Parenting 101: 16 November 2012

Jenni Johnson, our resident ‘Baby Whisperer’, has been a practicing child-care practitioner for 15 years, and owns a busy ante and post natal clinic in Durban. This week she talks about visiting the doctor and paying compliments, among other thing. 

* Your children will probably get lice – don’t panic! It’s tiresome and can take a while to get rid of but it’s normal and common. Buy a lice shampoo from a pharmacy and use exactly as directed. Use a lice comb to remove eggs. Check daily. Change all pillowcases and coverings that your child has rested their head on.

* I used this with my own family - it’s a good bonding and emotionally enriching exercise best done around the dinner table. Once a week choose one family member to get paid a compliment by everyone else. ‘Mum – I love your food’ or ‘Dad thank you for watching my soccer match’ are examples.

* When you’re dealing with a toddler who consistently has trouble staying asleep, consider the pre-bedtime routine. However you want your child to fall back asleep during the night is how they should fall asleep at bedtime. Rocking, falling asleep on the couch or on your bed? Guess what you’ll be doing at those nocturnal wake times?

* The advice I give as to when your child should see a doctor is if a temperature doesn’t respond to Paracetamol or equivalent within 20 minutes or does respond to medication, but after 36hrs still rises after the medication has worn off; if he/she is not eating is crying all the time and cries when being put down to sleep.

* If your child is bullying at preschool, he may be searching for a way to get noticed or build his self-esteem. Give extra one-on-one time, increase touching time like hugs or a back tickle. Book a meeting with the teacher so you work together to solve the problem - and seek professional help if it’s not resolved.

* Catch Jenni on-air every day just after 10am with her tip of the day.

At Jenni’s ante and post natal clinic in Durban, parents are taught a system that gives them structure and routine to the baby and childhood years. Jenni has a nursing background. She’s a registered nurse, midwife, psychiatric nurse and private nurse practitioner.

Jenni’s online clinic, can be accessed online via www.jennisays.com. For appointments, e-mail [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @JenniSays or on Facebook by 'liking' The Berea Baby Clinic.