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Sunshine Shy? The UK is lacking Vitamin D and we are now advised to supplement!
Vitamin D is vital for healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin D is made in the skin during exposure to the sunlight, A lack of vitamin D is very common, especially within adults and children based in the UK due to lack of sunshine.
It has recently been reported that many children in Scotland are significantly lacking in Vitamin D due to the bad weather and lack of exposure to the suns rays. Scotland’s chief medical officer recently said that children aged six months to five years should be taking daily vitamin D drops or an alternative supplement. Sir Harry Burns has warned that pregnant women should also be taking a daily vitamin D supplement of 10mg (the suggested adult dosage) to protect against bone disease and other illnesses, People aged sixty five and over who are not exposed to the sun should also consider taking daily vitamin D supplements.
The chief medical officer’s advice said that babies who are being fed by infant formula will not require vitamin drops until they are taking less than 500ml of formula per day, as these products are fortified with vitamin D. However, after this Sir Harry suggested that the daily supplement for young children should be between 7 to 8.5 micrograms of vitamin D per day.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that it dissolves in fat, which is important as it means that the body is then able to store it for future use. Unlike other vitamins, humans do not need to gain vitamin D from food that they consume. This is a good thing as most foods contain very little amounts of vitamin D. Foods that are a source of vitamin D include oily fish, egg yolk and fortified foods including cereals and margarine.
Vitashine is a vegan and vegetarian Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) nutritional supplement, the vitamin D3 is sourced from a plant named lichen. Vitashine produce a range of products including ‘Vitashine Vitamin D3 Spray’ which can be sprayed either in to the mouth directly or alternatively onto food as a way to provide an effective vitamin D supplement for children and adults alike.
Vitashine Vitamin D3 Spray helps maintain normal bones and teeth and supports a normal immune system. Vitashine Vitamin D3 Spray is vegan, vegetarian and sheep friendly! Vitashine Vitamin D3 Spray is available in 20ml bottles which provides approximately 150 sprays per bottle. According to Vitashines directions (and the EU recommended daily allowances), the recommended dosage is between 1-5 sprays per day for all ages. Vitashine products should be used within three months of opening and should be stored in a cool, dry place which is out of the sight and reach of children.
Vitamin D3 Products are available from www. vitashine-d3.com from £6.65 upwards. For further information visit www.vistashine-d3.com.
You should always consult your Doctor before taking any supplements and never exceed the stated dosage. This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Infant Dental Care
Here at Mums Baby Magazine we know how hard it can be being a parent, suddenly there are a great number of roles which you suddenly seem to be landed with: cleaner, carer, nurse, teacher, DIY expert, cook, waiter/ waitress, hairdresser, fashion consultant, dentist… any many more as the years go by. It can be difficult trying to keep track of the many things that we are expected to do, let alone be an expert at when and how we should be carrying out these chores. To make things a little easier, we have put together a quick guide upon infant dental health to help you along the way…
- Parents should begin cleaning their children’s teeth from the moment that a tooth comes through (breaks through the skin), it is therefore important that as parents we regularly check our babies mouths for impending teeth.
- Make an appointment for your child with the Dentist once their teeth have started to come through (this can be as soon as they acquire their first tooth).
- Most dentists ask that appointments are made for your child every six months.
- Infants/ children’s teeth should be cleaned at least twice a day (usually once in the morning and once before bed time).
- Toothpaste and brushes appropriate for your child’s age group should be purchased beforehand, these are widely available from supermarket stores UK wide.
- Avoid purchasing fruity based toothpaste as these may be widely available for infants and toddlers but are not featured on the market for children, teens and adults. Therefore if your child took a liking to a fruity based toothpaste, there is a possibility that they could take a disliking to popular minty based toothpastes later in life. Try to stick to a minty option from the start, this way you can avoid any preferences for flavour later in life.
- Change your child’s toothbrush every month or so.
- Most children acquire their first tooth between the age of six to twelve months. However, many children are born with teeth or acquire them shortly after.
- Your child will most likely have their full set of milk teeth by the time that they reach three years of age, this usually consists of ten teeth on the top and ten teeth on the bottom.
- If your child uses a pacifier then you should aim to stop this habit by the time that they are three years old to avoid any dental damage.
- In order to make cleaning your child’s teeth easier, face your child away from you and tip their head back into your arms. From this angle you should have both easy access and a good view for cleaning their teeth.
- If your child becomes anxious whilst having their teeth cleaned and you find it difficult keeping their mouth open, try using a story based upon a house with an upstairs and a downstairs (top and bottom sets of teeth) where someone/ something is being chased around the house or needs to be found, ask them to open their mouth a little wider so that you can see where this fictional character may be… By making teeth cleaning a fun activity, you will avoid any future anxiety problems and provide your child with a positive association towards cleaning their teeth.
We hope that our twelve teeth cleaning tips are helpful and enable you to really ‘get your teeth’ into your parental dental duties!
Natural Healing Remedies for Mother & Baby from Wildsheep
Baltic Amber has been used as a traditional European remedy against pain for centuries. Amber is a natural analgesic, made from fossilised tree resin. When placed against the skin, ambers natural healing, therapeutic oils are released, promoting relaxation, decreasing acidity within the body and inducing relaxation. Due to the natural healing properties of amber, amber is commonly worn by infants to prevent teething pain.
Whilst amber jewellery is a popular product for young infants, it can also be worn by adults to prevent and aid a number of common ailments. Amber provides a natural remedy and aid for a wide range of ailments including:
- Induces relaxation
- Natural anti-inflammatory
- Natural analgesic
- Increased speed of healing
- Boosts immune system
- Reduces nappy rash
- Reduces fevers
- Reduces swollen gums
- Reduces acidity within body and redness in the cheeks (often caused by teething)
- Natural aid for eczema and allergies
www.wildsheep.co.uk sell a range of genuine Baltic amber jewellery (necklaces mainly) designed specifically for reducing ailments for both children and adults. Mums Baby Magazine put the Wildsheep ‘Mother & Baby Amber Necklace Set’ to the test with a Mum who suffers with aches and pains specifically in her hands due to previous operations and a teething toddler.
Each necklace is made as securely as possible, each bead is individually knotted to prevent beads from becoming a hazard if the necklace were to be snapped or broken. Each necklace can be secured safely using a plastic clasp, whilst this is easy for an adult to carry out, it is too difficult for young children thus safe for young children to wear as only parents can attach and remove the amber necklace from their child. Each necklace arrives wrapped in a beautiful white, organza bag inside of which is a leaflet providing further information upon the properties of amber and care guides for the jewellery.
Wildsheep produce a wide range of amber jewellery differing in size and colour. Children’s amber necklaces are suitable for boys and girls from 3-4 month of age. Teething however is a long, on-going process and therefore it is never really too late for your child to start wearing an amber necklace!
Mums Baby Magazines testers found after wearing the matching ‘Mother and Baby’ amber necklaces for a fortnight that both individuals seemed to benefit from the experience. Firstly, our toddler tester seemed a lot calmer and seemed to chew on his hands less, thus indicating a reduction in teething pain. Whilst our adult tester found that she felt less aches and pains whilst wearing the Wildsheep Baltic Amber Necklace.
Introducing jewellery or accessories to young children can often be difficult as many young children refuse to wear something new or different. However, the Wildsheep ‘Mother and Baby’ Amber Jewellery Sets enable the parent to demonstrate and model how to wear jewellery safely and sensibly, encouraging children who may be wary over wearing necklaces and jewellery to follow their parents examples. Jewellery should not be worn whilst sleeping as it could cause a choking hazard.
Mums Baby Magazine give the ‘Mother and Baby Baltic Amber Teething Necklace Sets’ 9/10. Wildsheep sell a wide range of amber teething products, each of these may vary in colour due to the natural properties of amber. Mother and Baby Amber Teething Necklace sets are available from www.wildsheep.co.uk for £23.79
Gumigem, The Teething Gem!
Teething is a painful process which sadly all young children have to endure.Whilst there is a wide range of medication available to sooth the pain of teething, there are also natural and ‘chemical free’ solutions which can offer pain relief for your little ones such as soothers and toys which your child is able to chew upon to decrease pain. However, the best and most effective soother for any child is the love and affection of their parent.
Gumigem have designed a range of classic and simple jewellery which can be worn by parents and carers, to provide pain relief from teething to children whilst they are having a cuddle with their loved one. Each Gumigem necklace features a BPA, lead, latex and phralate free pendant which can be chewed and sucked for pain relief. The Gumigem pendants (measuring approximately 2” in diameter) can be removed from the cord of the necklace to be sterilised or alternatively put into the dishwasher.
Gumigem pendants are easy for little hands to hold and put into their mouths for either teething or general entertainment during cuddles or feeds. The cord of the necklace features a ‘pull and snap’ fastening to ensure safety for the wearer. Gumigem necklaces are funky and functional! Available in a wide range of designs, styles, shapes and colours (each necklace tends to vary in colour slightly as each mix is different).
Mums Baby Magazine give the Gumigem Necklace 10/10 for fashion with functionality! We are proud to announce that we now stock a wide range of Gumigem Teething Necklaces in our new online shop starting at only £12.50
Bath Time Buys for Babes with Sensitive Skin: The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash & Sea Sponge
The Little Green Sheep specialise in a range of natural, organic products including clothing, bedding, furniture, toys, gifts, and bath products.
Why Organic?
- Organic products are free from harmful chemicals, pesticides and dyes which can prove harmful to young children.
- Organic products tend to be higher quality and longer-lasting.
- Avoiding the use of pesticides, herbicides, bleaches, dyes and other chemicals helps to protect the environment.
Mums Baby Magazine put The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash and Organic Natural Sea Sponge to the test with a toddler with sensitive skin.
The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash
Naturally organic, The Little Green Sheep ‘Baby Body Wash’ is handmade using a blend of 80% organic ingredients. The Little Green Sheep products are ‘kind to the planet’ and are not tested upon animals.
The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash is to be used externally all over the body. However, contact with the eyes should be avoided. The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash gently moisturises and cleanses sensitive skin.
The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash has a pleasant aroma of Lavender which is ideal for bedtime bathing as Lavender is said to be both soothing and relaxing, promoting a good nights sleep. Only thirty minutes after having a bath, our toddler fell sound asleep!
We found that The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash lathered up well into a silky, smooth foam when applied to our toddlers skin. Although the Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash only comes in a 200ml bottle, it certainly seems to last as a little truly does go a long way!
As we have previously mentioned, the toddler who tested this product has sensitive skin. We can confirm that this product did not have any negative effect upon his skin. We did notice however, that his skin seemed less dry and far softer, therefore we would like to give The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash 9/10.
Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash is available from www.thelittlegreensheep.com for £4.95 per bottle. Alternatively you can buy both The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash along with an Organic Natural Sea Sponge for £9.95 (making a saving of 95p!).
The Little Green Sheep Organic Natural Sea Sponge
Organically grown, sustainably harvested and hand-picked from the Mediterranean Sea, The Little Green Sheep Sea Sponges are ideal for using upon soft, sensitive skin.
Mums Baby Magazine used a Little Green Sheep Organic Natural Sea Sponge along with The Little Green Sheep Baby Body Wash during bath time with a toddler.
The Sea Sponge felt incredibly soft to the touch, so soft that our toddler seemed fascinated with it and spent much of his bath time stroking and patting the Sea Sponge!
Sea Sponges hold more water than synthetically produced sponges and are much softer to use upon delicate skin. We can clarify this fact as we compared a synthetic sponge with the Sea Sponge and found that the Sea Sponge held almost a third more water than the synthetically produced sponge. Our toddler also enjoyed squeezing the water from the sea sponge and he too seemed surprised by the amount which it had soaked up!
Mums Baby Magazine give The Little Green Sheep Organic Natural Sea Sponge 10/10. The Little Green Sheep Organic, Natural Sea Sponges are available for £5.95 each from www.thelittlegreensheep.com
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