HAPPY CHILD CARE

HAPPY CHILD CARE

Parents dream of having

intelligent, healthy, strong children
who do not fall sick. As per figures
every year Tonics worth of Rs1000
crores are being purchased by
parents of our country to help their
children grow strong. Sadly in spite
these expensive efforts children fail to
meet the growth standards.
Dr. Hemant and Archana Joshi
suggests that instead of tonics give
your children simple snacks like
grams, puffed rice, peanuts, coconut
pieces throughout the day and help
them grow strong. Authors : Dr. Hemant Joshi
Food Corner is a new concept
introduced by the Joshi couple which Dr. Archana Joshi
states that every child should have
access to food throughout the day.
Edited by Chitra Sawant

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Table of Contents

Preface Diseases/Illness
1. Enjoy Child Birth 4 24. Danger Signals 40
2. Six-months Maternity Leave 6 25. Asthama 41
3. Importance of Colostrum 8 26. Diarrohea 43
Child Care 27. Heatstroke 44
4. There is no substitute 28. Malaria 47
for Grandparents 10 29. Measles 49
5. Neo-Natal Care 11 30. Accidents: Kerosene 50
6. Baby Enemy Cots 12 ( Hydrocarbon Poisoning )
7. Banana leaves for dressing Tips for Hospitals,
injuries 13 Clinics and Health Workers
8. Dental Care 14 31. Tips for Clinics 51
9. Measuring Growth 15 32. Tips for Intensive Care Units 51
10. Vaccination 21 33. Tips for Parents 52
Diet Story Therapy
11. All about Diet 23 34....And Pappu became a Hero 53
Diet Plan 24 35. Jungle Race 55
12. Breakfast is must for kids 25 36. Krushna Katha improves children 59
13. Food Corner-AKSHAYAPATRA 26 Appendix
14. Do not give Milk as a Drink 30 1. Bio-Data of Dr. Hemant 63
15. Importance of Oil 31 and Dr. Archana Joshi
16. Importance of Solid Food 32 2. six-months maternity leave:
Stay Fit Dr. Joshi's ideas 64
17. Stay Healthy 33
18. Exercise 34
19. Watch your TV watching child 35
20. Personal Hygiene 36
School Health
21. Little Doctor 37
22. Lunch Box 38
23. Measures to be taken by School
Management 39

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best
hope for the future”
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Preface

This book is written to make readers Growth assessment is the single most useful
understand the basics of child care. It tool for defining health and nutritional status.
includes child nut rition, guarding children Children whose growth is extremely abnormal
from sickness and accidents. It can help you are easily recognised. The aim of growth
avoid common mistakes, make healthy monitoring is to identify children with less
choices, and teach your kids healthy eating obvious but treatable growth disturbances.
habits. Cheap, accurate, self calibrating equipment
such as simple thread can ensure that children
This book presents a framework for
are measured accurately.
systematically addressing issues of children.
We want you to become a master in the field
We have special messages for school
of child care. We wish you all the best for this
children, authorities and doctors and nurses.
endeavour.
Current Genetic studies have shown that
Genes of Indians, Africans and Europeans
are same. If Indian children are fed well they
Credits:
can even become 6 and half feet tall and more
Printed & Published by Dr.Hemant Joshi
intelligent.
Joshi Prakashan Joshi Children's Hospital
If parents introduce proper nutrition since Virar 401303 e: [email protected].
childhood it can reinforce lifelong eating www.drhaj.com
habits. This can contribute to children’s Printed at Mothers' Graphics. Sahyadri
overall well being. It can also help them to nagar Charkop Kandivali West. Mumbai.
grow up to their full potential and lead a Design & DTP : Shri Sharadchandra
Pandit
healthy life. There is no need to force your
Photos: Chitra Sawant
child to eat foods they don’t like. As parents
Model & Hero: Aarav Patil.
work to avoid junk food, they often struggle Thanks to ALl staff Joshi children's Hospi-
to find alternative foods for their kids to eat. tal
But there are lots of healthy foods which kids 1st edition. 1.9.2010
like. We have suggested a healthy eating plan No copy right.
that you can use to help your kids get the Copying will be appreciated.
required nutrition.

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Enjoy Childbirth
To prepare for a successful and easy delivery,
would-be mothers require basic knowledge. We
intend to educate you through this piece of
information.

In India many mothers and children die get enough food and rest. Result? Working
during child births. According to the figures five pregnant women have a very high number of
women amongst every 1000 deliveries die abortions. Those who do not abort, have very
during child birth. high rates of pre term deliveries. Many of these
The reasons are: women who complete term have small seized
Sick and undernourished mothers give birth babies due to intra uterine growth retardation
to weak babies. These weak babies die soon caused by job induced starvation, stress,
if they don’t receive proper food and sleeplessness etc.
nourishment. Many of the pre term and IUGR babies are
During pregnancy mothers should consume handicapped in some way or the other.
grams and groundnuts every two hours, i.e., Some of them have delayed milestones,
before they feel hungry. The measurement of learning disabilities, deafness, visual
her arm should reach 23.5 cm. problems, fits, etc. Then to care for such
Maternal health and low birth weight. handicapped babies many women leave job
A woman whose measurement of and stay home. Had they taken adequate rest
circumference of middle of arm is below 22.5 and proper food and care during pregnancy,
cm. can be defined as a weak woman. these problems might have never occurred.
Chances are such woman deliver weak or pre- Lesson: For those who can afford must be
mature babies. Concrete efforts should be asked to go on leave on becoming pregnant.
made to ensure that by the time girls reach She should join back after the child is born and
18-years of age the measurement of their mid- is one year old, or at least six months old.
arm is 23.5 cm. Just as all do not afford cardiac bypass, but
If a woman is malnourished during it must be suggested when needed similarly
pregnancy, the child’s physical and mental all should be informed about the benefits of a
growth and development may be slowed. This pregnant mother’s staying home.
cannot be made up when the child is older – it Prolonged labour is one of the reasons for
will affect the child for the rest of his or her life. India being one of the highest neonatal
Working mothers undergo lot of stress both morbidity and mortality in the world. When a
Physical and mental. Many times they do not woman goes to labour in squatting position, the
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

delivery is quick. It shortens period of labour. help of gravity.

This reduces incidence of prolonged labour, No amount of muscular force applied by the
which is a major cause of neonatal asphyxia. mother or the force of muscles of the doctor
It makes delivery less labourious. It improves applied by using vacuum or forceps can equal
child survival. It reduces maternal fatigue, the force of gravity. There are occasions when
suffering, morbidity and mortality and need for mother gets tired and fails to expel the baby.
LSCS too. At times it becomes labour in vain resulting in
Lying down position: neonatal and maternal morbidity or death.
There are incidences where a lady in labour Prolonged labour is the cause of a large
delivers when she uses toilet. number of Caesarean sections that have to be
performed. Deliveries done in sitting posture
A breathless patient breaths more
can reduce the number of caesarean sections
comfortably in a propped up position or a
and the attendant maternal and neonatal
sitting position because diaphragmatic
morbidity, mortality, inconvenience and
movements are assisted by gravity. Similarly
expenses.
deliveries have to be more comfortable with
the ÏÏÏ

Newborn’s song:
Give me some warmth,
Give me some rub
Give me another breath
I want to cry again.

Vote for a change

Vote for new ideas
Vote for grass root worker
Vote for multilingual
Dr.Hemant Joshi

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Six-months Maternity Leave

not breastfed.
During illnesses generally a child refuses to
eat food, but it can easily be fed on it’s
mother’s milk.
Lack of breast feeding opportunities causes
malnutrition amongst children. Research
shows that breast milk is the perfect brain food,
essential for normal brain development. It
affects particularly, those brain processes
associated with depression, violence, and
social and sexual behaviors.
When mother’s milk does not suffice the
Motherhood is a truly a special experience
baby, the sugar level in it blood drops and it
for every woman. Sadly many working women
affects the development of brain and eyesight.
have to resume work immediately after few
A newly born baby gets its food and water
weeks the child birth. As very few
from mother’s milk. Generally every baby gets
organizations provide 6-months maternity
jaundice but if it is not able to get sufficient milk
leave to their women employees, many
or water jaundice increases. Breastfed babies
working women are deprived of enjoying this
are more active. Basically breastfeeding is an
experience. They are not able to take care of
important investment in the child’s future.
their babies and more importantly they cannot
Unicef and the World Health Organisation
breastfeed them.
says that breast feeding exclusively for 6
The idea of compulsory six-month maternity
months achieves optimal health results for
leave was mooted to promote exclusive
babies.
breastfeeding in the country.
Breast milk is recommended as babies’
It is highly important that the mother and
main food for the first year of life. Breast milk
child should be in close proximity for 6-months.
is nutritionally balanced and it costs nothing. It
It encourages breast-feeding, which is vital for
is customized according to the baby’s needs.
the child’s growth. Infant mortality in India is
Breast milk provides the primary source of
largest in world. Exclusive breastfeeding
nutrition for newborns before they are able to
helps reduces infant mortality. Breastfeeding
eat and digest other foods. Every time the baby
ensures that babies are protected against
gets fresh milk. Even if the mother lacks
deadly disease such as Diarrhoea and
nutritious factors in her diet the milk suffice the
pneumonia. It helps for speedy recovery of the
baby’s need.
baby during illness. It is found that Breastfed
It is difficult for germs to enter mother’s milk.
infants and children do not suffer as many
The longer the paid leave, the better chance
illnesses as those infants and children who are

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

there is of establishing breastfeeding. research in the United States that when

Though milk can be pumped and then fed to women resume early to work it has negative
the baby close proximity between mother and effects on the child.
child is of utmost importance. When a child is breastfed, it is observed that
Maintaining highest level of hygiene while the quantity of milk in a nursing mother
feeding through bottle becomes difficult. increases. However, when the child is supplied
Hence when a child is bottle-fed, there are with outside milk the flow of mother’s milk
major chances of the baby suffering from decreases and eventually the milk dries up. If
dysentery and other illnesses. Mother’s milk the baby does not get sufficient mother’s milk
is the first ever vaccine which any child it affects the baby’s physical, mental and
receives. Any milk other than of a mother is psychological development.
expensive. Mother’s milk suits the baby’s We need to ensure our children grow strong
requirement. after all children are future citizens.
While feeding her baby the mother can find Paid six-months maternity leave should be
some time for relaxation. Mother’s milk is granted for women working in all the sectors.
readily available and she does not have to The Government should ensure that paid
take efforts for feeding the child whereas, lot maternity leave is not just for the civil servants
of time is consumed for boiling the milk and but should also be extended to private sector
cleaning the bottles. and in unorganized sector. It is especially a
Lack of opportunity to establish successful concern that mothers in lower socio-economic
breastfeeding not only increases ill health groups are significantly less likely to breastfeed
among babies but their mothers are affected beyond the early weeks. Those families on low
as well. Breastfeeding contributes to the health income or where the woman is the sole bread-
and well-being of mothers as well. It helps to winner six-month maternity leave with-out pay
space children. Incidence of breast and cannot be possible.
ovarian cancer, anaemia and osteoporosis
tends to be lower in women who have
breastfed. It reduces the risk of obesity, helps
the mother to lose weight and encourages her Hon. Journalists
uterus to contract to its normal size and
position.
Once Ganpati Idol drank milk.
Six months paid maternity leave will help Thanks to media, the whole world
working women balance work and personal knew it same day.
life. Request:Please
Another problem facing women returning to read this. If you
work after delivery is entrusting their children’s like something,
care to someone else. When women resume
work following few weeks of delivery, they are
reach it to 1 billion
unable to concentrate on work. The child falls Indians with power
sick more often. This forces the women to take of your pen, in all
leaves more often. It affects her productivity at Indian languages.
her work place as well. It has been found in
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Importance of Colostrum
Colostrum is the initial secretion produced
from the mammary gland. This milk is in
thick form and is extremely nutritious. Every
mother should feed it for the better
development of the baby.
Call Colostrum as Piyush & save neonates. If all mothers feed Colostrum to their babies,
Sms, tell all more babies will live, they will have less
Breast milk secreted by mother in first few
days after child birth is called as Colostrum in
English and Piyush in Sanskrit.
Ask if the mother has fed Colostrum to the
newborn. Based on which you can predict the
future of the baby, whether the baby will live, if
the baby will have illnesses and if the baby will
grow well. If the mother feeds colostrums to
the baby, it is more likely to survive, have less
illnesses & grow well. If she does not feed
colostrum, the baby is more likely to have
illnesses, can even die and if it survives it can
have problems in growing well.
India has world’s largest childhood deaths, problems and will grow well.
highest of them in first month of life. In spite of For this we have to teach all mothers to feed
all efforts, this has not changed much in last Colostrum to all babies.
60 years. Teaching 100 % mothers to give
colostrum to their babies will reduce child Using popular terms for mass education,
deaths at minimum costs. makes communication easy, and more
effective. Piyush is the Sanskrit name for
Feeding Colostrum to neonates improves colostrum. Piyush also meant Amrut, that drink
their survival & growth & development. Even which avoids death. So true for mother’s milk
today many people still do not feed Colostrum of first few days, the colostrum.
to neonates. They give top feeds to babies.
This adds to sickness and deaths of We should use the term Piyush for colostrum
newborns. These babies can become hungry, for following reasons.
get fits due to less sugar in blood.
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Piyush is Indian name, colostrum is foreign.

Breast crawl cd. By BPNI (breast
Human brain studies show that what ever is
feeding promotion network of India) shows that
your own is remembered, loved better than
a baby put on mother’s chest immediately after
what is foreign.
birth moves & crawls.The baby’s mouth finds
Piyush is so popular that many people and reaches mother’s nipple & baby starts
name their son as Piyush. The most glittering suckling.This must happen 100% times every
example is the name of honorable editor of where babies are born.
Indian pediatrics, Dr. Piyush Gupta. Piyush
is popular milk based sweet highly popular
Pappu does not vote yaar.
drink in India.
Ask any ordinary people what they find easy Pappu is very smart.
Piyush or colostrum, to understand, But Pappu does not vote yaar
communicate, remember and you will find that
all find Piyush easier. Piyush is a common
simple Indian name. Easy. Not as complicated When the vote comes
as colostrum to say, hear write, understand photo id xerox is not there yaar
and remember.
Take example of Japanese Sony when xerox comes vote
corporation. They could have given a
complicated Japanese name to their company. vote paper is not there yaar.
They did not. They gave a simple English name
Sony that their target customers would find
easy to remember. (They wanted to call it
If voting is done ,
Sunny but spelt the name wrong). posting is not done yaar
Let us popularize the term Piyush, Pappu does not vote yaar.
teach 100% mothers to give Piyush to all
babies, and save lives of babies at zero cost.
But things are changing yaar
Kaizen is Popular Japanese management
term for improvements made at zero cost. pancard xerox is in purse yaar
Calling colostrum as Piyush is Kaizen. Let voting posting instant yaar.
us do it. Let us all pass on this sms to all so : Dr Hemant Joshi
that it reaches 1 billion Indian this Diwali. Let
us reach it to 100 crore Indians with help of Vote for a change
t.v., radio, newspapers, speeches, articles, Vote for new ideas
gossip & email. Please forward this email to
all.
Vote for grass root worker
Vote for multilingual
Learn from animals. Their babies, as soon
as they are born start suckling. Similarly the
Dr.Hemant Joshi

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

There is no substitute for Grandparents

Grandparents can make life more
wonderful for children. With their
knowledge and experience they can be
light in children’s life.
Development of cities has paved way for Parents should encourage their children to
smaller families. Though they may have some bond with their grandparents by setting up
benefits it is often found that a home without times for them to visit their grandparents. They
grandparents may lack vital elements. should invite grandparents during festivals,
holidays, etc.
Remember the most important lessons
children learn can come from their Every effort should be made to establish a
grandparents. They have a wealth of close bond between the children and their
knowledge. Children are often more keen to grandparents because studies have shown that
learn from their grandparents. Primarily, grandparents can have a very positive influence
because it is mostly taught in a very loving over the behavioral and social development of
manner, but there could be exceptions. children.

Grandparents help in building a strong bond But a line of caution is that one should not
in the family. The bond between children and expect grandparents to be personal daycare
their grandparents is a very special one. If there specialists.
is a problem between the children and their
parents or siblings, they can turn to their If there are no grandparents in a family,
grandparents for help Parents can adopt older persons. Older
persons in neighborhood can be invited at
Grandparents are very important people in home so that children can get their insight.
the formation of their grandchildren’s character
and perspective on life. Grandparents also Vote for a change
usually have more free time than parents and
so they can spend more quality time with their Vote for new ideas
grandchildren. Vote for grass root worker
Vote for multilingual
Children often turn to their grandparents for
advice. Because of there knowledge and there friend Dr.Hemant Joshi
is a level of comfort with them.
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Neo-Natal Care
to cold.
Mother’s can keep their babies in a cloth
and tie it across their shoulder. The baby
remains warm, this method is used worldwide.
The first baby should be planned after the
mother completes 21 years of age. And the
second baby while the elder baby enters
standard first.
Pregnant women should undergo medical
check-up every month
After confirmation of pregnancy registration
From child-birth till the baby is one and half should be done immediately with the doctor.
month old, the mother and the new-born should There should be provision made for the new-
not be allowed to mingle with other family born in the monthly budget
members. A special corner should be made for the
Persons suffering from cold, cough, fever baby which may have all the things required
should be made to stay away from the duo for the baby.
Before handling the baby every family Training on how to save the babies when
member including the mother should wash their life is in danger should be given to family
hands properly. members and such person should be available
During winter and rainy season when the during delivery.
weather is cold, precaution should be taken to If the baby is in critical condition it should be
keep the room warm. shifted immediately to bigger hospital quipped
Immediately after the birth baby should be with better facility.
wiped with a cloth and kept in a warm place. Birth and death should be registered with
The best place is mother’s lap. government agency immediately.
Newspapers can be used to wipe blood Regular medical check-ups by medical
spilled over during the delivery and also to practitioner of the baby should be done.
clean the baby. Newspapers absorb blood
quickly. They can be sterilized by putting in Vote for a change
pressure cooker before use.
Vote for new ideas
Generally baby’s head is big and wet so it
should be wiped properly. Vote for grass root worker
Babies turn cold after birth. If the baby is Vote for multilingual
weak there are more chances of it dying due friend Dr.Hemant Joshi
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Baby Enemy Cots

Cots in hospitals should be big enough to
accomodate both mother and baby. As
Cosleeping encourages breastfeeding and helps
in developing bond between mother and child.

Many baby friendly hospitals ideal in many baby while it is asleep. It is the single most
respects abound with “Baby enemy Cots”. important cause of death in the UK of infants in
These cots are less than four and a half feet their first year.
long. The width of the cots is not wide enough
to accommodate both mother and child. This The researchers note infants sleeping alone
deprives baby of the benefits of cosleeping. are deprived of such external sensory
stimulation as rocking, noise and touch,
The baby who comes with a physical illness associated with people who are nearby, and
suffers from a psychological trauma of being which help to stabilise breathing. Their study
deprived of the cozy comfort of sleeping close suggests that SIDS deaths occur because of
to its mother. failure of respiratory control in infants when they
A visit at late hours to these hospitals shows are at a vulnerable stage in their development,
many vacant cots. The mother and the sick leading to sudden death.
baby sleeping on the floor, or a restless baby ÏÏÏ
or the cot and a half asleep tired mother sitting
next to the baby. Golden Minute
Hospitals spending huge sums to buy We help a newborn to take
expensive instruments and services to serve breath in first golden minute. We
the baby must have cots which accommodate
the baby and the mother. What the sick restless
keep oxygen etc. ready.
baby needs most is mother. Similarly Vote in the first
WESTERN infants are more likely to
golden minute of getting ballot
become victims of so-called crib deaths papers by post. Be prepared.
because they are far more frequently left alone Keep xerox copy of photo i.d. in
to sleep than Asian children, a British study purse today.(like pancard-needed
shows. in bank/travel)sign it & enclose it
Crib deaths — known formally as sudden with vote.Send for posting the
infant death syndrome (SIDS) — is a same minute.Tell all.thanks.
phenomenon involving the unexpected and hemant Joshi.
unexplained death of an apparently healthy

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Banana leaves for dressing injuries

The pain and anxiety experienced by the burn-
wound patients during and after dressing
changes can be reduced. We suggest use
banana leaves for dressing the wound. It helps in
making the pain tolerable or minimal.

Banana leaf dressing (BLD) is being used

by some doctors attached with the KEM
hospital in Mumbai for the same purpose.
Following procedure should be followed
before using banana leaves. Banana leaves
should be washed made small holes for
passage of air. These leaves should be then
steamed. Steaming increases durability of
these leaves.
Banana leaf dressing is an excellent, non-
Children often get hurt while playing. The adhesive, pain-free, cheap and easily available
common practice while dressing the wound dressing material.
includes applying antiseptic lotion on the wound
and using gauze before dressing with a
bandage.
But often it is found that on the second day
of the dressing the wound becomes a painful
experience. When we try to open up the Vote for a change
bandage skin often gets pulled along with the Vote for new
gauze. It delays the healing process.
According to the research conducted by few
ideas
doctors from Coimbatore, a piece of banana Vote for grass
leaf can be used instead of gauze. root worker
The successive dressing sessions can be
painless as banana leaf does not stick to the
Vote for multi-
skin and thus get pulled while removing it. It is lingual
also found that banana leaves helps in healing Dr.Hemant Joshi
the wound faster.

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Dental Care
We all love to have a fresh and bright smile. And we
will teach you how to have that smile. This can be
done only if you have bright white and healthy teeth.
All you need is common salt.

According to studies more than 85 percent Reduce intake or avoid using sugar
Indians suffer from oral problems. Bleeding
gums, tooth decay, bad breath are common Eat raw stuff at the end of any eating session.
dental problems faced by Indians. Some have Be it fruit or vegetable salad. Fibers containing
rotten teeth i.e, caries teeth., some smell bad, in raw vegetables and fruits clean teeth
some have bleeding gums ,some have spoiled thoroughly.
their mouth with tobacco chewing & smoking.
Eating tamarind or other sour things can
Following measures should be taken to cause damage to teeth.
ensure healthy teeth and gums:
Eating chocolates leads to tooth decay.
Strepto coccus are the bacteria present in
Children drink milk containing sugar, this also
our mouth. These bacterias cause decays.
is one of the major reasons of tooth decay in
Science describes Strepto coccus as children.
"Halophobic" which means one that is killed
Till the age of eight years children are not
by Sodium chloride. (Sodium chloride is
able to brush teeth properly so parents should
scientific name of common salt).
help children clean their teeth.
Hence clean teeth using common salt. It kills ÏÏÏ
bacteria present in the mouth. It also reduces
bad breath.
Vote for a change
Rinse mouth thoroughly after eating
Vote for new ideas
Limit intake of sugar or sugar-based drinks Vote for grass
or food items root worker
Chew fresh fruits or salad after each meal. Vote for multilin-
They help in cleaning teeth. gual
Visit a dentist regularly Dr.Hemant Joshi

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Measuring Growth
We need to evaluate our child’s development by
measuring their growth. Getting accurate figures
about your child’s height and weight is important. We
suggest simple methods like a thread which can be a
useful tool in the entire process.

Tips for improving and monitoring growth the child’s growth pattern.
of children Every well fed child grows all the
time daily till 18 years of age and has the Along with this ready-made growth charts
potential to grow 6 feet tall. Along with available at various paediatrics clinics can be
nutritional diet introduction of growth charts filled. These charts are standard barometers
for monitoring growth can help achieve to measure a child’s growth in terms of his
maximum benefit for improving health of weight, height and brain.
children. Monitoring growth can be at Govt. of India along with 121 countries has
minimum cost. signed the “rights of children” document. This
Work not supervised is work not done. document gives every Indian child a right to
Likewise if the growth is not monitored it can grow well. This can be done only by
be a major cause of growth failure in most monitoring growth with the help of growth
children. charts.

Height, weight and We must take following steps to ensure

circumference of head are every child’s growth is well monitored:
measured to analyse Parents should regularly monitor height
growth of a child. weight of their children for 18 years of age.
The child’s growth can Also monitor height weight of the child on
be measured by tying a date of birth every 3 months for 18 years.
simple thread round its
Monitor height, weight and head
waist and left arm. As the
circumference every month on date of birth
child grows, the gap
for first three years. Do it at least alternate
between the thread and
month or quarterly.
the waist/arm decreases.
It ensures that the child Make growth chart compulsory and
is growing. Thus the important document as ration card, birth
thread can be used to certificate, election card, 7/12 record of land.
ascertain the change in Make filling of growth charts compulsory

15
 part of school health examination,
and every doctors' every child examination.. Growth Chart is
Just as Government spends funds of
election Intermediate –cards, It should also Passport to Health
spend on giving growth chart to every child
to be filled till 18 years of age. • Make it Compulsory
All local self government bodies including • Give with birth certifi-
every Gram Panchayat, Zilla Parishads,
Municipal Councils, Municipal corporations
cate
have funds for mother and child welfare. • Add vaccination chart.
These funds can be used for growth charts.
Make every one aware that children make
• Give it to every school
40% of population. So half the government’s student.
budget should be for children. Govt. should
use this money to give one growth chart to • More Important than
every child per child. clothes an ornaments
Currently ICDS uses growth charts. But • Give in mother tounge
these are kept with ICDS worker. And people
do not know them. ICDS Anganwadi workers
should be taught to teach importance of these Kerala State's Rural Health
charts to parents.
Mission,on recommenda-
tion of the very active
Government should be asked to use latest
IAP charts in place of the old charts they use. members of IAP Kerala
Growth can be measured at home as well state in India gives to all
by tying simple thread around waist and school students.
around arms. Keep a watch, as the thread
gets tighter on the waist and arm it is Growth chart is the most
indication that the child is gaining weight. But cost effective tool for moni-
if it loosens, the child needs more nutritious
diet and care. toring and ensuring proper
Use growth charts and BMI charts growth of children.
mentioned in this book. These latest Indian
charts are developed by Pune based Dr.
On birthdays all parents
Waman Khadilkar and his team. They are should gift growth charts to
extremely useful in monitoring growth of all children who do not have
your children.
ÏÏÏ
them.
 Vaccination
Many new useful ideas

If we make them in India single vaccine will

cost just one rupee or one cent. Government
can give these vaccines free to all children.
All vaccines should be available daily and
if possible. Vaccination centres should
become ‘Vaccine Malls’.
For example we need inject able polio
vaccine. Sabin, who invented polio inject able
vaccine, did not take patent for his invention.
So it can be afforded by the poor. Any
Vaccine manufacturers can develop it.
But ironically the government has closed
down three profit-making vaccine
manufacturing units owned by the government
Dr. Sivaprakasham V. from Chidambaram
like Mumbai based Haffkine institute.
in south India recently studied nearly 12,000
11th standard students of various schools. He Every day every minute 5 children die in
observed that maximum absenteeism in India today. More that all the soldiers killed in
schools was due to typhoid. These students all wars India ever had faced. If we give all
who remained absent became back benchers. vaccines to all children on war footing, it will
This affected their studies and led to their reduce child deaths significantly at minimum
academic failure. Such cases can be avoided. cost.
Vaccination is most cost effective way of It is important to act now. Every minute’s
improving child health. Means it gives delay means 5 more child deaths.
maximum benefit in minimum cost. Our nation Make birth date of every child his/her
should be ‘’Vacci’’nation. Develop Hindustan vaccination date, Parents should treat it as the
into ‘’Vaccinaisthan’’. most important date.
Establish Indian Vaccine Research Benefits: 1.100 % compliance.
Organization (IVRO). Give a fund of Rs 5000
crore annually to it for developing vaccines. 2. work divided over 30 days of month.
China manufactures all vaccines and we import Good for growth monitoring and filling of growth
it from China. For every dose We pay Rs.1700 chart.
for chicken pox vaccine, Rs. 1000 for every Feed before vaccination:
dose of Hepatitis A vaccine, and Rs. 4000 per
Increases pain threshold
dose of pneumonia (Pneumococcus ) vaccine.
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Feed after vaccination. Malnutrition is national health problem. A

reduces crying and gives 15 minutes for snack filled pocket is vaccine that prevents
post vaccination observation. malnutrition. It also treats malnutrition.
Give injection after the applied alcohol or Yogasana is vaccine against aging and
spirit dries. It makes the process painless. related illnesses like joint pains, back pains,
Personal experience shows that the modern dementia, hypertension, heart disease etc.
disposable needles are almost painless. The Learn and experience yourself.
pain is caused by the spirit. Health Education is the only vaccine that
Give IM injections to the baby who is helps to avoid maximum illnesses. It also
comfortably settled in mother’s lap. hastens recovery in all illnesses. Develop
information leaflets on health issues for
Give vaccine to a sleeping child. parents in local languages.
Hospitals should be made into vaccine mall
by starting 24-hour vaccination centre. It Make our nation
improves child survival.
“Vacci-nation”
Hospitals should display huge vaccination
chart on wall in waiting room in all local Convert our
languages.
Suggest people to Gift vaccines to all country-Bimaristhan
children.
into Vaccinisthan.
Possibly Give one Vaccine to every child on
discharge from hospital.
Make typhoid vaccination mandatory before
school entry.

Vote for a change

Vote for new ideas
Vote for grass root worker
Vote for multilingual
Dr.Hemant Joshi

22
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

All about Diet

How should you plan your child’s diet? It was found in a research conducted in
Following factors should be considered Scotland that children who feel insecure are not
while planning your child’s diet able to gain weight in spite of having a good
It should fulfill his hunger. diet.
It should be easily available to the child any Avoid forcing children to eat food by wrong
time , Ensure puting healthy snacks in their means like threatening, blackmailing, beating,
pockets. etc. In such cases even if the child eats food it
does not get digested well.
It should consist of all the required proteins
and vitamins and should not require tonics. Scientific research conducted says that
forced food does not necessarily enter the
It should be clean and wholesome throat, even if does, it does not get digested.
It should be easily digestable Such food which is not digested properly does
The child should be able to eat it properly not help the children grow strong.
Do not use food as a reward or punishment
You need to remember to keep feeding in
perspective. It provides the nourishment that
your child will need to grow. Feeding should
not be used in place of love, nor should it ever
be used as a reward for good behavior or a
bribe for doing something. We must make sure
that we do not teach our children how to use
food as a manipulative tool.
Children are forced to consume food which
the parents feel their children should eat
irrelevant of the fact whether the child likes it
or not. The children are forced to eat fast
whether they are hungry or not. Parents hardly
consider the fact whether their children are
chewing the food properly or not.
When children try to rebel against their
unnecessary force exerted by their parents,
they are subjected to beating, scolding and
even humiliation.
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Day /Time Monday Tuesday Wednes- Thursday Sunday

Friday Saturday
day
Early Banana Papaya/ Chickoos/ Berries Banana Pineapple/
Musk Oranges
Morning Water- Pome-
Melon /Sweet
melon granate
Lime

Upma Misal/
Mid- Idli/ Dhokla/ Sabudana /French Omlette
Suji Ka Fresh Dosas/
morning Bread wada/ Toast Bread
Halwa Fruits Uttapa/
Pakoda Apam
Sambhar

Paratha, Pav bhaji, Kulcha, Roti, Roti,

Afternoon Bajra Leafy Salad, Rajma, Paneer, Chole
Roti, veg- Salad,
Pickle, curd, Salad, Bhature/
Veg- etables, Vegetables,
Papad Rice, Papad Puris,
etables/ salad, Rice,
Pulses, Raita,
Cereals, Pulses Dal-Fry
Salad Rice,
Pulses, and Rice Sambhar
Rice and
Salad
Bread Sand- Ladoos/ Poha/ Burger/ Scrambled Bhel
Evening Butter/ wich/ Rava Kheer/ Pizzas/ Eggs/
Boiled Cutlet/ Dosa/ Khakara Pasta/ Medu
Egg/ Pakodas Sweet Thepla Wada
Bread Puris
Chutney

Roasted Roasted Puffed Roasted Fresh Fruit Chiwda Roasted

Mid grams ground- Rice Corn/Nuts salad Moong
Evening nuts dal

Leafy Veg- Roti, vegeta

Roti, Sprouts, Veg- etables bles, Vegetable
Night Salad, Roti, Dalia, etables, Pulav, Chutney, Dal Khicdi, biryani,
Rice, Pulses, Roti, Salad, Papad, Salad, Roti, sprouts
Pulses, Tomatoe- Mixed Spourts, Rice, Sprouts, salad
Leafy, Salad Salad, vegetable, Sambhar Leafy
Veg- Dahi curry, Papad Vegetables
etables Rice
24
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Breakfast is must for kids

Breakfast is extremely vital. A day begun without it

can make the child unenergetic and unenthusiastic.

In order to start a day Children who skip breakfast do not make up

in a right manner we the differences in dietary intakes at other meals.
need to have a According to some research studies children
Breakfast. Breakfast who skip breakfast are more likely to become
indeed is the most inactive, unfit and obese. Thus Breakfast holds
important meal of the key to good health of children.
day. It simply means to There are a number of reasons why children
break the fast. don’t eat breakfast. For some it is due to a lack
The reasons to have of time in the mornings. It generally happens
breakfast in the because children get up late in the morning as
morning have been they go to bed late. Rising early by just fifteen
mentioned below: minutes can solve this problem.
Our body stores up glucose or sugar in your Some children often miss breakfast because
blood. This sugar ends up in the liver and then they think it can help them lose weight. But
the liver releases it as energy in bursts remember missing breakfast can lead to
throughout the day in the form of glycogen. If cravings for sugary snacks and drinks.
we skip breakfast the body runs out of It appears that children who regularly eat
glycogen by the middle of the morning which breakfast are thinner, more active and even fitter
means no more energy bursts. When this than those who don’t.
happens your body is like a car that runs out If children have choice they can have fresh
of gas. fruits for breakfast. Likewise eggs are
So if children skip their breakfast there are extremely nutritious can be an excellent option
chances they feel tired, they find difficultly in for breakfast.
concentrating and are more irritable. Please see our
According to various research studies Diet plan
done Breakfast consumption make a section, which
significant contribution to the child’s daily has various
nutrient intake. The average total energy intake options one
is significantly lower for children who do not can have for
consume breakfast. breakfast.

25
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

FOOD CORNER /
AKSHAYAPATRA
Make food available to your child and well. This problem can be easily solved but
reduce malnutrition patience and persistence efforts are needed.

The best way to make children eat is to make

food available at liberty. Also, food should be
should be kept within reach of children and
where it is easily visible for them.

It can be done by garlanding children with

fruits and sweets, filling their pockets with
snacks or creating a food corner and
maintaining ‘Akshayapatra’. If these techniques
are followed by every household it can be an
easy cure for malnourished children.
To elaborate further on this, you can include
a non-perishable snack in your child’s pockets.
Raw rice, Puffed rice, peanuts, almonds,
roasted grams, nuts, raisins, ready-to-eat
breakfast cereals, a piece of fruit, crackers,
pieces of dry coconut, ladoo, chikki, piece of
Khakara can help fuel your child through out the
The most common and frequent worry of day. Snacks can vary as per the age of the
modern mothers’ is how to make their children children, puffed rice or raw rice are safe snacks
eat. Though mothers are fully aware that for smaller children.
nutrition is important for the physical and Children should be encouraged to eat on
mental growth of a child, they fail to pursue them their own. This can be done at an early age
to eat. Mothers even resort to threatening and when they are infants and just beginning to pick
adopting inhuman practices such as punishing up things. Please let your children choose the
the child with candle burns, blackmailing or kind of food they want in their pocket/ food
even humiliating. But very few things work to corner be it fruits or snacks.
get their children to the dining table. Nutrition Food Corner is another such concept which
today is a serious problem posed by children. can be easily maintained at every home. Food
It is a common myth that malnutrition exists can be kept at a corner, which is easily
only in urban slums and rural areas. In fact it is accessible to the child. Snacks can be kept in
very much common amongst children coming see-through containers which will attract their
from middle-class and well to do families as attention. While choosing the contents to be
kept at the food corner preference should be
26
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

given to the likes and dislikes of the child. Energy provided by mixture of
Offer him/her several options, as children get grams and ground-nuts
bored with eating same king of food. If you Description Energy Protein
want your child should generate interest in needed needed
eating start with introducing food of his choice.
This food corner should also have a bottle filled
Pregnant women 300 6
with clean drinking water. Seasonal fruits can
be an added attraction in this food corner. Lactating mother 600 12-15

Suji ka halwa is a simple to cook food and 15% Deficiency

high in nutritional value it can be stored for a in an average child 450 17
while as well. Even a month-old baby can easily Akshaypatra Mixture
digest it and can be excellent way to start the
provides 570 26
day. Chocolates, toffees and candies should
be avoided as they don’t have nutritional value
and they cause tooth decay. Comparative Chart -
The easy and simple way to ensure that your Energy provided by following food items of same
child gains weight is by maintaining cost in India today.
Akshayapatra. Akshayapatra is basically a Food Items Energy Proteins
term used for see-through bottle filled with
snacks. A simple mixture of 100 gms of (K calories) (Grams)
roasted groundnuts and grams each can be
filled in this Akshayapatra. Grams or Soybeans - 100 gms 420 42
groundnuts can be replaced with 150 gms of
puffed rice. All these food items are easily Groundnuts - 50 gms 260 11
available and can be afforded even by the
poor. Grams – 67 gms 250 15
The composition of contains in
Akshayapatra are as follows: Rice - 150 gms 450 10
100 grams of roasted groundnuts provides
570 calories and 26.5 grams of proteins Milk - Undiluted 100 ml 67 4
100 grams of roasted grams provides 570
calories and 26.5 grams of Milk - 1:1 dilution 100 ml 35 2
proteins
150 grams of puffed rice Milk without cream -100 ml20 2
(Kurmura) provides 570
calories and 26.5 grams of A child fed with these contents of
proteins Akshayapatra gets 570 calories and 26.5 gms
of proteins.
Akshaypatra
27
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Following this method a child can Chickens gain one-kg weight in just a period
gain weight continuously. Thus it helps in of one-month by pecking grains every-now and
reducing then. It is vital to respect the hunger patterns of
malnutrition in simple and effective way. children and teach them to follow this natural
course. Set them free and allow them to eat as
So if Akshayapatra is kept on floor
per their wish.
preferably at a Food Corner, children have
easy access to food when ever they feel like. The amount of food that a child needs varies
As children get into the habit of eating the according to height, build, gender, and activity
mixture every now and then, mothers can rest level. Left to themselves, most children will
assure their children are getting all the required usually eat the amount of food that’s right for
nutritional value added food. them; however, it is up to the parents to make
sure that their children have the right foods
This mixture of grams and ground-nuts can
available to choose from. Don’t fall into the age-
easily filled in pockets as well so that children
old trap of forcing them to eat more food than
can eat when they are on their way to school
they want or need.
or elsewhere. This highly beneficial mixture can
also prove effective for malnourished adults, There is evidence that nibbling is better than
pregnant and lactating women. eating fewer, larger meals. Compared to the
gorging eating pattern, the nibbling eating
This concept of Akshayapatra has been
pattern is preferred by children.
evolved and developed to tempt children to eat
food. Unlike other containers, Akshayapatra is The best way to help child is eat make food
not just meant for preserving food items. But easily available to them. So that they can have
the focus primarily lies on making food visible it leisurely while reading, writing, chatting,
and easily available to the child. Food seen playing, riding, dancing, watching television,
through the bottle tempts children to eat. In etc.
Indian homes food is stored safely and kept Senior Paediatricians Dr. Hemant and Dr.
out of reach of children. Hence the gap Archana Joshi have been maintaining
between children and food is vast. It is high Akshyapatra since past twenty-five years. In the
time we change this pattern and set food on year-1996 they had implemented a pilot project
floor so that children get easily attracted in the district of Thane in the state of
towards it. This will bridge the food gap which Maharashtra. They experimented with 500
deprives the child of nutrition and thus hinders malnourished Tribal children studying at
the growth of the child. temporary school run by Shramajivi
The problem is not that children are unwilling Sanghatana which is headed by noted social
to eat, but it lies with the non-visibility & non activist Mr. Vivek Pandit. These children
availability of food at the time when they need belonged to migratory workers working in brick
it. Children may not follow the eating habits of kilns. Malnutrition is a common phenomena
adults who have large meals twice or thrice a amongst the Tribals in Maharashtra. Large
day. They like to nibble food continuously number of deaths are registered amongst
throughout the day. Snacking is helpful in Tribal children due to malnutrition and this
meeting calorie and nutrient requirements problem is persistent since past many years.
Several agencies have been involved in trying

28
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

to curb this menace but little progress has been Infants and toddlers can be fed with
so far. puffed rice and as the child grows up an addition
For over a period of one-month these tribal of groundnuts and grams.
children were fed on this mixture of Once children are put on this diet mothers
Akshaypatra. The results showed that every can measure the child’s growth by tying a simple
single child had gained weight ranging from thread round its waist and left arm. As the child
half to one-and-half kg. grows, the gap between the thread and the
Some of these children had skin lesion/ waist/arm decreases. Thus the thread can be
diseases which were not being cured. On used to ascertain the change in the child’s
getting the required nutrition these tribal growth pattern. Along with this the mother can
children were cured of their illnesses. fill up ready-made growth charts available at
Dr. Joshi who has treated over 2 lakh various paediatrics clinics and weigh child.
children in the past 25 years says that they are These charts are standard barometers to
yet to meet a single child who has refused to measure a child’s growth in terms of his weight,
eat the mixture. height and brain.
It is often observed that sick children refuse It has been our experience that when mixture
to eat no matter how much we cajole them. This from Akshayapatra is offered to children visiting
mixture proves beneficial with sick children as the clinic, they open up fast with the doctor and
well. When a sick child is deprived of food, the cooperate during the treatment. They gel with
child starves, becomes malnourished and doctor so well in fact they become friends and
irritable. This can lead to more pain and agony. also insist on being treated from him/her the
As the mixture has a unique taste it can next time they are ill.
generate interest in the sick child to munch it. The staff of Joshi hospital and parents of the
As a result it reduces starvation in the child, children admitted are also offered with contents
subsequent malnutrition and irritability. Thus of Akshayapatra. It has been found that when
there are chances that this child recovers mothers help themselves with the mixture when
faster. they are unable to have meals on time. The
When one has cough and cold constant mothers remained clamed and it was observed
munching of roasted groundnuts, grams and that ‘Hypoglycemia induced’ irritability was
puffed rice causes salivation and cleaning of reduced. In case if peanuts are not available
throat. This reduces throat irritation, coughing one can use raw rice as well. Raw rice gets
and vomiting. The Eustachian tube also opens digested and does not cause any side effect.
and helps patients of otitis media. Akshaypatra should never be left empty. It
While treating Diarrhoea, food and fluid can be filled with any snacks not necessarily
forms major part of the treatment. The mixture grams or peanuts.
of salted and roasted groundnuts, grams and
plenty of water provides the same benefits as
Oral Rehydration Solution. Children when they Akshaya patra & Snack filled pocket pre-
take to munching this mixture at regular vent weakness.
intervals they become energetic and more Akshaya patra & Snack filled pocket treat
playful. They are less irritable and cause less
weakness.Try.Tell all.
of menace.
29
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Do not give Milk as a drink

Cow Milk in its When we try to forcefully make children drink

natural form milk and while they resist to it the milk can
contains 90% water. accidentally enter their nostril.
Milk is contaminated
When sick children are fed milk they find
by adding further
breathing difficult and they die.
water to it. It would
be indeed difficult to Milk leads to constipation children may urinate
label milk as food more times after drinking milk but it leads to
since it contains 96% constipation. Children find difficulty in passing
of water. stool it pains and they pass blood
Milk is 10-20 Milk and sugar retain on teeth which leads to
times more increases bacteria followed by tooth decay.
expensive compared to food items having same
British Dental Association has banned candies
nutritional value.
made of sugar and milk.
It is not necessary to consume milk for the entire
We get calcium from pulses, cereals, fruits so
life. Even animals drink milk only during their infant
there is no need to drink milk for the same. For the
stage. When solid food is introduced after babies
above mentioned reasons the American Academy
develop teeth mother’s milk automatically gets
of Paediatrics recommends that Cow's milk should
dried up.
not be given to infants below one year.
Milk is banned in the United States of American.
Ayurveda has innumerable instances depicting ill
effects of milk.
The components in milk of every animal differs,
the per cent age of proteins in a mice is 8 while in
Golden Minute
mother’s milk it is 1. The components of mother’s We help a newborn to take
milk suits the babies needs.
breath in first golden minute. We
Mother’s milk contains large per cent age of
Lactose sugar which is essential for the keep oxygen etc. ready.
development of the brain. Similarly Vote in the first
Milk kills hunger. Parents add expensive golden minute of getting ballot
supplements so to make their children drink milk. papers by post. Be prepared.
Milk is expensive and it affects the monthly Keep xerox copy of photo i.d. in
budget, the same money can be used for nutritional
food. purse today.(like pancard-needed
Milk should not be consumed with any other in bank/travel)sign it & enclose it
food item. Milk lacks Iron and it removes iron from with vote.Send for posting the
other food we consume. same minute.Tell all.thanks.
If children are deprived of Iron it affects hemant Joshi.
development of their brain and leads to anaemia.

30
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Importance of Oil
Our body is made up of 75% of water the According to the research conducted by the
remaining is made up of oil, rest of protein and National Nutrition Survey Institute, the food we
very little part of carbohydrates. Oil is required fed our children lacks 90% of oil. As per
for building every tissue. Lack of oil in our diet research conducted world wide it was noted
makes us weak. Diet o weak children should that till the age of 4-6 months Indian children
consist of oil-seeds. are ahead of children from United States and
Oil intake help in developing fat in our body. Europe. However, as they grow Indian children
When fat is less than required than the person are not able to compete with these children in
grows weak and when it more than required mental growth, obviously because of lack of
than the person grows fat. proper nutrition.
Refined oil is colourless, odourless and Due Precautions should be taken while
colourless liquid. It can be easily consumed giving oil to infants.
by babies of any age even by the newborn OIL MASSAGE
babies. If 10 ml oil is taken three times in a Loving Massage preparing –head,neck,
day we get 300 calories energy. If children arms, legs, feet and toes, massage bonding
below the age group of 5 years consume oil get used to handling baby ,soothe an unhealthy
in this manner they can gain weight in 1 kg baby calm nerves.
weight in one month. sensual experience
We get 20 gm oil in 100 gms of peanuts. for both of you. Oil gets
Oil seeds such as soyabeans, til, peanuts absorbed in the body
should be consumed more to fulfill the need of within two hours.
oil • 5 ml oil needed
100 grams of oil gives 900 calories. Call at 1 time.
oil as 900 rupees note.(In market palm oil is It is absorbed.
Rs 50 per kilo) •This oil
100 grams of milk gives 67 calories. Call it disappears in less than 2 hrs.
67 rupees note. (In market milk is 30 rs. Per • You can do massage 2 hrly
liter) • Sion hospital & LTMG medical college
100 grams of cooked rice gives 100 Mumbai studies have shown that this oil is
calories. Call it 100 rupees note 100 grams absorbed and benefits growth of serum
of milk gives 67 calories. Call it 67 rupees lipids,brain growth,growth of head
note. circumference.
To give maximum calories,give more oil to Study by R.H. Gobbur
children. (Professor of Pediatrics, Shri .B. M. Patil
Add a spoon or two to what ever they eat. Medical College, Bijapur-586103 India. email
Each child can easily eat 30 to 60 grams :[email protected]) shows that using 5 ml.
oil daily. Oil is most economical source for coconut oil every time and massaging it 4 times
weak poor children. daily doubles the weight gain rate.

31
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Importance of Solid Food

Liquid diet is 85% water hence it is not food. While, solid
food is extremely nutritious and is vital for child growth.
National family health survey shows child should be made to sit on the lap providing
that 54% do not get solid food till the age ample support to him while feeding liquids.
of nine months. While only 46% children When you first begin to feed your baby you
get it. must start out slow. Start by placing a small
A research was conducted in United States amount on a spoon. Gently touch the spoon to
over 400 children who were not gaining weight. the baby’s lips to help encourage them to open
Children feel hungry after every 2-3 hours. their mouth. When their mouth is open, you
These children were offered fruit juice once in should then try to place the cereal on the back
a day as form of a meal. Researchers noted of the tongue.
that even if once children are fed on liquid diet Serve your baby a variety of foods. Giving
during the day they loose weight. Take a look your baby different foods will expose her to
at our homes our childen are always on liquid different flavors. This will encourage her desire
diet. Either we offer tea, milk or soup etc. to try new foods and make it less likely that she
After six months the child needs more will become a
nutrition than provided by the mother’s milk. picky eater.
Every child starts sucking his fist or licking his Serving your
fingers. He tries to pick up every object he finds baby a variety of
readily and puts in his mouth to check whether foods is also a
it is food and that he can eat it. good way to be
The child opens his mouth automatically sure that she gets
when he picks up an object. He even turns all of the vitamins
around, lies on stomach and tries to push and minerals that
ahead to see if he finds any such objects lying she needs.
on the floor. As he starts eating on his own in
this manner he manages to eat some food
while some food particles are spilled on the
floor. Vote for a change
But when mother’s try to feed their child
Vote for new ideas
liquid such as milk by making the baby sleep Vote for grass root worker
on the lap there are chances that the liquid Vote for multilingual
passes into the wind pipe. Such accidents can
prove dangerous and can even prove fatal. The
Dr.Hemant Joshi

32
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

HOW TO STAY FIT AND HEALTHY

sick persons
Ensure you get Vaccinisation
Maintain Personal Hygiene
Diseases arrest growth. Awareness
regarding health and diseases is vital
Encourage your child to eat home made
food.
People who cook and serve food should
Avoid eating outside food. Develop a habit
follow strict rules of hygiene, like having bath
of carrying home made food or snacks.
daily, washing hands after using toilets,
One should not eat outside food as it can cutting nails, keeping hair clean
be cooked or served by sick people. Their
Children should receive all vaccines. The
illness can be transferred to you through
centre and state Governments should take
food.
adequate measures that all children receive
Avoid eating food kept in open even if it vaccines as per schedule.
is at a fine restaurant
One should not get close to those having
Eat food at places known to you cough, cold and fever. These air bound
personally illness get transferred when you go closer
Early recognition of illness is important or when you shake hands with them. Avoid
having cold drinks and ice creams. A cold
Avoid eating salads in restaurants, throat catches cough, cold
chances are the vegetables may not be easier.
washed properly. When cut is pieces fruits
reduce their nutritional value More importantly a
medical check-up on
Eat cooked food or preferably hot food child's every birthday is
instead of cold food while eating in a necessary. Visiting a
restaurant doctor for preventive
Drink hot water or mineral water if you check-up and monitoring
are unable to carry water with you growth will make children
Avoid diseases by keeping distance with taller, stronger and
smarter.
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Exercise
Exercise keeps muscles stronger, increases flexibility.
It makes them feel better. It helps children to develop
social skills such as sharing, taking turns, cooperating
and learning about winning and losing

Children should be discouraged from

watching television, playing computer
games, chatting phones for longer period.

Dancing, Playing outdoor games, Yoga,

Cycling, Swimming are excellent form of
exercise.

Regular exercise helps:

Build tissues and bones strong

Burns Fat and keeps body in shape

Helps in maintaining weight

Parents should encourage their children
to exercise as it keeps them fit. Regular Helps in controlling severe diabetes
exercise increases their work capability and
it reduces risk of contracting diseases which Increase disease resistance power
affects heart and blood veins.
It effects mental growth and social status. Increase overall wellness
It controls weight, blood pressure, diabetes
and types cancer. Increases concentration
It also helps in developing their
personality. Helps in development of social skills

Simple forms of exercise such as running It doubles life span and quadriple daily
etc also proves beneficial. happiness.
34
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Watch your TV watching child

Most children are hooked for hours together Set a time limit of one hour for watching
to the cartoon entertainment dished out on television. Parents should also monitor the
various channels. Cartoon mania has gripped cartoons they are watching. Become aware of
this generation like never before. the cartoons that contain violence and replace
them with powerful learning programs.
The majority of cartoons are filled with
violence and bad language. These cartoons Another highly influential action parents can
therefore have a negative impact on a child’s take is to examine and regulate their own
developing mind. viewing behaviour, since children are highly
influenced by their parents’ viewing habits.
Studies have been done by various
scholars over few decades in this area. These Television should not be violent because it
studies have tried to find out what it is about acts as an educator and has a responsibility
television violence that makes it such a big to the children it educates. We need to change
influence on the way kids act and behave. television programming. Together we can be
a voice. We can raise our voice against
Research has shown that based on the violence. We can write to the various cartoon
quality and quantity of cartoons a child watches channels and register our concern about the
it will have an impact on a child’s behavior. content shown on these channels.

Television is make-believe. Children fail to

understand that a cartoon is not real. The
people in the stories are make-believe. They
are actors and the story is not true. Young
children are unable to realize that when a
character attacks someone it is not real and
should not be imitated.

Children tend to act out the violent scene

they have seen in the cartoon. They tend to Vote for a change
copy these actions like fighting, hitting, using Vote for new ideas
bad words, etc. Vote for grass root worker
By converting popular English cartoon Vote for multilingual
channels into Hindi medium, the cable industry Dr.Hemant Joshi
in India has done incalculable harm to children.
35
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Personal Hygiene

Practicing proper personal hygiene helps

you stay away from disease and infection. It
keeps you healthy and makes you feel good.

Often wash your face, hands and legs.

Clean your teeth properly twice and remove
food items hidden between teeth
Wash your teeth twice in a day, rinse your
mouth. Cleaning teeth before going to bed is
important.
Use common salt while cleaning teeth. You
can add it to the toothpaste. It kills germs that
cause tooth decay.
Tongue also should be cleaned with
common salt.
Do not touch unhygienic items.
Wash hands properly before having food
Habits such as often cleaning nose using
fingers or often touching face should be
avoided.
Hairs should be washed regularly to avoid
boils and dandruff.
Personal Hygiene is of utmost importance.
It helps to stay away from illness and sickness. Soak your nails in warm water at least once
No one likes to get close to a person who is in three weeks. Ensure that nail polish does
unclean or smells bad. get transferred in food which cooking.

It is responsibility of Parents to teach good Likewise, importance should also be given

personal hygiene to children. to wearing clean and neat clothes.

Have bath twice daily. Footwear should be clean as well.

36
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Little Doctor
“While we try to teach our children all about life,
our children teach us what life is all about.”
By Anonymous
Children are best teachers and this can be
explained better in a novel experiment carried These school students were given the title
by Indonesia based Dr. Hardy Waton. Once of ‘Little Doctor’. These little doctors would
Dr. Waton’s daughter asked him whether he check if there are any sick children in their
would be alive till she gets her degree course, class. And then would take these sick children
surprised by her query Dr. Waton asked her to doctor for further treatment.
why she felt so. This programme proved successful in
To this Dr. Waton’s daughter replied that her Indonesia following which the World Health
teacher had informed during one of her Organisation has approved this programme
lectures that the teacher’s husband died an developed by Dr. Waton.
early death due to excessive smoking. And Few doctors in Tamil Nadu liked the idea
since Dr. Waton smoked heavily his daughter and implemented programme in the state.
feared whether he will live till she gets a Later one IAS officer from Andhra Pradesh
degree. implemented this programme in his district.
Dr. Waton being a doctor himself was Students who are good at both studies and
aware of the ill effects of smoking yet he could sports and are willing to become Little Doctors
not give up his habit. But with this question are chosen for this programme. They are taught
raised by his daughter Dr. Waton realized his every day for ten minutes for ten days during
grave mistake and gave up his habit from that their school hours about common illnesses and
day. health care. Then these little doctors take care
Dr. Waton further realized the fact that of their fellow students and family members as
children can be good communicators and thus well.This programme can prove valuable in rural
can be good teachers in propagating health and urban slum areas where parents are
issues. Children can be good leaders and can illiterate or unaware about illness. Once this
bring in revolution in the society. programme is implemented first aid facilities
can be readily available in case of emergency.
Dr. Waton brooded over the idea that if Students cannot learn at an optimal level if they
intelligent students are picked up and taught go to school tired and sick.
about illnesses and medicines in simplified
manner they can take care of their family Students with bad habits such as chewing
members, friends and people around them as ghutka, tobacco, etc can be traced at earlier
well.Dr. Waton resigned from his government stages and counselled. This can reduce such
job and started teaching young intelligent bad behaviour amongst children. It reduces
school students about common diseases and school absenteeism. This will lead to
health care at large. awareness of health amongst students

37
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Lunch Box
According to the details provided by the
National Nutritional Monitoring Bureau most
of Indian children do not get the required food.
It is also true amongst financially sound families.
According to the findings of a study
conducted by a retired School Principal, the
We often find students are tired and have grasping power of students is excellent in the
hardly any energy left in them by the time they first three hours while attending school. After
return from schools. Students are used to remain two hours of ten minutes of recess the power
hungry for a longer period. But in reality it reduces to medium. The grasping power reduces
should be avoided. Schools should make it to minimum in last part of the day. It was also
compulsory for students to carry lunch-boxes. observed during the study that those students
It is vital to give children a healthy lunchbox who had started carrying lunch-boxes
that is nourishing and enjoyable for them to eat. maintained the same grasping level during their
Instead of wholesome homemade food busy last lecture as well.
parents are found many times opting for easier Students should have two recesses during
solution. They give money to their children to school hours. They should be made to carry two
buy food during or after school. Naturally they Tiffin boxes.
spend money in buying snacks which lack It is important to offer healthy lunch box
nutritional value. Children often buy road-side choices. Chapathis or Parathas are ideal for the
food which can prove harmful. These snacks sold lunch box. They do not become messy and
in open can be invitation for serious illness like remain soft for a long time. You can add methi,
Dysentery, Worms, Typhoid, Jaundice, etc. palak, jeera, cauliflower to them. Thus it can be
Thus parents should take the time for made more nutritious and tasty.
preparing lunch boxes. It is such an important Kids simply love variations and surprise. So
part of raising a healthy child. What you put in you can also include idlis, dosas, pulav, vegetable
your body is what fuels you for the rest of the cutlet which are healthier options than fired
day. Good food gives good energy. snacks.
If you equip them with healthy food to eat at Making healthy lunchbox meals helps in
school, they will be better prepared to study and developing healthy eating habits for your kids.
learn. There is popular saying A Healthy Mind Involve your child in making the lunch-box
in a Healthy body. Brain can function efficiently if it’s convenient to you. As kids are more likely
in a healthy body. And to build a strong body it to enjoy the food they have made.
is important children should eat as per their You can also be creative and write some
requirement and should not remain hungry. The beautiful messages for your children. It can be
functioning of the brain gets affected when it anything but needs to be right from your heart.
does not receive the required amount of sugar Children will definitely feel your warmth in your
from blood. message.
38
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Measures to be taken by School

Management

School management should ensure that Physical activities specially sports help
they provide Child-friendly schools to children. increase in height and weight and development
First period should be of sports or physical of brain
training. One hour compulsory exercise
doubles their learning capacity. Classrooms should be well light and airy.
School has nearly 100 teaching and non- Children often get injured so first aid facility
teaching staff. If Parents-Teachers meeting is should be easily available. Regular inspection
conducted on working days parents have to of first aid box is necessary. Teachers should
take off from work. Hence such meetings be well versed with medical aid facilities
should be conducted on Sunday or any holiday.
Children should walk to school or ride a
Small muscles of hands which are used for bicycle instead of traveling by bus.
writing are not developed till the age of six.
Hence students should not be forced to write Make use of You tube for learning K.G. to
before this age. P.G. movies on every topic. Bring the world in
your classroom/home. Joyful learning. Go to
A research conducted children don’t like www.keepvid.com for down loading you tube
sitting in a classroom. Childhood is an active movies
phase.
Teachers should be fit. They should be able
Learning should become playful and joyous to Run one km in six minutes and ten pull-ups
Make them efficient with awareness. at stretch .
School bags should not be too heavy as they
can cause back injuries in future Vote for a change
NO capital punishment should be imparted Vote for new
to children. ideas
Provide clean toilets Vote for grass
Safe Terraces should be developed as root worker
ground for playing
Vote for multi-
Carrying lunch-box to school should be made
compulsory
lingual
Dr.Hemant Joshi

39
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Danger Signals
When the baby gets sick, there’s no reason to be
tensed, visit a doctor. We inform you about signals
you need to look for to identify a sick child.

When the baby refuses to drink milk

If the baby gets fits
If the baby is too cold or is running high fever
If the baby’s skin colour has turned blue
If the baby keeps crying while pulling its ear
or if it is impatient
When the baby meets with an accident.
Cases of Babies Drinking kerosene are
reported on large scale in India.
When a baby remains stiff most of the time
Often young parents are unaware as when When the baby does not walk on time
should the baby should be taken to the doctor.
Below mentioned are symptoms when the
doctor should be consulted.
The baby which breathes 50 times in a
minute has Pneumonia. Everyone of us breath,
but the activity of breathing is not seen by
others. But when breathing in a child is visible
it can be concluded it has pneumonia. The
baby should be taken to the doctor
immediately.
When a baby passes stool more than three Vote for a change
times a day or passes loose motions should Vote for new ideas
be taken to the doctor Vote for grass root worker
If the baby cries in an unusual manner and Vote for multilingual
for more than hour, doctors’ advice should be
sought in such cases. Dr.Hemant Joshi

40
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Asthma

All Asthma patients This way you can develop a PATIENT’S

have easy Fatiguability. OWN CHART LIKE A PEFR CHART.
Their air-pipe Asthamatics are like “Touch me not plants.”
[carburettor] is choked. When they come across an offending
Asthmatic may not substance/allergen, their air-pipe shrinks like
wheeze or cough but the a mimosa plant does.
he/she has easy The Asthma
fatigueability. Do PFT/ attack can occur
PEFR and check like the sudden
yourself. showers of Rain
SINGLE DIAGNOSTIC FEATURE OF after a gap of
EVERY PATIENT OF ASTHMA several days
Asthma is a clinical diagnosis. without notice.

A clinical diagnosis has 2 issues. Every

dehydrated child
1. Objective: One that the doctor sees. must get fluids.
IN this photo Upper
2. Subjective.: One that patient feels. Every hypoxic child
eye is normal. Lower
must get oxygen.
He /She always has easy fatiguability. eye is red swollen and
Asthmatics are
watery. Airways in
Ask patients to keep daily fatigue chart. breathless due to
allergic rhinitis and
They can make a mark on the calendar Hypoxia. Every child asthma are like
when they get tired earlier than usual days. with acute attack of this red eye.
asthma must get
chart helps you to tell severity of asthma. relief with Oxygen
Put one dot for mild attack, 2 dots for moderate immediately and every-time.
and 3 dots for a severe attack.
In children, half the asthma attacks are
induced by viral upper respiratory illnesses. If
children are taught to keep themselves away
Mimosa
from those children and adults having cough,
pudica
cold and fever. They will have fewer illnesses
(touch me
and fewer asthma attacks.
not) plant
Even if a single sick child goes to school,
this child can spread illnesses to several other
41
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

inhalor, etc. as toys for kids in the waiting area.

Let them play with them. Their fear will go. They
will accept is more easily.
Yogasans and Pranayam reduce body’s
excitability. It reduces response to histamine
from 4+ to 3+. Shuddhikriya of yoga teach how
to clean the nose by putting saline lukewarm
water in nose. It helps reduce allergic rhinitis,
improves lung function [personal experience. I
have Asthama]
Computerised PFT[spirometry] is priced at
around Rs.50000, it costs less than a car or a
X ray machine and is more useful. Buy it as
charity for your patients it will give you great
returns. It helps in diagnosis, and to monitor
students. progress and thus manage Asthma patients.
10 % population has tendency to have asthma.
If school authorities decide on not to allow
You must take measures to satisfy needs of
sick children to school, rate of school-going
this 10% population.
children falling sick will go down.
Why dilute 1 ml. Respirator solution with
And this will subsequently reduce asthma
10ml. Saline? You want to give medicine or
attacks.
s a l i n e
Asthma patients should avoid going in nebulization?
crowds. As there are chances that sick people
Roll of
would be amongst the crowd. And there are
newspaper makes
grave chances of asthma patients get affecting
an instant portable
due to these sick persons.
disposable
Knowing is believing. Let everyone hear universally
rhonchi with a stethoscope. Let them diagnose available free of
asthma for themselves. Give a stethoscope to cost spacer.
parents to carry it home and auscultate SOS.
Even a 5 day
Empower parents and patients with tools that
course of oral
we use.
prednisolone
OPD AREA: Keep computer in waiting causes gastritis in many children. That short
room of your consulting room. Run asthma course of prednisolone has no side effects is
education programme in patient’s language. a myth.
Create your own in power point. Share it with
IAP. Keep stethoscope, Spacer, Metered drug

42
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Diarrhea

This diapered infant got diarrhoea and

He was put on saline and saved
got severely dehydrated

Reducing Diarrhea deaths the simple way. Dear Brother , Sister

Diarrhea is one of the most common causes Can you please translate this in your
of death amongst children in India. mother tongue and give us for putting on
These deaths can be saved provided we net for free use of all. Give it to people
take simple measures. Let’s take a simple in your name with help of press .
example. When rats are affected by diarrhea Thanks.
they suffer from dehydration. Same is the case Drs. Hemant & Archana Joshi
with babies. Babies too get dehydrated and e: [email protected]
thirsty like the rats.
The rat when affected finds his way out. It
hunts for water, drinks it and survives.
Water is kept away from the baby. It is unable
to search for water. She cries for it, nobody
understands. The baby dies not because of
Diarrhea but because of lack of water.
If the water would have kept on floor she Vote for a change
could have sourced, drank it and survived. Vote for new ideas
Diarrhea deaths are caused as patients are Vote for grass root worker
not able to quench their thirst. Vote for multilingual
Water should be easily available for the Dr.Hemant Joshi
patients.

43
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Heat stroke
Every summer many Indians die of
sunstroke or Heat stroke. And people get tired
early. This all is eliminated if one drinks plenty
of water frequently ensuring that he never feels
thirsty.
Our body becomes warm due to excessive
heat during summer. During summer the water
percentage in our body reduces. It is because
we sweat due to excess heat in the
atmosphere. Sweat contain lot of water and . Car
some salt. This water evaporates and cools Radiator
our body.
The percentage of water from body reduces
without water. It generates more heat without
due to sweating. One gets dehydrate and feels
the radiator. In the same manner we get fever
thirsty. If one drinks adequate water, the water
and subsequent heatstroke when the required
stocks are replenished. As the thirst is
amount of water is not available in the body.
quenched one feels comfortable. The body
Heatstroke can prove fatal and so it should be
continues to generate sweat.
treated immediately.
If one does not get adequate water, the
If temperature rises above 106 degrees
process of sweating reduces. If we do not drink
Fahrenheit, It affects the brain. One can
water our body is not able to generate any
becomes giddy delirious and can even die.
sweat. The cooling mechanism in the body
A person is said to be suffering from
fails. It becomes hot. One gets fever.
Heatstroke if the fever is caused by increase
Human skin works like car radiator. Car
in air temperature. Heat stroke can be
engine generates heat, it needs to be cooled,
identified when a person is running high fever
else it fails. Car radiator contains water. It helps
and feels very thirsty, passes less urine and
in keeping engine cool. Imagine a car radiator
sweat less. Considering the rising
temperatures in summer it is natural for people
to sweat more.
It is important to note that a person’s working
efficiency reduces when he/she sweats. People
feel more tired. In order to prevent fatigue and
tiredness one can resort to simple clothing.
One can wear hat, long sleeves cotton clothes,
sandals instead of shoes or any footwear
offering maximum protection and allowing free
circulation of air. White hosiery and cotton
fabrics should be preferred whereas black
44
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

should be avoided completely. Frequent baths It increases the severity of fever.

helps to control the body temperature. A person suffering from cough, cold n fever
It is important to eliminate thirst. One must may run a temperature up till 100 or 101.
drink water before getting thirsty. Water should A person with heat stroke may have fever till
be consumed at regular intervals to ensure 100. But a patient suffering from
one passes adequate urine every 3 hours. This Cough, cold, fever and heat stroke fever may
should be followed by sick persons. It prevents rise to much more than 101.
heat stroke and subsequent deaths. This is how heat stroke increases the severity
Continuous consumption of water is vital. of all illnesses. This fever won’t go unless the
Drinking clean water is important, avoid person gets plenty of water by mouth or as
drinking water from canteens, where it is often saline through vein. Cooling him by bathing,
seen that waiters dip their fingers inside sponging, using air conditioners or desert
glasses instead of holding it from outside. coolers helps.
Carrying personal water-bottle or mineral water A Person with heat stroke is dehydrated. His
should be preferred. system function sub optimally. Only after he is
Hot beverages and irregular diet habits well hydrated he will recover well. A well
leads to acidity. It is better to avoid these during hydrated person passes adequate urine and
all seasons specially in summer. Babies, is not thirsty.
patients and old persons who depend on Measure Mouth and Axilla temperature to
others for getting them drinking water are more diagnose Heatstroke.
prone to heat stroke. (One may take rectal temperature in place
Sick people are at more prone to get heat of oral temperature )
stroke.
Sick people who already have fever and who —————————
tend to drink less water are more likely to get Table
heat stroke. Dr. Joshi’s grades of Heat stroke:
For example if a person has cough cold and
fever due to flu. He tends to drink less water. Normal or in any illness skin temperature is less
He also vomits and loses water. He is more than oral temperature by 1 degree
likely to get heat stroke. Grade 1 heat stroke skin temperature is less
than oral temperature.
Grade 2 heat stroke skin temperature equals
oral temperature. The difference is less than 1
degree.
Grade 3 heat stroke skin temperature is
more than oral temperature
We all wear in invisible coat of water. It keeps
skin moist and cools. We have to preserve it.
As it thins our with warmth we sweat. As we
sweat we feel thirsty. We must drink water even
before getting thirsty to ensure liberal water
supply to the water coat. When this does not

45
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

happen the water coat disappears. cotton clothes if at all. “No clothes” is best for
The skin warms up and we get heat stroke. all especially neonates & children if temperature
Check the wet skin of your neck. Then check is above 30 degrees Celsius.
the skin of the person having fever. If it is dry As newborns get dehydrated, they look
he has heat stroke. In summer when air turns more yellow. Their jaundice increases. This
hot, it heats the skin. So skin becomes warm. jaundice decreases by exposing babies to
Body makes sweat. Sweat dries and keeps sunlight. This light often creates more humidity
skin and body cool. and add to the problem. Keep these babies in
To make sweat body needs water. If we do cool rooms. Give plenty of water orally or as
not drink enough water, and if body water saline through veins.
reduces, body can not make sweat. So skin Clothes obstruct airflow. Each layer
warms up. We get fever. This is heat stroke. increases obstruction. Tighter the clothes lesser
How to identify whether a person has heat is airflow. Wear minimum clothes.
stroke? Wearing a tie obstructs air flow. Avoid
1. thirsty dry hot crow. wearing it. It should not be worn by students
2. not sweating round the year in India as the climate is hot here.
3. Fever not subsiding with medicines It reduces comfort and studying capacity of
given for regular fever students. It should be avoided by marketing
4. skin dry hot (compare with wet skin of persons as well who have to travel frequently.
our neck. Air temperature: More is the air or room
5. skin hotter than mouth. temperature more is the sweating and
6. room air temperature above 30 discomfort. Have well ventilated houses and
degrees Celsius. offices.
Breast feeding mother herself is the best Use room temperature thermometers. If you
thermometer for the baby. have a choice, stay in coolest room of the
Babies are in constant touch with the house. For example in morning rooms facing
mother. If baby’s skin dries and warms up east will be warmer while in the evening rooms
mother can know immediately. If baby gets ill facing west side will be warmer.
and baby’s core temperature rises, baby’s Use desert coolers or air conditioners. More
mouth becomes warm. Mother know this while the humidity more is sweating and discomfort.
breast feeding. She can also tell if only skin Air conditioners reduce it.
has become warm first g that it is a heat stroke Our forefathers used to bathe 5 times a day.
or if mouth became warm first telling that it is That must be their way of keeping themselves
an illness like viral fever. cool.
Sponging, giving breast milk or water, fluids
treats heat stroke.
Newborns do not
sweat. So they
become hot soon.
Avoid wrapping
them in clothes
during summer. Use Wrapped babies get fever. Keep
minimum loose them open.
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Malaria
Malaria is a major cause of problem. “Every fever is malaria
death worldwide. It is a unless proved otherwise”. That is
serious disease caused by a the dictum.
parasite. called plasmodium Primaquine are used for
This parasite is spread by treatment of Malaria.
infected mosquitoes. It is a
First the India government had
single cell like amoeba. It is
launched National Malaria
called as parasiste, as it lives
Eradication Programme (called
on our blood.
NMEP). We know that malaria
If one survives Malaria, it cannot be eradicated. So now it
makes you weak too. is called National Malaria Action
Symptoms of Malaria Programme (called NMAP).
include chills, flu-like Whenever one has fever NMAP advices that
symptoms, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and we must check a drop of our blood for malarial
jaundice. It can be life-threatening. However, parasite. All NMAP workers do it free of cost at
you can treat malaria with medicines. You need all government hospital and dispensaries in
medicines from 2 groups A and B. A: villages as well. The figures given here are
Cloroquine or quinine or atresunate group taken from NMAP website.
medicine, and B primaquine.
On an average NMAP examines 80-90
Follow these instructions to prevent million fever cases. That is about 1 crore. Of
mosquito bites and subsequent Malaria. these about 20 lakh ( 2 million) samples show
1Use mosquito nets, simple or impregnated malaria parasite. Thus every fifth fever patient
with deltamethrine that kills mosquitoes. seen by NMAP had malaria.
2Cover entire body with clothes Figures of the Majority of large population
3Use mosquito repellants taking treatment from private doctors are not
4Use fans to blow away mosquitoes included in this.
A doctor friend who was a pathologist felt On August 20th, 1897, Ronald Ross, a British
feverish. She thought next day she will test her officer in the Indian Medical Service, was the
blood to know what was wrong. Unfortunately first to demonstrate that malaria parasites could
she became serious at night and died. The be transmitted from infected patients to
blood taken at night subsequently proved that mosquitoes. In further work with bird malaria,
she died of malaria. Ross showed that mosquitoes could transmit
malaria parasites from bird to bird. This
In spite of all the measures taken by the
necessitated a sporogonic cycle (the time
government W. H. O., UNICEF in the last 25
interval during which the parasite developed in
years malaria is considered as dreaded
the mosquito). Thus, the problem of malaria
disease. Malaria is a major national health
47
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

transmission was solved. For his P. falciparum that causes malignant is

discovery, Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize dreadful malaria and may lead to death.
in 1902..Incidently this work was done in There are 2 ways of killing a goat. One in a
Hyderabad. clean sweep with a sword or other way by
How do we get malaria? cutting the neck slowly over a period of time
Mosquitoes spread Malaria. When a (called Halal).
mosquito bites a man having malaria, and .Falciparum kills patients over a small time.
sucks his blood, along with the blood, the Whereas Vivax makes one sick and weak over
malarial parasites also reach the stomach of long time before killing. Both kill and must be
the mosquito. Some of these parasites are treated fully with chloroquine & primaquine.
male and some are female. Here the male and The P.falciparum species is spreading wider
female parasites unite and give birth to many due to migration of population from endemic to
parasites. When this mosquito bites another non endemic areas and has increased
person, these parasites enter our blood tremendously.
stream. They are picked up by liver cells. One of the reasons attributed to rise in
These parasites multiply in our liver cells. P.falciparum is resistance to drug chloroquine,
When the liver cell breaks, they enter in the which is being used as a first line of treatment
blood & red blood cells. Here they multiply for malaria cases.
again and these red cells break. This is the If we get fever we should consult a doctor. If
time person gets fever with chills thus can be he diagnoses that you have say cough cold and
said that the person has malaria. fever and not malaria, you need not worry. Do
Red blood cells carry oxygen for us. Malarial enquire if it is necessary to check your blood
parasites break them. Without them we can for malaria. Government hospitals & primary
die. The red blood cells loaded with malarial health centers have a malaria worker who tests
parasites become bigger in size. These a drop of blood of all patient shaving fever, for
enlarged red blood cells block body’s smallest malaria.
blood carrying pipes called capillaries. As A rapid diagnostic kit is also available.
blood supply to various parts like brain is
affected one can die. Symptoms :Typical: One suddenly gets high
fever. With chills and sensation of extreme cold
Malarial parasite called as Plasmodium has followed by feeling of burning, leading to
4 subtypes or species. Of these one named profuse sweating. Then fever suddenly goes.
Vivax causes 50-55% and another named This is called as remission of fever by crisis.
falciparum cause 48-52% of total cases The fever comes every alternate day.
currently in India. Headache, body ache, nausea, etc. may be
Plasmodium Vivax that may cause associated features.
relapsing malaria but seldom death. It gives Atypical: In atypical cases, classical
fever again and again till treated well with presentation as mentioned above may not be
chloroquine and primaquine or till the patient there. Hence, any fever case may be
dies. considered as malaria.

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Measles
Measles is major killer disease of Children been giving measles vaccine free of cost. But
in India even today. not even half the children below 5 years get it. It
WHO says that during the outbreak of is we who have to be blamed for this chaos.
Measles epidemic all the children starting from All children below 5 years of age should be
the age group of 6 months should be given taken to the government clinic for measles
measles vaccine. But in India children above 9 vaccinisation.
months are given this vaccine when the Private clinics offer single doses of vaccine.
epidemic is not there. In Government hospitals single as well as 5 dose
Many countries are measles free. India can (multiple doses) should be made available. So
become measles free if Measles vaccine is every baby gets the vaccine.
given to all children on war footing level, Measles vaccines should be provided daily
Measles vaccine can be given along with and not on weekly basis. They should be made
polio vaccine available round-the-clock if the government
Since past 20 years the government has clinic is operating 24x7.

Baby’ Malaria fully cured.

Baby gets Vivax malaria Baby gets Falceparum
Baby gets chloroquine it hates chloroquine .
But baby not fully FINE.. It needes "NINE QUEENS"
So give "QUI-NINE"
Chloroquine kills not liver parasites or
It kills not gametes. It needs Artesunate +Lumefantrine.
They die only with Primaquine &
of course
Primaquine . Primaquine:
Malaria needs 2 queens . Dose:Falceparum 45 mg.
Cloro”queen” & Prima”queen” That makes baby fine. in adults once
That makes baby 100 % fine. for Vivax: adults: 15 mg. daily for 14 days.
Mixed: day one 45 mg.
2 to 14 day : 15 mg. daily.
Artemether+Lemefantrine
Dose 3.2 mg./kg. artemether daily for 3 days.

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

KEROSENE POISIONING
Daily about 100 children are hospitalized in
Mumbai city in India alone with kerosene Management: take X-ray after 6 hrs. X-ray
poisoning. shows diffuse chemical Pneumonia.

About 1 00 000 women & children die of Discharge: asymptomatic patients with
Burns due to kerosene stoves in India annually. normal X-ray.

To avoid this let us teach safe use of If X-ray is abnormal but patient is
Kerosene to every one. Asymptomatic case for follow up. Admit if good
follow up is doubtful.
Kerosene / Petrol cause chemical
Pneumonia on aspiration.\ Admit symptomatic patients for
observation & supportive care prophylactic
It has low viscosity. It spreads over large antibiotics steroids are not recommended.
areas of lining of Lungs.
Do X- ray, Sa O2, ABG if possible ABG
It destroys surfactant & causes alveolar shows hypoxemia,hypercarbia & respiratory
collapse, ventilation perfusion mismatch & acidosis.
Hypoxia. It directly damages capillaries.
Write a letter to Petroleum Minister. Ask
Kerosene is not absorbed thorough G.I. tract.
him to educate the people on safe care of
Pneumonia does not occur on inhalation of
kerosene.
fumes.
Mortality : Most children recover. If child
Signs & Symptoms. becomes comatose due to hypoxia he has risk
Irritation of mouth, throat & stomach causes of life.
coughing, choking, vomiting. Ref : Pediatrics in Review in Pediatrics
The Breath smells of kerosene. Respiratory Jan. 2002.
difficulty with breathlessness, in drawing of
chest bronchospasm wheezing & crepts
appear. If there is no breathlessness there is
no toxicity. Vote for a change
Severe breathlessness is a bad sign. Vote for new ideas
Hypoxia can cause brain & other multiple Vote for grass
organ failure & death.
root worker
Fever comes in 6 hrs. due to tissue damage.
Antibiotics & Steroids are not needed to mild Vote for multilin-
& moderately toxic patients. Lung damage is gual
highest 3 days after ingestion.. Dr.Hemant Joshi

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Tips for Clinics Tips on Intensive

Care Units
1. Painless I.V. set: Ask your I.V. set
manufacturer to make an IV set with a latex
rubber tubing in the tubing between the i.v.
bottle and the air chamber. Always add
medication through this latex rubber tubing
with the help of a needle. This ensures that
medicine is diluted 10- 20 times before it
enters a vein. This eliminates pain of i.v.
Have God’s idol or photo.
injections and delay thrombophlebitis.
Receive sick babies under radiant warmer
2. Use tubing of a stethoscope to give
Blow a whistle during an emergency. oxygen to 2 patients from one cylinder:
Giving oxygen to two babies from one
Use it as Y connection or three way
cylinder
distributor, with the chest piece limb bringing
Emergency room should be like operation oxygen from cylinder and the two tubings that
theatre. normally go to two ears can give oxygen to
Bath a child before hospitalization if 2 tubes going to 2 patients.
possible
3. During an emergency everyone should
Hospital bed should be 3.25 feet wide and announce loudly what he/she is doing: This
6.25 feet long.
avoids duplication of works.
Fans often give air to passages.
4. Maintain an error book: Document all
Air thermometer should be placed in the errors made by staff while working
hospital. without mentioning their name and solutions
Make booklets on instrument information in to these errors. This will reduce errors and
the local language.. improve the quality of work.
Give all vaccines to staff like typhoid, 5. Teaching staff all possible skills ensure
Every one should have a name plate in the that your staff becomes as good as you are.
state’s language This improves survival efficiency and
Letter of Honor For Nurses & clinic/hospital happiness.
staff.

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Tips for Parents

Make food easily available to your child Don’t keep criticizing them for every other
thing they do
Don’t interfere with them when they are
Give a patient hearing to your child
relaxing
Love and accept them as they are with their
Don’t expect things which are beyond their
limitations
capacity
Appreciate their efforts this will help them
gain confidence to excel further
Don’t interfere in their schedules
When possible encourage children to make
choices
Encourage them to share responsibilities, Don’t over react over mistakes
start with things like making own bed, making
sandwiches, etc Don’t fight with your spouse in front of
Take interest in their studies children
Be a responsible parent by providing a
warm and supportive family relationship Don’t call children by names or use abusive
Don’t give too much importance on language
rankings
Don’t compare your child with other children Don’t be an overprotective parent
Have positive attitude towards failure and
success Don’t take out your frustration on children
Have dialogues with their teachers
Express you love for you child and make it Don’t preach a child instead become their
clear that your love is unconditional and does role model
not depend on their success or failure
Create a tension free atmosphere at home
Encourage children to watch educational
so that your child feels free to share his/her
programmes instead of family dramas etc.
ideas or thoughts with you
Help children express their aggression in a
constructive manner rather than destructive Don’t allow your children to watch
manner programmes aired late in the evening.
Help them when they seek your help
Have a assertive conversation Encourage children to sleep early at night
Don’t keep brooding after children
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Story Therapy

...And Pappu became a Hero

Children enjoy read-aloud sessions. They Pappu’s family decided to help Pappu
learn that stories written in books can introduce break this habit. They developed a new routine
people and ideas. Listening and talking helps for him. They discontinued with the cable
children build their vocabularies. They have fun services. His family went to bed at 9 pm. Pappu
while learning basic literacy concepts. could get up early in morning feeling fresh,
energetic and happy.
Hence we have developed this story with
an intention to offer suggestions to difficulties Pappu seldom enjoyed meals. His parents
faced by both parents and children. used to ask him several questions. And he used
to get bored answering them. The result was
It’s a common practice to call children by he used to finish eating as fast as he can to
pet names. Pappu is a common pet name in avoid questions.
India. In this story Pappu represents an
average child. So one day Pappu’s nanny explained to his
parents that Mealtime is important to children’s
Pappu was born to educated parents. They development. She told them to use mealtime
often cribbed that Pappu was weak and lacked to relax, socialize, and share food.
enthusiasm towards studies. It should not be a battle-ground to solve
crises. She told them that if children feel
Pappu’s routine was dominated by comfortable, they will talk about their friends
watching television programmes. He was and school.
hooked to the cartoon entertainment dished
out on various channels. Cartoon mania had Nanny suggested that Pappu can even invite
gripped him. As happens in most homes, his a friend for a meal.
entire family used to congregate before the
television to watch serials and movies at night. Pappu’s parents decided to show interest
They used to sleep late and Pappu used to in what he has to say during meals. Now they
feel lazy while going to school. were also comfortable with silence or little
conversation. They soon understood that there
But fortunately his family realized that the are days when children do not feel like talking,
majority of cartoons are filled with violence and and that is perfectly fine.
bad language. These cartoons therefore have
a negative impact on a child’s developing Also, they made a Food Corner for Pappu,
mind. wherein he could eat food whenever he was
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

His mother worked out a revision timetable

for each subject. She broke revision time into
small chunks. The hour-long sessions had short
breaks. This worked well.

Both his parents went through school notes

with Pappu. They listened while he revised
topics. Latter these topics were discussed in a
playful manner.
Pappu decided that he should have a Graffiti
Wall at his home. His parents were overjoyed
hungry. Food corner had a huge Container
with his idea. As they knew the power of having
which had stocked nuts, raisins etc. Pappu
important messages, lessons, stories, ideas,
need not had to wait for food till his mother to
etc written on wall was amazing. They decided
make her meal.
to decorate walls according to his ideas.
Pappu’s family was keen that he maintained
The idea that his thoughts and comments will
a normal weight. He developed healthy habits.
get public attention was appealing to Pappu.
They decided to encourage him to participate
The concept of Graffiti wall became successful
in regular physical activity. This included one
and it reflected in his mark sheet.
hour’s physical education class in school or
extracurricular sports at school.

Pappu started walking to school.

He used bicycle instead of traveling bus for
longer distance. He started taking a walk with
friends. His family decided to use stairs
instead of escalators or elevators.

Increase in physical activities helped Pappu

to grow stronger and healthier.

Pappu’s mother provided clean and neat

place for him to study. His study corner was
quiet and uncluttered, well-lit and peaceful.
Pappu started using computer and
broadband for his studies at home. He was too
She made sure the house was conducive
keen to learn new things on YouTube. There are
to studying. Nobody interrupted him while
topics of various subjects developed using
studying. TV or music wasn’t too loud
videos in wonderful way. Pappu was extremely
generally. But she also accepted that some
happy with these new developments. It had
children actually studied better with
positive impact on his overall development.
background music.

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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Jungle's Race
Story therapy is an excellent way to teach organisors wolf and
children good habits. We have developed a fox took the chickens
short story which will be useful in inculcating to a shop which had
good habits in children. various eatables.
Children listen to this interesting story as it The shop was
happened in the remote jungles of our country owned by a nanny who
many many years ago. The king of this jungle new tricks of making
had announced a running race between school children grow strong.
going kids. But when the
On the day of competition the whole of jungle organisors reached Nanny’s shop they were
wore a competitive look. Banners of slogan to surprised as the shop was guarded by Nannny
cheer children all were over and motivational favourite parrot while she was not to be seen.
songs were heard in the air. The wolf said to the chickens you can have
As the king took sat on his throne every these lovely chocolates. Television
participant took their respective positions. The advertisements show that children grow strong
spectators enjoyed the race as it was after eating chocolates. They look delicious.
interesting. A chubby rabbit who was very Meanwhile one rabbit came forward and said
active won the race. chocolates or sugar based toffees are injurious
to health.
Suddenly every one was attracted towards
two chickens who were seen crying loudly. The Let me explain he said while narrating an
king got down from his throne and moved interesting story of a Chocolate Demon who
towards them. He asked them the reason for lived several years ago. The Demon was very
their sadness. To which both the chickens cruel and loved to eat meat & bones of children
replied that they were unhappy because they but failed to get it everyday.
could not even complete the race forget about So he thought of an idea to make children’s
winning it. The organizers of the race meat available to him daily. He started
interrupted “both the chickens were too weak manufacturing attractive chocolates & toffees.
to complete the race,” they said. Children loved eating these chocolates and
started eating them daily.
Hearing it the king But in the bargain these children destroyed
ordered the their teeth. As these children had no teeth they
organizers to look into could not eat food. Subsequently these
the matter. Acting on children died of hunger.
the orders the

55
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

The demon was happy to feast on killed the entire army of the kingdom of Troy.
these children’s bones and meat. They took their princess back home to Greece.
While he started eating these children’s Germs, Worms & harmful bacteria enter our
bones he too got attracted towards chocolates. stomach when we eat outside food like vada
He also lost his teeth and he too died of hunger. pav etc. These harmful germs are responsible
Thus rest of the children were spared. for many diseases including jaundice, typhoid,
malaria, dysentery etc. Have you ever thought
But unfortunately even now multinational when we eat food kept in the open we often
firms manufacture these chocolates which are suffer from illnesses like vomiting, diarrhea,
responsible for tooth decay in 95% of kids. typhoid, cholera, jaundice etc.
Stop gifting children chocolates, chewing Every one agreed with the fact that food kept
gums, toffees, bubble gum on various occasion in open is harmful. The fox further said that
as they have no nutritional value warned the actors are seen on TV doing amazing stunts
rabbit. after drinking soft drinks. A deer came forward
The wolf latter suggested eating vada pav, and said these soft drinks are expensive and
burgers pizzas, pani puri for growing strong. contain no nutritional value. In fact these drinks
Meanwhile a horse who was listening the are plain water with added colour. These drinks
conversation interrupted. “Don’t think of eating are responsible for many diseases like cough,
such snacks these are like enemies hiding in cold, pneumonia, measles & mums in children.
the Trojan horse,” said the horse adding further They also destroy teeth, u can watch it by putting
that I will narrate a story of Trojan horse. a tooth in any of these soft drinks. The tooth
melts in the soft drink within minutes.
There was a kingdom of Troy near Turkey.
Helen, the beautiful princess of Greece was ‘Fine,’ said the fox adding further ‘no soft
drinks, no food kept in open, no chocolates can
abducted by the people of Troy. The Greece
these chickens have cold milk. But they say milk
soldiers followed their Princess Helen to the
is nutritious.’
kingdom of Troy, they surrounded the kingdom
of Troy. The war between the two countries Hearing this conversation Nanny who was
continued for ten long years. But nobody won, sleeping inside came outside. “Who said milk
the Greece soldiers accepted their defeat and is nutritious in fact milk is injurious to health. Milk
returned home. While going home they gifted contains more water and less food. Milk and
one Trojan horse to the people of Troy. It was a any food in the liquid form destroy health of
huge horse made of wood and it moved on children. Children remain hungry if they eat
wheels. liquid food. Milk kills hunger. Parents add
expensive supplements so to make their
After celebrating children drink milk.
their victory the army
of Troy slept at night. Milk is expensive and it affects the monthly
At this moment the budget, the same money can be used for
nutritional food.
Greece soldiers who
were hiding inside the Milk should not be consumed with any other
horse moved out and food item. Milk lacks Iron and if absorbs iron
from other food we consume.
56
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

If children are deprived of Iron it affects puffed rice, raw rice, grams, these are
development of their brain and leads to easily available.
anaemia.” The wolf who had not spoken for long said,
A squirrel came forward pushing aside “How about the term an apple a day keeps the
others, “Nanny why these famous sportsperson doctor away. Lets us put these chickens on diet
and actors lie in commercials.” consisting of expensive fruits like apple and
grapes.’
Simple because they get lot of money yelled
everyone. Parrot said, “I eat guavas daily and grow
healthy and strong. Eat any fruit you have so
Nanny who is against feeding children with
many choices, like papaya, chickoos, amla,
wrong food said children should not follow
bananas but have at least one fruit in a day.”
advertisements blindly. Companies blatantly
lie to sell their products. How about delicious non-vegetarian food
said the fox they said it helps you to make
If you have seen tennis players resting
strong. Look at me roared the elephant I don’t
between two games you could have observed
eat non-veg but all of you envy my health. You
they don’t drink energy drinks but instead have
see friends the WHO in its technical report
a banana.
series no 724 said that you get the best of
I will narrate a story to you said nanny, “One proteins in two bowls of rice and one bowl of
man who was hungry for several days was cereals.
caught while stealing bread. The king offered
The chickens worriedly asked eating rice and
him a job & was pardoned for this crime. The
cereals throughout the day would be difficult.
next day the minister was caught read handed
No problem said Nanny raising her head. Just
while misappropriating funds. The king sends
think of puffed rice and roasted grams are
him to rope. Many advertisements of
nothing but rice and cereals. Keep munching
chocolates, soft drinks are full of lies, are
throughout the day you will grow strong and
misleading and should not be taken seriously.
healthy.
These famous and influential people have no
business to mislead poor Indians with wrong Have a heavy breakfast and keep munching
information.” snacks you will gain weight. But remember don’t
include liquid based food it kills hunger and
The two chickens who hearing the entire
makes you weak.
conversation keenly said together we agree
all these packed food is injurious but then what If you wish to grow healthy and strong you
should we eat. Keep munching almonds, should eat food regularly and continuously. You
peanuts and other oil seeds like til, soya should not wait for lunch or dinner but should
beans, coconut, they are good source of oil, consume food as soon as and when hungry.
said the parrot. Oil or ghee can be added in Fruits, vegetables healthy snacks like
every food item and it will help children grow peanuts, grands, puffed rice, almonds, raisins,
strong. suji ka halwa are good for health. Along with
One of the chicken said but I come from a this to complete the diet a bowl of salad of
poor family my parents won’t afford such things. sprouts, green vegetables, tomatoes, cucumber
Nanny said you can eat any kind of food like should be included.
57
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Nanny yelled listen kids one more Keep pockets filled with snacks
important thing your so called high proteins Eating regularly made Humpty Dumpty
tonics are not sure way of reaching daily chubby again
requirement of protein. And even if it does
Everyone thanked Nanny for her advice and
suffice the protein requirement then in absence
their returned home.
of carbohydrate and fats it will be useless.
These proteins do not replace requirement of This entire conversation was heard by some
fats and carbohydrate. fat youngsters from the city who had come to
the jungle on a picnic.
Parrot cried for attention as he wanted to
focus on important issue. Listen friends 85% Nanny we have a problem one of them said
of the Indian population suffers from tooth we eat junk food and have grown so fat, we
decay. Rice, wheat contains Gluton and like are not able to play and feel very lazy. Nanny
chocolates remains on our teeth. Bacteria looked at them and said immediately change
called Streptococcus thrives on these your life-style.
substances which remain on our teeth causing Food in liquid form like lime juice, kokum
tooth decay. Tooth decay can lead to acidity in juice should be consumed often. Intake of solid
future. Common salt kills germs and harmful food should be limited.
bacterial which cause tooth decay. Use Fruits & salads should form major portion
common salt for cleaning teeth. Salt should be of diet. Cooked food should not be consumed
used immediately after meals and after getting in large quantities.
up in the morning. Oil & ghee intake should be reduced. One
Nanny said you children must be bored by should remain always active. Use staircase
now let’s sing these rhymes on diet avoid elevators.
Everyone came together to follow nanny’s Food should be taken only when hungry. Eat
advice. They sang loudly. betel leaf with lime stone after meals it helps in
Ringa Ringa Roses digestion
Pocket full of snacks Return home from play by 7 PM
Eat here, now and regularly Go to bed early.
And each of you grow well Rise early in the morning.
Eat while you play Perform yoga; soorya-namaskar and other
Play while you eat form of exercises
That is the way to be happy and gay Revise your studies daily.
At six months of age Pray to God daily for 5 minute twice a day.
Humpty Dumpty was chubbiest amongst all Have breakfast consisting of fruits and nuts.
Then his weight had a great fall. Meditate and on how to reduce mistakes.
And all the world’s tonics Increase good deeds.
Could not make Humpty Dumpty chubbiest
again
Close the food gap and stop giving liquid
food
58
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

Story Therapy
Use Krishna katha & improve child survival
stetricians fear neonatal morbidity & mortality most.
“Make your child like child lord Krishna”.
Neonates deserve at least as much if not more care,
In Maharashtra and in many states of India, at
attention, space and resources, than the mother. Those
the time of marriage, an idol of child Lord Krishna is
assisting delivery need as much good training in care
given to bride,hoping that her son will be like lord
of newborn as they get for care of mother.
Krishna..
5.Lord Krishna was born at midnight.It was a dark
Vaishnavs begin and end their day saying “Jai
night.It was raining heavily,River Yamuna was in full
Srikrishna.” When they meet anyone they greet say-
spate. But Mama Kans would have killed lord Krishna
ing “Jai Srikrishna”.Jagannath Puri’s God Jagannath
next day. So Krishna”s father shifted him to a safe place
is child lord Krishna. Many classi-
at midnight. He did not wait for sunrise. The baby was
cal dances in India are based on
transferred immediately and safely.
Krishnakatha and Krishna is a popu-
When a newborn with risk of life needs transfer to
lar God. Krishnakatha is liked by all
another place tell this story. Ensure safe transfer.Stabilize
and is a very good tool to teach child
the baby, prevent hypoglycaemia,hypothermia,
care.
shock,infection during transport. Use a transport incu-
7 girls born before Krishna were
bator. Ensure that every ambulance in your area has a
killed by Mama Kans.But 8th child
transport incubator & functional oxygen cylinder. When
Krishna survived.This incidence has following les-
sophisticated transport incubator is not available Dr. S.R.
sons.
Daga recommends use of thermocol box as a trans-
1.A history of death of previous babies at birth, is
port incubator.
called as bad obstetric history.It worries every one
6.Krishna’s mother Devaki was in Jail. He was
whether next baby too will die. Tell this story and
reared by Yashoda & Nand. He grew on Yashoda’s
give them hope.
breast milk.Use this story to give milk of one mother to
2.Lord Krishna survived because his father was
baby of another mother with less milk. Use it to pro-
present at birth to transfer him to the safe place Gokul.
mote wet nursing and breast milk banking.
In any delivery there can be risk to the life of the
7. Nand had numerous cows. But Krishna did not
mother and the baby. Today in India about 1000
grow on cow milk. He was not bottle
women die during child birth/abortion. So the father
fed either. Putana was a demon who
and the head of the family must be present at the
tried to kill Krishna with poisoned milk.
time of delivery to help & consent for emergency
Milk feeding bottle is a modern
procedures like caesarian section, or transfer of baby
Putana mausi, that causes diarrhea,
or at the time of birth. Tell this story to ensure pres-
infections & kills babies. For educat-
ence of father /head of the family at the time of de-
ing masses, Indian Medical Associa-
livery.
tion at Virar Maharashtra & at
3.Lord Krishna was born at midnight. He had risk
Gandhidham Gujarat publicly put feeding bottle in HOLI
of life. Studies show that quality of services at mid-
(fire) in the holi festival. You too should do the same
night is not the best, increasing the morbidity & mor-
and educate people.
tality of babies born late in the night. Extra efforts
A custom of “SOYAR” was observed.
are needed to change this scene.
“SOYAR” AVOIDS “SOOTAK”
4.Lord Krishna’s story also draws attention to the
“Soot” in Sanskrit means Son. The grief of death
fact that even today neonatal mortality is many times
of a son is called “Sootak” .To avoid Sootak, they
more than maternal mortality. Neonatal mortality about
followed “Soyar”. “Soyare” means relatives.” Soyar”
50, & maternal mortality 5 per 1000 live births. Ob-
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 HAPPY CHILD CARE

means keeping all relatives away from the as follows.

baby & the Annaprashanam sanskar at 6 months.
mother for 45 Like all children, child Lord Krishna had
days. This is im- Annaprashanam Sanskar at 6 months. Annaprashanam
portant even to- is a Sansksrit word. Anna means food. Prashanam
day as India,s means eating. San means good Karya is work. Sanskar
maximum child means good work. There are 16 sanskars. Marriage is
deaths today oc- one. Annaprashanam is another. At the age of 6 months
cur in first month soft mashed home food like sheera,sooji halwa or soft
Child lord krishna with of life.Many of rice,dal with ghee or oil,mashed fruit, is fed ceremoni-
laddoo:Give each child a them occur due to ally for the first time to a baby. This is called
laddoo round the infections like di- annaprashanam. There after every time the baby is
clock.He will eat & grow arrhea, pneumo- hungry before breastfeed he is fed soft mashed home
healthy. India will become nia. Most infec- food a little,and then baby is breastfed. Adding little
malnutrition free. tions are unknow- breastmilk to every spoon of this food makes it more
ingly given by tasty and acceptable to the babies. Acceptance of breast
relatives who come to see the baby and carry the milk added medicines also is always better. Gradually
germs. Isolating the mother and baby from flood of the amount of home food increases, the need of
visitors will help mother & baby. All maternity homes breastmilk reduces. Like a relay race, the child gradu-
should have a board saying “No entry to sick people ally shifts from breast milk to solid home made food
near baby & mother” and learns to eat everything from the family pot.
Kardhani Good qualitative growth monitor Tell this story and introduce home made solid food
On 5th day of life they tied a thread around the at 6 months. Ensure that every child is fed homemade
waist of baby Krishna. It is called as Kardhani, food like Sheera,rice dal etc before each breastfeed.
kardoda etc. Even today this thread can be used as Some oil or ghee must be added to each feed. A hun-
a good growth monitoring tool.Teach parents that as gry baby may taste sheera or any home made solid
a baby grows the thread becomes tight and needs food. A fully breastfed and satisfied baby may not open
change. If baby becomes weak, it becomes loose. If mouth to taste anything.
the thread ever becomes loose they should consult Since last many years we give sheera to every child
doctor as the child is getting malnourished. He is ei- who comes to our hospital or clinic. In our clinic, we do
ther starving or sick or both. All including illiterate public function of annaprashanam & give 1st sheera to
grand mother notice this change. Thus it is a very every baby at 6 months of age.
good qualitative marker for growth monitoring. This This has significantly reduced malnutrition in our
is important as Growth monitoring is not done, height practice. The growth failure that occurs in second half
weight are not measured & growth charts are not of infancy is avoided by this practice. Annaprashanam
used for most of the 40 crore Indian children. is vaccine against growth failure in second half of in-
This thread around the waist can help us fight syn- fancy.
drome X, Indian’s biggest forthcoming epidemic. We must promote annaprashanam so that people
Every one should wear a thread around the waist. know and improve introduction
Neither too tight, nor too loose. If one gets central of home foods, and reduce mal-
obesity ,the abdomen grows and the thread around nutrition.
the waist becomes tight and warns to reduce food In Satyanarahan puja idol of
intake and increase exercise. child lord Krishna is
Thus thread around the waist is a good worshipped,Prasad of sheera is
LAXMANREKHA that we all should have lifetime. made.In every home, the child in
Krishnakatha helps us to fight malnutrition family is true lord Krishna of the family. Ask parents to
60
 HAPPY CHILD CARE

make sheera daily and feed it unbelievable truth that Lord Krishna, King’s
to the baby before every breast son, God Himself had to steal food. This explains why
feed. 85% of Indian Children are malnourished. It reflects
Give him/her sheera daily,as the sad truth that in most of our houses the food and
many times as he/she wants, say the water are beyond the reach of our children. They
6-8 times a day till18 years of do not get food and water ad lib,i.e.at liberty,i.e.,when
age. Children like variety.So dif- they want. They have to depend on others. And any
ferent dishes can be made in place of sheera. This is one who has to depend on others, fails & suffers. In
good complimentary feeding. our homes, the children are on the ground, and the food
Lord Jagganath,Balaram & subhadra of is on the table. Drinking water is on the table, Makkhan
Jagganath Puri. in fridge. We keep food & water, beyond the reach of
2Lord Jagannath of Puri,Orissa, is actually lord child children.Let us keep food and water with in the reach
Krishna.He is given food 6 times daily.56 tasty dishes of children in all houses.
are made for him every day.If we ask everyone to do Fortunately children are not required to ask for air.
this for our children,malnutrition will disappear. They take air as they want. So there is no malnutrition
1Krishna & Sudama ate poha of air in children. Like air if food and water are made
Learn from this story. Have a pocket to each dress liberally available to the children with in their reach
of every child. Keep it filled with poha (puffed rice), malnutrition & diarrhoea/sunstroke deaths will decline.
roasted grams (chana), roasted groundnuts, or any In Satyanarayan pooja in Maharashtra idol of child
available snack round the clock. If there is nothing lord Krishna is worshipped.The idol is kept say in one
else keep rice, roasted, sweetened or just raw. Our. corner of a room. All fruits,Prasad of Sheera (also called
experience shows that children eat raw rice well,digest sooji halwa) & water etc are kept in front of the idol.The
it well and have no problem, no stomach pain. *( photo child in the home is true child Krishna of that family.For
9) him, the family should keep a corner of the house.Name
A gap between food & children the corner as “baby corner or Krishna corner.” The
causes malnutrition. Close the food family should always keep snacks, fruits, water etc.
gap with food corner & food /snack which the child can reach & take independently, ad
filled pockets lib.and can feed him self.
Food / snack filled pocket is treat- This may spoil the floor. But it is good to have good
ment of malnutrition. Food / snack children in a spoiled house than having spoiled children
filled pocket is vaccine against mal- in good house.
nutrition. In Gujarat every house terrace has a corner for birds
Lord Krishna ate Makkhan. celled CHABUTARO.It has food and water kept for
This has 2 lessons. birds.
Lesson 1 This story helps us to increase oil & fat We need similar food corner for children on the floor
consumption in weak,malnourished babies.Tell par- in every house.
ents as follows. “Lord child Krishna” ate This child corner /Krishna corner eliminates
makkhan.Your child is “your lord Krishna, give hunger,thirst and malnutrition and majority of child deaths
makkhan or add oil or ghee to everything he eats.” in 2 ways.
Parents will happily listen to you. Chicken in poultry farm live in bondage. But are
And will add a spoon of oil to each weaning feed free to eat at liberty.They grow 1 kg.per month.Children
that a baby takes. are born free but are not free to eat at liberty.They
Lord Krishna is called as Makhan chor. He & his have to eat what parents give, when parents give.This
friends had to steal Makkhan. Mumbai’s biggest fes- is one reason for malnutrition. Make a child corner in
tival of Dahi handi is celebrated on Janmashtami, the each house & eliminate malnutrition. Children,like
birthday of lord Krishna. It reflects the sad shocking chicken should eat round the clock.
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When a child gets free access to food, us Make adoption laws simpler.Let us Make “give baby
he feeds himself. If he does not get food, he remains take baby club / Krishna club & promote adoption.
hungry. He starves & then gets malnourished. Give Krishna & Karna both were adopted at birth. So
free access to food to children. This eliminates hun- they survived. Use this example for early adoption ,as
ger, starvation and malnutrition. soon after the birth as possible, because risk of death is
If a dog’s or cat’s baby gets thirsty it goes to the highest in unwanted babies.
water hole and drinks water. If it is more thirsty in Learn Chivalry from Krishna
summer or due to diarrhoea, it has the option of drink- Krishna liberated many women from jails of
ing more water. This eliminates dehydration. Each Narakasur. He helped Draupadi.. This should teach
house should have a waterhole or a water bottle on chivalry .He helped his friend Arjun. May every one
the ground which a thirsty child can access indepen- help his friend in need.
dently at lib. Learn Evidence based medicine from
When a child gets diarrhea, he loses water, and ..Krishnakatha: Krishna”s famous dialogue, “This is
becomes thirsty. If he gets enough water to drink he Sun and this is Jayadratha” reminds us of evidence
does not get dehydrated. A diarrhoea child gets thirsty based medicine. It reminds us to get necessary evi-
first, dehydrated next and dies last. Keep water within dence with tests like cultures while treating patients.
reach of a child. If he is thirsty he will drink water Learn saving patients from Krishna: We battle
himself. Thus if thirst is eliminated, dehydration and to save every serious patient.We should follow
diarrhoea deaths are reduced..Water kept in the baby Krishna”s advice given in Geeta, “Do your best, not
corner/Krishna corner does this job. worring about the results,or returns.”
In summer children get dehydration fever & heat Like Krishna become
stroke.If water is available with in reach,they will drink Puroshottam, the best man .May
it and sunstroke & dehydrataion fever will decline. every one become Purushottam like
Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar said each village should have him.He told Geeta and taught prin-
one water source for every one. We want one water ciples of living. Gandhiji, Lokmanya
source for a child in every house within the reach of Tilakji, Vinoba Bhave etc. lived
children. Geeta. May each one of us under-
Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar doing Satyagrah stand and live Geeta.
Use Krishnakatha to promote exercise & Krishna lifted Gowardhan.
dance : Krishna & Balram did wrestling,exercise and We have to lift the Gowardhan of
went to gymnasium. Promote exercise that we & chil- childcare taking each one’s help.
dren sadly miss Reach Krishna katha to all in all languages of the
Dance is the best exercise. Our dances are based help sms /email/story telling t.v., radio, newspapers
on Krishna katha T.V.is the best dance teacher and improve child health.
available in every house. Lord Shankar , Lord Lord child Krishna’s photo with “bal
Krishna,Lord Ganesh are all“DANCING GODS” devobhava” written below it is the logo of our
Use Krishnakatha to teach music: Krishna’s hospital.
flute(MURALI) is famousUse it to teach music and Use Krishnakatha to reduce neonatal and childhood
instruments to children. morbidity,mortality and malnutrition. Use krishnakatha
Promote adoption with Krishnakatha: to improve baby care at birth, to transfer babies, pro-
Krishna’s parent were in jail.He was adopted by mote breast milk, burn bottles in holi, keep water and
Yashoda & Nand.So he survived.India’s census 2001 food on ground within the reach of children, keep pock-
shows that every 10th family has no baby .On one ets filled with snacks, promote exercise, dance, chiv-
hand childless families live miserably. On the other alry, friendship and good moral values, making all chil-
hand babies in orphanages live miserably and many dren into very good human beings.
die.Let us use Krishnakatha and promote adoption.Let

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Information related to Dr Hemant and

Archana Joshi's work
Dr. Hemant and Dr Archana Joshi are both Book on child care published in Marathi, Hindi,
practising Paediatricians at Virar, Dist. Thane English, Gujarati and Urdu Health literature in
(Near Mumbai) Maharashtra. more than 13 languages including German.
since past 25-years Have been Editor of Journal of Continuing
Major Achievements: Medical Education for the past ten years.
Popularisation of Primaquine tablets for Malaria Other Contributions: Having been writing
cure. These tablets have proved beneficial to cure several feature articles on health care for Marathi
Malaria patients. Earlier Primaquine tablets were dailies Loksatta, Sakal and other regional dailies.
not available with the chemists, it was only used Contributed information to news agencies UNI and
by the Army and for the Malaria eradication PTI.
programme by the government. Now these tablets Contributed towards weekly column in Marathi
are subscribed by medical practitioners across daily Maharashtra Times
the country. Interviewed by various news channels on
Suggested new and easy ways to eliminate health care
Malnutrition amongst children and adults Gave talks on Aakashwani on Health care
Proposed filling of Growth-charts BMC school Instituted Aarogya Dnyaneshwari awards for
children this, is now being updated regularly. This people working on health care and education
has now been also proposed for the entire Extensive use of mythological stories to
country. convey various messages of child care
Dr. Joshi strived hard to get names of Positions Held by Dr. Hemant Joshi :
medicines printed in regional languages Executive Member of Indian Academy of
Implementation of Six-month maternity leave Paeditrics
facility to promote exclusive breastfeeding by the President- Indian Medical Association, Virar.
government came after Dr. Hemant and Archana
Joshi’s efforts. It was this doctor couple who
mooted the idea to ensure the every child gets Dr.Hemant & Archana Joshi at International
mother’s milk at least for first six-months. Pediatric Congress August 2010 Johannesburg.
Dr. Joshi’s 6 original research papers have
South Africa Presented 4 research papers.
been published in Indian Pediatrics the
internationally indexed journal of Indian Academy
of Pediatrics.
Ideation: Suggested free-education for the girl
child till graduation.
Honours: James Flett Award - Gold medal
by the Indian Academy of Peaditrics in the year
1982 for their research paper.
Publications: Aarogya Dnyaneshwari
magazine published every year on Health care
since last fourteen years.

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Six-months maternity
H leave:
H
Dr. Joshi's idea
The Joshi couple stressed on the this topic for the entire day. The outcome was
importance of 6-months maternity leave to obvious the experts strongly recommended 6-
ensure breastfeeding. month maternity leave.
In the year 1988, while Dr. Hemant Joshi In 1992 in the subsequent annual IAP annual
was practicing as a child specialist at Virar, general body meeting at Nagpur, on the
he realized that six-month maternity leave will recommendations of this committee, IAP
ensure mothers breast feed their babies for a unanimously passed the resolution that the time
longer period. This will improve child survival span of maternity leave should be of 6-months.
rates in the country and will control malnutrition. Within one week the state governments of
So at a plenary session of IAP annual Haryana and Punjab granted 6 months maternity
conference held at Bangalore, Dr. Hemant leave to their staff members.
Joshi put forth the idea that working women Leaflets informing benefits of 6-months
should be granted 6-month maternity leave for Maternnity leave were distributed amongst all
the first time. news papers and trade unions. Dr. Uday
Later during the Annual General Body Bodhankar and many other pediatritians worked
meeting of IAP held at Annual conference at to sensitize politicians and government officials
Hyderabad Dr. Hemant Joshi and Dr. Archana on this issue.
Joshi proposed that IAP should recommend Meanwhile, Dr. Arbindo Mohanti &
maternity leave for 6 months instead of three colleagues also wrote to the government.
months. When the recommendations of 5th pay
However, some members of IAP felt that commission were implemented, trade unions
instead of sanctioning 6 months maternity asked for increasing maternity leave from 3
leave employers will prefer terminating women months to 6 months. During negotiations the
and instead will offer the same jobs to men government agreed four and a half months
candidates. Respected Dr. Ramesh Potdar maternity leave. However, soon the 6th pay
intervened and said that a resolution in this commission sanctioned 6-months maternity
regard should not fail at IAP meeting. He leave. All nationalized banks, Life Insurance
further suggested that the proposal on breast corporation of India etc. sanctioned maternity
feeding should be studied by the committee leave of 6 months.
of experts. In 2004 the UK gave maternity leave for 6
Following which experts consisting of months.
stalwarts like the then IAP president Dr. ÏÏÏ
Kumtha, Dr. R.K. Anand etc. deliberated on
64