Tips - How to Raise Healthy Kids

Tips - How to Raise Healthy Kids

It's a parents' job first and foremost to take care of their children. This means providing and raising children in a healthy and safe environment and providing the best care possible. Raising healthy kids begins with having a healthy pregnancy. Having a drug and alcohol free pregnancy in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise is definitely the best start to raising healthy kids. Many women believe that drinking in late trimesters is not harmful to the baby, but according to the CDC, there is no safe amount of alcohol a woman can drink while pregnant. The best way to avoid dangerous complications such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is by completely abstaining from alcohol throughout the pregnancy.

Breastfeeding is a great way to give infants a healthy head start. The CDC recommends breastfeeding as the ideal form of feeding and caring for infants. Breast milk provides infants with an array of nutrients and antioxidants necessary to develop a strong immune system.

It is also important to make sure children are receiving all necessary vaccinations and checkups. Vaccinations prevent against avoidable diseases and checkups ensure children are healthy and reaching the necessary growth checkpoints.

Providing a healthy balanced diet is an obvious must when raising healthy kids. Diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables are rich in essential vitamins and minerals essential for growth. It is extremely important that children are receiving the essential nutrients to grow and develop properly.

Though fast food can be convenient in a busy world, it is important to establish healthy eating habits at a young age. Child obesity is a growing problem that just leads to further heath issues with age including heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Avoiding fast food restaurants and poor eating habits is especially important for children to ensure future healthy eating patterns.

Having a regular exercise routine is also a very important part of raising healthy kids. Involving kids in organized sports is often extremely enjoyable for children and beneficial in many ways. Sports provide a great and entertaining way to promote exercise. Organized sports also help children develop socialization skills. Active children often turn into active adults when regular exercise patterns are established at a young age.

And lastly, it is most important for parents to lead by example. Children learn by observation, so it is important for parents to represent a healthy active lifestyle for their children to follow, while constantly and consistently providing love and support for their children.

Neville Street is the Administrative Director for Rodriquez MD, a bilingual medical practice in Lawrenceville, GA that provides health care to infants, children, adolescents and adults. Gwinnett doctors Deborah and Veronica Rodriguez are sisters with a combined 27 years of experience. The doctors are Board Certified in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine and both Gwinnett physicians have extensive experience working in private practice.

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