Consult a doctor before giving your baby any medication, especially the first time. Babies are much more likely than adults to have adverse drug reactions, so giving your child prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication – even “herbal” medicines – is serious business.

Should your baby throw up or develop a rash after taking medication, call her doctor. Also, be sure to keep the number for Poison Control (800-222-1222) posted near your phone. Sometimes parents or caregivers find medicine near their babies and it’s hard to tell whether or not it’s been eaten. Even if you’re unsure, call for help.

Here are some medicines you should never give your baby.

Aspirin

Never give your baby aspirin or any medication containing aspirin unless instructed to do so by your baby’s doctor. Aspirin can make a child susceptible to Reye’s syndrome – a rare but potentially fatal illness. Don’t assume that the children’s medicines found in drugstores will be aspirin-free.

Read labels carefully (aspirin is sometimes referred to as “salicylate” or “acetylsalicylic acid”), and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure whether a product is aspirin-free.

For fever and other discomfort, ask your doctor about giving your baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen – but never give ibuprofen to a baby younger than 6 months.

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicine

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against giving OTC cough and cold medicines to babies. Studies show that they don’t actually help soothe symptoms in kids this age. And they can be harmful, especially when a child mistakenly gets more than the recommended dose.

In addition to side effects like drowsiness or sleeplessness, upset stomach, and a rash or hives, a child can suffer serious effects such as rapid heart rate, convulsions, and even death. Every year, thousands of children end up in emergency rooms across the nation after swallowing too much cough and cold medicine.

Over the past few years, though, emergency visits involving infants and toddlers who take too much of these medications have dropped in half. Health experts attribute the drop to the fact that manufacturers no longer market cough and cold medicines to young children.

If your baby’s miserable with a cold, you may want to try a humidifier or other home remedies.

Anti-nausea medication

Don’t give your baby a prescription or anti-nausea medication unless his doctor specifically recommends it. Most bouts of vomiting are pretty short-lived, and babies and children usually handle them just fine without any medication. In addition, anti-nausea medications have risks and possible complications. (If your baby is vomiting and begins to get dehydrated, contact his doctor for advice on what to do.)

Adult medication

Giving your baby a smaller dose of medicine meant for an adult is dangerous. Also, infant drops are more concentrated than medicine for older children, so be careful how much you give your baby. If the label doesn’t indicate an appropriate dose for the weight and age of your child, don’t give her that medication.

Medication prescribed for another person or condition

Prescription drugs intended for other people (like a sibling) or to treat other illnesses may be ineffective or even dangerous when given to your baby. Give him only medicine prescribed for him and his specific condition.

Anything expired

Toss out medicines, prescription and OTC alike, as soon as they expire. Also get rid of discolored or crumbly medicines – basically anything that doesn’t look the way it did when you first bought it. After the use-by date, medications may no longer be effective and can even be harmful.

In general, it’s not a good idea to flush old drugs down the toilet, as they may contaminate groundwater and end up in the drinking water supply. However, a few drugs are so potentially harmful to children that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends disposing of them in the toilet rather than the trash.

Look at the label of the medicine to find out if it should be flushed. If you’re not sure, ask your pharmacist what to do with it or find out if your community has a drug take-back program for old and expired medicines.

If a drug doesn’t need to be flushed and no take-back program is available, empty the contents of the medicine bottle into a sealed container with something unpalatable (like kitty litter or coffee grounds) before throwing it out. Don’t crush tablets or capsules when you mix the medicine with the undesirable substance. Remove any personal information from the empty bottle before disposing of it alongside the sealed container of medicine in the trash.

Extra acetaminophen

Some medicines contain acetaminophen to help ease fever and pain, so be careful not to give your baby an additional separate dose of acetaminophen if she’s taking such medications. If you’re not sure what’s in a particular medicine, don’t give her acetaminophen or ibuprofen until you’ve first gotten the okay from your doctor or pharmacist.

Chewables

Chewable tablets or other kinds of medicine in tablet form are a choking hazard for babies. If your baby’s eating solids and you want to use a tablet, ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist if it’s okay to crush it and put in a spoonful of soft food, like yogurt or applesauce. (Of course, you’ll have to make sure he eats the entire spoonful to get the complete dose.)

Syrup of ipecac

Syrup of ipecac causes vomiting, and experts used to advise parents to keep a bottle on hand in case of poisoning. But doctors no longer recommend syrup of ipecac mainly because there’s no evidence that vomiting helps in the treatment of poisoning. Also, syrup of ipecac may do more harm than good if a child vomits after ingesting a caustic substance or a helpful remedy, such as activated charcoal. (Activated charcoal is the standard treatment for poisoning in children, though only a healthcare professional is qualified to give it to your child.)

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends throwing out any syrup of ipecac you have in your home and says the best way to prevent accidental poisoning is to keep potentially harmful substances locked up and out of sight.

Fever is an elevation in body temperature. It’s the body’s protective mechanism against infection. The elevation in temperature happens when our immune system is fighting off bacteria and viruses that could harm our body. Fever is our strongest weapon in the fight against infections or diseases. Find home remedies fever in this site.

Normal body temperature ranges from 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, but varies throughout the day. Usually is lower in the early morning and higher in late afternoon. A fever is consider to be any temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. One should get concern when temperature raises above 102 degrees Fahrenheit for an adult and 103 degrees Fahrenheit for children. Often, having high temperature is helpful for the body; it’s the way the body acts to destroyharmful microbes. In an adult temperatures under 103 degrees fahrenheit encourage the body to create more immune cells. A fever of 104 or higher can be a risk for people with cardiac problems, since it accelerates the heart beat and makes it work harder, and can cause irregular rhythms, chest pain or even hard attack. When a person has had a fever over 106 degrees for a long period of time, can cause dehydration andbrain damage.

Although vigorous exercise, in which the muscles generate heat faster than the body can dissipate it, can cause a temporary rise in temperature.

Home remedies Fever we recommend:

• Home remedies fever #1: Drink as much water as you can in order to replace fluid loss. It will also help to bring down body temperature.
• Home remedies fever #2:Rest as much as possible.
• Home remedies fever #3:Avoid suddenly changes in atmospheric temperatures.
• Home remedies fever #4:Avoid eating solid foods until the fever is gone. You can replace the foods by drinking plenty of distilled water and/or juices.
• Home remedies fever #5:when you have fever do not take any supplement containing either iron or zinc. Taking iron causes great tension in a body that is fighting infection; and zinc is not absorbed by the body when you have fever.
• Home remedies fever #6:Take cool bathes, fill a bath tub, submerge and lay down for 5′ approximately. Repeat as needed until the fever is down.
• Home remedies fever #7:If the fever does not exceed 102 degrees let it run its course. It helps the body to fight infection and eliminate toxins.
• Home remedies fever #8:When a child has fever do not give them aspirin, instead try to reduce the fever with cold baths.

Eating healthy meals isn’t easy when you don’t feel well, especially if you have a serious or chronic illness. You may be too tired to prepare food for yourself. Medicines may make food taste strange or unpleasant. Mouth sores or swallowing problems can make eating difficult. Or nausea, which is a common symptom and a common side effect of some medications, may make food the last thing you want to think about.

“Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do, even when you’re not feeling well, to get the nutrition you need,” says Veronica McLymont, PhD, RD, director of food and nutrition services at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
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Eat smaller meals more frequently through the day than you do when you’re healthy. “We tend to eat with our eyes,” says Sarah Rafat, RD, senior dietitian at MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Sitting down to too big a meal can seem overwhelming if you don’t have much of an appetite.” Make a list of comfort foods that you love and have one or two on hand for when you feel like eating. Also keep nutritious snacks handy, such as nuts, carrot sticks, or yogurt.

Mouth Sores, Dry Mouth, or Trouble Swallowing

Avoid foods that require a lot of chewing. Puree or grind foods like meat and vegetables to make them easier to eat. Liquid foods such as soups and smoothies are also good options. “Real foods are always the best choice,” says Kim Jordan, RD, director of nutrition at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, part of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. “But if you’re having serious problems eating and swallowing, talk to your doctor about liquid meal replacements.” For dry mouth, try chewing gum or sucking on hard candies like lemon drops, which stimulates saliva production.
Nausea

Choose bland foods. Eat smaller meals more often during the day than you would when you are healthy. Eat slowly. Hard candy, peppermint, and ginger may ease nausea. If nausea persists, talk to your doctor. An anti-nausea medicine may help.

Fatigue

When you’re sick, you may feel too tired to make a meal. Stock up on prepared foods that you can easily pop in the microwave, such as frozen lasagna or pot pies. Keep nutritious snacks on hand such as nuts, sliced vegetables, hardboiled eggs, whole grain breakfast cereal, or yogurt. Eat your biggest meal at a time when you have the most energy.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common symptom and a side effect of some medicines. Eating soft, bland foods and avoiding greasy foods can help. Drink plenty of water or other fluids, since diarrhea can quickly dehydrate you. One way to replace electrolytes is to drink a sports beverage diluted with water.

Constipation

Opioid pain medicines and certain other treatments often cause constipation. To help prevent and treat constipation, eat foods high in fiber, such as apricots, prunes, applesauce, and whole grain breakfast cereals. Getting up and walking can also help get your digestive tract moving.
Unwanted Weight Loss

“If you’re losing weight when you shouldn’t, your top priority is taking in more calories,” says McLymont. Help yourself to foods you love, including high-calorie foods like milkshakes and desserts. Eat as often as you can throughout the day. Snack on high-energy foods such as nuts, seeds, cheese slices, and hardboiled eggs.
Unwanted Weight Gain

Some commonly used medicines can also make you gain unwanted weight. These include:

• Alpha-blockers and Beta blockers for regulation of blood pressure
• Anticonvulsants for epilepsy or other neurologic symptoms
• Antidepressants, certain ones such as Elavil, Endep, (amitriptyline), Eskalith, Lithobid (lithium carbonate), and Zyprexa (olanzapine)
• Insulin
• Steroids like prednisone for arthritis and similar conditions

Falling Short on Nutrients

If you’re having real trouble eating a balanced diet, you may benefit from taking a vitamin and mineral supplement. Talk to your doctor or a dietitian before taking dietary supplements, especially if you take medicines for a serious health condition. Some supplements can impact the effectiveness of medicines.

Most of us take vbery good care of our teeth, visiting the dentist regularly, and brushing and flossing often. Some of us may even have invested in braces or teeth whitening. I know i just can’t seem to get my teeth white enough! When I complined to m dentist about this, he asked me about the foods I eat and the beverages I drink, and sure enough, a lot of them were staining my teeth! Yikes! So here’s my list of the seven foods my dentist told me to avoid so I could have whiter, brighter teeth!

1. Coffee

But I love coffee, don’t you? Unfortunately, it’s one of the worst culprits, staining teeth even if you have just a little. If you can’t stay away from it entirely, try swishig with a mouth rinse after, or just plain water.

2. Tea

Not tea, too! If I can’t have coffee, I should at least be able ot have tea! Green or white teas, or just herbal infusions (called teasans) won’t stain your teeth, but black teas will, so avoid them if you can!

3. Chocolate

Well, I won’t be giving up chocolate any time soon, but at least now I’m aware that it might be staining my teeth. If yo want whiter teeth, and don’t mind giving up a treasured, favorite indulgence, my dentist recommended avoiding chocolate, too.

4. Blueberries

The juice and skin of blueberries is a natural semi-permanent dye, so it follows that if you eat many of them, your teeth will be stained. The good news is that the staining isn’t permenent. The bad news is that it’s… blue…

5. Colas (even Diet!)

Colas (like Coke and Pepsi) are another horrible teeth staining agent. Not only that, they’re loaded with sugar, acid, and all kinds of other things that can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. If you want whiter teeth, avoid colas for sure!

6. Fruit Punch

If you’ve ever seen what fruit punch can do to a white shirt, then you already know that it stains. In fact, it’s not just fruit punch, it’s any colored fruit juices or fruit drinks. Even some fruits, like dark purple or black grapes.

7. Cigarettes!

Okay, I know this isn’t a food, but it is something you put in your mouth that causes horrible teeth staining, another great reason to quit! The staining from cigarettes is permanent, yellow, disgusting, and telling, and it gives you bad breath. Ick!

Make a mental note of all of these items and try to avoid them if you want whiter teeth with no stains. Also, try wearing red lipstick, since this makes your teeth look whiter, too! Do you know of any other foods to avoid for whiter teeth? Please let me know, so I can avoid them, too!

Is five a day enough?

The government says yes – but people should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The advice is based on World Health Organization guidelines, which are 25 years old.

What counts as a portion?

Dietitians say eating five a day is enough to get the protective benefits of fruit and veg – although eating more may be additionally beneficial.

For an adult, a minimum of 400g of fruit and veg should be eaten every day, or five portions of 80g.

The amount varies for children, based on activity levels and age, but a rough guide is that one portion should fit in the palm of their hand.

Fruit and vegetables do not have to be eaten on their own and can be cooked in dishes such as soups, stews or pasta meals.

Can’t I just munch on five carrots and be done?

No. Although carrots count towards your five-a-day, to get the most benefit your five portions should include a variety of fruit and vegetables.

This is because different fruits and vegetables contain different combinations of nutrients and vitamins.

What’s best to eat then?

Almost all fruit and vegetables will count. Generally, raw vegetables and fruit will contain the most nutrients because cooking can remove some nutrients. Likewise, fresh fruit and vegetables are thought to be more nutrient dense than preserved ones. But frozen fruit and vegetables are still good, and dried fruit, such as currants, dates, sultanas and figs.

Those in ready-meals and shop-bought pasta sauces, soups and puddings are also included, but advice urges “only to have them occasionally” or in small amounts as they are often high in salt, sugar and fat.

Do tinned fruit and fruit juice count?

Yes, says the government (although the latest study did not find this). Juice should be unsweetened, and only counts as one portion a day, as it contains less fibre than whole fruits and vegetables.

Fruit must be tinned in natural juice, or water, with no added sugar or salt, and not in syrup, otherwise it will not be as healthy.

Beans and pulses also count, but again only as one portion as they contain fewer nutrients than other fruits and vegetables.

Smoothies may count towards more than one portion if they contain all the edible pulped fruit or veg, and depending on their ingredients.

What about potatoes?

Potatoes are not one of the five-a-day items. This is because they mainly contribute starch to a healthy diet, which is a good source of energy and helps digestion.

They are classified in the same group as bread or pasta by the government.

Skins should be left on when cooking as they are a good source of fibre.

But sweet potatoes, parsnips, swedes and turnips do count as five-a-day foods, as they are usually eaten as well as the starchy bit of the meal.

How about superfoods?

While its tempting to believe that eating a single fruit or vegetable containing a certain nutrient, vitamin or antioxidant will be the answer to our health needs, this is not borne out by science. It’s best not to concentrate on any one food in the hope that it will work miracles.

Instead, dietitians say we should aim for a well-balanced and varied diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables.