Wetting the bed is common in young children up to the age of three, but even after that (and sometimes into adulthood) it can remain an issue: 1 in 6 five year olds and 1 in 11 nine year olds are affected. It is thought to be three times more common in boys than girls.

Bedwetting (or nocturnal enuresis) used to be brushed off as a form of attention seeking, but research is now suggesting that it could be hereditary and that some children simply develop bladder control and night-time urine production control at different rates. If this seems to be the case, rest assured that the areas of the brain and nervous system which are responsible for the normal pathways of bladder function control will mature in time. Because of this, medical treatment is rarely started before the age of six or seven. Any concerns, however, should be raised with your health visitor/GP. Read more »

Nurturing Confidence

A feeling of self-worth and natural self-confidence is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children, but how can you build the kind of solid inner-strength that will help them feel comfortable in themselves, and therefore better placed to handle whatever life throws at them?

Encouragement is key

Children need to feel secure enough to want to try new things without being put down, embarrassed, or ridiculed for failing. When this happens they will quickly start to believe that they aren’t worthy of praise and that if something looks hard, they might as well avoid the challenge rather than look silly. Read more »

Eating healthily at school

The chances are you have spent hours (make that weeks!), slaving over a hot stove ensuring your child got off to a good nutritional start in life. Whether you were pureeing home-grown veg, withholding squash until you could bear the pressure no more, or totting up their ‘five a day’, you no doubt worry that any good work could be about to be undone when they start school, if the media furore surrounding school lunches is anything to go by.

Government regulations state that where schools provide lunches they must contain at least the following:

• One portion of meat, fish or other protein source
• One portion of a starchy food, such as bread, pasta or rice
• One portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables
• One portion of milk or a dairy item

However, it seems that this is not always adhered to, and even if it is, it’s not always in a format your own child will happily devour. As such, an increasing number of parents are taking matters into their own hands and packing a lunch box they know their child will eat. Read more »

Holiday health

Whether you are heading off to far flung shores, or taking a day trip to Shoreham-by-Sea, there is something about holidays that seem to attract accidents. Perhaps because, according to the statistics, most accidents happen when we are not quite on the ball.

But wait! With a little planning, and awareness of your surroundings, there is no reason why you can’t all enjoy a safe and happy time away together. Just pack a well equipped medical kit and check out our guide to common holiday pitfalls.

First Aid Essentials

Go prepared. As well as the basic first aid items (gauze, scissors, lint, bandages, plasters and tweezers), pop some Nurofen for Children* sachets (contains ibuprofen), Sun E45, Dettol Antiseptic Cream* (contains Chloroxylenol, Triclosan, Edetic Acid), child-friendly antihistamines, anti-diarrhoeals and rehydration sachets, appropriate insect repellent and any travel sickness treatments in the bag and you’ll be ready for almost any eventuality. Read more »