Ever wondered how some adults developed allergies and other chronic diet-related conditions? Blame it on lifestyle habits that can contribute to metabolic conditions such as binge-eating of foods rich in cholesterol and lack of exercise. But one thing that most people do not know is that the gut microbiome in early childhood is one of the most overlooked factors for metabolic conditions. The earlier you start boosting your child’s guts, the better chances they will have of avoiding future complications. Here are some tips to help you improve your child’s gut health.

Prioritize on providing foods rich in fiber

A child’s gut has both good and bad bacteria. Adopting a healthy eating habit should start as early as during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. Eat foods rich in fiber to prevent bacteria from eating your child’s starved gut. Over time, their gut’s lining loses the mucus that aids in digestion. As a result, their immune system becomes inflamed, leading to autoimmune diseases. Give your 3-11-year-old child fiber-rich foods such as cereals, nuts, kales, spinach and legumes to boost their immunity.

 Be an avid buyer of bacteria-rich foods

One of the best ways to attack bad bacteria is by introducing good bacteria in the early stages of your child’s life. Unsweetened yogurt may taste horrible to a child. But it is advisable to introduce it early so that they can get used to this diet. Plain yogurt contains live and active cultures that are useful in fighting bad bacteria. Beware of yogurt companies purporting to be selling plain yogurt. In the actual sense, they could have added sweeteners to lure buyers.

Go easy on antibiotics

Children under the age of five are prone to stomach and respiratory conditions. When your child falls sick, the first thing you may want to do is relieve their pain through over-the-counter antibiotics. While antibiotics effectively fight off bacteria, they can kill the good bacteria that your child needs to be healthy.

Go easy on antibiotics for once. Please do not wait until they fall ill and the only option you have to save their lives is through antibiotics. Instead, try other natural remedies to build your child’s microbiome functionality. For example, you can try honey to prevent your child’s risk factors for common colds, coughs and stomach problems.

Try probiotic supplements

Probiotic supplements are formulated to encourage good bacteria growth. This option is effective for parents who can’t access probiotics in natural forms. However, most dieticians and nutritionists are conservative about using probiotic supplements since they can cause further allergies. If you plan to get supplements, you can buy from here, but ensure to get authorization from your doctor. Your doctor will advise on the types which are best suited for your child. If your child reacts to a particular supplement, they can recommend other types or find other alternative gut-boosting remedies.

Get a furry friend for your child

Unless you are allergic to cats and dogs, it would be best to introduce one to your child. As far-fetched as this idea may sound, scientific studies suggest that the presence of furry friends in your child’s life could increase their chances of developing good bacteria. Over time, your child’s immunity system gets boosted, preventing their risk for allergies and diet-related conditions.

Allow them to explore the environment

Every mother wants their child to be as active as possible to lead a healthy life. 3-11-year-olds are particularly explorative by nature. When your child comes home with dust or mud all over their bodies, don’t be quick to clean them. Allowing them to wander through dirt allows their bodies to build strong immunity. This encourages the growth of good bacteria in their guts. If you are the over-cautious or too clean kind of mom, the time to let loose is now. Let your OCD go for once in your life.

What you feed your child today determines how their immunity system will behave when they transition into adulthood. You have the power to avoid exposing them to unhealthy foods that will interfere with their good gut bacteria. When they are still young, introducing good bacteria can reduce their risk for lifestyle conditions such as asthma, obesity, and other metabolic conditions.

Easter is just around the corner which means your excuse for “eggstra” special goodies is about to be satisfied. Whether you’re putting together a basket for a special loved one or want to share a collection of premium chocolates with friends and co-workers, we suggest stocking up on these springtime goodies now!

Hop on over to Sugar Plum and take a peek at these must-have Easter basket gifts! 

Sugar Plum Gourmet Easter Egg Hunt Set

Sugar Plum has put together an imaginative set of handsomely decorative metal Easter eggs that have been engineered from the ground-up to turn any Easter egg hunt from “blah” to “oooh-la-la!” faster than that Easter Bunny can come on hoppin’ down the bunny trail.  Featuring a reusable plastic egg carton and handsomely festive metal eggs that can be refilled over and over again, the Gourmet Easter Egg Hunt Set promises a fashionably fun (and tasty!) time with those you care about most year after year! Retails: $34.95.

Easter Milk Chocolate-Covered Sandwich Cookies Assortment

Featuring 12 world-class chocolate-dunked sandwich cookies all dressed up in the bright and festive Sunday best and presented in an adorable Easter egg container, Sugar Plum’s Easter Milk Chocolate-Covered Sandwich Cookies Assortment is a perfect treat for every family’s resident chocoholics! Retails: $24.95.

Signature Easter Egg Truffle Assortment

For those that would prefer a little more of a classic chocolate treat this Easter, look no further than Sugar Plum’s Signature Easter Egg Truffle Assortment!

This assortment features 12 pieces of Sugar Plum’s incredible handcrafted foil-wrapped milk chocolate ganache truffles in a beautifully laid out in a festive egg-shaped box that’ll be sure to get everyone in the mood for a fun Easter egg hunt! Retails: $24.95.

Carrot Cake Chocolate Bar 4 Pack

Whoever the mad lad was that decided to bake carrots into a cake has nothing on the folks here who turned this cake into a chocolate bar. Smooth white chocolate serves as the foundation for all the spices and flavors of a moist and delicious carrot cake. It’s so good you won’t even mind that we used the word moist. Retails: $30.00. (*limited edition” item, review samples may not be available)

Dark Chocolate Half-Pound Premium Chocolate Easter Bunny

Check out this treat hoppin’ down the bunny trail!  Sugar Plum’s Premium Chocolate Easter Bunny features 8oz of our gourmet chocolate, carefully crafted into a gorgeous & festive Easter bunny by Sugar Plum’s expert chocolate artisans.

This decadent dark chocolate bunny comes wrapped in a cello bag, which is tied off with a festive ribbon that is sure to put you in the Easter spirit! Retails: $17.00.

White Chocolate Half-Pound Premium Chocolate Easter Bunny

Check out this treat hoppin’ down the bunny trail!  Sugar Plum’s Premium Chocolate Easter Bunny features 8oz of our gourmet chocolate, carefully crafted into a gorgeous & festive Easter bunny by Sugar Plum’s expert chocolate artisans.

This smooth & creamy white chocolate bunny comes wrapped in a cello bag, which is tied off with a festive ribbon that is sure to put you in the Easter spirit! Retails: $17.00.

Milk Chocolate Half-Pound Premium Chocolate Easter Bunny

Check out this treat hoppin’ down the bunny trail!  Sugar Plum’s Premium Chocolate Easter Bunny features 8oz of our gourmet chocolate, carefully crafted into a gorgeous & festive Easter bunny by Sugar Plum’s expert chocolate artisans.

This luscious milk chocolate bunny come wrapped in a cello bag, which is tied off with a festive ribbon that is sure to put you in the Easter spirit! Retails: $17.00.

The Classic Chocolate Bunny At Its Best

All of Sugar Plum’s delicious gourmet treats are lovingly hand crafted and made from their bakery and kitchen in Kingston, PA, by mother and son team Fran and Neil Edley. As they say, food is the ingredient that binds us together. These decadent, mouthwatering confections make for truly special gifts this Easter.

Presidents’ Day Sales from Delta Children that all parents should take advantage of!

Delta Children is fully operational and shipping quickly! 

Delta Children Amazon Prime Day Deals

• Target
  • Spend $200 Get $30, Spend $300 Get $50 (2/11-2/15)
  • Perry, Monterey, Emma Items are over $20 off (2/11-2/15)
• Walmart
  • Up to 30% Off Little Folks by Delta Children Strollers + Baby Gear (February)
  • Up to 20% Off Delta Children Nursery Furniture (February)
  • Up to 20% Off Delta Children Kids’ Furniture (February)
• Amazon
  • Up to 20% Off Delta Children Nursery Furniture, Baby Gear, Kids’ Items and more for the month of February!
  • Up to 20% off Jeep and Delta Children Strollers (including Revolve, Gemini) from (2/15-3/15)
  • Jeep Clutch Plus Stroller & Revolve Stroller will be 20% off & featured as “Best Deals” on Amazon (2/15-3/15)

As a child, Isabel Cintra grew up with a deep love of fairy tales. These magical, enchanting stories of beautiful princesses, magical mirrors and devoted fairy godmothers captivated her attention. These stories taught her more than just happily ever after; they portrayed a universal theme of good versus evil and taught her values like hard work and kindness.

In Cintra’s young mind, fairy tales were unlike any other kind of story. They were magical, enchanting tales where anything was possible.

She often wondered, however, why none of the beautiful characters looked like her? It became her mission to write stories that included black characters to show children the value of diversity and even more importantly; that children of all colors can reach their dreams.

For kids ages six to twelve, The Great Little Tailor and The Princess and The Mirror, not only give children of color an opportunity to see themselves in stories but also helps broaden the perspective of all children by fostering children’s sense of empathy and connection with characters who might look different from themselves.

The Princess and The Mirror

When the desire for extreme beauty tries to overcome love and vanity becomes the most precious asset, a sweet and very wise fairy appears to turn everything into harmony again. A beautiful fairy tale about kings, queens, princesses, with lots of magic and so much to teach us!

The Great Little Tailor

There was a small and humble village on the outskirts of King Raidar’s castle. A place where Jafar and little Akin built their simple home. Life was hard for father and son until the great and unique opportunity of their lives suddenly appeared. With a heart full of hope, Akin will teach his father that it takes courage and optimism to face life’s challenges!

The paperbacks versions of The Great Little Tailor and The Princess and The Mirror are available on Amazon for $12.99. The ebook is available for $9.99.

I am happy to send a copy of the book and/or high res images.

Best,

Lauren

Lauren Hathaway

**

About:

Isabel Cintra grew up in the small town of Sao Joaquim de Barra, Brazil. At an early age, she entered the magical world of writing and literature. A shy girl with a head full of thoughts, her greatest desire was to share with the world, through her books, the vision of an enchanted princess who looked like her. Through her vibrant picture books, illustrated by her brother Zeka Cintra, Isabel strives to introduce kids to a world where diversity is valuable and beautiful. Fantasy, representativeness and diversity are common themes in her editorial production. Her work, Corvo-Correio was a winner of the 2017 Off Flip Literature Prize. She currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden with her husband and daughters.

For those working and living in the city it has become a scary reality to step out on the streets. It may take some time to get back to enjoying city life and staying safe is key once we do. For all those parents, teachers, corporate workers  and everyday city adventurers to have the mindset of staying safe is just one more thing on everyone’s very long list of to-dos, but having the option to keep safe wherever you go, without hassle is essential.

Father of two and renowned artist, Benjamin Anderson made it his mission to keep his own kids safe and now protects many worldwide with his innovative invention, HandiGuruTM . HandiGuru is the ideal on-the-go sanitizing solution to safeguard you and your loved ones in-between handwashing, perfect for those living in metro areas and beyond.

Replacing bulky bottles that can leak or get lost at the bottom of a backpack or purse, HandiGuruTM wears comfortably like a watch and features FDA-approved, recyclable silicone perfect for storing hand sanitizer for fast, one-squirt germ protection anytime, anywhere. 

Now more than ever, keeping yourself and your loved ones safe is top priority. HandiGuruTM is a wearable, fun, multi-use device and;

• Convenient, effective germ protection for kids and adults alike
• A go-anywhere alternative to running water
• Each easily adjustable wristband features a BPA-free 20ml reservoir that adheres to TSA standards. 
• Refillable wristband kit (just $14.95) includes a one-size-fits-all silicone wristband (20ml) and a BPA-free squeeze bottle, complete with a BPA-free applicator tip for easy refills. 

Restore a sense of calm with HandiGuruTM, providing advanced, wearable protection from the outdoor elements. This Valentine’s Day, buy one get one free with code GURULOVE at HandiGuru.com and give the gift of on-the-go protection to all your loved ones (offer runs 1/27-2/10). 

Follow @HandiGuru on Instagram for updates, how-to videos, and more. HandiGuru™: Protect your Om when you leave home.