Collaborative post
As soon as you become a parent, your mission is to raise happy, healthy children. The newborn days whizz by and before you know it, you’re waving at the school gates. It’s not always possible to protect your child from every illness or ailment, especially once they start nursery and school, but there are ways to encourage good health and reduce risks. In this guide, we’ll share some simple hacks.
Developmental milestones
Milestones are there to guide parents, but they can be both a help and a hindrance. It’s great for parents to be aware of what to expect at 6 months and research 9 month milestone development goals, but it’s also important to remember that these steps and targets are a guideline.
If your child isn’t sitting up at 6 months or crawling at 9 or 10 months, don’t panic. Babies develop at different speeds and you may find that your baby is advanced in some areas and slightly behind in others. This is particularly relevant if your baby was premature or slow to gain weight after birth.
The main thing to consider when reviewing developmental milestones is that you can seek advice if you have any concerns. Don’t hesitate to contact your health visitor or GP if you have questions about what your baby should be doing, or you’re worried that they haven’t smiled yet or they don’t respond to your voice.
Keeping tabs on your baby’s development is beneficial to give you an idea of what you can expect in the weeks and months ahead and flag potential delays. Help your baby to grow and develop by playing with them, communicating and providing a supportive, stimulating environment.
Keep up with routine checks and tests and take your baby to be weighed regularly up to the age of 12 months. Have fun with toys and games, encourage tummy time every day and talk and read to your baby. They learn by watching and listening to you and others.
As your child gets older, they’ll likely hurtle towards new milestones, including walking, running, talking and eating independently. Keep an eye on age-related goals and reach out if you’ve got any questions or concerns. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself or your child if they don’t hit every target bang on time.
Exercise
Exercise is beneficial for children of all ages. From babies who are learning to roll, crawl and walk to big kids who enjoy running around football pitches and tennis courts, being active is brilliant. Try to encourage an active lifestyle from the early days.
Play games with your kids, explore the great outdoors and have fun with exercise. Go for walks and bike rides, plan treasure hunts, try new activities and discover different environments. Go to the park or the beach, run around meadows, or follow a nature trail to find trees, flowers and bugs. It’s a great idea to get children used to exercise and expose them to outdoor environments from a young age. Exercise should form part of their daily routine. Being active is beneficial for children’s mental and physical health.
Experts recommend 60 minutes of exercise per day for 5-18-year-olds and 3 hours per day for toddlers and preschoolers. Examples of activities include jumping, walking, messy play, climbing, skipping, dancing, swimming and riding a bike. It’s not advisable for young children to spend long periods sitting or lying down. Always break long journeys up and avoid prolonged periods of activities such as watching TV.
Healthy eating
Healthy eating is critical for growth and development. From day one, it’s important for parents to nourish their children. For the first six months, most babies will only need milk. At 6 months, many parents choose to start weaning and introducing food to their child’s diet. After 12 months, babies need less milk and most have three meals a day.
As your child grows, ensure they have access to healthy, balanced meals, which are rich in nutrients. Encourage them to try a wide range of foods from an early age and try to eat together as a family as much as possible. Get kids involved in making meals and cooking and let them choose recipes and plan weekly menus. Talk to your kids about the benefits of healthy foods and encourage them to learn about nutrition. There are lots of resources you can access online, as well as books and TV shows.
Most parents encounter problems with their kids as they get older. Almost all mums and dads will have tales about children throwing food on the floor, refusing to eat certain foods or only asking for junk food or treats.
Encouraging healthy habits from a very young age can help, but don’t panic if your child goes through spells when they’re harder to please. Focus on the foods they like and use tactics, such as hiding vegetables or creating beautifully presented plates, to entice them.
If you’re making pasta, for example, you can puree or mash up carrots, onions, mushrooms, celery and peppers in a tomato sauce to boost their intake of vegetables. Alternatively, you could make a dragon or a crocodile out of a cucumber and peppers or use fresh fruit to create a big smiley face. Sites and apps like Pinterest and Instagram are fantastic for getting inspiration for child-friendly recipes.
Good-quality sleep
We all know that a lack of sleep makes us crabby. Children and adults struggle if they don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. Sleep is one of the most common talking points among parents, especially those with babies and young children. There is no universal magic spell for getting children to sleep well, but establishing a routine can be helpful. Ideally, you should look to do this after the age of around 4 months when babies start to show signs of sleep patterns.
Simple things like taking your baby for a walk so they can nap in the pram or putting them down at the same time each morning and giving them a bath, reading them a story and doing a night feed before bed each evening can make a huge difference. Try to follow your baby’s lead. Some people find sleep routines they see on social media and in books helpful, but they’re not for everyone. You know your baby best.
As your child gets older, it’s common to face different challenges, including potty training, nightmares and children wanting to stay up as long as possible. Having a set routine in the evening can really help with toddlers and older kids. Help them to relax and wind down before bed and turn the lights out at the same time every night. Create a dark, quiet and calming environment with soothing colours, comfortable textures and blackout curtains or blinds.
Mental health hacks
Mental health is often overlooked in comparison with physical health, but it’s equally important. As a parent, you probably dream of having happy children. Communicate with your kids, spend quality time together and focus on having fun. Let your children know that you’re there if they want to speak to you and listen to what they say. Talk openly about thoughts and feelings without making a big deal about it. You don’t have to sit down for an hour every day after school and debrief about how the day was and what kinds of emotions your child experienced, but it’s helpful to keep channels of communication open. Children should feel able to express emotions whether they’re positive or negative.
When you have a child, making sure they are happy and healthy becomes your top priority. It’s not possible to shield them from every illness or trauma, but there are some general health hacks that can lower risks and promote healthy growth and development. Be mindful of developmental milestones, encourage regular exercise and try to instil healthy eating and sleep habits from an early age. Have fun as a family, prioritise quality time and communicate openly with your children.