GOOD HEALTH NEWS

Maggie receiving treatment at the
LIFE Program at Health in Motion.
HOW TO
RECOGNIZE IF
YOUR CHILD
HAS PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENTAL
DELAY
As a parent, it’s natural to worry about
your child developing normally. Especially
when comparing your child with
other kids: For example, “Her brother
was crawling by this time, why can’t
she?” Please remember that every
child is different, and will
develop at different paces.
However, it is important
to be aware of the ‘red
flags’ associated with developmental
delay.
Here are some warning
signs to look out for:
• At 2 months: When
picking up your child, they
should be able to bring
their head forward. In a
developmentally delayed
child, their head will move
backwards because they are not able
to hold it up.
• At 2 months: If they are arching
their back and neck away from you
while being held.
• At 4 months: Watch how your child
mimics others and if they react to people
around them. If they don’t smile,
react, or try to copy others’ expressions
and movements, this may be a
sign of developmental delay.
• At 6 months: If your child is constantly
keeping their hands closed and
fisted. Also if they don’t try to grasp for
toys and have difficulty opening their
hands.
• At 7 months: They are unable to support
their head when they are helped
into a sitting position. They don’t grasp
or reach for their toys.
• At 9 months: They are unable to sit
without support. Normally developing
children will generally begin crawling
around this time and be able to stand
up by holding onto something.
• At 12 months: They are not crawling
and can’t stand by holding onto something.
You can find a more complete and
detailed list of warning signs here:
(http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-physical-developmental-delay_6720.bc).
Please be aware
that this is a very general timeline,
and every child will vary in terms of
when they hit their developmental
milestones. If your child seems to exhibit
any of these signs, then consult
your doctor or a pediatric neurologist
so they can be assessed. Even if there
is no problem, it’s always better to err
on the side of caution.
“If your child happens to be diagnosed
with developmental delay, you
must understand that the diagnosis
is not a label. This is just a title for the
symptoms that the child is exhibiting.
As a therapist, it gives me certain information
to keep in my head so I can
lead this patient out from what he has.
CP and developmental delay is not a
life sentence. No one can predict your
child’s future.” –Natan Gendelman,
D.O.M.P.
3 BENEFITS OF RAW, UNPASTEURIZED HONEY
1) Soothes throat irritation and cough: In one study, eating buckwheat honey was more effective than dextromethorphan
(a cough suppressant) and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine) in helping 139 children in relieving
their nighttime cough. It even improved their sleep! (http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/medicinal-uses-of-honey?page=3)
2) Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal & anti-viral properties: The enzymes found in honey produce hydrogen peroxide,
which is a natural antibacterial agent. Honey has also been shown to effectively fight food-borne pathogens like E.
coli and salmonella, as well as many other bacteria. Because of its unique properties, eating honey may also be a
good treatment for stomach ulcers and food poisoning!
3) Allergy Relief: Exposure to small amounts of flower pollen naturally found in unpasteurized honey may help
build up the body’s immunity to seasonal allergies. Try taking two teaspoons of honey daily up to 6 weeks before
allergy season kicks in to help combat bad reactions. For serious allergic conditions, you should always consult
your doctor.
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