Bad experience for baby hair cut?

Recently, I brought Rayner (my 10 mths old son) to do his hair cut. The appointment is set at 10.30am in the morning as I wanted to do it before he had his bath.

Before go to the hair cut, Rayner has his milk and I thought it will be good as I don't have to worry if there is a long wait or half way through his haircut; he get hungry. However, Rayner like others baby, cry when the hair dresser trying to cut his hair. No matter how hard we try to distract him by showing him toys or play music, it did not make him stop crying. As a result, he throw out all the milk he drunk and both of us was in a mess. We have no choice but to stop half way and bring him back home to shower and cleanup. The hairdresser has advise us not to feed him before he come, at least when he cry; he will not easily throw out.

2 hours later, we bring Rayner back to finish his hair cut. This time, no matter how long he cried, he did not throw out anything. What a relieved to us. We learn our lesson from this bad experience.

理发惊魂记

不久前，我带刚满十个月大的禹衔去修剪头发。我把修剪头发的时间订在早上十点半以便禹衔可以在过后洗澡。

为了不让禹衔修剪头发时饿肚子，我让禹衔在去理发院前先喝奶，却没想到此举大错特错。由于禹衔对陌生的环境生疏，也对握着剪发器材的理发师产生抗拒，他在理发师替他理发时，不停的嚎哭，不论我与我先生使出各种方法都无法让禹衔安静下来。禹衔不断的嚎哭，并开始咳嗽，紧接着作呕，并将之前所喝过的奶也全数吐出来。此举让我与我先生始料不及。迫不得已，我们只好中断剪发，急冲冲的把禹衔抱回家，将他大洗一翻。临走前，理发师提醒我们在来理发院前，不可以喂饱禹衔，否则同样情形还是会发生。

吸取了之前的教训，我们在过了两个钟头后，让禹衔空腹去继续理发。这次，无论禹衔哭多久，他也不再作呕了。谢天谢地。

How to improve baby or toddle appetite

If baby or toddle lost appetite, try this method:

Add 1 teaspoon of Si Shen Powder (can buy from any Chinese herb shop) into the porridge, mix well and feed them (can be taken everyday or alternate day). After a period, baby or toddle will start to eat well.

Shi Seng Powder can help improve their appetite and sleep.


如何让宝宝开胃

如果宝宝没有胃口，可采取以下方法：

在宝宝的粥里加一小汤勺的四神粉（可在任何药材店购买），搅拌均匀。每天或每隔一天喂食宝宝加了四神粉的粥，经过一段时期后，宝宝自然开胃。

四神粉帮助开胃健脾，且有安神作用。

How to help baby sleep well with running nose

When baby or toddle catch a cold and has running nose, use below method to help them sleep well with their blocked nose:

1. Get the Axe brand universal oil and put a few drops on a clean handkerchief.
2. Tie the handkerchief near the place where baby sleep (must be high up so that baby will not able to touch).
   

Baby’s nose will not blocked with the Axe oil smell in the air during sleep.

如何让鼻塞的宝宝睡个好觉

当宝宝感冒鼻塞难入睡时，以下方法可以舒缓鼻塞问题：

1. 用斧标驱风油滴几滴在干净的手巾。
2. 将手巾绑在宝宝的床头（宝宝无法触摸得到的高度）。

风油的味道在空气中飘散，宝宝闻了自然能舒缓鼻塞，安稳入睡。

How to stop baby from diarrhea

If babies or toddles having diarrhea non-stop, parent can try below method:

• Use cook rice water or porridge water to make milk for babies or toddles to drink
• Let them drink barley water (no added sugar)

如何让宝宝停止腹泻

如果宝宝腹泻不止，可采取以下方法：

• 用煮过的米饭水或粥水泡奶给宝宝喝
• 煮薏米水（不加糖）给宝宝喝

蜂王浆

颍諠在三岁时就开始饮用麦卢卡蜂蜜 (Manuka Honey)。我们相信服食麦卢卡蜂蜜能增强免疫力，因此，我们让频频生病的颍諠每天喝麦卢卡蜂蜜水来改善她的体质。

两年前的台湾之旅，我们在日月潭的毛王爷之家购买了他们的特产之一— 蜂王浆 (Royal Jelly)。在导游与该店的负责人介绍下，我们对蜂王浆有了深一层的认识。

蜂王浆有丰富的蛋白质、酶类、氨基酸、磷酸化合物、维生素、糖类、有机酸、脂类、激素以及乙酰胆碱，其含量是蜂蜜的100倍。蜂王浆中含有无机盐种类相当多，每100克蜂王浆干物质中含有0.9克以上，有的高达3克。其中钾650毫克、钠130毫克、钙30毫克、镁85毫克、铜2毫克、铁7毫克、锌6毫克、还有锰、钴、镍、硅、铬、金、砷等等。

蜂王浆,亦称蜂乳或蜂皇浆,是适龄工蜂食用了蜂蜜、花粉等营养物质，在蜂群需要时从营养腺中分泌出来的一种高级物质，是蜜蜂幼虫和蜂王的专用食品，珍稀名贵，作用奇特，为食药兼备型珍品。

蜂王浆有十五大保健功能：

抗衰老葆青春

增强免疫功能

促进生长发育

促进受损组织再生

提高思维力和抗逆力

抑癌抗癌

改善睡眠和提高性功能

抗菌消炎

抗辐射抗化疗

提高造血功能

降低血糖

增强呼吸功能

强化心血管系统

防治动脉粥样硬化和高血脂

改善消化功能

除此，导游还将他的亲身体验与我们分享。他告诉我们他的孩子从小就服食蜂王浆，现在不但身体强壮且拥有180 公分身高（他与妻子都属矮小型）。由于我们对蜂蜜有一定的认知，而且颍諠也在饮用蜂蜜，我们决定让颍諠试饮蜂王浆。

我们购买的是小罐装的蜂王浆，大约S$80左右，它必需储存在冰箱里。为了能让蜂王浆保存更持久，须将它储存在冰箱的冷藏室里以保鲜，为期大概可达 7 年左右。而如果只是储存在冰箱内，则只能保鲜为期一年。由于蜂王浆的味道属甘与酸，比较难入味，因此我们将它加在蜂蜜里让颍諠饮用。

蜂王浆本身有很丰富的蛋白质，每天服食的话，则只须用小塑料汤勺，舀上三分之一的分量，加在蜂蜜或水里即可（不能用热水冲泡）。舀蜂王浆的汤勺只能用塑料汤勺或陶瓷汤勺，不可用铁或钢制成的汤勺，否则其营养会被破坏掉（铁勺或钢勺在融合时会产生一种化学作用并破坏蜂王浆的营养）。

当颍諠饮用蜂王浆后，免疫系统有了一些改善，鲜少看见她着凉发病。刚开始，我们并不以为意，直到颍諠因必须服食抗生素而停止饮用蜂王浆一阵子，又开始频频发病时才意识到。

当时，颍諠的一名幼儿班老师得了肺炎，所有的幼儿园的小朋友几乎都被传染。卫生部还特地到幼儿园为小朋友们检查身体，不幸的是，颍諠也是其中一名被感染的小朋友。跟其他小朋友一样，她必须服食一种抗生素九个月，才能确保身体里的病菌不会病发。在这服药的期间，颍諠不能服食其它的保健品包括蜂王浆。

在停食蜂王浆的期间，颍諠的免疫力又开始下滑，频频生病，让我们很担忧。当她完成了抗生素的疗程，我们第一时间就是让她开始饮用回蜂王浆，她的身体才慢慢强健起来。我们这时也才意识到蜂王浆的好处。

新鲜的蜂王浆在本地并不常见，市场上大都卖胶囊罐装或掺有其它成份的蜂王浆。由于我们的蜂王浆是在台湾购买，因此急需在用完之前在本地找到有出售新鲜蜂王浆的商店。所幸，我们在滨海广场的一家蜂蜜专卖店（二楼）找到我们要的纯新鲜蜂王浆。

该店售卖的蜂王浆售价大约是S$113（10%折扣后），相比之下，这支250grm的蜂王浆比我们在台湾购买的还来得便宜。该店的售货员教我们如何储存蜂王浆以保持它的新鲜度。她教我们将一小部分的蜂王浆储存在小罐内，并存放在冰箱里，其它的则存放在冷藏室内，等用完小罐内的再拿，这样才不会让蜂王浆变质。

Royal Jelly

When my girl – Rachel, turn 3 years old, we start giving her Manuka Honey. We strongly believe that Manuka honey is good for her health, especially when she always fall sick, Manuka honey will be the first thing we gave her to drink.

2 years ago, when we travel to Taiwan, the tour guide recommended Royal Jelly to us which is one of their local product selling at Mao Wang Ye Zhi Jia （毛王爷之家）in Sun Moon Lake （日月潭）. The owner told us all the benefit after taking Royal Jelly and especially for children.

We are told that Royal Jelly contains remarkable amounts of proteins, lipids, glucides, vitamins, hormones, enzymes, mineral substances, and specific vital factors that act as biocatalysts in cell regeneration processes within the human body. It is rich in protein, vitamins B-1, B-2, B-6, C, E, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, inositol and folic acid. In fact, it contains seventeen times as much pantothenic acid as that found in dry pollen.

Studies indicate the effectiveness of royal jelly for the following:
for tiredness and overwork, asthenia, anxiety states, insomnia and anorexia
bronchial asthma
liver diseases (hepatitis)
pancreatitis
general exhaustion diseases
arthritis, gout, atherosclerosis
kidney diseases
stomach ulcers
ovarian insufficiency
reversing the aging process
stimulating and regenerating the nervous system
for accelerating the healing and consolidation of fractured bones.
skin disorders
promotes sexual rejuvenation

The Taiwan tour guide told us that he himself introduce Royal Jelly to his children since young and they have grown up healthy and tall. He believe consuming Royal Jelly regularly help his children grow tall as he and his wife are of below medium height. We decide to let rachel try Royal Jelly to improve her immune system.

The small bottle of Royal Jelly cost us around S$80++, we were told that the if we keep Royal Jelly in the freezer, it will be able to store for 7 years, but if is keep in fridge, can last only a year. This Royal Jelly has an unpleasant taste. It taste milky and a stinging sensation on your throat. Therefore, when we first let Rachel try Royal Jelly, we mixed it with Manuka Honey, so that the honey will cover it taste.

As this Royal Jelly is very rich in protein, we were told to take 1/3 small teaspoon only everyday. Also, we were advice to use only plastic or porcelain spoon to scoop, add some water and stir the Royal Jelly (Do not use hot water). They strongly recommend not to used metal spoon as it will create some chemical reactions and kill all the vitamins in the Royal Jelly.

After Rachel started to take this Royal Jelly, we realize her immune system is stronger. She used to catch a flu every now and then, especially when she is constantly blown by a fan or during raining season. But after she had been taking Royal Jelly, this problem has largely reduced.

In the beginning, we are unaware the change for Rachel till one of her school teacher got Tuberculosis (TB) disease and has spread throughout the whole school. Rachel, unfortunate infected with TB like others. Therefore, she needed to take a 9 mths course of the medication. As such, during the 9 mths course, we are told to stop giving Rachel any supplements (include Royal Jelly) to avoid any complication. As a result, Rachel started to fall sick often and slim down a lot.

We are very worry for Rachel and once she has completed the 9 mths medication, we started giving her Royal Jelly everyday. By then we realize, Rachel seldom fall sick so often ever since she took Royal Jelly.

We are very happy that this Royal Jelly help to improve Rachel immune system and will continue giving Royal Jelly to her. But as the Royal Jelly we have brought from Taiwan is finishing soon, we need to find where to get the fresh royal jelly in local stores. We realize that not all the stores sells fresh Royal Jelly. Even in Nature Farm who carried various products, to our surprise, it does not carried fresh & pure Royal Jelly but mix with others ingredients or only selling in capsules.

Finally, we found a store thats sells honey as well as fresh royal jelly in Marina Square at level 2. The 250grm Royal Jelly cost us around S$113 after 10% discount and is cheaper then we brought from Taiwan. We are told to keep this Royal Jelly in freezer and just squeezes some out to keep in fridge for everyday use as this tube of Royal Jelly will definitely last more then a year.

水痘

我在年过廿时，才出水痘。虽然已是很久的事情，但那痛苦的经历却令我到自今都无法忘怀。我还记得当时饱受全身发痒，却又不能抓痒的痛苦，由其当时我母亲严禁我沐浴，深怕我会因此而引发肺炎或其它并发症。

体验了这种痛苦经验，我打定主意决不让我的孩子也和我有相同的经历。因此，水痘疫苗问世时，我第一时间就带当时只有三岁的颖諠前往私人转科症所接种疫苗。由于事隔已久，我也忘了当时的确切费用，只记得它的收费跟政府诊疗所比较之下，只多出S$20或S$30左右（目前在政府诊疗所受费为S$65，而私人诊疗所受费为S$85疫苗；S$15接种；S$30门诊）。当颖諠接种了疫苗后，我以为可以安枕无忧了，真是大错特错。

颖諠在一年后，被她的同班同学传染，得了水痘。我当时的反应是震惊与无奈，尤其不知该如何劝服一个四岁大的孩子；在水痘发痒时，不可抓痒。唯一庆幸的是，颍諠除了身体一些部位长了水痘外，她的脸并没有长太多水痘，我想那可能是她曾接种疫苗的关系吧！

为了防止颍諠忍不住抓痒，我特地从诊疗所买了一种消炎粉涂抹在她的水痘上止痒。除此之外，我还每天用黄豆水（一杯黄豆加一大壶水煮滚即可）给颍諠冲凉，据说能帮助防止水痘扩散。这个土方在颍諠身上还蛮管用的。



当然，除了以上的方法，还有其它的治疗方法可以提供参靠：

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda： 将一杯分量的粉溶入在装满温水的洗澡盆，然后浸泡在水里冲洗以达到止痒效果。

Cheerios: 可用来制成止痒粉。将两杯分量的谷物用搅拌机搅成粉末，用粉末加温水来浸泡冲洗来止痒。

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel： 用此芦荟膏涂抹身上后，再冲洗以达到止痒效果和身体保持清爽。

Kingsford's Corn Starch 和 Johnson's Baby Oil：将淀粉和婴儿油加水成糊状，可涂抹在水痘上止痒。

Phillips's Milk of Magnesia 或 Calamine Lotion： 用棉花轻轻抹在水痘上止痒。

Quaker Oats 和 L'eggs Sheer Energy Panty Hose： 将燕麦用搅拌机搅成粉末，并装在丝袜里，再将丝袜邦紧，然后浸泡在温水里。将身体浸泡在水里三十分钟来止痒。

中药草也有疗效作用：

青果和芦杆茶

青果 30grm
芦杆 60grm

煮法：将青果绞碎，芦杆切块，加进水里煮，并当茶饮。

疗效：清热解毒。

解注：此茶只适用于水痘初期并带有发烧、喉咙发炎疼痛等症状。


芦杆菊花茶

芦杆 60grm
野菊花 10grm

煮法：将切块状的芦杆与野菊花一起加在水里煮成茶饮。

疗效：清热解毒。

解注：此茶适用于水痘发疹和发热时饮用。

其它需注意的事项：

• 除非经医生批准，否则不可给患儿喂食阿司匹林。
• 在食物里不可加黑酱以免日后留下疤痕。
• 患儿必须要有足够的休息。
• 让患儿吃有营养的食物补充精力。
• 时时刻刻修剪患儿的手指甲，以免患儿抓破皮疹导致化脓感染。

因为有了颍諠出水痘的经验，我对于该不该让我的小儿子 - 禹衔也接种水痘疫苗，犹豫不决。但我相信如果有一天，当禹衔也患上水痘时，我绝对可以应付自如，也不会一味认为让禹衔接种了疫苗，他就可以幸免出水痘。

预防针

禹衔在满八个月大前，我就已让他注射了肺炎球菌感染疾病 (Pneumococcal) 和六合一 (6-in-1) 的预防针。刚开始，我与我先生都很犹豫是否该让幼小的禹衔接种六合一的疫苗。后来，在听取了不同护士的意见后，才放心的作出这样的决定。绝大部份的护士都赞成让幼儿一次过打六合一的预防针，理由是小孩可少打几次针。

禹衔的预防针都是在政府诊疗所打的。在政府诊疗所，如无需问诊的话，六合一的预防针大概是S$200以上，而私人诊所则有另加S$50以上的门诊费。除了费用的考量，我们也担心幼小的禹衔是否能适应这么强的疫苗，还好，禹衔在接种疫苗后并无产生不适。

当禹衔接种完六合一的疫苗后，我们就开始烦恼该不该让他注射其它的选择性疫苗。不同的护士持有不同的见解，有的护士认为没有必要让幼儿打太多的预防针；有的则认为预防胜于治疗，不要等到小孩患上疾病时才来后悔。

对我们和其他家长来说，有两种疫苗应该考虑在先： 肺炎球菌感染疾病和轮状病毒 (Rotavirus) 疫苗。

以下是我所收集到有关肺炎球菌感染疾病的一些知讯：

脑膜炎（会导致严重及永久性的残障）

- 包括失去听觉，瘫痪, 智力缺陷及死亡。症状包括：发烧，昏睡及嗜睡，呕吐及颈部或腿部僵硬。

菌血症（细菌进入血液循环造成血液系统受到细菌感染）

- 菌血症也会造成脑膜炎。症状包括：发烧及呼吸急促。

肺炎（肺部急躁感染）

- 症状包括：咳嗽，胸口郁闷，生痰，发烧及发冷或颤抖及早诊断其病况及采取行动非常重要。

中耳炎（中耳感染）

- 症状包括：耳朵疼痛，发烧及小孩经常性的拉耳朵。

由于幼儿感染肺炎球菌感染疾病的情况在我国并无达到危险水平，因此我国卫生部并没有强制要所有的幼儿接种疫苗。家长如要让宝宝接种此疫苗，必需到私人诊所讯问，因为该疫苗目前政府诊疗所并无提供。

如果幼儿在一岁以下，接种疫苗需分三次进行；一岁以上到两岁以下，需分两次进行；两岁以上则只需接种一次疫苗。

禹衔的疫苗是在我家附近的转科诊所注射的。该诊所的转科医生非常细心与耐心，并且有丰富的医学转业知识，让我感到非常放心。由于政府并没有给于津贴，接种此疫苗非常昂贵，一次就需缴付S$200（包括门诊费S$30在内）。

至于轮状病毒疫苗，我并没有让禹衔注射此疫苗。除了收费昂贵外（接种疫苗大概S$150以上），禹衔也过了可以接种的年龄（宝宝需在六个月大前注射）。在我所收集到的资料显示，染上该病毒的幼儿，都会出现腹泻现象与细菌感染。除了腹泻外，幼儿也会出现呕吐，发烧等症状，严重则会有脱水现象。但只要在家长细心照料下，绝无性命危险。较大的孩童或成人如果感染此病毒，有时只呈现咳嗽或伤风现象而已，比较难察觉，因此需要特别小心观察。

值得庆幸的是，除了此病毒不会危害到幼儿的性命外，当幼儿多次感染病毒后，他们的身体会自动产生免疫力抗体。当然，在这之前，幼儿都必须经历病痛的折磨，是所有家长不乐预见的。

为了不让孩童感染病毒，家长必须非常注重卫生问题。除了经常要小朋友在吃饭前或玩耍后洗手，所有的玩具也必须每次清洗以保持干净卫生。大人也需遵守卫生条例，在帮宝宝换纸尿片或烹煮宝宝的食物时，一定要时时确保双手干净。给宝宝喂食母乳同样也可以达到防止宝宝感染病毒。

有了以上的讯息，我对于禹衔未能接种轮状病毒并无感到担忧。况且我的长女 - 颍諠，从她出世到至今，除了注射卫生部所列出的预防针和水痘疫苗外，并没有注射其它疫苗。让我感到庆幸的是，颍諠没有因此而受到病毒感染或有任何健康问题，她还是很快乐又健康的成长。

该不该让幼儿注射尔外的预防针，我想除了我之外，都是每个家长应该认真思考的问题。

Chickenpox

I remember very clearly that I had my Chickenpox at the age of 20. It was a painful experience. My whole body itching and fever went up and down, worst is my mum forbid me from bathing during this period.

With the bad experience, I strongly do not want my child suffer the same situation like me. Therefore, when there was this Chickenpox vaccine for the children, I bring my girl to take the injection as soon as possible.

The injection was done in a private clinic 4 years ago, amount I cannot really remember but was around S$20 or S$30 more then the polyclinic (Current Polyclinic fees is S$65 and Private is S$85 + S$15 injection preparation + S$30 Consultant fees). After the jab, I thought I can rest my mind, but I am totally wrong!

My girl got her Chickenpox a year later. One of her classmate has the Chickenpox and was spread to her. I am shock and speechless at that point. As she was only 4 years old, is very difficult to expect her not to scratch her body. Luckily, only some red bumps appear on her face, and I guess the jab does help to reduce the amount of the bumps coming out.

To prevent her from scratching, I use the powder prescribe by the doctor to help relieve her itch. Also, I let her bath in cooked Soya water (take 1 cup of Soya bean to boil in a big pot of water, after the water boiled, throw away the Soya bean, leave the water for the child to bath), which i was told can reduced the bumps spreading and recover fast, and it really work on my girl.

Of course, there are a few ways to treat this Chickenpox, below are some of the others treatment which I gather the information:

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. Dissolve one cup of this soda into a bathtub filled with warm water and soak. It will relieve itching skin.

Cheerios. You can create your own anti-itch powder using Cheerios cereal. Just pour two cups of this cereal into a blender and blend into a fine powder. Pour this powder into a warm bath and soak. The oatmeal in it is what will soothe your itchy skin. (Warning: Be sure to cover the bath drain with a mesh covering in order to avoid clogging-up your tub.)

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel. Use this Gel as a body wash as your shower. The analgesic properties in it will attack any itch. It will also help you smell fresh.

Kingsford's Corn Starch and Johnson's Baby Oil. Mix baby oil, corn starch and a little water to make a paste. Then, apply this oil to the areas on your body that itch. It's one way to focus on the most irritating areas of your body without a full submersion into some type of concoction.

Phillips's Milk of Magnesia or Calamine Lotion. Use a cotton ball to apply this lotion to soothe chicken pox.

Quaker Oats and L'eggs Sheer Energy Panty Hose. Make an oatmeal anti-itch bath using these two products. Pour one cup of Quaker Oats into a blender and blend into a powder. Transfer it into the cut off foot of a clean pair of L'eggs Sheer Energy Panty Hose. Then tie a knot. Hang it under the spigot of a bathtub and run warm water. Soak in it for thirty-minutes and your itch will go away.

Soothing Baths. Frequent baths are sometimes helpful to relieve itching. Adding finely-ground (colloidal) oatmeal such as Aveeno can help improve itching. Oatmeal baths can be prepared at home also by grinding or blending dry oatmeal into a fine powder and adding about 2 cups to the bath water. One-half to one cup of baking soda may also be added to bath water to reduce itching.

There are also some Chinese herb can help in treating Chickenpox too:

Chinese Olive & Phragmites Tea (Qing Guo Lu Gen Cha)

Chinese olive, i.e., Fructus Canarii (Qing Guo) 30 grams

Rhizoma Phragmitis Communis (Lu Gen) 60 grams

Method of administration: Pound the olives into pieces and cut the phragmites into pieces. Boil these together with water and drink the resulting liquid as a tea.

Functions: Clears heat and resolves toxins, engender fluids and disinhibits the throat

Indications: This tea is suitable for the treatment of chickenpox during its initial stage with fever and a red, painful throat or, in other words, when it exhibits a wind heat exterior pattern.

Phragmites & Chrysanthemum Tea (Lu Ju Cha)

Rhizoma Phragmitis Communis (Lu Gen) 60 grams

Wild chrysanthemum flower, i.e., Flos Chrysanthemi Indici (Ye Ju Hua) 10 grams

Method of administration: Cut the phragmitcs into pieces and then boil these pieces and the chrysanthemum flowers with water. Drink the liquid as a tea.

Functions: Clears heat and resolves toxins, engenders fluids and stops thirst

Indications: This tea is suitable for the treatment of chickenpox manifesting as a pattern of heat toxins.

Things that need to take note:

• Do not give aspirin to a child without first contacting the child's physician.
• Do not let your child take black source as it will leave black marks.
• Let your child rest more.
• Eat healthy meals to boost your child immune system.
• Trim your child finger nails so they will not scratch the rash.

With my girl’s experience, I will not be panic if my younger son has Chickenpox. To get him jab for the vaccine or not is still a big question for me. But at least if I let him had the vaccine, I will not be shock if he still get the Chickenpox and will expect less bumps on him too.

Optional Immunisations??

My 8 mths boys recent have completed his 6-in-1 vaccination jab and had taken the first of 3 dose of Pneumococcal vaccination.

Before we have decided to go ahead with the 6-in-1 jab, we seek for others advice. Some say it will be too strong for the baby, some say less painful as the baby will need not to have too many injection.

My son had the injection taken in polyclinics. It cost above S$200 in total, not including consultation fee unless baby need to see doctor for health reason. (Private clinic will be about the same cost but each visit will have an additional charges of consultation fees and the amounts varies from clinic to clinic.) Money is of course one of the issues for us to consider, but the most importance is whether our little baby can take the strong injection like that?? Finally after seeking one of the nurse advices, we let our little boy go for the 6-in-1 injection. The good thing is, he seem fine after the injection.

The next worry for us is, do we need to give him optional immunisations?? Some nurse said why let the little one have so many injections? Others say it will be good to prevent then sorry.

There are two type of optional injection which all the parents may need to consider letting their young’s one take the injection. First is the Pneumococcal, second is Rotavirus.

I have done my homework about the Pneumococcal injection. This disease may kill the young one if did not get treat in time. The child will have high fever which acts like a normal sickness cost parent unaware. Children may have brain damage too.

There are four types of illnesses cause by Pneumococcal disease:

1) Meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain or spinal cord)
- Can cause serious and sometimes permanent disabilities including hearing loss, paralysis, mental retardation and death.
- Symptoms: fever, lethargy or drowsiness, vomiting and stiff neck or legs

2) Bacteraemia (blood infection)
- Occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause infection of the blood.
- Can also develop into meningitis.
- Symptoms: fever, irritability and rapid breathing

3) Pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
- Symptoms: cough, chest congestion, production of phlegm, fever and chills/shaking
- Early diagnosis and treatment is vital.

4) Otitis Media (middle ear infection)
- Symptoms: ear-ache, fever and frequent tugging of the ear.

The percentage of infant or young children getting this disease in Singapore is not yet critical otherwise MOH will have to add this injection in the list which all children must take. Therefore, you may not find these vaccines available in the polyclinics and is really very expensive for the whole course. Young baby who are under 1 years old will need to have 3 doses and above 1 year old will be 2 doses. For 2 years above toddles will only need to take 1 dose. These vaccines will not cost fever for most of the babies.

As the polyclinic does not carry these vaccines, I went to the children specialist clinic to take the injection for my boy. The injection cost me S$200 per dose including consultation fees (Prevenar: S$155, Consultation: S$30, Injection/Vaccination: S$15). The reasons I choose this clinic are: the doctor is experienced and full of patience; and no long queue like polyclinic.

As for the Rotavirus vaccines which polyclinic did not carry too, we hesitate to let our boy have it due to the cost (around S$150) and also too many injections when he was 3 - 6 mths old. By now, he is already 8 mths old and we realise that Rotavirus vaccine is only for babies under 6 mths old. According to the information I have, Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of diarrhea, and severe infection (rotavirus gastroenteritis) is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children. Children with a rotavirus infection have fever, nausea, and vomiting, often followed by abdominal cramps and frequent, watery diarrhea. Kids may also have a cough and runny nose. As with all viruses, though, some rotavirus infections cause few or no symptoms, especially in adults.

However, according to one of the doctor told us that after several times suffer from this disease; the children themselves will have immunity. Further, this virus will not kill the young’s one if parents take good care of the children.

One of the best ways to protect your child from rotavirus infection is through breastfeeding. It is also ideal for you to disinfect his regular play areas and toys. It is just as important to maintain strict hygiene practices at home – such as helping your child wash his hands after using the toilet, and washing your own hands after diaper-changing, or when preparing and serving food.

Due to the above reasons, we are less worry that our boy did not took the Rotavirus vaccine. Beside, our 6 six old girl, we did not even get her jab for any of the optional immunisations (except for Chickenpox) and she is still a happy healthy girl.

To go for the optional injection or not, is really a dilemma not only to us but also to most parents!

My very first step

This is a very first step i am going to do to change my life style.

Setting up this blog is to share all the info which I have experience and would like others share with me too. :)

Hope this first step is a good start for me and my children.