any sexual behaviour or have sex in public. Other behaviour is only okay for your private space. For example, you can throw a tantrum in your room but it isn’t acceptable to shout and scream at other people or show aggression in public. Although it is normal for children to touch their own genitals, it is something to be done in private not public. Children do not have to be ashamed or guilty about masturbating, but it should not become an obsession either – that’s not healthy. If your culture and religion has firm rules about masturbation explain these and why these rules are important to you and your family. We are all entitled to have our own personal space. This is to do with privacy and etiquette/good manners. For example, it isn’t okay to go right up to someone you don’t know and touch them. When we’re getting to know people, we gradually build up intimacy so that eventually with friends or people we care about, it becomes okay to break into each other’s personal space, as long as they’re okay with that. We all need privacy, so discuss which areas of your home are private areas; e.g. the toilet, the bathroom, bedrooms. Make rules you all agree to, e.g. no locking doors, knock before entering, not allowed in without permission. When and what is inappropriate sexual behaviour in children? Many factors influence children’s sexual development – the environment in which they grow, develop and interact has a big influence on their knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. In establishing whether the sexual behaviour of young people is normal, concerning or harmful, it’s important to consider the current social, cultural and familial context. We need to understand what their behaviour is telling us. Children show their wants and needs through their behaviour, and don’t always have the language, experience or ability to get help, so adults must look carefully at the behaviour to interpret it. It’s essential to think about why the child or teen is exhibiting the behaviour and also the nature of the behaviour, the location and the frequency must be taken into account. A broad guideline with examples from the Traffic Lights Guide to Sexual Behaviour in Children and Young People is below. The full brochure with red, orange and green light behaviour by age is obtainable

November 13, 2015

To Chiro Or Not To Chiro

By Dr. Nicole Louw MTech Chiropractic (UJ) MCASA Is chiropractic safe for my children? Why should my child get checked, she feels fine? You have your children’s teeth checked, and most schools do an eye and hearing exam yearly, so why don’t you have regular health check ups? Children’s bodies are physically weaker than adults, so they have a better chance of experiencing spinal subluxations (a vertebrae out of place that is pinching a nerve and causing problems) while doing every day activities. Why wait till your child is sick to bring them into the chiropractor? Subluxations can exist for a long time without causing any pain, but deficiencies in other areas, while they may not be noticeable, may be present the entire time. Let’s start from the beginning. The very beginning, before your child is even born. You should be receiving spinal checkups as often as weight check ups. Subluxations cause uneven blood flow to parts of your body, including the uterus. If your baby isn’t getting enough blood, they may not be getting enough oxygen, which is more important during the development process than you think. Lack of oxygen to the uterus can cause several complications early in infancy, which could lead to such tragic events as SIDS. Next we’ll look at when the baby is born. A newborn’s spine can be twisted and turned from birth. As hard as labor is on the mother, think of how hard it is on the baby! Abraham Towbin, MD states: “The birth process…is potentially a traumatic, crippling event… mechanical stress imposed on obstetrical manipulation—even the application of standard orthodox procedures may prove intolerable to the foetus…most signs of neonatal injury observed in the delivery room are neurological…” Now, we’ll look at the infants first week. Research is ongoing, and with each study done, more and more credit is being given to chiropractic health care in the importance of the health of children. In a study done on 1,250 infants who were examined five days after birth, 211 of them were experiencing vomiting, hyperactivity, and sleeplessness, and subluxations were found in 95% of them. The researchers in this study were all Medical Doctors (MD’s) and they all recognised the power of chiropractic. The babies were given the spinal care they needed, and it worked. The researchers (remember, these are MD’s we’re talking about) noted that the spinal adjustment resulted in “immediate quieting, cessation of crying, and muscular relaxation and sleepiness.” Chiropractic and Colic Colic. One of the worst words a parent of a newborn can hear. Your baby cries for hours on end and there is nothing you can do about it. What’s worse than the disturbing, high pitched screaming that doesn’t stop and has no apparent cause, is the fact that there is nothing you can do to help your child when it sounds like they need help the most. It’s heartbreaking to hear your baby screaming like it’s in pain, and being able to do nothing about it. Well, almost nothing. This is where chiropractic comes in. If your baby experienced a longer pushing stage, or any type of assisted delivery (i.e. – forceps, vacuum, etc.) there is a good chance that they have subluxations. Babies with significant enough subluxations, or subluxations in certain areas, may have big problems, and they can’t tell you about them. Because of these subluxations, major systems in the body may not function correctly, such as the digestive system, and your baby may not be able to digest breast milk like he or she should, possibly causing gas and bloating. The flexed legs, clenched fists, and tensed abdominal muscles point to a pain in the abdominal region, but that hasn’t been proven. What has been proven, however, is that chiropractic adjustments can work. Medical doctors (those you would find at a hospital) may prescribe dimethicone drops, or gas drops, that are the standard, and vastly ineffective treatment. Others may say it’s a sensitivity to breast milk and may advise providing a lactose-free milk, which has also proven to be ineffective. Studies done at the University of Southern Denmark have reported that colicky babies who received chiropractic care cried far less than those receiving the standard gas drops prescribed by medical doctors. This study was done on behalf of the National Health Service, and found chiropractic to have no negative side effects on infants, which is “standard” for chiropractic! Another study was done in South Africa, by Mercer and Cook. In this study, 30 infants who were medically diagnosed as having colic, were randomly divided into two groups. One group received chiropractic care while the other did not. Each infant in the study was 0-8 weeks old and diagnosed with colic by a paediatrician. For this study, the group who received chiropractic care received it for two weeks with a six adjustment maximum. The results were impressive. In the group who received chiropractic care, 93% had completely resolved symptoms in just the two week period. A little shorter than the “wait 3 months for it to run its course” plan that most medical doctors will tell you. Something even more impressive was the one month follow up assessment. The infants who received chiropractic care had seen no symptoms one month after receiving chiropractic care. For those of you who don’t feel comfortable relying on studies done in different countries (although much medical research comes from other countries), here is one from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. It is a randomised clinical trial published in 1999, and in this study, researchers assigned infants diagnosed with colic into two groups, one to receive chiropractic care for two weeks and the other to receive the popular (and basically ineffective) anti-gas medication dimethicone for two weeks. The babies receiving chiropractic treatment showed a decrease of 68% in crying, while the other group only showed a decrease of 38%. Chiropractic care is a conservative, gentle, and very successful option for treating infants with colic. Chiropractic adjustments for infants are specific, gentle, and safe. In the hands of an experienced chiropractor, many infants sleep right through the adjustment. An infant adjustment utilises no more pressure than someone applying make up to their face. Next time you are told “there is nothing you can do except wait it out,” just smile, nod, and bring your child right to the chiropractor, because a healthy baby makes a happy home.

November 10, 2015

Exam Headaches

A recent study conducted at the University of Parakou found that the main triggering factors for headaches and migraines in students were sleeplessness and mental fatigue. Researchers collected the height and weight of each student, to study the factors associated with migraines. Researchers found that of 1200 students that returned their questionnaires, who were 842 males and 358 females, 171 fulfilled migraine criteria. The overall prevalence of migraines was 14.2% in each student. The main associated factors in the study were the sex of the student and family history of headaches. According to Dr Elliot Shevel the Chairman of the South African division of the International Headache Society; headaches have become an ordinary occurrence for students around exam times and many of them feel helpless when dealing with this problem. Exam stress often brings on headaches and migraines and pupils become overwhelmed by the immense pressure of performing at their best and their state of health often gets neglected. Dr. Shevel the Chairman of the South African division of the International Headache Society has the following advice for students: Dietary headache is a common affliction for students. These are usually triggered by foods that assist with energy such as caffeine and chocolate. Take note of which foods trigger headaches for you by keeping a diary and avoid these foods. A Dietary Trigger Diary is available at free of charge to assist you. Remember that skipping meals is a surefire trigger for headaches. Eat in moderation and enjoy your meals. Be aware of your posture when studying as this can result in a tension headache. Use a good chair that supports your back and that gives the ideal posture. Visit http://www.theheadacheclinic.net/ to get a free copy of the Ideal Computer Posture. Learn some easy stretching exercises to stretch the muscles of your head, face, neck and jaw. Stretching should be gentle and soothing, not agonizingly painful. Stretch your neck and jaw muscles carefully and you will get results! A free demonstration by our physio therapist Uru Chiba is available at this link http://www.theheadacheclinic.net/#!free-assistace/c17qc Beware of Medication Overuse Headache. Medication is only appropriate for someone who suffers a few times a month. According to the International Headache Society, if you are taking headache medication more than twice a week you are at risk of developing Medication Overuse Headache. This means that the drugs you are taking will cause the headache or migraine to become more severe and more frequent over time. This leads to a downward spiral into constant medication use and constant pain. The more medication you take, the more pain you are in, the more medication you need, and the cycle continues. It is important that you keep your stress levels to a minimum. Plan ahead to guarantee that you have enough time to study and that you get sufficient rest each night. One should also take regular breaks to ensure that you don’t get overworked. “If the problem persists, it is imperative that you get an accurate diagnosis” added Dr Shevel. There are a number of treatment options that can be investigated. The longer the headache persists, the more damage will be done. Dr. Shevel suggests getting to the bottom of the problem and resolving the pain permanently. For further details on the study please contact Nadia Ismail on 0861 678 911

November 5, 2015

Quick Tips For Storing Breast Milk

Express breast milk, using a manual or electric breast pump. Wash your hands well with soap and water before handling the pre-sterilised bag. Mark each bag with the date and time when you expressed the milk. Tear open the bag horizontally along the perforated edge at the top, in the direction of the arrowhead. Hold the opened bag with one hand and use the other hand to pour the freshly expressed breast milk into the bag slowly, not filling the bag beyond 150ml. Before sealing the bag, squeeze out the air and use your fingers to zip close the bag. For best results, keep the bag upright, in a separate hard sided container until the milk has frozen. Store breast milk bag in the back of the fridge for 24 hours or back of freezer for 3 months. How do I thaw frozen breast milk? Always thaw/defrost the oldest breast milk first. Check the date and time written on each bag. Thaw the frozen milk overnight in the fridge, or, for immediate use, immerse the bag in warm (not hot) water until the milk is fully defrosted. Pour the milk into a sterilised feeding bottle, feeding cup or spoon. Never thaw frozen milk at room temperature, as this will enable bacteria to multiply in the milk. Never thaw breast milk in a microwave oven or boiling water. This will reduce the milk’s nutrients. Only warm the milk after it has been thawed/defrosted. Thawed milk can be stored in a fridge for up to 24 hours. Discard any remaining milk. Don’t refreeze thawed or partially thawed breast milk. Pre-sterilised, sealable storage bags In the first few days after delivery, breasts can become engorged with excess milk and mothers may find it convenient to express and store their breast milk for later use. But some of the storage products on the market are very expensive and it is not a viable option for everyone.

November 5, 2015

Overcoming The Fear Of The Dentist Starts At Childhood

Parents should take children for regular dental check-ups, focus on prevention of tooth decay and instil good oral hygiene habits from an early age to avoid fear of dental visits in later life, according to a top SA dentist. Dr Marc Sher says the main cause of dental anxiety in adults stems from a traumatic childhood experience in the dental chair. “If regular check-ups are done at a young age and if good oral hygiene habits and prevention is the focus, this will create a favourable dental experience, leading to less fear and anxiety as an adult.” Sher recommends taking children for their first dental visit around three-years-old, once all the primary teeth have erupted. “This will acclimatize them to the dental environment. Following this, I recommend a visit once a year until about six years old. When adult (secondary) teeth start erupting, visits should increase to six-monthly with oral hygiene built in.” Sher says a standard adult regime involves at least two oral hygiene visits per year, combined with one full dental assessment with x-rays. “Certain conditions may, however, warrant more frequent cleanings and check-ups to avoid the onset of aggressive dental conditions”. Sher says adults may avoid gum disease (gingivitis) — swollen, and bleeding gums – with regular dental cleanings and check-ups. “If this condition is left untreated, a more sinister disease (periodontitis) of the underlying bone can occur. Another common conditions is dental caries (decay) which, if left untreated, can lead to root canal treatment or removal of a tooth.” Sher recommends the following additional tips for optimal oral hygiene: Use a soft bristled electric toothbrush, firm enough to remove plaque but not to hurt gums. Choose toothpaste with fluoride as it helps prevent cavities and repair tooth enamel. Brush your teeth moderately for at least two minutes twice a day. Flossing helps remove plaque in places your brush can’t reach. Follow a healthy diet, drink lots of filtered water and supplement with a good multi-nutrient like Marcus Rohrer Spirulina (www.marcusrohrerspirulina.com). Avoid a stressful lifestyle which may contribute to mouth ulcers. Use Bye Mouth Ulcer for a pain free solution to ulcers (www.byemouthulcer.com).

November 4, 2015

Making Sense Of Food Labels

By Gabi Steenkamp, Registered Dietitian, Food Labelling and Nutrition Consultant. www.gabisteenkamp.co.za. The information printed on all food labels in South Africa is regulated by the Department of Health regulations R146 (2010) for the labelling and advertising of foods, and there is no particular section that covers the labelling requirements for foods that are suitable for those with diabetes. Since the diabetic way of eating is all about basic good nutrition, all healthy foods are suitable for those with diabetes. However, they must be eaten in the correct serving size and combination to make up balanced meals. Such foods can be endorsed by Diabetes SA , but they have to comply with the specifications set out by the endorsement programme of Diabetes SA. Endorsed products and foods bear the logo below: For those foods that have not applied for the endorsement by Diabetes SA, the consumer must read the label to assess whether a food or product is suitable for those with diabetes or not, as most foods that are suitable for those with diabetes do not carry the Diabetes SA logo above. The most important information to look at on a food label is: The name of the product The total weight / volume The serving size The nutritional analysis information table The ingredients list The allergens declaration, if you suffer from a particular food allergy The name of the product The name given to a product is found on the main front panel of the packaging and should reflect what is inside the packaging. Should the name of the product not tell you what is inside the packaging, then an accurate description of the product is provided near the name. Giving a product a name such as ‘honey smacks’ is not very informative. The packaging could contain: Honey sweets Honey flavoured cereal An icecream product flavoured with honey or containing honey bits A chocolate with honey flavoured bits Honey flavoured drink, etc. But labelling this product as ‘Honey Smacks – honey flavoured popped wheat cereal’ tells you exactly what is in the packaging. You, as the consumer, have a right to know exactly what is inside any food packaging. Should this not be the case, you should contact the toll free customer services line, or email, of that product to make them aware of the fact; and contact a food labelling consultant who can then contact the company and have the error rectified. The label of the product below has a name that accurately tells what is in the packaging. TOTAL WEIGHT (MASS) or VOLUME The South African Bureau of Standards regulates the way in which the mass or volume of a product is stated on food packaging. All measures are metric and have a minimum lettering and number height. Knowing the total weight of what’s in the packaging, allows you to see immediately how many servings you will get out of one unit (be it a bag, jar, box, bottle, etc.). It also allows you to cross check if the serving size stated in the nutritional analysis table is do-able. In the above example, one fish cake must weigh 75 g (300 g divided by 4 = 75 g), which is a reasonably sized fishcake and is the size given in the nutritional analysis table for a single serving. THE SERVING SIZE The food labelling regulations stipulate that serving sizes stated in the nutritional analysis table, or anywhere on the label, may NOT encourage obesity and nutrition experts, such as a dietitian, determine the serving size to ensure that the serving sizes stated on pack are nutritionally correct and practical. For example, foods that make up the protein part of a main meal (such as fishcakes) should contain: Up to 1000 kJ per serving Less than 12 g fat per serving Less than 30% of total fat, as saturated fat per serving In the example of the fishcakes, you can see that in the second column of numbers in the nutritional information table, one fishcake weighing 75 g contains: 530 kJ 5.9 g of fat of which 1 g is saturated fat. The 1 g of saturated fat is less than 30% of the total fat (5.9%), so you can conclude that this is a healthy fishcake to have with your supper. You can also deduct from this that in fact you could have 2 of these fishcakes with your supper – provided of course you add the required 2-3 vegetable servings to make a balanced meal! But having all 4 fishcakes would encourage obesity and not be good for blood glucose control. On the other hand, foods eaten as a snack (such as icecream) should contain: about 500 kJ per serving and less than 6 g fat per serving Less than 30% of total fat, as saturated fat per serving In the example of the slimmer’s choice icecream given below, you can see that in the second column of numbers in the nutritional information table, one serving of 175 ml, contains: 492 kJ 2.3 g of fat of which 1.7 g is saturated fat. The 1.7 g of saturated fat is 74% of the total fat (2.3%), which means this snack contains too much saturated fat for good health and for those with diabetes since saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease, and particularly so for those with diabetes. For this reason, even though this is a controlled energy snack, it should only be eaten occasionally as a snack.

October 23, 2015

Weighty Issues For Teens

Being overweight is not a good idea if you have diabetes because it increases your insulin resistance, which will make it harder for you to keep your blood glucose levels down. If you don’t have diabetes, but some of your family members have type 2 diabetes, you are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Sadly, obesity has doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the last 30 years and this has created both health and well-being problems for teens. One out of three children and teens between the ages of two and 19 are overweight, or obese. The early onset of Type 2 diabetes is being noticed more and more in children and teens between 10 and 19 years old. Before the 1990’s it was rarely seen, but as they got fatter, more and more of them developed Type 2 diabetes. How do you become overweight? The basic cause of overweight is an energy imbalance. Energy is measured as calories or kilojoules. If you eat more energy than your body’s requirements for the activities you do, then this extra energy gets converted to fat stores. If you get the balance right, your weight should be right for your age. If there is too much food and drink consumed on a regular basis, the extra calories will make your weight rise above what is a healthy weight for you. All young people become more resistant to insulin during puberty, whether they have diabetes or not, but teens with diabetes have 25 – 30% more insulin resistance. The larger they become, the more insulin resistant they become. Gaining weight and insulin resistance progresses much faster and is harder to treat in teens than it is to treat overweight adults. This may be because of rapid growth and hormone changes in puberty. Also once a teen is heavier than he or she should be, the insulin resistance makes it much more difficult to lose the weight than it is to prevent the weight building up. Anyone who has been overweight or obese will tell you that it has a huge effect on your emotions and social standing. Teens are sensitive enough in relationships, but if you are overweight or obese, it can make it so much worse. You may be sidelined, mocked, bullied, or stigmatised by other teens. This can have a serious effect on your self-esteem and social interactions. With the loss of self-esteem you could lose confidence in yourself and withdraw socially. Then you could become lonely, depressed and anxious, especially if you lose hope of the situation ever improving. You may become so unhappy that it has an impact on learning at school, and your performance at school could deteriorate. Your life will feel awful. Often teens are resistant to having a healthy lifestyle. You may struggle to eat correctly for various reasons: During large growth spurts, you are always hungry and eat much more than before. This is not a problem in itself because you do need the extra food. The problem lies in eating more than you actually need or eating the wrong types of foods. Most take-away foods are high in carbohydrates and fats making them high in energy. If you like to eat take-away foods with your friends as a social activity it is more difficult to refuse the problem foods. It may be that your family eats take-away foods too often if both your parents work and are too tired to cook healthy food. Sometimes the traditional foods that your family eats are high in carbohydrates and fats and it may be difficult to change those eating habits. Boarding school food can be a problem if your school does not follow healthy principles of eating, but rather focuses on filling your tummies with lots of carbohydrates, like white bread. Or else you eat more food because it is available. You may struggle to get involved in physical activity: If you are self-conscious about doing exercise or sports because you are not particularly good at it, you probably prefer to avoid them. If you are overweight, you may be even more self-conscious and avoid exercise even more. If you spend too many hours watching TV or playing computer games, which require almost no physical activity, you will be more prone to putting on weight, especially if you have a bowl of nibbles to eat as you watch or play. The less you do, the less you want to do. You may not be able to walk or ride a bicycle to school for safety reasons, or because you live a long distance from the school, so taking a bus or a lift means that you lose that bit of physical activity for the day. You may feel it is “uncool” to arrive at school on a bicycle, especially if you are a girl. Only if you are keen on a particular sport and get into training on a regular basis do you appreciate the benefits of physical activity. Again, boys are better at participating in sport than girls. If you have diabetes, you may be concerned about exercising if you are afraid you will have low blood sugars as a result. How can you overcome that resistance? Look at the reasons why you are resistant to eating in an unhealthy way and why you don’t like exercising and think of ways you can get it right. It all begins in the mind! Get your mind right and the rest will follow. And then you will be even more motivated once you start on the right track, because you will feel pretty good for doing it and your diabetes will be better controlled.

October 22, 2015

Travel Tips: 8 ways to make the most of your global travels

If you’re looking for new inspirations about great places to go and exciting things to do when you’re travelling, there’s nobody better to turn to for great advice than the Cathay Pacific staff who travel to over 180 countries on a daily basis. While the airline flies to a multitude of destinations worldwide, the crew from all over the globe spends a lot of time on the ground between flights. The airline asked their staff to share some helpful travelling tips. Here’s what they had to say: Work up a sweat! Evan, Pilot: “I’ve found that the best way to explore a new city is to go for a run when you first arrive. I always ask the hotel concierge to suggest a running route, but it’s on runs that I’ve seen the embassy district of Delhi, Moscow’s Red Square and the ancient ruins of Rome.” Eat local, try authentic cuisine at least once Aby, Flight Attendant: “Food can tell you a lot about the place you’re in, which is why I always go straight to the local markets when I get to a new city. I look for something unusual and try it – that way, I’ve ended up eating insects, scorpions, kangaroo and a range of other interesting things!” Travel with someone you love Becky, Flight Attendant: “A travel memory is worth so much more when you experience it with someone you love. I surprised my Mum by booking her onto one of my flights to New Zealand, and it was one of the most amazing and memorable experiences of my life. It taught me that the best gifts are the ones that last forever.” Be a kid again Poey, Flight Attendant: “I look at destinations through my child’s eyes. When I show him photos from my trips, he sees spaceships, castles and ocean monsters. He’s reminded me to approach the world with an open mind and rediscover my own sense of wonder.” Skip the crowd Gong, Flight Attendant: “The cities I visit are often full of hustle and bustle, with crowded, busy streets and attractions. That’s why I always get up at dawn to explore a layover destination. It’s a great way to see a city in a completely different light, with no crowds to interfere with the views of historic landmarks and attractions.” Explore the natural side Grace, Flight Attendant: “It’s an amazing feeling travelling to a destination that I’ve only seen on TV. When I went to South Africa, we decided to escape the city and go on a horseback safari. It turned out to be one of the most beautiful and humbling experiences I’ve ever had. It made me realise that we need to escape the cities to see how beautiful the world is.” Revisit your favourite city over different times of the year Indit, Flight Attendant: “For me, it’s never enough to visit a place once – I love to go back and see another side of it. One way to do this is to visit a destination in different seasons. My favourite seasonal city is New York because the place looks so different depending on the time of year – from the skyscrapers sparkling in the summer sun, to the autumn brown of Central Park and the brightly lit Christmas trees surrounded by winter snow.” Explore local history and culture Ben, Pilot: “I’m quite a history buff, and the way places change over time fascinates me. When I have a layover, I like to buy an old travel guide of that particular destination to take with me. You’d be amazed at the difference even a few years makes to a city. It’s even better when I find a really, really old guide. It paints such a different picture of a place and time as I walk around it. My favourite thing about doing this is seeing the old buildings that have stood the test of time and stand tall among their more contemporary neighbours in cities like New York, London and Singapore.” Cathay Pacific recently announced that passengers can now book all international travel on one portal, making it easier to travel by saving them time and effort. Passengers no longer have to search different local airline sites, or make multiple bookings to travel via Johannesburg and Hong Kong – all of that is done by consolidating all travel from Africa, to any of Cathay Pacific’s exciting destinations. Cathay Pacific flies from Johannesburg to Hong Kong seven days a week, connecting to hundreds of destinations across the globe. For more information and flight bookings, visit www.cathaypacific.com/za.

October 19, 2015

How Sugar Can Affect Our Children

Sugar is addictively awesome, but is the long term health effects really worth that momentary indulgence? It is blamed for most health issues, from behavioural problems to skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. Yet babies come into the world with a ‘sweet tooth’ (nature’s way of drawing them to breast milk), so you may wonder, how could an occasional lollipop or cupcake be so detrimental? In modest amounts, sugar can have a healthful place in a child’s diet (or an adult’s). But many kids get too much, too often. Worse, sugar-rich foods tend to be full of empty calories and often displace the nutritious foods children need. A recent landmark study of more than 3,000 babies and toddlers found that close to half of 7- to 8-month-olds are already consuming sugar-sweetened snacks, sodas and fruit drinks, a percentage that increases dramatically with age. These findings are of concern to health experts, since eating sugary foods at an early age makes you crave them even more later on. Fortunately, parents can do a lot to train their young child’s taste buds so that he or she doesn’t end up wanting sweetness so much. Beware of Hidden Sugars Sugar can hide in foods where you least expect it. Get in the habit of reading labels. You don’t always see the word “sugar” on a food label. It sometimes goes by another name, like sucrose, glucose, dextrose, fructose, maltose, malt sugar, fructose sweetener, liquid fructose, honey, molasses, anhydrous dextrose, crystal dextrose and dextrin on the ingredients list of packaged food. If any of the above-mentioned names appear in the first 3 ingredients of a product, it’s best to avoid the product. Also remember that ingredients are listed by decreasing weight so if you see sugar by any name near the top of the list, reconsider the product. Why should we cut back on sugars? Added sugar means empty calories which put kids at risk for obesity and health problems that can show up as early as adolescence. High-sugar diets can increase a child’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or the pre-diabetic condition known as insulin resistance syndrome. Tooth decay Sugar fuels the growth of bacteria which causes tooth decay. While fluoridated water and regular tooth brushing help prevent cavities, a steady stream of sugar in the mouth increases the likelihood thereof. When babies or young children have prolonged exposure to sugars found in sweetened water, fruit juice, milk, breast milk and formula such as giving a baby a bottle in bed or by sweetening a dummy, they are at an increased risk of tooth decay. That’s why dentists advise against putting babies to sleep with a bottle of milk (it contains milk sugar called lactose) or fruit juice, or letting them sip these drinks throughout the day. Behavioural problems When your child consumes refined sugars, there is a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. The body responds by producing a large amount of insulin, a hormone that sweeps sugar out of the blood and into body cells. When the sugar levels begin to fall, your body produces adrenaline which can contribute to hyperactivity in children to compensate for the low blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels may then drop so quickly below normal that your child may feel shaky, sluggish, experience behaviour disturbances and impair learning by decreasing attention. This is often the case in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A study comparing the sugar response in children and adults showed that the adrenaline levels in children remained ten times higher than normal for up to five hours after a test dose of sugar. Some children and adults are sugar sensitive, meaning their behaviour, attention span and learning ability deteriorate in proportion to the amount of sugar they consume. Children with ADHD are often sugar-sensitive. Not surprisingly, low blood-sugar levels can trigger a craving for more sweets, which creates a vicious cycle of sugar highs and lows. Childhood obesity Children gain too much weight when they take in more calories than they burn. Unfortunately, sugary drinks and treats typically supply calories above and beyond what kids need to satisfy their hunger. A can of soda contains ten teaspoons of sugar (160 calories), and many sweetened fruit drinks have as much or more. Regularly drinking even one sugary drink (soda, fruit punch or sweetened iced tea) a day increases the risk of obesity. Overweight or obese children are at increased risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type II Diabetes, asthma and sleep apnoea. 80% of children who is overweight before the age of 13 years, will be obese as adults. Weakened immunity Excess sugar intake can cause cold-like symptoms in children causing runny noses, excessive mucus, cough and symptoms of sinus infections. Consuming sugar also alters the balance between good and bad bacteria in children’s bodies, weakening their immune systems which leads to worsening of symptoms and prolonged recovery. Studies have found that excess sugar in the blood (including fruit sugar fructose and honey) caused a 50% drop in the ability of white blood cells to fight bacteria. In contrast, ingesting complex carbohydrates did not lower the ability of these white blood cells to engulf bacteria. The immune suppression was most noticeable two hours after eating lots of sugar, but the effect was still evident five hours after ingestion. Poor diet Sugar can cause stomach ache and poor appetite in children causing them to eat poorly when healthy nutritious food is offered. What to do as parents? Limit the amount of refined sugar in their diet by providing meals consisting of lean proteins such as lean chicken or beef, eggs or low-fat dairy and healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocado and olive or canola oil. Desserts and sweets: Limit portions of cookies, candies and other baked goods. Instead try fruit-based desserts. Cereals: Limit sugary cereals. Look for whole-grain cereals, such as oatmeal,

October 16, 2015

Your Child’s Development – Making it Fun!

“Just as my maternity leave was coming to an end, I was asked by Parenting Hub to review the Skidz Activity Box for 0 – 6 Months.” Our Parenting Hub reader to whom we gave the Skidz Activity Box was preparing to go back to work after being at home for the last four months with her beautiful little boy. Because her baby boy is going to be at home in the care of his Nanny, she told us that she had been trying to find ways to keep him stimulated whilst she was away at work and so the Skidz Activity Box came at just the right time. “What I particularly liked about the Skidz Activity Box is the fact that it comes with manual loaded with information so relevant to my baby boy who is now four months old.” The manual not only gives you a list of activities that you can do from birth to six months but includes detailed instructions on how to do everything as well. These include various physical exercises that you can do with your baby, what will be achieved through these exercises, how to do them and when is best to do them. “The manual is also broken up into a weekly curriculum for 0 to 3 months and 3 to 6 months outlining exactly what you can be doing with your baby every day. What I found so helpful with this weekly curriculum was that I was able to give it to my baby’s Nanny who can follow each activity on a daily basis.” If you don’t want to follow the detailed curriculum, you can set one up that works best for you and your baby and the manual includes a section to guide you as to how to do this – brilliant! The box includes everything that you need to work with to follow the curriculum. Stimulating fabrics, toys, textures, colours and sounds. Everything that you need is included in the box. From our Mom, a big high five to Chantelle du Toit who put together this programme. She told us that she would recommend this product to all moms of little children. “Especially where you have to return to work and you’re not going to put your baby in crèche.” Skidz Activity boxes can be obtained through the Skidz website www.skidz.co.za

October 15, 2015

Food Fun For Fussy Families

If you think that everyone is going to love food as much as you, you’re wrong. Some of us just have no interest in the stuff other than to fill the gap. In fact, balance in a family almost dictates that if one person really loves food there will be someone else who doesn’t value it at all. So fine for us adults, we can take our chances with sub-par nutrition, but what if your little one is refusing all but their favourite five? Here are some tips for getting your kids to develop a healthier and broader view of food and to help the fussier ones to expand their palates. Get your child onto a good multivitamin. That way you can relax about their nutritional balance and take the fight out of mealtimes. The first step to expanding your child’s love of food is to make food something that is fun, relaxed, and choice-driven. Never force a child to eat something. Get your kids involved with the cooking. Cook, bake and generally have fun in the kitchen together. Even if they don’t eat what you’ve prepared together they will start to have positive associations with food. Start a veggie garden. Let your child have their own patch of garden where they can grow a variety of vegetables and fruit. Understanding where food comes from and experiencing the joy of your first harvest can go a long way to enticing kids to eat things out of their comfort zone. Enjoy your food. Yes, you. The more they see you enjoying a variety of foods, the more likely they are to try something new in the future. Eat meals together. Comment on your food – point out what you like about it – the colours, texture, flavours. Pretend that you are a food critic who has just received the most amazing meal ever and let them know why. If you don’t enjoy food then start by examining your own relationship to food before you address your child’s. Make sure your kids understand digestion. Read books together, find fun documentaries, discuss what happens when your food leaves your mouth. Use metaphors for the little ones if necessary, but get your kids to have a thorough understanding of their own bodies and WHY they need to eat a variety of foods. Show them other kids enjoying food. Let them eat with other children, invite kids over, watch Masterchef Junior, have cooking parties. Keep presenting new foods to your child. Even if they only eat their favourite few, just keep offering them some variety. Something at some point will pique their interest, particularly if they keep seeing you enjoying it. Don’t make a big fuss when this happens – just let it be a normal, natural thing for a child to eventually start broadening their reach. Give your kids some control. Children will sometimes use food as a control if the rest of their lives feel out of control or if they are lacking in independence. Make sure that your children have choices in their lives. Keep as much routine as possible when going through major life changes (death, divorce, moving house/schools, holidays, new babies etc). Make sure that the food issue isn’t just a symptom of something else. Food aversions often occur alongside other disorders such as autism, sensory integration issues, stress, other medical conditions. If you’re not sure, have your child checked by an Occupational Therapist, Gastroenterologist, Psychologist, Neurologist or Dietician. Have fun with food. Help your kids to see the joy of food outside of just eating it. Food is a full sensory experience – give them opportunities to explore it as such. Set up a still-life and let them paint a beautiful picture of food, let them sculpt with mashed potatoes, let them roll around in a tub of jelly, make potato stamps. Play games where you identify food by smell or touch. Have a food fight. Keep in mind that there is a difference between a fussy child and a child with food aversion. A fussy child will probably eat eventually if you just don’t offer their favourites and they get hungry enough, but a child with a food aversion will literally starve before trying something new. But whichever one your child is, every child can be enticed to branch out a bit when you add some love and fun into the food mix.

October 13, 2015

Tips To Get You Back In Shape This Summer

New moms often struggle to find any time for themselves. Between what seems like constant feeding, changing and washing, exercise is the last thing on your mind. Yet, getting back into shape is not about maintaining a perfect physique but keeping your energy and fitness levels on par with the increased demands of your new mommy life. Skechers, the globally trusted brand behind Skechers GOwalk 3 walking shoes, believes that a few minutes of focused walking in a week can be a game changer for a new mom that may be descending into burnout or post-baby blues: Get moving when you can – You don’t need to belong to a gym, you don’t need to fit in with a schedule of classes, and you don’t need a completely new wardrobe to get started. You can pick up your house keys, put on your walking shoes, and get out there, whenever it suits you. If you’re a working mom, take your walking break during your lunch hour – you’ll be extra-refreshed and alert when you return to your desk. A few minutes is all you need – You don’t need to be out walking for hours. A 30 minute brisk walk five days a week will help you lose weight, boost your fitness and strengthen your heart. If 30 minutes sounds like a long time, start with 10 minutes, and build up to longer time frames over a week or two. Find a space that relaxes you – Walking in a park or green space can help reduce depression and raise self-esteem, especially when you’ve spent your maternity leave serving the needs of another at the expense of your own. Don’t forget your tummy – You’ll get the best results if you tighten your tummy muscles while you’re walking. This will help you walk up straight, and help your breathing too. Walking isn’t just about your legs – It’s about your arms too! Swinging them as you walk tones the muscles in your arms, shoulders and upper back, and while you may not get Obamarms just from walking, it’ll be a good start… Invest in proper walking shoes – When you’re trying them on make sure that your toes have room to wiggle and that your heels don’t slip. Choose a shoe that’s lightweight and flexible too. Track your progress – You can choose an app on your mobile phone. You’ll be able to track your distance covered as well as your time, and you can set new goals for yourself too. Check if walking saves you money – Many medical aids offer loyalty points for tracking your activity with a pedometer, so chances are you could save yourself some money through the discounts they offer as a reward for investing in your health. Keep things interesting – Walk different routes every day. Ringing the changes will also mean that you don’t make yourself vulnerable to criminal elements who monitor your movements. Vary your pace too and the landscape – Hills may seem daunting, but they’ll work your glutes and burn more calories, while sprint walking between landmarks will add to variety and alleviate boredom too. Find a friend to walk with – If you’re feeling isolated, walking time could be a great way to catch up with your partner or close friend without any other distractions.

October 9, 2015

Picture Perfect: The Pressure On Girls & Woman To Look Perfect

I had seen a movie clip of Dustin Hoffman getting emotional during an interview about the movie “Tootsie”, in which he had to dress up and act like a woman. He said he thought that the character he played was an interesting woman – one that he (as a man) would’ve enjoyed meeting. However, because she was unattractive (in the eyes of society), in all honesty he probably wouldn’t have looked twice at her. He said that he felt terrible when he thought of all the potentially fascinating, interesting women out there who could’ve enriched his life if he’d only been able to look past their physical appearance. This got me thinking: Why do we place so much value on looks, especially when it comes to girls and women? Yes, we do with boys and men too, but they seem to have a bit more leeway – “He’s not great looking BUT he has such a lovely sense of humour!” or “He may not be gorgeous, BUT he’s really intelligent and hard working.” I don’t believe it’s only men who judge women by their appearance either – we’re even more critical of ourselves and of each other! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been with a group of women and one has exclaimed: “Wow, what a gorgeous woman!” and someone else has said: “Yes, but… look at her shoes OR those boobs are definitely not real OR I really don’t like those pants!…” Why this need to tear each other down? It’s almost an inherent insecurity we’ve bought into because few of us fit into that image of perfection society tells us we should live up to. In a Forbes magazine article entitled: “Why most women will never become CEO”, the male writer says: “Guys are still checking out the girls in the office. I see their body language noticeably change whenever a pretty female employee enters the room. Words, thoughts and important points are missed because of a new perfume or a low cut blouse. It works the other way too. The less attractive female employees are also frequently ignored…for the opposite reason. Men are still trying to take women seriously in the workplace. But most haven’t progressed beyond the maturity level of my teenage son and his friends. But that’s just the beginning. Women also have more personal and social pressures than men. And this affects their ability to further their careers and get the experience they need to become good managers.” The media fixation on gorgeous female fashion models, actresses, singers and other celebrities doesn’t help matters. We compare ourselves to them and usually fall short. Even if we’re told we’re attractive, we find it hard to believe because we aren’t as skinny, successful, or as perfect as them. We do this despite the fact that some of these celebrities are hopeless role models, shallow and narcissistic, often displaying inane and pathetic behaviour. It starts when we’re little girls – the pretty ones get most of the attention, and continues through our painful teenage years when so many young girls develop eating disorders, start cutting, or begin other unhealthy habits trying so desperately to be accepted and fit into society’s norm. Statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery from 2012 corroborate this desperate need by women to be perceived as attractive: 90% of all cosmetic procedures were performed on women. Of those, the most common surgical cosmetic procedure was breast augmentation (330 631 procedures) and the most common non-surgical procedure was botox injections (3 257 913 procedures). I think it’s all totally ridiculous and the buck stops with US – with women! We aren’t going to be taken seriously by men until we show them that WE value each other’s strength, intelligence, kindness, nurturing spirit and emotional expression more than we value a perfect size 8 with C cup boobs and a cellulite-free bod! Let’s celebrate our uniqueness and individuality rather than buying into this ridiculous “Stepford Wives” ideal. We should be looking up to women who have made or are making a difference in this world – like the late Audrey Hepburn (who worked tirelessly for UNICEF), Oprah Winfrey (not just because of her enormous success but because of what she had to overcome to achieve it), Rosa Parks (who exemplified courage), Marie Curie (Nobel Prize winner), Katharine Hepburn, Eleanor Roosevelt and how about our very own icons like Helen Zille and Redi Thlabi. These are beautiful women not just because of their physical appearance but because of what they have inside and what they stand for – women with the confidence to be themselves – women with gumption!

October 8, 2015

Nutritional Deficiencies: Know the Signs 

You might think nutrient deficiencies are a thing of the past, reserved for sailors trapped at sea. But even today, it’s possible to lack some of the essential nutrients your body needs to function optimally. Nutrient deficiencies alter bodily functions and processes such as water balance, enzyme function, nerve signalling, digestion and metabolism. Resolving deficiencies is important for optimal growth, development and function. Nutrient deficiencies can also lead to other diseases. For example, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies can cause osteopenia or osteoporosis, two conditions marked by brittle bones and inadequate iron can cause anaemia, which zaps your energy. Tell-tale symptoms are usually the first clue that you might be low in one or more important vitamins or minerals. In this newsletter we’ll try to help you detect nutritional deficiencies since knowing what to look for is part of the battle. Who is most at risk of nutrient deficiencies? A healthy diet can provide all a growing body needs, but the reality of our busy lifestyles and sometimes finicky eating habits can lead to a nutrient deficiency. Even if you do eat well, other factors – such as your age, lifestyle and certain health conditions (digestive issues e.g. Coeliac Disease) – can impact your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients in your food. Nutrient requirements are also increased during different stages of the lifecycle when the body calls for additional vitamins and minerals. Teenagers Rapid growth during adolescence requires extra nutrients to provide in the baby’s increased demands. These increased needs, coupled with dysfunctional eating or poor eating habits due to peer pressure, erratic eating times and increased activity levels, make adolescents the ideal candidates for supplementation. Elderly The aging process may increase the need for some nutrients due to the fact that the elderly do not always eat enough of the right kinds of food or that the body is no longer able to absorb nutrients effectively. Elderly are very often at risk of developing zinc deficiency. Smoking Even moderate smoking can reduce the body’s vitamin C level significantly. Should one smoke in excess of 20 cigarettes per day vitamin C levels can be reduced by as much as 40%. Alcohol Excessive alcohol intake will not only enable you to dance naked on table tops at parties, but can also interfere with the body’s ability to absorb B complex vitamins such as thiamine. Exercise programmes Intensive exercise regimes may increase the need for anti-oxidants, B-vitamins and protein. When a weight reducing diet is combined with an increase in exercise levels, nutrient needs are increased even more, especially that of the B complex vitamins. Stress – Living in the fast lane Busy lifestyle as well as high stress levels can increase your body’s demand for certain nutrients and if not met can cause nutritional deficiencies. Restricted diets Individuals that avoid certain foods like in the case of food allergies or intolerances or have dietary restrictions for example vegetarians may miss out on essential nutrients. Vegetarians are especially at risk of developing vitamin B12, zinc, iron or calcium deficiency. Weight loss programmes Individuals who are often on weight-reducing diets may find it difficult to meet the recommended level of nutrient intake for their age. This is especially the case if you eat less than 1600kcal a day – placing you at risk of nutrient deficiencies. Most weight loss plans are less than the above-mentioned number of calories and therefore warrant the use of nutritional supplements such as a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. Medication Certain medications interfere with the absorption of nutrients e.g. long term Metformin usage (seen in Type 2 Diabetics, Insulin resistance and PCOS) increases the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Regular measurements of vitamin B12 blood levels during long term treatment should preferably performed to detect possible deficiency. Women using oral contraceptive agents (the pill) could experience low levels of several vitamins – especially vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin C. Laxatives can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamin A, D and E. Meanwhile, soil quality, storage time and processing can significantly influence the levels of certain nutrients in your food, such that even healthy produce may not be as nutrient-rich as you may think. Know the signs: Nutrient deficiencies can be sneaky, unless you are seriously deficient for some time, you may notice no symptoms at all, leading you to believe (falsely) that your body is getting all the nutrition you need. Thankfully our body gives us small warning signs, helping us figure out what nutrients we might be missing out on. Eye, hair, nail, mouth and skin symptoms are among the early outward warning signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Here’s how to recognise common nutrient deficiencies. Hands If you tend to have very cold hands it may indicate magnesium deficiency or perhaps could be a symptom related to hypothyroidism or chronic fatigue. Nails If you have small white spots in your nails it may indicate the deficiency of minerals but more often, it indicates zinc deficiency. A zinc deficiency is also indicated by longitudinal ridges on the nails. While transverse ridges could be indicative of a protein deficiency. If your nails are soft or brittle it is a possible sign of magnesium deficiency. Interestingly, if you bite your nails it is usually because your body is low in minerals. Hair Coarse, dry and brittle hair is often caused by zinc and/or vitamin A deficiency. While dandruff could be due to a deficiency in vitamins B2, B6, zinc, magnesium, biotin. Greying of the hair is usually a sign of the times but it can also be exacerbated by a deficiency in folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin and minerals. Hair loss can be caused by a lack of protein, zinc, vitamin B6, selenium, biotin. Skin Dry skin in general is caused by a deficiency of vitamins A, C and essential fatty acids. If you have B-vitamin deficiency, your skin on your face and sides of the nose will be greasy red scaly. Seborrheic dermatitis around your

October 8, 2015

Sardines Yuck! But they can make your baby smarter

Sardines are so crucial to your child’s development, that little tins of the stuff should be included in the baby gift bags that the hospital sends you home with. There are some aspects of motherhood that truly embody the concept of self-sacrifice. Feeding your baby sardines is at the top of this list. And while sardines may be at the bottom of the aquatic food chain, they’re the ultimate brain food for your baby. Many moms don’t go the sardine route though. They simply don’t think of it; they can’t stomach the thought, or they figure that because it’s not something they would necessarily eat themselves, they don’t see a point of feeding it to their baby. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Sardines can actually make your baby smarter. Almost 60% of our brains are made up of fat (Essential Fats, not the type of fat that makes your jeans too tight). Our brains (and the brains of our babies) are critically dependent on these Essential Fatty Acids. Simply put: your brain cannot work without them. And your baby’s brain cannot grow without them. But here is the greatest spanner in the works: your body cannot produce these Essential Fatty Acids on its own. Bummer. They unequivocally have to be obtained from dietary sources. So listen up: Unless you are feeding your child foods that contain Essential Fatty Acids, your baby’s little growing and developing body will not make this chemical on its own. Luckily, breast milk and formula take care of this, but as babies gradually drink less milk, the foods they eat will need to step up to the plate. Literally. AND THAT MEANS BRAVING THE SARDINES… MAKE NO MISTAKE: IT IS REVOLTING I won’t even try to sugar coat this. I literally gag every time I open a tin. #babyjake on the other hand cannot swallow these little fishies fast enough (he sampled his first sardine around 8 months). I consider this to be my greatest act of motherly self-sacrifice, even more so than getting up at 3am or cleaning up projectile pools of puke. So brace yourself. Because the first time your baby burps sardine in your face, you may reconsider the whole thing. But feeding your baby sardines is just another one of your must-do mommy duties. BONES AND ALL The bones in sardines are very small and soft, and dissolve when crushed. The only part of the sardine that I discard for #babyjake is the tail (just typing those words makes me nauseous). From the bones, to the skin, and even the little egg sac (yes, I actually cried real tears the first time I discovered this lurking inside the inner cavities of the sardine carcass), it all gets mushed up. I panic if a fleck of sardine actually makes skin-to-skin- contact with me. So much so that I considered wearing gloves to prepare Jake’s lunch. But the calcium benefit of the bones cannot be overlooked, so just suck it up and brave it. THEY’RE CHEAP AND CONVENIENT While recommending Wild Alaskan Salmon as the ultimate source of Omega 3’s would be affordably unrealistic, you have no excuses to steer clear of sardines. R20 – R30 per can, and they last over 3 days. You don’t need to cook anything. Just open a tin (gag reflex will kick in), mash them up with some avo and cream cheese (2 of my other favourite no-cook ingredients that create a nutritious meal in seconds). NOT ALL CANNED SARDINES ARE CREATED EQUAL So opt for the more expensive brands. I like King Oscar, available at Pick n Pay. Also be sure to buy sardines in oil, not sauce. Don’t buy a boneless variety – remember you want the calcium from the bones. Opt for olive oil rather than soybean oil. And check the ingredients for added preservatives. Some tinned sardines do have added salt, so just rinse them off before mushing. DISGUISE THE SH*T OUT OF IT Babies don’t get bored of tastes, so once you find a way to get them to swallow the sardines, stick with it. And don’t give up if your baby doesn’t seem all that eager. Persevere! #babyjake’s best sardine concoction consists of sardines, avo and cream cheese (you could even mix them in with banana and yogurt, if your baby prefers their food on the sweeter side). You may want to add some pureed veggies or fruit, just to make it more baby friendly in terms of texture and taste. You can totally cheat here, and throw in some organic jar food rather than stressing about using freshly steamed stuff, or defrosting from the freezer. Opt for simple flavours like butternut, apple or sweet potato. The Olli range is completely free of preservatives, and is a great supplementary ingredient to add to your home-made meals. If I deem it fit for #babyjake, you too can use it rest assured. ONE CAN PER WEEK WILL MEET THE QUOTA Open a tin. Take out three or four little fishies. Rinse, mash and mix with other ingredients. Store the remaining sardines in their oil, in a Tupperware, in the fridge. Use over 2 -3 days. So I open one can per week, and use it within 2-3 days. #babyjake therefore eats sardines for 2 or 3 days in a row (per week). That takes care of his weekly Omega 3 quota. BEYOND THE BRAINY BENEFITS Sardines also contain Vitamin B and iron, and are very low in mercury (often a concern with other types of fish). And believe it or not, they’re a great immune booster. SARDINES VERSUS PILCHARDS FYI: Sardines and pilchards are the same thing. Sardines are the smaller fish, whereas the larger, older ones are referred to as Pilchards. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT SARDINES ARE GOOD FOR YOUR BABY. BUT FOR THE MOMS WHO ARE INTERESTED, HERE’S MORE TO THE SCIENCE BEHIND SARDINES (AND HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO FEED YOUR BABY OMEGAS): Infant brain growth occurs most drastically during pregnancy and the first few years of

September 29, 2015

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement	1 year	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cookie	Duration	Description
_ga	2 years	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gid	1 day	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visted in an anonymous form.

Cookie	Duration	Description
_gat_gtag_UA_18530557_4	1 minute	No description
pron_ip	session	No description
pvc_visits[0]	1 day	This cookie is created by post-views-counter. This cookie is used to count the number of visits to a post. It also helps in preventing repeat views of a post by a visitor.
tk_ai	session	Gathers information for WordPress by themselves, first party analytics tool about how WP services are used. A collection of internal metrics for user activity, used to improve user experience.