Looking for more resources and tips for raising safe and healthy kids? This short list covers all the basics, with some links for more detailed information!
Get Check-ups and Vaccinations
Routine check-ups, including dental and eye exams, help identify ways to stay healthy, provide the opportunity to receive preventive services, and help find health problems early, when chances for treatment are better. Vaccinations help prevent many diseases and save lives. Keep track of your and your family’s check-ups and vaccinations to make sure they stay current.
Parents: What You Need to Know about Vaccines and Immunizations
Protect Your Kids
Take steps to make sure your home, car, school, and other areas are safe. Use car seats and seat belts for appropriate ages and sizes. Keep harmful substances and objects out of children’s reach. Be aware of signs of maltreatment, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Ask a trusted friend or family member to watch your kids if you feel yourself losing control and need a break.
Injuries among Children and Adolescents
Provide Healthy Meals and Snacks
Eating right will help provide the nutrients needed to have energy, build strong bones, and fight diseases and conditions. For babies, breastfeeding is best. As children grow, help them choose healthy meals and snacks. Pay attention to what and how much they eat. You’ll help them stay on track and may uncover problems of which you were unaware.
Keep Your Kids Active
Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day. Include activities that raise their breathing and heart rates and that strengthen their muscles and bones. Find fun, safe, and active things you can do with your kids to help keep the whole family healthy. Exercise is one of the best tips for raising safe and healthy kids!
How Much Exercise Do Children Need?
Live a Smoke-free Life
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are harmful to you and your family. Be smoke-free during pregnancy to help prevent premature birth and other health problems. Stay smoke-free to help lower your children’s risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), bronchitis, more severe asthma, ear problems, and pneumonia. You can help protect your children by making your home and vehicles smoke-free. Quitting smoking is the single best way to protect your family.
Monitor Activities
Kids learn from family, friends, media, school, and more. Know who they spend time with, what they are doing, and whether their activities are age-appropriate. Discourage TV viewing for children under 2 years of age, and limit TV viewing to no more than 2 hours per day for children 2 years and older. Know how their schools promote health and safety.
Teach Your Kids Healthy Habits
Help your kids develop skills to make safe and healthy choices every day. These include fastening seat belts, wearing helmets, applying sunscreen, brushing teeth, washing hands, forming healthy relationships, and more. Make safe and healthy choices every day to show kids how to do it.
Provide Love and Support
Kids need the support and love of family and friends. Talk to your kids to help them understand how they can be healthy, safe, and happy. Find out what’s going on with them and how they are making decisions and handling problems. Respond to their physical and emotional needs. It’s important for kids to develop in a safe, loving, and secure environment.
Follow These Tips for Raising Safe and Healthy Kids
And when you have more questions about raising safe and healthy kids, ask Dr. Hari of Sun Pediatrics. Dr. Hari is highly recommended by parents in Marietta, East Cobb and Alpharetta. Sun is your local pediatrician and Dr. Hari is eager to take your call and answer your questions. Don’t wait any longer.
