MOMISMS III..Is Your Child a Hypochondriac?

“Mummy, I have a cold.”

“Go and put on your sweater and sleep.”

“Mummy, I have a headache.’

“Here, take this tablet and lie down.”

“Mummy, I am not feeling well ……”

“Let’s go to the doctor and get you an injection … “

Yes, concern for your child is natural and necessary, but it should not stifle him. Most parents have this tendency to fuss over their children, especially since the Planned Parenthood has made the child a precious commodity.

In the olden days, parents had little time to devote to a child’s common cold or mild temperature. Nature had her way of curing or killing!

Today, right from the first yell, a child is subjected to various shots and doses – many of them “just-to-be-on-the-safe-side” kind of medication.

Feeding bottles, nappies and even safety pins are sterilized and the child is reared in a cocoon of clinical safety.

This is good to a certain extent. Cleanliness no doubt should be the criterion in bringing up a child, but protecting him totally from environmental pollution only reduces his immunity or resistance level.

A growing child has to go through certain ailments. Measles, chicken pox, colds, coughs and temperature are all part of the process! But there is no need to get hysterical about these. Whether you pump the child with medicine or not, certain afflictions have their cycles, and nature does good part of the trick.Getting a child used to too much of medication, will soon immunize him to its effects, with dangerous implications when he needs the medicines critically.

But, how do you decide when to fuss and when not to?

Some children are delicate by constitution and easily affected by a change of environment. This is where a parent must use discretion.

Once you know what is likely to cause the problem, avoid it. If milk gives him rashes, try something that has the nutrients of milk but not the side effects.

Nature provides abundant sources of nutrition which can by assimilated by the body, depending upon the individual’s metabolism.

Watch the child closely and isolate the causes of his discomfort. Don’t run to the doctor at every sneeze or cough. Wait for a day or two, and watch. Try home remedies like ginger juice or warm packs.

If the complaint persists, seek the doctor’s advice. Encourage your child to have a certain level of tolerance. If he has fever, he needn’t be bundled off to bed. Let him rest. Prop him up in a chair and allow him to play with his building blocks or meccano set.

If he has a headache, it could be because he’s hungry or he has had too much sun. As far as possible, let him try and get over it by resting – not by swallowing pills!

Plenty of fresh air, wholesome food and a wee bit of indifference to aches and pains will go a long way in making your child healthy.Many children feign illness to attract attention, and this develops into an incurable habit. Discourage your child from complaining about health. But be on your guard.Though seemingly indifferent, keep a watchful eye, so that no symptoms go unnoticed. Any often repeated complaint should be taken more seriously and attended to.

Don’t get panicky over his illness. This will make him a difficult patient. Treat the sick child casually as you would a hungry child. If you panic, the anxiety will communicate itself to him and psychologically affect his health.

Remember, a child is protected by nature more than we believe! The human body, like any mechanical gadget, has its breakdowns, and a child is no exception. Let him grow up with a healthy attitude to his body and it will respond. Concentrate on making his mind healthy and it will take care of his body!