Alice came home later than usual expecting her children to be fast asleep. But walking in, Alice met frustration written all over her house help’s face. Beside her was one of her sons, Sam, with a bowl full of untouched food. For Sam, the word ‘food’ was enough for him to throw a tantrum that…

Thumb sucking is normal in babies and young children. A natural sucking instinct leads some babies to suck their thumbs during their first few months of life, or even before birth. Babies may also suck their fingers, hands, or items such as pacifiers. They have a natural urge to suck, which usually decreases at the…

We had just been introduced to each other and were now having tea. ‘Ah, so you are a doctor! I have a concern that has been disturbing my mind.’ I sat up and listened. This is a common line and quite frankly, as a doctor, I enjoy it, even in a social setting. It reminds me of my role in…

What to do Most toxic plants in Kenya are datura (Jimson Weed), cassava and mushrooms, according to the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board. Datura, also known as Trumpet, is a weed with sharp seedpods and trumpet-shaped large flowers. It has Atropine, which causes damage to body organs. According to Oxford journals, accidental poisoning is prevalent among young children as they have limited knowledge of the danger…

Your heat beats 101,000 times a day. During your lifetime, it will beat about 3 billion times and pump about 800 million pints (378 million litres) of blood. A normal heart beats 70 to 80 times a minute. Over 70 and 80 years, it gives a few billion beats. It is the powerful machine inside…

Seek help from others Support systems are essential and as a mother, you need to fight the initial desire for isolation once the baby is born and lean on your system. As a mother, it can be overwhelming to behold and nurture a new life. Your baby has filled your world and you find that…

Teething may be one of the greatest nightmares mothers go through. The issue could seem even worse for first time mothers who may not understand what is going on with their bundle of joy let alone be able to handle them. When children are teething, they become sickly, whinny and look frustrated. By the time…

‘Character is like smoke, it cannot be hidden’ Good character is treasured. And just like our parents strove to instill it in us, we want to pass it on to our children. It may not mean the same thing to everyone but there are distinctive qualities in character that we all appreciate. A courteous and…

Most parents look forward to their kids going back to school after a long holiday. And with this comes the expectation that all will be well with the children when they settle down at the learning institution. But even a minimal change can have a serious impact on children. Often, they will get out of control whenever they are…