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“History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children" – Nelson Mandela

 

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You can also check out all of our practical videos on our YouTube Channel here - these include nappy changing, making up a bottle, topping and tailing and so much more!

 
 
Posts in Health
How to develop your child’s communication skills

Written by Kate Burgess, Speech and Language Therapist. Language and Communication development in children is a phenomenal process. Babies go from having an instinctive, reactive cry to being able to use hundreds of words in short phrases by the time they are three years old. And it continues to grow and develop well into primary school and beyond. 

For some children, this process happens smoothly without parents and carers feeling like they’re doing anything ‘extra’ or ‘special’. Just chatting along to your child, reading books, singing songs and hey presto! Language is developing. 

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Cow’s milk allergies and the milk ladder

Written by Emma Shafqat, Dietitian with a Difference. I have experience with cow’s milk allergies and dairy ladder (it is offically called the milk ladder) both professionally and personally. When my little girl was 12 months old, we made our first attempt at the milk ladder.

We made it past step one and two and then couldn’t get any further. Let’s just say there was a lot of crying and vomiting, so we took a break. After two more attempts and feeling like we would never enjoy birthday parties as a family, we finally made it to the top of the ladder when my daughter was three and a half… although - between you and me - she still flatly refuses cow’s milk, claiming she can’t have it, despite happily eating ice cream and chocolate milkshakes!

Suffice to say that I’ve been there. So here, I’ll take you through the types of cow’s milk allergies, signs and symptoms, and what to do if you think your child has a cow’s milk allergy.

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Dyslexia - thinking outside the box!

Written by Maihri Cameron, Family Consultant. Many dyslexic children find school a real challenge. Difficulties in perceived academic ability can influence self-esteem, confidence, social skills and leave children feeling like a round peg in a square hole. This is completely understandable when much of our school education is focused on reading, spelling, rote learning, memory and concentration, the very things that dyslexic people often struggle with.

But what can we do to support young children’s speech and language development?

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What should I have in my first aid kit?

Written by Sunny Dhain, Pharmacist, The Family Chemist. A first aid box or bag is an essential piece of family kit to have everything to hand for those little accidents and illnesses that pop up from time to time. But it’s not something we always think of packing when popping out with our little ones. So what should you consider keeping in a first aid kit both in the home and on the go?

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How to support children's speech and language development

Written by Charlotte Hall, Speech Therapy with Charlotte. Speech and language development is so important because it really underpins everything else. If a child is unable to express themselves or understand what others are saying, they will find it difficult to thrive academically, form meaningful relationships and achieve positive mental wellbeing.

But what can we do to support young children’s speech and language development?

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Coping with children’s sickness bugs

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. This is something which parents and carers dread! Dealing with sickness and/or diarrhoea is never something which we enjoy, but it is something which can come part and parcel with little ones.

Sickness and diarrhoea is common in children and adults. It can often be triggered due to a stomach bug, and sickness can normally last between 24-48 hours. The symptoms of diarrhoea can sometimes last for 5-7 days.

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My child has hay fever, what can I do to help?

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. Hay fever is a reaction to pollen which happens when pollen comes into contact with the mouth, nose, eyes or throat. Pollen from trees, grass and flowers can cause irritation, and in some cases make your little one feel quite poorly. Hay fever typically affects individuals between March and September and this can be when the pollen count is at its highest.

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Travel or motion sickness - how to help (and get rid of the smell from the car!)

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. In the last year, while we have been in lockdown, we haven’t been travelling long distances or using transport as much as we might have previously. This means that a lot of our babies and children are not used to travelling in a vehicle and we have recently had lots more parents asking us about motion sickness. As this is a situation lots of families are dealing with at the moment we thought that we would put a blog together all about it!

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Supporting Dads*

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. Very often when babies arrive there is a great deal of focus on Mum and the baby and Dads can often be left on the sidelines.  The arrival of a baby can be life changing for any parent and so we need to make sure that we are looking out for Dads at this monumental time. The adjustment for Dads can be significant, and there can be hormonal changes (testosterone, oestrogen, cortisol, and prolactin) in men after their baby arrives which can cause them to have baby blues or postnatal depression. I have worked with many families where I have had to actively encourage Dad to take a more active role and to show how important a role he has to play in his baby’s life.  We don’t want Dads to be on the sidelines, we want them to feel valued and empowered in their new role.  

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