How to keep your baby healthy this winter

How to keep your baby healthy this winter

How can I keep my baby from getting sick this winter?

Good question, since as sure as the mercury drops, cold and flu viruses make the rounds through homes and daycare facilities each year. If only there were a way to guarantee that your baby won't get sick. Is there?

"Not really," says Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Many common winter viruses are airborne, so if your baby takes a breath within, say, 4 to 6 feet of someone who's sick, he can easily catch the bug himself.

What's more, most people stricken by winter viruses are contagious before they develop symptoms. So pulling your baby away from a sniffling, coughing, or sneezing pal doesn't guarantee that he won't come down with similar symptoms himself.

Neither will bundling him up: Studies have shown that exposure to cold or damp weather doesn't increase a child's likelihood of catching a cold, says Offit.

Still, don't give up without a fight. There are several simple steps you can take to help fend off germs and keep your baby as healthy as possible this winter.

So what should I do?

While it's practically inevitable that your baby will get a few colds this winter no matter what you do, it won't hurt to try these germ-fighting strategies:

Wash his hands — and yours.
Regular hand washing is the simplest, most effective way to get rid of cold and flu germs. So wash your hands after you change your baby's diaper and wipe his runny nose, as well as before preparing food.

Wash your baby's hands frequently, too — especially before eating (once he's eating solids) and when he comes home from daycare or an outing.

Also be diligent about hand washing for siblings, especially if they're sick as well. No need to pay extra for fancy antibacterial soaps — any soap will remove germs from the skin's surface.

Make sure all of your baby's caregivers are vigilant about hand washing, too. If your baby's in daycare, ask what the official hand-washing policy is. If it's less than satisfactory, don't be shy about requesting a change and reminding caregivers that this protects their health as well.

If your child's in daycare, check into the "sick-kid" policy.
Make sure your child's daycare center has a reasonable policy on keeping sick kids away from healthy ones. Many facilities require a child with a fever, the flu, vomiting, diarrhea, or an eye infection to stay home until these symptoms subside.

If you often notice obviously sick kids at your baby's daycare, it's probably time to chat with the caregiver or director about enforcing the rules on sick kids more stringently. (Of course, these kids were contagious before their symptoms showed up, but you still don't want them sneezing or coughing around your baby.)

Get your baby vaccinated.
You can help protect your child from some viruses and bacteria simply by making sure his vaccinations are up to date and that he gets a yearly flu shot once he's 6 months old.

Do what you can to boost your baby's immunity naturally.
To provide your baby with optimum immunity, breastfeed him if you can. Once he's eating solids, make sure he gets all the nourishment he needs by offering him a variety of healthy foods. Create a schedule that will help him get plenty of sleep each night as well as lots of physical activity every day.

What to do when your baby gets sick

Since children average eight to ten colds a year, it's a good bet that your baby will bring home a few bugs this winter — no matter how hard you try to prevent it. When that happens, the best you can do is make him comfortable until the virus works its way out of his system. A few tips:

Try saline nose drops.
Saline drops help to thin and clear nasal mucus and relieve congestion. For best results, try using a bulb syringe: If your baby will let you, tilt his head back slightly, then gently squeeze the bulb to deposit the saline drops in his nose. Next, use the bulb to remove the mucus. Repeat this process several times a day.

Make sure your baby gets enough rest.
While this may be easier said than done, the more rest your baby gets, the sooner he'll feel better. Encourage a siesta or two each day. When your baby's not resting in his crib, find some quiet activities to share — read to him, watch a video with him, or play with puppets together.

Hook up the humidifier.
This is especially important at night and during naps, when a persistent cough or difficulty breathing can prevent your baby from getting the rest he needs. The moist air from a humidifier or vaporizer will thin your baby's mucous secretions, helping to calm his cough and relieve congestion.

Urge your baby to drink up.
Children lose body fluids quickly when they're sick — especially if they're running a fever or have diarrhea. To replenish these fluids, breastfeed or formula feed your baby often. If you think he may be getting dehydrated, give him a little bit of water, too, or an electrolyte solution if he's 4 months or older.

Once your baby's eating solids, offer him extra-juicy fruit (such as watermelon or oranges), diluted juice, or even a frozen juice pop.

Know when to call the doctor.
While most winter viruses clear up on their own within several days, some can turn into more serious conditions that require prompt treatment.

Call the doctor if your baby is pulling on his ear (which can signal an ear infection); is wheezing or has trouble breathing (bronchial infection or pneumonia); or has diarrhea or vomiting, which can lead to dangerous dehydration.

Also call the doctor if your baby is younger than 3 months and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher. A baby this young needs to be checked for serious infection or disease.

If your baby is at least 3 months old, ask your doctor what her guidelines are for calling in. She may suggest that you call if your baby is between 3 and 6 months old and his temperature reaches 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) or higher, or if your baby is over 6 months and his fever reaches 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) or higher.

Make time to snuggle.
When kids are feeling under the weather, they need a little extra TLC. So in addition to keeping a constant watch on your baby's temperature, make time to simply snuggle.

Keep it all in perspective.
When you're taking care of a sick, miserable baby, try to remember that most winter illnesses pass in a week or so — and all of them will ultimately help strengthen your child's immune system.

As your baby gets older and builds up immunity to viruses, including many of the 200 that cause the common cold, he'll log fewer and fewer sick days. In the meantime, keep up the hand washing — and stock up on tissues.

 

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Painless Ways to Lose Weight

Painless Ways to Lose Weight

Easy weight loss tips you can slip into your everyday life.

Painless weight loss? If you're desperately trying to squeeze in workouts and avoid your favorite high-calorie treats, it can seem like there's nothing pain-free about it.
Yet while eating healthier and slipping in exercise does take some work, it really doesn't have to require heroic effort. Making just a few simple lifestyle changes can pack a big weight loss punch over time.

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WebMD spoke to weight loss experts and everyday people who've figured out a few painless ways to lose weight -- and keep it off. Here are their top tips on how to lose weight without sweating it too much.

1. Add, Don't Subtract

Forget diet denial: Try adding foods to your diet instead of subtracting them.
Add in healthy goodies you really love, like deep-red cherries, juicy grapes, or crunchy snow peas. Slip those favorite fruits into your bag lunch and breakfast cereal; add the veggies into soups, stews, and sauces.
"Adding in really works, taking away never does," says registered dietitian David Grotto, RD, LDN, author of 101 Optimal Life Foods, but do remember to keep an eye on overall calories. And don't forget to add in something physical, too, whether it's doing a few dance moves before dinner, shooting hoops, or taking a quick stroll.

2. Forget About Working Out

If the word "exercise" inspires you to creative avoidance, then avoid it. Maybe the trick to enjoying a workout may be to never call it working out.
"There's some truth to that," Grotto tells WebMD, and once you start your not-calling-it-exercise plan, Grotto says you'll discover "the way good health feels knocks down the roadblocks that were preventing you from exercising in the first place."
So burn calories and invigorate muscles by beachcombing, riding bikes, grass skiing, making snow angels, hiking, washing the car, playing Frisbee, chasing the dog around the yard, or even enjoying great sex. After all, a rose by any other name ...

3. Go Walking

Walking when the weather's nice is a super-easy way to keep fit, says Diane Virginias, a certified nursing assistant from New York. "I enjoy the seasons," she says, adding that even when she's short on time she'll go out for a few minutes. "Even a five minute walk is a five minute walk."
No sidewalks in your neighborhood? Try these tips for slipping in more steps:

• Trade your power mower for a push version.
• Park your car at the back of the lot.
• Get out of the office building and enjoy walking meetings.
• Sweep the drive or rake the leaves instead of using a leaf-blower.
• Get off the bus a few stops earlier.
• Hike the mall, being sure to hit all the levels.
• Take the stairs every chance you get.
• Sign up for charity walks.
• Crank the music and get your heart rate up the next time you mop or vacuum.

It all adds up. If you walk twice a day for 10 minutes and try a few of these tips, you may find yourself with a low-impact, 30-minute workout easily tucked under your belt.

Easy weight loss tips you can slip into your everyday life.

(continued)

4. Lighten the Foods You Already Love

One of the easiest ways to cut back without feeling denied is to switch to lower-calorie versions of the foods you crave. A pizza tastes just as good with reduced-fat cheese, and when you garnish low-fat ice cream with your favorite toppers, who notices those missing calories?
And while you're trimming fat calories, keep an eye on boosting fiber, suggests registered dietitian Elaine Magee, RD, MPH, author of Tell Me What to Eat If I Suffer From Heart Disease and Food Synergy.
Fiber helps you feel satisfied longer, so while you lighten family favorites, you can easily amp up the fiber by adding a cup of whole wheat flour to your pizza dough, or toss a handful of red bell peppers on the pie.
Don't forget to lighten the drinks going with that meal. Try switching from high-calorie favorites to diet soda or light beer, or maybe add a spritz of seltzer to your wine.
Hate low-cal drinks? Mix your preferred drinks with a splash of the low-cal option, then increase the ratio as your taste buds adjust. And don't forget to keep pouring that ultimate beverage, says Magee: water!

5. Because Hydration Helps -- Really!

Down some water before a meal and you won't feel so famished, says David Anthony, an information technology consultant from Atlanta. "Drinking a glass of water before a meal helps me watch what I eat. … I don't just hog everything, since I'm not so hungry."
Magee, who also writes the "Healthy Recipe Doctor" blog for WebMD, adds that for the compulsive snacker it's a great idea to keep no-calorie beverages at hand "as a way to keep your mouth busy and less likely to snack on junk food."
Going to a party? Grab a low-cal drink in one hand and keep it there. Not only does it make it harder to graze the buffet, but you'll also be less tempted to sip endless cocktails, too.
Finally, keeping your body refreshed with plenty of water may also help your workout, says Anthony. Staying hydrated means "I can exercise more, and longer, than if I don't drink water."

6. Share and Share Alike

With the massive meals served at so many American restaurants, it's easy to go Dutch -- with the dinner plate.
"When we go out, I often share a meal with my wife," Anthony tells WebMD. "We've been known to split a dessert, even a pint of beer. That way, we don't feel stuffed, and we save some money."
You can share more than just a meal out. Why not double up on a bicycle built for two? Go halves on the cost of a personal trainer? Maybe split a gym membership?
"When you're trying to eat better or get more exercise, you can be more successful if you do it with a partner or group," says Grotto. "The community, the partnership, whether online or in person, it really helps."
Twice the motivation, without twice the effort -- a steal of a deal.

7. Tune In, Tone Up

The American Heart Association knows what we love: television. And they also know we need to get more exercise. So why not combine the two, they ask?
Try dancing to the music when you tune into your favorite music show, or practice some stress-relieving cardio boxing when your least favorite reality contestant is on camera.
During commercials pedal your stationery bike, walk the treadmill, or slip in a little strength training doing bicep curls with cans of your favorite fizzy beverage as weights. Or get inspired to really focus: Put in a high-energy exercise DVD and get motivated by the pros onscreen.
It doesn't matter exactly what you do, so long as you're up and active. Aim for at least 15 minutes, says the AHA. But who knows? If you get really engrossed, you just might outlast the last survivor.

8. Size Matters

Eating less without feeling denied is as close as your dinnerware.
That's because while a small portion served on a large plate can leave you craving more, a smaller plate gives the visual signal that you already have more.
"People go by physical cues," when they eat, Grotto tells WebMD. We know we've had enough because we see the bottom of our bowl or plate. "A smaller plate full of food just feels more satisfying than a large plate with that same amount of food on it."
And don't forget smaller bowls, cups, and spoons. For example, try savoring a bowl of ice cream with a baby spoon. Not only does the pleasure last longer, but your body has time to register the food you've eaten.

9. Get Involved, or at Least Get to the Table

When your weight loss efforts lead to boredom or too much self-focus, get occupied with something else. "I eat more if I'm bored," says Virginias, "especially if I'm eating in front of the TV."
So take a break from the siren-call of the tube, and get occupied with things that have nothing to do with food.
For some, that might mean becoming involved with local politics, discovering yoga, or enjoying painting. Or maybe you want to help a child with a science project, repaint the bedroom, or take a class. The key: Have a life outside of weight loss.
Already busy enough? Then at least eat your meals at the table. "The TV is distracting, and I'm just not conscious of eating," Virginias tells WebMD. "Once I'm at the table, with a place setting, I'm much more aware of what I'm eating."

10. Lose It Today, Keep It Off Tomorrow

Finally, be patient. While cultivating that virtue isn't exactly painless, it may help to know that keeping weight off generally gets easier over time.
That's the result of a study published in Obesity Research, where researchers found that for people who had lost at least 30 pounds -- and kept it off for at least two years -- maintaining that weight loss required less effort as time went on.
So if you crave the results reported by successful "losers" like these -- improved self-confidence, a boost in mood, and better health -- cultivate patience. You may find your way to sweet (and nearly painless) weight loss success.

11. Bonus Tips

If 10 tips for painless weight loss (or maintenance) aren't enough, how about trying some of these ideas from WebMD's weight loss community members?

• Eat at the same times every day (including snacks). Sure you can't do this all the time, but some people find that knowing when to expect their next meal or snack makes them a lot less likely to graze. Our body appreciates rhythms, from seasons to tides, so why not give it what it craves?
• Make only one meal. Instead of making something high-cal for the family and low-cal for yourself, get everyone on the same healthy-eating page. Weight loss and maintenance is easier when everyone's eating the same thing -- and you're not tempted to taste someone else's calorie-dense food.
• Remember that little things add up. So keep eating a little fruit here, some veggies there, continue grabbing 10 minute walks between meetings. Weight loss is a journey guided by your unique needs, so hook into what works for you -- and do it!

 

 

 

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