Children

Like any parent, you don’t want to see your child suffer. But unfortunately, pain is a fact of life. At one time or another, your child will experience it – whether through an accident or illness, or simply a part of growing up. But how does your child feel pain? What purpose does it serve? We’re here to help you understand your child’s pain a little better.

With the rise of technology in recent years, children have a very different upbringing and childhood to the generations before them, and family life today is very different from a few decades ago. Whether they are doing their homework on the family computer, checking their social networking sites on their phone or playing games on their tablets, handheld devices like these are keeping our kids entertained for hours on end. But did you know these electronics could be causing them to suffer from headaches? Looking at screens for a long time without a break could be causing eye strain, which can cause headaches. Remind your teenager to take regular breaks to rest their eyes.

Discovering your child’s first tooth is an exciting milestone. But the feeling of achievement can soon be replaced by sleepless nights for the family as your baby goes through teething. However, there are many things you can do to help soothe your child and keep the rest of your household smiling.

Yes, it’s true. Babies get blocked noses too. Like in adults, the reasons for a baby blocked nose can include allergies, infections (such as the common cold), or other triggers. Especially for newborns, a blocked nose can really mess with their ability to breathe, as they predominately do so through their nose. As a baby really can’t do much for itself - like blow their own nose, it’s really up to us to look after them and provide relief where possible. So, knowing some strategies which may help relieve a baby blocked nose is key. Here we offer some suggestions to help manage your baby’s blocked nose as well as when to see a doctor.

Teething is a natural and normal part of our growth and development. Our first teeth start to emerge when we are babies, which can be a disruptive and challenging time. Generally, most infants start teething around four-to-seven months. In this article we’ll explore some strategies to help soothe a teething baby. If your child is in discomfort from teething pain, your doctor or pharmacist may recommend temporary relief using ibuprofen or paracetamol.

There are a range of childhood illnesses which most children will potentially experience as they grow up. In particular, newborns and young infants can be more vulnerable to childhood illnesses as their immune systems are still developing. Yet unlike adults, younger children and babies are less able to communicate what they are feeling, which means it may be a little more tricky to know what’s going on with them if they do become sick. As a parent or caregiver, thankfully there are some tell-tale signs you can look out for when it comes to many common childhood illnesses including: Runny or stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing and/or fever Breathing is different to usual Changes in sleep patterns Dehydration, vomiting and/or diarrhoea Rashes Irritated eyes, glazed eyes or red or watery eyes Here we discuss some of the more common childhood illnesses, including their symptoms and when to seek help. It’s important to speak with your doctor if unsure or uncomfortable when your child is not feeling well.

Earache is a common complaint that can occur at any age, but it is especially common in young children.1 Unfortunately, babies and young children are more prone to middle ear infection, known as otitis media.2 This common type of earache happens when the middle part of the ear becomes inflamed, which can occur after a mild viral infection like a cold.3 Earache can be distressing for children as well as parents when they see their young child in pain. So, it’s good to know what earache symptoms to look out for, the causes of earache, and how to treat an earache in a child.

So, you’ve just gone through teething (or you’re about to) and now your baby has a brand-new tooth that needs to be looked after. You may think that your baby is too young for any sort of dental care routine but that couldn’t be further from the truth! From the moment that first, shiny tooth pops its head out into the open, dental health becomes important. Until their adult teeth come through, your child will need to rely on their milk teeth, so it is very important that you begin to care for them as early as possible, beginning with a trip to the dentist.