The 5 ways to boost your child’s health in their first 5 years – as Princess Kate launches Shaping Up campaign
YOU may not remember turning five – let alone two – but those earliest years lay the foundations of who we will grow up to be.
The Princess of Wales is spearheading a new campaign called Shaping Us, to zone in on those vital first five years.
The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood found one in three adults knows “just a little”, or “nothing”, about how children develop early on.
Kate, mum to George, nine, Charlotte, seven, and Louis, four, said: “By focusing our collective time, energy and resources to build a supportive, nurturing world around the youngest members of our society and those caring for them, we can make a huge difference to the health and happiness of generations to come.”
Institute of Health Visiting CEO Alison Morton added: “Across the UK we have widening child health and development inequalities, and services are struggling to meet the scale of need.
“We hope this campaign raises the profile of these issues and provides the spark for much-needed change.
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“When parents are supported, babies thrive and, in turn, society thrives.”
In the UK, 27 per cent of children are living in poverty, which the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says is driving health inequality.
Demand for children’s mental health services is higher than ever, while cuts have closed more than 1,300 children’s centres in ten years.
Dr Rachel Ward, of Woodlands Medical Centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, told Sun Health: “I see the negative impact this has had, every day.”
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So what do parents in the thick of sleepless nights and school runs need to know to give their child the healthy start they deserve?
Family affair
BEING a parent is certainly one tough job.
So if your own health and wellbeing is struggling, that can have a big knock-on effect.
Alison Morton says: “It can be an exciting time after the birth of a baby, but it can bring new challenges for most parents.
“Poverty, mental health problems and worries such as having an unwell baby can make parenting even harder.”
You need a support network as much as your child does.
Alison says: “Be kind to yourself. Parenting is much easier when it’s shared with friends and family.
“Getting help early, if you’re struggling or worried about your child’s health or development, can make a big difference. Ask for help.”
Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at the charity Action for Children, adds: “Parents should be able to access local early years services where children can absorb the world around them through play, reading and socialising and where parents can get help if they’re worried about their child’s progress.”
See Action for Children’s site .
Love, love, love
MORE than anything, children need to feel safe and loved.
Dr Rachel Ward says: “Meaningful, loving relationships with parents, other family members and close friends is incredibly important for a child.”
You don’t need a house full of gadgets and an overflowing bank account.
Alison says: “Babies have relatively simple needs that don’t require expensive equipment or toys.
“They look to their parents to be nourished, cared for and protected, with a safe space to live, sleep and play.
“Babies love spending time with their parents more than anybody or anything else and are born ready to communicate.
“Parents can build healthy brains by responding to their babies’ gestures and sounds from birth.”
In contrast, a child that’s neglected or deprived of love and affection will suffer.
Imran says: “If children do not get enough love and attention in the early years, it can have life-long effects on how they think, control their emotions and relate to other people.”
Bugbear
DR Luke Powles, associate clinical director at Bupa Health Clinics, says: “Almost all children will get common illnesses, like chickenpox, colds, earache and fevers.
"Other illnesses in early years include asthma, croup, scarlet fever, Strep A, diarrhoea and vomiting, measles, meningitis and mumps.”
Keep immunisations updated, seek medical help if your child:
- Has a high temperature
- Is struggling to breathe
- Is blue, pale, or blotchy
- Fits
- Cries constantly
- Has green vomit
- Is hard to wake up or disoriented
CALL 999 IF THEY:
- Stop breathing
- Won’t wake up
- Have a spotty, purple-red rash that doesn’t temporarily disappear when you press over it
- Have a fit for the first time
- Have an allergic reaction
Health habits
YOU are never too young to learn what’s good for you and NHS Live Well shares general guidelines.
Dr Powles, says: “Children need to sleep around 12 hours a day and this includes naps.
“Make sure your child is getting plenty of vegetables, fruit and wholegrain products.
“Limit sugar intake and encourage them to drink lots of water. Include lots of lean meat and fish in their diet to ensure they’re getting all the correct vitamins.”
Time outdoors is essential to strengthen bones, increase self-esteem, reduce stress and manage their weight.
Don’t forget oral health. Dr Susie Lloyd, of Bupa Dental Care says: “Tooth decay is the most common disease in children, a leading cause for hospital admissions.”
First aid kit
SIMPLE first aid techniques can be lifesaving.
Lydia Scroggs, head of clinical operations at St John Ambulance, says: “Recognising cardiac arrest, how to start chest compressions and what to do when your child is choking can make the difference in an emergency.
“As your little one begins to crawl and get more adventurous, brush up on what to do when objects get stuck in ears, noses and other places too.
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“It’s also important to know how to treat minor burns, cuts and grazes.”
Have a fully stocked first aid kit on hand and visit sja.org.uk for how-to videos and resources.
Basic first aid every parent should know
RECOGNISE CARDIAC ARREST + START CPR
Before beginning resuscitation, ask someone to call 999 or 112 for emergency help while you start CPR.
Ask a helper to find and bring a defibrillator if available. If you are on your own, you need to give one minute of CPR before calling on a speaker phone.
Do not leave the child to make the call or to look for a defibrillator.
IN A BABY (under one year old)
What to look for:
- The baby isn’t responding
- The baby isn’t breathing normally
How to give CPR to a baby:
Place them on a firm surface and open their airway. Place one hand on their forehead and very gently tilt their head back. With your other hand, use your fingertip and gently lift the chin
Give five initial puffs. Take a breath and put your mouth around the baby’s mouth and nose to make a seal and blow gently and steadily for up to one second. The chest should rise. Remove your mouth and watch the chest fall. That’s one rescue breath, or puff. Do this five times. If their chest doesn't rise, check the airway is open.
Give 30 pumps. Put two fingers in the centre of the baby’s chest and push down a third of the depth of the chest. Release the pressure allowing the chest to come back up. Repeat this 30 times at a rate of 100 to 120 pumps per minute. The beat of the song ‘Nellie the Elephant’ can help you keep the right rate.
Open the airway and give two more puffs. Continue alternating between 30 pumps and two breaths until emergency help arrives and takes over or the baby starts showing signs of life and starts to breathe normally.
If the baby shows signs of becoming responsive, such as coughing, opening their eyes, making a noise, or starts to breathe normally, put them in the recovery position. Monitor their level of response and prepare to give CPR again if necessary.
IN A CHILD:
What to look for:
- The child isn’t responding
- The child isn’t breathing normally
How to give CPR to a child:
Open their airway. Give five rescue breaths. Blow into their mouth gently and steadily for up to one second until the chest rises
Give 30 chest compressions. Put your hand in the centre of the child’s chest and push down a third of the depth of the chest. Release to allow the chest to rise again. Repeat 30 times at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
Open the airway and give two more breaths. Continue alternating between 30 chest compressions and two breaths until emergency help arrives and takes over, the child starts showing signs of life and starts to breathe normally, or a defibrillator is ready to be used
If the helper returns with a defibrillator, ask them to switch it on and follow the voice prompts while you continue CPR.
If the child starts becoming responsive such as coughing, opening eyes and starts to breathe normally, put them in the recovery position and monitor their level of response.
In children cardiac arrest is likely to be due to a respiratory cause and so rescue breaths can be critical.
IF A BABY IS CHOKING
- Slap it out:
- Lay the baby face down along your thigh and support their head
- Give five back blows between their shoulder blades
- Turn them over and check their mouth each time
2. Squeeze it out:
- Turn the baby over, face upwards, supported along your thigh
- Put two fingers in the centre of their chest just below the nipple line; push downwards to give up to five sharp chest thrusts
- Check the mouth each time
3. If the item does not dislodge, call 999 or 112 for emergency help
- Take the baby with you to call
- Repeat the steps 1 and 2 until help arrives
- Start CPR if the baby becomes unresponsive (unconscious)
IF A CHILD IS CHOKING
1. Cough it out
- Encourage the casualty to keep coughing, if they can
2. Slap it out
- Lean them forwards, supporting them with one hand
- Give five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades
- Check their mouth each time but do not put your fingers in their mouth
3. Squeeze it out
- Stand behind them with your arms around their waist, with one clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest
- Grasp the fist in the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards, giving up to five abdominal thrusts
- Check their mouth each time
4. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help if the object does not dislodge
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until help arrives
- Start CPR if the person becomes unresponsive (unconscious)
5. Always seek medical advice if abdominal thrusts are used