Most parents, as soon as they find out they are having a baby, get asked the question, “What do you want, a boy or a girl?” While everyone secretly has a bit of a preference, some not so quietly, the primary wish is that the pregnancy is uncomplicated and the baby comes out healthy.
After taking that infant home and enjoying the first few days, weeks, and months with a brand new life, then reality can start to set in. That’s especially true for first-time parents. You were given this baby at the hospital to take home with you and no real instructions on what to do with him or her once you get there. Sure, the daily rituals are quick to pick up on, but what about the rest of their lives?
You can keep them clean and happy for the most part, but what are you supposed to be doing to ensure their long-term health and wellness? There are a few different actions that parents can take and implement into their lives to ensure their kids are raised healthy, so they have the best chance of living a wholesome life as an adult as well.
How To Raise a Child With Healthy Eating Habits
Of course, your kids would love to eat candy and cupcakes all day long. You want to give your kids what they want, but you can’t always do that when it comes to their nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the number of children that are dealing with obesity issues has over tripled what it was back in the 1970s making it very clear that eating habits need to be cleaned up.
Start now by offering your kids only healthy food options the majority of the time. That doesn’t mean that they can’t enjoy a snack here and there, but it should be limited to special occasions like birthdays and holidays. The bottom line is that your child, to be raised in a healthy way, should be given a well-rounded, balanced diet that is good for them. It is one that you may have thought of already, but now is the time to implement it.
The Most Important Things In Raising A Child
Along with taking care of the physical health and well-being of your child, you also need to ensure that they are emotionally cared for from birth up to the time they leave your house, and even beyond for some. There are plenty of simple little things that you can do on a daily basis to make sure that your kids are happy and connected with you so that they can retain and maintain healthy relationships as they get older. Here are some easy yet vital tips to keep your kids emotionally balanced:
- Use gentle touches and do so often
- Spend quality time together
- Pay attention when they are talking to you and communicate back
- Play games together
- Ask questions
- Don’t punish them, teach them from their mistakes
Your child is going to go through a wide array of emotions while they are living under your roof. You should never try and push those feelings away or tell them they “shouldn’t be crying,” or “stop being so emotional.” Kids need to feel these things, and they need to know that it’s okay that they do. It’s up to you to make the adjustments in your personality necessary to deal with your offspring in even the most challenging of times.
How to Bring Up a Child with Chiropractic Care
You may think that chiropractors are only in practice for the treatment of adults. While over 35 million people make appointments to see their chiropractor every single year, not all of the people included in that group are adults. Some of them are children as well.
Studies support the fact that 10% to 15% of all visits to the chiropractor are children or infants. Additionally, up to 5% of all children have been given some type of chiropractic therapy since birth. When a child is suffering from a painful strain, sprain, or other body condition, parents don’t necessarily want to rush them to the doctor anymore. With the opioid addiction epidemic that is sweeping across the nation, moms and dads are looking for more holistic and natural ways to deal with their child’s ailments to prevent them from falling into this category of addicts.
Visiting a chiropractor with your child isn’t something that you only do when they are dealing with pain in their neck or back. While chiropractic doctors work to adjust and align the spine for overall better health and wellness, it should be recognized that they are capable of doing so much more than alleviating pain.
Through the spinal cord and brain, your kid’s entire body functioning is regulated. If he or she is having any kinds of medical problems, it may be because their body is out of alignment. By putting things back into a place where they are supposed to be, a plethora of conditions can be successfully treated including:
- Bedwetting
- Ear infections
- Nursing or feeding issues
- Asthma
- ADHD
- Sleep problems
- Digestive issues
- Allergies
- Seizures
These are just a few of the ailments that a qualified chiropractor can work on a treatment plan with you and your child for. If there are any conditions that you are currently dealing with that you aren’t finding the answers for, you can always contact a chiropractor near you to discover if they have any advice or methods for helping you. You can also discuss the option of seeing a chiropractor with your medical doctor. Many times these two experts will work together to create the best treatment plan possible using various methods of care.
No matter what you do, remember that all those people telling you that time goes by so fast when your kids are little are right. Enjoy every single moment. When you feel like you can’t take another second of tantrums and scream, remind yourself that someday soon, not far away from now, you’ll be sitting in complete silence missing those childhood fits.
This article was written by Dr. Brent Wells, D.C.
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab in Alaska in 1998 and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. His practice has treated thousands of patients with different health problems using various services designed to help give you long-lasting relief.
Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe and Lifehack. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.
