You don’t need a pediatrician in Lubbock to tell you that parenting presents many unique challenges. However, you may be surprised to know that the basic outline for healthy parenting comes down to three essentials: sufficient sleep, smart food choices, and physical and mental exercise. The challenges arise when it comes time to take the steps necessary to achieve these key parenting goals. Here are some tips to help you out.
Encourage Healthy Sleep Habits
Most parents are hardwired to respond to a baby crying when they should be sleeping. If the crying continues for no obvious reason, it can be tempting to allow a newborn or infant to sleep in your bed. Doing so, however, increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For infants under the age of one, back sleeping is considered the safest position. With toddlers and teens, encourage healthy sleep habits by:
• Not giving bottles to toddlers at night (because of an increased risk of cavities) • Discouraging teens from getting into the habit of falling asleep with the TV on • Getting teens into the habit of putting their devices away or out of reach at night to avoid unnecessary anxiety that may disrupt sleep
Lay the Groundwork for Healthy Eating Choices
Toddlers are notoriously picky eaters, which can be frustrating when your little one turns their nose up at some fresh peas or carrots. Older kids, on the other hand, may prefer a bag of chips over sliced apples when looking for a quick snack. So, what can you do as a parent?
• Make water a commonly served/available beverage • Prepare meals with leafy green veggies, lean meats, beneficial spices like ginger, cayenne pepper, and turmeric, and plant-based nutrients • Minimize access to processed, fried, sugary, or fatty foods
Exercise Your Child’s Mind and Body
Mental “exercise” can be as simple as reading to your child from birth and on into their developmental years, as well as, playing fun and stimulating games that are age-appropriate. With physical activity, children are more likely to develop a natural inclination to be active, and even more if you include fun exercise activities such as biking, jumping, random playing, swimming, and favorite sports in the schedule.
An added challenge for parents in today’s technologically-connected world is convincing children to give their devices a break long enough to get active and moving. This is more likely to be an achievable goal if you set a good example and turn off your own devices and find fun, movement-based activities to do together.
Regardless of your child’s age, parenting isn’t something you have to do alone. If you need some guidance, a kids doctor in Lubbock, like the one welcoming patients at Dr. Alami Kids, can offer specific suggestions or answer your questions.
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